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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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Book Review: Love At First Sight by Laura Jane Williams

She’s found the one. He’s just not the one for her.

Jessie doesn’t believe in love at first sight. Until one sunny Saturday in London, a fire alarm in Whole Foods throws her into a stranger’s arms. Cal is charming and funny: their chemistry is instant.

Quick-fire flirting turns into the most romantic day of Jessie’s life. But that evening they’re forced apart before swapping numbers. Jessie is devastated – has she just lost the one?

After weeks of searching, Cal turns up on her doorstop holding two dozen red roses. It feels like fate.

The only thing is, they’re not for her…

*****

Jessie has dreams of running her own business but also loves being a nanny to Henry. When she meets a stranger at Whole Foods with whom she spends a perfect evening, she believes that maybe she could chase her dream whilst also keeping her current job. She also thinks that maybe she found the one…or is he?

I was a BIG fan of Our Stop so I jumped at the chance to review Love At First Sight, the latest novel from Laura Jane Williams.

The plot of this novel moves well and I really couldn’t figure out where it was going to go next. The premise is strong and focuses on Jessie as she tries to navigate next stages. She is attempting to find courage to seize life with both hands.

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Novel Kicks Writing Room: Genres & Pictures

Welcome to the Novel Kicks Writing Room. 

Today, we are going to be doing a little mixing and matching.

I’ve posted four pictures below. Your task is to pick the picture that you’re instantly drawn to:

Pictures created using AI – Adobe Firefly.

 

Once you’ve picked a picture, pick one of the following combinations of genres:

  1. Historical Fiction and Sci-Fi
  2. Dystopian and Comedy
  3. Romance and Thriller
  4. Magical Realism and Suspense
  5. Young Adult and Mystery
  6. Western and Horror

Once you’ve got your picture and genre combination, set your alarm for 20 minutes and write as much of a story as you can, using the elements you’ve chosen.

Have fun.

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Book Review: The Accidental Debutante by Jane Dunn

It’s so exciting to be welcoming Jane Dunn back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest novel, The Accidental Debutante.

A daring young lady and dashing lord

At Prebbles Flying Circus, the daring Eliza Gray captivates audiences with her breathtaking feats on horseback. Yet beyond the applause, she harbours a longing to find the family she lost as a child and discover who she truly is.

Fate, however, takes an unexpected turn when Eliza is unceremoniously knocked down by a curricle driven recklessly by Raven, Earl Purfoy. Dazed but intrigued, she cannot help but notice Purfoy’s commanding presence.

For his part, the dashing lord, is mortified at his carelessness and resolves to assist the spirited yet intriguing young woman. He deposits her in the care of his dearest friends, Corinna and Alick Wolfe, who encourage Miss Gray in her search for her family and sponsor her entry into London society. The glittering balls and scurrilous gossip of the ton are a far cry from the circus ring and Eliza finds herself the subject of intense speculation and unwelcome advances.

As a most accidental debutante, Eliza has to navigate the complexities of high society and her new friendships. Her quest for family and belonging becomes perilously entwined with Zadoc Flynn, an American heir in search of an English bride, and the unfathomable Lord Purfoy.

Can Eliza uncover the truth of her past and the family she longs for? And will it be Mr Flynn or Lord Purfoy, or indeed her new female friends, who help her find her place in the world?

In a tale of courage, passion, and self-discovery, this lost orphan must decide where she truly belongs.

*****

Eliza knows little of her life before Prebbles Flying Circus. With little in terms of clues, she leaves the circus life behind to go in search of her long lost family. When she falls (literally) into the path of  Lord Raven Purfoy, things go in a direction that even Eliza couldn’t have imagined. Can Eliza find what’s she’s looking for?

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Book Review: Death at Fakenham Races by Ross Greenwood

We are so pleased to be welcoming Ross Greenwood back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his latest book, Death at Fakenham Races. 

When everyone is lying, how do you catch a killer?

A brutal attack at Fakenham Racecourse plunges DI Ashley Knight into the competitive world of horse racing, where fortunes are won and lost in the blink of an eye. As the investigation unfolds, a chilling discovery reveals a darker side to this glamorous sport. In these high-stakes arenas, where winning is everything and everyone has something to hide, a few are willing to cross the ultimate line.

Can Ashley, an outsider in a world of whispers and long-held grudges, unmask the murderer before they kill again?

Ross Greenwood is back with a brand new, heart-pounding case for DI Ashley Knight, perfect for fans of Mark Billingham, Ian Rankin and Peter James.

*****

A brutal murder in the depths of winter, a man beaten to death at a major racecourse. Newly promoted DI Ashley Knight has her work cut out for her to get to the bottom of things before the body count grows.

This is the 5th book in the Norfolk Murders series and it doesn’t disappoint. I read Death at Horsey Mere for review a few weeks ago and since then I have devoured the back catalogue. Ross Greenwood has an uncanny ability to keep you guessing right until the end, throwing in just enough information to keep multiple characters in the running for the spot as number one evil doer. While I confess I have read all the others in the series you don’t need to read them first if this is the first book you come across – it stands alone really nicely, filling in backstory as needed in a way which provides the information you need without boring people who already know the canon.

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Time Travelling Box

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: Time Travelling Box. 

A box gets delivered to your doorstep. Taped to the top is a handwritten note, ‘Step in’.

When you do, you get transported to another Friday 13th – one in the past. Write about your adventure.

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Book Review: Rainbows and Lollipops by Mo Fanning

Set against the backdrop of the troubled British summer of 2024, Rainbows and Lollipops weaves together three lives in a warm, witty, and unflinching story about love, loss, and the families we choose.

When Jake met Tom, he thought he’d left Birmingham’s gay bars behind forever-until a twist of fate lands him back in his childhood bedroom, sleeping under glow-in-the-dark stars.

Vicky, an ambitious lawyer and lifelong loner, has her life meticulously planned-until threats emerge that no power suit or clever argument can fix.

Lucy has planned every detail of her wedding down to the perfect petals-but “happily ever after” comes with a question mark.

As secrets unravel and lives collide, Jake, Vicky, and Lucy discover that family isn’t always blood-it’s the people who show up when everything falls apart.

*****

Jake thought that life was finally coming together when we met Tom. However, things don’t turn out the way we plan. 

Vicky is searching for success in her career as a lawyer in the city of Birmingham. Then a case hits very close to home, putting her in danger. 

Lucy is doing everything she can to plan the perfect wedding but as the date inches closer, is this the happily ever after she deserves? 

Having previously read Husbands, which I loved, i was eager to get started on Mo Fanning’s latest book, Rainbows and Lollipops. Bravo to whoever designed this book cover. It’s very pretty. 
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Novel Kicks Writing Room: Making a Plan

Hello Wednesday and I’m pleased to be welcoming everyone back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room. 

I don’t know about you but I am a big planner when it comes to my daily life. I don’t always keep to the schedule but it’s the thought that counts right? Haha.

So, today is all about making a plan – a plan for your character.

Grab an A4 piece of paper and down one side, write the times out as if you were looking at a diary –

7am – 

8am- 

9am… 

…and so on until you get to 11pm. 

