Book Review: The Silver Tide by J.H.Mann
It’s a pleasure to be welcoming J.H.Mann back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his book, The Silver Tide.
Cornwall, 1863. On a windswept beach, Maggie Pascoe watches in horror as her family is lost to the sea. Her father and three brothers are among dozens of fishermen from the town of St Branok who perish in a summer storm.
Destitute and alone, she finds comfort in her friendship with widow Norah Bray, whose young son also drowned in the disaster.
But the tragedy was no accident. As Maggie battles to uncover the truth, she hides a devastating secret – one that could destroy her bond with Norah forever.
Inspired by a true story, The Silver Tide is a powerful tale of love, betrayal and one woman’s courageous fight for justice.
*****
When an unexpected summer storm devastates the town of St Branok, Maggie loses everything when the sea claims her father and three brothers. She finds comfort in the company of her friend, Norah whose own son also died.
As time passes, something isn’t adding up for Maggie. As she begins to investigate the tragedy, she meets opposition at nearly every turn.
Can she find out what happened whilst keeping herself safe? Can she keep a secret from Norah that threatens to tear their friendship apart?
Having previously enjoyed The Echoing Shore, I was eager to return to St Branok and the latest book in the Wild Cornwall series.
If The Silver Tide is your introduction to this set of books, it can be read as a standalone. I do recommend the previous novels. They are excellent.
The author wastes no time in pulling the reader right into the action whilst setting a heart-breaking scene. I felt like I was there, willing them to stay on land, knowing what awaited them on the water.
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Book Review: The Gameshow by Alexander Raphael
It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Alexander Raphael to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his book, The Gameshow.
In a waiting room hidden high away from everyone, six disgraced celebrities are desperate to recover their heavily tainted reputations. An incredibly controversial new gameshow is offering them a route back to the big time, along with a $7.2 million cash prize.
But with no consolation prizes and serious consequences every time someone loses out, will signing up prove their salvation or their downfall?
*****
In an attempt to rehabilitate their images, six celebrities agree to go on a brand new gameshow. If they win, they get millions, more fame and maybe a new start. If they fail, something worse awaits them. Standing between each of them and the prize are each other, mixed with pure luck. WIll they come out the other side unscathed or will they have to face what they fear most?
You know that moment when you read the blurb of a novel and you know immediately you are going to completely get pulled into the story before you even begin? That was the case with me and The Gameshow.
This novel features TV executive, Selina and six disgraced celebrities, Linda, Nate, Madison, Denzel, Yasmeen and Jed. All six have been cancelled in the eyes of the public and have nothing to lose and everything to gain when they sign up to a new gameshow. Between rounds, they are forced to live in one apartment and are completely cut off from the outside world – think Black Mirror and Big Brother crossed with a big splash of the I’m a Celebrity Bush Tucker Trials.
by Book Review: Hidden Family Secrets by Evelyn Hood
It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Evelyn Hood to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Hidden Family Secrets.
Can a long-kept secret ruin the future happiness of two families?
Paisley, Scotland 1745
Meg and Duncan Montgomery move to the flourishing Scottish town of Paisley to find work in the thriving weaving industry. Soon, Meg is expecting their first child, Margaret.
To make ends meet, they live in Peter Todd’s household, Duncan’s employer and Meg’s days are filled with domestic duties. But soon Meg and Duncan find themselves caught up in the intricate lives of the Todd family and when a tragic accident causes further conflict, a decision is made to keep a terrible secret from Meg.
As Margaret grows older, she despairs of the town’s inequality and becomes an advocate for the poor. While her philanthropic ideals are tolerated, even accepted by her understanding parents, Margaret’s affection for her childhood friend William Todd is greeted with disapproval.
But Margaret wants more from life than marriage and is overjoyed when she is taken on as a teacher at the local hospital.
As a dark secret from the past looms over the lives of both families,threatening to tear apart their futures, the younger Todds and Montgomery’s must decide between following in their parents’ footsteps or forging their own paths
The start of The Paisley Women saga series from Evelyn Hood, the original bestselling Scottish saga writer.
Previously published in paperback as The Silken Thread.
*****
Meg and Duncan Montgomery are hoping to seek a new and exciting life in the Scottish town of Paisley. When they arrive, Kirsty Todd and her family welcome them with open arms. As time passes, the families get more entwined and secrets are harboured and revealed – ones that could tear everyone apart.
I am excited to be part of the blog tour for Hidden Family Secrets. This was my introduction to Evelyn Hood and the first book in a brand new series. I couldn’t wait to get started as I love a good saga.
This book begins strong and continued to build momentum as the plot unfolded. There is a believable atmosphere and the author does a good job at establishing the setting. I felt as though I was in Scotland in the 1700’s.
by Book Review: Murder In Trafalgar Square by Michelle Salter
I’m excited to be welcoming Michelle Salter back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Murder in Trafalgar Square – book one in The Fairbanks and Flynn Mysteries series.
A murdered suffragette. A missing politician. A stolen artwork.
London, 1910
Coral Fairbanks is a contradiction. As well as a suffragette, she’s a bit-part actress and nude model, earning her the disapproval of her fellow suffragettes.
Guy Flynn is an artist. He’s also a detective inspector at Scotland Yard, who doesn’t always see eye to eye with fellow officers in the Metropolitan Police.
When Home Secretary Winston Churchill orders the police to terrorise the suffragettes during an afternoon of violence that becomes known as Black Friday, the battlelines are drawn – and Coral Fairbanks and Guy Flynn are on different sides.
But when a young suffragette is found murdered in the National Portrait Gallery and one of their paintings is stolen – Fairbanks and Flynn must put their differences aside and combine their knowledge to track down the killer.
Introducing an iconic detective duo in Fairbanks and Flynn, this is an exciting and gripping historical mystery, which will delight fans of Agatha Christie, Benedict Brown and T. E. Kinsey.
*****
Coral Fairbanks fights for women to have the vote. When a Suffragette mission ends in murder, she meets artist and Scotland Yard detective, Guy Flynn. Can they find the murderer together or will their differences get in the way?
I absolutely adore the Iris Woodmore stories so when given the chance to read the first in a brand new series by Michelle Salter, I jumped at the chance.
by Book Review: Valour by Richard Cullen
I’m pleased to be welcoming Richard Cullen to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his latest book, Valour – book three in the Chronicles of the Black Lion series.
Estienne Wace is forced to play a desperate game of cat and mouse, where the only way to win is to survive.
Burzenland 1223 AD
King András II of Hungary has invited the Teutonic Knights to secure his eastern frontier against the nomadic Cuman raiders, establishing fortresses along the Carpathian Mountains to quell the constant incursions by pagan clans.
Estienne Wace, has found purpose serving at the Order’s fortress of Rosenau, and he has earned respect through his unflinching courage. When a Christian mission, led by Fabrisse of Avallon, arrives determined to convert a pagan clan beyond the mountains, Estienne’s warnings of danger fall on deaf ears.
News soon arrives of Fabrisse’s capture and Estienne, along with a small band of knights, undertake a desperate rescue mission through hostile territory where Estienne will face trials beyond endurance.
In the ensuing crucible of violence, he must decide what price he is willing to sacrifice for survival, justice, and redemption, in a land where mercy is a luxury few can afford.
*****
Set in the 1200’s in Burzenland (a part of modern day Romania) Valour continues the tale of Estienne Wace, a young squire thrust into the house of William Marshal.
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