Book Extract: The Death & Life of Lucy Westenra by Rosie Fiore
I’m so happy to be welcoming Rosie Fiore to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The Death & Life of Lucy Westenra.
What desperate steps will Lucy Westenra take to save her own life?
Hillingham in Hampstead, once the home of the well-to-do Westenra family, is now divided into apartments. When teacher Kate Balcombe sets about renovating her flat in the attic, she finds an unsent letter written 130 years before by Lucy, the nineteen-year-old daughter of the house.
You may know Lucy from Bram Stoker’s Dracula… a pretty, flirtatious girl with three ardent suitors, she is Mina Harker’s best friend. When Lucy falls mysteriously ill and dies, Van Helsing identifies her as a victim of the vampire.
But what if the monsters who hunt Lucy are much closer to home?
As Kate begins to investigate Lucy’s story, she meets James Harker, Mina’s great-great grandson, and together they uncover a long-hidden story of deception and murder.
Rosie has shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy it.
*****beginning of extract*****
This is the opening of the novel. It features two letters: one from Lucy Westenra to her friend Mina (in 1894), one from Noni Rosen, who lived in a flat in the same house in the 1980s, and the opening of a chapter told from the perspective of Noni’ s daughter, Kate, in 2024.
Prologue
Letter from L.W. To Mina Harker
14 September 1894
Hillingham
Dear Mina,
I am so weak; I think I may not recover. Can you come to me? I know Jonathan needs you, but I am in terror for my life.
Oh Mina, I have never felt so alone. Mother is weak and frail and can offer me no aid. I pleaded with the Professor, but he scorned me and dismissed my words as the delirious ravings of a child.
I watch my window every night, waiting for that ominous shadow. I feel certain that he will return soon. Every time I try to sleep, I sense his dark eyes on me, slicing my skin like hot blades. He is relentless and I know that should he gain entry here once more, he will have no mercy.
I think if you came and came soon, there is a chance we could plan my escape. Although he knows of our friendship, I believe I might be safe if I came to Exeter to be with you. I have considered fleeing to Whitby, but of course he would know to follow me there.
by 
Book Extract: Not My Valentine by Tony Bassett
I’m pleased to be welcoming Tony Bassett to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for Not My Valentine, book seven in the Detective Roy & Roscoe crime fiction series.
The most romantic day of the year turns into a nightmare…
Having returned from a date with her new boyfriend, Lydia is fatally attacked in her home. A burglary gone wrong or a planned assault?
Detectives from Heart of England Police investigate and try to find out more about the victim. She was much loved by family and colleagues. But maybe someone loved her too much.
Attention turns to Lydia’s boyfriend, Roman, when it transpires that he is the son of a local crime boss known to associate with the feared West Side Gang.
DS Sunita Roy believes he is hiding something, but will have to tread carefully – the criminals have connections in the force.
Despite having strong intuition, Roy is struggling. There is something missing from the picture and it could be a secret taken to the grave.
Tony has shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy it.
*****beginning of extract*****
Detective Sergeant Sunita Roy and her boyfriend, DI Tom Vickers, have raced to an address in West Bromwich amid fears that Aiden Pagett, a key witness in a murder case, may have been shot in a drive-by shooting. They are about to discover that the shooting is being investigated by DI Laura McLachlan from a different force, West Midlands Police.
CHAPTER 25
Sunita thrust her warrant card in front of a stern-faced constable standing behind the cordon. ‘DS Roy, Heart of England CID,’ she said. ‘Do you know who’s the SIO here?’
‘That would be DI McLachlan,’ he replied. ‘She’s just over there, speaking to one of the SOCOs.’
They observed a tall, slim woman in a blue-quilted jacket standing halfway along the front path outside Pagett’s home. A white tent covered the front doorway and porch.
As soon as she saw them approaching, McLachlan ended her conversation and turned towards them. ‘Can I help you?’ she asked with a vague smile.
‘We’re from Heart of England,’ Sunita explained, showing her warrant card again. ‘DS Roy and DI Vickers. I was here just a few hours ago in connection with one of our cases.’
‘Really?’ replied the inspector, shaking both their hands. ‘DI Laura McLachlan, West Midlands Homicide Unit.’
‘We’re looking into the Lydia Squires murder in Worcester.’
by Book Extract: Joyful June Journeys by Stephanie Wood
I am delighted to be welcoming Stephanie Wood to Novel Kicks as we celebrate the publication day for her book, Joyful June Journeys.
Chrissie is escaping to the Greek Retreat to avoid some of the issues her parents have left her to deal with at home. She hopes that visiting a new location will give her a different perspective and help her to find a way forward.
The Greek island of Kynos is an idyllic hideaway, offering its visitors the space and time needed to truly appreciate the traditional hospitality. The locals are always friendly and ready to entertain their guests, while the daily activities offer many different ways to explore the island and its heritage.
Chrissie is hoping The Retreat will help to focus her mind and stop her procrastination, but will she become distracted by the friendly locals?
The Greek Retreat is a trilogy of standalone tales full of sunshine, surprises and love.
Stephanie has shared an extract from Joyful June Journeys with us today. We hope you enjoy.
