Book Review & Giveaway: Over the Sea to Skye by Sue Moorcroft
It’s our pleasure to be welcoming Sue Moorcroft back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Over the Sea to Skye.
One summer on a beautiful island could change everything…
Valentina Taylor’s life has been upended. With her marriage over, and unsure of what her future holds, she heads to the Isle of Skye for the summer with her young son, Barnaby.
But the journey there sets her on a new path, when she meets Xander Courage on the train – a charming American, running from problems of his own. After sparks fly, they go their separate ways. But on this small island, they’re never far from one another…
Skye offers Valentina the refuge she needs as she whiles away the long summer days at her beachside cottage, enjoying visits from her sisters, Thea and Ezzie. But when bad news from home throws her Scottish idyll into turmoil, Valentina finds herself pulled away from the place – and people – that she loves.
Valentina knows she must confront her heart’s desires – but can she let go of the past and embrace the future she deserves?
Lose yourself in a heartfelt story of second chances, love, and self-discovery, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Isle of Skye. Perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Karen Swan.
*****
Part of the joy I’ve had from reading these three books, is getting to know about each sister, and by giving each their own book, the author has only added to that joy. I’ve had a complete story for each, together with a little of the other two lightly sprinkled throughout, as the icing on a cake, to add to the wonderful flavour.
Sue Moorcroft has been one of my favourite authors for a number of years now, and I’m always grateful when a new story of hers is published. With ‘Over the Sea to Skye’ this is tempered by the knowledge that this is the third and final book in the series. That being said, this is one heck of a way to bring the series to a finale.
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Book Review: The Silver Ladies Seize the Day by Judy Leigh
Join me in welcoming Judy Leigh back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The Silver Ladies Seize the Day.
You’re never too old to fall in love…again!
Cecily Hamilton is months away from her ninety-second birthday. She’s lived life to the full, choosing work over romance, friendship over love. And now she has a host of silver-haired friends living nearby, ready to fill her time with picnic lunches, prosecco and cheer!
Cecily thought she was content. She thought her cup was full…
But when the granddaughter of Cecily’s first and only love arrives on her doorstep, claiming that her grandfather, Eddie, is still in love with Cecily after all these years, Cecily wonders if there might be room for a little romance after all. Especially since, one by one, her friends keep falling head over heels for old flames and new.
Can the oldest silver lady of the bunch really hope for her own second chance at love? Is it finally time for Cecily to seize the day?
*****
As Cecily nears her 92nd birthday, she begins to reflect on her life and a certain someone who broke her heart. When the chance to see him again arises, she’s unsure of what to do. Can her fellow Silver Ladies get her through?
I do love falling into a good Judy Leigh novel and this book was no exception.
Middleton Ferris sounds like a wonderful place to live and I really like how everyone looks out for one another.
by Book Extract: The Evacuee’s Secret by Deborah Klee
I’m pleased to be welcoming Deborah Klee back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The Evacuee’s Secret.
A forgotten village. A dangerous secret. A love that defies time.
In a Yorkshire village, condemned to be flooded as a reservoir, WW11 evacuee, Louise Pearson, commits a crime with devastating consequences.
A secret that keeps her away from her childhood home and her best friend and soul mate, Richard, for twenty years.
In 1965, fleeing a dangerous marriage, Louise returns to Yorkshire assuming a new identity. But the village she once knew and loved is about to be submerged to create a reservoir.
As the waters rise, so do the ghosts of her past.
Will Louise uncover the strength to face her demons and reclaim the love she left behind? Or will the secrets that surface pull her under forever?
A heart-breaking story of love, loss and betrayal.
Deborah has shared an extract from The Evacuee’s Secret with us today. We hope you enjoy.
*****beginning of extract*****
I am sharing the prologue to The Evacuee’s Secret, where we meet Louise as a fourteen-year-old evacuee in 1945. The story then moves to 1965 where thirty-four-year-old Louise has lived with a secret for twenty years. A secret that has kept her away from her soulmate and best friend Dicky. When Louise’s gangster husband threatens to expose her secret, Louise is compelled to return to Thorncrest, just as the valley is about to be flooded to create a reservoir.
*****
May 1945
Louise stood outside the farmhouse door, a cardboard suitcase at her feet. Her lower lip trembled, the lump in her throat painful. She couldn’t stop shivering; her bones felt cold as ice. Did they already know what she had done? Joan told her last night that she was being sent back to London. Louise assumed that meant she was going back home to Mum, but what if she was being sent to prison?
Louise turned to go back into the farmhouse to ask Joan, just to make sure, but the Red Cross lady came out. ‘Okay. Jump in the car.’
No goodbyes. Becks Farm had been her home, Ma and Pa, her family, since she was evacuated from London, two years and seven months ago.
One of the new farmhands whistled as he clanked a couple of milk pails across the yard. Louise didn’t recognise any of the lads and Land Army girls helping out. Milking the cows and feeding the chickens had been her job. Now, she had no place on the farm. Ma was staying with a friend in Harrogate. Louise hadn’t seen her since the day of the accident. Pa had died in hospital. The most important people in her life––gone. And it was all her fault.
by Book Extract: Stormy Skies at the Beach Hotel by Francesca Capaldi
It’s very exciting to be welcoming Francesca Capaldi to Novel Kicks and to be kicking off the blog tour for her latest book, Stormy Skies at the Beach Hotel.
Chambermaid Fanny is thanking her lucky stars she has had a second chance at life. As an unmarried mother, it could have been very different, and she is happy.
But when new maid, Susie, arrives at the Beach Hotel, it isn’t long before sparks fly. Susie begins to meddle in Fanny’s friendships and even in her budding romance with Walter, an American working at the aerodrome.
Meanwhile, a flu epidemic starts to spread and as more people fall ill, the hotel is forced to close.
Matters come to a head when Susie plots to reveal secrets about Fanny that could spell her ruin.
Can the hotel and the hardworking women who run it survive?
To celebrate publication day, Francesca has shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy.
*****beginning of extract*****
Fanny Bullen, who’s the head chambermaid at the Beach Hotel, is having an afternoon off with her two-year-old toddler, Elsie, by the seaside.
*****
Fanny looked out at the wide expanse of wet sand leading to a low tide. Beyond that, the sea was a dark, muddy green. She closed her eyes and breathed in the sea air. There were only around half a dozen stalls and tents along the promenade today, with it still being April.
‘Will there be Punen Juicy?’ Elsie asked.
‘Punch and Judy. Not today, sweetie.’
Elsie stuck out her bottom lip but seemed to accept it.
‘We’ll take a walk to the pier and see what’s down there.’
‘All wight, Mummy.’
The tent closest to the pier housed a fortune teller. Fanny wondered what ‘Madame Giovanna’ might tell her about her future. More than likely, she’d grow old being the head chambermaid.
Elsie stopped. ‘Mummy, that noise ’gain.’ She pointed out to sea.
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: Scenes From Different Genres
Hello Wednesday and welcome to another Novel Kicks Writing Room.
For our exercise today, I thought it would be interesting to write and then rewrite.
Pick from the following genres – Romance, Thriller, Dystopian or Fantasy.
Write a scene which includes the following details:
A open envelope with an address scribbled on it in unfamilar handwriting.
A library with sunlight coming in from the window.
A muddy footprint.
Once you’ve written your scene, pick another genre from the list above and rewrite your scene. Once you’ve done that, pick another genre and rewrite the scene again.
Write a minimum of 10 minutes each time. How different or similar did each one seem? Was one genre easier than the others? I’d love to know how you got on in the comments below.
by Book Club
