Book Review: Meet Me on Platform 3 by Zara Stoneley
I’m very happy to be welcoming Zara Stoneley back to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her novel, Meet Me on Platform 3.
Two people. One journey…
Millie loves her city life, her city friends and writing her true(ish) confessions column – but she’s starting to wonder if the grass really is greener on the other side, or if her heart really belongs back in Northumberland, with her mum who is struggling after the death of Millie’s dad.
Joe is happy doing what he does, writing games. He could do it anywhere, but since leaving home he’s lived believing that looking back means you’ve failed, and life is about taking chances and seeing the world.
So when the two meet up surely it can never work, their lives are moving in opposite directions. On different tracks…
*****
Millie loves her job and living in London. When she bumps into her perfect man on Platform 3, she finds she has a crush and a subject for her column. When fate throws them together, have they really found the one or will they end up taking different tracks?
I have really loved previous novels from Zara Stoneley so I was excited to get going on this novel as I really liked the premise.
The style of writing is almost conversational as it’s told from the point of view of both Mille and Joe. I like these duel narratives as it really gives you an insight into the mind of both characters.
by 
Book Extract: The Last Girl to Die by Helen Fields
Please join me in welcoming Helen Fields to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her book, The Last Girl to Die.
In search of a new life, seventeen-year-old Adriana Clark’s family moves to the ancient, ocean-battered Isle of Mull, far off the coast of Scotland. Then she goes missing. Faced with hostile locals and indifferent police, her desperate parents turn to private investigator Sadie Levesque.
Sadie is the best at what she does. But when she finds Adriana’s body in a cliffside cave, a seaweed crown carefully arranged on her head, she knows she’s dealing with something she’s never encountered before.
The deeper she digs into the island’s secrets, the closer danger creeps – and the more urgent her quest to find the killer grows. Because what if Adriana is not the last girl to die?
*****
Helen has shared an extract with us today so grab that coffee and the comfy chair and enjoy!
*****beginning of extract*****
Addie. First with two ds then just one. With a y on the end, then with ie. Then I checked out Brandon Clark. I didn’t feel good about it, but now I had two jobs to do. The first was to figure out who killed Adriana.
The second was to make absolutely sure the police didn’t reach the conclusion that her twin brother was responsible for her death. School was in session in California. I had three piles of paper in front of me that I’d been avoiding looking at all day, no email from Rob Clark regarding Adriana’s cell phone data, and there were too many loose ends. Like the printer. As a general rule, I sit on my concerns about my clients the way you learn to sit on your hand when you’re trying to give up biting your nails. That was why I hadn’t taken the blank medical records form I’d printed off at Tackle & Trade up to the Clarks’ house yet. It was also why I hadn’t yet crossreferenced the form they’d filled in for Nate Carlisle with the one they’d filled in for me. I guess I knew it was going to be a rabbit hole, and that I’d end up doing something stupid like phoning all the high schools in Carlsbad and asking their librarian to go through the yearbooks to locate the Clark twins. But I never could let a thing go. My mother always swore it’d be the death of me.
by Book Extract: Bodies Brains & Bogies by Paul Ian Cross PhD
Join me in welcoming Paul Ian Cross PhD to Novel Kicks. He’s here with the blog tour for his book, Bodies, Brains & Bogies.
This fantastic title from Paul Ian Cross, the writer of How to Vanquish a Virus, takes the reader on a whirlwind tour of everything that’s disgusting, unusual and amazing about the human body. Find out everything about poo, pus and bogies, while learning a whole lot about how our bodies work hard in hundreds of fascinating ways to keep us alive.
With tons of hilarious and informative illustrations, it includes lashings of Paul Ian Cross’s trademark laugh-out-loud humour, in-depth knowledge and infectious optimism. It’s the perfect funny, accessible way to discover everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the human body, but were too grossed-out to ask!
*****
Paul Ian Cross PhD has shared an extract today. Enjoy!
*****beginning of extract*****
The human body is amazing – a machine that’s been perfected through trial and error.
Take a look at your hand.
Go on! Hold it out in front of you.
Now, wiggle the fingers! Did you know that you’re looking at the outcome of millions of years of evolution!