Once you’ve done that, either pick someone from a piece you’re working on or alternatively you could pick a character from the list below –

Dentist

Ballerina

Lawyer

A Parking Attendant

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Book Extract: A Sister to Butterflies by Aaron Christopher Drown

It’s exciting to be welcoming Aaron Christopher Drown to Novel Kicks as we shine a light on his book, A Sister to Butterflies. 

When a magical being from a hidden realm crosses into the human world, she makes a fateful mistake that binds her life to a human boy—and sets into motion a chain of events with devastating consequences. As the two grow up entwined by a love they don’t fully understand, their bond begins to tear at the seams of both their worlds. Now old and burdened by regret, she recounts their story to a mysterious child, revealing the truth behind a legend and the cost of the choices she made.

A Sister to Butterflies is a coming-of-age fantasy about love, sacrifice, and the deep, quiet magic of belief. Rich with emotion and mythic resonance, it explores what it means to belong—and what we lose when wonder fades.

 

Aaron Christopher Drown has shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy. 

 

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

 

This is not the first time you’ve heard this. Nor, I hope, will it be the last.

What’s amusing—or shameful, depending on how you come to see it—is how often I think I’ve sufficiently untangled my mind to tell my tale, yet still find myself uncertain where to begin. Part of me wishes not to have to begin at all since you’re too tiny to understand it anyhow. But the rest of me knows this is much more for my own benefit than yours—for the time being—and that as far as penance goes, what I’ve apportioned myself can hardly be considered severe.

So, for both our sakes, I’ll muddle through as best I can. Again.

The thing I always try to explain first, so that what I have to tell you makes any sense at all, is that there are indeed other worlds than this. A great many people take a great deal of comfort from believing that what they can reconcile with their eyes and ears constitutes the summation of existence. But I dearly hope you believe me when I say that creation is much too grand to contain but a single realm and a single way of being.

Some of these other worlds are far removed from here. Others press right up against this particular where and when but lie hidden—in the shade of a high hill, within the eddies of a brook, or even under one’s bed at a certain time of day. A drifting speck of dust flaring in a beam of afternoon sun might easily be the birth, life, and demise of an entire civilization.

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NK Chats To…Catherine Yaffe

Hello Catherine. Thank you so much for joining me today. Can you tell me about your latest book, The Shadow Killer?

The Shadow Killer is a psychological crime thriller where we know from the outset who the killer is. When the police can’t get the answers they need to find a missing girl they turn to renown psychologist Dr Evelyn Shaw. Despite her extensive experience and skills, it seems to DI Ziggy Thornes that The Shadow Killer is manipulating her – and Ziggy doesn’t why. In a gripping finale, Evelyn and Hawthorne each face their own disturbing past while Ziggy pulls all the threads together to bring a secure conviction.

 

What are the challenges when writing a series of books such as the DI ‘Ziggy’ Thornes Series?

You have to have a great memory (or keep excellent records!) when it comes to character names, their traits in previous books and stay consistent with their personalities. I have an excellent editor who keeps track, and I use copious amounts of old-school record cards to stay on top of everything.

 

What are you currently working on?

I started the outline for Book 6 in March so I’m currently plotting the timeline. I’m not sure yet if it will be another Ziggy book or a standalone!

 

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

I don’t really have a typical day during the Summer as I take a few months off but then come September I’m usually in the Shed early and write from 9 – 12pm, take an hour and depending on how I feel I’ll either write until 4pm or call it a day and read or do some research. I also have 4 cats, 3 chickens and go horse riding regularly as well as a large garden so I’m a bit rubbish as sitting down!

 

From idea to final draft, how long does it take you to complete a book?

Depends. I have Chronic Fatigue so I have to balance that with everything – most days I can write 2k words a day and I have been known to write and publish in 3 months but that was a fluke and probably won’t happen again!

 

Do you have any advice for the research and editing processes? How do you know when you’ve done enough?

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Book Review & Giveaway: Over the Sea to Skye by Sue Moorcroft

It’s our pleasure to be welcoming Sue Moorcroft back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Over the Sea to Skye.

One summer on a beautiful island could change everything…

Valentina Taylor’s life has been upended. With her marriage over, and unsure of what her future holds, she heads to the Isle of Skye for the summer with her young son, Barnaby.

But the journey there sets her on a new path, when she meets Xander Courage on the train – a charming American, running from problems of his own. After sparks fly, they go their separate ways. But on this small island, they’re never far from one another…

Skye offers Valentina the refuge she needs as she whiles away the long summer days at her beachside cottage, enjoying visits from her sisters, Thea and Ezzie. But when bad news from home throws her Scottish idyll into turmoil, Valentina finds herself pulled away from the place – and people – that she loves.

Valentina knows she must confront her heart’s desires – but can she let go of the past and embrace the future she deserves?

Lose yourself in a heartfelt story of second chances, love, and self-discovery, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Isle of Skye. Perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Karen Swan.

*****

Part of the joy I’ve had from reading these three books, is getting to know about each sister, and by giving each their own book, the author has only added to that joy. I’ve had a complete story for each, together with a little of the other two lightly sprinkled throughout, as the icing on a cake, to add to the wonderful flavour.

Sue Moorcroft has been one of my favourite authors for a number of years now, and I’m always grateful when a new story of hers is published. With ‘Over the Sea to Skye’ this is tempered by the knowledge that this is the third and final book in the series. That being said, this is one heck of a way to bring the series to a finale.

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Book Review: The Silver Ladies Seize the Day by Judy Leigh

Join me in welcoming Judy Leigh back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The Silver Ladies Seize the Day.

You’re never too old to fall in love…again!

Cecily Hamilton is months away from her ninety-second birthday. She’s lived life to the full, choosing work over romance, friendship over love. And now she has a host of silver-haired friends living nearby, ready to fill her time with picnic lunches, prosecco and cheer!

Cecily thought she was content. She thought her cup was full…

But when the granddaughter of Cecily’s first and only love arrives on her doorstep, claiming that her grandfather, Eddie, is still in love with Cecily after all these years, Cecily wonders if there might be room for a little romance after all. Especially since, one by one, her friends keep falling head over heels for old flames and new.

Can the oldest silver lady of the bunch really hope for her own second chance at love? Is it finally time for Cecily to seize the day?

*****

As Cecily nears her 92nd birthday, she begins to reflect on her life and a certain someone who broke her heart. When the chance to see him again arises, she’s unsure of what to do. Can her fellow Silver Ladies get her through? 

I do love falling into a good Judy Leigh novel and this book was no exception. 

Middleton Ferris sounds like a wonderful place to live and I really like how everyone looks out for one another. 

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: If I Could Do Anything? 

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: If I Could Do Anything? 

Start with the line – ‘If I could do anything’, from the point of view of one of the following people – delivery person, student, politician, a single parent, an animal.

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Book Extract: The Evacuee’s Secret by Deborah Klee

I’m pleased to be welcoming Deborah Klee back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The Evacuee’s Secret.

A forgotten village. A dangerous secret. A love that defies time.

In a Yorkshire village, condemned to be flooded as a reservoir, WW11 evacuee, Louise Pearson, commits a crime with devastating consequences.

A secret that keeps her away from her childhood home and her best friend and soul mate, Richard, for twenty years. 

In 1965, fleeing a dangerous marriage, Louise returns to Yorkshire assuming a new identity. But the village she once knew and loved is about to be submerged to create a reservoir. 

