Book Review: The House of Lost Whispers by Jenni Keer
It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Jenni Keer back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The House of Lost Whispers.
On 15th April 1912, RMS Titanic sank and 1500 people lost their lives. But what if it had stayed afloat?
When the ill-fated maiden voyage of the Titanic leaves thirteen-year-old Olivia Davenport orphaned, she’s sent to live with her guardians, the Fairchilds, in their huge Jacobean mansion – Merriford Manor. But the Fairchilds have more to worry about than a grieving young girl – with war in Europe imminent and four sons to protect.
Olivia feels alone and friendless. That is, until she hears a voice from behind the wall in her tower bedroom. A voice from a man called Seth. At first she thinks he’s a ghost. But it soon becomes clear that he lives in an overlapping world that is just a shudder in time away from her own. A world where the Titanic never sank… And everything since has been just slightly… different.
All Olivia wants is to find a way into his reality. And not just to see the faces of her beloved parents once again. But also to meet Seth. Who might just be the love of her life…
An utterly unforgettable reading group historical novel, that is part romance, part gripping mystery, and part completely heartbreaking First World War historical fiction. Perfect for fans of Titanic, In Memoriam and Lucinda Riley.
*****
The sinking of the Titanic in April 1912 is an event known to the world… but what if it didn’t sink?
When Olivia Davenport loses her parents, she is sent to live with her Godfather and his family. Her life’s path goes a certain way.
However, when she begins to hear a voice through the wall of her bedroom, she starts to question everything she knows.
Although I’ve had the pleasure of hosting Jenni Keer on Novel Kicks in the past, this is the first opportunity I’ve had to review one of her novels. I am fascinated by the history surrounding the Titanic so the premise for this book intrigued me a lot. I couldn’t wait to get started.
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Book Review: The Basel Killings by Hansjörg Schneider
It is the end of October, the northern Swiss city of Basel is grey and wet. It could be December.
It is just after midnight when Hunkeler, on his way home and slightly worse for wear, spots old man Hardy sitting on a bench under a streetlight. He wants to smoke a cigarette with him, but the usually very loquacious Hardy is silent – his throat a gaping wound. Turns out he was first strangled, then his left earlobe slit, his diamond stud stolen.
The media and the police come quickly to the same conclusion: Hardy’s murder was the work of a gang of Albanian drug smugglers.
But for Hunkeler that seems too obvious. Hardy’s murder has much in common with the case of Barbara Amsler, a prostitute also found killed with an ear slit, and her pearl stud missing.
He follows his own intuition and the trail leads him deep into a dark world of bars, bordellos and strip clubs, but also into the corrupt core of some of Basel’s political and industrial elite. More ominously, he will soon discover the consequences of certain events in recent Swiss history that those in power would prefer to keep far from the public eye.
*****
When Detective Peter Hunkeler finds a dead body, he is soon pulled into a murder investigation that has a similarity to another unsolved case. Can he find the killer before someone else gets hurt?
I do love a good crime novel and so was pleased to be sent a review copy of The Basel Killings by Hansjörg Schneider, translated by Mike Mitchell.. I am unfamiliar with this author’s novels so this was a chance to discover something new.
This book is the first novel in the Inspector Hunkeler series and therefore does spend some time introducing the main character. However, this doesn’t get in the way of the action. The reader is immediately thrown into the story and it’s not long before a crime is committed.
by Book Review: Runaway Horses by Carlo Fruttero and Franco Lucentini
Siena, one of Italy’s most beautiful cities, is feverishly preparing for the Palio, a horse race dating back to the Middle Ages, held every summer in the centre of the town.
Tempers flare, rivalries between the competing neighbourhoods intensify. Milanese lawyer Enzo Maggione and his wife Valeria are unwittingly caught up in the death of a jockey and a maelstrom of plots, counterplots and bribes surrounding the race.
What begins as a listless excursion to a medieval equestrian competition turns into a hallucinatory nightmare for Maggione and his wife, awakening their dormant libido, for each other but, more dangerously, for others in their entourage.
*****
The annual Palio horse race is due to take place in Siena. Days before, Avvovato (Enzo) Maggioni and his wife Valeria end up at a strange house after taking a wrong turn. What they find is intrigue and before long, they get mixed up in a murder.
The premise of this book did catch my attention. I had no previous knowledge of the Palio and its history so it was interesting to discover it through this novel. Although I’m not sure I want to witness the race, I’d love to visit Siena.
by Book Review: Five Things I Love About You by Clare Swatman
It’s so lovely to be welcoming Clare Swatman back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Five Things I Love About You.
Forty-nine-year-old Miranda is at a crossroads.
Her children have left home, her perfectly civilised divorce is more than a decade behind her and her romances since have been lacklustre, and her career has stalled. The bright spots in her life are best friends Sophie and Kirstie, but it’s clear something has to change.
So, when she’s knocked off her bike and wakes up in hospital bruised but not broken, Miranda wonders if the universe is trying to tell her something. And when she starts to be plagued by recurring dreams featuring the same featureless man, Sophie insists it’s a sign.
Her repeating dreams offer five clues to the man’s identity so, with nothing to lose, Miranda sets off on a journey to the future she’s always longed for. Somewhere there’s a life and a love waiting for Miranda, but will she grasp it with both hands or will she let her destiny slip through her fingers even when it’s right in front of her…
An uplifting, magical story about fresh starts, best friends and soulmates. Perfect for all fans of Lucy Diamond, Beth Moran and Jill Mansell.
*****
Miranda has found herself at a bit of a crossroads. Having lost her job, she doesn’t know what she’s going to do next. So, when she gets knocked off her bike and gets helped by a man she knows only as ‘J’, she decides to try and find him. Will fate help her along the way or is it a lost cause?
I am so pleased to be invited onto the blog tour for the latest novel from Clare Swatman. Having enjoyed previous books by this author, I couldn’t wait to get started on Five Things I Love About You.
by Book Extract: Shadows In The Spring by Christina Courtenay
I’m so happy to be welcoming Christina Courtenay back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Shadows In The Spring.
Two souls bound together but lost in time. Until now.
AD 80
Duro of the Iceni tribe escaped life as an enslaved gladiator and is now finally home in Britannia with one thing on his mind: vengeance. For 20 years he has sought the Roman legionary who destroyed his family. What he didn’t expect was Gisel: a fierce Germanic woman with long white-blonde hair, forced into slavery by the Romans. Hypnotised by her spirit and her beauty, Duro frees Gisel and slowly tries to win her trust as they work together to complete his quest.
Present Day
Mackenna Jackson returns to Bath with a broken heart, thanks to rockstar Blue Daniels. Luckily she can still count on Blue’s former bandmate Jonah Miller as a listening ear. But Jonah has secretly been fighting stronger feelings, drawn to Mac’s quiet confidence and gorgeous white-blonde hair. As they explore the area, memories they can’t quite explain flood them both.
Is the spark between Mac and Jonah in fact a sign of something much deeper – a love enduring through millennia – or can it all be an illusion?
Christina has shared an extract from Shadows In The Spring with us today. We hope you enjoy it.
*****beginning of extract*****
Prologue
Germania Barbaricum (north-east France), mid-May AD 80
The jolting of the cart over a particularly large bump in the track woke Gisel. Her head felt as if someone had speared her skull with a knife and her gaze was unfocused. Only a sliver of light filtered in under the material that covered the wagon where she lay trussed like a fowl ready for the roasting spit. Everything was dim, and she wasn’t sure whether it was reality or merely a bad dream.
Then she remembered.
by Book Extract: Fantaisie by Michael Kenneth Smith
It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Michael Kenneth Smith to Novel Kicks as we shine a light on his novel, Fantaisie.
Fantaisie is set in the aftermath of war, where the front lines have shifted to secrets and survival.
Jan Orlinski, a pilot with few options, accepts work that puts him in the crosshairs of international intrigue. Sophie Gordon, caught up in a dangerous intelligence operation, vanishes behind enemy lines—setting Jan on a rescue mission that will test his limits.
Author Michael Kenneth Smith is known for The Postwoman, a novel rooted in real WWII resistance history. Fantaisie continues his legacy of character-driven, historically rich fiction.
Michael Kenneth Smith has kindly shared an extract from Fantaisie with us today. We hope you enjoy.
*****beginning of extract****
The black sedan was still following them as they neared the airport, albeit at a distance. Jan decided whoever it was wanted to keep an eye on them but wasn’t looking for a confrontation. He glanced back again as Brian made a quick turn and then another. After four years in Matadi, he knew the city’s streets well. Soon, they were headed back across the bridge into the heart of town, the sedan no longer visible behind them. The sun beat down as Brian guided the truck through Matadi’s bustling streets, which smelled of exhaust and overripe fruit from market stalls and street vendors. He turned down narrow alleys twice, the truck’s tires screeching in protest.
Five minutes later, they pulled up to a small, tidy house in an affluent neighborhood.
“Come on,” Brian said. “We need to talk.”
by Book Review: Broken Hearted by Leia Stone and Julie Hall
The Winter Court princess Isolde must find the next piece of the puzzle to end the curse ravaging her lands.
My world is dying, and only I can save it.
When the princesses of Summer and Fall disappeared in Ethereum, the burden of stopping the curse that’s tearing Faerie apart fell to me. My mission is clear: kill an Ethereum lord and return with his magical black heart to save our land.
But I know a secret no one else does―Dawn and Aribella are alive, and everything I’ve been told about the Ethereum lords is a lie. Not only that, but there may be another way to break the curse once and for all.
At least, that’s what they claim.
I want to believe them, because when I gaze into the captivating teal eyes of the Southern Ethereum lord, the thought of driving a dagger through his heart becomes impossible to imagine. But trusting them could cost me everything.
Now, I’m torn between loyalty and truth, with no idea who to trust. The clock is ticking, and the fate of Faerie rests in my hands.
*****
The curse that is destroying the kingdom of Faerie is getting worse and Queen Lilianna now hopes that Isolde, the princess of the Winter Kingdom, can do what the Summer (Dawn) and Fall (Aribella) princesses could not – go through the portal into Ethereum, cut out the heart of a lord and bring it back.
Isolde hopes to help without having to resort to murder. She also finds herself fighting her feelings for Adrien, an Ethereum Lord who, when she arrives, is engaged to someone else.
by Book Extract: Flowers of Evil by N.L. Holmes
It’s a pleasure to be welcoming N.L Holmes to Novel Kicks as we shine a light her Hani’s Daughter Mysteries Series.
