Novel Kicks

Novel Kicks Writing Room: You Are What You Carry

Published August 5, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room.

Today, we will be writing about a person before they embark on a journey.

A character is packing a bag. They are leaving somewhere — a city, a relationship, a job, a country — and they can only take what fits in one bag. Every object they choose to pack reveals something about who they are, what they value, and what they are willing to leave behind.

Before you start writing, decide three things about your character:

Where are they leaving?
Why are they leaving?
Are they coming back?

Write your answers in a sentence each. Keep them simple. These are your foundations, not your story.

Once you’ve done that, choose the objects:

Write a list of exactly five objects your character packs. For each one, write a single sentence explaining why they chose it. The objects should be specific and concrete — not “a book” but “a battered paperback copy of something specific with a coffee ring on the cover.” The more precise the detail, the more the object will tell the reader about the person holding it.

Now choose one object they almost pack but decide to leave behind. Write a sentence about why they put it back.

Write the scene.

Write the scene in 400–600 words. Your character is alone, packing. No dialogue. No other characters in the room. The only story is this person, this bag, and these objects.
As they pack each item, let the reader understand, through the way the character handles the object, hesitates, or moves quickly, what each one means. Don’t explain. Show.

The scene should begin with the bag empty and end with the bag zipped shut.

Have fun.

Book Extract: House of Thieves By Rachel Walkley

Published August 5, 2026 | By Laura

Please join me in welcoming Rachel Walkley to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, House of Thieves.

At Terrington Hall, objects are treasured while people are forgotten.

Chief conservator Amy is restoring the Hurly family’s guilt-stained hoard when a theft forces her to hire Harrison, a security adviser on a personal quest to uncover his own history.

Unknown to anyone, an invisible presence woven into the fabric of the house watches their every move.

When Harrison uncovers a room sealed for decades, the investigation shifts from simple theft to the resurrection of murderous secrets. In a house where the past is too heavy to escape, the dead don’t need bodies to tell their stories — they just need someone to listen.

One house. Two mysteries. Two centuries apart.

Rachel has shared an extract with us. We hope you enjoy.

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

Terrington Hall, for centuries, was home to the Hurly family until it was handed over to a charitable organisation and opened to the public for viewing. Unknown to Amy, the head of conservation and new member of staff, there is an invisible presence who continues to exist at Terrington Hall. This solitary inhabitant, waiting in the shadows, sets the scene…

*****

Since Amy’s arrival at Terrington Hall, I often stay by her, move with her, as close as possible, as if I walk her steps, breathe the air she breathes and can see what is in front of her. But I don’t feel her thoughts or touch what she does. My hopes for salvation are fuelled by her curiosity, her diligence, especially if she discovers the truth behind the thieves that once lived at Terrington.

I’ve always relied on others for companionship, to breach the loneliness of my incorporeal existence. My chief occupation is listening to their conversations. They have been generous in keeping me abreast of the changes both in and outside the house. They read newspapers and magazines, speak of things and events that are difficult for me to comprehend until one explains something complex to another in a simple manner, as if to a child.

Continue reading →

Book Review: The Secret Dressmaker By Jenny O’Brien

Published August 4, 2026 | By Laura

I’m so excited to be welcoming Jenny O’Brien back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her new book, The Secret Dressmaker.

Shelves of sequins in a kaleidoscope of colours. Bolts of silk and tulle against the back wall. The sewing room was the last place anyone had seen her daughter alive.

Northern Ireland, 1942. Flora Toussaint packs parachutes for the RAF, haunted by the twin daughters she was forced to give up eighteen years ago. When British intelligence shows her photographs of her girls – now young women in occupied Paris – her world shifts. One is safe. One has vanished. And their father, the celebrated couturier Lucien Lumineau, is suspected of collaborating with the Nazis.

Flora agrees to a dangerous mission: parachute into France, pose as a seamstress at the Moulin Rouge, and uncover the truth. Lodging above a brothel where Edith Piaf sings after hours and where Pablo Picasso still holds court, she mends costumes between shows, searches for any trace of her missing daughter between curfews, and circles closer to Lucien.

But Lucien isn’t the man she remembers. Neither is their history. And what Flora discovers will unravel everything she thought she knew – about Lucien, about her daughters, and about the night she gave them away.

A sweeping tale of wartime Paris, family secrets and impossible choices. Fans of Kate Quinn, Pam Jenoff and Kristin Hannah will be mesmerised by The Secret Dressmaker.

*****

Flora Toussaint is haunted by the choices of a past where she was persuaded to give up her twin daughters eighteen years before. When a secret mission gives her the opportunity to go back to Paris, her focus is on finding her girls, even when her simple presence in the city puts her in danger.

Having loved the first book in this series, The Resistance Knitting Club, I couldn’t wait to get going on this one. I am a big fan of novels based on true events, and I’m always intrigued to see how the author builds the fiction around the fact. In my opinion, Jenny O’ Brien is a master at it.

Continue reading →

Book Extract: The Novel Detective By Teresa Dovalpage

Published August 4, 2026 | By Laura

Please join me as we welcome Teresa Dovalpage to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, The Novel Detective.

A metafictional mystery set in Cuba past and present about a writer returning to her long-lost hometown, seeking the truth about two suspicious deaths

2020: Teresa, a Cuban-born mystery writer now living in America, gets an unexpected call from her childhood best friend, Estrella, inviting her to Havana. Estrella is determined to get answers about a case that has haunted them both for decades: the purported murder-suicide of a teacher and a student at their high school. Though Teresa doesn’t quite understand why Estrella is taking the story so personally, she’s along for the ride—as she always wanted to write a novel about this case.

1980: Fourteen-year-old Teresita, bespectacled, awkward and mystery novel–obsessed, is “nosy, but not a tattletale.” She knows who’s been skimming off the top of the amphetamine stash in her mother’s pharmacy, which teacher keeps cyanide in his cabinet at school and that their classmate Yoyi is sleeping with their English teacher. Over the course of one fateful day, Teresita gets closer than ever to learning the “Truth of Life”—her catchall term for the intricacies of adult existence—even if it means coming face to face with death.

Directly inspired by the author’s own childhood in Cuba and adult life in the United States, drawing upon the tradition of Latin American magical realism, this is a resonant tale at once personal and universal, full of nostalgia, candor and danger.

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

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

Step back into February 1980, Havana. The air is cool, the Beatles are forbidden, and shenanigans are brewing in a middle school housed inside a decaying building that happens to have its own ghost. Teresita, a ninth-grade student, practices the surveillance techniques she learned from the TV shows and Agatha Christie’s novels. Little did she know, these early lessons would be the very tools she’d need decades later to solve a crime.

* * *

It was a cool February afternoon. Around two-thirty, Teresita was in her favorite spot in the pharmacy, the storage area, reading Death on the Nile. She had finished school earlier that day. The last class period had been English, where the teacher, Felipe, had made rowdy jokes, laughed and danced Mozambique steps in the middle of the classroom, to the students’ delight. Fun! Why couldn’t all classes be like that? Technical drawing, for example . . .

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Book Extract: Perfect Moments at Duck Pond Cottage By Della Galton

Published August 3, 2026 | By Laura

It’s wonderful to be welcoming Della Galton to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Perfect Moments at Duck Pond Cottage.

When two best friends decide to share their wedding day, what could possibly go wrong?

Jade is over the moon to be tying the knot alongside her best friend, Sarah, at the stunning Bluebell Cliff Hotel in Dorset—a venue where no detail is too small and no expense is spared in the pursuit of perfection.

But as the big day draws closer, so do the complications.

A long-lost relative, a troublesome brother, and some wildly unexpected animal antics all threaten to derail the brides’ dream celebrations.

With emotions running high and chaos around every corner, their perfect day begins to unravel.

Can love and friendship hold everything together when it matters most?

I want to say happy publication day to Della. She has shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy.

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

It’s not just the humans who fall in love at Duck Pond Cottage Animal Rescue. Very often the animals get their Happy Ever After too. This is an extract showing what happens when a rescued parrot finds his forever home. Jade shows her best friend Sarah a message she’s just received from Malcolm Williams who’s rehomed Mr Spock, the parrot.

Jade saw she had a message from Malcolm Williams.

Please see attached the avian version of Love Story.

‘Ooooh, Sarah, look at this.’ Jade took her phone across the kitchen and then pressed play so they could watch the video together.

Continue reading →

Novel Kicks Book Club: The Wedding People by Alison Espach

Published August 1, 2026 | By Laura

Hello. Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Book Club.

I’m so happy to be greeting August. We are in the middle of a heatwave here in the UK and, although we are all wanting air-con we don’t have, it’s been nice to see the sun.

For me, there’s nothing better than sitting in a garden/comfortable chair with a cool drink and a good book in the other hand. I hope, with the book cub pick for this month, I have given you one of those.

This month’s pick is The Wedding People by Alison Espach.

This book sounds compelling and I can’t wait to get started.

So, how does our book club work?

Whether you’ve already read the book or will be starting it this month, all are welcome. The added bonus of our book club is that you don’t have to leave the comfort of your sofa/garden/terrace/bed to take part. I’ve added a question below to start the discussion.

I’ll see you in the comments.

About The Wedding People –

Continue reading →

Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: The Melody

Published July 31, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome to Fiction Friday, our weekly flash fiction challenge.

Here’s how it works:

Set a timer for five minutes and start writing

Keep going for as long as you can once the timer goes off

No editing allowed—raw writing only

When you’re finished, feel free to share in the comments (but there’s no pressure.)

Today’s Prompt: The Melody.

A woman is sitting alone in a café when she hears a song playing quietly in the background. She doesn’t know what it is or who it’s by, but something about it is so familiar it makes her put down her cup and stop mid-thought. She has heard this melody before, somewhere, but she cannot place it.

