Book Extract: The Code One Club Series By Alison Naomi Holt

Published April 29, 2026 | By Laura

Please join me in welcoming Alison Naomi Holt to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her The Code One Club series.

Some connections don’t come from wanting them. They come from collision, from timing, from something that refuses to stay buried. The Code One Club series by Alison Naomi Holt leans into sapphic stories where that kind of connection takes hold.

Set within the world of the Code One Club, where identities are reclaimed and connections run deeper than appearances suggest, these stories unfold through contrast at every level. Power and wealth exist alongside survival and instability, while control and chaos collide in relationships where trust is difficult and the stakes are never low.

In The Inheritance, Phyla McGuire is powerful, controlled, and emotionally untouchable, while Ash Redux is a former Army K9 handler barely holding on, navigating life on the streets while battling PTSD. When their lives collide, what begins as circumstance becomes something deeper and far more dangerous. Set against a backdrop of power, wealth, and survival, their connection forces both women to confront who they are beneath the roles they’ve built.

Whiskey-Colored Eyes follows Jude Lorcan, a grieving widow trying to rebuild her life one careful step at a time, and Dr. Noémi Boudon, who is confident, refined, and quietly searching for something real. Their connection is undeniable, but it is far from simple. This slow-burn sapphic story unfolds through grief, desire, and hesitation, asking what it means to open yourself to love again and what it costs to stay closed.

In Melt for Me, Alléandra Alfieri is powerful, feared, and emotionally locked down, while Maren Tempest is bold, unpredictable, and impossible to ignore. When their worlds collide, the connection ignites fast and burns hot. As control is challenged and completely undone, this story brings intensity, tension, and a shift that neither woman can walk away from unchanged.

 

Alison Naomi Holt has kindly shared an extract from Melt For Me with us today. We hope you enjoy it. 

 

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

 

Melt for Me

Chapter 1

 

Mar thanked the driver as he pulled her suitcase from the back of his SUV. The portly, florid-faced man had been friendly and talkative on her ride from the airport, something she appreciated since she needed the distraction from the weeklong gathering that she’d agreed to attend with an old friend, Kelsey, whom she hadn’t seen in several years.

It was precisely because of his affable manner that she tipped him more than she usually would. She hadn’t expected to hire a car, but her plane had landed four hours past the time she was due to arrive, and Kelsey had texted that because of the delay, she had to get dressed for the evening’s dinner party and wouldn’t be able to pick her up at the airport.

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Book Review: Unemployed Killers Support Group By Rio

Published April 25, 2026 | By Laura

Please join me in welcoming Rio to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for their graphic novel, Unemployed Killers Support Group.

Unemployed Killers Support Group is a razor-sharp, darkly hilarious noir-esque manga from Taiwanese creator Rio, this is not your average self-help group. Selected by Taiwan Pavillion as a featured work to be showcased at the 2023 Angoulême International Comics Festival.

Locker Loyed, once a deadly sniper, lost his vision—and his job—on a mission gone wrong. Now, he’s joined an unlikely circle of former contract killers, each grappling with their own personal collapse. Among them: Gloria Maze, a meticulous assassin whose career imploded after catching her husband cheating and killing the mistress in a jealous rage; Jerry Cole, a justice-obsessed lawyer turned bloodthirsty executioner; and Jordi Joe, a delusional con man who’s never actually killed anyone.

As they try to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives, Locker begins to realize his past isn’t done with him. A dangerous figure—the one responsible for his blindness and a friend’s death—is still at large. And revenge is still on the table.

For fans of dark comedy, crime thrillers, and twisted found family, Unemployed Killers Support Group is a bold, bloody, and brilliantly offbeat ride through the lives of society’s most dangerous burnouts. Welcome to the group—check your conscience at the door.

*****

This is the first graphic novel I have reviewed although not the first I had read. The plot centres around a group of 4 people all of whom are members of a support group of unemployed killers. I love the concept of hitmen and assassins having their own support groups, it conjures scenes of “hello my name is Chris and I’m an assassin. It’s been 10 days since I last killed someone, and every day is a struggle….”.

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: The Last Library

Published April 24, 2026 | By Laura

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

Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.

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

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

 

Today’s prompt: The Last Library

 

You discover a library that exists in the space between closing time and opening time—it only appears during those specific hours. The books here are different: they contain stories that were never written, conversations that were never had, and lives that were never lived.

Tonight, you find a book with your name on the spine.

Write what comes to mind.

Consider exploring:

What story does the book contain?
Why does this library exist, and who maintains it?
What choice must you make before dawn arrives and the library disappears?

 

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Book Extract: The Hearing Voices Series By Charles Porter

Published April 24, 2026 | By Laura

It’s such a pleasure to be welcoming Charles Porter to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for The Hearing Voices Series.

At a certain point, the way you experience things starts to affect everyday decisions, how you respond to people, what you trust, and how you move through situations that used to feel simple. For Aubrey Shallcross, that shift has been building for years, shaped by the voices he hears as he works, forms relationships, and tries to stay in control of his life. The Hearing Voices Series by Charles Porter follows how that begins to change what everyday life looks like.

Aubrey Shallcross has learned how to keep his life steady, even with voices that never leave. He works, maintains relationships, and moves through the world with a sense of control that, from the outside, appears solid.

But the voices don’t stay in the background.

They surface in moments that matter, when decisions have to be made quickly, when situations escalate, when the wrong move can set something in motion. Sometimes they guide. Sometimes they push.

And sometimes, they lead him straight into situations he can’t easily step out of.

As tensions build around him, in the people he’s connected to and the environments he’s drawn into, Aubrey finds himself acting before he fully understands why. What follows isn’t contained. The consequences spread outward, turning individual decisions into events that carry far beyond him.

By the time he realizes the scale of what he’s part of, he’s already committed.

 

Charles has kindly shared an extract from Shallcross: Flame Vine, the second novel in The Hearing Voices Series with us today. We hope you enjoy. 

 

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

 

Chapter 2: Aubrey

JULY 1952

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A Moment With… Gina Cheyne

Published April 23, 2026 | By Laura

I am very excited to be welcoming Gina Cheyne to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Twenty-Six Years Living a Lie.

Twenty-Six Years Living a Lie

In 1997, high in the alpine resort of Tignes, Cecily celebrates her third wedding anniversary with a night of passion. But in the morning her  happiness turns to misery and shock when she find her husband Nick dead in the bed beside her, the victim of a sudden heart attack.

Six weeks later, Cecily learns she is pregnant.

Twenty-six years later, her son Charlie takes a DNA test alongside his uncle Adam, Nick’s identical twin. The results shatter everything he thought he knew: Charlie is not related to Adam. If Nick wasn’t his father, then who was?

Cecily insists she was faithful, and the timing points only to that single night in Tignes. Desperate for answers, she turns to the SeeMs Detective Agency. Could someone have entered her room that night without her knowing? And if so—who? And why?

As the detectives dig deeper, they uncover a web of conflicting memories, buried secrets, and dangerous lies. Slowly they discover other people are in danger and if they don’t find out very soon what really happened in that wonderful night in Tignes two, or maybe more, lives will be lost.

 

To talk about the themes of Twenty-Six Years Living a Lie, it’s over to you, Gina. 

 

This book is first of all a whodunnit, although it is who fathered Charlie, rather than who killed his father, (father died of a heart attack) but it has other themes in its writing.

Sometimes when you are writing a novel these themes jump out at you when you aren’t expecting them. I was planning to write a straight whodunnit inspired by a dark night in the ski resort of Tignes in the French Alps. So dark was the night that I thought someone could climb over the balcony, and enter my bed. We could share a night of passion, and I would never know it was not my husband! However, other things wanted to be heard in the story.

Firstly, the theme of knowing yourself. We think we know other people and ourselves very well, but do we? Cecily has idolised her dead first husband and thinks of her second husband as merely security and the father of her other children. But, as the story progresses it is obvious that he is much more than that. He has a depth of kindness and insight she did not understand until everything goes wrong.

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Novel Kicks Writing Room: The Moment Before

Published April 22, 2026 | By Laura

Today, we are going to be working on an exercise called ‘the moment before.’ 

We want to aim to develop tension, anticipation, and character depth by exploring the critical moment immediately before a life-changing event.

Write a scene set in the moment immediately before something significant happens to your character. This could be before an interview, a confrontation, a departure, a confession, a performance, a decision, or any pivotal moment. The reader should feel the weight of what’s about to unfold without the event itself occurring.

 

To make this a little more challenging –

Your scene must be between 500-800 words

Include at least one moment of sensory detail (sight, sound, smell, touch, or taste)

Reveal your character’s emotional state through both internal thought and external action (body language, fidgeting, dialogue)

Do not show the actual event happening—end just before the moment arrives

The final line should heighten tension or suggest the magnitude of what’s about to occur

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Book Extract: Bamboo Island: The Planter’s Wife By Ann Bennett

Published April 20, 2026 | By Laura

It’s so wonderful to be welcoming Ann Bennett and the Book Birthday Blitz for her book, Bamboo Island: The Planter’s Wife.

From award-winning author Ann Bennett comes a haunting and powerful novel of love and loss during World War 2 Malaya.

‘A vivid account of a brutal period, and a searing exploration of trauma, memory and loss..’ The Lady Magazine.

1938: Juliet and her sister Rose arrive in Penang to stay with an aunt, after the death of their father. Juliet quickly falls under the spell of Gavin Crosby, a plantation owner, who despite his wealth, charm and good looks is shunned by the local community. Rushed into marriage, Juliet is unprepared for the devastating secrets she uncovers on Gavin’s plantation, and the bad blood between Gavin and his brother…

But in 1941 the Japanese occupy Malaya and Singapore sweeping away that world and changing Juliet’s life forever.