As the waters rise, so do the ghosts of her past. 

Will Louise uncover the strength to face her demons and reclaim the love she left behind? Or will the secrets that surface pull her under forever?

A heart-breaking story of love, loss and betrayal.

 

Deborah has shared an extract from The Evacuee’s Secret with us today. We hope you enjoy. 

 

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

 

I am sharing the prologue to The Evacuee’s Secret, where we meet Louise as a fourteen-year-old evacuee in 1945. The story then moves to 1965 where thirty-four-year-old Louise has lived with a secret for twenty years. A secret that has kept her away from her soulmate and best friend Dicky. When Louise’s gangster husband threatens to expose her secret, Louise is compelled to return to Thorncrest, just as the valley is about to be flooded to create a reservoir.

*****

May 1945

Louise stood outside the farmhouse door, a cardboard suitcase at her feet. Her lower lip trembled, the lump in her throat painful. She couldn’t stop shivering; her bones felt cold as ice. Did they already know what she had done? Joan told her last night that she was being sent back to London. Louise assumed that meant she was going back home to Mum, but what if she was being sent to prison?

Louise turned to go back into the farmhouse to ask Joan, just to make sure, but the Red Cross lady came out. ‘Okay. Jump in the car.’

No goodbyes. Becks Farm had been her home, Ma and Pa, her family, since she was evacuated from London, two years and seven months ago.

One of the new farmhands whistled as he clanked a couple of milk pails across the yard. Louise didn’t recognise any of the lads and Land Army girls helping out. Milking the cows and feeding the chickens had been her job. Now, she had no place on the farm. Ma was staying with a friend in Harrogate. Louise hadn’t seen her since the day of the accident. Pa had died in hospital. The most important people in her life––gone. And it was all her fault.

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Book Extract: Stormy Skies at the Beach Hotel by Francesca Capaldi

It’s very exciting to be welcoming Francesca Capaldi to Novel Kicks and to be kicking off the blog tour for her latest book, Stormy Skies at the Beach Hotel.

Chambermaid Fanny is thanking her lucky stars she has had a second chance at life. As an unmarried mother, it could have been very different, and she is happy.

But when new maid, Susie, arrives at the Beach Hotel, it isn’t long before sparks fly. Susie begins to meddle in Fanny’s friendships and even in her budding romance with Walter, an American working at the aerodrome.

Meanwhile, a flu epidemic starts to spread and as more people fall ill, the hotel is forced to close.

Matters come to a head when Susie plots to reveal secrets about Fanny that could spell her ruin.

Can the hotel and the hardworking women who run it survive?

 

To celebrate publication day, Francesca has shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy. 

 

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

 

Fanny Bullen, who’s the head chambermaid at the Beach Hotel, is having an afternoon off with her two-year-old toddler, Elsie, by the seaside.

*****

Fanny looked out at the wide expanse of wet sand leading to a low tide. Beyond that, the sea was a dark, muddy green. She closed her eyes and breathed in the sea air. There were only around half a dozen stalls and tents along the promenade today, with it still being April.

‘Will there be Punen Juicy?’ Elsie asked.

‘Punch and Judy. Not today, sweetie.’

Elsie stuck out her bottom lip but seemed to accept it.

‘We’ll take a walk to the pier and see what’s down there.’

‘All wight, Mummy.’

The tent closest to the pier housed a fortune teller. Fanny wondered what ‘Madame Giovanna’ might tell her about her future. More than likely, she’d grow old being the head chambermaid.

Elsie stopped. ‘Mummy, that noise ’gain.’ She pointed out to sea.

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Novel Kicks Writing Room: Scenes From Different Genres

Hello Wednesday and welcome to another Novel Kicks Writing Room.

For our exercise today, I thought it would be interesting to write and then rewrite.

Pick from the following genres – Romance, Thriller, Dystopian or Fantasy.

Write a scene which includes the following details:

A open envelope with an address scribbled on it in unfamilar handwriting.

A library with sunlight coming in from the window.

A muddy footprint.

Once you’ve written your scene, pick another genre from the list above and rewrite your scene. Once you’ve done that, pick another genre and rewrite the scene again.

Write a minimum of 10 minutes each time. How different or similar did each one seem? Was one genre easier than the others? I’d love to know how you got on in the comments below.

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Book Review: Finding Love at the Magical Curiosity Shop by Jaimie Admans

I’m very excited to be welcoming Jaimie Admans back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for the latest book in the Ever After Street series, Finding Love at the Magical Curiosity Shop.

In a shop full of stories, some magic is real.

Mickey Teasdale loves her quaint curiosity shop, where every item feels magical to her. She loves imagining the past owners of her knick-knacks and telling her made-up tales to customers, but lately, the magic has dimmed; the shop feels cluttered, and even her stories seem as worn as the items she sells.

Everything changes when the grumpiest customer Mickey’s ever met—single dad Ren Montague—walks in with his surly teen daughter, Ava. Ren hates mess and clutter and prefers order and calm, but he’ll do anything to see Ava smile. Yet, something shifts in him when he meets Mickey, who seems like she stepped out of her very own fairy tale.

When Ava discovers a secret diary, hidden from years long ago, she and Mickey believe it must have once belonged to a real-life mermaid! Ever sceptical, Ren tries to protect Ava from disappointment, but as they unravel the mystery together, something special happens…

Ren learns that happy ever afters still exist if you’re brave enough to look for them, and Mickey discovers that real-life can sometimes be way more magical than anything she could have ever imagined.

*****

Mickey adores her shop on Ever After Street. Carrying on her father’s legacy is important to her and she loves making up stories for all the items within. 

However, when she meets Ren and his daughter, Ava, she begins to wonder if her life is on the right track after all. 

Yay, a new book in the Ever After series. Not only that, this one is influenced by The Little Mermaid – not only the first Disney film I owned but the first VHS tape I had. Yep, I’m that old. Haha. 

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Novel Kicks Book Club: The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh

Hello June, it’s lovely to see you. 

I am very excited about the pick for this month’s book club. It’s The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh and is the first novel in the DC Morgan Mysteries.

I am such a fan of thrillers and of this author. I hope you join me below in the book discussion. I have posted a question to kick things off.

Anyone can take part in the Novel Kicks book club and at any point in the month. Don’t worry if you’ve not read it yet, our book club runs all month.

 

So, what’s the book about? 

On New Year’s Eve, Rhys Lloyd has a house full of guests.

His lakeside holiday homes are a success, and he’s generously invited the village to drink champagne with their wealthy new neighbours. This will be the party to end all parties.

But not everyone is there to celebrate. By midnight, Rhys will be floating dead in the freezing waters of the lake.

On New Year’s Day, DC Ffion Morgan has a village full of suspects.

The tiny community is her home, so the suspects are her neighbours, friends and family – and Ffion has her own secrets to protect.

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Book Extract: The Santorini Writing Retreat by Eva Glyn

It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Eva Glyn to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book,  The Santorini Writing Retreat.

Secrets make the best stories…

Three women, one writing retreat, endless possibilities…

Bestselling author Jessica Rose needs to escape from a terrible secret that’s robbed her of her creativity. Could leading a retreat on a gorgeous Greek island be just what she needs?

