Book Reviews

Book Review: Because You Loved Me by Beth Moran

I am so excited to be welcoming Beth Moran back to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her novel, Because You Loved Me.

Marion Miller needs a fresh start.

Her childhood in Northern Ireland wasn’t easy, with a father who passed away when she was young and a mother who got lost in grief. Now grown-up and with family relations as tense as ever, Marion heads to England, to find out the truth about her father’s mysterious past – and hopefully an extended family who will love her as much as he did.

Scarlett Obermann runs a holiday park in Sherwood Forest with her daughter Grace, but what’s she’s best at is making people feel like they belong. With her merry band of waifs and strays, Scarlett welcomes Marion with open arms, and it isn’t long before Marion finally understands what it means to find a home.

As she tries to uncover her father’s story, Marion slowly blossoms, even daring to indulge in her crush on Reuben, the son of the Lord of the Manor, but she hasn’t quite out-run her past. And as Scarlett faces her own tragedy, it’s Marion’s turn to take care of everyone.

Because you can’t choose your family, but you can make your friends the family you choose.

This novel was first published as Making Marion.

*****

Marion has not had an easy life. She lost her father at a young age and became the focus of her mother’s need for blame.

Marion flees her hometown and goes to England looking for answers. Who was her father prior to her birth? Why did he move to Northern Ireland from England and can she, after all these years, find peace with her mother and herself? 

I am a huge fan of Beth Moran’s novels and so jumped at the chance to be part of the blog tour for Because You Loved Me. 

I love a good book cover and the one for this novel is beautiful and very dreamy. 

I have to admit, this one took me a couple of chapters to settle into but before long, I couldn’t stop reading, continuing through to the early hours, wanting to know what became of these characters. I very much became invested. 

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Book Review: Heading Home To Lavender Cottage by Alison Sherlock

I am so excited to be welcoming Alison Sherlock back to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her novel, Heading Home to Lavender Cottage.

With nowhere else to go, Harriet Colgan has returned to the sleepy village of Cranfield to sell her beloved aunt and uncle’s cottage, the only place she ever called home.

When she arrives at Lavender Cottage, Harriet discovers plans to replace the beautiful lavender fields, her uncle’s pride and joy, with an industrial warehouse.

With time on her hands, she realises she must fight to protect her family’s legacy and the village of Cranfield as well.

Workaholic businessman Joe Randall was expecting an easy purchase of the lavender fields. But suddenly his quiet life is disrupted by protests from angry locals, organised by Harriet.

Can Harriet show Joe that there’s more to life than just business? And can Joe change his mind and help Harriet save the lavender fields?

Over a long, hot summer, and with the help of a stray dog, perhaps Harriet and Joe can find their way home too.

*****

Having had to close her beauty salon in an expensive part of London, Harriet just wants to get back to Cranfield and Lavender Cottage, left to her by her late Aunt and Uncle.

Faced with having to sell the only place she’s ever called home, Harriet is struggling to stay positive. Can she and the community come together to bring the village back to life or will visitor Joe Randall ruin everything?

I have become such a fan of Alison Sherlock’s books. There is such a warmth about them. Heading Home to Lavender Cottage is the start of a new series and I couldn’t wait to get started.

First, the cover – just stunning.

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Book Review: Patches Through Time by Sian Turner

I am very pleased to be welcoming Sian Turner to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her book, Patches through Time.

Casual antique dealer Jake Patch picks up an unusual object and can’t put it down. Literally. His find is a time travel device, and he hatches a bold plan to acquire objects from the past and sell them at modern day prices. But when the mysterious Infinity Glass leaves Patch stranded in a dangerous past, it falls to his teen daughter Cass to save him.

With hints of The Time Traveller’s Wife and Back to the Future and a smattering of Lovejoy, Patches through Time will send you spinning headlong into the past, then spit you back into the twenty-first century.

This book contains occasional profanities. Trigger warning: bereavement (parent, spouse).