Whether you’re texting, gaming, or doodling, your hand is what equips you for modern life. The evolution of our THUMBS – yes, those stumps with only two bones – are the reason why modern humans evolved to write music, build cities, fly planes and even travel to the moon.
Your thumbs LITERALLY CHANGED THE WORLD.
by A Moment With…Brendan James
I am pleased to be welcoming Brendan James to Novel Kicks. He’s here with the blog tour for his novel, Gerard Philey’s Euro-Diary: Quest for a Life.
‘Could there be a world of interest and adventure beyond the Midlands? A world of confidence, sex and excitement? A better life – a better me?’ These are the questions Gerard Philey grapples with over New Year, 1995.
Sitting in his rented Black Country room, reflecting on his thankless teaching job and miserable love life, he courageously decides to abandon his humdrum existence and embark on a quest for Euro-fulfilment, fun and fitness on the Continent.
After a shaky start in Brussels, events manoeuvre him to Amsterdam where chance encounters shift his world well and truly into fifth gear. He samples the trials and tribulations of new relationships, alongside managing a sex shop in the city’s Red Light Area – on top of the challenges of fat-free living and international travel!
Through his bittersweet diary, we see how Gerard steers a laugh-out-loud course through farcical episodes and fanciful characters…and how entanglements from past and present draw him unwittingly into a criminal underworld where events ultimately take their toll.
*****
To talk about why he decided to write Gerard Philey’s Euro-Diary: Quest for a Life in a diary format, it’s over to Brendan.
Several people have asked me why I chose the diary format for the novel. The truth is that I’ve always been fascinated by diaries, both real and fictional.
I fell in love with Sue Townsend’s Adrian Mole diaries in my youth, and have re-read these many times since.
I was also always fascinated by the real life diaries of people as diverse as Kenneth Williams, Jo Orton and Alan Bennett, to name but a few. What is it about diaries that I find so interesting? I supposed it’s partly the confessional element.
People record their innermost thoughts and feelings as a way to make sense of what’s happening in their lives, and often do this in a way that is frank, deeply personal and sometimes agonising. And of course, sometimes hilarious to outsiders! Although most diarists keep a journal for their own private purposes, I think some also have a sense of displaying what they divulge to an imaginary audience, and almost revel in what could be seen as a form of exhibitionism – so there’s a strange and slightly contradictory tension between the private and the public, and this dual aspect of diaries I find compelling.
by Book Extract: Hidden in the Mists by Christina Courtenay
I am pleased to be welcoming Christina Courtenay to Novel Kicks today. She’s here with the blog tour for her novel, Hidden In The Mists.
A love forged in fire lives on through the ages.
She stared at the man again. Was he real? Her mind returned to the ghostly figure by the shore and to her strange dream. No, he was not a figment of her imagination.
Skye Logan has been struggling to run her remote farm on Scotland’s west coast alone ever since her marriage fell apart. When a handsome stranger turns up looking for work, it seems that her wish for help has been granted.
Rafe Carlisle is searching for peace and somewhere he can forget about the last few years. But echoes of the distant past won’t leave Skye and Rafe alone, and they begin to experience vivid dreams which appear to be linked to the Viking jewellery they each wear.
It seems that the ghosts of the past have secrets . . . and they have something that they want Skye and Rafe to know.
*****
Christina has shared an extract with us today. Enjoy!
*****beginning of extract*****
Skye Logan gripped her mug of tea tightly with both hands, trying to draw the warmth into her very bones, but it wasn’t working. She stared out towards the island of Jura, which could be glimpsed in the distance across the sea, a beautiful sight she’d never tire of looking at. The water between there and the mainland was calm today, below a layer of morning mist that also swathed most of the island. It crept up towards the cottage, its soft swirls stirring restlessly on an unseen breeze. Indoors, here in her cosy kitchen, she was safe and warm, but the chill was lodged deep inside her and not even the wood-burning Rayburn could thaw her out. She was starting to wonder if anything ever would.
It was barely light, but she’d been unable to sleep. She had always been an early riser, yet waking up pre-dawn was taking things a step too far. No point tossing and turning, though, not when she had so many chores always waiting for her attention. If she could just force down a bowl of porridge, she could get a head start.