Coming home to Santorini was never in Zina’s plans, but now she’s determined to make her new business a success.

And then there’s Karmela, who just wants to write her book and make her mother proud.

In the heat of their Greek island paradise, these new friends find the courage to shape their own stories, and write endings they can all be proud of…

 

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

 

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

 

There are three viewpoint characters in The Santorini Writing Retreat; Jo, the author with a terrible secret who leads it, Zina who owns the Retreat House and is desperate for her new business to succeed, and Karmela who just wants to write her book. Here we meet Karmela for the first time, as she arrives in Santorini by ferry.

 

Karmela jumped as something cold and wet nudged her leg. Looking down, she met the amber eyes of an almost silver greyhound, which was gazing up at her with an adoring expression. Without thinking, she reached to stroke its head.

Hej ti,” she murmured softly.

A male voice came from above, slightly overloud and English. “I am so sorry.” He spoke slowly and left a gap between each word.

“It is OK,” she told him. “I speak your language.”

“Then I’m sorry again.”

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Book Extract: The Death & Life of Lucy Westenra by Rosie Fiore

I’m so happy to be welcoming Rosie Fiore to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The Death & Life of Lucy Westenra.

What desperate steps will Lucy Westenra take to save her own life?

Hillingham in Hampstead, once the home of the well-to-do Westenra family, is now divided into apartments. When teacher Kate Balcombe sets about renovating her flat in the attic, she finds an unsent letter written 130 years before by Lucy, the nineteen-year-old daughter of the house.

You may know Lucy from Bram Stoker’s Dracula… a pretty, flirtatious girl with three ardent suitors, she is Mina Harker’s best friend. When Lucy falls mysteriously ill and dies, Van Helsing identifies her as a victim of the vampire.

But what if the monsters who hunt Lucy are much closer to home?

As Kate begins to investigate Lucy’s story, she meets James Harker, Mina’s great-great grandson, and together they uncover a long-hidden story of deception and murder. 

 

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

 

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

 

This is the opening of the novel. It features two letters: one from Lucy Westenra to her friend Mina (in 1894), one from Noni Rosen, who lived in a flat in the same house in the 1980s, and the opening of a chapter told from the perspective of Noni’ s daughter, Kate, in 2024.

 

Prologue

 

Letter from L.W. To Mina Harker

14 September 1894

Hillingham

Dear Mina,

I am so weak; I think I may not recover. Can you come to me? I know Jonathan needs you, but I am in terror for my life.

Oh Mina, I have never felt so alone. Mother is weak and frail and can offer me no aid. I pleaded with the Professor, but he scorned me and dismissed my words as the delirious ravings of a child.

I watch my window every night, waiting for that ominous shadow. I feel certain that he will return soon. Every time I try to sleep, I sense his dark eyes on me, slicing my skin like hot blades. He is relentless and I know that should he gain entry here once more, he will have no mercy.

I think if you came and came soon, there is a chance we could plan my escape. Although he knows of our friendship, I believe I might be safe if I came to Exeter to be with you. I have considered fleeing to Whitby, but of course he would know to follow me there.

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Book Extract: Not My Valentine by Tony Bassett

I’m pleased to be welcoming Tony Bassett to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for Not My Valentine, book seven in the Detective Roy & Roscoe crime fiction series. 

The most romantic day of the year turns into a nightmare…

Having returned from a date with her new boyfriend, Lydia is fatally attacked in her home. A burglary gone wrong or a planned assault?

Detectives from Heart of England Police investigate and try to find out more about the victim. She was much loved by family and colleagues. But maybe someone loved her too much.

Attention turns to Lydia’s boyfriend, Roman, when it transpires that he is the son of a local crime boss known to associate with the feared West Side Gang.

DS Sunita Roy believes he is hiding something, but will have to tread carefully – the criminals have connections in the force.

Despite having strong intuition, Roy is struggling. There is something missing from the picture and it could be a secret taken to the grave.

 

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

 

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

 

Detective Sergeant Sunita Roy and her boyfriend, DI Tom Vickers, have raced to an address in West Bromwich amid fears that Aiden Pagett, a key witness in a murder case, may have been shot in a drive-by shooting. They are about to discover that the shooting is being investigated by DI Laura McLachlan from a different force, West Midlands Police.

 

CHAPTER 25

 

Sunita thrust her warrant card in front of a stern-faced constable standing behind the cordon. ‘DS Roy, Heart of England CID,’ she said. ‘Do you know who’s the SIO here?’

‘That would be DI McLachlan,’ he replied. ‘She’s just over there, speaking to one of the SOCOs.’

They observed a tall, slim woman in a blue-quilted jacket standing halfway along the front path outside Pagett’s home. A white tent covered the front doorway and porch.

As soon as she saw them approaching, McLachlan ended her conversation and turned towards them. ‘Can I help you?’ she asked with a vague smile.

‘We’re from Heart of England,’ Sunita explained, showing her warrant card again. ‘DS Roy and DI Vickers. I was here just a few hours ago in connection with one of our cases.’

‘Really?’ replied the inspector, shaking both their hands. ‘DI Laura McLachlan, West Midlands Homicide Unit.’

‘We’re looking into the Lydia Squires murder in Worcester.’

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Book Extract: Joyful June Journeys by Stephanie Wood

I am delighted to be welcoming Stephanie Wood to Novel Kicks as we celebrate the publication day for her book, Joyful June Journeys. 

Chrissie is escaping to the Greek Retreat to avoid some of the issues her parents have left her to deal with at home. She hopes that visiting a new location will give her a different perspective and help her to find a way forward.

The Greek island of Kynos is an idyllic hideaway, offering its visitors the space and time needed to truly appreciate the traditional hospitality. The locals are always friendly and ready to entertain their guests, while the daily activities offer many different ways to explore the island and its heritage.

Chrissie is hoping The Retreat will help to focus her mind and stop her procrastination, but will she become distracted by the friendly locals?

The Greek Retreat is a trilogy of standalone tales full of sunshine, surprises and love.

 

Stephanie has shared an extract from Joyful June Journeys with us today. We hope you enjoy. 

 

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

 

Chrissie has decided to go on a bike ride to discover what lies further out from the local village where she has been spending most of her time.

The first part of the journey was familiar, as she took the road towards the village, but then she just kept going once she passed the usual turning.

Soon afterwards, she climbed a slight hill without too much effort and from there she was blessed with a 360degree view of the nearby fields, full of leafy goodness in all directions. There was an abundance of fruit and vegetables as far as she could see and as the breeze blew across the tip of each plant, she was bombarded with a remarkable mixture of aromas which were both tantalising and mysterious.

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Book Extract: This Ruined Place by Michael Lawrence

I’m pleased to be welcoming Michael Lawrence to Novel Kicks as we shine a light on his book, This Ruined Place.

Evy Miller thinks a summer with her grandparents in sleepy Dorset will be painfully dull. Her suspicions are confirmed when Juby, a wild-haired, lanky old man, strolls through her grandparents’ doorway. At first, she thinks he’s nothing more than an odd duck who charms her grandmother and annoys her grandfather. The last thing she expects is to become his companion on visits to the small village of Rouklye, whose entire population was evicted during WWII.

