Book Review: Bad Penny by Michele Gorman
Penny’s life is one big, fat secret… and everyone is about to find out.
Penny isn’t the girl she used to be, or the woman everyone thinks she is now. At 19, she bolted for London and never looked back. Nobody there knows who she was – not her care home colleagues, her boss, her clients or even her best friend and flat-mate. Auntie Mags is her only connection to her past, and she’s keeping schtum.
Oli can’t believe his luck. Not only is he about to fulfill his dream of really making a difference (assuming he wins his seat in the upcoming general election), now he’s met the perfect woman. Within a few dates he’s sure he wants to spend the rest of his life with Penny, and it’s all he can do not to shout it from the rooftops.
But Penny has hidden her secret by not shouting from any rooftops. In fact, the quieter, the better. So when Oli’s campaign swings into gear and the reporters start circling, it’s not only her future that’s about to come crashing down.
How can she find a happy ending with Oli when her past will definitely ruin his future, yet living with the lie will ruin their future together?
Then Penny’s past gets out of prison, and he’s about to turn up like a… bad penny.
*****
Penny has a secret and everyone is about to find out.
At 19, she fled to London. No one knows of her life before, not even her best friend/flatmate. Only her Auntie Mags knows her full history.
When Penny meets MP candidate, Oli, they hit it off. However, as Oli begins campaigning, it’s going to be harder for Penny to keep her secret.
Oh I love Michele’s novels so much. This book was no exception.
by 
Novel Kicks Writing Room: Writing a Letter to Your Younger Self
Writing a letter to your younger self.
As I attempt to edit the drafts of my first novel, I have been thinking a lot about how much I can hold myself back, mostly through lack of confidence.
I have never been the most assured person but, as a sixteen year old, I seemed to be a lot more fearless than I am now. How does that happen?
Something I thought might be helpful is to write a letter of advice to my younger self.
What would you tell your 16 year-old-self? It doesn’t necessarily need to focus just on your writing life. It could be about anything.
Try it and see how you get on.
by Book News: Upcoming April Book Releases
This is one of my favourite posts to do as it gives me the opportunity to see which fantastic novels are due to be released.
April is no exception. I wanted to share five novels I am particularly excited about.
I am such a fan of Jules Wake and so I am excited about the release of the second novel in the Yorkshire Escape series, The Wednesday Morning Wild Swim. This is due to be released by One More Chapter on 30th April, with a paperback edition due in July.
This latest novel sounds like a great summer read.
Ettie is trying to work out what to do next whilst Dominic is trying to forget his past.
With the help of friends, a secret hidden lake and a scruffy dog, a new community is made, just when they all need each other most.
If thrillers are more your thing, then 22 Seconds by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro is due to be released on 28th April.
Book 22 in the Women’s Murder Club series, this sounds like it’s going to be a page turner.
SFPD’s Sergeant Lindsay Boxer has 22 seconds until she loses her badge or her life.
There’s buzz of a shipment of drugs and weapons due to cross the Mexican border before new restrictive gun laws go into effect.
Lindsay’s top informant tips her to a case.
Former cops, all with the same warning on their bodies – ‘you talk, you die.’
Now Lindsay needs to choose.
The third April release is Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
The paperback edition is due to be released by Penguin on 28th April.
I am yet to read any of the books by Taylor Jenkins Reid, (The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and One True Loves are on my TBR list,) but I’ve heard so many good things. This one sounds particularly good.
It’s August 1983.
Nina Riva is throwing the annual end-of-summer party and anticipation is high.
Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas.
By midnight, the party will be out of control.
By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames.
See, sounds good right?!
The Birdcage by Eve Chase is also due to be released on 28th April.
by Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: We’re Going on an Easter Egg Hunt
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: We’re going on an Easter Egg Hunt.
Your character is in their 20’s. They wake up on Good Friday and find a colourful envelope on their pillow.
It is addressed to them. They live alone so they don’t know where it has come from.
by My Writing Ramblings: My March 2022 Favourites
I know I say this kind of sentence a lot but how are we already in April?!
I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you some of my favourites from March. So, let’s get to it.
The first favourite was the BBC series, Peaky Blinders.
OK, I love this series.
My husband and I came to this series late. In fact, we’ve pretty much watched five series worth over the last month and wondering what took us so long to discover it.
Cillian Murphy is amazing, I am slightly scared of Arthur (LOL) and the last series, which we’re currently watching, isn’t the same without the wonderful Helen McCrory/Aunt Pol but it’s still brilliant so far. No spoilers. Promise.
If you’re looking for a gritty drama and you’ve not yet watched Peaky Blinders, I would throughly recommend.
My second favourite in March was Wordle.
Oh my goodness, this word game is so addictive and it also drives me crazy at the same time.
There was a time where I couldn’t check my Facebook feed without seeing a load of results from friends who were also playing.
I have even downloaded an app that gives me more than one puzzle a day! Yes, I know.
Anyone else love Wordle?
My third favourite is an app called Beatstar.
by Book Club