She was about to turn away from the window when something caught her eye. A shadow came gliding into the little bay that belonged to her property, a rowing boat of some sort, although she couldn’t quite make it out. A shiver of unease slithered down her spine, making the hairs at the back of her neck stand on end.
‘Who on earth . . . ?’
by A Moment With… Liz Taylorson (and Harry Brand.)
I am very happy to be welcoming Liz Taylorson to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her novel, Summer Showers at Elder Fell Farm.
A simple holiday just got complicated …
Single mum Amy has been struggling since her mother’s death and now her son, Harry, has been accused of bullying schoolmate Oliver — giving Amy’s dictatorial ex-husband yet another reason to criticise her parenting.
All Amy wants is the chance to spend time with her son. Where better to escape all her troubles than camping at the remote but beautiful Lake District farm where she spent idyllic summers with her mother when she was a little girl?
Her tranquil escape seems doomed when Oliver, and his widowed dad, Matt, turn up on the neighbouring pitch — but at Elder Fell Farm, unlikely friendships can be forged. Are Matt and Amy ready to fall in love again? And will their boys bring them together – or drive them apart?
*****
To celebrate the release of Summer Showers at Elder Fell Farm, Harry, the heroine’s son, having been asked to write a book review for school, has written about this novel. Over to you, Harry.
My Book Review of ‘Summer Showers at Elder Fell Farm’
By Harry Brand, aged 8 and 2 months.
I chose this book to write about because Summer Showers at Elder Fell Farm is all about me and my best friend, Oliver and what happened when we went on our summer holidays. Okay, it’s a bit about my mam, Amy, and Ollie’s dad, Matt, because they were there too, but all they did was, like, snogging and stuff which is gross, so mainly I’m going to write about the other things in the book.
My favourite character in the book is Harry, aka me! He does lots of cool stuff in the book, he finds a den and plays in the beck quite a lot with his best friend Oliver, but he isn’t allowed to go skinny dipping, which is the same thing as swimming in the nuddy, which means with NO CLOTHES ON. But Mam wouldn’t let me … I mean, him. The boys also make up an awesome game called ‘bonky, bonky’ and an air bed got burst, but it definitely wasn’t Harry that burst it, honestly.
by A Moment With… Carla Luna
I am very pleased to be welcoming Carla Luna to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her novel, Field Rules.
What happens in the field, stays in the field. Or does it?
After the disastrous way her first archaeological dig ended, graduate student Olivia Sanchez abandoned her dreams of working in the field. Now, thanks to a last-minute teaching opportunity in Cyprus, she’ll get another chance to explore ancient history firsthand. This time, failure isn’t an option.
But digging up the past takes on a whole new meaning when she’s forced to team up with her ex, shovel bum Rick Langston.
For years, Rick has proven his archaeological skills all over the Mediterranean. But with no graduate degree—and a habit of attracting trouble—his reputation could use a little rehab. All he has to do is play by the rules while he’s in Cyprus and he’ll secure a coveted recommendation for his next job. Until Olivia resurfaces like a cursed relic from the past.
Given that their last fling nearly led to their academic ruin, Olivia and Rick can’t afford to repeat their past mistakes. But as they work together under the scorching Mediterranean sun, the heat between them proves impossible to ignore.
*****
To talk about the story behind her novel, Field Rules, it’s over to Carla Luna…
Of all the books I’ve written, Field Rules might be the one closest to my heart. That’s because many of the adventures and mishaps experienced by Olivia Sanchez—the protagonist of Field Rules—actually happened to me.
By the time I was in my second year at the University of Victoria (in Canada), I’d already decided I wanted to be an archaeologist. For years, I’d been fascinated with ancient history, particularly the Greeks and the Egyptians. Though I’d already been on one dig, it had been close to home, at a site in Southern California. For my next project, I wanted something outside of my comfort zone. After my parents generously offered to pay for my plane fare, I signed up for a six-week archaeological field school on the island of Cyprus, located in the Eastern Mediterranean.
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: Character Pen Pals.
I love the art of letter writing and have a couple of pen friends myself. It got me thinking about what you reveal about yourself in a letter that you wouldn’t if you met in real life.