She has no idea that the reason for Juby’s visits will become a defining moment in her life and change her understanding of history and her own family forever.

 

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

 

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

 

The following excerpt is from This Ruined Place by Michael Lawrence. The teenaged main character, Midge, is visiting the ruined village of Rouklye with her elderly companion, Juby.

 *****

There were several adjoining cottages beyond the wall. A much smaller building at the near end of them, a shed of sorts, was the only one with a door and roof. The roof was topped with crudely-cut gray slate, and on the equally rustic door, which was padlocked, a notice asked visitors not to pick the wild flowers, a request that might have amused Midge if shed been in an easily-amused mood because there were no flowers in the immediate vicinity, wild or tame.

Juby had gone straight to the second cottage along, where he stooped to look in the doorway. Post office and village shop,he informed her as she drew near.

He ducked inside. Following with a long-suffering sigh, she found a crumbling interior open to the skies, ivy reaching across exposed walls to which ragged portions of ancient plaster clung, an iron fire-grate teetering on a ledge where a ceiling and upper floor had once been, and beneath their feet ailing weeds between uneven gray paving slabs, while year-old leaves crunched underfoot. The place smelt of nettles and moss, the dust of an overheated summer.

Looks bigger empty,Juby said. When the counter was in, shelves stocked, customer or two chatting, it was a right jam in here.

Sunlight entered the broken building in tall bright spirals, picking out hovering dust motes. Watching the dusts leisurely dance, Midges mind wandered. Her thoughts were still adrift when the whispers started. Whispers so indistinct that they registered only gradually; but once her attention was caught she glanced about for whoever it was that had followed them in.

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Book Extract: Wicket Maiden by Chrissie Harrison

It’s a pleaure to be welcoming Chrissie Harrison to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for Wicket Maiden.

Wicket Maiden is a groundbreaking romantic comedy set in the world of women’s cricket.

It’s the start of a new season for professional women’s cricket team The Scorpions.

Acclaimed batter Ellie, 32, is returning to the game after a long injury, determined to regain her form and her place in the England squad. This is her last chance, and she won’t let anything stand in her way.

Cricket fan Adam, 34, an artist and photographer, has followed Ellie and the team through highs and lows. He’s drawn to her talent, athleticism and public persona – but is content to be a face in the crowd, cheering her on. He’d never date a famous person, anyway.

When events on and off the pitch bring Ellie and Adam together, friendship blossoms, and their careers initially soar. Yet, with romance in the air, Ellie loses focus, jeopardising her dream.

What’s more important to them both – love, or cricket?

A share of the book’s royalties will be donated to pertinent clubs and organisations who champion the development of grassroots, girls’ and women’s cricket.

The story echoes the film “Notting Hill” – the challenge of love between a ‘star’ and a ‘normal person’.

The book touches on the good and bad sides of fame, and shines a light on women’s cricket – the mental and physical challenges, pressure of relentless media attention, community outreach, fan engagement, and the finite nature of the career of professional athletes. Above this, it is, of course, a love story.

The book is a non-spicy romance, and also includes neurodiversity and epilepsy representation.

 

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

 

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

 

Professional cricketer Ellie is visiting a friend at a local art gallery. Killing time, she (literally) bumps into a familiar face – one of the fans she often sees at matches. They’ve barely shared a few words over the years, and she doesn’t even know his name, let alone his job. Ellie, conversely, is known by him and millions of others…

 

A wide doorway led to a rear annex, with a sign proclaiming “Exhibition – Adam Glenn – Maidstone Artist”. Ellie nosed into the room. Only three people were inside, all nodding appreciatively beside a pop art style painting of a woman taking a selfie.

We’re now all masters of creating our own fame.

Another exhibit stopped Ellie in her tracks. Pride of place on the far wall was a brilliant and charismatic rendition of former England bowler James Anderson. The painting gushed with vigour and personality, movement and expression.

Wow.

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NK Chats To…Kay Seeley

Hello Kay. Thank you so much for joining me today. Can you tell me about your latest book, Troubled Times for Tilly and what inspired it?

Troubled Times for Tilly is a follow up to my first book, The Water Gypsy. Lots of readers asked me what happened to the little boy, Joey, and I wanted to know what happened to him too, so that was the beginning of Troubled Times for Tilly. It’s about Joey growing up straddled between two different worlds and not belonging in either of them.

 

Troubled Times for Tilly is part of The Water Gypsy Books. What are the challenges of writing a novel when it is part of a series?

The main problem is deciding how much of the first book to include. Obviously, the characters are the same, so their backstory is important, but I don’t want to include any spoilers for people who haven’t read the first book, nor do I want it to feel repetitive for readers who have. It’s a fine balance.

 

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

I don’t write every day. I tend to write in the morning and draft the next part of the novel in the afternoon. I often draft by hand and type up the next day. I don’t have a typical writing day.

 

What’s your favourite word and why?

Insight – the reorganisation of perceptions so that what was once seen as separate elements are suddenly seen as connected and relating to one another to form a whole. To my mind that’s what storytelling is all about – giving people insight into things they never considered to be connected.

 

From idea to finished final draft, how long does a writing project usually take you?

I write slowly so each book takes a year. I only write one book a year.

 

How do you approach the research and editing stages? When do you know when you’ve done enough of both?

I love research and finding out about things, so I probably do too much. For example, in Troubled Times for Tilly Joey is a Naval Cadet so I visited The Royal Naval College in Greenwich (part of which is now Greenwich University) to get a fee of the atmosphere of the place. I learned snippets of information that go into the book. As for editing – it’s never enough.

 

If you could witness an historical event, where would you go?

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Book Review: Sunshine After the Rain by Jessica Redland

I’m very excited to be welcoming Jessica Redland back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Sunshine After the Rain.

Melanie knows she’s been running away…

For the last seven years Mel has been hiding; from life, from her friends and from those who love her the most – her family. But being at home in her beloved Lake District has been far too painful for Mel to contemplate. Because seven years ago, Mel lost everything and she’s never been able to banish the dark clouds that follow her.

But maybe there really is no place like home?

When Mel returns to Willowdale for a family event, she has no intention of staying. But surrounded by her family she begins to realise just how much she’s been missing and also, how much healing she still needs to do.

Starting a dream job at Willowdale Hall, going on walks with Emma and her funny alpacas and reconnecting with those she loves, Mel slowly begins to see chinks of light and a more hopeful and happier future ahead.

And as Mel begins to feel stronger, she also feels brave enough to face the most painful part of leaving home…the one man she has always loved. With his help, can she finally banish the dark clouds forever and see the sunshine after the rain?

*****

Mel knows she has been hiding but can she really return home to Willowdale for good when there are so many bad memories? 

I absolutely adore Jessica Redland’s novels so the chance to be on the blog tour for the latest instalment in the Escape to the Lakes series was something I couldn’t pass up. 

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Book Review: The Cornish Cottage by the Sea by Kim Nash

I’m so happy to be welcoming Kim Nash back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The Cornish Cottage by the Sea.

A new start by the sea…

For Jo Jenkins, life has always been about putting others first. But with her children grown and her ex-husband as rotten as ever, she knows it’s time to put herself at the heart of the story. So, when she inherits a beautiful beachside cottage in Cornwall, she grabs the chance to start over.