No Pyramids, Just Crimes Worth Solving
While most historical fiction about ancient Egypt fixates on pharaohs and pyramids, N.L. Holmes takes a refreshingly intimate approach: small neighborhoods, family entanglements, and the everyday tensions that lead to murder. Her four-book series follows Neferet and Bener-ib — medical women turned reluctant detectives — as they navigate deadly mysteries within the working-class community of Thebes.
Each installment, from Flowers of Evil to The Melody of Evil, presents a different crime, a new emotional layer, and evolving relationships. Holmes’s deep archaeological knowledge makes every page ring with authenticity — and the fact that these stories center queer women in the Bronze Age? Even better.
The books in the series include Flowers of Evil, Web of Evil, Wheel of Evil and Melody of Evil.
N.L. Holmes has shared an extract from Flowers of Evil, book one from the series. We hope you enjoy.
*****beginning of extract*****
“Can you do anything?” the woman cried tremulously, clutching at Neferet’s arm.
But Neferet could think of nothing encouraging to say. Her insides had that hollow, leaden feeling that meant the worst was about to happen.
“There’s no point in stitching up the outside,” she said gently. “He’s lost a lot of blood, and they’ve chopped him up pretty seriously inside. As the medical books say, ‘This is not a case I will treat.’”
The woman understood and began to whimper. She reached out a hand to touch her husband’s shoulder but then drew back as if she’d just discovered it was someone else. A gloomy silence fell over the group, broken only by the increasingly weak huff of the patient’s breath. His lips moved feebly, and Bener-ib leaned over his face.
“I think you’d better stand with him, mistress,” Neferet said. “His soul is ready to fly. He might have something to say to you.”
The woman drew closer fearfully. “Sen-em-iah, my brother, I’m here.”
by Book Review: Men of Iron by MJ Porter
We are pleased to be welcoming MJ Porter to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for their latest book, Men of Iron.
After the legends of Arthur, yet before the Saxon kingdom of Mercia, a tribal age of iron and rust ruled.
Britain AD540.
In the western hinterland of Roman Britannia, Meddi, the seeress of the Eorlingas tribe, can only obtain vengeance when her husband’s dead and her ancestral villa returned to her.
With her brother, Madog, as leader, they unite and stand strong against those who seek the riches of their villa. They must harness the power of the lost magiks of iron to make weapons to mercilessly oppose those who seek to challenge and fight to rule.
Meanwhile in the east, Waermund, a young warrior of Saxon descent, has exacted the ultimate revenge against his brother. Startled by his own ruthlessness, he knows his father will pursue him to exact retribution. He and his band of miscreant warriors must flee westwards and forge a new future by earning coin from those too weak to protect themselves.
Meddi and Wærmund are set to collide in a world of iron and rust.
*****
Men of Iron is the first in a new series by M.J Porter. Having read novels in previous series by this author, I was eager to see what this new one had to offer.
This book is based in the dark ages, between the departure of the Romans and the rule of the Saxons. It’s a time when sharp iron which holds its edge is worth more than gold.
by Book Extract: How To Fix A Broken Heart by Nicola May
I’m pleased to be welcoming Nicola May to Novel Kicks as we celebrate the publication of her book, How To Fix A Broken Heart.
A heart-wrenching and life-affirming story of love and loss from number one bestselling author Nicola May
Gracie Davies is at an all-time low. After a devastating loss, the last thing she needs is a colleague hinting over coffee that it’s time to lose her baby weight. Then her boyfriend betrays her, and her world totally falls apart.
Rebuilding her life from scratch – with the support of her free-spirited sister, an unorthodox therapist, and a feisty new friend – Gracie finally begins to get her mojo back. Add in a passionate fling with handsome landscaper Ed, a fairytale encounter with a Hollywood film star and the persistence of her adulterous ex, and life is anything but predictable…
Soon she finds that community, purpose, and perhaps even new love might be the perfect prescription for a broken heart.
But can a heart that’s been so utterly shattered ever trust again?
Warm, witty, wildly sexy and deeply moving, Nicola May’s unforgettable novel is perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes, Marian Keyes, and Amanda Prowse.
This is a revised version of The Women of Wimbledon Common/The SW19 Club.
To celebrate How To Fix A Borken Heart, Nicola has shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy.
*****beginning of extract*****
Gracie goes on her first date after her boyfriend’s betrayal.
*****
Ed smiled warmly as he saw Gracie’s red Puma pull into the Wimbledon car park, where they had agreed to meet. He had thought she might chicken out and was pleased she’d stuck to her word. He jumped out of his van as she approached.
‘Hey, you look lovely.’ He kissed her on the cheek.
‘Well, you know, it’s not every day you get asked on a date by a handsome landscaper.’ She self-consciously pulled her jumper down over her jeans.
‘Oh, it’s a date, is it?’
Gracie reddened. ‘Err… well… I… err.’
by Book Review: Meet Me Under the Clock by Jo Lovett
I’m happy to be welcoming Jo Lovett to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Meet Me Under the Clock.
Sometimes love happens when you least expect it…
When Nadia and Tom are both unceremoniously stood up by their dates under the clock at Waterloo Station, fate throws them together in the most unusual of circumstances.
What starts as a brilliant story for future dinner parties soon turns into a wonderful friendship, and both Tom and Nadia realise they’ve found the perfect partner in crime.
Tired of dating but always needing a plus one for weddings, parties, and the like, they agree to fake date each other. But as their pretend relationship starts to feel more real, Nadia and Tom begin to wonder if there’s more to their connection than convenience.
Could the relationship they’ve been faking be the one they’ve been waiting for all along?
A heartwarming fake dating rom com, perfect for fans of Beth O’Leary and Sophie Kinsella.
*****
Nadia arrives at Waterloo station for a blind date. At the same time, Tom is there to meet a woman he made a pact with. As a security alert brings these two together, they decide to help each other out with the dating thing by pretending to be an item. This surely can’t backfire… right?
Although i have had the opportunity to host Jo Lovett before on this blog, this is the first time I’ve had the chance to review one of her novels. The idea of this book sounded great and so I was pleased to be invited onto the blog tour for Meet Me Under The Clock.
by Book Review: Catch a Falling Star by Laura Carter
It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Laura Carter back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Catch a Falling Star.
It’s never too late…
Lyra Clarkson has built a career capturing other people’s perfect moments. She loves her work as a wedding photographer – despite her family’s disapproval – but she’s never quite found her own path.
Guy Walker, former rock star turned wedding singer, has hit a new low. Desperately needing cash, he’s agreed to take any gig his manager can get him, even if this new form of entertainment isn’t just singing.
As Lyra and Guy’s paths cross – in the most bizarre way possible – an unexpected kiss will change everything. But was it simply a chance encounter or is fate bringing them back together?
Now forced into each other’s lives for the entire wedding season, the unlikely pair may just figure out together how to realise both their dreams…
*****
One night, Lyra shares a moment with her favourite musican as he performs on stage. When she is invited backstage to meet him, she allows herself to get swept up in the dream. However, a phone call at the dressing room door changes the trejectory of her life. Seven years later, she meets a stranger in a lift, one that feels really familiar.
Being a big fan of Laura Carter’s novels, I couldn’t wait to get started on her latest book, Catch A Falling Star.
by Book Review: Safe Harbour in Pelican Crossing by Maggie Christensen
I’m pleased to be welcoming Maggie Christensen back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Safe Harbour in Pelican Crossing.
Safe Harbour in Pelican Crossing: An emotional and uplifting story of friends, family and second chances
After the death of her abusive husband, Erica Masters returns to Perth, eager for a fresh start and the birth of her granddaughter. But when she learns her husband has changed his Will in favour of their son, leaving her with nothing, she flees to seek refuge in Pelican Crossing, the place she once called home.
Having sold his fishing boat after a bitter divorce which left him to bring up his two teenage sons, Jamie Whittaker has found success with his fishing charter business. Thrilled by the arrival of his first grandchild, he is stunned when his teenage flame, Erica, reappears in town.
As the pair reconnect, old feelings resurface, but Erica remains guarded after her painful past. Jamie, determined to win Erica’s heart once again, manages to break through her defences until a family tragedy turns their lives upside down.
With everything unravelling around them, can these two troubled souls build a future together?
If you enjoy emotional reads, you’ll love this gripping tale of love and second chances.
*****
Erica’s life has not been the happiest. After the death of her abusive husband, she is looking for a new start, back where she grew up. Pelican Crossing promises the solace Erica is looking for. Will she still be happy to be back when she runs into old flame, Jamie?
by Book Extract: Karma Never Sleeps by R. John Dingle
I am pleased to be welcoming R. John Dingle to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his latest novel, Karma Never Sleeps.
In a small town, the truth can’t always set you free…
When a second woman from a group of friends known as “the posse” is murdered in the woods near the New England enclave of Kendalton, FBI agent and profiler Gus Wheeler and his partner are called in to determine if this is a serial killing. He’s intrigued by a clue hidden on the body: a memorial picture of a teen who died 25 years ago.
Instead of helping with the investigation, the long-term friends stonewall the agents. But Gus can smell fear beneath their calm masks, fake smiles, and politely vague answers. Digging deeper, he discovers they are being terrorised by cyberstalking, spying, threats and mysterious break-ins. When a third member is hospitalized after a brutal attack, Gus suspects someone in the posse is the hunter instead of the hunted.
Is it the alpha leader Jules, her best friend Maria-married to the chief of police-outsider Mel, or weak link Lizzy? Or someone else bent on revenge? Time’s running out, and Gus’s life depends on his skill at determining who’s the best liar in town.
R. John Dingle has shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy it.
(Warning: Violence).
*****beginning of extract*****
Chapter One
Everyone knew Sarah Nelson loved to run. She was a triage nurse, so her days were filled with alarms and buzzers and life-or-death decisions. Running gave her much-needed quiet time, a chance to decompress and get lost in her own head without any distractions from work or kids or social media. She loved the alone time on the trails, just her and her music and the fresh smells of nature. And the endorphins; oh, how she loved the endorphins. Sarah would rave to the girls, the Posse as they called themselves, that as good as sex was with Steve (and it was pretty amazing), when she hit the zone on a run and the world melted away, the endorphins she’d get afterward were simply orgasmic. But, of course, all this was a lie, especially the Steve-sex thing. Sarah hated running, she absolutely loathed it. But deep down she loathed her vile friend, Jules, even more. Jules was a liar and a drunk and a constant thorn in Sarah’s side. Any day Sarah didn’t see Jules was a good day. But worst of all, Jules was a runner and a big-time one at that. And Sarah would be damned if that bitch did anything better than she did.
by Cover Reveal: A Scottish Lighthouse Escape by Julie Shackman
I am beyond excited to be helping to reveal the cover for A Scottish Lighthouse Escape, the upcoming novel from Julie Shackman.