Take a character from one of your WIPs. If you’re currently not working on anything, pick a character from a favourite novel.
Write a quick letter to this character. Tell them about yourself – your likes, dislikes, hobbies, fears and dreams. Ask them questions. You get the picture.
Then reply back as your character. Include responses to the information you gave them, as well as answers to the questions you asked them, like you would a pen pal.
Include revealing details about them. Get into the mindset of your character. What do they want you to write about them?
by Book Review: The Little Theatre on Halfpenny Lane by Clodagh Murphy
It is my pleasure to welcome Clodagh Murphy to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her novel, The Little Theatre on Halfpenny Lane.
Aoife and her sisters know exactly what to do when they inherit their Great-aunt Detta’s theatre on Halfpenny Lane:
- Restore the dilapidated building to its former glory.
- Perform together on its stage to packed houses and rapturous applause.
- Live happily ever after.
But they didn’t count on Detta leaving a share in the theatre to her godson, Jonathan. Now they’ll have to persuade him to buy into their vision of stardust and magic – or find the money to buy him out.
As they fight to save the theatre, Aoife also battles her growing feelings for Jonathan. Because she can’t let herself fall for the man who’s about to bring the curtain down on their dreams.
*****
Aoife, Mimi and Sive have always had the impression that they’d inherit their Great-Aunt Detta’s theatre on Halfpenny Lane. However, they had not counted on Jonathan, Detta’s Godson inheriting a share.
Now, in order to save their beloved theatre and restore it to its former glory, they either have to convince Jonathan to remain a willing investor or buy him out.
Can they save their theatre or will they lose their dream?
This book was my introduction to Clodagh Murphy and I was excited to be invited onto the blog tour for the Little Theatre on Halfpenny Lane.
I read this novel in one sitting. I couldn’t stop reading. I instantly fell in love with these characters and the setting. I could picture The Halfpenny Theatre and the charm it holds. I could see the stage, the rows of chairs and the overall atmosphere. I wanted it saved.
The plot moves well and Clodagh Murphy’s writing style makes it easy to fall into this novel and get invested in the story. Will they or won’t they save the theatre?
by Book Review: The Split by Amanda Brookfield
I am pleased to be welcoming Amanda Brookfield to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her novel, The Split.
Two decades on from a passionate courtship and marriage, Lucas and Esther are getting divorced.
For Esther, it’s proving hard not to feel bitter watching Lucas enjoying his successful career, not to mention the attentions of his gorgeous, intelligent, and predictably younger lover. She meanwhile is struggling to forge a new life for herself, navigating the pitfalls of modern dating, while trying not to despair at the cost of living as a single woman of a certain age.
Then Lucas faces a shattering accusation at the same time as their children Dylan and Lily, start to implode. When Dylan runs away, and as his father fights to save his reputation, Lucas and Esther find themselves back in each other’s lives, whether they like it or not.
Has too much water passed under the bridge, or will long-forgotten loyalties and feelings bring the family back together, just when they need each other the most?
*****
After a twenty year marriage, Esther and Lucas are divorced. They, and the two children they share, now have to adjust to the new normal.
Esther is finding it difficult to witness her ex-husband’s new life. With a great job and a fiancée, he’s flying high. She knows that she has to find her new place in the world.
However, when Lucas’s life is derailed and their son, Dylan runs away, Lucas and Esther have to communicate, whether they want to or not.
Having previously not read any of Amanda Brookfield’s previous books, I didn’t know what type of novel this was going to be.
The Spilt is a slow burner and it did take me a while to get into it. To begin with, I wasn’t sure I was going to like it. I was very pleased I persevered. What I found was that this was a very interesting and detailed look into relationships between ordinary people. There are many twists and turns. Sometimes I loved the characters, other times I disliked their behaviour but as I progressed through the book, I became invested in them. Oh, and I want to adopt the cat.
by Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: First Meeting
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: First Meeting.
Your character is getting married but they have never met the person they are going to marry.
They don’t meet this person until they reach the church. Oh and there are cameras filming the whole thing.
What happens?
by Book Review: The Highland Hens by Judy Leigh
I am very excited to be welcoming Judy Leigh back to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her novel, The Highland Hens.