The crumbling old cottage needs a little love, but so does Jo. And with the help of her new friends – a kind-hearted jeweller, a no-nonsense businesswoman, and a local Jack of all trades with a past of his own – Jo begins to rebuild more than just bricks and mortar.

But tucked away inside the cottage is a secret that could change everything. As the waves roll in and the sea air clears her mind, Jo must decide if she’s ready to let go of the past. Will she finally learn to embrace the life she truly deserves?

*****

After her husband leaves her for her best friend, Jo Jenkins doesn’t know what to do with her life. When she is left a house in her Aunt-in-law’s will, she makes the decision to start a new life in Cornwall. However, it’s not all plain sailing and she is about to discover things that will change her life forever. 

Anyone who has followed this blog for a while will know that any chance I have to join a blog tour for a Kim Nash novel, I jump at it. This was no exception. 

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Book Review: Killer at the County Show by Kate Wells

I’m so pleased to be welcoming Kate Wells  back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Killer at the County Show – book five in the Malvern Mysteries series. 

Foul play at the sheep show…

Tensions are high at the Three Counties Show when accusations of cheating add fuel to a longstanding feud. For Jude Gray, whose only hope was to not make a fool of herself showing her Kerry Hill sheep, farming life has never been so dramatic.

When a body is found, belonging to one of the competitors, there is no shortage of suspects. Every sheep farmer in this close-knit community has a motive and beneath their show-ready smiles, they all have something to hide.

Experience has taught Jude that when there’s a murderer at large, nobody is truly safe. And with secrets simmering beneath the surface, this may be her most challenging investigation yet. Can she unearth the truth before it’s too late?

A gripping new instalment in the Malvern Farm Mystery series, perfect for fans of Frances Evesham, Merryn Allingham, and Faith Martin.

*****

When a farmer is murdered at the Three Counties Fare it rocks the small farming community and sets people to gossiping and suspecting their neighbours. Was it the annoying, do-gooder celebrity who bought a farm or one of the other farmers down on their luck? Jude, a sheep farmer and best friend of a local police detective has her suspicions and cannot help but get involved.

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Book Review: The Missing Ones by Anita Waller

Please join me in welcoming Anita Waller to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The Missing Ones.

Ray Eke has always found peace in his job, collecting litter for the city council. Until the day he finds the brutalized, bloodless body of a girl on his round. He recognizes her immediately too. Lauren Pascoe went missing three years before.

It’s also clear she hasn’t been lying on the roadside verge all this time. Someone’s clearly been holding her prisoner. Keeping her as their very special toy.

The police know it couldn’t have been Ray, whose gentle heart is obvious to all. But then another girl is taken. And she’s someone who Ray had a connection to, back in his previous job as an accountant, before his breakdown…

The twists in this novel are guaranteed to leave readers with their jaws on the floor. Just when you think you know who the killer is, you’ll have your mind blown!

*****

DI Chris Chandler is new to Sheffield, having just started a new job with an unfamilar team. When the body of a woman who has been missing for three years is found near the police station, he has to jump in at the deep end. Then, a second girl goes missing. The cases can’t be linked… can they?

I was so pleased to be invite onto this blog tour. Having been a big fan of Anita Waller’s previous novel, The Girls Next Door, I was very eager to get started on her latest book, The Missing Ones.

Wow! That’s what I have to say about this book. This is a psychological thriller at its best. I pretty much read this in one sitting, holding onto my kindle so tightly, my fingers lost blood flow. The plot grabbed me and pulled me in and wouldn’t let go.

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NK Chats To… Jon Rance

Hi Jon. Happy publication day. Thank you so much for joining me and for inviting Novel Kicks onto your blog tour. Can you tell me a little about your latest novel, Not Moving Out and what inspired it?

Hello, and thank you so much for having me on Novel Kicks! It’s a real pleasure to be here. My new novel, Not Moving Out, comes out on May 15th and I am very excited about it. Set in Brighton, it’s the story of Freya, Joe and their daughter Dolly. Freya and Joe have decided that after twenty years, their marriage is over. The problem is that Dolly still needs to live at home for another six months before she leaves for university, and they can’t afford for either of them to move out. So for six months, they are all forced to live together. The question is, will living together but separated make them both realise things about themselves and their relationship that might save their marriage? There are also various other plotlines that keep things ticking along with the most prominent one being Joe, a once successful but now failed comedy writer, using their new living situation as the basis for a sitcom – without telling Freya about it, of course.

I was inspired to write this book after reading a few articles about couples that wanted to separate, but for financial reasons had to keep living under the same roof. I thought it would be a really interesting dynamic for a romantic comedy.

 

Which songs would feature on a playlist for this book?

A great question. If you read my previous book, One Hundred Moments Of Us, you’ll know that it had a very strong playlist. I even created a playlist for it on Spotify! There are two Snow Patrol songs in this book. Chasing Cars, which is one of my favourite songs of all time and, You Could Be Happy. Also mentioned in the book are ABBA, so let’s go with Take A Chance On Me because it’s a great song and also the title fits into the theme of the book. In Not Moving Out, Joe is really into 90s Britpop music and so that would feature heavily. Perhaps some Oasis, Blur, Supergrass, and Pulp! The book has that perfect blend of humour, drama, pathos and joy, and I think that would be reflected in the song choices.

 

What’s your typical writing day like and do you have any writing rituals? How much has this changed since writing your first novel?

I do have a writing routine and it has definitely changed so much since writing my first book. My life when I was writing my first novel, This Thirtysomething Life was very different. I was working full-time, we’d just had our first baby, and writing was something I did when I got a spare five minutes. Which is why it took about 18 months to write that first book! Now I write full-time and my children are teenagers!

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Book Extract: Tucker’s Time Machine Telescope by Robin Bennett

It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Robin Bennett to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his book, Tucker’s Time Machine Telescope with illustrations by Matt Cherry. 

Thomas Tucker (or just Tucker to everyone who knows him) is walking innocently down the street when he is attacked by a chicken and falls down a hole. Unlikely as it sounds, this is how he ends up finding the Time Machine Telescope.

Unfortunately, Tucker seems to attract chaos and bad luck the same way that someone standing on top of a mountain waving a metal pole will eventually attract lightning and a free Xray.

Can he survive killer robots, Tudor kings, dinosaurs … and Kylo Hens long enough to complete his Time Machine Wish List

  • GET RICH
  • HAVE FUN!
  • GET MUM AND DAD TO SPEND LESS TIME ON THEIR MOBILE PHONES

There’s only one way to find out…

 

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

 

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

 

Chapter 1

Tucker is chased by a chicken

Thomas Tucker (or just Tucker to everyone who knew him) was walking innocently down the street near his home. Minding his own business.

Although he didn’t know it yet, this was going to the most important day of Tucker’s life.

He was on his way to see Mrs Dempsey, the lady who looked after him in the holidays. His parents worked late, and they didn’t trust him to stay on his own for more than about ten minutes without getting into some sort of terrible trouble.

They weren’t wrong about this because Tucker seemed to attract chaos and bad luck the same way that someone standing on top of a mountain waving a metal pole will eventually attract lightning and a free Xray.

As we shall find out.

The sun was warm on his face, and it made him scrunch his eyes up, so he heard the chicken before he saw it.