Write the moment she hears the song. What does the melody sound like? What physical effect does it have on her — does she hold her breath, does her hand stop moving, does the room seem to shift around her? What half-formed memory begins to surface, and why can’t she quite reach it?

Write what she does next. Does she ask someone what the song is? Does she sit with the feeling and let it wash over her? Does the memory fully arrive, or does it remain just out of reach? Has something changed in her by the time she leaves the café, even if she can’t explain what?

If you want to make it even more interesting, you could consider the following –

The song could remain unidentified throughout the story.
The story could end on a single sensory detail — something she sees, hears, tastes, touches, or smells — not a thought.

As always, have fun.

Book Extract: House of Twisted Shadows By J.H.Mann

Published July 30, 2026 | By Laura

It’s so exciting to be welcoming J.H.Mann to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his latest book, House of Twisted Shadows.

A HOUSE ON THE EDGE
A DAUGHTER DRIVEN TO OBSESSION
A FORBIDDEN LOVE

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

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

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

INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY.

J.H.Mann has shared an extract from House of Twisted Shadows with us today. You know the drill… grab that drink, find that comfortable chair and enjoy.

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

Amelia Tremayne has returned to the lonely clifftop estate of Tyler House to uncover the secrets behind her father’s death. Convinced that vital papers were blown from the collapsing house during a recent landslip, she risks everything to recover them before they are lost forever…

She stuffed her hands in her pockets and strode through snow flurries to the abandoned cliff footpath, past a handwritten sign: ‘Danger. Path closed.’ Far below, a cold sea heaved and dragged at the rocks. She started down at once, not giving herself time for second thoughts.

The top of the path was choked with riotous bushes and rough grass. Nobody had been mad enough to use this path for years. Parts of it had fallen away, leaving precipitous drops. Amelia slipped and slid downwards, grabbing hold of thorny brambles to keep her balance. The route was even worse than she expected – overgrown, crumbling and slick with ice. Below, waves, flecked with spume, crashed and roared.

Halfway down, she tripped on a rock and pitched forward. A gorse bush provided a lifesaving handhold. It scratched and ripped her hands, but she clung on grimly, coming to a halt, sprawled across the path, her left side bruised. She sat up trembling, her breathing short and fast. For a few moments, the world was nothing but the ragged pull of her breath and the thud of her heart. That had been close.

Go back?

No.

Continue reading →

Novel Kicks Writing Room: Two Strangers, One Bench

Published July 29, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room.

The focus of today’s exercise is two strangers, one bench.

Two strangers sit down on the same bench. They don’t know each other. They have never met before. Something small happens — a dog runs past, a phone rings, a bus doesn’t arrive — and one of them speaks. A conversation begins.

By the end of the conversation, one of them will have changed their mind about something.

Before you write a single word of dialogue, jot down brief notes on each character. For each one, decide:

How old are they roughly?
What were they doing before they sat down?
What is on their mind today that they haven’t told anyone?

Continue reading →

A Moment With… Dr Martyn Pritchard

Published July 28, 2026 | By Laura

I am pleased to welcome Dr Martyn Pritchard to Novel Kicks as we shine a light on his book, A Painkiller to Die For. It’s celebrating one year since its publication.

It was difficult for Will Jeavons to imagine just how his life could possibly get any better. Having overcome a traumatic childhood, he had gone on to study molecular pharmacology and win tenure as a lecturer at his beloved Cambridge University. But his life was soon to become better still, the CEO of a biotech company. Will’s unique research led to the discovery of a non-addictive drug for chronic pain. A remarkable solution for the opioid epidemic which had claimed the life of his mother.

Will’s flourishing company was subsequently acquired, and this was when he first met Celeste Simmonds. The beguiling Celeste would steer Will away from his earlier hedonistic, womanising lifestyle. However, the only way he could ensure the success of his drug was to bury key safety data which could have led to the clinical trials being terminated.

Clinical trials which resulted in the husband of Lydia Goldberg falling into a deep coma. It was Lydia’s scientific training which led her to discover Will’s fraudulent cover-up. She was determined to seek vengeance and concocted an elaborate honeytrap and a decision for Will to make. A career ending confession or being submitted to a life-threatening game of Russian roulette.

To talk about his experience with writing, it’s over to you, Martyn.

Why write novels? Why ‘A Painkiller to Die For’? A reasonable enough question, I suppose, to ask a career scientist who only passed his English Language O-level after two attempts. As with most novelists, I imagine, it was a combination of events which made me open up my laptop some 25 years ago and type those first few words. Those early efforts in the noughties amounted to a rather disjointed first 100 pages or so which were almost completely rewritten when Covid came along and the free time I needed to dive back into the book.

The overall premise remained pretty much the same, but the book turned out to be very different to what I had originally imagined all those years ago. ‘A Practical Arrangement’ was my first novel and came out towards the end of 2023 but not under my name! I used the nom de plume of Verity Trevethan as my assumption was that those few who ended up reading the book would give bad reviews. Poor Verity could shoulder the blame. But there were a few readers who wrote very generous commentaries and so Verity was outed to my family soon after publication (they never even knew I was writing a book!).

Continue reading →

Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: The Photograph

Published July 24, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome to Fiction Friday, our weekly flash fiction challenge.

Here’s how it works:

Set a timer for five minutes and start writing

Keep going for as long as you can once the timer goes off

No editing allowed—raw writing only

When you’re finished, feel free to share in the comments (but there’s no pressure.)

Today’s prompt – The Photograph.

A woman buys a second-hand coat from a charity shop. When she slips her hands into the pockets, her fingers close around a photograph she’s never seen before. Two people she doesn’t recognise, standing somewhere she’s never been, smiling at someone she’ll never know.

Write the moment she finds the photograph. What does she see in it? What details does she notice — the background, the clothing, the expressions, the light? What story does she begin to piece together from the image alone?

Write what she does next. Does she try to trace the people in the photograph? Does she keep it? Does something about the image unsettle her, comfort her, or mirror something in her own life she wasn’t prepared to face?

Book Review: If Could Be With You By M W Arnold

Published July 23, 2026 | By Laura

I am so happy to welcome M W Arnold back to Novel Kicks as we take part in the blog tour for If Could Be With You.

May 1944, it’s the build-up to D-Day, for which the girls of the Air Transport Auxiliary Mystery Club are busy delivering the aircraft sorely needed, and the search goes on for a Nazi spy, who has information which cannot be allowed to get into the enemies hands.

For one of the girls, her husband in badly burned after his Mosquito is shot down, bringing the war closer to home than it’s ever been before.

With danger at every corner, the girls unbreakable bond is put to the test like never before. Through it all, they stand firm, taking all the war can throw at them, before daring it to try again.

*****

The girls of the ATA are back, and they have new challenges to face. When two of the girls hear devastating news, one is fighting old memories, and the hunt for a Nazi spy intensifies, the gang must pull together as D-Day approaches.

Oh, it’s so good to be back with the girls of the Air Transport Auxiliary Mystery Club. I know I have said this before in other reviews from this series, but it really is like going back to visit old friends and being welcomed with open arms. It’s for this reason that I always jump at the chance to join the blog tours for the Broken Wings series and why I couldn’t wait to get started – and it’s a chance to welcome Mick Arnold back to Novel Kicks too.

Continue reading →

Novel Kicks Writing Room: The Object

Published July 22, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room.

Today’s exercise is about looking at something a different way.

First, choose your object –

Look around you right now. Pick the first object that catches your eye. It could be anything — a mug, a set of keys, a book, a pen, a candle. Don’t overthink it. Just choose.

Observe it –

Take a few minutes to study the object closely. Notice the details you’d normally overlook — the texture, the weight, the colour, the wear and tear. Does it have a scratch, a chip, a stain? Write down five specific physical details about it in short, precise sentences.

Now it’s time to give it a history –

Now, imagine this object belongs to a fictional character. Write a short passage (150–250 words) from that character’s perspective explaining how they came to own it and why they could never throw it away. Think about:
Who gave it to them, or where did they find it?

What memory is attached to it?
What would losing it mean?

Don’t worry about perfection. Just write.

Continue reading →

Book Review: Escape to the Turquoise Seas By Carrie Walker

Published July 20, 2026 | By Laura

Is there a better way to kick off a new week than by welcoming Carrie Walker to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Escape to the Turquoise Seas? No, I don’t think there is either.

Kat Brennan has always been the work-hard, play-harder type, navigating single life in London and the chaos of her job at Northstar PR. So when Excalibur Cruises invite her aboard to pitch for their account, she jumps at the chance to prove to her boss she’s indispensable… and to finally relax a little.

But the last person she wants to get stuck on a boat with is industry hotshot Leo Kendrick, the CEO of rival agency Amplify – and Kat’s nemesis. When Leo bagged a coveted marketing internship 15 years ago, Kat vowed never to let him win anything again. She is not about to break that promise, even if Leo has become a distractingly attractive opponent.

As the Esmerelda sails the seas, from the Azores to Lisbon via Madeira, the two agencies must battle it out to present the best pitch. But in such close quarters, the sea might not be the only thing rocking the boat…

PERFECT for fans of:

Forced proximity

Enemies-to-lovers

Workplace romance

A dash of spice

Beachy destinations

*****

Kat has always loved her life. She’s living in London, working at Northstar PR and doesn’t necessarily mind that she’s single. However, when she hears that her biggest account, Excalibur Cruises, are considering another agency, she and her colleague, Heidi, go into crisis mode. They agree to go on a cruise in order to know the product they are pitching for. What Kat doesn’t count on is seeing her PR nemesis, Leo, who also happens to be on the cruise. Can Kat and Leo bury the hatchet, or will there be trouble at sea?