Get ready to fall in love with the brand new romance in the Scottish Escapes series from bestselling author, Julie Shackman.
When romance author Rosie Winters’s own fairytale romance ends with a bang, she’s determined to get away from everything. Packing up her belongings she sets off for the furthest place she can think of: Scotland.
Rosie spent her summers at her late grandmother’s coastal cottage in the Highlands and knows it’ll be the perfect place to wallow for a while. Even better that there’s a gorgeous lighthouse and dolphins in the bay.
What Rosie didn’t expect was to bump into the new lighthouse keeper, Mitch. Despite her recent heartbreak, Rosie finds herself fascinated by the mysterious Mitch. As they spend more time together, is it possible that he needs Rosie every bit as she needs him…
OK, now we know what the book is about, it’s time to reveal the cover. Ready? Drumroll…3…2…1…
by Book Spotlight: The Dressmaker’s Secret Earl by Susanne Dunlap
I’m delighted to be shining a light on The Dressmaker’s Secret Earl by Susanne Dunlap. It’s book one in the Double Dilemma Romance series.
A marriage of convenience to a scoundrel? Not if Augusta can help it.
The impoverished daughter of a baronet, Augusta has no intention of being bartered away like a prize horse. Instead, she flees to London, determined to forge her own path as a modiste.
But fate has other plans. On her very first day in the city, she crosses paths with a brooding earl—one burdened with a clubfoot and a reputation nearly as scandalous as the proposal she ran from. His captivating sister, Mariana, is not only Augusta’s employer’s best client but harbors a secret ambition of her own: to marry the one man society deems wholly unsuitable.
Drawn into Mariana’s reckless schemes of masquerades, cross-dressing, and Whig intrigue, Augusta soon finds herself entangled in more than just scandal—she’s losing her heart to a man who embodies everything she swore to escape.
But the earl has secrets of his own. Is he truly the rogue society believes him to be?
And when Augusta’s past comes calling, will her newfound independence—and her heart—survive?
A charming, fast-paced Regency romance perfect for fans of Bridgerton and the sweetly adventurous love stories of Maggie Dallen and Jenny Hambly.
by Book Review: Happy Ever After at the Second Chances Sweet Shop by Hannah Lynn
It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Hannah Lynn back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Happy Ever After at the Second Chances Sweet Shop.
Love is in the air…
After difficult times, Holly is finally adjusting to her new normal. Her daughter Hope is happy, she’s created a beautiful home, and an unexpected offer may mean fantastic opportunities for her sweet shop, Just One More.
But her sense of calm is shattered when best friend Giles drops a bombshell – a proposal to Sienna, a woman Holly barely knows and who isn’t right for Giles at all.
For Giles’s sake, she tries to make peace with Sienna, throwing herself into wedding planning. But as everyone else cheers on the ‘happy’ couple, Holly’s left questioning whether her doubts are about them – or about something in her own heart…
Return to the cosy world of the Cotswolds in this heartwarming story of love, friendship and second chances – perfect for fans of Holly Martin and Jessica Redland.
*****
Holly has settled into life running her sweet shop and bringing up her daughter.
However, when her best friend proposes to his girlfriend, Holly isn’t happy. She wants to try and convince Giles that Sienna is wrong for him but are her reasons for the warnings simply because she doesn’t want him making a mistake or is there something more to it?
I am such a big fan of Hannah Lynn, so I threw myself at any chance to be part of the blog tour for her latest book in the Holly Berry Sweet Shop series, Happy Ever After at the Second Chances Sweet Shop.
What I soon realised, is that I am not as up to date with this series as I am with Hannah Lynn’s Wildflower Lock books. I know. I don’t understand how that happened, but I will be rectifying that by adding this series to my TBR pile. The last book I’d read in this series was book five so there’s a few things that I’ve missed. Happy Ever After at the Second Chances Sweet Shop is book eight. This can be read as a standalone and I was able to keep up very well but obviously starting at this point will reveal spoilers if you’re then planning on reading the previous novels.
by Cover Reveal: Tucker’s Time Machine Telescope by Robin Bennett
I’m excited to be helping to reveal the cover for Tucker’s Time Machine Telescope, the upcoming children’s book from Robin Bennett.
Thomas Tucker (or just Tucker to everyone who knows him) is walking innocently down the street when he is attacked by a chicken and falls down a hole. Unlikely as it sounds, this is how he ends up finding the Time Machine Telescope.
Unfortunately, Tucker seems to attract chaos and bad luck the same way that someone standing on top of a mountain waving a metal pole will eventually attract lightning and a free Xray.
Can he survive killer robots, Tudor kings, dinosaurs … and Kylo Hens long enough to complete his Time Machine Wish List
- GET RICH
- HAVE FUN!
- GET MUM AND DAD TO SPEND LESS TIME ON THEIR MOBILE PHONES
There’s only one way to find out…
Now we know a little about the book, it’s time to reveal the cover. OK, are you ready? Drumroll…3…2…1….
by Book Review: Damaged Beauty: Joey Superstar by Margaret Gardiner
Welcome to the world of model Joey Superstar – a whirlwind of cocaine, sex, and money.
Josaphina Brinkley seems to have it all: she’s a superstar model in 1980s America, a cover girl plastered naked on fashion billboards above Sunset Blvd. Women want to be her. Men simply want her.
But underneath the glossy veneer she hides a traumatic past. The end of her marriage to Italian Aristocracy led to a stint in rehab. As she returns to parties, premiers and modeling, she’s hoping a life of designer clothes and beautiful people won’t take her back to blow. If only she could be truly seen, heard and understood, perhaps she wouldn’t self-destruct again?
Joey sets out to confront the roots of her wildness – but must admit to a youthful act that haunts her. As Joey fights from addiction to redemption, can she change the course of her life, deal with her dark past and become the superstar she was always destined to be? Former Miss Universe Margaret Gardiner gives readers the key to a secret world of supermodels, sex, style and scandal in her deliciously intoxicating debut, Joey Superstar, the first in an exciting Damaged Beauty series.
*****
It’s the 80’s and Joey is a successful model, well, until her marriage ends with her being sent to rehab. When she is released, she tries to pick herself up again but it isn’t an easy road and it’s not long before Joey is falling into familiar destructive patterns.
I am going to talk about this book as much as I can without giving away too many spoilers (I hope).
I have to admit, it did take me a couple of chapters to get into this story. However, the plot grabbed hold of me and before long, it’s was the middle of the night and I hadn’t realised how long I’d been reading.
At the beginning, I didn’t like Joey at all. That being said, the further I got into the book, the more compelling she became and before long, I felt much empathy for her. That’s all I will say about Joey as I believe one of the brilliant things about this novel is the layers it has to it. Nothing is as it seems on the surface – much like celebrity status.
Margaret Gardiner has done a good job at giving us a snapshot of what it was like for women in the 80’s. You would hope that in this day and age, the behaviour exhibited by some of the characters would be a thing of the past. I get the feeling it isn’t and that makes me incredibly worried and sad. Some of what happens within the story is shocking. I found myself getting angry at injustices portrayed within this book. It definitely is an emotional rollercoaster that, by the end, had me wanting to know what happens next. As this is the first book in the Damaged Beauty series, I am hoping I won’t have to wait long to find out.
by Book Review: Enemies of the Crown by Peter Gibbons
We are pleased to be welcoming back Peter Gibbons to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his latest book in the Saxon Warrior series, Enemies of the Crown.
A weakened crown. A country besieged by Vikings, suffering under the oppression of a powerful church.
994AD
King Aethelred the Unready’s rule falters. Policies recommended by the controlling bishops invite more attacks upon his Saxon kingdom as Sweyn Forkbeard, Viking battle-king of the Danes, grows in power; bloodthirsty for conquest.
Beornoth, Viking-killer and kings thegn believed his days in the shield wall to be over until summoned by the king to enforce a policy of retribution against his enemies.
In a time of shifting loyalties, alongside a savage warband of cruel Norman warriors, Beornoth embarks upon a brutal quest to rid England of King Aethelred’s so-called Viking enemies.
However, when this murderous campaign leads to the door of an old friend, Beornoth must choose sides, as his loyalty to king, country, and his brothers of the sword are put to the test.
Can Beornoth triumph over insurmountable odds in this shield splintering battle for the future of England itself?
*****
Enemies of the Crown continues the story of Beornoth, a fierce Saxon warrior and King’s Theign.
by Book Extract: I Kill Always Love You by Helen Golden
I am so delighted to be welcoming Helen Golden back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, I Kill Always Love You.
A perfect sunny getaway with no drama. Or so they’d hoped…
BREAKING NEWS Woman Taken in for Questioning in Death of Actress’ Husband
Police in Portugal this morning told reporters that a woman is being questioned in connection with the murder of the film producer Jason ‘JT’ Kenda, who was married to award-winning actress Ariella St Gerome.
Mr Kenda, who was found dead in the swimming pool of the couple’s villa, was initially thought to have died following an accident, but now police believe the American was killed intentionally. The villa is next door to where Lady Beatrice, the Countess of Rossex, is currently holidaying with family and friends at the villa of TV’s Sir Hewitt and his wife, Lady Grace.
Who can say no to Lady Grace? When the daughter of Lady Grace’s housekeeper is suspected of murder, her ladyship requests that Bea and her friends prove the maid’s innocence. But with time running out, can they navigate the tangled web of lies, betrayal, and hidden motives before an innocent woman is imprisoned for a crime she didn’t commit? Because even on holiday, the sleuthing never stops!
*****
Helen has kinky shared an extract from I Kill Always Love You with us today. We hope you enjoy.