For decades after the war which robbed her of everyone she loved, Juliet lives as a recluse back on the plantation. But in 1962 the sudden appearance of Mary, a young woman from an orphanage in Indonesia, forces Juliet to embark on a journey into the past, and to face up to the heart-breaking truths she’s buried for so long.

This book has previously been published both as The Planter’s Wife and as Bamboo Island

Praise for Bamboo Island: The Planter’s Wife..

‘This was a story of love, passion and cruelty I could not put down … I needed to discover Juliet’s secrets.’ Lizeanne Lloyd – Lost in a Good Book

‘I raced through this book in just over twenty-four hours … I literally could not put it down. I connected and sympathised with Juliet as a character so much… and I was constantly on edge whilst reading it, desperate to find out more about her past.’ Bibliobeth – Goodreads.

‘I really loved this haunting, powerful and beautiful novel.’ Amazon Reviewer.

 

To celebrate its birthday, Ann has shared an extract from Bamboo Island: The Planter’s Wife. We hope you enjoy. 

 

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

 

Bamboo Island: The Planter’s Wife

Chapter 1

Windy Ridge Estate, Malaya, 1962

 

The big white house dominated the crest of the hill and looked out over the lines of rubber trees to the jungle beyond. It was quite alone, miles from any neighbours, and hardly any traffic ever ventured along the rutted dirt road that ran the five miles between the estate and the nearest settlement, Kuala Lipis. It had been a proud, grand building in the years before the war, its paintwork startling white against the blue of the tropical sky, but now the walls were scabbed and peeling and there were a few gaping holes in the roof where the tiles had blown off during the high monsoon winds.

The deep veranda running the length of the ground floor was shaded with bamboo chicks, which were rolled up near the front door so that Juliet Crosby, relaxing in her deep rattan chair, had a view of the faint breeze playing in the rubber trees. She watched it ruffling the leaves, turning them from green to grey and back again.

She always sat here at this time of day, before the sun had begun its descent behind the jungle-covered horizon, and the cicadas were still chattering in the casuarina trees in the garden. This was the best hour of her unwavering routine. She liked to sit with her afternoon tea tray on the little cane table, her two Dalmatians lazing on the boards of the veranda beside her, and take deep breaths to empty her mind of everything but the mundane business of running the estate, banishing any other thoughts that might trouble her. She loved the sharp light of the early evening. It was as if the sun was burning with renewed intensity before it dipped away.

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Book Review: Perotine By Dreena Collins

Published April 19, 2026 | By Laura

It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Dreena Collins and the blog tour for her book. Perotine.

Abandoned, faithful – and on trial for heresy.

On a bleak autumn morning in 1555, Protestant Perotine wakes to find her husband packed to leave. Catholicism has returned to Guernsey, and, fearing for his life, he abandons Perotine, her sister and mother to face increasing hostility alone.

The three women endure a challenging winter of rain, isolation, and poverty – until a dramatic series of events draws unwanted attention. When a local woman asks Perotine to hide stolen goods, what begins as a trial for theft spirals into accusations of heresy.

Secluded, steadfast, and terrified, the women face their plight with fortitude and prayers. Together.

But Perotine Massey holds a terrible secret. One that could bring a reprieve, or a fate worse than death.

And she’ll do anything to keep that secret safe.

*****

Perotine has recently married and is settling into life with her new husband on the island of Guernsey. However, with the rise of Catholicism under the reign of Queen Mary, it isn’t long before Perotine is left alone with her sister and mother. Alone and vulnerable, rumours soon put them in danger. Can they weather the storm?

I had not previously read anything by Dreena Collins when I was invited onto the blog tour for her latest book, Perotine. The premise for this novel is one I found intriguing.

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Book Extract: Body Man By Al Pessin

Published April 17, 2026 | By Laura

It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Al Pessin to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his book, Body Man.

Moments that seem contained can quickly expand into something far larger, especially when they strike at the center of power. What begins as a single act can ripple outward, reshaping roles and responsibilities in ways no one anticipated. In Body Man by Al Pessin, that ripple becomes a turning point.

A new presidency built on sweeping reform quickly becomes the focal point of national tension. When an assassination attempt fails, the aftermath sparks widespread unrest that spreads rapidly across the country.

Spencer, the president’s closest aide, gains unexpected influence as leadership becomes increasingly unstable. His proximity to power places him at the center of critical decisions.

Carl, a disgraced Marine sniper, is drawn into a militant movement convinced that drastic action is necessary. His mission begins with purpose but grows uncertain as events escalate.

As cities erupt and institutions begin to fracture, both men are pulled deeper into a conflict neither can control. Each believes he is acting in the country’s best interest, even as the line between defender and adversary becomes increasingly blurred.

 

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

(Warning: Language). 

 

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

 

Chapter 1

Spencer

 

I’m the best person to tell you this story.

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Book Review: Tribune and the Sword By Adam Lofthouse

Published April 16, 2026 | By Laura

I’m so happy to be welcoming Adam Lofthouse to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his latest book, Tribune and the Sword.

August. 383 AD. Flavius Maximus has declared himself emperor and crossed into Gaul. The civil war with Gratian has been short, and the rightful ruler of the West lies in an early grave.

Now two men face off across an empire. Theodosius in the east, his armies large but reliant on mercenaries. Maximus in the west, his forces small, but battle hardened and loyal to a fault.

In the middle of the chaos, at the heart of a dying world, two old friends march at the heads of opposing forces. Tribune Sixtus Victorinus fights for the West. Not out of loyalty to Maximus, but to his two sons who are bound by oath to fight for the pretender.

And General Gaius Felicius for the East. Outcasted by Maximus, he will stop at nothing to see the usurper toppled. But if his old friend stands in his path, is the road to vengeance still one he will choose to tread?

War is coming, and both men must look inside themselves and decide what is greater: the cause they fight for, or the bonds of fellowship. 🔥⚔️

*****

It was great to be invited onto the blog tour for Adam Lofthouse’s latest novel, Tribune and the Sword.

Adam Lofthouse has a real passion for the Romans and the Roman Empire and that shines through in his writing. The characters burst from the page into my mind, vidiv and powerful.

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A Moment With… Olivia Lockhart

Published April 15, 2026 | By Laura

It’s exciting to be welcoming Olivia Lockhart to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, No More Tomorrows.

Two eras. One aching heart.

1917 – At Cambridge University, American scholar Harry Turchin never expects to lose himself to desire. But Annie Mackenzie—soft-spoken, grieving, and luminous—claims his heart from their very first kiss. Their love is swift, fierce, and intoxicating. Married just days before Harry is sent to war, their passion is ripped apart when the trenches claim everything he knows, and Harry is thrown into a future that should not exist.

1967 – The free-spirited sixties are alive with rhythm, rebellion, and possibility. Harry awakens to a world he doesn’t recognise—and to Annalise Taylor, as bold and captivating as the era itself. Brilliant, independent, and achingly alive, she rouses a desire he thought belonged solely to the past.

Caught between the love he was ripped away from and the passion he cannot resist, Harry is torn between two women, two lives, and two versions of forever. Because time will not bend twice … Or will it?

Sweeping from the blood-soaked battlefields of World War One to the fevered nights of the swinging sixties, No More Tomorrows is a sensual time-slip romance about desire, devotion, and the devastating power of love that refuses to be bound by time.

 

To talk about the concept of No More Tomorrows, it’s over to you, Olivia. 

 

Some of the best ideas for a book start with a little bit of scepticism.

That was certainly true for No More Tomorrows. Before we started writing it, I had never read a time-slip romance and hadn’t given the genre much thought at all. The idea actually came from my co-author, and when he first suggested it, I wasn’t entirely convinced.

But once we began writing, I quickly realised how much fun the concept could be.

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Book Review: A Killing Breath By Faye Snowden

Published April 14, 2026 | By Laura

Raven Burns owes her life to the kind souls who looked after her while her father, unbeknownst to them, sowed a path of blood and bodies from California to Louisiana as one of the most notorious serial killers ever known, Floyd “Fire” Burns.

When Raven was a girl, Floyd brutally murdered one of those kind souls, Miss Ruth Jefferson, when the woman made the fatal decision to open the door to him on a pitch-black 4th of July night. As Raven learned of her father’s crimes, she vowed to do everything in her power to put men like him away.

Decades later Raven’s hunt for a serial killer terrorizing the town leads her right back to that 4th of July night, and a memory that will make her question how much Floyd’s evil has settled in her bones.

*****

Homicide detective, Raven Burns has never felt like she belongs in Byrd’s Landing, Louisiana. The crimes of her father cast a very large shadow. However, she does what she can to keep the town safe. When a triple murder comes too close to home, Raven is on a race against time. Can she find the killer? Do all roads lead to the sins of her father?

A Killing Breath is book three in the killing series by author, Faye Snowden. Having not read the first two novels in the series, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. I was not disappointed.

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Book Review: Summer Ever After By Mandy Baggot

Published April 13, 2026 | By Laura

I am excited to be welcoming Mandy Baggot to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Summer Ever After.

Forty-year-old Faye Lawson is falling back in love with life at last. Finally divorced from her cheating husband, she has turned her back on the UK and has been living the Greek dream in Corfu managing a beautiful traditional boutique hotel.

For Kostas Petsas, twenty-something ex-professional basketball player, life as he has always known it is over. Having to take early-retirement because of injury, he’s at a loss as to what to do next. But when a piece of land in Corfu comes on the market, it seems this might be the perfect fit. There’s just a couple of things in the way… an area of natural beauty and… a little hotel on the beach.