I have been a fan of Carrie Walker since reading the previous novel in this series, Escape To The Northern Lights. Don’t worry. You can read Escape to the Turquoise Seas as a standalone. I couldn’t wait to get started on the latest instalment in the Holiday Romance series and was honoured to be part of its blog tour.

Continue reading →

Book Extract: Ten to the 405 By Kevin R. Andrade

Published July 19, 2026 | By Laura

It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Kevin R. Andrade to Novel Kicks as we shine a light on his book, Ten to the 405.

When disgraced investigative journalist Jake Hansen accepts a missing person case in Los Angeles, he uncovers a conspiracy linking organized crime, political corruption, and a powerful family determined to keep its secrets buried.

Seven years after an investigation destroyed his career, his marriage, and his reputation, Jake Hansen is barely keeping his life together.

He spends his days running a struggling dive bar with retired NYPD detective Pete Mills and reformed ex-con Lamar Wagner, taking the occasional private investigation to stay afloat. When a powerful casino executive hires them to find his missing daughter, Jake sees more than another case. He sees a chance to reclaim the life he lost.

The search leads deep into a world of gambling debts, dangerous loyalties, and long-buried secrets where every answer uncovers another layer of deception.

As the stakes rise, Jake must rely on the investigative instincts that once made him one of the city’s most respected journalists, even if finding the truth means risking everything he’s managed to rebuild.

Blending the sharp dialogue of a classic detective novel with the pace of a modern thriller, Ten to the 405 is driven by unforgettable characters, hard-earned redemption, and the unlikely friendships that hold Jake Hansen’s team together when everything else falls apart.

Ideal for readers who enjoy character-driven mysteries, flawed investigators, layered conspiracies, and fast-moving crime fiction with emotional depth. Fans of Michael Connelly, James Ellroy, Dennis Lehane, and Raymond Chandler will feel right at home with Jake Hansen.

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

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

INT. TROTTER’S TAVERN- BACK BAR AREA- MORNING

JAKE HANSEN, 35, a half-Latino and half-white male is asleep on the bar top of the dark tavern. Jake is smart, funny and a lovable rogue but also a disaster of a person. He lies on his back with one leg off of the bar. Jake has two black eyes and scrapes on his face with puffy red eyes.

A 60-inch TV above the bar is on.

INSERT TELEVISION – NEWS CONFERENCE

MAYOR ALEX VILA, 45, a handsome Latino male, dressed in a sharp suit, speaks behind a podium. To the right of Alex Vila is LILY VILA, 35, his beautiful wife. She wears a stunning green dress.

ALEX VILA

(ON TV)

I wish I could answer that question, Rick, but it really is premature.

Jake, groaning, opens his eyes and looks at the television.

JAKE

(Grumbling)

Asshole.

REPORTER

(O.S. On TV)

Continue reading →

Book Extract: The Book Lover’s Bucket List By Hannah Claire

Published July 18, 2026 | By Laura

I’m very excited to be welcoming Hannah Claire to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, The Book Lover’s Bucket List.

A bucket list to change her life.

Gabriella Brookes has spent years quietly loving Zach Osborne, knowing he only sees her as his best friend’s bookish little sister. He’s charming, successful, and only back in their Derbyshire village for the summer before his next big move.

When Gabby stumbles across her long-forgotten teenage bucket list, Zach proposes a deal: together, they’ll tick off her book-inspired challenges, if she helps him complete a few fun tasks of his own.

What starts as a perfectly sensible plan quickly turns into something far more complicated, when real life refuses to stay neatly tucked between the pages.

But as Zach’s past resurfaces and his future pulls him away, Gabby is forced to face a harder truth: dreams don’t come true if you only ever read about them.

Ticking off the challenges was meant to be easy.

Admitting what your heart wants is the real risk.

A cosy, small-town romantic comedy about courage, love, and rewriting your own ending.

Hannah has kindly shared an extract from The Book Lover’s Bucket List with us today. Find that comfortable reading spot, the refreshment of your choice and enjoy, as we head to Millbrook.

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

It was late afternoon at Millbrook Library, and the only sounds were the hushed murmuring of voices, the turning of pages and the occasional clank from the ancient heating pipes. Gabriella Brookes cast her eyes over the display she was working on and gave it a nod of approval. Every summer they had a table for recommended holiday reads and, this year, Gabby was determined to make it bigger and better than ever. She adjusted the bucket and spade, sprinkled a little more sand around and reached for the large stack of books she had selected.

As far as Gabby was concerned, one of the best bits of her job managing the library was helping people find the perfect book for their current need or mood. For the summer Read Yourself Happy display, she had chosen novels set in far-flung and exotic locations, as well as sweet English villages beset by murders; some laugh-out-loud comedies and twisty, turny thrillers and, of course, a handful of swoon-worthy love stories with gorgeous romantic heroes. All novels you could relax with, and enjoy a much-needed break from reality. Too much reality was definitely a bad thing, Gabby decided, appraising the display.

Continue reading →

Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: The Inheritance

Published July 17, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome to Fiction Friday, our weekly flash fiction challenge.

Here’s how it works:

Set a timer for five minutes and start writing

Keep going for as long as you can once the timer goes off

No editing allowed—raw writing only

When you’re finished, feel free to share in the comments (but there’s no pressure.)

Today’s prompt: The Inheritance.

You discover a hidden compartment in your grandmother or grandfather’s house containing a journal with entries dated from 50 years ago. The final page describes a choice they made that day—one that changed everything.

However, the crucial entries in the middle have been deliberately torn out, and the handwriting becomes increasingly frantic toward the end.

Write a story revealing what happened during those missing years and why your grandparent removed those pages. Was it shame, protection, or something else entirely?

Novel Kicks Writing Room: A Free Write Session

Published July 15, 2026 | By Laura

Hello. Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room.

I don’t know about you, but I am loving and hating this hot weather in the UK in equal measure. It’s making it hard to concentrate, right?

So, in light of this, the exercise today is not a complicated one. It’s simply a free write. Set a timer for at least 20 minutes and just let yourself write. See where your imagination takes you. If you want to change this up, you could always dictate your story instead?

If you need a little inspriation to get going, here are some prompts to use as first lines. Feel free to mix and match and to also change the tense and point of view.

I open my eyes to see the tube station empty of people.

‘I told you to turn it off.’

The school loomed above me. Its gothic feel gave me shivers.

You cast the spell. It is done. There’s no going back. At least, that’s what you think.

Continue reading →

Book Review & Giveaway: Secrets of the Italian Guesthouse By Sue Moorcroft

Published July 13, 2026 | By Mick Arnold

We are so pleased to be welcoming Sue Moorcroft back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her new book, Secrets of the Italian Guesthouse.

Two sisters she’s never met
A first love who’s impossible to forget…

For Jade, life in Lake Como is la dolce vita. Until her beloved grandmother passes, leaving Jade not just the family’s bustling guesthouse to run, but two life-changing secrets to confront…

The pensione hasn’t just been left to Jade, it’s also been inherited by her sisters – who she had no idea existed. As Erin and Rosalie arrive in Italy, Jade is forced to face the heart-wrenching prospect of sharing her last remaining tie to the woman who raised her.

Jade is desperately trying to hold on to the past, but there’s one person she would prefer to leave firmly behind: her first love, Leo. He’s back in the city that is filled with the memories they once made together. But as Jade fights to take control of her future and her heart, why do all cobbled roads lead back to Leo?

Lose yourself in the first, utterly romantic novel in a brand-new trilogy, filled with new beginnings and second chances. Perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Milly Johnson.

*****

Well, here we are on a new book blog tour for the wonderful Sue Moorcroft on this, the first of a new trilogy for her new publisher.

I’m so happy that she’s taken us back to Italy and to another location that I now, of course, want to go to more than I can explain. Welcome to Jade’s home in Lake Como! Right, quick synopsis, without giving too many things away – Jade’s life is pretty perfect, running a beautiful, cosy hotel that she inherited from her grandmother, albeit whilst missing her desperately. Her life is thrown by not only the reappearance of the man who chose work over love, but by the sudden appearance into her life of two half-sisters she had no previous knowledge of. To make matters worse, her grandmother left the hotel to all three sisters equally.

Continue reading →

Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: The Collector

Published July 10, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome to Fiction Friday, our weekly flash fiction challenge.

Here’s how it works:

Set a timer for five minutes and start writing

Keep going for as long as you can once the timer goes off

No editing allowed—raw writing only

When you’re finished, feel free to share in the comments (but there’s no pressure.)

Today’s prompt – “The Collector”

Your character works a job where they interact with hundreds of strangers daily. One day, they notice something: a regular customer always buys the same item, but never the most obvious version of it. They buy the slightly damaged book instead of the pristine one. The shirt with the barely-noticeable stain. The dented can. The last apple in the bruised bin.

Curious, your character starts paying attention. They realize this person is deliberately choosing things that others have rejected or overlooked.

When your character finally asks why, the answer changes everything. It reveals a philosophy, a grief, a mission, or a secret that forces your protagonist to see their own life differently.

The story ends with your character making a choice that mirrors what they’ve learned.

Novel Kicks Writing Room: Side Characters

Published July 8, 2026 | By Laura

Hello and welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room.

Side characters are sometimes a bit forgotten when we’re writing a story.

The main protagonist is obviously important, but today, those supporting characters are getting a bit of love.

First, pick a setting from the following (if you want to make it more interesting, pick one at random. Here’s a link to a random number generator.) –

. An abandoned hotel on a cliff edge

. A hospital at night

. A busy carnival/fair/theme park

. A forest

. A small town

Next, pick a genre –

Continue reading →

Book Extract: Mandarin Road By Ann Bennett

Published July 8, 2026 | By Laura

I’m so pleased to be welcoming Ann Bennett to Novel Kicks and the blog blitz for her book, Mandarin Road.