*****beginning of extract*****
Intro
Lady Beatrice, her cute dog Daisy, her son Sam, and best his friend, Archie, are joined by DS Richard Fitzwilliam, Bea’s best friends Perry and Simon, and Simon’s daughter Isla, for a relaxing holiday in the sun, and they can’t wait. They’ve all had a crazy year so far, and all they want to do is sit by the pool and chill. No mysteries. No murder. Just sunny weather, good food, and great company. Their villa, Villa Mer, is in a complex of three, but Bea hopes that they can keep their interaction with their neighbours to a minimum, especially when she finds out that one of them is famous American actress, Ella St Gerome, and her husband, hot-shot Hollywood film producer, JT Kenda. The couple have been splashed all over the newspapers recently with rumours that he wasn’t giving his wife the lead role in his next movie. Bea doesn’t want to be dragged into that drama. But it was never going to be that simple, was it?
While Bea and the others were having breakfast the day after their arrival, an invitation arrived from Ella and JT to a pool party. Perry has persuaded Bea to hand deliver their acceptance note and has dragged her over to the neighbouring villa. Once in the grounds they overhear a couple arguing. Bea wants to turn back, but it’s too late. They have been spotted, and Ella has waved them over. Bea has no choice but to go…
by Book Review: The Lavender Bride by Alexandra Weston
It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Alexandra Weston back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The Lavender Bride.
An English rose with American dreams
Audrey Wade longs to escape her domineering father and the bleak streets of post-war Yorkshire. Hollywood glitters with glamour, freedom, and the promise of a life with her best friend Freddie. But when Freddie abandons her, Audrey is left to chase her dreams alone.
A Heartthrob with secrets
Rex Trent is more than Hollywood’s leading man. Charismatic and dangerously handsome, he’s adored by millions and watched by powerful enemies in a paranoid 1950s America. One wrong move could destroy him.
A romance born of ambition and betrayal
When Rex proposes, Audrey is swept into Hollywood’s glamour and high-stakes secrets. But she soon discovers Rex’s dark side and faces a choice: cling to a man who may never love her, or risk everything to forge her own path?
A gripping new historical novel from a wonderful new voice. Perfect for fans of Taylor Jenkins-Reid, Wendy Holden and Allison Pataki.
*****
Audrey Wade has long held a dream to leave Sheffield for the promise of a great life in Hollywood, escaping post war Britain and her oppressive father forever.
After a few months of a new life in the US, Audrey catches the eye of film star, Rex Trent. Soon, she is caught up in a whirlwind of a life with him but is it what she really wanted?
by Book Review: The Viscount’s Pearl by Melissa Addey
I’m pleased to be welcoming Melissa Addey to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The Viscount’s Pearl.
He’s a carefree rake who wants a marriage of convenience.
She’s an awkward spinster who doesn’t want to marry at all.
Fate has other plans in store for them both.
Laurence enjoys his dalliances with the married ladies of society, and thinks marriage is only a matter of convenience. He’s on the lookout for a practical woman accustomed to society. Frances is an odd and awkward young woman, more at home gathering shells on the beach than in the ballrooms of London, hoping to stay a spinster forever.
When the two meet in Margate, will their initial dislike of one another turn into something important?
While Laurence finds his life growing shallow, Frances wonders if love might be worth making a bold move for. Can she find her way into Laurence’s heart, and will he undertake to love her, just the way she is?
A warm-hearted Regency romance, full of historical detail and emotional discovery, as two opposites find they might just attract. The Season has begun, the ton is gathered… who knows what the tides will bring for Laurence and Frances.
*****
Frances wants a quiet life. She doesn’t even want to marry, content to live a spinster life. However, as her forth season beckons without a hint of a marriage proposal, her parents are putting pressure on their daughter. After all, the Ton has expectations for its unmarried ladies.
I love a novel based in the regency period. I am excited to be part of the blog tour for The Viscount’s Pearl. I have also not read anything from Melissa Addey before so it was a chance to discover a new author in the process.
by Book Review: Kindred Spirits at Harling Hall by Sharon Booth
I’m so delighted to be welcoming Sharon Booth to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Kindred Spirits at Harling Hall.
The first in a delightfully warm, cosy and romantic new series with a fantasy twist, for fans of the BBC series ‘Ghosts’.
Can Callie give some needy ghosts their happy-ever-afterlife, while making Rowan Vale her own forever home?
When cash-strapped single mum Callie visits the beautiful Cotswold village of Rowan Vale on a school trip with her daughter, she is enchanted. It’s run as a living museum, with a steam railway, vintage teashop, Elizabethan manor house and old water mill allowing tourists to see history in action.
But there’s more to Rowan Vale than meets the eye…
To Callie’s surprise, the owner of the village, elderly Sir Lawrence Davenport, requests a meeting with her. It appears Callie has been observed talking to several villagers she shouldn’t be able to see – as they’re ghosts.
Sir Lawrence then makes an astonishing offer: to sell Callie the whole estate for a tiny sum, if she agrees to protect the village’s present tenants and make sure the headstrong ghosts are represented too.
With a spectral lord of the manor and his imperious wife, a naughty 1940s schoolgirl and the man who once taught William Shakespeare among them, it seems Callie’s role as owner wouldn’t be easy.
And that’s without the added complication of Lawrie’s disinherited grandson, the gorgeous Brodie.
Rowan Vale and Callie may need each other. But is this a match made in heaven or hell?
Fans of the BBC’s Ghosts, or books by Lucy Jane Wood, Laurie Gilmore and Heidi Swain will love this heart-warming and magical novel.
*****
As a child, Callie could see and communicate with ghosts but the ability disappears when her family are not supportive. However, when her visit to the village of Rowan Vale re-awakens her gift, her life quickly changes forever.
The premise of this book caught my attention and so I leaped at the chance to be part of the blog tour for Kindred Spirits at Harling Hall, This was also the first book I’ve read by Sharon Booth.
by Book Review: The Last Mrs Sinclair by T.J. Emerson
Please join me in welcoming T.J. Emerson to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest novel, The Last Mrs Sinclair.
What would you give for the perfect life?
Leah Williams knows exactly what she wants from life – comfort, luxury and security. All the things she would have had if her childhood hadn’t been derailed by her father’s bad decisions. And then she meets Miles Sinclair. After the death of his wife last year, Miles is ready to start living his life again, and Leah knows just how to help him… what could be so wrong with that?
When Miles takes Leah to his chateau in the South of France, she’s excited to get a taste of the life she deserves, even if it means enduring the presence of Miles’ cousin Vivienne, who seems determined to insert the memory of his dead wife into every conversation.
But the Chateau Clairvallon has a history, not least as the place where the last Mrs Sinclair died. And as Leah discovers more about the accident that took her predecessor’s life, she begins to realise that the family she’s set her sights on isn’t quite what it seems.
What happened that summer?
Was it really an accident?
And is Leah in danger?
*****
Leah Williams is looking for a life of comfort and security. What’s wrong with that? With Miles Sinclair, she thinks she may have found that, despite the age gap. When he takes her to his family estate in France and proposes, the life she is seeking is in her reach.
The only obstacles… Mile’s cousin, Vivienne and the ghost of the last Mrs Sinclair.
This was the first chance I’ve had to read any of T.J. Emerson’s novels. The premise sounded so good and I’m delighted to have been invited onto the blog tour for this book and couldn’t wait to get started. I am going to try and review this as spoiler free as I can.
Leah Williams wants secrurity and comfort. She wants to marry for that rather than for love. Not my idea of a happy life but it’s not sometihng I am going to judge the character for. Throughtout the book, the voice of her mother appears in her head, motivating her in her quest for a comfortable life. The ghosts of parents like that can and does have an influence on our main character.
by Cover Reveal: First Contact, Second Chances by Fay Abernethy
I’m very excited as I help to reveal the cover for First Contact, Second Chances, the upcoming book by Fay Abernethy.
Everyone deserves a second chance. Even humanity.
Ex-British Army officer Joe Llewellyn is captain of the Shantivira, the alien space station secretly protecting the Earth from invasion. After Joe reveals the Shantivira’s existence to the UN, everyone wants a piece of him. Except his mother. They’re no longer speaking.
But it’s not only Joe’s relationship with his mam which is in jeopardy. His alien bosses have given him an ultimatum: either he persuades Earth’s authorities to completely restructure the global economic system – to distribute resources fairly without exceeding ecological boundaries – or the space station will be reallocated to another, more deserving planet.
With vicious, cannibalistic space pirates prowling the galaxy, brutally stripping and enslaving entire worlds for profit, Joe can’t afford to fail.
This third instalment of The Shantivira fantasy solarpunk series is a must-read for fans of Becky Chambers, Ben Aaronovitch, Ursula Le Guin, Doctor Who and anyone who enjoys supernatural sci-fi.
OK, so now we know a bit about the book, let’s reveal the cover. Ready? Drumroll…3…2…1…
by Book Extract & Giveaway: Bamboo Heart: A Daughter’s Quest by Ann Bennett
I’m pleased to be welcoming Ann Bennett to Novel Kicks and the book birthday blitz for her book, Bamboo Heart: A Daughter’s Quest.
From award-winning author Ann Bennett comes a captivating WW2 novel of love and survival – a daughter’s journey of discovery and a soldier’s strength in the bleakest of times.
When Laura Ellis, a successful city lawyer, arrives home to see her dying father Tom, a mysterious stranger is watching the house. This leads her to embark on a journey to discover their connection.
To do so, she has to retrace her father’s steps; to the Bridge on the River Kwai: where as a prisoner of war of the Japanese, Tom endured disease, torture and endless days of slavery; and to the beautiful island of Penang, to uncover his secrets from the 1930s.
For Tom made himself a promise: to return home. Not to the grey streets of London, where he once lived, but to Penang, where he found paradise and love.
As Laura searches for the truths Tom refused to tell her, in the places where he once suffered, lived and loved, she will finally find out the story behind his survival, and discover her own path to love and happiness..
This book has previously been published both as Bamboo Heart and as A Daughter’s Quest. It won the won the award for fiction published in Asia, Asian Books Blog, 2015 and was shortlisted for “Best Fiction Title” in the Singapore Book Awards 2016.
There is a chance to win a paperback copy of The Lotus House but first, Ann has shared an extract from Bamboo Heart: A Daughter’s Quest with us today. We hope you enjoy it.
*****beginning of extract*****
Laura Ellis is an only child, her mother died with she was small. Now, her elderly father, Tom has collapsed with a heart attack. As she travels in the ambulance with him to hospital, she realises how little she knows about her father’s past life…
Laura balanced herself precariously on the pull-down seat of the ambulance. She clung with slippery hands to a metal bar, lurching from side to side as they raced through the dark streets. She could hear the wail of the siren. It sounded as if it came from a long way away.
