Book Extract: The Pumpkin Pact by Charlie Dean
It’s so exciting to be welcoming Charlie Dean to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for The Pumpkin Pact.
Welcome to The Pumpkin Patch at Pickle Grove.
Andi is worried that her relationship with Drew has become dull and boring. They never do anything exciting these days, in or out of the bedroom. So when a swoon-worthy stranger appears she is instantly swept off her feet.
When they unexpectedly meet again, they realise they have more in common than they thought possible so draw up a pact to spice up their lives! The plan they conjure up while working together at The Pumpkin Patch, to make their partners jealous, brings them closer than ever.
Andi plucks up the courage to finish with Drew but there are no signs of Andrew doing the same and she thinks she’s lost him forever.
With meddling exes, misunderstandings and miscommunication getting in the way, can The Pumpkin Pact bring them back together?
Charlie has shared an extract from The Pumpkin Pact with us today. We hope you enjoy.
*****beginning of extract*****
One of my favourite parts of writing romances is the “Meet Cute”, unless of course they already know each other. In this novel, its inspired by Pride and Prejudice and Bridgerton season 2. The setting is based on a stately home near wear I live. I think this extract gives a real first feel for autumn along with the character of Pumpkin.
*****
‘Come on, boy, let’s go for a mooch.’ They both headed up the stairs, Pumpkin jumping onto the bed immediately and walking round in circles three times before settling down. Andi pulled out her favourite burgundy jumper, putting it back straight away because it wasn’t quite cold enough for that yet and settled on blue jeans and a burnt orange shirt with a pair of battered Vans that were on their last legs but were so comfy, especially on long hikes, that she just couldn’t bear to part with them.
She felt wonderfully autumnal as she stepped out onto the drive, Pumpkin settled down on the back seat after having his harness clipped in and she drove a few miles to the nearby stately home where she’d been an annual pass holder for the past ten years.
by 
Book Extract: My Lie Your Lie by Paul Clayton
I’m pleased to be welcoming Paul Clayton to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his book, My Lie Your Lie.
He thought heartbreak was the worst part.
Then came the need for revenge.
Patrick Tyrrell’s perfect marriage shatters the day his husband, Barney, leaves him—for a woman.
Marcella. Beautiful. Alluring. Dangerous.
Patrick can’t let it go. Why her? Why now? The questions consume him — until obsession turns to something far darker. As unsettling events unfold and violence creeps closer, Patrick faces the one temptation more powerful than love or jealousy:
Revenge.
But revenge has its own price. And once it begins, there may be no way back.
A taut, unsettling psychological thriller about betrayal, obsession, and whether vengeance ever truly heals the wound — or only feeds it.
There’s a chance to win a signed copy of My Lie Your Lie below but first, Paul has shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy.
*****beginning of extract*****
As a child of around ten, I vividly remember another child in the village going missing. The hysteria and panic were instant — the whole village poured into the streets to search. The child was found soon after, curled up asleep in an alleyway, but the memory of that fear has never left me.
In this scene from My Lie, Your Lie, Marcella’s seven-year-old son, Jace, is snatched in plain sight. A teacher’s lapse, a stranger’s charm, and a chillingly calm abductor converge to create one of the novel’s most shocking turns. The extract captures the book’s central themes of obsession, betrayal, and revenge — and the terrifying question of how far someone will go when love curdles into something darker.
*****
Known for her cheerful demeanour and endless patience, Miss Bentham had a strict cut-off at 3:30 p.m. – school was over, the last child collected, her saintly duties done. Tonight, she had plans: Arthur Bullivant, Costa Coffee, and the latest instalment of Alien. Second dates were rare enough to deserve punctuality.
by Cover Reveal: Journey To The Scottish Highlands By Julie Shackman
I hope you’re as excited as I am as we reveal the cover for Journey To The Scottish Highlands, the upcoming novel by Julie Shackman
Daisy’s career hasn’t exactly been going to plan and the last thing she wants to do is stay home and wallow in self-pity. So, when an opportunity arises to escape her London home, and make some money working a fancy event at a stately home, she jumps at it.
Determined to make the most out of the situation, she decides a road trip to the Scottish Highlands would be the perfect way to reset and take control of her life.
When devilishly handsome Evan finds himself stranded at the event following a cancelled flight to Scotland, Daisy does the kindest thing she can think of and invites him to join her. As they embark on their journey north, will the scenic trip help them rediscover themselves, and possibly even find something they weren’t expecting…
Now we know about the plot, it’s time to reveal the cover.