A gripping, emotional saga of family secrets and the power of love, set during the Vietnam War…

North Carolina, 2015: Nicole has always idolised her successful father, Ed. But on his deathbed, he reveals a devastating secret he’d guarded for a lifetime. He served in the Vietnam War, fell in love, and fathered a child there. A child he never had the courage to acknowledge.

Huế, South Vietnam, 1968: While her village is rocked by the explosions of the Tet offensive, seventeen-year-old Mai finds a wounded American hiding in her family’s chicken shed. Mai faces an agonising choice. Will she report the soldier to the Viet Cong, who have a stranglehold on the village, or will she risk her life and that of her family to help him?

In 2015, Nicole embarks on a journey into the unknown, travelling to Vietnam on a quest to uncover her father’s long-buried truths. Helped by Greig, an ageing Vietnam vet and his journalist son, Long, she delves into the shocking world her father wanted to forget, plumbing depths of resilience and courage she never knew she possessed.

Will Nicole find her long-lost sister, or will the Vietnam War guard its shameful secrets for ever?

If you are a fan of page-turning, emotional historical fiction like The Women, The Home Front and The Mountains Sing, you will love Mandarin Road.

Mandarin Road is a dual-timeline, standalone book by bestselling historical fiction author, Ann Bennett. Discover this moving, compelling read today.

There’s a chance to win a copy of Ann’s novel, The Bookseller of Kathmandu, below but first, she has shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy.

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

PROLOGUE
FEBRUARY, 1968
The Citadel, Huế, South Vietnam

CLUTCHING HIS RIFLE, Ed ran down the rubble-strewn street through the gunfire and smoke, his heart in his mouth as bullets pinged around him. They’d been fighting all day and now it was early evening, but the enemy showed no signs of easing the attack.

Continue reading →

NK Chats To… Andrea Goyan

Published July 4, 2026 | By Laura

Hi Andrea. Thank you so much for joining me today. Can you tell me about The Catalyst and what inspired it?

The idea began over twenty years ago when I taught clients Pilates in their homes. I drove all over Los Angeles every day, listening to the radio. One day, I heard a story about advances in DNA testing, and I was struck by both the good and potentially bad ways the advances could be used. I pivoted to how eventually they’d be testing anything organic and fining people for all kinds of silly infractions. I wrote a piece about a detective who had to use her DNA device to locate the owner of a dog who’d defecated on a neighbour’s lawn. My writing group loved the piece and the detective (who is no longer a detective). They encouraged me to write more, and I spent over a year writing, and then reading the first draft at that table.

What were the challenges when writing a novel like this?

I needed to do enough research that I could use some scientific terminology when I needed it. Since this novel was written, subbed, rejected, put away for ten years, rewritten, put away again, and rewritten again for this final draft, I forgot all the research in the interim and needed to dig back into it again. I also struggled with finding the right voice for Kat, ultimately discovering it when I switched her POV chapters from third to first person. That immediacy made her come alive.

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

I don’t have rituals. I start my day with coffee, but that’s true whether I write or I don’t. I either just sit my butt in my chair and write, or I procrastinate and deal with the rest of life’s demands. There are always dogs to walk.

What’s your favourite word and why?

Hmm, I don’t have a favourite word, but ruminating while I sit here, I’ll say “yes.”

Yes, because it has so much potential. When I performed improvisational theatre in my twenties, “Yes, and…” was the golden rule.

Which fictional world would you like to visit, and which fictional character would you like to meet?

Continue reading →

Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: The Lost Person

Published July 3, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome to Fiction Friday, our weekly flash fiction challenge.

Here’s how it works:

Set a timer for five minutes and start writing

Keep going for as long as you can once the timer goes off

No editing allowed—raw writing only

When you’re finished, feel free to share in the comments (but there’s no pressure.)

Today’s prompt: The Lost Person.

Your character is channel surfing and land on a channel that doesn’t appear in the guide.

It’s showing live footage of somewhere ordinary—a street, a café, a park.

Suddenly, your character recognises someone in the crowd.

Someone from their past who has been missing for years.

Who is this person? What relationship did your character have with this person?

Continue the story.

Continue reading →

Novel Kicks Book Club: Every Summer After By Carley Fortune

Published July 2, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Book Club.

It’s July. Halfway through the year. Summer is definitely on its way which hopefully means some lazy moments and a chance to read in the sun. All you need is a book. I have just the one for you.

I am so intrigued by the premise of this novel. It promises romance, emotional moments and two interesting main characters. I can’t wait to start, and I hope you’ll be joining me.

This month’s pick is Every Summer After by Carley Fortune.

So, how does our book club work?

I’ll see you in the comments.

About Every Summer After –

Six summers to fall in love. One moment to fall apart. A weekend to get it right.

They say you can never go home again, and for Persephone Fraser that has felt too true for the last decade, ever since she made the biggest mistake of her life. Instead of glittering summers on the lakeshore of her childhood, she spends them in a stylish apartment in the city, going out with friends, and keeping everyone a safe distance from her heart.

Continue reading →

Novel Kicks Writing Room: Reflection

Published July 1, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room and the Plot Challenge.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been focusing on plotting a piece of fiction, one task at a time. Today marks the final task.

I’m hoping that, over the last few weeks, these writing exercises have helped you master plot structure by writing all major plot points, then analysing how each element builds toward a cohesive story. All the previous tasks are listed below.

The final task – Reflection.

Your task today is to write a final reflection on your story and on the process. Try to write 300-500 words. Consider the following –

What did you learn about plot structure from writing this story?
Which section was hardest to write? Why?
What surprised you about how the story developed?
If you were to write this story again, what would you do differently?
What’s one “plot rule” you’ve learnt from this exercise?

Here are links to the previous tasks –

Click to view the story conception task from week 1.

Click to view the inciting incident task from week 2.

Click to view the rising action task from week 3.

Click to view the midpoint task from week 4.

Click to view the climax task from week 5.

Click to view the resolution task from week 6.

Click to view the assembly task from week 7.

Click to view the anaylsis task from week 8.

Click to view the revision task from week 9.

I really hope you’ve gained from this plot challenge and that you’ve enjoyed it.

Book Extract: A Blighter is Bumped Off By Helen Golden

Published July 1, 2026 | By Laura

I’m very happy to be welcoming Helen Golden back to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her book, A Blighter is Bumped Off.

The only thing worse than a persistent suitor? A dead one on your lawn.

London, 1892. Alice, Duchess of Stortford, has returned to town determined to enjoy her first Season as a wealthy widow. But instead of balls, flirtation, and whispered gossip, she finds herself besieged by ambitious bachelors—none more persistent than the insufferably smooth-talking Miles Fonthill. When Alice firmly refuses his sudden proposal, she assumes the matter is settled.

Instead, he turns up dead in her garden.

The police are happy to call it a tragic accident. Alice is less convinced.

Why was Miles climbing over her garden wall in the middle of the night? Why had he become so determined to win her favour? And what did he really want?

As Alice begins to dig into Miles’ final days, her search leads her into the glittering heart of London society, where old loyalties run deep, secrets are guarded fiercely, and reputation matters more than truth. But when whispers of the mysterious Order of the Golden Key begin circling dangerously close to her own late husband’s name, Alice realises this death may be far more complicated than one unwelcome suitor meeting an unfortunate end.

And if someone is willing to kill to keep their secrets…this Season may prove positively deadly.

Perfect for fans of feisty female sleuths, Victorian High Society, and secret scandals, all served with a dash of humour and a cup of tea.

Helen has shared an extract from A Blighter is Bumped Off with us today. Grab that comfortable chair, a cup of whatever you fancy, a snack and enjoy.

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

In this opening scene, Alice, Duchess of Stortford, is enjoying a quiet afternoon at Darby House when one of her more persistent admirers, Miles Fonthill, decides the time has come to propose. Unfortunately for him, Alice has very different plans for her future…

*****

“I understand that you are still technically in mourning,” Miles said, his voice softening to a tone that she supposed was meant to convey respect but somehow missed the mark. His fingers moved to the signet ring on his right hand, turning it idly as he spoke. “But soon you will be required to rejoin society fully, and a woman of your standing needs a husband by her side.”

Continue reading →

Book Extract: Me Too By Katharine Light

Published June 30, 2026 | By Laura

I’m very excited to be welcoming Katharine Light to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Me Too.

Nearly forty, Anna has a successful career, a long-term relationship, and a carefully maintained sense of independence. But as time begins to run out, one question becomes impossible to ignore. What if she’s left it too late for the one thing she truly wants—a baby?

Divorced journalist Rob keeps his life free from complications. But when he runs into Anna at a friend’s wedding, he’s caught off guard. The girl he remembers is gone, replaced by a woman who is impossible to ignore.

When Anna makes him an offer, it’s one he can’t quite believe. No strings. No expectations. Just one simple arrangement.

It should be straightforward.

But the closer they become, the harder it is to stay detached. What begins as a practical plan deepens into something far more tender and much more dangerous.

If Anna allows herself to hope, she could lose not only her dream of motherhood, but the one man who has begun to feel like home.

Now Rob has a choice. Walk away…or risk everything for the woman he was not supposed to fall for.

Because some arrangements were never meant to stay temporary.

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

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

This book focuses on the story of Anna and Rob, teenage friends who meet again at the wedding of mutual friends Jess and Sam. This section is told from Anna’s point of view, during the reception. She’s there with her boyfriend Jon, although he’s chatting to other guests. Rob (a high profile journalist) has suggested a walk, away from the guests, after Anna (successful clothes designer) broke down when her five-year-old goddaughter gave her a hug. The yearning for a child of her own sometimes blindsides her….

*****

‘…What about you? Business good?’

‘That’s interesting?’ She moved away.