Kostas has never met any woman like Faye before – she doesn’t behave around him how women usually do, and, when conflict starts to surface, it seems they can’t see eye-to-eye on anything. Or perhaps, when things get body-to-body, both of them begin to wonder if it can turn into heart-to-heart.

Escape to the beautiful island of Corfu with Mandy Baggot – queen of Greek summer romance!

*****

Finally divorced from her husband, Faye feels that her life is becoming beautiful. She loves her daughter, and her home and job managing the Hotel Margaritári in Corfu. When basketball player, and local hero, Kostas arrives on the island, Faye’s world will be turned upside down. Can Faye keep hold of her happiness or will her visitor destroy it? 

Everything about this book screams summer, sun and bright, warm evenings. Even the cover immediately makes me smile and feel lighter. I couldn’t wait to get cracking on the latest novel by Mandy Baggot and was grateful to be invited onto the blog tour for Summer Ever After.

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: The Sound Only You Can Hear

Published April 10, 2026 | By Laura

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

Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.

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

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

Today’s prompt – The Sound Only You Can Hear.

For the past week, you’ve been hearing a faint humming sound that no one else can perceive—not your friends, family, or doctor. It’s constant but varies in pitch depending on where you are.

Today, you traced it to its source: it’s coming from inside your own body.

When you finally figure out what it is, you realize you have to make an impossible decision about whether to tell anyone or keep it secret.

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Book Review: Operation Berlin By Michael Ridpath

Published April 10, 2026 | By Laura

It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Michael Ridpath and the blog tour for his book, Operation Berlin. 

In a city rebuilding from war, truth can be the most dangerous weapon of all.

Berlin, 1930.

Historian Archie Laverick, scarred mentally and physically by the Great War, travels to Berlin to research a famed Prussian general. His quiet study is shattered when he crosses paths with Esme Carmichael, a spirited young American intent on making her name as a foreign correspondent. When a shooting at a Saxon castle leaves a young Jewish woman accused of murder, Archie and Esme are drawn into a perilous hunt for the truth.

Their investigation cuts through the glittering façades and lingering scars of a nation still reeling from war – where resentment simmers, political alliances shift, and the first shadows of a new conflict fall across Europe. Amid whispers of blackmail and betrayal, the pair must navigate intrigue and danger to unmask a killer hiding in plain sight.

A tense, atmospheric mystery set in a world between wars – perfect for fans of Philip Kerr’s Berlin Trilogy, Robert Harris’s Fatherland, and Alan Furst’s spy novels.

*****

It’s 1930. Archie Laverick is heading to Berlin to do research for a book. The city is full of life, but the political landscape is forever changing. It is here that he meets his new assistant, Esme Carmichael, an American wanting to become a foreign correspondent. When a murder creates a load of questions, Archie and Esme begin to investigate and the more questions they ask, the more danger they find themselves in. Can they figure things out before someone else gets hurt?

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Book Review: Love Blooms at the Cornish Cottage By Kim Nash

Published April 4, 2026 | By Laura

A big massive hello to Kim Nash and the blog tour for her book, Love Blooms at the Cornish Cottage.

💔 How do you mend a broken heart? 💔

Michelle finally thought she’d found love with her hot Greek doctor. But when Demetri reveals he’s returning home to care for his sick mother, Michelle’s dream future crumbles. Choosing not to follow him feels like losing more than just love – it feels like losing who she’d started to become.

Determined not to fall apart, Michelle decides to throw herself into rebuilding her life in Sandpiper Shore, but then unexpectedly, Demetri’s brother, Makkis, arrives on her doorstep. Offering him a room seems like the kind thing to do… but the constant reminder of her lost love is difficult for her heartbroken soul.

And the more time she spends with Makkis, the clearer it becomes: there are parts of Demetri she never knew… Just as Michelle starts to heal with a little help from her friends, she’s faced with a decision: fight for the love she knows she deserves, or finally learn how to let go…

*****

Michelle feels like life is finally going well. Her business is good, she has great friends, she adores Sandpiper Shore and best of all, she’s found a man who makes her happy. When he tells her that he needs to go back to Greece, her world shatters. Will Michelle find her happily ever after or do they only belong in romance novels?

I do like myself a Kim Nash novel. I was very happy and grateful to be invited onto the blog tour for her latest book, Love Blooms at the Cornish Cottage. This is book 3 in the Sandpiper series. I had read book 1 but sadly hadn’t got around to reading book 2. I didn’t feel like I couldn’t keep up with events though. It can be read as a standalone. I so enjoyed being a part of The Lonely-Hearts Club, even if only for the course of this book.

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: The Lighthouse Keeper’s Secret

Published April 3, 2026 | By Laura

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

Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.

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

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

Today’s prompt – The Lighthouse Keeper’s Secret

You inherit your grandmother’s remote lighthouse on a rocky peninsula, expecting a quiet retirement project. But on your first night, you discover a hidden room beneath the lamp chamber—one that doesn’t appear on any blueprints.

Inside, you find dozens of journals dating back decades, all written in your grandmother’s hand. The entries describe strange lights appearing in the fog offshore, always on the same night each month. The final entry, dated three weeks ago, reads simply: “They’re coming back. I won’t be here to guide them this time. Will you?”

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Book Review: Hopes and Dreams at the Chocolate Pot Café By Jessica Redland

Published April 3, 2026 | By Laura

I am so excited to be welcoming Jessica Redland back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Hopes and Dreams at the Chocolate Pot Café. 

Sometimes all your hopes and dreams really do come true… ✨🌈

Life at the Chocolate Pot Café has never been sweeter for Tara Porter. Nestled on Castle Street in Whitsborough Bay, her café is thriving, her friendships are close, her foster parents are back where they belong—and she’s finally let herself fall in love with artist Jed Ferguson.

For Jed, returning from Australia feels like coming home in every sense. His teenage daughters have settled, his gallery opening is a success, and with Tara by his side, the future looks full of promise.

But the past can’t stay at bay forever.

When Tara’s estranged foster sister reappears, old wounds resurface. And when Jed is reunited with twelve year old Aaron – a boy he once believed was his son – secrets unravel and loyalties are tested.

Now Tara and Jed must decide whether facing the past will shatter everything they’ve built—or hope it gives them the strength and courage to dream again.

Warm, heartfelt and hopeful, Hopes and Dreams at the Chocolate Pot Café is a story of love, forgiveness and second chances.

*****

As Christmas ends and a new year begins, Tara is feeling optimistic about life. She loves her life in Whitsborough Bay. Her business, The Chocolate Pot Café is going well. In letting herself open up to people, she now has friends and her new relationship with Jed grows stronger every day. However, life rarely runs smoothly and soon, they are both facing more life changing events. Can they weather this storm together or will Tara retreat into the lonely life she had before?

As a huge fan of Jessica Redland’s novels, I will always jump at the chance to be a part of any of her blog tours. I couldn’t wait to get started on Hopes and Dreams at the Chocolate Pot Café.

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Book Review: Storm of Mercia By MJ Porter

Published April 3, 2026 | By Chris Parish

I am pleased to be welcoming MJ Porter back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for their book, Storm of Mercia.

Wessex has never been Mercia’s ally, neither has it been her only enemy.

Wessex, AD836

The Viking raiders’ devastation has been halted once more by the shields of Mercia as opposed to Wessex. But their whereabouts are unknown.

King Wiglaf of Mercia is keen to ensure the Viking raiders are swept from his shared border with Wessex but these Viking ships are quick and difficult to track and Icel is once more deployed with Ealdorman Ælfstan warriors to do his King’s bidding. However, Icel’s quest is beset with many more obstacles and it’s not all about the seax and shield.

Worrying news from home overshadows Icel’s every deadly encounter. Will the storms of war keep him away or has he time to make one more desperate journey back to Tamworth?

With raging seas driving him ever further from Mercia’s shores, and the threat of a new conspiracy against the Mercian kingship will Icel overpower the sands of time, or will he be defeated by his deadliest nemesis yet?

*****

Storm of Mercia is the ninth instalment of the Mercia Chronicles.

Once again, Mercia’s shields have stopped the Viking raiders at the border with Wessex—but the invaders have vanished without a trace. Icel is dispatched among Ealdorman Ælfstan’s troops with the task of tracking the raiders and ensuring that they have truly left.

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Novel Kicks Writing Room: The Question That Won’t Leave You Alone

Published April 1, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room. 

Today, our focus is all about the ‘question that won’t leave you alone’.

My hope with this exercise is that you’ll discover book worthy ideas by exploring questions and mysteries that genuinely intrigue you.

 

First of all, we are going to do a bit of a brain dump by answering the following questions. Don’t edit, just write down questions that fascinate or trouble you. It’s a chance to ask the who, what, why, where and when questions. 

Try and write about ten questions. Anything and everything is welcome. Just whatever comes to mind.

Examples include –

What if someone woke up with someone else’s memories?

Why do people stay in situations that hurt them?

What happens to childhood best friends who lose touch?

Is it ever right to lie to protect someone?

What are ordinary people doing during extraordinary events?

What if plants could communicate?

 

Next, circle the three questions that you find most compelling. Once you’ve done that, pick the one that intrigues or pulls you to it the most. 

Whilst you consider which one to pick, keep these questions in mind –

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Novel Kicks Book Club: The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore

Published April 1, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Book Club and hello to April. 

The clocks have gone forward, the lighter evenings are here. All we need now is the sunshine and it’s a perfect excuse to settle down with a book.

This month, I have chosen a novel that, when reading the blurb, intrigued me greatly. I have to admit; the cover also had an influence on me picking it. I hope you find the story as interesting as I did. Even the tag line, ‘inside every book is a beating heart’. I love it.

This month’s pick is The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore. 