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Book Extract: Summer Paths: An Anthology by Seasonal Collective

It’s a pleasure to be welcoming the Seasonal Collective as we shine a light on their anthology, Summer Paths.

This, the fourth and final selection of stories, completes the Seasonal Paths series created by a consortium of best-selling and award-winning North Atlantic writers.

In this anthology you will encounter unintentioned consequences, love in later life, the pull of family dynamics, misguided assumptions and murderous soulmates.

These yarns will take you to new worlds, into a ghostly abyss, across an ocean in pursuit of truth and into the darkness of ancient beliefs.

Make yourself comfortable and surrender to these multi-styled tales, all linked by the theme of summer, within the covers of this book. You will be surprised and entertained by what you find.

 

The Seasonal Collective has kindly shared an extract from Pierre C. Arseneault’s, The Year of the Goat with us today. We hope you enjoy. 

 

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

 

I like to tell people, I loved Gus and his motley crew so much that I wanted to tell another tale with this same cast and so I wrote this comedy called The Year of the Goat in Summer Paths as a sequel to Melvin in Winter Paths.

 

The Year of the Goat

By Pierre C. Arseneault

A dry, cracking sound echoed through the sultry morning air as the wooden baseball bat connected with the softball. Much of the crowd in the bleachers stood, cheering as the ten-year-old girl dropped the bat and ran for first base.

“The kid’s good,” Harvey said, stuffing his age-spotted hands into his jacket pockets as he stood next to the chain-link fence that circled the baseball field.

“Isn’t that Scooter’s granddaughter?” Gus asked, lifting his beige bucket hat and wiping the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief. He wondered how Harvey could wear long pants and a jacket on such a hot summer’s day.

“Over here!” Gus heard a familiar voice shout. Turning his attention to the bleachers, he saw his friend, nicknamed Scooter since early childhood. He’d been the only kid in the area who’d had a push scooter instead of a bicycle. Scooter straightened and waved excitedly while shouting, the wispy white hairs that ringed his baldpate fluttering in the warm breeze. “Did you see that?”

Gus’s knees creaked as he followed Harvey up the side of the weather-beaten bleachers of the old ballpark.

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Book Extract & Giveaway: You Can’t Hurry Love by Susan Buchanan

It’s a delight to be welcoming Susan Buchanan back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, You Can’t Hurry Love.

A delicious friends to lovers, forced proximity, workplace romance for 2025.

A 30th birthday celebration. A sloth sanctuary in Costa Rica. A split-second decision.

When Kat MacDonald takes the trip of a lifetime to Costa Rica, she doesn’t count on ditching her dead-end job, sending her uber-controlling boyfriend packing and volunteering at a sloth sanctuary.
But when she finally meets the swoon-worthy assistant manager Dexter, the chemistry between them is unmistakeable and sparks fly. Despite a rival for his affections, and her ex’s inability to know when to give up, she and Dexter are drawn to each other like magnets.
Just as she’s settling into life at the sanctuary and making friends, a letter arrives from back home in Scotland. A letter which could both upset her new plans and give her everything she has ever wanted. Everything except Dexter.
Kat is torn: should she stay in the tropical rainforest paradise with her beloved sloths, new friends and the delectable Dexter or pursue her lifelong dream? Or can she find a way to have it all?

A fun, escapist read full of romance, beautiful scenery and humour, perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Beth O’Leary Leonie Mack and Portia MacIntosh.

 

There’s a chance to win a copy of You Can’t Hurry Love but first, Susan has shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy. 

 

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

 

Kat has just arrived at the sloth sanctuary and is being shown around by the owner, Carlos. She has just clocked someone trying to catch his attention.

‘Excuse me a second, Kat. My deputy manager needs to speak to me.’

‘No problem.’ I cast my glance back towards the gorgeous guy he’s heading towards and he catches me. Oops. Busted. But his lips curve into a smile before I look away. Interesting.

I stand and listen to the questions from the school group, my brain whirring as it tries to work out some of the more difficult terms. I love that the word for sloth in Spanish is ‘perezoso’ – basically ‘lazy’, or ‘oso perezoso’ – a lazy bear. And the sloths are so sweet. It’s so relaxed here I almost feel a bit ‘perezosa’ myself. It’s hot, though. I could do with a cold drink.

I’m suddenly aware of a delicious, spicy aftershave and I turn my head slightly to discover the gorgeous guy is now standing beside me.

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Book Extract: The Throne of Ash by Lissy Porter

It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Lissy Porter to Novel Kicks and the blog blitz for their latest book, The Throne of Ash. 

The Throne of Ash – A thrilling Tudor-esque fantasy with all the deceit, politics and Courtly romance of the Tudor era

A Queen. A Princess. And a Consort who must be chosen to ensure the future of the Throne of Ash.

The Queen’s Face masks all—even the woman who wears it. None may see her without it, not even her Consort responsible for ensuring she brings forth a healthy daughter to succeed her. If he fails, being cast aside is the most favourable of outcomes.

When Queen Cecily unknowingly determines on her sister’s lover as her Consort, ambition, jealousy, and the demands of courtly etiquette threaten the stability of the Throne of Ash.

Princess Bess knows only too well her responsibilities towards her sister, the queen, but when one of the powerful noble Houses attempts to ensnare both sisters with one lover, there can only ever be one winner.

The Throne of Ash is a Tudor-esque fantasy in which women rule, and men are kept in the background, of little use, except when a Consort must be chosen. Then, court intrigues, and politics come to the fore in a deadly game of politics and etiquette that sets sister against sister.

 

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

 

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

 

In this excerpt we see Princess Elizabeth painting her sister, Queen Cecily, for a royal portrait. The queen has been absent from court for some days, following the revelation her Consort might not be who he seems to be.

The next time I see the queen, she greets me regally. If her expression, behind the Queen’s Face, is more rigid than usual, I hardly blame her. There have been no court appointments for three days. In that time she’s kept herself within her apartment, and now appears before everyone once more in the Queen’s Hall.

Unwillingly, I admit she’s played her hand well. In her finery she wishes to be painted wearing, she looks every inch the rightful and regal queen of Ash. No matter the swell of her belly, which she doesn’t so much hide as obscure beneath her gown, she presents herself as perfectly in command and above reproach.

Rumours regarding the likely outcome of Lady Alice’s fate are running like fire throughout the palace. All believe she’ll be executed. Few have anything good to say for her, although Lady Mary assures me there are many who are worried about the full accounting the queen has ordered. It appears, the House of Fish weren’t alone in pretending children belonged to them when they didn’t. Not, of course, that any can debate the legitimacy of the claims of me and the queen. We were acknowledged at birth by my grandmother, who witnessed our arrival into the world, if not our creation. For which I’m quite grateful. I imagine my mother and father were as well. Now, I’m pleased my grandmother was so assiduous in performing her duties.

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Book Review: Their Second Chance Season by Ella Matthews

I’m pleased to be welcoming Ella Matthews to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book,  Their Second Chance Season.

Can a ballroom reunion… Lead to a union at the altar?