Rob followed in long, easy strides. ‘Sure it is. I have a colleague who is the very proud owner of one of your black jackets. She says it’s one of the best investments she’s ever made.’

‘Don’t joke.’

‘Scout’s honour.’

Continue reading →

Book Extract: Flowerpot Romeo By Simone Goodman

Published June 30, 2026 | By Laura

Please join me as we welcome Simone Goodman to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Flowerpot Romeo.

For readers who loved About a Boy and One Day — but wanted more women in the room.

Sebastian Wilson wasn’t aspiring to be anybody’s hero. He just wanted to be an actor.

Instead, spurred on by his unimpressed agent, he pretends to be an Irish busker. Charmingly drifting through London’s Islington, burdened by an inability to face himself, he unwittingly changes the lives of the women he meets.

A lonely dame of the stage and screen.

A single mother making ends meet.

An underworld wife on the brink of divorce.

And Fiona, whose best friend he’d sooner avoid…

Life rarely consults the script — especially when Romeo the cat enters the scene, a tiny agent of chaos.

Simone has kindly shared an extract from Flowerpot Romeo with us today. We hope you enjoy it (there is also a chance to win a £25 Amazon gift card below.)

(Warning – brief mention of mild drug use.)

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

Wilson, a thirty-two-year-old aspiring actor, has been encouraged by his eccentric agent, Isadora, to hone his craft by pretending to be an Irish busker. On his first day in character, he meets Fiona — and promptly lets her walk away. Now he’s wandering after her through Islington, hoping fate will do the work he didn’t. Instead, he finds himself vaulting a low railing and landing behind a hedge.

*****

Behind the O2 Academy at Angel, Wilson takes a single puff on the joint from Raf and Teddy then immediately stubs it out. He hasn’t touched drugs since his backpacking stint in Asia and has no intention of starting again now.

Fiona and her cat headed this way, but there’s no sign of them now.

Continue reading →

Book Extract: Nero the Hero By Samantha Mattocks

Published June 29, 2026 | By Laura

It is my pleasure to be welcoming Samantha Mattocks to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Nero the Hero.

Prepare to meet your new favourite superhero as Nero the Hero reveals his secret!

Nero is no ordinary dog. This miniature schnauzer has a beard, a bark, and a secret. When danger strikes, he transforms into Nero the Hero, a powerful protector with extraordinary abilities.

Alongside his human, twelve-year-old Jack, Nero dives into fast-paced adventures filled with mystery, heart, and just a touch of fun. But when Jack makes a brave mistake and finds himself in real danger, Nero must face his greatest challenge yet to save his best friend alone.

Perfect for readers aged 8-12, this highly illustrated chapter book blends action-packed fantasy with an engaging, accessible style, making it ideal for reluctant readers and confident young bookworms alike. With short chapters and dynamic illustrations, Nero the Hero is a thrilling start to a children’s fantasy series about friendship, bravery, and daring rescues.

Fans of Claude and The Hounds of Penhallow Hall will love this action-filled adventure starring a heroic dog and the boy who believes in him.

From the author of the popular Magical Mister Mishkins series, Samantha Mattocks introduces a bold new hero first seen in The Magic of Mister Mishkins. Beautifully illustrated by Gerda Smit, this is a story full of adventure, loyalty, and the power of believing in something extraordinary.

Samantha has shared an extract from Nero the Hero with us today. We hope you enjoy.

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

Welcome to my post celebrating my latest book, Nero the Hero! This is my third highly illustrated younger Middle Grade book, and I cannot wait for you all to read it.

Nero is a spin-off book from my Magical Mister Mishkins series. However, it is a very different story. It follows the adventures of a young boy named Jack who spends the summer with his nan, Jean, and her dog, Nero.

Continue reading →

Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: The Repeating Encore

Published June 26, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome to Fiction Friday, our weekly flash fiction challenge.

Here’s how it works:

Set a timer for five minutes and start writing

Keep going for as long as you can once the timer goes off

No editing allowed—raw writing only

When you’re finished, feel free to share in the comments (but there’s no pressure)

Today’s prompt: The Repeating Encore.

Your band finally gets its big break: a sold-out stadium show after years of playing dingy clubs. The energy is electric. The crowd is screaming. You’re in the zone, playing better than you ever have.

Continue reading →

Cover Reveal: The Twenty Dates By Ko Porteous

Published June 25, 2026 | By Laura

I am very excited as we help to unveil the cover for The Twenty Dates, the upcoming novel from Ko Porteous.

The kids have left, assuming love endures. But can yours?

Book #2 in The Empty Nesters Series

Claire’s marriage is in (total!) crisis. Her husband, Mark, is distracted, presumptuous, and utterly clueless – smart scales for their 19th wedding anniversary? Really? Perhaps she’d be better off alone. At least there’d be less laundry.

When Claire suggests separating, Mark panics. He asks for one last chance: twenty dates, one for each year of their marriage, to prove they’re better off together than apart.

What follows is a series of adventures Claire never saw coming – some mortifying, some exhilarating, and some that make her question everything she thought she knew. About Mark. About marriage. And about the woman she’s quietly become while she wasn’t paying attention.

As the dates tick down, Claire must decide: is the spark still there – or has their marriage simply run its course?

OK, so now we know a little about the book, it’s time to reveal the cover. Are you ready?

Drumroll…three…two…one…

Continue reading →

Novel Kicks Writing Room: Revision

Published June 24, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room and the Plot Challenge.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been focusing on plotting a piece of fiction, one task at a time.

These will potentially help you master plot structure by writing all major plot points, then analysing how each element builds toward a cohesive story. All the previous tasks are listed below.

Task 9 – Revision

Based on the analysis you did from the last task, revise your story. Focus on the following –

Cutting: Remove scenes that don’t move the plot forward
Connecting: Add transitions or details that make cause-and-effect clearer
Deepening: Expand moments where stakes or character change happen
Pacing: Speed up or slow down sections as needed

Continue reading →

Book Review: Marry Me in Seahaven Bay By Nicola May

Published June 21, 2026 | By Mick Arnold

I am pleased to be welcoming Nicola May to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Marry Me in Seahaven Bay.

The emotional and uplifting new novel from the author of the million-copy bestselling Cockleberry Bay series.

Life at the Seahaven Bay Retreat is flourishing, but Rita Jory’s second chance at happiness is about to face its biggest test yet. When Jago’s glamorous French ex-wife appears on the doorstep with a five-year-old daughter in tow, their blossoming relationship hangs by a thread.

Between juggling retreat guests seeking healing, her daughter Sennen’s desperate need for a last-minute wedding venue, and dealing with Elodie’s impossible demands, Rita’s already stretched to breaking point.

Then some very unexpected news forces her to reconsider everything she thought she wanted. But can she trust Jago with her secret, and embrace the new life ahead?

Rita must decide whether to protect her heart or fight for her future.

A joyful, tender and laugh-out-loud tale of family, forgiveness and finding the courage to say yes to life’s beautiful surprises. Perfect for fans of Jill Mansell, Jojo Moyes and Amanda Prowse.

*****

A warm welcome back to Seahaven Bay! If this is your first novel by Nicola May, then you are in for a reading treat (and a very nice back catalogue to begin with) but, if like me, you’ve been a fan of this author for a while, you’re in for an even bigger treat!

Continue reading →

Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: The Piano

Published June 19, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome to Fiction Friday, our weekly flash fiction challenge.

Here’s how it works:

Set a timer for five minutes and start writing

Keep going for as long as you can once the timer goes off

No editing allowed—raw writing only

When you’re finished, feel free to share in the comments (but there’s no pressure)

Today’s Prompt – The Piano –

You inherit your mother’s grand piano along with a cryptic instruction: “Play only what you remember. Never learn anything new.”

Continue reading →

Novel Kicks Writing Room: Analysis

Published June 17, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room and the Plot Challenge.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been focusing on plotting a piece of fiction, one task at a time.

These will potentially help you master plot structure by writing all major plot points, then analysing how each element builds toward a cohesive story.

Task 8: Analysis.

Following on from last week where we put all the pieces together, we’re now going to be asking the following questions. Write about 500 words per questions if you can.

Plot Structure –

Cause and Effect: Does each section logically lead to the next, or do things feel coincidental?
Stakes: Do they rise progressively? Or do they spike, then drop?
Character Motivation: Can you trace why your protagonist makes each decision?
Turning Points: Can you identify exactly 3-5 moments where the story shifts direction?
Subplots: Are there secondary conflicts that mirror or complicate the main plot.

Specific Plot Diagnoses:

For your Inciting Incident:

Does it force your protagonist into the story, or do they choose it? (Both can work, but which did you do?)
Is it big enough to sustain a story?

Continue reading →

Blog : NK Chats To… Leon Mitchell

Published June 16, 2026 | By Laura

Hi Leon. It’s wonderful to be welcoming you back to Novel Kicks. Can you tell us about your latest book, The One True Empress and what inspired it?

It is brilliant to be back on Novel Kicks, thank you for having me. The One True Empress is a project that bridges my dual passions for historical narrative and cinematic documentary. It focuses on the life of Empress Matilda, a 12th-century leader whose profound impact has frequently been overlooked. I was inspired by the sheer gravity of her lived experience. I have been fortunate to collaborate closely with the brilliant historian Sharon Bennett Connolly on the research for this. Together, we are ensuring the project captures not only the historical truth, but the deeply complex psychological architecture of a woman fighting for her rightful place.

What attracted you to this genre?

As a director too, I am naturally drawn to stories that play out vividly in the mind—what I call the “Internal Cinema.” Historical fiction provides a masterclass in exploring narrative identity, and I love my psychological depth. You are taking real, breathing people and examining the psychological weight of their choices. Coming from writing science fiction like Lords and mysteries for younger readers, tackling the 12th century offered a fascinating journey to ground my cinematic style in absolute, gritty reality.