So, how does. our book club work? Well, anyone can take part, at any point in the month, whether you’ve read the book already or starting it. I have put a question in the comments to get the discussion going.

I look forward to discussing this book with you.

 

About The Library of Borrowed Hearts – 

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Book Review: The Lighthouse by the Sea By Margaret Amatt

Published March 29, 2026 | By Laura

I’m very happy to be welcoming Margaret Amatt back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, The Lighthouse by the Sea.

His love might be the light she’s looking for

After a string of disasters, music teacher Lottie Ashford is out of options. So when her well-meaning mother suggests she restore an old family property – a crumbling lighthouse on the remote island of Barra – Lottie reluctantly agrees.

Local fitness fanatic Ruaridh Griffin has been unlucky in love. When Lottie turns up at his sister’s B&B asking for help to find a mystery lighthouse, he can’t help wanting to assist – and he’s instantly drawn to her. But getting involved with a visitor is one thing he’s sworn never to do again.

As Barra weaves its quiet magic, Lottie begins to feel at home for the first time in years. Worse still, she’s falling for someone she’s not sure feels the same. And despite Ruaridh’s best intentions, Lottie is getting under his skin, making his promise to himself harder than ever to keep.

If this is love, Ruaridh must face his fear of being burned again – and Lottie must decide whether her future lies on the island or somewhere else entirely.

♥ This is the second book in the Love on the Edge – Barra series, but it can be read as a standalone.
♥ Set on the Hebridean island of Barra in Scotland with fun, romance, drama, and a guaranteed happy ending, The Lighthouse by the Sea has a bit of steam and lots of heart.

*****

Running from a humiliation on social media, Lottie heads to the Scottish island of Barra. She’s in search of a building at the heart of an old family story. She wasn’t counting on meeting Ruaridh. He’s also battling heartbreak and uncertainty. Can they get over their past to find their future?

Having previously read some of Margaret Amatt’s novels, it took little to persuade me to join the blog tour for her latest book, The Lighthouse by the Sea which is book 2 in the Love on the Edge series. The first book, The Castle in the Bay, is one I’ve not read yet. That didn’t hinder my enjoyment of this one though. They can be read out of order. I am planning on reading Iona and Monty’s story at some point.

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Book Extract: The Letters I Never Stopped Writing By Pranay Krishna

Published March 28, 2026 | By Laura

I am incredibly pleased to be welcoming Pranay Krishna to Novel Kicks as we shine a light on his book, The Letters I Never Stopped Writing.

Some love stories end with distance. This one begins there.

The Letters I Never Stopped Writing is a deeply intimate epistolary romance told through letters written across time, silence, and separation.

He chose duty over presence. But he never stopped choosing her. Each letter reveals longing, doubt, faith, regret, and an unwavering devotion to a love that refuses to fade — even when unanswered. In a world of instant replies and temporary connections, this is a story about something rare:

Staying.

Waiting.

Writing.

Loving without guarantees.

This is not a dramatic love story filled with grand gestures. It is a quiet, powerful exploration of emotional endurance of loving someone from afar, and choosing that love again and again, even when nothing is certain.

If you enjoy:

• Slow-burn emotional romance

• Love letters and intimate storytelling

• Clean, reflective love stories

• Stories about distance, devotion, and persistence

This book will stay with you long after the final letter. Because some hearts don’t move on.

 

Grab that comfortable chair, the drink of your choice and settle in as Pranay has shared an extract from The Letters I Never Stopped Writing with us today. We hope you enjoy. 

 

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

 

II

Dear Tara,

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: The Last Letter

Published March 27, 2026 | By Laura

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

Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.

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

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

Today’s prompt – The Last Letter.

You discover a sealed envelope in your grandmother’s attic addressed to you in her handwriting—but dated 20 years in the future. Inside is a single sentence that changes everything you thought you knew about your family.

What does it say?

If you want to add an additional challenge to the prompt, try these –

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Book Review: High Spirits at the Village Inn By Sharon Booth

Published March 27, 2026 | By Laura

I am so pleased to be welcoming Sharon Booth back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, High Spirits at the Village Inn.

Spring has arrived in the Cotswold village of Rowan Vale and everyone is in an optimistic mood.

Everyone except Danny. He’s had a rotten eighteen years stuck in a village where all his hopes and dreams were shattered. His annoying ex-work colleague, who seems determined to look on the bright side of the afterlife, won’t leave him alone. And – as if that wasn’t bad enough – he’s facing eternity dressed as Adam Ant.

Meanwhile, in London, Rory plans to whisk his wife Kirsty away to the Cotswolds for their wedding anniversary. But when they arrive in Rowan Vale, Kirsty is horrified. How could her husband be so insensitive?

Rory insists that they stay at The Quicken Tree Inn and face up to the issues in their marriage. Kirsty has no choice but to go along with him, hoping she can finally put what happened all those years ago behind her. But when she spots her long-dead cousin in the village, things take a decidedly difficult turn…

Will confronting the ghosts from her past be a recipe for happiness or disaster?

*****

Kirsty and Rory are about to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary. Instead of being excited, Kirsty is dreading it. Can a few days away together fix what is in danger of breaking?

Brooke and Danny are two of the ghosts in the very special village of Rowan Vale. When something unexpected happens, it threatens to expose secrets from the past.

I was so incredibly pleased to be heading back to Rowan Vale. Having loved the previous novels in this series, I jumped at the chance to be part of the blog tour for the latest book by Sharon Booth – High Spirits At The Village Inn.

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NK Chats To… M W Arnold

Published March 27, 2026 | By Laura

Hello Mick. It’s so wonderful to be welcoming you back to Novel Kicks. Thank you so much for inviting me onto the blog tour for The Lumberjills Take A Stand. Where do we find the cast of characters at the beginning of this new book?

Hi Laura! I’s wonderful to be with the Novel Kicks blog once again. After the first Lumberjills book had been written, I wasn’t sure if I would be writing anymore, having begun the book as a standalone. However, it turned out that people seemed to like the story. The girls are still in the same village, still at Wipers Farm, only they’ve just received notice to move, not an unusual thing for the real girls. The girls themselves are alright with this, though not everyone on the farm is, with young Harry (Harriet) particularly upset. For one of the girls, there is the excitement of finding love and a possible future, once the war is over.

 

How has your writing routine changed since your first novel? Do you have any writing rituals?

Not too much has changed. I’m still more of a punster than a planster, though once I stumbled across the central story regarding the segregation between white and black soldiers enacted by the USA during WW2, that’s where I found myself being even more careful than usual with getting things right. Yes, I am still mostly writing with my laptop on my lap, usually with Gus (one of my Romanian Werecats) hogging the majority. I end up holding him on with one hand, so I reckon about 70% of this book was written one-handed.

 

How do you approach the research and editing processes and what advice do you have for each? How do you know when you’ve done enough?

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Cover Reveal: The Secret Castle In The Highlands By Julie Shackman

Published March 26, 2026 | By Laura

I am very excited as I help to reveal the cover for The Secret Castle In The Highlands, the upcoming novel by Julie Shackman. 

Prepare to escape to Scotland with a gorgeous feel-good romance this summer…

Returning to the Scottish Highlands was never part of Poppy Summers’ plan. But life had other ideas.

With her parents’ cherished holiday cottages losing money, Poppy is determined to carry on their legacy and save the business before they’re forced to sell.

Revamping the cottages is Poppy’s priority until she meets Mason Cooper, a charming historian drawn to the highlands for research. As their newfound friendship grows, is it possible that something more might be enough of a reason to make Poppy stay for good?

 

So now we know more about the story, it’s time to see the cover. Ready? Drumroll…3…2…1….

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Novel Kicks Writing Room: A Object

Published March 25, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room. 

Today, we are writing about ‘an object’.

Pick an object from your desk or the area surrounding your writing space.

Round 1: Freewriting (10 mins). 

Write continuously about your object without stopping. Don’t worry about grammar or making sense. Explore:

  • Its history and how it got here
  • Who owned it before?
  • What story does it tell?
  • How does it make you feel?

 

Round 2: Record & Listen. 

Record yourself reading your piece out loud and then listen back to it. Don’t make any notes this time around. Just listen. Then leave your work alone for at least 10 minutes. A good excuse to go and make a cup of tea and then come back.

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Book Review: Collateral Damage By Sam Cogley

Published March 24, 2026 | By Laura

I am very excited to be welcoming Sam Cogley to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his book, Collateral Damage.

Winter came for the pancakes. Hollowvale fed him the dead.

Dane Winter is unemployed and on a lonely road to nowhere. Riding his motorcycle west from New York, he spots a sign on the Interstate: Hollowvale, Pennsylvania. A place he hasn’t visited since his Redwind Security days. Back then, the town was known for its coal mines and the best pancakes he ever tasted.

A chance encounter with a distraught local woman pulls him into investigating her friend’s disappearance. When Jacob Rhodes’ body is found at the bottom of an abandoned mine shaft, the local authorities are quick to label it an accident. Winter isn’t convinced…

Between the death of Jacob and the unexplained illnesses spreading through the local population, it’s clear that nothing is as it seems in the town of Hollowvale. Worse still, Winter thinks it might have something to do with his time there two years earlier.

What starts as a quest for answers becomes a fight to expose a conspiracy that reaches far beyond the small town.

But Winter is never one to give up, and he’s willing to burn it all down in order to uncover the horrific truth.

*****

Dane Winter had planned on only passing through the small town of Hollowvale. However, when a local teacher goes missing, he finds himself in the middle of a mystery that has the potential to change the small town and the lives of its residents forever. 