*****

When Jake Patch finds an unusual object gathering dust in an antique shop, what he thinks is a money maker soon turns into something he had not bargained for.

He soon finds himself with the ability to travel through time. However, this soon turns into danger when he finds himself stranded. Can his daughter save him?

I found the premise for this novel extremely interesting but really didn’t know what to expect having previously not read any of Sian Turner’s books. I am now a fan.

This book has been marketed as YA but I feel that adults will get a lot from it. I certainly did. Right from the beginning, I was hooked.

I felt that the time travel element was handled well and with a ‘realistic’ set of rules. Well, as realistic as a story about time travel can get. I got a bit of a Bill and Ted vibe about this novel.

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Book Review: Local Girl Missing by J.A. Baker

I am so pleased to be welcoming J.A. Baker to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her novel, Local Girl Missing

Missing without trace…

When local woman Deborah goes missing, her colleagues Adrian, Yvonne and Merriel are all left in shock. Gossip around the office begins to swirl – what could have happened to Deborah? Is she dead or alive? And who could be responsible for her disappearance?

Everyone is terrified that they could be next…except the one person who has all the answers. The last person people expect.

Because Deborah is being held captive by a monster, a psychopath. But not a stranger… it’s someone she knows all too well…

*****

Deborah is being held against her will by a monster. However, this monster isn’t a stranger, it’s someone she knows well.

Whilst her work colleagues are reeling from her disappearance, someone knows the truth.

This was the first novel I’d read by this author. The premise of this book really caught my attention so I was happy to be invited onto the blog tour for Local Girl Missing.

Seriously, I know this term is banded about a lot but this book had me hooked from page one. I had to know more. I needed to know what becomes of these characters so one more page became one more chapter and before I knew it, I’d read it in one sitting.

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12 Days of Clink Street: Stars and Waves by Roberto Maiolino

Laura is a student in Astronomy at the University of Cambridge. Her work on exoplanets – planets orbiting other stars – is largely unnoticed by the scientific community. However, it attracts the interest of a secluded elderly Russian astronomer, Professor Kasparov, on the basis of his own research thirty years ago. He tries to contact Laura and her supervisor, Julia, but dies in mysterious circumstances.

In the attempt to find out more about Kasparov’s old data, Laura and Julia travel across the globe. During their journey, science becomes entangled with poetry, while astronomy gets embroiled with mystery. They face a dark pattern of strange accidents and deaths. Their quest for clues gradually becomes a frantic pursuit through some of the most fascinating and deadly environments.

Will Laura and Julia uncover the truth? The whole truth? And… will they survive to tell the world?

*****

Laura is a PhD student in Astrophysics. Whilst observing some stars, she discovers something important.

However, it isn’t long before she realises that someone doesn’t want this data analysed and when she finds out someone has already mysteriously died, the more in danger she feels she’s in.

Can she get to the truth before she loses her life?

The premise for this book intrigued me and so I was happy to be invited onto the 12 Days of Clink Street to review Stars and Waves.

Laura is a strong, female character. She’s intelligent, compassionate, and easy to like.

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Book Review: He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not by Aimee Brown

I am so pleased to be welcoming Aimee Brown back to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her novel, He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not.

Dax Hartley has made flowers his entire life, just like his late father did.

When his dad’s old florist’s shop is up for sale, he has to have it. Only problem is, he’d need to sell a kidney to afford it. The reality show Battle of the Blossoms is the perfect opportunity to win the money he needs, but when his childhood crush blows back into his life, distractions risk taking his eyes off the prize. He needs his head and heart to start working together to ensure he doesn’t miss the opportunity of a lifetime.

Hollyn Matthews has made some colossal mistakes in life.

When she’s dumped just as she’s expecting an engagement ring, she knows she’s put her heart into the wrong man. Hoping for a second chance at being a grown-up, she moves home to stay with her brother and his best friend Dax, a boy whose memory faded as she ran away from her past. Facing the hurt she left behind means facing some home truths about herself, but there’s one boy who has always loved her, if only she’d take the time to notice him.