In your opinion, what elements make up a good story?

For me, and especially when writing a book like “The One True Empress” a truly resonant story needs a relatable psychological foundation, it needs connection. It is never just about the plot mechanics, but how the protagonist’s internal compass aligns or clashes with the external world. When an author successfully projects their ‘internal cinema’ onto the page, the reader feels it viscerally. There are no cheap tricks required—just an honest reflection of the human condition.

How long does it take you to write a novel?

Continue reading →

Book Extract: Then There’s Trust By Susan Gray

Published June 15, 2026 | By Laura

I am excited to be welcoming Susan Gray to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Then There’s Trust.

A forbidden love…a relationship in jeopardy…a tested trust

Darcy Dukas is fearless and feisty – but can she be trusted? Left bereft after a personal disappointment, her vulnerable mindset causes her to seize an opportunity to pursue her dream career. When Marcel Duval arrives in Durham to establish his detective agency, she agrees to work with him. But is she prepared for the risks she will encounter? Risks for her safety…risks for her young marriage…and risks affecting her family’s trust?

In 1952 Josh Smallwood, Darcy’s brother, returns home after completing his national service. Trying to sort his future, he begins working on the family farm and befriends Judy, a young nurse. He is baffled to discover any liaison with her is forbidden by her family. This mystery fuels an intense, secret relationship…can they overcome obstacles to be together?

A shroud of guilt clings to Chantal Martin – will she ever be free from its taint? As an unmarried mother, her once tenacious trait seems to have deserted her. Striving towards the final hurdle, an unexpected decision and an untimely event threaten to blight her resilience…can her trust be rewarded?

Then There’s Trust is a gripping, emotional story of love, fidelity and trust set in 1950’s northeast England.

Susan has shared an extract from Then There’s Trust with us today. We hope you enjoy.

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

Tom and Rachel Smallwood and their extended family are hosting a Frenchman, Marcel Duval for lunch. He is a friend of Tom’s nephew, Jonty, who lives in Lyon. Marcel is relocating from France to Durham to open a Detective Agency. The family, including Darcy, their married daughter, are keen to learn more – Darcy longs to be an investigative journalist.

Northeast England 1952.

How is Jonty?” asked Josh, immediately warming to the French visitor.

“He is well and sends his love. He’s hoping to visit next summer. He has praised you all. He talks frequently about his English family. I am excited to get to know each of you.”

“I’m surprised he hasn’t found himself a bride yet.” Josh smirked, knowing his cousin possessed a ‘roving eye’.

“No, he is still a free man and dare I say it ‘enjoying himself’!” Marcel grinned.

Continue reading →

Book Spotlight: The Time Of My Life By Samantha Tonge

Published June 14, 2026 | By Laura

I’m pleased to be welcoming Samantha Tonge back to Novel Kicks and we shine a light on her latest book, The Time of My Life.

How far would you go to change your life?

When Eliza Woods sees an advertisement for someone’s whole life for sale – their house, car, all their belongings, even their clothes and cat – not to mention a trial-run in their job and an introduction to their friends… she decides it’s fate.

Grabbing a different life with both hands is exactly what she needs. Even if 26-year-old Carrie’s wildly-social life and job in a bar couldn’t be more different from Eliza’s quieter existence.

As for Carrie, she’s heading off to Greece, desperate to run away from everything she’s familiar with in England. The two women message each other after the deal has gone through, with Eliza excited to go for cocktails with Carrie’s friends before her first shift at her new job.

What Carrie doesn’t tell her is why she put her life up for sale. And what Eliza doesn’t tell Carrie is that she’s about to turn 75. And that isn’t her only secret…

Don’t miss this absolutely brilliant, escapist read. Available now!

The Time of My Life was released by Boldwood Books on 10th March 2026. Click to buy on Amazon, Kobo, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble and Waterstones.

The Time of My Life Is currently available for only 99p!*

Continue reading →

Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: The Aquarium’s Night Shift

Published June 12, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome to Fiction Friday, our weekly flash fiction challenge.

Here’s how it works:

Set a timer for five minutes and start writing

Keep going for as long as you can once the timer goes off

No editing allowed—raw writing only

When you’re finished, feel free to share in the comments (but there’s no pressure)

Today’s Prompt: The Aquarium’s Night Shift –

You’ve taken a job as the night curator at the city’s largest aquarium, a role no one else seems to want. Your responsibilities are straightforward: monitor the tanks, feed the fish, maintain water chemistry, and ensure the building’s security until morning staff arrives.

Continue reading →

Book Review: The Last To Know By Laura Jane Williams

Published June 11, 2026 | By Laura

Ash has met her perfect match.

So has CJ.

Unfortunately for them, it’s the same man.

Mid-thirties and feeling the pressure, they’re ready to fight for him. Even if it means sabotaging each other.

As Ash and CJ turn up on each other’s dates, ruin one another’s chances, and accidentally end up spending an awful lot of time together, their friends begin to wonder. Are they fighting over the same guy? Or are they fighting their feelings for each other . . . ?

*****

Cj loves her life in Portugal. She’s the manager of a successful business, has a “friends with benefits” situation with her best friend/colleague but most importantly, she has a son who is her whole world.

Ash is on a journey to find life. Having been the odd one out in her family and always being one for organisation to within an inch of her life, she’s attempting to open herself up to opportunities in Portugal for a few weeks.

When the women meet each other, it’s dislike at first sight. However, can they both find a way to thaw when it comes to each other?

Continue reading →

Novel Kicks Writing Room: Assembling Your Story

Published June 10, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room and the Plot Challenge.

Over the last few weeks, we’ve focused on plotting a piece of fiction, one task at a time.

These have potentially helped you master plot structure by writing all major plot points, then analysing how each element builds toward a cohesive story.

Task 7: Assembling Your Story.

Today, the focus will be putting all the work you’ve done together and reading it through.

Copy all five sections of your work from the previous weeks, excluding the story conception task, into one document and read the entire story aloud (or in your head, without stopping). I’d suggest doing this at least a couple of times actually – one to make notes, one to check the flow of the story.

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Blog : NK Chats To… Gareth Alun Thomas

Published June 8, 2026 | By Laura

Hi Gareth, thank you for joining me today. Can you tell me about your book, No Chance and what inspired it?

My book “ No Chance” is set in the 1980s and follows the fortunes of Will Evans in his pursuit of Ruby, a girl he has been infatuated with since University. Will leaves university thinking his chance of a romance with Ruby is over, until he receives a letter from his university friend Pete. Pete has organised a four week holiday, interrailing across Europe, and invites Will to come. Will discovers Ruby is one of the group going on the trip and he excitedly accepts the invitation, as it gives him four weeks to further pursue the woman of his dreams. During the next few weeks Will has to contend with awkward encounters, bad timings and a love rival Tom Bellows, not to mention a bad stomach in his endeavours. Travelling through twelve countries will the girl of his dreams finally succumb to Will’s wish of becoming his girlfriend.

What was your route to publication and what’s the one thing about the process you know now that you wished you’d known then?

I sent off my book to four publishers. I didn’t get an agent. I was offered a contact with all four publishers but some with a fee involved. I got the impression that only the last publisher “Blossom Spring Publishing,” actually read my book as the others were vague in their critique. I signed a contact and was excited to see my book in print. I wished I had looked at the contract more closely now because even though the paperback version on Amazon is priced at £10.75 I only get about 98 pence per copy, so I don’t think I’m going to be rich anytime soon. But that was never the intention, I just wanted to write a book that people would enjoy and keep reading to the end and I think I have achieved that. I was a bit surprised to find how difficult it is to get people to read my book. My sister-in-law for example is supposedly an avid reader but still has not got around to reading my book.

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

I work part time so could only write on my days off. I would get up and walk the dog for an hour. I would then get myself a cup of coffee and sit down with my laptop and write for three to four hours a day depending on the weather. If it was horrible outside I tended to write better. I would usually have to stop late afternoon to make the tea for everyone, depending on who was around. The only ritual I suppose is walking the dog first before starting and a nice milky coffee to start with.

In your opinion, what are the essential elements that make a good story?

I think the essential elements that make for a good story are characters you can relate to. I like to focus on insecurities, awkwardness and the unusual situations people find themselves in. I like to write about places people may not have had the chance to visit too.

How do you approach the writing process from idea to first draft, to edits to final draft?

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A Moment With… Paul Gitsham

Published June 8, 2026 | By Laura

It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Paul Gitsham and the blog tour for his book, Deadly Truths.

How do you solve a murder when you’re shut out of the investigation?

Young detectives, Robinson Ellington Foxe and Amy Kennard, don’t want to work at Coventry’s Moat Lane police station. Neither do their colleagues want them there. But it’s the last chance for two officers for whom doing the right thing has cost them their futures.

Despite a murder on their patch, they are lumbered with investigating a series of high-profile burglaries. But when a thief is killed in the house of an influential businessman, Foxe and Kennard are convinced it is linked to their cases and want in.

The official investigation is a whitewash, but Robbie and Amy keep investigating anyway. As they uncover a web of deceit and corruption, reaching to the very top of the force, their own difficult histories are weaponised against them, and they find themselves fighting for their careers and their lives.

To talk about starting a new series, it’s over to you, Paul.

The pleasures of a new sandbox to play in.

In 2023, I decided to put my long-running DCI Warren Jones detective series on hiatus (I say hiatus – I haven’t finished him off!). But when one door closes, another opens. Enter Foxe and Kennard in Deadly Truths, the first in a brand-new series.

It’s not that I’ve run out ideas for Warren, far from it, but as many writers will tell you, it’s not the lack of ideas it’s the lack of time to write them. Furthermore, some of those ideas just won’t work within an established series.