This type of thriller is not always one I will necessarily choose. When invited onto this tour and then having read the blurb for this book, something about it piqued my interest.  Having not read any of Sam Cogley’s previous novels, I didn’t quite know what to expect but I was eager to get stuck into the second novel in the Dane Winter series.

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Book Extract: Stockbroken By Billy Hemby & Jan Hemby

Published March 22, 2026 | By Laura

I am thrilled to be welcoming Billy Hemby & Jan Hemby to Novel Kicks. They are here with the blog tour for their book, Stockbroken. 

Hidden connections often lie beneath major financial events. Stockbroken by Billy and Jan Hemby explores how a veteran market advisor begins uncovering those connections when troubling patterns emerge in the data he has spent decades studying.

Bo Parrott has built his professional life on understanding how markets behave over time. As a respected investment advisor nearing retirement, he intends to leave Wall Street behind and begin a quieter life in North Carolina with his wife, Selby. Before that transition can happen, however, certain market indicators begin to stand out in ways that concern him.

Despite widespread confidence in the economy, Bo detects familiar signals that resemble the early stages of previous financial downturns. His investigation soon intersects with a mysterious death and leads him toward a network of powerful international figures who appear prepared to profit from widespread economic panic.

What begins as analysis slowly becomes a race against time. If Bo reveals what he has discovered, he could prevent massive financial damage, but doing so may place him directly in the path of individuals determined to protect their plans.

 

Billy and Jan have shared an extract from Stockbroken with us today. So, grab that drink, a comfortable chair and enjoy. 

 

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

 

Chapter One

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Audiobook Review: Cut Short By BD Spargo

Published March 20, 2026 | By Laura

I’m excited to be welcoming BD Spargo to Novel Kicks and the audiobook blog tour for his book, Cut Short.

Detectives can’t bury their mistakes, murderers can.

DCI Liam Doyle is haunted by the demons from his past and the challenges of the present: a broken marriage, a tarnished reputation, and a troubled young son who needs him. He’s newly moved out of south London – and out of his comfort zone.

When a murdered woman is found at a Lancashire beauty spot in his new patch. Doyle is tasked with finding her killer, along with his new detective sergeant, Anna Morgan.

As the investigation progresses, it becomes clear that things are not as they seem. A clever killer has created a complex web of deceit and is always one step ahead of Doyle … and the bodies are mounting up. Is the past the key to unlocking the present? When the stakes get higher, Doyle’s need to find the killer becomes personal and the detective is plunged into a desperate race against time. Will Doyle succeed before he has another dead body on his conscience?

Played out across the rugged Lancashire landscape, Cut Short is a gripping crime thriller layered with plot twists and sprinkled with humour. This fast-paced novel, the first in a series featuring DCI Liam Doyle, will have readers on the edge of their seats.

If you have enjoyed books by authors such as Ian Rankin, Stuart MacBride, JD Kirk and Alex Smith, you won’t want to miss Cut Short.

*****

DCI Liam Doyle has just transferred from the Met to Lancashire to be closer to his son. On his first day, a young woman is found murdered. As the clues gradually piece together, can Liam, DS Anna Morgan and their team find the killer before someone else gets hurt?

I do like a good crime thriller and so I was delighted to be welcomed onto the audiobook blog tour for BD Spargo’s, Cut Short. This is first novel in a brand-new series featuring DCI Liam Doyle.

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Connecting The Lines

Published March 20, 2026 | By Laura

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

Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.

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

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

Today’s prompt – Connecting the lines. 

Create a story using the following prompts. Each one is the inspiration for the next paragraph –

. Your character tells a lie for the first time in their life.

. They run into someone they knew from school but pretend not to know them.

. They call for a taxi, but it takes its time getting to them.

. There is a celebration, but it’s quickly ruined.

Have fun.

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Novel Kicks Writing Room: Character Scenarios

Published March 18, 2026 | By Laura

Hello. Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room. 

Today, the focus will be on your characters and getting to know them better.

I have used this exercise before and it really helped me get into the mind of my characters, even if I didn’t end up using some of the information.

Choose one of the following scenarios to place your character. The aim is to write a piece from the POV of your character, using ‘I’ when writing your answers.

  • A job interview
  • Bumping into a former nemesis
  • One a first date
  • The last time you see a long-term partner
  • Social media status update describing a reaction to a current news item
  • Meeting a favourite celebrity

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A Moment With… Laura Briggs

Published March 18, 2026 | By Laura

I’m so pleased to be welcoming Laura Briggs back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest novel, Sugar and Spice at the Pumpkin Corner Café.

The perfect new cozy-up-with-a-pumpkin-spice-latte read that’s meant for fans of Laurie Gilmore and Rebecca Raisin!

Professional pastry chef Blaire Reese is blindsided when her beloved Aunt Rachel dies, leaving her the Sugar and Spice Pastry Cafe in Willow Grove. Returning to her hometown, Blaire discovers her beloved family business is in trouble, and—to make things worse—its most-cherished recipe is missing.

Her first love and former summer crush, Evan Hadley, is also back in town, having traded a corporate career to help manage his family’s Heath Acre Farm, famous for its autumn Hay Daze corn maze. Grown up – and with rugged good looks – he’s only charming when he wants to be. Like when he’s not tangling with someone over business matters, the way he is with Blaire after she cancels a large order for organic pumpkins.

Her sunshine is disappearing under his grumpy storm clouds, until he accidentally learns the truth about her situation. Now, he offers to help save her aunt’s legacy and her family’s pastry cafe. As they work together in secret, the ingredients for a very different recipe develop— one simmering with romance—but an unexpected turn of events melts their growing attraction into a mess.

Will Blaire save the beloved cafe and find the lost recipe that means so much to the pastry café’s customers? And can she save this last chance at love with the first boy she ever kissed?

Sugar and Spice at the Pumpkin Corner Café invites readers to dive into its cozy autumn escape this fall—for fans of grumpy x sunshine, small town romance, Gilmore Girls, pumpkin lattes, sugar and spice and everything else that’s nice about this magical season!

 

To talk to us about her book and her love for Autumn, it’s over to Laura. 

 

I’m thrilled for this opportunity to share about my cozy new autumn romance Sugar and Spice at the Pumpkin Corner Café with everyone at Novel Kicks today!

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Rollercoaster

Published March 13, 2026 | By Laura

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

Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.

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

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

Today’s prompt – Rollercoaster.

Your character is addicted to a themed rollercoaster. Whilst visiting the theme park, they ride it as many times as they can.

However, it’s coming to the end of the evening and closing time is near. They find they are the last and only person to experience the last run of the day.

When they reach their favourite part however, there is a blinding light which forces them to close their eyes for a moment.

When they open them again, they find themselves in the real world on which the ride is based. 

Write about what happens next. 

Have fun. 

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Cover Reveal: The Freshman Parents By Ko Porteous

Published March 12, 2026 | By Laura

I am so excited as we help to reveal the cover for The Freshman Parents, the upcoming novel by Ko Porteous.

They’re off for the time of their lives. But are you? 

Book #1 in The Empty Nesters Series.

Single parent Heather isn’t neurotic (honest!) – she’s simply dreading the day her only child leaves for university – so her meticulous checklists grow longer by the hour. When she seeks advice on a parents’ forum, she clashes with Scott, a single dad whose “helpful” statistics and assertions about “helicopter parenting” leave her fuming. 

Move-in day delivers the ultimate surprise: their daughters aren’t just roommates – they are self-declared “besties for life”. Suddenly, Heather and Scott are thrown into a begrudging alliance. 

As they navigate the new status quo, Heather’s instinct to organise meets Scott’s philosophy of letting go. Their practical text messages about mattress toppers and emergency supplies evolve into conversations about dream jobs and bucket list aspirations. Despite their intentions to avoid relationships at all costs, unpredictable events keep throwing them together, meaning Heather and Scott find it increasingly difficult to ignore each other… 

 

OK, so now we know a bit about the book, it’s time to reveal the cover. Are you ready? Drumroll…3…2…1… 

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Novel Kicks Writing Room: Words

Published March 11, 2026 | By Laura

Hello and welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room. 

Today is all about favourite and disliked words. 

First, make a list of ten words you love. 

Then, from your list, pick three. Write a piece that gives your character a feeling of fear, dislike or discontent making sure you include your three favourite words. 

Do the same with ten words you dislike. Once you’ve made a list, pick three but this time, write a story that shows happiness, contentment, and excitement.

Have fun.

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Book Extracts: Some Love Lasts & Getting to Yes By Tim Hunniecutt

Published March 9, 2026 | By Laura

I am so pleased to be welcoming Tim Hunniecutt as we shine a light on two of his novels, Some Love Lasts and Getting to Yes. 

A rescue in the midst of chaos and a first glance that changes everything anchor Some Love Lasts and Getting to Yes. Through both stories, Tim Hunniecutt explores how youth, courage, and vulnerability intersect in defining moments.

Some Love Lasts – 

Fourteen-year-old Madi arrives at her grandparents’ beach condo expecting calm days and quiet evenings. Instead, she becomes drawn to Matthew, the older boy next door whose lifeguard bravery and steady demeanor command attention. When he focuses on her, she experiences a new awareness of herself.

Their connection deepens as summer unfolds, shifting from fascination into a powerful bond. When a hurricane tears through the coastline, Matthew risks everything in a rescue that imprints itself on Madi’s heart. The memory shapes her understanding of love long after the season ends. Years later, their reunion in college raises questions about whether their shared past still holds meaning.

 

First up, we have an extract from Chapter One of Some Love Lasts. 

 

The First Save

 

Though it was still early morning, warm humidity saturated the air. Billowing white clouds with dark spots drifted across the sky. The foaming waves gently crashed on the sand. Tiny sandpipers darted in and out. Seagulls squawked while circling.