In the imposing Glen Carrick House overlooking Scotland’s famous Loch Ness, lives eighty-eight-year-old Mimi McKinlay, cared for by her three adult sons. Hamish has inherited his mother’s musical talents, Fin is the responsible brother, and Angus has the complicated and brooding personality to match his dashing good looks.
But what all the brothers share is a concern that their beloved mother is living in her memories of her days on stage, while letting her present days pass her by.
Jess Oliver is at a turning point. Amicably divorced after years of being married, this trip to the Highlands is a first taste of independence. It isn’t long before the beauty and hospitality of Scotland captures her heart.
When Mimi and Jess’s paths cross, a friendship is formed that will change both women’s lives. And as together they find ways to look forward instead of to the past, long forgotten dreams are within reach, and every new day is fresh with possibilities.
Take a trip to the Highlands with Judy Leigh for an unforgettable story of glorious pasts and fabulous futures, of love, friendship, family and fun.
*****
Jess has come to Scotland for a holiday and has instantly fallen in love. When circumstances mean she can’t immediately return to her home, she replies to an ad for a companion to an elderly lady. She has a few months before she can return home. Why not?
It’s here she meets Mimi. As the women become close, Jess starts to see life in a new way and when she meets Mimi’s three sons, maybe love won’t be too far behind?
I am a big fan of Judy Leigh’s novels having previously read and enjoyed A Year of Mr Maybes and Lil’s Bus trip. Therefore, I was excited to be invited onto the blog tour for her latest novel, The Highland Hens.
I visited Scotland a few times as a child (I’d really love to go back,) so I adored the setting for this novel. I could picture myself standing at Mimi’s window looking out at the beautiful scenery of Loch Ness.
It’s not hard to fall in love with the ladies in this novel.
by Book Review: The Lodger by Valerie Keogh
I am pleased to be welcoming Valerie Keogh to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her novel, The Lodger.
She’s in your home…
Leigh Simons can’t say for sure what made her do it. A moment of madness, perhaps, but when the young, loud and gorgeous waitress at her favorite coffee shop reveals she is homeless, Leigh offers her the empty room in her house.
In your head…
Gina is the perfect lodger; Leigh, lonely and frustrated with her life, becomes infatuated with the woman – her boldness, her zeal. If only Leigh could be more like Gina…
And missing without trace.
So when Leigh returns from a work trip she’s shocked to find Gina missing. Where could the young woman have gone…and why?
Leigh fears that something terrible has happened – why else would Gina leave her?
But as she sets out to find her missing lodger, what Leigh discovers changes everything she knows about Gina….and her own life, too.
*****
When Leigh discovers that a waitress in her favourite coffee shop is becoming homeless, she offers up her spare room, a decision she instantly regrets.
However, when Leigh gets back from a week away, Gina has gone. Vanished without a trace.
This was my introduction to Valerie Keogh’s novels and the idea for this book really intrigued me so I was excited to get started.
It’s going to be quite hard to talk about this book without giving away spoilers but I’m going to try. Here goes…
Leigh is an interesting character. I got the feeling that she held a lot of herself back, being the person her boyfriend, Matt wanted her to be.
She is a lot braver than she thinks, especially when she eventually decides to speak up against a well liked male colleague. She is someone to admire in that respect.
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: Short Story Pick and Mix
Today, our writing exercise will be a short story of between 1000 – 1500 words.
Write a short story using the prompts below. At random, pick one element from each section.
Then combine your four answers and create your characters, background etc.
Pick one each from the following:
- Police, Circus, Shop.
- Town, Country, Boat.
- Maggie, Brian, Jamie.
- Letter, Article, Doorbell.
I’d love to see what you come up with. If you feel comfortable enough to do so, post your story in the comments below.
by Book Review: Such a Good Mother by Helen Monks Takhar
Some things are too perfect to be true…
Rose O’Connell aspires to be the perfect mother.
And when she receives an unexpected invitation into The Circle, an elite clique of beautiful, wealthy and connected mums at her son’s exclusive school, it seems her dreams are about to come true. Every mother would kill for an invitation, and once she joins, Rose’s social status soars.
But what is each woman hiding beneath her immaculate exterior?
Why did a previous member take their own life?