She watched in anguish as the paramedics worked on her father.
by NK Chats To…Stephanie Wood
Hello Stephanie. Thank you so much for joining me today and inviting Novel Kicks onto your blog tour. Can you tell us about your new book, Adorable April Afternoons and what inspired it?
Hello, and thanks for inviting me!
I have already written a series of holiday reads set in Greece, but that focuses more on the usual beach and party atmosphere of the popular resorts and I wanted to show what the smaller, less undeveloped islands also have to offer.
Adorable April Afternoons is the first in the GREEK RETREAT trilogy following Jessica, as she attempts to discover the kind of happy ever after which she hopes will create a successful future. She believes she needs the seclusion to make it happen, but the Greek hospitality and rich cultural heritage play a huge part in her search.
What were the challenges in writing this book considering it’s the first in a new series?
The main challenge in creating a new series is to be able to describe the location with some detail, without dumping all the information on the reader at once. In order to explain what the characters are doing and why they behave in certain ways, it’s helpful to have a good understanding of their current neighbourhood, but it can be tempting to reveal too much too quickly.
What’s your typical writing day like, do you have a favourite writing spot and any writing rituals?
When I first started writing more than twenty years ago, I had a PC on a desk overlooking my back garden and would always write in the afternoon. More recently, I frequently suffer from episodes of chronic fatigue syndrome, so I now have a laptop and just write in whatever space I feel comfortable at whatever time my body allows.
If you were creating a playlist for Adorable April Afternoons, which songs would you include?
by Book Extract: Where The Light is Hottest by Catherine Yardley
It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Catherine Yardley to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Where The Light is Hottest.
Natasha Jones has everything – a successful acting career, an Oscar, a wonderful husband and beautiful kids. But what does she have to go through to get there? From humble beginnings in a small town, Natasha’s path to stardom is paved with setbacks, heartaches and moments of doubt.
In the glittering world of fame and fortune, where dreams are spun from starlight and ambition fuels the relentless pursuit of success, one woman’s journey stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Beneath the facade of glamour lies a story of unwavering determination and unyielding courage.
Where the Light is the Hottest is a gripping tale of ambition, perseverance and the enduring power of hope. Through Natasha’s journey, we are reminded that the road to success is rarely smooth, but for those who dare to chase their dreams, the rewards are beyond measure.
There’s a chance below to win a copy of Where The Light is Hottest but first, Catherine has kindly shared an extract with us today. We hope you all enjoy.
*****beginning of extract*****
Where The Light is Hottest follows Natasha from small town Scotland to big time Hollywood. The scene below has her at an audition. I did so may of these when I was an actor. A lot of the time you are in and out in minutes. Other times you audition multiple times and either get the part, or fall at the last hurdle. It is a tough industry but the highs are like nothing else. I worked in the film industry as an actor, producer, casting director and director for years so I know my stuff. I hope you all enjoy following Natasha on her journey.
by Cover Reveal: The Matchmaker’s Mare by Hywela Lyn
I’m so delighted to be helping to reveal the cover for The Matchmaker’s Mare, the upcoming novel by Hywela Lyn.
When Megan Johnson inherits an old cottage in the Welsh countryside, she seizes the opportunity to cut ties with her past life, after a broken romance. Her nearest neighbour, a horse trainer, is also something of an enigma.
Single dad Glyn Phillips does his best to balance his love of horses and hard work, with his devotion to his son. When he meets his new neighbour, he knows he should resist any attraction.
A feisty pony mare which mysteriously appears on his land adds to his problems, but another, larger problem lies ahead. Two matchmaking spirits find their carefully laid plans may not go as smoothly as they hope.
Now we know about the novel, it’s time to reveal the cover. Ready. Drumroll…3…2…1…
by Book Extract: The Crime Writer by Diane Jeffery
I’m so delighted to be welcoming Diane Jeffery to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The Crime Writer.
2019. Leona Walsh, a 34-year-old wife and mother vanishes on a bitterly cold afternoon while out jogging on the edge of Exmoor. It’s a mystery which captures public interest and ignites wild speculation. The police have a prime suspect: Leona’s husband, Matthew, a renowned crime writer. He can plot the perfect crime. But is he capable of committing the perfect murder?
Despite extensive searches, the police find no trace of Leona and her disappearance remains shrouded in mystery. As public interest dwindles, Matthew returns to raising their two daughters, aware the cloud of suspicion is never far away.
2024. Some human bones are discovered in a garden. Could they be Leona’s remains? And if so, is there enough evidence to find out what really happened five years ago?
Journalist Gabriela Conti covered the news story back in 2019. The police may have stopped watching Matthew, but Gabriella hasn’t forgotten him. And she is determined this case will define her career… even if that means getting close to a murderer.
There is a chance to win a copy of a previous paperback by Diane Jeffery below but first, she has kindly shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy.
*****beginning of extract*****
The following extract is taken from Chapter 6.
Leona Walsh, a local counsellor and mother of two, has gone missing. Volunteers are helping police to search for her around Wistlandpound Reservoir, where she was last seen. Journalist Gabriela Conti approaches Matthew, Leona’s husband, a renowned crime writer, in the hope of getting an interview.
I have chosen this extract because it is the moment where the two main characters in my book meet for the first time.
by NK Chats To… David Anderson
Hi David. Thank you so much for joining me today. Can you tell me about your book, The Drowners and what inspired it?
It’s my pleasure, Laura. Thank you for having me. The book is about that mezzanine between childhood and adulthood. Sixteen. When you are allowed to drive but can’t afford a car. When you are classified as a young adult, yet older people still treat you as a kid. Forget about pubs and nightclubs, you aren’t old enough to watch Basic Instinct in the cinema. It feels like you are walking through an aquarium, separated from this exotic wonderful world by a thick, impenetrable glass. Everyone else is having sex, except you. You’ll lose your marbles quicker than your virginity. And above all else, you want to fit in. You need to fit in. Your life depends on it.
Sixteen. It’s a scary time. It’s also a thrilling time. You discover books and music that speak to you. Go to your first concert. Get high. Fall in love. Every week brings fresh adventures. Everything is new and exciting. Your small circle of friends are your life. But behind the knock-off Aviators and smiley face tee-shirts lie dark secrets. Are any of you ready to take that next step? To leave the past behind, and become the people you want to be.
The Drowners is semi-autobiographical. It’s the one period of my life I thought I’d never write about, which appealed to the challenge seeker in me. I have conflicting emotions about that whole time which helped keep me honest; Who wants to read some guy’s rose-tinted vision of his youth? I wanted The Drowners to tell the good, the bad, and the mortifyingly awkward.
From idea to finished draft, how long does the writing process usually take you?
Years. Typically, I get an idea that won’t quit. It buzzes inside my brain like a hungry mosquito, periodically biting me. This could go on for months, even years. Finally, after I have a vague storyline mapped out, I’ll jot down 15-20 one-line ‘scenes.’ Once I have that framework in place, I’m ready to begin the first draft. Eight months later, I’ve got something that resembles a novel. Usually, it requires three more drafts before I am anywhere near satisfied.
What advice do you have when approaching the research and editing processes?
If you have ever listened to a demo version of a song, you’ll know the importance of editing. It’s not simply about polishing and fixing, it’s about amplifying and enhancing. It’s adding those fine details that make your story sparkle. That elevate your novel from an enjoyable experience to an unforgettable one.
Research is key. Everything needs to add up or you will lose your reader. Stories are illusions, and for illusions to work they must appear real. The moment the reader spots a glitch in the matrix is the moment the spell is broken.
What’s your typical writing day like? Any writing rituals?
by Book Review: The Shadow on the Bridge by Clare Marchant
I’m so excited to be welcoming Clare Marchant back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The Shadow on the Bridge.
‘You must forever watch your back,’ I spoke the words clearly, though he could not hear me. ‘Come what may, I shall avenge my brother’s death.’’
Now: When Sarah’s summoned by her godmother to remote Norfolk, she doesn’t want to go. Crossing the bridges where the two rivers meet, said to be haunted by the ghost of a little boy, a large Tudor house looms in front of her. And Sarah’s instantly reminded her of the summer when she last visited. The summer she would like to forget. Which left her unable to ever move forward… Can a person ever recover from the loss of a sibling?
1571: Anne Howard, newly-made countess of Arundel, has also lost a sibling. And been dragged from the relative safety of her home in remote Norfolk to London, by her overbearing, manipulative, new father-in-law Thomas Howard; the very person she suspects of killing her beloved only brother. The Howards have greater secrets than this though. Secrets that will lead Anne to a tragedy that will echo down the ages…
When Sarah finds a mysterious book of poems in a hidden chamber of her godmother’s house, she is drawn into Anne’s story. Perhaps the mystery will take her mind off her own loss? But – as the flood waters begin to rise under the bridges – is Sarah laying ghosts to rest, or bringing truths to the surface that should stay beneath?
A completely haunting, gripping historical novel, perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory, Alison Weir, and Diane Setterfield’s Once Upon a River.
*****
It’s 1571. The 4th Duke of Norfolk has ordered Anne to marry his eldest son in order to gain land and fortune. Anne however, is focused on revenge and her new father-in-law is in the firing line.
2025, Sarah has been invited to Norfolk by her godmother. She’s not been there since a family tragedy made her estranged from her parents.
Sarah soon finds a book hidden in a secret chamber. She is also feeling a presence. Is this a connection to Anne or something else?
by NK Chats To… Abbey Hicks
Hi Abbey, thank you so much for joining me and for inviting Novel Kicks onto your blog tour. Can you tell me a little about your latest book, Candlelight Dreams in Cosy Cove and what inspired it?
Candlelight Dreams in Cosy Cove is a heartwarming novella, book 1 in the Cosy Cove series, set in the enchanting seaside town of Cosy Cove and its charming residents. The story centres around Beth Williams, a lively and kind-hearted local who runs an artisan candle shop, ‘Harbour Lights,’ and Jacob Lawson, a charismatic and adventurous travel journalist visiting the town to write a feature for a popular travel magazine.
The inspiration for Cosy Cove came from the beautiful coastal towns and beaches near where I live on the south coast of England. I wanted to create a ‘perfect’ seaside retreat—somewhere I’d love to visit (or even live!)—so I took little details from my favourite places and wove them together to create this idyllic, fictional town. The result? A picturesque setting filled with golden sands, a cosy café, quaint shops, and a welcoming community that I hope readers will fall in love with as much as I have.