Her eight-year-old sister edged into the water until it covered her feet. “It’s really warm.”

Madi joined her, and Roe grasped her hand firmly as they ventured farther until it reached their chests. Madi crouched and helped her sister float. “Yeah, it’s so warm, like being in a bathtub.”

She allowed her sister to do what she wanted as they were the only ones on the beach. Grandpa sat on one of the chairs, watching them from the shore. Her sister practiced swimming while Madi held her hat.

Roe tried to ride the waves as they broke, but they barely rippled, and she moved little if at all. She stood upright. “I’m bored.”

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Book Review: Death For Sale By Erik S. Meyers

Published March 9, 2026 | By Laura

It’s holiday time in Berry Springs, where many come together to enjoy good food, drink, and the company of friends.

Unfortunately, death is among the mix as people get mysteriously ill at the town’s Thanksgiving dinner. Deaths follow, and Sally must race to discover the truth before more people die off.

Coupled with worry for her aging parents, she is overwhelmed with the pressure and emotions, but she’ll push through to solve the crimes and restore peace to the town.

*****

Sally Witherspoon is enjoying her life in the Arkansas Ozarks. She’s dedicated to her biker bar and loves being a part of the community in Berry Springs. However, when the Thanksgiving festivities brings unexplained deaths, she is once again plunged into an investigation. Is it just a case of bad food poisoning hitting the older residents of the town or is something more sinister at play.

This was my introduction to Erik S. Meyer’s Sally Witherspoon Mystery series. Death For Sale is book 3 with Death in the Ozarks and Murder on the Mississippi being books 1 and 2 respectively. However, I felt that whilst reading the first two in the series would have enriched my experience with this novel, it didn’t place me at a disadvantage in terms of knowledge. It can stand alone.

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: All Good Things Must

Published March 6, 2026 | By Laura

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

Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.

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

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

Today’s prompt – All Good Things Must… 

Your character is in their eighties. They are very self-assured, arrogant and they don’t care about anyone but themselves.

They’ve had a very successful career breaking the law.

he story begins in an alley behind a large block of flats/apartments.

The main theme is hatred and during the story, your character finds out some truths.

Have fun.

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NK Chats To… M.D. Dixon

Published March 6, 2026 | By Laura

Hello. Thank you so much for bringing the blog tour for IKONA to Novel Kicks. What’s a detail, theme, or clue in your book that most readers might miss on the first read—but you secretly hope someone notices?

I hope someone notices that whilst the present-day chapters and future chapters are chronologically ordered forward in time, the chapters set in the past (early 20th century Siberia) move backwards in time, so that the earliest chapter timeline-wise for the past chapters reaches a climax at the latest period time-wise for the other chapters. Truthfully, there are many other details that might be missed but which astute readers will catch: recurring motifs, the recursive nature of the story, how Gutov’s chapter 26 is also IKONA’s chapter 26, for example.

 

When did this story or idea “click” into place for you—was there a single moment you knew you had to write it?

This story first came to me in 2012. I planned the structure and journeys for years before I sat down to write it. I knew from the moment I got the first few pages and the title that it would be my most mature work. It is my fourth novel, but my first published novel. It was a persistent inner voice which never left me no matter how many twists and turns my life took in the interim. I wrote it in 2022.

 

Which character or real-life person surprised you the most while writing this book, and why?

Finley Minor’s journey evolved in a way I didn’t expect. No spoilers so I will just say that his arc deeply moved me, and I was unprepared for my own emotional reaction.

 

If your book had a soundtrack, what three songs would be on it and what scenes or moments would they pair with?

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Book Extract: A Dowager is Done In By Helen Golden

Published March 5, 2026 | By Laura

I’m delighted to be welcoming Helen Golden back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book in The Duchess of Stortford series, A Dowager is Done In.

A mysterious summons. A fatal hot chocolate. And a duchess who never expected mourning to be this dreadfully dull.

Hampshire, 1891. Six months into widowhood, Alice, Duchess of Stortford, is restless. Black gowns and seclusion in the country have their limits, so when Clarissa, Dowager Countess of Romley, sends a personal summons asking for her discreet assistance with a troubling matter at Lawrence House, Alice seizes the excuse for a change of scene.

But what begins as a family gathering to welcome home the Dowager’s once-disgraced son ends in shock. Clarissa is discovered dead, her passing swiftly dismissed as a heart attack. Alice knows better. The Dowager had been afraid — and had trusted her to uncover the truth. Someone silenced her, but why? Was it to do with the announcement she made over dinner, or something even more dangerous?

Now everyone in the house is a suspect: the resentful heir, the returning prodigal, the mysterious guest with a too-familiar face. With her sharp-witted maid Maud, steadfast footman George, and her reluctant ally Lord Rushton at her side, Alice must act quickly. If the Dowager was murdered to keep her secrets buried, the killer will not hesitate to strike again.

The Dowager is dead. The clock is ticking. And the duchess is about to discover that country house parties can be murder.

Full of clever twists and a heroine who won’t give up until she finds out the truth, A Dowager is Done-in is the perfect escape for fans of historical mysteries wrapped in wit and warmth.

 

Helen has shared an extract from A Dowager is Done In with us today so you know what you have to do… grab that coffee, a biscuit, the comfortable chair and enjoy.
 

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

 

Manning Hall, November 1891. It’s six-months since Alice, Duchess of Stortford’s husband, Vance, died. She’s learning to manage things at Manning Hall, and she’s even started the school project she discussed with Vance before his death. The only thing is—she’s finding mourning is boring! But when a letter arrives from Clarissa, Dowager Countess of Romley, hinting at a troubling matter at her home in Hampshire, Lawrence House, and asking for Alice’s help, she should just say no shouldn’t she? And, of course, Aunt Cora has a strong view about Alice’s responsibilities…

*****

Fee clapped her hands. “How thrilling! She wants you especially.”

“Highly irregular,” Baxter muttered.

“Well, you cannot possibly go,” Aunt Cora declared, crossing her arms. “You’re only six months into your mourning period. A house party would be entirely inappropriate.”

“It’s hardly a house party, Aunt Cora,” Fee protested. “More of a family gathering. Alice is family through my marriage to Duncan.”

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Novel Kicks Writing Room: What Ifs?

Published March 4, 2026 | By Laura

Hello and welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room.

Today, it’s going to be free writing but with a prompt to start things off. Those prompts are going to focus on what ifs?

Pick one of the following and write a story based around it. Write for as long as you can.

Your prompts are –

What if Greek Gods walked the earth and they are back?

What if your character’s nee stepparent is really them from the future?

What if your character’s past and present began to merge?

What if your character could suddenly hear everyone’s thoughts?

What if the three bears wouldn’t let Goldilocks leave?

Have fun.

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NK Chats To… C.D Steele

Published March 4, 2026 | By Laura

Thank you so much for joining me today. Can you tell me about your book, Hidden Truth and where we find Joe Wilde when the story begins?

Joe is in his office with potential new client Sylvia Graham, who wants Joe to investigate the disappearance of her daughter Julie. She had vanished six years prior, seemingly without a trace.

 

What are the challenges of writing a book series? What do you find most enjoyable about it?

I suppose the main challenge of writing a book in a series is being able to come up with an original plot. It needs to be different to the plots in the previous books, but at the same time not so different that it doesn’t feel part of the series.

 

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

I have no particular writing rituals. I mostly write in the evenings during the autumn and winter months.

 

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

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Book Review: The Three Witches By Elena Collins

Published March 3, 2026 | By Laura

I’m very excited to be welcoming Elena Collins to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The Three Witches.

Now: When Ruthie gets the part of one of Macbeth’s famous three witches she can’t wait to get started. Inspired by the beauty of the film’s Scottish locations and the camaraderie of the cast and crew, she can leave behind the expectations of her family and her lacklustre love life, at least for now. But as echoes from the past begin whispering in Ruthie’s ear and a restless spirit draws her further into its centuries-old secrets, it soon becomes clear that only she can uncover the truth of a terrible injustice.

1050 Scotland: Isobel and her two sisters have learnt about healing from their loving mother Sidheag, and she in turn has kept them safe. But without the protection of their late father, Sidheag knows that her daughters must find husbands or their futures are at risk.

Isobel believes in love over duty and when she catches sight of King Macbeth’s stepson Lulach she can picture a happiness she had hardly dare imagine. But as heir to a Scottish throne that is drenched in blood, Lulach’s destiny is to be a warrior. When Isobel’s actions leave her and her sisters vulnerable to accusations of witchcraft there may be nothing that can keep the three women safe, not even the great Macbeth himself.

As the calls from the past grow ever louder, Ruthie has no choice. Macbeth’s witches have a story that needs to be told and the truth can no longer stay hidden…

*****

1050. Scotland. Isobel and her two sisters, Merraid and Ysenda are healers and midwives. As each of them grow and find love, the risks for their safety increase.

Present day – Ruthie gets an opportunity to be part of a documentary, playing one of Macbeth’s three witches. She sees the trip to Scotland as a chance to get away from the pressures of her life. However, she begins to see things that can’t possibly be real. Is she losing her mind or is someone trying to reach her?

A story of survival and love is fighting to be told.

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Book Review: Dragon Kin’s Blood By Jo Gatenby

Published March 3, 2026 | By Chris Parish

I’m so pleased to be welcoming Jo Gatenby to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Dragon Kin’s Blood.

Who do you trust when you can’t go home?

After centuries of hiding themselves and their shifting abilities from outsiders, the Dragon Kin decide to send a delegation of “dragon riders” to a nearby Lowlander territory. Eager to see the world, young Lauran quickly volunteers. But not all Lowlanders can be trusted. As the visit comes to an end, Lauran finds herself trapped in her draconic form—and hunted by an evil warlock. Desperate to protect herself and her people, she flees along the Dragon Spine Mountains, away from friends and foes alike.

