Book Review: When Stars Collide in the City by Krysten Lindsay Hager
I am so excited to be welcoming Krysten Lindsay Hager to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest novel, When Stars Collide in the City.
From the outside, Olivia Macomb looks like she leads a charmed life. She’s an up-and-coming influencer who is an heir to the Macomb family fortune, and about to start a lifestyle brand with her childhood sweetheart, Jeff. Then her world gets blown apart by her longtime boyfriend leaving her the morning of their website launch. Not only has he left, but the business she created is all in his name and she’s been left with nothing to show for all her hard work. Now she has to pick up the pieces and find out who she is on her own.
Enter Walker Vinton, the indie pop star who used to date Olivia’s close friend, Paige. When their school throws a big event, Paige asks Walker to be Olivia’s date to give to the gossip bloggers something else to talk about other than Olivia’s broken dreams.
Walker ends up coming to Olivia’s rescue in more ways than one at the party, and a twist of events leads to the two embarking on a fake relationship. Walker and Olivia wind up becoming best friends and she realizes he’s the boyfriend of her dreams.
He helps her build both her brand and her self-esteem back up. Walker even helps her start a new business. However, the lines begin to blur as Olivia’s feelings for Walker are very real. The two share intimate conversations and dreams, but what’s real and what’s fake in this starry world?
*****
Olivia has always had to battle with the expectations her family name brings her. So when, on the day she’s about to launch her new venture, her boyfriend leaves taking the business with him, she’s even more heartbroken and under the microscope.
Anyone who has followed my blog for a while will know I am a big fan of Krysten Lindsay Hager, so I jumped at the chance to be on the blog tour for her latest book in the Stars in the City series.
When Stars Collide in the City is book three. If you’ve not read the previous novels fear not, this can be read as a standalone.
by 
Book Review: Death at Horsey Mere by Ross Greenwood
I’m pleased to be welcoming Ross Greenwood back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour of his latest novel, Death at Horsey Mere.
When a teenage couple go missing, the police aren’t too concerned. Young lovers often make bad choices.
Then a body is found near a Suffolk lighthouse, and shortly after, two girls seem to vanish into thin air. Freshly promoted DI Ashley Knight knows she has a battle on her hands to keep the public safe, and she’s going to need expert help.
Ashley turns to her old protégé, Hector Fade, seconded from The Met to analyse an avalanche of data. But neither Hector nor Ashley are prepared for the chilling connection his work uncovers to the body by the lighthouse.
Ashley, Hector and the team must break down a fiendishly complicated network of people smugglers, but another victim is found at Horsey Mere and their worst suspicions are realised. A member of the gang has gone rogue and is taking lives for fun. When Hector uncovers a pattern in the choice of victim, time is against the detectives to stop the murderer killing again.
Ross Greenwood is back with a brand new, heart-pounding case for DI Ashley Knight, perfect for fans of Mark Billingham, Ian Rankin and Peter James.
*****
This is the first book I have read from this author and I must confess it has made a fan out of me. It’s the fourth book in the series but you definelty don’t lose anything by starting here. Within the first couple of pages I was hooked. I grabbed the audiobook and before I knew what was happening I was 12 hours in and all the housework was done!
by Book Review: Woden’s Spear by Donovan Cook
I’m so delighted to be welcoming Donovan Cook back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his latest book, Woden’s Spear.
Banished by those he loved; how far would he go for redemption?
449AD Old Saxony
Octa, the son of a mighty Saxon warlord, stands in the shield wall for the first time, eager to make a name for himself. But instead of the promised battle glory, fear overpowers him and he flees the battle, causing the death of his cousin and bringing shame to his family.
Disowned by his father, and hunted by his own people, Octa is spurred on by his mother’s vision for his future, a promise of greatness to come.
A chance encounter with a wiry traveller offers Octa a chance of redemption with a quest to retrieve a sacred weapon. To do this, Octa must travel to Britannia, a nation abandoned by the Roman Empire and unable to defend itself from its many enemies who smell weakness and riches.
Joining the famous warlords, Hengist and Horsa, Octa travels west to forge his future and redeem his past. He must succeed where others have failed. He must find the lost spear of Woden.
An epic adventure of turmoil, coming of age and survival set against a time when Britannia was on its knees and fighting for its very existence.
Perfect for the fans of Bernard Cornwell and Matthew Harffy.
*****
Woden’s Spear introduces Octa, the son of a prominent Saxon warlord whose cowardice in battle leads to him being disowned by his family and forced to flee for his life. His flight takes him North from his home land, through the land of the Angles and into Jutland, where he hears tell that Woden’s Spear is hidden in a cave in far off Britannia. He embarks on a quest that will take all his courage, skill and endurance.
by Book Review: The Bookseller by Valerie Keogh
It’s my pleasure to be welcoming Valerie Keogh back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest thriller, The Bookseller.
A woman with a dark past…
Helen Appleby just wants a quiet life. Recently released from prison for the manslaughter of her partner, she’s trying to forget her past mistakes – all of them – to rebuild her life and move on.
When she decides to open a bookshop, she’s certain this is the perfect new start. Here, amongst the quiet shelves of her shop and between the covers of her books, she can hide away from the real world and begin again. The world of books the perfect place to find happiness – even if it is all lies.
But the past can never stay hidden…
As she settles into life as an apparently timid bookseller, it seems that someone is determined to sabotage Helen’s new life and ruin everything she’s built.
But Helen has killed once before. And to protect her future, she could be willing to kill again…
Don’t miss another page-turning, nail-biting read from the queen of psychological thrillers, Valerie Keogh! Perfect for fans of J.A. Baker, Keri Beevis and Nina Manning.
*****
Having just been released from prison, Helen wants to move on. With money left by her mother, she feels it’s finally time to realise her dream of owning a bookshop.
However, when someone breaks in, Helen begins to wonder whether her plan to get on with her life doesn’t quite sit well with someone else. Continue reading
by NK Chats To…Jacqueline Bacci
Hello Jacqueline, thank you so much for joining me today and inviting me onto your blog tour. Can you tell us about After Paris and what inspired it?
Hi. Thank you for inviting me. ‘After Paris’ is my debut novel. It is the first in a series of three. After Paris is Alyssa and Xavier’s story. The novel is set between Paris and London, but they meet in Paris outside a cafe and an instant connection forms between them as they chat. But journalist and writer Alyssa is recovering from a broken relationship and banker Xavier is an obvious player and the last person she needs at this time in her life. She walks away.
However, fate plays a hand in the relationship when they meet again under a cloak of mystery in a place that neither of them should have ever been. Back in London, Alyssa is asked to do a story for the magazine where she is a freelancer, and the story is about none other than Xavier Montgomery, who has returned to his London office.
I would say that the story then unfolds as a romantic, steamy journey as both attempt to let go of their past lives to be together. I have always been inspired by the alpha male who is adamant that no woman can ever change their lives, and the women who just by being themselves, do just that.
They are the men that profess to have no time for love in their lives but somehow find they cannot get a certain woman out of their mind. The inspiration behind this story (and the two others that follow) is love always conquers all. The steamy scenes and the glamorous settings are just the icing on the cake.
What’s your favourite word and why?
Serendipity. I just love that word and all of the connotations it can conjure up. Dictionary definition: the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way. I think lots of romance stories are based on this concept which makes them entertaining and dreamy. Also, I have always been a firm believer that fate has a hand in what happens to us, especially in love.
What’s your typical writing day? Do you have any writing rituals?
by Book Club