Therefore, I decided it was time for a reinvention. Rather than more of the same with different characters, I saw this as an opportunity to rewrite the rules and restart from scratch.

The thing about an established series is that its strengths can also be weaknesses. Building a world that will become familiar to readers and author alike is a wonderful experience. So many successful writers have beloved characters that hook the readers as much as the intricate plots and thrilling action scenes. Warren certainly has his fans.

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: An Unusual Commute

Published June 5, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome to Fiction Friday, our weekly flash fiction challenge.

Here’s how it works:

Set a timer for five minutes and start writing

Keep going for as long as you can once the timer goes off

No editing allowed—raw writing only

When you’re finished, feel free to share in the comments (but there’s no pressure)

Today’s prompt: An Unusual Commute.

Every morning, you take the same train at 7:42 AM. Same seat. Same routine. One day, you notice a passenger across from you is reading a book with your name on the spine as the author—but you’ve never written a book. The cover shows a publication date from three years ago and your face is on the back.

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Novel Kicks Book Club: The Alchemist’s Secret By Clare Marchant

Published June 4, 2026 | By Laura

Hello everyone. Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Book Club.

I can’t believe I am saying this, but June is here and we are almost halfway through 2026. With the weather not being able to make up its mind here in the UK, I am hoping the book club title this month will be one you’ll enjoy. It’s an historical fiction novel by an author I love.

The Alchemist’s Secret by Clare Marchant.

So, how does our book club work?

I’ll see you in the comments.

About The Alchemist’s Secret –

Now: When Paige returns to her ancestral family home, Woodham Hall, she’s nursing an unbearable heartbreak. The man she’d thought she loved has told her the most terrible lie, one she feels she’ll never recover from. The only thing that seems to be able to hold her interest is the story of a poisoning that once supposedly happened in the house – depicted in brutal detail in a painting by an unknown artist…

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Novel Kicks Writing Room: Resolution

Published June 3, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room and the Plot Challenge.

Over the next few weeks, we will be focusing on plotting a piece of fiction, one task at a time.

These will potentially help you master plot structure by writing all major plot points, then analysing how each element builds toward a cohesive story.

Task 6: Resolution –

With this task, it’s about showing the aftermath after completing the climax exercise from last week. This is your chance to answer lingering questions. This is also the place to reveal what your protagonist has learned or how they’ve changed.

Things to consider whilst completing this…

What is the new normal?
What has your protagonist gained or lost?
What have they learned?
What does the future hold?

This closing section is showing your character’s life after the climax. This doesn’t have to be long but it should feel earned. The reader should see how the protagonist is different now.

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Book Review & Giveaway: The Fatal Farandole By Ana T. Drew

Published June 2, 2026 | By Laura

It makes me so happy to be welcoming Ana T. Drew to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The Fatal Farandole.

The Fatal Farandole is a cozy mystery full of plot twists and small-town secrets. It’s perfect for fans of character-driven crime novels with emotional depth.

A beloved Provençal festival.
A murderous conspiracy.
A bullfighter who knows too much.

When two local chefs are killed within a week, shockwaves ripple through the region’s tight-knit culinary world.

Suspicion lands squarely on baker Julie Cavallo.

As whispers turn to accusations, her eccentric family closes ranks, and her loyal friends rally to her side.

But Julie’s running out of time. Her pastry shop is at risk. Her love life is unraveling. The gendarmes are tracking her every move. Julie can’t afford to wait for the official investigation to uncover the truth.

Her instincts go into overdrive. Dots connect. Patterns appear…

Can Julie make it through this case, when asking the right questions has already gotten others killed?

*****

Julie has a lot in her life that she loves – her own Pastry business, a relationship with the handsome Gabriel and a great support system around her in the form of Grandmother, Rose, sister, Flo and colleague, Eric. However, when two fellow chefs are murdered within a week of each other, Julie soon becomes a suspect. Can Julie and the other members of FERJ find out what’s going on before someone else gets hurt?

The premise for this book sounded right up my street – a murder case/puzzle to solve, and a strong female lead. I jumped at the chance to take part in the blog tour for The Final Farandole. I couldn’t wait to get started.

This book starts out strong and puts the reader right into the thick of the action. The stakes are high from page one. Julie, the lead character, is immediately in a life-or-death situation. Not only this, but her Grandmother’s dog, Lady, is also with her. This meant that it didn’t take me long to completely get invested as I just kept saying ‘one more chapter.’

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A Moment With… Mary Wood

Published June 2, 2026 | By Laura

I am pleased to be welcoming Mary Wood to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her novel, To Find My Mother.

A HARROWING AND YET UPLIFTING STORY OF SURVIVAL AND LOVE

Best friends Jana and Eva are carefree eight-year-olds in Prague-until Nazi occupation tears their lives apart.

As their mothers are taken away and the girls face the horrors of war, survival becomes all that matters

In Theresienstadt, two desperate women make unimaginable sacrifices to one day find their children.

But will love and hope be enough to help them reunite?

To chat about her writing and experience in both the self and traditional publishing world, it’s over to you, Mary.

Coming Full Circle.

Hello, everyone, it’s great to be here on this lovely blog.

I am the author of THIRTY-SIX published books: My latest being: ‘TO FIND MY MOTHER’ a story set in the holocaust.

After twenty years of trying, my career began with Amazon offering a lifeline to wannabee authors to self-publish, and sell, their books.

I was nervous at first. Self-publishing had previously been known as vanity publishing, and it was said publishers wouldn’t consider your book if you had indulged in this practice.

But I took the plunge when a fellow wannabee author and friend, published on Amazon. One day she contacted and told me I must join; that it was wonderful to be published, and she had just earned £400 for a month’s sales! Wow, did my ears prick up! We were rock-bottom and this was a fortune.

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Book Extract: Bad Moon Rising By Berni Stevens

Published May 31, 2026 | By Laura

A big massive hello to Berni Stevens. She’s here with the blog tour for her book, Bad Moon Rising.

Rock and roll relationships are complicated. They’re even worse when one of you is a werewolf.
Stevie Vane, nightclub manager of Dusk, prefers London’s nightlife to life in the pack — fewer claws, fewer challengers, far less bloodshed.

But when tragedy strikes, Stevie is forced back into a world where dominance of the pack is won by strength… and every weakness is punished. Some new members begin a brutal contest for control, and they soon discover his greatest weakness is Kat Matthews.

Kat’s band has just landed the best gig of their career at Dusk. And the instant chemistry between her and the charismatic manager is undeniable — but so are the secrets he’s keeping. Secrets that come with sharp teeth.

As the rival wolves close in and old grudges resurface, Stevie realises it isn’t just his pack at risk. It’s the woman he loves.

Witty, romantic, and gripping, Bad Moon Rising is the third book in The Immortals of London series– where feelings run wild and loyalty can cost you everything.

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

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

Stevie drops Kat home after their first date …

I released the seat belt and turned to face him. ‘It’s been great. Thanks, Stevie,’ I said.

He leaned forward to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. ‘It’s been more than a pleasure.’ He gently tilted my chin upwards and kissed me softly on the lips. My stomach did a strange kind of flip at his kiss and I looked into his eyes as he drew back.

‘When are you free again?’

‘Not until Monday. Are you working?’

He nodded. ‘Want to come and sit at my bar?’

‘Sure.’

‘I’ll pick you up at seven and we’ll grab something to eat on the way.’

‘See, there you go again – feeding me. I’ll never be able to resist you now.’

‘That’s the plan.’ He leaned in and kissed me again. Another gentle kiss, but a kiss with an underlying promise of passion. He cradled my face with his hand and dropped one more feathery kiss on my forehead. ‘Go inside, little rock chick, before I change my mind and kidnap you.’

‘I’m going, but only because I might let you.’

He gave his now-familiar throaty chuckle and leaned across me to open my door.

Sliding out of the car, I leaned back in the open doorway. ‘Goodnight, Mr Bartender. See you Monday.’

‘Count on it. I hope the gigs go well.’

I closed the door and he drove off. The tail lights of his car held my attention until they turned the corner at the bottom of the road. I hadn’t felt like a besotted teenager since … well … since Josh, actually.

‘And look how that turned out,’ I muttered to myself.

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Book Review: The Haunting of Willows Cottage By Isobel Blackthorn

Published May 30, 2026 | By Laura

It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Isobel Blackthorn to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, The Haunting of Willows Cottage, the third story in the Strathbairn Trilogy.

Ingrid and her daughter Susan return to the Western Highlands of Scotland, staying at Strathbairn with Gertrude McCleod while their new home, a cottage by the loch, is redecorated. The very same day, the ghosts of Ingrid’s past return when Gertrude’s brother Miles arrives with his new bride and his friend Timothy.

When her former beau turned betrayer Hamish starts work on a barn conversion, Ingrid is desperate to leave Strathbairn. She rushes to move into the cottage only to find she is sharing her new home with a violent ghost.

Realising the haunting is somehow connected to Strathbairn and sensing that something at Willows Cottage must be returned, she makes every effort to discover what that it is.

While Hamish and Gertrude conspire to force Ingrid into marriage, Timothy becomes a regular caller with a romantic motive. With two suitors and two marriage proposals, who will she choose – and can she solve the haunting of Willows Cottage?

A gripping conclusion to a classic gothic mystery trilogy laced with dark family secrets.

*****

Ingrid is hoping that her return to the Western Scottish Highlands will be a fresh start for both herself and her daughter, Susan. It’s not long after her arrival that she begins to feel unwelcome by both the living and ghostly inhabitants of Strathbairn.

I do like my paranormal mysteries and so I jumped at the chance to be a part of the blog tour for The Haunting of Willows Cottage.