Meanwhile, the last place Jenny wants to be during her summer break from university is on a family vacation with her mother’s new husband and his young son, Davy. Hoping for some peace and quiet, she explores a nearby cave—only to stumble into a portal to the Kingdom of Galahar, a land of magic and mythological creatures.

As Jenny searches for Davy, who follows her through the portal, and Lauran struggles for freedom, they come together with the help of Nath, an apprentice shaman of the Anishinabe people. Between Jenny’s technology and Nath’s magic, can they help Lauran escape the warlock’s relentless pursuit before he gets his hands on the Dragon Kin’s blood?

*****

I have been a long time fan of fantasy. I have read many books which involve dragons in one guise or another; from rare and mysterious beasts to semi-organic war machines and I can honestly say that this is the first time I have encountered dragons in the way they are portrayed in this book. I won’t give it away, but let’s just say that the classic rider / dragon pairing is brought into question.

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Book Review: Blind Pursuit By Rob Sinclair

Published March 1, 2026 | By Laura

I am absolutely thrilled to be welcoming Rob Sinclair to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his new book, Blind Pursuit.

Callum Murphy thought he was happily married to a corporate consultant…

But when police show up at Callum’s work site, informing him of his wife Lea’s death – his world starts to crumble. And it turns out, her death was just the beginning…

Within a few hours, Callum is told that Lea was, in fact, an MI6 agent who was killed because of intelligence only she had, strangers with guns break into his home and he’s forced to run for his life. Thrust into a terrifying chase across Europe, Callum has to dodge British police and shadowy MI6 operatives who believe he knows more than he’s letting on. All the while trying to piece together the truth about his wife’s final mission.

But the deeper he digs, the more dangerous his situation becomes, forcing him to ask the ultimate question: Who did he marry, and can he trust anything she ever said to him?

*****

Callum loves his wife, Lea. However, when he is told she’s been killed overseas on what he believed to be a business trip, his world starts to unravel quickly. He soon learns that the woman he loved was someone he didn’t really know at all.

I was delighted to be welcomed onto the blog tour for Blind Pursuit, the latest novel by Rob Sinclair. Having not had a chance to read any of his previous books, I didn’t fully know what to expect. All I knew was that the premise sounded very engaging. And boy was it.

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Novel Kicks Book Club: A Song of You and Me By Mike Gayle

Published March 1, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Book Club.

Not only am I excited to be saying hello to March, I want to say how happy I am that you’re joining me for another exciting book pick.

This month’s novel is A Song of You and Me by Mike Gayle.

I have been a fan of this author since I was lent a copy of Mr Commitment back in the early 2000’s. I will always be so grateful for the friend who introduced me to this wonderful author. If you’ve never read any of his novels before, you’re in for a real treat or maybe you’re already a fan? Either way, welcome.

So, how does our Book Club work?

Whether you’re going to be reading this book for the first time or have read it before and want to chat about it, anyone can join, at any point in the month. I’ve put a question in the comments to get the discussion rolling.

See you there.

 

About A Song of You and Me – 

Helen and Ben parted as heartbroken 18-year-olds and went their very separate ways.

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Book Review: The End of the Sahara By Saïd Khatibi

Published February 26, 2026 | By Laura

On an early autumn morning in 1988, on the outskirts of an Algerian city on the edge of the desert, a shepherd stumbles upon the lifeless body of Zakia Zaghouani, the stunning nightclub singer at the Sahara Hotel. Suspicion immediately falls on her lover, who is thrown into prison.

The incompetent Inspector Hamid begins an investigation. So does the defense lawyer of the main suspect. Family, friends, and close ones give their testimonies, finding themselves confronted with their past. Secrets, betrayals, grudges, but also dreams and hopes shed light on their connection to the victim.

Each person harbours, for one reason or another, the desire to take revenge on her. So, who really killed Zakia? And what if, behind this woman’s murder, lie secrets so unbearable they could tear an entire community apart?

*****

What starts as a normal morning for an Algerian Shephard ends up being anything but when he finds the body of a young woman. Later identified as Zakia Zaghouani, a singer at the Sahara Hotel, an investigation begins to find her killer.

The premise of this novel was intriguing – a fictional murder mystery set against the real backdrop of the 1988 October Riots in Algeria.

It didn’t take the author long to get me right into the thick of the story. Although it’s main focus is the murder of Zakia, I could feel the rumbles of the riots simmering all the way through the novel. There’s something within the undertones of every description and piece of dialogue. It really did pull me into the situation and gave me a small idea of what it must have been like at that time for the characters in this story.

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Novel Kicks Writing Room: Titles and Acknowledgements

Published February 25, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room.

Today, it’s all about titles and acknowledgements.

Have you been stuck when it comes to beginning your work? Are you in the middle of writing it and have maybe hit a block? This activity could be a fun thing to do to get out of the writing rut or simply give you five minutes away from your WIP for a break.

First, let’s look at titles –

Set a timer for five minutes (even if you already have a title for your WIP),

Write down as many words or titles you can think of when you think about your WIP.

Once this is done, pick the title you like the most or go with the original title you had if you didn’t find one you preferred.

Now put your mind to the time where you’re at the stage where your book is finished and you’re about to publish. The only thing you have to do is to write your acknowledgments. If you’d like, you could also write some pretend endorsements from other writers.

If you’ve been struggling to write, I hope this exercise makes you feel better about your WIP.

Have fun.

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A Moment With… Colin Garrow

Published February 24, 2026 | By Laura

It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Colin Garrow to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his latest novel, Overkill.

Edinburgh, Christmas Eve, 1936. A gruesome double murder. A white-faced killer. A mysterious stranger…

Still haunted by his recent past, Professor Finlay MacBeth is called in to assist the police following an horrific double murder. Traces of greasepaint and white cotton lead MacBeth and Inspector Callaghan to the Christmas Circus, but while they search for clues, someone else is watching them.

Meanwhile, bent cop Kilmartin still has MacBeth in his sights…

In this thriller series set in Edinburgh, Overkill is book #2 in the Finlay MacBeth series.

 

To talk to us about creating a series, it’s over to you, Colin. 

 

Creating a new series is a bit of a challenge for any author – not only must you come up with a bunch of brand-new characters, but you also need to know where they live, what work they do and any interesting pasts they’ve had before appearing fully-formed in a new adventure. I’m not a plotter so never have any kind of outline to work from before I start writing. However, I do need to have a clear idea of the main character. With Metropolis, book one in the Finlay MacBeth series, I spent a lot of time working out who MacBeth might be, where he came from, what skills he might have and what (if any) issues might continue to throw up problems for him (such as being continually haunted by a dead man).

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Book Review: The Case of the Christie Curse By Kelly Oliver

Published February 21, 2026 | By Laura

It’s so wonderful to be welcoming Kelly Oliver to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The Case of the Christie Curse.

Mesopotamia, 1930: When Agatha Christie invites fellow members of the Detection Club to witness the famous excavations at the ruins of Ur, Dorothy L. Sayers, her quick-witted assistant Eliza Baker, and Theo Sharp expect ancient wonders – not fresh corpses.

But when an archaeologist is found dead in the sand, whispers of a deadly curse sweep through the camp. Eliza suspects something far more dangerous than superstition. Amid glittering artifacts and fragile alliances, every guest harbors secrets: the Woolleys, whose marriage is shadowed by tragedy; a journalist hungry for scandal; even academic Max Mallowan, whose loyalties are not what they seem.

As theft, forgery, and coded messages surface, the line between archaeology and espionage blurs. And when Eliza and Theo find themselves in danger, they must face not only the truth about the murder – but also the truths they’ve long denied about each other. Can they uncover the killer before the desert claims another victim? Or will this dig unearth secrets too dangerous to survive?

*****

1930.

The Detection Club are called to assist their most famous member, Agatha Christie, in the deserts of Mesopotamia. The Queen of Crime has a strange feeling. When the team arrive, it isn’t long before superstition turns into murder. Can they figure out what is going on before anyone else gets hurt?

I was extremely excited to be invited onto the blog tour for The Case of the Christie Curse, the latest novel in the Detection Club series. Having devoured the previous novel, The Case of the Body on the Orient Express, I couldn’t wait to get started on book 3 of the series. I do thoroughly recommend this series as a whole, but this can be read as a standalone.

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Monday and February

Published February 20, 2026 | By Laura

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

Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.

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

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

 Today’s prompt – Monday and February.

‘All my mornings are Mondays stuck in an endless February.’ – Fortnight – Taylor Swift.

Your character wakes up on a Monday morning in February. It’s the same as every other morning. They follow their usual routine.

This time however, instead of Monday afternoon arriving, the morning repeats. After some denial and panic, they start to analyse their morning and realise that there is something within this time frame that they need to change in order to stop their Monday mornings repeating and for Monday afternoon to arrive.

The only problem is that they don’t know what that is.

Write their story.

Have fun.

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Book Review & Giveaway: Escape To Seahaven Bay By Nicola May

Published February 20, 2026 | By Mick Arnold

We are pleased to be welcoming Nicola May to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Escape To Seahaven Bay.

The heartwarming new novel from the author of the million-copy bestselling Cockleberry Bay series.

Seahaven Bay has always been a place where the sparkling tides bring laughter, love and a lot of fun. But when Rita Jory’s beloved husband Archie dies in a tragic accident, she’s left alone on their failing Cornish farm with nothing but her grieving heart, a mountain of debt and some very badly behaved goats. Faced with selling the home she loves or finding a way to make it pay, Rita has a moment of desperate inspiration. She decides to transform her beloved Seahaven Farm into a place where broken souls can heal by the sea.