*****beginning of extract*****
Chrissie has decided to go on a bike ride to discover what lies further out from the local village where she has been spending most of her time.
The first part of the journey was familiar, as she took the road towards the village, but then she just kept going once she passed the usual turning.
Soon afterwards, she climbed a slight hill without too much effort and from there she was blessed with a 360degree view of the nearby fields, full of leafy goodness in all directions. There was an abundance of fruit and vegetables as far as she could see and as the breeze blew across the tip of each plant, she was bombarded with a remarkable mixture of aromas which were both tantalising and mysterious.
by Book Extract: This Ruined Place by Michael Lawrence
I’m pleased to be welcoming Michael Lawrence to Novel Kicks as we shine a light on his book, This Ruined Place.
Evy Miller thinks a summer with her grandparents in sleepy Dorset will be painfully dull. Her suspicions are confirmed when Juby, a wild-haired, lanky old man, strolls through her grandparents’ doorway. At first, she thinks he’s nothing more than an odd duck who charms her grandmother and annoys her grandfather. The last thing she expects is to become his companion on visits to the small village of Rouklye, whose entire population was evicted during WWII.
She has no idea that the reason for Juby’s visits will become a defining moment in her life and change her understanding of history and her own family forever.
Michael has shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy.
*****beginning of extract*****
The following excerpt is from This Ruined Place by Michael Lawrence. The teenaged main character, Midge, is visiting the ruined village of Rouklye with her elderly companion, Juby.
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There were several adjoining cottages beyond the wall. A much smaller building at the near end of them, a shed of sorts, was the only one with a door and roof. The roof was topped with crudely-cut gray slate, and on the equally rustic door, which was padlocked, a notice asked visitors not to pick the wild flowers, a request that might have amused Midge if she’d been in an easily-amused mood because there were no flowers in the immediate vicinity, wild or tame.
Juby had gone straight to the second cottage along, where he stooped to look in the doorway. ‘Post office and village shop,’ he informed her as she drew near.
He ducked inside. Following with a long-suffering sigh, she found a crumbling interior open to the skies, ivy reaching across exposed walls to which ragged portions of ancient plaster clung, an iron fire-grate teetering on a ledge where a ceiling and upper floor had once been, and beneath their feet ailing weeds between uneven gray paving slabs, while year-old leaves crunched underfoot. The place smelt of nettles and moss, the dust of an overheated summer.
‘Looks bigger empty,’ Juby said. ‘When the counter was in, shelves stocked, customer or two chatting, it was a right jam in here.’
Sunlight entered the broken building in tall bright spirals, picking out hovering dust motes. Watching the dust’s leisurely dance, Midge’s mind wandered. Her thoughts were still adrift when the whispers started. Whispers so indistinct that they registered only gradually; but once her attention was caught she glanced about for whoever it was that had followed them in.
by Book Extract: Wicket Maiden by Chrissie Harrison
It’s a pleaure to be welcoming Chrissie Harrison to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for Wicket Maiden.
Wicket Maiden is a groundbreaking romantic comedy set in the world of women’s cricket.
It’s the start of a new season for professional women’s cricket team The Scorpions.
Acclaimed batter Ellie, 32, is returning to the game after a long injury, determined to regain her form and her place in the England squad. This is her last chance, and she won’t let anything stand in her way.
Cricket fan Adam, 34, an artist and photographer, has followed Ellie and the team through highs and lows. He’s drawn to her talent, athleticism and public persona – but is content to be a face in the crowd, cheering her on. He’d never date a famous person, anyway.
When events on and off the pitch bring Ellie and Adam together, friendship blossoms, and their careers initially soar. Yet, with romance in the air, Ellie loses focus, jeopardising her dream.
What’s more important to them both – love, or cricket?
A share of the book’s royalties will be donated to pertinent clubs and organisations who champion the development of grassroots, girls’ and women’s cricket.
The story echoes the film “Notting Hill” – the challenge of love between a ‘star’ and a ‘normal person’.
The book touches on the good and bad sides of fame, and shines a light on women’s cricket – the mental and physical challenges, pressure of relentless media attention, community outreach, fan engagement, and the finite nature of the career of professional athletes. Above this, it is, of course, a love story.
The book is a non-spicy romance, and also includes neurodiversity and epilepsy representation.
Chrissie has shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy.
*****beginning of extract*****
Professional cricketer Ellie is visiting a friend at a local art gallery. Killing time, she (literally) bumps into a familiar face – one of the fans she often sees at matches. They’ve barely shared a few words over the years, and she doesn’t even know his name, let alone his job. Ellie, conversely, is known by him and millions of others…
A wide doorway led to a rear annex, with a sign proclaiming “Exhibition – Adam Glenn – Maidstone Artist”. Ellie nosed into the room. Only three people were inside, all nodding appreciatively beside a pop art style painting of a woman taking a selfie.
We’re now all masters of creating our own fame.
Another exhibit stopped Ellie in her tracks. Pride of place on the far wall was a brilliant and charismatic rendition of former England bowler James Anderson. The painting gushed with vigour and personality, movement and expression.
Wow.
by Book Club