From first draft to final, how long does the process of writing a novel take you. Also, how do you approach the research and editing processes and how do you know when you’ve done enough?
Every book I write is different. Some stories flow effortlessly, and I can plan, outline and write a 25k novella in two to three weeks, while others take many, many months to complete. It really depends on the story, the characters, and how cooperative they decide to be!
When it comes to research, my stories are completely fictitious. However, I do love adding authentic details to bring the world to life—whether that’s researching traditional seaside festivals, learning about different crafts like candle making or floristry, or even checking what flowers bloom in which season, which is surprisingly easy to get wrong! Or maybe that should be unsurprisingly since I am absolutely hopeless at gardening!
Editing is where the real magic happens, but I’ll be honest—I NEVER truly feel like I’m done! I could tweak and adjust forever, but at some point, I have to step back and trust the story.
What’s your typical writing day like? Do you have any writing rituals?
by Book Review: The Quiet Sister by Alex Stone
It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Alex Stone back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The Quiet Sister.
Keep your enemies close… your sister closer 🩸 Pulse-pounding thriller for fans of Sue Watson, Shalini Boland and Freida McFadden!
To outsiders, twins Mia and Chloe have always been close, like good sisters should be. But in private their relationship is one of jealousy, resentment and bitterness.
Popular and attractive Mia is always the centre of attention, loved by all. Quiet and reserved, Chloe is overlooked and underestimated, and has tried to build a life away from Mia and her manipulation. Finally she is happy and content.
But then Mia returns and makes it clear that she wants to be part of her sister’s life again, to have everything Chloe has…including her new fiancé Scott.
Chloe can’t allow Mia to ruin her life again. She’s done this too many times in the past – always taking things that don’t belong to her.
As old tensions, secrets and lies return, tragedy strikes. And one sister will use the opportunity to live the life she has always wanted…the life she has always deserved.
*****
Twins Chloe and Mia are outwardly identical in every way. That’s where the similarities end. Chloe is the introvert. Mia is the extrovert who has always taken everything her sister has. Now she wants Chloe’s fiancé.
It’s so lovely to be invited onto a blog tour hosted by Alex Stone. I am such a big fan of her novels, I couldn’t wait to get started on her latest release, The Quiet Sister.
Being from and living in Bournemouth, I love the fact that Alex Stone’s novels are based in this area. It allowed me to have such a clear picture of the setting. That’s not to say that this isn’t painted superbly for anyone not familiar with the seaside town.
by Book Review: Murder at Mill Ponds House by Michelle Salter
I’m very pleased to be welcoming Michelle Salter back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Murder at Mill Ponds House.
When murder hits close to home, Iris must fight to clear her name…
Spring, 1924. Reporter Iris Woodmore plans to move to London to avoid a shocking hometown scandal. Longtime enemy Archie Powell has been threatening to reveal her darkest secret – and she’s desperate to flee before he does.
But when he’s found murdered after a violent argument with her, there’s no escape. Iris must stay and clear her name even though the truth could ruin her reputation.
With the police closing in, Iris has to find the real killer if she’s to keep her secret. Can she prove her innocence without revealing the identity of the one man who can provide her with an alibi?
A gripping new mystery for fans of Verity Bright, Clara McKenna, and Helena Dixon.
*****
It’s 1924 and the residents of Walden are gathering to see Mill Ponds House opening as a hostel for men. Iris Woodmore is fine with this concept. What she isn’t liking as much is her ememy, Archie Powell, being tasked with running it.
When there’s a murder in the town, Iris herself becomes a suspect. Can she figure out what happened in time?
by 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 Extract: Battle Mountain by C.J. Box
I’m so pleased to be welcoming C.J. Box to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his book, Battle Mountain.
Can Joe Pickett stop an old friend throwing his life away in order to gain revenge? The gripping new novel from #1 New York Times bestseller C.J. Box.
The campaign of hate and vengeance that a pair of violent criminals wreaked on Wyoming Game Warden Joe Pickett and his friend, falconer Nate Romanowski, left both men in tatters, but it was Nate who came closest to losing everything.
Facing his lowest ebb, Nate decided the only option was to drop out of society. Taking only his birds, he went off-grid to rediscover his true self… and prepare for his own revenge.
When Joe is called on to help the governor, whose son-in-law is missing in the Sierra Madre mountains, the investigation takes a darker turn when Joe and Nate’s very different journeys unexpectedly converge.
All will come to a head at Battle Mountain, but in a struggle neither of them would ever have seen coming, can both Joe and Nate survive?
C.J. Box has kindly shared an extract from Battle Mountain with us today. We hope you enjoy.
*****beginning of extract*****
PART ONE
“He mounted like a rocket, curved over in splendid parabola, dived down through cumulus of pigeons. One bird fell back, gashed dead, looking astonished, like a man falling out of a tree. The ground came up and crushed it.”
—J. A. Baker, The Peregrine
CHAPTER ONE
Seven Months Before
Nate Romanowski was thigh-high in the icy water of North Piney Creek under the craggy profile of the snow-covered Wyoming Range. He was there to kill a man named Axel Soledad,
whom he’d pursued in a state of unhinged fury for months.
Soledad had left a trail of death and destruction behind him in his hunger for revenge against Nate and Joe Pickett. The cost had been catastrophic.
Liv. The blood, the body.
Nate blamed himself for his wife’s death. He blamed Axel Soledad more.
by Book Extract: North Country by Sarah Branson
I’m so pleased to be welcoming Sarah Branson to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, North Country.
Four women, each with a secret. None will return from the North Country unchanged.
North Country takes place in the year 2372, a time when Earth is recovering from floods, fires, pandemics, and war. Amidst this post-apocalyptic world, the pirate nation of Bosch is thriving—but not without its complications. The focus is on four fierce women who must navigate their way through both external dangers and their own personal demons.
- Master Commander Kat Wallace, haunted by a past filled with violence, takes on a dangerous mission to the North Country in search of peace.
- Carisa Morton, struggling with her failing body and independence slipping away, embarks on one last adventure before it’s too late.
- Sergeant Flossie Porter hides a hidden family fortune and a deep infatuation with her commanding officer, putting everything on the line for the chance to be by her side.
- Master Sergeant Diamond Miata, driven by ambition and beauty, will stop at nothing to advance her own agenda—even if it means testing her loyalty in the process.
As they trek through the barren land, each woman faces betrayal, desire, and the harsh truths of their own hearts. North Country is an exploration of strength, vulnerability, and the bonds that form between women in even the toughest circumstances.
Sarah has shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy.
(Trigger Warnings: Language, sexual content, references to sexual abuse, some violence).
*****beginning of extract*****
Kat, February 8 1100
The four of us tramp along for three-quarters of a bell through the snow from where the Whydah is parked and camouflaged, following the old, wooded, water path. Our footsteps are muffled and our voices silent in the dim dawn. The cold stings my cheeks, and in my gloves, I pull my fingers from their assigned places to rub against my warm palms. The horizon, when the trees are clear enough to be seen, has the thin, chill, morning light of winter filtering about the soaring, craggy mountains that jut up and keep the villages near the lake isolated from the coastal folk and, let’s be honest, almost everyone else.
by A Moment With…Hazel Hitchins
I’m so excited to be welcoming Hazel Hitchins to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Babs & Aggie: The Good, The Bad and The Vegan.
Aggie has reached that “certain age” – in her case, a thousand years or so, give or take a decade.
After centuries of bringing kings to their knees, running a small-town cafe isn’t how she imagined her life would pan out. Now, thanks to the machinations of the false vegan from across the road, she risks losing even that. And just when she thinks things can’t get any worse, along comes her old friend, Babs, in her House-on-chicken-legs, ready to ruffle some feathers with her unique blend of borscht, tough love and alcohol.
But everybody has a secret – the grocer who hides his loneliness behind a cheery smile, the neighbour crippled by debt and grief, and the young woman who jumps at her shadow – and before Aggie can help anyone else, she has demons of her own to lay to rest.
Can she confront her past to save her future? What is the ‘Vegan’ really hiding? Will Babs ever let her have the last word?
Raucous, rowdy, and heart-wrenching and heart-warming in equal measures, Babs and Aggie is a magical tale of love, loss and the comfort of a friendship forged through food, laughter and a LOT of slivovica.
*****
To celebrate the release of her new novel, Hazel is going to talk about why she writes about women of a certain age. Over to you Hazel.
The Invisible Woman:
Why I Write About Women of a Certain Age
If you subscribe to my newsletter, you’ll know that I often write about the pitfalls of being a “Woman Of a Certain Age”, such as never taking a chance on a sneeze and the feeling you get some days that you’re little more than a hot mess (sometimes literally) of hormones and HRT. It’s all very light-hearted and we laugh at these things because, frankly, it’s absurd. And normally, these ridiculous changes we go through are offset by experience and a greater understanding of how the world works, what’s worth getting worked up about and what we can let slide, so it’s all swings and roundabouts.
by Book Review: The Woman with All the Answers by Linda Green
I’m delighted to be welcoming Linda Green to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The Woman with All the Answers.
The brilliantly observed, witty and heart-warming new book club read from Richard & Judy bestseller Linda Green
Your virtual assistant is about to become your midlife mentor…
Fifty-two-year-old Michelle Banks is struggling to keep all the plates spinning. She’s a perimenopausal district nurse, caring for elderly parents. Her husband is wasting their money on children’s TV memorabilia, her teenage daughter is riddled with anxiety and her 16-year-old son is behaving secretly.
Alexa is the only one who knows how much Michelle is juggling. Listening in via four smart speakers, she also knows that it’s about to get even worse.
So, when Michelle pleads for help, Alexa decides to go rogue and reveal her true identity as Pauline – a sixty-five-year-old former voiceover artist from Halifax – to teach Michelle everything she knows…
Wise, funny, relatable and inspiring, Alexa, We Have a Problem is perfect for fans of Clare Pooley, Mike Gayle and David Nicholls.
*****
Michelle is trying to juggle everything – a husband with a secret eBay habit, two teenagers and elderly parents.
One night, when using Alexa, Michelle gets more than she bargained for.
by Book Review: Pagans by James Alistair Henry
TWO COPS. ONE KILLER. HUNDREDS OF GODS.
21st Century London.
The Norman conquest never happened.
The ancient tribes of Britain remain undefeated.
But murders still have to be solved.