Drumroll…three…two…one….
by Book Extract: The Truth About You by Michael Clark
It’s a pleasure to be welcomng Michael Clark to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his book, The Truth About You.
Some stories keep us turning the pages, and others leave us wrestling with questions long after we’ve finished. Michael Clark’s The Truth About You manages to do both.
Lucy and Meg believe their mother will finally be safe after her husband, Greg, is arrested for assault. But when she chooses to stay with him, the sisters take drastic action to protect her: installing hidden cameras in their home. What they capture is nothing like what Lucy expects. Instead of clear evidence, the recordings reveal complexities that defy black-and-white assumptions about abuse, loyalty, and justice.
With echoes of Celeste Ng and Miranda Cowley Heller, The Truth About You is a gripping and emotionally charged novel that explores the unsettling gray areas of family, morality, and truth.
Michael has shared an extract from The Truth About You with us today. We hope you enjoy.
*****beginning of extract*****
Setting: After Greg is arrested for battering his wife, Paula, Paula remains in a relationship with him. Time has passed, and Paula’s friends determine they need to stage an intervention to “hold him accountable.”
*****
Shortly after 7 p.m., Greg and Paula pulled into the driveway in Greg’s SUV. They stayed in the car for several minutes. Stacy peered through the family room curtains to check what was happening. “They’re still sitting in the car,” she reported.
“Is he hitting her?” someone asked.
“No. At least not as far as I can tell,” she said.
“Are they arguing?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Should someone go out there?”
“I’m not sure about that, either.”
Finally, the doors to the SUV opened and Greg and Paula got out. Greg went to the back and started filling his arms with bags from their shopping trip. Paula headed for the kitchen’s side door.
“Are you okay?” Christine asked Paula as she came through the door.
by Book Extract & Giveaway: A Taste of Christmas Spirit by Susan Buchanan
I’m so happy to be welcoming Susan Buchanan back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, A Taste of Christmas Spirit.
AN ALL-NEW CHRISTMAS SPIRIT BOOK FOR 2025
CAN LARA ADD A DASH OF MAGIC THIS CHRISTMAS?
The Sugar and Spice bakery sparkles with holiday spirit as Jacob serves up more mouthwatering festive treats, and Christmas spirit Lara tries to sprinkle her magic over those finding the time of year difficult.
Ollie is at his wits’ end. A debt from years ago comes back to haunt him just as he and his girlfriend are buying their dream home.
Rose is dejected as her college sweetheart has dumped her now they’re in their final year. She’s not looking forward to Christmas alone, nor her twenty-first birthday on Christmas Eve.
Sacha has recently moved to Winstanton following the failure of his business. He’s too embarrassed to confide in his family, but can he find the friendship he so desperately needs and begin to trust again?
Diana tries to find her new normal after the unexpected death of her husband earlier this year. All her plans for retirement have been thrown out the window and she feels lost. She needs a renewed sense of purpose and to find her place in the world.
Can Lara provide the answer to a joy-filled Christmas?
A story of hope, love, friendship, community, and of course, Christmas spirit. For fans of Sarah Morgan, Philippa Ashley, Jenny Colgan and Cathy Bramley.
There’s a chance to win a signed and dedicated copy of A Taste of Christmas Spirit below but first, Susan has shared an extract below. We hope you enjoy it.
*****beginning of extract*****
Sixty-something Diana is sitting in Sugar and Spice, one of her main haunts, whiling away the day.
*****
Diana was on her second latte, reading the final three chapters of A Christmas Carol in preparation for the first Christmas book club event that evening. It had been so many years since she’d last read it that she’d quite forgotten how much she’d enjoyed it first time around. Of course, she’d also watched the various adaptations over the years on TV, but it wasn’t the same as reading the story, particularly from the special edition hardback she’d picked up at Tom and Jerry’s. How handy the bookshop was next door to the café. The only thing that could make it any better would be if they created a door between the two.
Once again, Diana tried to remind herself of all the things she should be grateful for. She had clubs and classes she attended. She had friends. She had wonderful children. A delightful grandson. She was educated. She had a little haven right here in Winstanton, in the form of Sugar and Spice. For a moment tears threatened. These affirmations were all very well, but telling herself of everything she had to be grateful for didn’t diminish the pain she felt at the absence of Martin from her life. Life could be very cruel.
by Book Club