And why have they singled out unassuming Rose to take her place?
Rose is about to find out that darkness lies at the heart of The Circle. And it’s far too late to run…
*****
Rose is determined to be the perfect mother for her son, Charlie.
When she gets invited into the Circle, the exclusive clique at her son’s new school, it seems like she is on her way. However, nothing is as it seems.
I had not read Helen’s previous novel, That Woman, so I didn’t fully know what to expect.
I pretty much devoured this novel, reading it in one sitting. You are immediately thrown into the action and mystery surrounding The Woolf School and the women running it.
Rose is certainly a character you have a lot of sympathy for when you first meet her. She is wanting to do what is best for her son, not having had the best childhood herself. I think a lot of people will relate to that. Having said that, not all of her behaviour is great. I did occasionally loose empathy with her. She’s a complicated and complex character.
by Book Review: The Other Girlfriend by Alex Stone
I am pleased to be welcoming Alex Stone to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her novel, The Other Girlfriend.
She loves him…
Lizzie Green once loved Tom Murphy with a passion that bordered on obsession. All she wanted was his love to be returned. Then one night something terrible happened and Tom left Lizzie broken hearted. She swore she would never let him hurt her again….
She loves him not.
Now, ten years later, Tom turns up on Lizzie’s doorstep still as charming as ever. Lizzie knows he still has the power to break her heart and destroy her life again. But Lizzie can’t say no to him….
Can she?
*****
Lizzie had always loved Tom to the point where he became an obsession, but when a weekend away ends in tragedy, Tom disappears from her life, leaving her to deal with what’s broken.
It’s ten years later and he’s back. Is this their chance to be together? Does Tom really mean it when he says he loves her? She’s determined to believe him.
I was a big fan of Alex Stone’s last novel, The Perfect Daughter, so I couldn’t wait to start reading this novel.
I love the fact that it’s set in Bournemouth. I know that town and so I could picture all the places mentioned. The atmosphere and setting is described so well. I could see every scene. I would love this to be adapted into a tv series.
From page one, I was well and truly hooked and I read it in one day. I needed to know what happened and what would become of Lizzie.
by Book Review: So Happy For You by Celia Laskey
Robin and Ellie have been best friends since childhood.
They’ve been through everything together, from Robin coming out to the death of Ellie’s dad. But when Ellie asks Robin to be her maid of honour, Robin is reluctant.
It’s not that Robin isn’t happy for Ellie, she just hates everything about weddings and marriage – plus the guy Ellie’s engaged to. There’s also the matter of the crazy (not to mention dangerous) wedding rituals that couples are resorting to in the hope of securing a lifetime of happiness.
Despite her misgivings, Robin finally says yes. But as the wedding day approaches, she gets the feeling that everyone in the bridal party is out to get her. And it seems Ellie is willing to do anything for the perfect day. After all, marriage is about sacrifice…
*****
Robin and Ellie have been friends since school. However, in a world where there is an increasing pressure to get married, Robin is relucent when Ellie asks her to be maid of honour.
As the day approaches, Robin can’t help but feel paranoid. After all, Ellie will do anything for a perfect day.
They say this book is a cross between Black Mirror and Bridesmaids and they weren’t wrong. It’s completely bonkers, in a good way.
So Happy For You is set in the future where the government encourages marriage, even offering tax breaks to married couples. This is due to the birth rate falling. There’s now lots of apps and websites and brides are trying all sorts of rituals to bring good luck.
This brought a feeling of dystopia to the novel. Very Handmaids Tale/Black Mirror.
by Book Review: Rough Diamonds by Gillian Godden
We are pleased to be welcoming Gillian Godden to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her latest novel, Rough Diamonds.
Flawed, tough, unbreakable….
In the aftermath of her husband’s shocking murder, Patsy Diamond wants answers. Who was Nick really? Where is all his money? And who killed the man she once loved? Patsy knows exactly who to go to first – Nick’s pregnant mistress, Natasha.
Natasha might seem young and innocent, but Patsy’s certain the girl is hiding something. And the only way to find out what is to keep Natasha close and make her part of the Diamond family.
With the two women forming an unlikely bond, they begin to dig deeper into Nick’s secret life and discover things that shock…and terrify them.