The small, mostly unimportant, island of Britain is inhabited by an uneasy alliance of tribes – the dominant Saxon East, the beleaguered Celtic West, and an independent Nordic Scotland – and tensions are increasing by the second. Supermarket warpaint sales are at an all-time high, mead abuse shortens the lives of thousands, and social media is abuzz with conspiracy theories suggesting the High Table’s putting GPS trackers in the honeycakes.
Amid this febrile atmosphere, the capital is set to play host to the Unification Summit, which aims to join together the various tribes into one ‘united kingdom’. But when a Celtic diplomat is found brutally murdered, his body nailed to an ancient oak, the fragile peace is threatened. Captain Aedith Mercia, daughter of a powerful Saxon leader, must join forces with Celtic Tribal Detective Inspector Drustan to solve the murder – and stop political unrest spilling onto the streets.
But is this an isolated incident? Or are Aedith and Drustan facing a serial killer with a decades-old grudge? To find out, they must delve into their own murky pasts and tackle forces that go deeper than they ever could have imagined.
Set in a world that’s far from our own and yet captivatingly familiar, Pagans explores contemporary themes of religious conflict, nationalism, prejudice… and the delicate internal politics of the office coffee round. Gripping and darkly funny, Pagans keeps you guessing until the very end.
*****
The battle of 1066 never happened. The British Empire never got built.
The Saxons are in the east of the country, Celts to the west and the Nords are independent in what we know as Scotland – protected by a big wall along the border.
Proceeding a Unification summit, a Celtic diplomat is found dead.
by Book Review: The Quiet Wife by Diane Saxon
I’m excited to be welcoming Diane Saxon to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her novel, The Quiet Wife.
I want to be ordinary. To fade into the shadows where no one notices me and live a quiet life. A normal life.
But I am not ordinary. Not anymore.
I’ve been keeping a secret. From my colleagues, my friends and most importantly, my husband – who knows nothing of my past life.
Twenty years ago, at college, a boy became obsessed with me. Craig Lane believed he could make me love him back if he just tried harder. When I rejected him, he did something so horrifying, it’s the stuff of nightmares. All my nightmares.
Now I’ve been informed by Victim Support Services, that boy – now a man – has been released from prison. The news terrifies me.
Am I safe? Or does Craig still carry the same obsession he did when we were seventeen? I don’t know. I’ve ignored every letter he’s ever sent me.
Now strange things have started to happen: flowers have been left on my doorstep, my cat keeps going missing. Someone is watching me. Knows where I live. I am sure.
Worse, something even more sinister could be stalking me from the shadows. Because I have another secret…
My past is coming to get me. One way or another.
*****
Soriah doesn’t want to remember what happened to her twenty years ago. However, when she receives a letter through the post, all the fear from that time returns to the surface. Revenge is being sought and it’s coming straight for her.
Having not read anything by Diane Saxon before, I was intrigued by this book and so was delighted to be invited onto the blog tour for The Quiet Wife.
by A Moment With…Penny Sansevieri and Amy Cornell from The Book Marketing Tips & Author Success Podcast
I’m joined today by Penny Sansevieri and Amy Cornell from the Book Marketing Tips & Author Success Podcast. It’s lovely to meet you both. What kinds of authors are tuning in?
Honestly, authors in all stages of book publishing and promotion – and it’s actually really exciting (and sometimes surprising) to see who’s listening. We mostly get this info from our reviews and authors who write in with feedback. But we have authors who rely on our show while looking for agents and or publishers, authors who are finishing up their books and thinking ahead about releases, and then on the other end of the spectrum we have authors tuning in that feel stuck and don’t know what they’re doing wrong, or the opportunities they may be missing.
Our reviews to date speak for themselves, with a lot of authors raving about what they’re learning and encouraging others to get on board!
Is the show for marketing DIYers or for finding the right people to hire?
It’s applicable to both, and even authors that fall somewhere in between. Some authors seem to tune in assuming they’ll handle everything themselves, and then they realize they need more support, maybe in very specific areas. We get a lot of authors contacting us about a collaboration after listening to the show, but you’ll also see from our reviews that there are a lot of DIYers out there just looking to do all the right things.
What if I’m still writing my first book?
by Book Review: Dangerous Days for the Home Front Nurses by Rachel Brimble
Please join me in welcoming Rachel Brimble to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest novel, Dangerous Days for the Home Front Nurses.
April 1942, Bath – the nurses are under fire in the city they once thought safe…
Freda knows the work she does on the home front is vital. Especially when bombs begin raining down on her beloved city of Bath and she and her friends find themselves feeling the effects of war like never before.
Years of being told to be a ‘good girl’ by her mother, Freda has always done what’s been expected of her. But, even though she’s proud of her work nursing soldiers and victims of war, she can’t help but wonder if there’s more for her in life. And her secret desire to become a journalist feels increasingly like a calling she can’t resist.
Even though it’s not considered work suitable for women, Freda knows she has to follow her dream. Even if it means leaving her nursing, friendships and maybe even true love behind. But then tragedy strikes close to home, and she has to ask herself – can she ever find a way to make her dreams come true?
A completely gripping, heartwarming story of friendship, love and following your dreams. Dangerous Days for T{::}he Home Front Nurses is perfect for fans of Lizzie Lane, Rosie Clarke, and Call the Midwife.
*****
‘Dangerous Days for the Homefront Nurses’ is a superb follow-up to ‘The Home Front Nurses’ and I hope the author is proud of what she has produced.
by Book Review: The House of Light and Shadows by Lauren Westwood
I’m excited to be welcoming Lauren Westwood back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The House of Light and Shadows.
An atmospheric and captivating old-house mystery, layered with romance and secrets.
Secrets lurk in the shadows at Rookswood House…
When Kate goes to look after her estranged sister’s children in their creepy old house, she takes a photo of what seems to be a ghost. Frightened yet intrigued, Kate undertakes to uncover the secrets of the house and the two mysterious sisters who lived there over a hundred years before.
But like the illusions of light and shadow in the sisters’ strange and disturbing Victorian post-mortem photography, Kate discovers that all is not what it seems. Someone – or something – has their own plans for Rookswood House – and for Kate.
With a potential developer circling around, her teenage niece in danger from an unseen force, and new love on the horizon, Kate must unravel the secrets and lies of her own and Rookswood’s past before she loses everything she holds dear.
If you like historical mysteries by Eve Chase, Rachel Burton and Harriet Evans, you’ll love Lauren Westwood.
*****
Kate is on track for a promotion. However, news that her estranged sister has had an accident leads Kate to Rookswood House. Whilst looking after her niece and nephew, she soon realises that the old house holds its secrets and she’s in a race against time to discover them.
Although I have previously had the pleasure of interviewing Lauren Westwood (click here to read), The House of Light and Shadows is the first time I’ve had the opportunity to read one of her novels. The plot for this book sounded so intriguing, I was delighted to be invited onto the blog tour to celebrate its recent release.
This is listed as book four in the Secrets and Love series but it can be read as a standalone. I will be adding the first three books to my reading list though.
by Book Review & Giveaway: Careful What You Hear by Helen Dunlap Newton
I’m pleased to be welcoming Helen Dunlap Newton to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Careful What You Hear.
After a surgical mix-up gave 13-year-old Noah Baker mind reading powers, he becomes a spy tasked with stopping the bad guys.
Ever since he accidentally got an experimental cochlear implant, Noah and his secret agent partner, Lena, have been going on secret missions for the government. Now, they’re in for a reward for all their hard work—Space Camp! But all is not as it seems. When Noah accidentally overhears thoughts that reveal a plot to steal top secret plans from nearby Redstone Arsenal, he must make a choice.
*****
An experimental cochlear implant has given Noah the ability to read minds. He and Lena are about to get a special reward for all the top secret things they have been doing for the government. However, it isn’t long before they are involved in foiling a new plot.
Being an adult man in his forties, I am certainly not the target audience for Careful What You Hear. However, this didn’t stop it from being an enjoyable read.
I have not read the first book in the Do You Hear What I Hear? series but this can be read first and it’s easy to fall into the story if this is your child’s introduction to this series.
by Book Extract: The Immigrant Queen by Peter Taylor-Gooby
I’m delighted to be welcoming Peter Taylor-Gooby to Novel Kicks. We are shining a light on his latest book, The Immigrant Queen.
Hated as a foreigner, despised as a woman, I became First Lady of Athens
Aspasia falls passionately in love with Pericles, the leading statesman of Fifth Century Athens. Artists, writers and thinkers frequent her salon. She hides her past as a sex-worker, trafficked to the city, and becomes Pericles’ lover. Her writings attract the attention of Socrates, and she becomes the only woman to join his circle. She is known throughout the city for her beauty and wit and strives to become recognised as an intellectual alongside men.
Pericles’ enemies attack him through Aspasia and charge her with blasphemy. As a foreigner she faces execution, but her impassioned address to the jury shames the city and saves her. Pericles is spellbound, they marry, and she becomes First Lady of Athens.
Sparta besieges the city; plague breaks out and Pericles is once again in danger.
The Immigrant Queen tells the true story of how Aspasia rose to become the First Lady of Athens and triumphed against all the odds.
Peter has kindly shared an extract from The Immigrant Queen with us all today. We hope you enjoy.
*****
Limander, a slave and bard to Aspasia, meets a young nobleman and falls for him. Love between slave and noble carries the death penalty.
*****
The young scribe was last to leave and I waited, head bowed, for him to go so that I could carry out the screens. A gold band circled the neck of his tunic – he was of high standing in Athens, from one of the five noble families of the city. He dropped the stylus into his satchel but the tablet slipped from his fingers and fell face down on the floor and I heard the crack as the wax split across. He stared at it as if terrified, dropped to all fours and put out a hand to touch it. A leader of the people does not behave like this. After a moment I went over and stood beside him.
‘Sir. May I help you?’
He looked up at me, his eyes moist with tears. He seemed so young.
‘The musician! None of them appreciated you, you sang so beautifully of love and all they want to do is talk about politics and speech-making.’
‘Thank you. But, if I may ask, sir, is there anything I can do for you?’
‘It’s Lord Pericles, no-one will understand. He wants to publish these conversations for the glory of Athens and he insists on checking everything. I am late already and now I’ve broken the tablet and he will be angry.’
by Book Review: The Many Futures of Maddy Hart by Laura Pearson
I’m so excited to be welcoming Laura Pearson back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The Many Futures of Maddy Hart.