With help from her sharp-tongued mother-in-law, loyal best friend, daughter and new friends, the rundown farm soon blossoms into a haven of healing, creativity and community. Rita dares to believe her future might still shimmer with possibility – and even admits her growing attraction to Jago, the gorgeous neighbouring farmer with whom the Jorys had a decades-long feud.

But just as Rita begins to find peace, long-buried secrets about Archie’s past begin to surface, forcing her to question everything she believed about the life they built together.

Rita must discover the truth and decide if she’s ready to open her heart again – to love, to hope, and to the possibility that even after loss, life can still be full of surprises.

A tender, uplifting and hilarious tale of resilience, friendship and finding light in the darkest moments, perfect for fans of Jill Mansell, Jojo Moyes and Amanda Prowse.

*****

I’m delighted to be a part of the blog tour for Nicola May’s forthcoming book, ‘Escape to Seahaven Bay’.

Now, where to start? Seahaven farm is failing, as Rita finds life hard after the unexpected death of her husband. With her son rarely in contact and her daughter working away from home, Rita is getting to her wits end, with the possibility of losing the farm a real possibility. Through a change of direction for the farm, things begin to change, before a secret long buried makes things even worse.

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Novel Kicks Writing Room: Scenarios

Published February 18, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room. 

Today, it’s about building possible scenarios.

Set the timer for five minutes. In this time, write down as many life changing events that a character could face. A divorce? A bereavement? It could be something like their house is robbed or an illness. Anything and everything you can think of, write it down.

Then, pick someone from the list below –

Jenny (29) – lives in London

Alan (60) – lives in Edinburgh

Michael (18) – lives in Brighton

Leah (50) – lives in Cornwall

Yasmin (46) – lives in Newcastle

Connor (80) – lives in Birmingham

Pick one of your scenarios from your list and write a scene for a story for one of the characters above.

Have fun.

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Book Extract: The Silent Resistance by Anna Normann

Published February 18, 2026 | By Laura

I’m excited to be welcoming Anna Normann to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for The Silent Resistance.

Occupied Norway, 1944. Anni endures the war alone, aiding the resistance while longing for news of her sailor husband. Her daughter, Ingrid, is her joy, and Anni is determined to keep her safe. But when a German official is billeted at their home, danger escalates, and Anni faces an agonising dilemma.

London, 1952. Ingrid has been trying to understand her mother’s mysterious disappearance at the war’s end. Clinging to Anni’s promise that she would always come back for her, Ingrid sets out to discover what happened all those years ago.

 

Grab that beverage of your choice and find that comfortable chair. Anna Normann has kindly shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy. 

 

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

 

While people didn’t starve in Norway during the war, they went hungry and children were malnourished. No food could be imported, and the approximately 400.000 German soldiers stationed in Norway had first pick.

I grew up listening to stories about the food during the war. The rancid cod liver oil used for cooking, the turnip they fried in the oil, the salty herring. No butter, no sugar, no chocolate. I couldn’t even imagine how horrible that was.

 

Ingrid looked up from her dolly and teddy, who by now had arrived in China. ‘I’m hungry, mamma.’

‘Me too. I have potatoes and more potatoes. Would you like that?’ Anni said.

‘Can we fry the potatoes, mamma?’ Ingrid loved crispy potatoes, even those fried in cod liver oil.

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Book Review: Healing Hearts at the Forever Cottage by Jill Steeples

Published February 18, 2026 | By Laura

Please join me in welcoming Jill Steeples back to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her latest book, Healing Hearts at the Forever Cottage.

The winds of change are sweeping through the idyllic Cotswold village of Lower Leaping.

After a tumultuous few months, Tess Alexander is ready to welcome her first guests to The Garden Retreat, a beautiful lodge in the grounds of Hollyhocks Cottage.

With her daughter Hannah home from her travels in Australia and her mother, Marjorie, acting out of character, Tess has to juggle many demands on her attention. Even her flourishing relationship with dashing Rob Templeton is put to the test when he faces an emotional dilemma from his past and Barney, her beloved beagle, has her at her wits end.

Tess can weather most storms with the unbridling support of her close friends Dilly, Gina and Suzy but when a passing remark in the local pub causes her to question one of those friendships, she wonders who can she really trust?

Can Tess overcome the obstacles in her path to find the happy ending she truly deserves?

*****

Tess has begun to really settle into her life post separation from her husband. Her new relationship with Rob is going well, her daughter seems to be getting better after going through an ordeal and her beloved garden annexe is ready for its first guest. Is everything starting to go right or is there more upheaval around the corner?

It’s so marvellous to be back in Lower Leaping and Hollyhocks Cottage. This book is book two of the series. Having read book one, I couldn’t wait to escape into this gentle world that Jill Steeples has created. If this novel will be your introduction to this series, don’t fear. I felt that reading book one enriched book two, but both can stand alone.

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A Moment With… Rachel Debrave

Published February 18, 2026 | By Laura

It’s so wonderful to be welcoming Rachel Debrave to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Too Much to Hope For.

Scarlett Hope has found a surprising rhythm at Haddon House. Just months into life with Laird Edward Cameron-Reid, their chemistry is electric, and the future feels full of promise – but something inside her is stirring. She’s traded city charm for estate calm yet still feels caught between worlds.

Then Harry shows up. A famous music producer – and a blast from Scarlett’s past – he’s in town to film with a renowned band. His arrival is magnetic, disruptive, and the last thing she ever expected. Scarlett loves Edward, but Harry’s presence reawakens the version of herself she thought she’d left behind.

When Edward’s daughter announces she’s pregnant and moves in full-time, the pressure only grows. And when Scarlett meets Sophie, a young woman struggling to make a home for her unborn child, one small act of kindness turns into something far bigger – a project that might just change everything. But as tragedy strikes, Scarlett faces a deeper choice – not between two men, but between who she was and who she’s becoming.

Too Much to Hope For is a high spice, emotionally layered story of love, legacy, and identity – about staying rooted in love while growing into something more. Perfect for readers who loved the emotional fire of A New Hope in the Highlands, the small-town heart of Things We Never Got Over, and the soul-deep reckoning of After I Do.

 

Without further ado, it’s over to Rachel. 

 

When Chemistry Isn’t Enough – Writing Spice Without Losing The Story. 

 

Readers and writers talk a lot about “spice” at the moment. How much is too much. Whether it’s necessary. Whether it adds anything at all. As both a reader and a writer of romance, I find the conversation fascinating – and occasionally a little heated.

Because for me, the question isn’t really about how explicit something is. It’s about whether it matters.

I love chemistry. There’s nothing quite like that first charged exchange between two characters who just click. The dialogue sharpens. The air shifts. You can feel the pull before either of them admits it.

But chemistry on its own is easy.

What’s harder – and far more interesting – is asking what that chemistry is doing.

There’s a lot of conversation about ‘spice’ versus ‘smut’. I find it fascinating – and sometimes a little puritanical and/or judgemental – on either side of the fence. Some readers want closed-door romance. Others want very explicit, on-the-page intimacy. Neither is wrong, and let’s not yuk someone’s yum (as the cool kids are calling it!). But for me, the real question isn’t how graphic something is – it’s whether it means something.

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NK Chats To: A.M. Shine

Published February 14, 2026 | By Laura

Thank you so much for joining me today and for inviting Novel Kicks onto your blog tour. Grace is steeped in Irish mythology and Gothic horror—what inspired you to blend these elements in this story?

An unhealthy obsession with horror and history is probably to blame for this one. I’ve always enjoyed the notion that the old lore was inspired by very real fears, and that there are horrors still existing in Ireland that we’d be wise not to disturb. For centuries we were an island of storytellers, gift-wrapping these terrifying warnings as tales and rooting them to the land, not merely to spook the children, but to keep them safe.

Growing up in a small village in the west of Ireland, I knew which trees were fairy forts and best avoided. There was even a rock that’d apparently been a witch once upon a time, and on the darkest nights she could be seen travelling as a passenger in the backseat of your car. I believed the stories then, and I still respect them now. Grace was inspired by my love of the gothic and Ireland’s wonderful inheritance of horror, and I’m exceptionally proud to carry on that tradition in the twenty-first century.

 

The island in Grace is described as “isolated and wilfully forgotten.” How did you go about crafting such a haunting and atmospheric setting? Was it inspired by a real place?

I’ve wanted to set a novel on an island for years now, as I can’t imagine a setting more cruel and isolating than a lonely rock out in the ocean. To make it suitably inhospitable, I drew on my own experiences of Ireland’s unique and ofttimes bleak west coast. I also visited the Aran Islands and Inishbofin to get a real feel for the isolation first-hand and to test out the local pubs (for research purposes, of course). There’s a feeling to these communities that I really wanted to infuse into my writing, not only to craft the horror, but to also capture their stark beauty. And Croaghnakeela, where Grace takes place, is actually a real island. Nobody lives on it, thankfully, so I didn’t feel too bad when I invented its own horrible history. But who knows, maybe this novel will inspire a few adventurous horror fans to visit it someday. I’d be happy to tag along with them.

 

What draws you to horror as a genre, and what do you think makes a truly terrifying story?

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Pick Up From The First Line

Published February 13, 2026 | By Laura

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

Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.

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

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

Today’s prompt is – pick up from the first line. 

Using the first line below, create a story. The genre, the character and setting is up to you. The only rule is you have to use this first line…

 

‘Well, this is where I live.’ 

 

I am so excited to see what you do with this line. Remember, don’t worry about what you’re writing. The aim of this is to get the words down onto the page and to see where it takes you.

Have fun.

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