War hero James Ashworth needs a rich wife to restore his family’s fortune. Despite the scars battle left on his soul, he’ll do his duty—even if everywhere he turns, he sees the woman he loved and lost…

Meeting James catapults widow Amelia back to the past— the letters he stopped responding to while at Waterloo and her subsequent forced marriage. Yet, when she discovers her father’s role in the Ashworths’ misfortune, she’s compelled to help—even if she has no intention of falling for the man who broke her heart!

*****

It’s 1816. Amelia Washbrook, the widow of the late Lord Mortram is determined to start enjoying life. This doesn’t stop her worrying as her sister, Sienna, makes her debut season in the Ton. Things are made even more complicated when James Ashworth returns to society. Can she avoid the man who broke her heart? 

I do love myself a regency themed novel and couldn’t wait to get started on Their Second Chance Season. 

Although this is the third book in the A Season to Wed series, it can be read as a standalone and there was never any point where I felt I was missing information. This was also my introduction to Ella Matthews. 

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NK Chats To…Hywela Lyn (Plus Giveaway To Win A Copy Of The Matchmaker’s Mare)

Hi Hywela. Thank you so much for joining me today. Can you tell us a little about your latest book, The Matchmaker’s Mare and what inspired it?

Thank you so much for being part of my blog tour, Laura. To answer your question, I usually manage to get a horse somewhere in my stories, even the Science fiction Romances, so it was natural that I should think about writing a novel with horses as a large part of the plot. I had written short stories about horses, and one, written many years ago,  was about a witch’s pony. I’d been thinking about writing a ghost story, and the witch became a matchmaking spirit. I set it in my native Wales and gradually the other characters developed and, of course, it became a romance -I am an unashamed romantic! Neither the pony or the ghosts in the story are scary, in fact one of them is quite mischievous and the matchmaker has her hands full keeping him in check while trying to get the two main characters to realise they are meant for each other!

 

What’s your favourite and least favourite words and why?

Favourite  – Romance. Naturally since I’m a romance writer. The world needs more romance!

Least favourite – Literally. It’s used far too much and often incorrectly. I heard someone on the radio the other day say they were ‘literally on another planet’. Wow – I’m surprised that didn’t make headline news! 😊

 

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

I don’t really have a typical writing day and I actually write better at night! I’ve always been something of a night owl. I like to have a clear head when I write and not have to worry about jobs I haven’t done, so it’s usually quite late when I start writing, and then I get so absorbed I lose all track of time! I don’t think I actually have any rituals, except I like to have music on low in the background.

 

From idea to finished novel, how long does the process take you? How do you know when you’ve done enough research and editing?

 At least a year. I am not a fast writer. I mull it over in my mind for a long time before I start writing. I usually get the  first draft done fairly quickly, after researching and making a lot of notes. I like to do the research before I start writing, so as not to interrupt ‘the flow’. Then I write and rewrite before I feel it’s fit to send to beta readers. Then I rewrite again, taking on board all the comments I feel are relevant. Then I give it a few more polishes before I feel I can submit it to my publisher. I find it very hard to know when to stop and never really feel it’s good enough.

 

Do you have any advice to combat writers block?

LOL – I could say a long ride on a horse works wonders! Of course not every writer is fortunate enough to be able to do that, but a long walk is just as good. Anything to clear one’s mind. Gardening perhaps, or even reading something not connected with what you’re writing at the time. I usually find that when I stop trying to work out the problem that’s causing the block, the solution will pop into my head when I stop thinking about it!

 

In your opinion, what are the most common mistakes new writers make?

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NK Chats To… Jason Powell

Hi Jason, thank you so much for joining me today. Can you tell me about your book, No Man’s Ghost and what inspired it?

Hi Laura. Thank you for the invite. No Man’s Ghost is the story of two strangers. The first, Charles Davids: a probationary firefighter, starting his first week in his firehouse after graduating the academy. Charles is excited to be a firefighter but is worried that he may not be completely prepared. Sure, he passed the academy, but he was never really in danger there. What if he can’t cut it in real life?

The second is Alan Johnson, a poor excuse for a husband who gets kicked out of his home by his wife and her best friend for being a poor excuse for a husband. He decides to get revenge by calling in false alarms for fire in his now former apartment every night just to disturb her. If he can’t sleep there, why the hell should she? Alan’s path crosses with Charles’s when eventually he decides that fake fires aren’t enough.

 

Being a firefighter yourself (which is amazing by the way), did this help you with the themes and subject matter of the novel or did it add additional pressure/level of responsibly to the narrative?

Yes, and Yes. There’s a saying in the fire service that goes, “Let no man’s ghost return to say my training let me down.” When a firefighter is on probation, a lot of pressure is put on them to train and learn and work towards proficiency on the job, because once a call comes in, they’re an important part of the team.

Whatever function they’ll perform on that call is their responsibility alone. That can be an intimidating truth when you’re new. Members with time on the job know that, and it’s a balance trying to show the probie that, yes, you need to take your job seriously because the community and our own families need you to be good at your job, but also, you’re not doing any of this alone. There’s always a team to help you. I think the core of that lesson can be true for life as well.

I wanted to do the fire service justice by showing how important and serious a career it is, but I also wanted to make the story relatable. I think readers will find a lot of themselves and their loved ones in Charles and the other characters. Even Alan.

 

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

Don’t have one. I work 24-hour shifts at the firehouse that either start at 9am on one day and end at 9am the next; or it starts at 6pm the first day and ends at 6 the next. The days of the week that I work aren’t the same each week, either. If the 24 is busy, when it’s done, I’ll go home and go to bed for a few hours.

There are days when all my morning hours are on the truck and I don’t get time to write until the afternoon. Then there are days when I start my morning at home, and I’ll write until I go to work. On my days off, I write when I’m not tired. I try and devote a minimum of an hour to writing every day, but I don’t decide which hour that will be until the time comes.

 

From idea to finished book, how long did it take you to complete this novel?

No Man’s Ghost took 9 months of actual writing time. Unfortunately, I lost a good friend of mine at a fire we were fighting in Harlem during that time. For a few months I didn’t do anything productive. But after a while writing, felt like a path to peace, and it served as an enjoyable distraction. So, I started then stopped then finished. The time it took, not including the stop, was nine months.

 

What was your approach to the research and editing processes? How do you know when you’ve done enough?

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Novel Kicks Book Club: Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanna Collins

Hello May. It’s lovely to see you again.

If, like me, you live in the UK, we’ve recently been experiencing proper sunshine. When this happens, we come out of our houses to look up in awe at the bright yellow thing in the sky. We dust off the garden furniture, fire up the BBQ and make the most of the time we can spend in any outside space.

I don’t know about you but there is something so relaxing about sitting in the sun with a good novel.

I am hoping you’re as excited about this month’s book pick as I am. I believe it’s perfect for the warm days. A comfortable sofa inside also works incredibly well. Haha. I have been looking forward to reading this novel since it was announced. When I was reading the original series, the backstory of the character featured in this book intrigued me.

If you’ve not guessed by now, this month’s book is Sunrise on the Reaping, the latest Hunger Games novel by Suzanne Collins.

How do you take part in our book club I hear you ask? It’s easy. You can join us at any point in the month, whether you’re reading the book for the first time or excited to share your views having already finished it. The best part, you don’t have to even leave your house.

I’ve posted a question below to kickstart the discussion. I look forward to discussing this book with you.

 

About Sunrise on the Reaping – 

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