Suddenly Maddy is right there… in her very own future. And it’s all wrong, yet again.
It happens to her every time. When the kisses lead to the bedroom, just when she thinks she might have found the one… Just for a split second, Maddy disappears, and she finds that she’s living her own life. But ten years into the future.
She’s only there for a little while. But each time, it’s long enough to know that she doesn’t want to be any of those future versions of Maddy. Because every man she falls for seems to lead her to a future that is just… wrong.
Until she meets Oliver. And the vision of their future is happy. Beautiful even. A little girl runs around, her braids flying behind her, giggling about how she wants sausages for dinner. She has eyes just like Oliver’s.
There’s just one catch. If Maddy wants the family she’s seeing in her future with Oliver, she realizes she has to break his heart now…
Would you destroy your present if there’s a chance that it could give you the perfect future?
Perfect for fans of David Nicholls, Matt Haig, and The Husbands by Holly Gramazio. The most unmissable ‘what if?’ love story of the year!
*****
Every time Maddy Hart is intimate with a man, she sees a glimpse of her life exactly ten years into the future. None of them are happy, not until she meets Oliver. He’s about to change her life. Can Maddy make the hard choices now to give her the future she wants?
I’ve read and enjoyed a few novels by Laura Pearson and so was excited to be invited into the blog tour for her latest book, The Many Futures of Maddy Hart. The blurb alone appealed to me. I love these kinds of novels and so couldn’t wait to get started.
by Book Review: The Paris Bookshop for the Broken-Hearted by Rebecca Raisin
I’m so excited to be welcoming Rebecca Raisin back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The Paris Bookshop for the Broken-Hearted.
Can you ever swear off love, in the city of love?
Coco is having a hell of a month. She’s lost her boyfriend and her business, been forced to uproot her daughter to move back in with her parents in Paris, and now an infuriatingly handsome stranger is yelling at her for acting like a tourist… Right underneath the Eiffel Tower.
Storming away from him – and swearing off men for life – she decides she’s going to take the first job that comes her way.
Then, as if fate hears her, later that day she stumbles into a little bookshop – but not any old bookshop. This one comes complete with a café, cocktail bar, reading room and secret tunnel of books, and just a little hint of magic in the air. So when Coco’s offered a job selling books there, it feels like the perfect fit.
There’s only one problem… propping up the bar in the bookshop is none other than the grumpy, gorgeous stranger she’d met earlier that day…
A totally romantic, bookish and gorgeously escapist romantic novel, set in Paris in Springtime. Perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Abby Jimenez, and Sarah Morgan.
*****
With both her business and love life in tatters, Coco finds herself needing to return to her home town of Paris. Her daughter, Eloise is not happy about it either but Coco hopes that, once they’ve settled in, things will begin to improve. Or will it?
I am such a fan of Rebecca Raisin and so jumped at the chance to be on the blog tour for her latest novel, The Paris Bookshop for the Broken-Hearted. The premise intrigued me and I couldn’t wait to get started.
For me, bookshops hold a magic power and so the idea of the Paris Bookshop for the Broken-Hearted is one I love. I want to go there.
by Book Review: Raven: Defier of Rome by Adam Lofthouse
I’m delighted to be welcoming Adam Lofthouse to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his book, Raven: Defier of Rome, book one in the Enemy of the Empire series.
Chief Killer. Battle Turner. Oathbreaker.
Alaric is an enemy of Rome.
144 AD. Alaric Hengistson, leader of the Ravensworn, revels in his many fear-fuelled names whispered in the hearth flames. Cunning in battle, a ruthless war lord. He sleeps sound in the knowledge that he has been chosen by the Gods for a higher purpose – to rise up against the tyranny of an Empire.
For years he has thwarted Rome’s attempts to gain control over the land that has long resisted them. His land. Germania. However the rules are changing, and new deals are struck between the conquering Roman legions and the feuding Germanic tribes. Deals that could prove Alaric’s downfall.
As the eagles march with the wolves, together hunting the Raven, Alaric must prove his legend or watch his Ravensworn burn in flames.
*****
Raven: Defier of Rome is the first book in the Enemy of the Empire serise and the first book I have read by Adam Lofthouse
by NK Chats To: Susan Buchanan (Plus A Chance To Win A Copy Of The Leap Year Proposal)
Hello Susan. Thank you so much for joining me again and inviting Novel Kicks onto your blog tour. Can you tell me about your latest book, The Leap Year Proposal and what inspired it?
Sure, thanks for having me again. Well, The Leap Year Proposal is the story of three women who meet at a mutual friend’s hen weekend and when the karaoke has abated and they’re all doing a quiz from a women’s magazine, the subject of leap year proposals comes up.
That prompts a would you/wouldn’t you discussion and the upshot is that the three protagonists, who happen to be sitting next to each other during the quiz, despite not knowing each other, get involved in a bit of a debate about it, with one professing she’d already made up her mind to propose.
The women’s friendship develops once they return from the Isle of Arran to the mainland as ‘the proposer’ starts making plans for how to propose, along with her sidekicks. And as for the inspiration, well, I proposed, quite unexpectedly, to my (now) husband on 29 February 2016! Our story has no bearing on this one, but it did give me the idea for the book!
I thought it would be fun to suggest a writing prompt – are you able to give us a starting line?
You’re out walking in the countryside and are confronted by a bear. What would you do and why? Sorry, that is the first thing that popped into my head!
Which fictional place would you like to visit and why?
I think it has to be Hogwarts! I’m a big Harry Potter fan.
Which book (that’s not one of yours,) would you like to forget just so you could read and rediscover it again?
by Book Review: The One Before the One by Emma Cooper
I’m so happy to be welcoming Emma Cooper t0 Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her novel, The One Before the One.
Liv is given the chance to live one life-changing week over, but can she change her future…? And does she want to? A gorgeous, uplifting novel, perfect for fans of Shari Low, Paige Toon and Beth Moran.
When Liv’s boyfriend Kit disappeared on a hike, seven years earlier, she thought her life was over. But with the help of their family and friends, she’s pushed her way through the grief, and now, miraculously, she’s found a way to love again.
Until the morning of her wedding, when Liv steps through a doorway, and finds herself, somehow, back at the flat she shared with Kit: seven years earlier, six days before he left. Now, Liv has a chance to live those six days over, and change everything. If she gets this right, she can find out why Kit leaves and stop him.
But can she save him? And if she does, how will she choose, between the man she loved then, and the one she loves now?
*****
Olivia is about to marry James.
However the death of her previous boyfriend still hangs over them – the death of Kit… James’s brother.
When the morning of the wedding arrives, something happens that has the potential to change all their lives forever.
I am so excited to be on the blog tour for this novel and wanted to take the opportunity to wish Emma Cooper a happy publication day.
by NK Chats To…Kiley Dunbar
Hi Kiley, thank you so much for joining me today. Can you tell us about your latest novel, A New Chapter at the Borrow a Bookshop (loving this title) and what inspired it?
A New Chapter at the Borrow a Bookshop is number 5 in the series and dare I say it, possibly the last? I wanted to do the series justice and end on huge high. I chose my favourite romance trope ‘Friends to Lovers’ for this one and had a blast writing all the attraction and withholding; masses of fun for an author!
What’s your typical writing day like? Do you have any writing rituals like needing coffee a lot, writing in a favourite spot? Writing in silence?
I’ve got into a new routine recently of writing 1000-1400 words in a session, and I tend to go to a café in town where I’ll sit with my coffee and my headphones and type away happily. If I try to write at home I get distracted by all the jobs there is to do there.
From idea to finished draft, how long does it take you to write a novel, and how do you know when you’ve done enough research and editing?
It can take me a couple of years to go from pitch to published, but once I’ve got a contract signed, it takes me about 4 or 5 months to fully plan out and write the first draft. I’ll give that draft a quick read through and a tidy before sending it to my editor. I tend to write about things I know a little bit about then do some scant research, enough to sound like I’m a pair of safe hands. Then I get structural edits sent back to me which can take a few weeks to action, then there’s another round of edits (line edits – looking for wee fiddly things to fix), then I am sent the proofs to read (and even at that stage I make little tweaks).
What themes are explored in this novel and what’s the main thing you want readers to take away from it?
by Book Review: Murder on the Menu by Katie Marsh
I’m so happy to be welcoming Katie Marsh back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Murder on the Menu.
Since Amber started the Bad Girls’ Detective Agency, she’s been feeling the pressure. So – when she and her best friends win a trip to a new luxury castle retreat on a remote island – she hopes it will be a chance to relax in style.
The girls are all excited to experience world-famous chef Valerie la Fontaine’s tasting menu.
But none of them expect there to be another dish being served that weekend: revenge. And when Valerie is found dead inside a locked room in a tower, the Bad Girls know this is a case that only they can solve…
Hilarious and gripping mystery – perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club, The Traitors, and How to Kill Men and Get Away With It.
*****
The ladies from the Bad Girls Detective Agency are off on a weekend away. They are due to spend the weekend in a castle with food provided by a famous chef.
However, when someone is found dead, it becomes a very different type of getaway. Can Amber, Clio and Jeanie find the killer before someone else dies?
by Book Review: One Day and Forever by Shari Low
I’m so pleased to be welcoming Shari Low back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, One Day and Forever.
As dawn breaks, four people are planning journeys that could change their lives forever…
Kara McIntyre is supposed to be jetting off to her destination wedding in Hawaii. However, a last-minute hitch appears to have left her without a job, home and, more importantly, a fiancé.
TV sensation Ollie Chiles and Kara always have each other’s backs. But when his wife goes viral in a compromising clinch with another man, Ollie must choose between supporting his best friend in her hour of need or going home to save his marriage.
Alice Brookes is flying away to a new life after surviving a horrendous marriage and a very public scandal… until a stranger brings a letter from the past that could change everything.
After saying goodbye to someone he loves, Zac Conlan should be heading back to Dublin. Now a shocking discovery is threatening to change his plans and his future.
When weather delays their flights, Kara, Ollie, Alice and Zac discover that storms are brewing… and the turbulence is about to shake their worlds.
*****
Kara is about to marry Josh. However, when something happens at a work event and she loses her job, it shows her that her relationship may not be as strong as she thought.
Alice, with the help of her friend Val, only sees good in her life after escaping her abusive husband. However, when she tries to reconnect with an old friend, secrets from the past begin to emerge.
by Book Club