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: The Unfamiliar

Published May 29, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome to Fiction Friday, our weekly flash fiction challenge.

Here’s how it works:

Set a timer for five minutes and start writing

Keep going for as long as you can once the timer goes off

No editing allowed—raw writing only

When you’re finished, feel free to share in the comments (but there’s no pressure)

Today’s Prompt: The Unfamiliar –

You wake up in an unfamiliar room with no memory of how you got here.

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Novel Kicks Writing Room: Climax

Published May 27, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room and the Plot Challenge.

Over the next few weeks, we will be focusing on plotting a piece of fiction, one task at a time.

These will potentially help you master plot structure by writing all major plot points, then analysing how each element builds toward a cohesive story.

Task 5: Climax –

This task is all about bringing the central conflict to its peak. You ideally want to force your protagonist to face what they’ve been avoiding.

When you’re doing this task, answer these questions –

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Audiobook Review: Butterfly Summer By Toni De Palma

Published May 24, 2026 | By Laura

It’s wonderful to be welcoming Toni De Palma to Novel Kicks and the review for Butterfly Summer.

Hollywood producer for the Bride-to-Be franchise, Anna is on top of her game. She’s helped generations of women navigate the ups and downs of romance. Ironic, since her own love life is a mess. When the Bride-to-Be finale is relocated to Ischia in Italy, Anna plans to use the opportunity to settle some family affairs. And perhaps solve an old mystery of her own. Delia. Decades before, at the age of seventeen, Anna had spent a summer with her aunt on the lush island.

Far from an idyllic vacation, she made few friends and learned her aunt had been hiding secrets from the family. Now she’s going back to sell her aunt’s house and finish up the show’s season finale. As the crew get ready to roll the cameras, all havoc breaks loose. The newest bride-to-be is missing. The groom’s partying has been all over social media. And the sale of the house is shrouded in mystery, with an anonymous buyer.

Both Anna’s personal and professional lives crash in on her. With only hours left until the finale, Anna must find a solution for the show. And face the events that still haunt her from that long ago summer.

*****

Anna has spent her life building up her career. Whilst she helps others with the concept of love, it’s an emotion she has shut herself away from. When her job takes her back to the place where she spent one important summer, she takes the opportunity to settle family affairs. However, when she arrives on the Italian island of Ischia, it’s matters of the heart that come to the surface.

The premise of this book sounded right up my street and so I jumped at the chance to review Butterfly Summer, the latest novel by Toni De Palma. This was my first opportunity to read work by this author and so I couldn’t wait to get started.

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: The Stranger

Published May 22, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome to Fiction Friday, our weekly flash fiction challenge.

Here’s how it works:

Set a timer for five minutes and start writing

Keep going for as long as you can once the timer goes off

No editing allowed—raw writing only

When you’re finished, feel free to share in the comments (but there’s no pressure)

Today’s prompt: The Stranger

You wake up to find someone making breakfast in your kitchen. They move through the space like they’ve lived here for years.

When you ask who they are, they smile sadly and say, “I’ve been waiting for you to finally see me.”

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Novel Kicks Writing Room: Midpoint

Published May 20, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room and the Plot Challenge.

Over the next few weeks, we will be focusing on plotting a piece of fiction, one task at a time.

These will potentially help you master plot structure by writing all major plot points, then analysing how each element builds toward a cohesive story.

Task 4: Midpoint

The midpoint is where you raise the stakes dramatically. Shift the story’s direction. Move from “trying to solve the problem” to “fighting for survival/truth/redemption.”

Some of the key things to consider when completing this task:

What does your protagonist discover or lose at the midpoint?
How does this force them to change their approach?
What was their old strategy? What’s their new one?
What’s the point of no return?

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Book Review: Murder at Raven’s Gate By Louise Marley

Published May 17, 2026 | By Laura

I’m very happy to be welcoming Louise Marley back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Murder at Raven’s Gate.

Beyond the village of Raven’s Edge stands the Gateway to the Dead – a crumbling stone arch marking the site where a long-ago battle raged and the dead were buried where they fell. But it’s the forgotten mansion hidden in the trees behind it that holds the real mystery…

Lady Peony has lived at Blackheath Hall for decades, invisible to the world – until a ghostly soldier begins knocking at her door. But Lady Peony is no fool. In her experience, where there are spirits, there are schemers. And someone wants her out of that house.

As DI Ben Taylor and DS Harriet March begin their investigation, bitter winds howl through Raven’s Edge and strange mists curl around the battle site. Harriet must untangle what’s real from what’s imagined. Is there truly a ghost haunting the old house, or is someone very much alive using supernatural tales as cover for their own deadly agenda?

Atmospheric, chilling and deliciously gothic, this cosy mystery wraps ancient legends and murder into one unputdownable story. Perfect for fans of Fiona Leitch, Agatha Christie and readers who like their crime with a shiver down the spine!

*****

The Gateway of the Dead, a stone arch just outside the village of Raven’s Edge, holds legends of battles and ghostly tales of fallen soldiers. When a body is found there in the present day, ghost stories resurface. Meanwhile, Lady Peony and her sister, Rose, live in a house nearby. They are facing their own problems – issues that soon split Harriet’s attention. DI Ben Taylor and DS Harriet March are soon enthralled in more than they bargained for. Can they decipher fact from fiction before someone else gets hurt?

I’ve previously read one of the prior novels in this series, Murder at Raven’s Hollow. I was therefore excited and intrigued to be invited onto the blog tour for the latest instalment in the English Village Mystery series.

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Book Review: The Eagle Will Rise By MJ Porter

Published May 16, 2026 | By Chris Parish

It’s a pleasure to be welcoming back MJ Porter to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for their latest book, The Eagle Will Rise, book one in the Sundered Kingdom series.

The king is dead; for Mercia to survive, another must take his place.

Coelwulf, Mercia’s last king, is dead. His legacy and right to rule Western Mercia have been claimed by Alfred of Wessex, but all know Alfred was never to have Mercia. Neither were the Viking raiders, who now command the eastern-most parts of Mercia and the former kingdom of the East Angles.

Icel, the bastion of Mercia’s wars against Wessex and the Viking raiders, lies dying, but he refuses to abandon his beloved kingdom to her long-standing enemies.

Rudolf, the once-young ally of King Coelwulf the second, is summoned by Icel to attend upon him. Grudgingly, he arrives at Budworth, the task laid before him, audacious to say the least; rescue Coelwulf’s acknowledged heir, Æthelred, from Wessex, where he’s held prisoner by King Alfred. To do so, Rudolf must prevail upon the dispersed oath-sworn warrior band of King Coelwulf, and all of them, aside from him, have ignored Icel’s increasingly furious demands to attend upon him. If they won’t obey Icel, then why should they listen to Rudolf?

The fate of Mercia’s survival rests in the hands of a man who should long have been in his grave, and Rudolf, a boy who’s become a man in the most trying of circumstances. They must forge Æthelred into the emblem of Mercian survival. Or die trying. But first they must rescue Æthelred from someone who has always pretended to be Mercia’s ally, and who is anything but.

*****

Although technically the start of a new series, The Eagle Will Rise continues the history or Mercia but with the narrative passing from Icel to Rudolf. You don’t need to have read the previous series, but if you have then you will encounter a few interesting old friends in this new tome.

M J Porter has an uncanny ability to get the balance of pace, detail and language just right. The story pulls you though, there is enough detail to paint wonderful vivid images and imbue characters with depth and life whilst not weighing you down with unnecessary embellishments leading to a relaxing and engaging read – a rare treat.

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: The Last Broadcast

Published May 15, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome to Fiction Friday, our weekly flash fiction challenge.

Here’s how it works:

Set a timer for five minutes and start writing

Keep going for as long as you can once the timer goes off

No editing allowed—raw writing only

When you’re finished, feel free to share in the comments (but there’s no pressure)

Today’s prompt – The Last Broadcast.

You’re a radio presenter finishing your final show after twenty years on air. As you’re about to play the closing song, you notice something impossible in the station’s call-in system: a message from yourself, timestamped five minutes in the future.

It contains a single instruction that will change everything you thought you knew about tonight.

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Book Review: Wishing on a Star in the City By Krysten Lindsay Hager

Published May 14, 2026 | By Laura

I’m pleased to be welcoming Krysten Lindsay Hager back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Wishing on a Star in the City.

Everyone thinks Ivy Macomb’s life is perfect as she’s a teen actress on a TV show, part of a well-known family, and has just started college with her football star boyfriend, Ryan. However, as Ryan’s on campus fame grows, the two break up leaving Ivy heartbroken. She makes up a cover story to save face about how they’re taking time apart, but she’s devastated and unsure how to handle things. She ends up having a crying meltdown in front of her great-uncle who is better known in the media as the most ruthless man in business. However, she learns there’s another side to Uncle Alfred as he not only offers advice, but helps her with her podcast.

Her cousin tries to get her to go out and show people she’s doing fine after the breakup. Enter freshman hockey player, Konrad Gorski. Ivy and Konrad become fast friends as he’s a shoulder to cry on for her as she deals with her feelings. He’s also been through a bad breakup and has trust issues. Konrad is selected to go overseas for a hockey opportunity and the two stay in touch daily. They begin to have feelings for each other, but she’s worried about getting hurt. Can Ivy open her heart to love again?

*****

On the surface, it looks as though Ivy Macomb has it all. A career in TV, a boyfriend and a wealthy family. Things are not always as they seem and soon Ivy finds herself struggling and opening up to people she didn’t expect.

I am such a fan of the Stars in the City series and couldn’t wait to get started on book four. I do recommend the first three novels, but this can be read as a standalone if it’s your introduction to Krysten Lindsay Hager’s books.

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Blog : NK Chats To… Leon Mitchell

Blog : NK Chats To… Gareth Alun Thomas

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