Because Nick Diamond played a deadly game and if the women in his life want payback, then they are going to have to follow his rules – or break them and make their own.
But the strongest diamonds are created under pressure and these women are no exception…
*****
Patsy always knew that there was a side to her husband she didn’t know. When he’s murdered and his associates start to close in, she finds herself teaming up with the most unlikely of people.. her husband’s mistress.
There is action right from page one and it didn’t take me long to get pulled into the story.
It’s mostly made up of female characters which was a great perspective to have, especially when a lot of books in this genre focus on the men.
Patsy is a strong character but she soon finds herself out of her depth. It was interesting to see how she dealt with situations especially when you factor in children.
by Book Review: The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh
On New Year’s Eve, Rhys Lloyd has a house full of guests.
His lakeside holiday homes are a success, and he’s generously invited the village to drink champagne with their wealthy new neighbours. This will be the party to end all parties.
But not everyone is there to celebrate. By midnight, Rhys will be floating dead in the freezing waters of the lake.
On New Year’s Day, DC Ffion Morgan has a village full of suspects.
The tiny community is her home, so the suspects are her neighbours, friends and family – and Ffion has her own secrets to protect.
With a lie uncovered at every turn, soon the question isn’t who wanted Rhys dead . . . but who finally killed him.
In a village with this many secrets, a murder is just the beginning.
*****
It’s New Year’s Eve and Rhys Lloyd has a house full of guests. His holiday homes are a success and the small community from the nearby village have been invited to bring in the new year with their new wealthy neighbours.
By New Year’s Day, Rhys is dead and DC Ffion Morgan has a village full of suspects.
It seems Rhys had many enemies but who hated him enough to kill him?
This book was my introduction to Clare Mackintosh. The premise intrigued me so I was very pleased to get the chance to read and review The Last Party.
From the first page, this book had me seriously hooked to the point where I couldn’t put it down. I read it in pretty much one sitting.
by A Moment With…Marcela Mariz
I am very pleased to be welcoming Marcela Mariz to Novel Kicks today. Her novel, Let it Rain was released on 1st August.
*****
Mandy Olsen lives and breathes the Eighties: an era of great music, questionable fashion choices, and endless possibilities. It was also the only time Mandy was truly happy in her life.
Now working at the school she used to attend, Mandy’s fixation with the past is starting to attract attention. Jessy, the office mean girl, whispers that “Mental Mandy” is going off the deep end. Principal Weber prefers to call her confused. And to make matters worse, the mysterious hot new teacher has developed a knack for popping up at the most embarrassing moments possible.
If Mandy wants to keep her job, she knows she needs to face the grief that turned her world upside down. But can you grasp at a second chance if your best years are behind you?
Perfect for fans of Beth O’Leary and Sophie Kinsella, Let it Rain is a bittersweet coming-of-age story about friendship, rebellion, and finding the courage to love and laugh again.
Marcela has joined me today to talk about her writing journey, about becoming Comfortable with the Uncomfortable. Over to you, Marcela.
*****
People from Rio de Janeiro are among the quickest getting on and off buses. An interesting fact that I believe exemplifies what it is like growing up in the city. I’m not talking only about overcrowded buses with fiery drivers, who will often leave you behind if you are not fast enough getting on. Or even learning how to be street smart and carry two wallets, in case you were kindly asked to hand in all your money. It’s about getting comfortable with the uncomfortable. About making caipirinhas with the lemons thrown your way — which would often demand you to be creative, and would also directly influence my writing.
Since I was a kid, I carried the thrill of creating stories, sharing horror stories with my friends at sleepovers, or writing short stories for my parents in exchange for some spending money to feed my addiction to comics and sugary candies. Once my teenage years arrived, so did a bunch of insecurities. Writing would become my main passion — under pseudonyms only.
When I was in my senior year of high school, I auditioned as an actress for a well-known play in Rio. Intense rehearsals followed, over six hours every day of the week for four months. However, the night before the premiere, the play’s writer revoked the producer’s right to go forth with it. After so much work put in, I was utterly devastated, as was everyone. There were several young children in the cast, and it broke my heart completely to see them sobbing.
by Book Club