*****

Having spent eight years with her boyfriend, Hollyn is expecting a proposal. When he dumps her instead, she finds herself having to go back home. She ends up in her brother’s apartment, spending time with Dax. As Hollyn helps Dax win a flower competition, will they be able to keep their feelings at bay?

This is the first book I’ve read by Aimee Brown. The premise intrigued me so I was pleased to be invited onto the blog tour for He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not.

I did feel a little sorry for Hollyn. She has a horrible thing happen to her and I wanted to give her a hug. She did come across as a little shut down but when you learn more about background, you find out why.

I did get a little frustrated with her parents and you don’t get to know too much about the other supporting characters like River and Mercy (possible future books maybe?) I hope so as it’s not the last I want to see of these characters.

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Book Review: Christmas on the Riviera by Jennifer Bohnet

I am happy to be welcoming Jennifer Bohnet to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her book, Christmas on the Riviera

As a toddler Elodie Jacques was abandoned by her mother and left in the care of her French grandmother, Gabriella in Dartmouth, Devon.

Now 24 years old, Elodie struggles to reconcile the deep anger for the mother she has never since seen.

When Gabriella unexpectedly announces she wants the two of them to spend Christmas and her 70th birthday in her home town of Juan-les-Pins in the South of France Elodie is thrilled.

Gabriella meanwhile has her own ulterior motives for wanting to return after 40 years, a daunting homecoming potentially filled with memories, secrets and recriminations.

With Juan-les-Pins pulsing with lights, decorations and the festive spirit, Christmas promises to be filled with fun. But when Elodie learns there is the possibility that her long absent mother may join them she hides her feelings behind a show of indifference and animosity.

Will there be the reconciliation that Gabriella longs for – or will the spirit of Christmas fail to work its magic?

*****

It’s been many years since Gabriella has visited the place where she grew up in the South of France. Now, as her 70th birthday and Christmas approach, she has reason to return.

Her granddaughter, Elodie is nursing her own anger and hurt. Can this trip work its Christmas magic and they both find something they are looking for?

it didn’t take me long to fall into this story. Gabriella and Elodie are great, likeable characters. The supporting cast is wonderful and I wanted everything to work out well.

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Book Review: Chaos at Carnegie Hall by Kelly Oliver

I am so pleased to be welcoming Kelly Oliver to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her book, Chaos at Carnegie Hall.

Agatha Christie meets Downton Abbey in the Fiona Figg and Kitty Lane Mystery series opener.

Can Fiona catch a killer and find a decent cup of tea before her mustache wax melts?

  1. New York.

Notorious spy, Fredrick Fredricks, has invited Fiona to Carnegie Hall to hear a famous soprano. It’s an opportunity the War Office can’t turn down. Fiona and Clifford are soon on their way, but not before Fiona is saddled with chaperon duties for Captain Hall’s niece. Is Fiona a spy or a glorified babysitter?

From the minute Fiona meets the soprano aboard the RMS Adriatic it’s treble on the high C’s. Fiona sees something—or someone—thrown overboard, and then she overhears a chemist plotting in German with one of her own countrymen!

And the trouble doesn’t stop when they disembark. Soon Fiona is doing time with a group of suffragettes and investigating America’s most impressive inventor Thomas Edison.

When her number one suspect turns up dead at the opera and Fredrick Fredricks is caught red-handed, it looks like it’s finally curtains for the notorious spy.

But all the evidence points to his innocence. Will Fiona change her tune and clear her nemesis’ name? Or will she do her duty? And just what is she going to do with the pesky Kitty Lane? Not to mention swoon-worthy Archie Somersby . . .

If Fiona’s going to come out on top, she’s going to have to make the most difficult decision of her life: the choice between her head and her heart.

*****

It’s 1917 and Fiona Figg finds herself in New York. She’s been invited by spy, Fredrick Fredricks to Carnegie Hall, to watch a famous soprano. However, on top of her duties for the war office, she’s also having to chaperone Eliza, her boss’s niece.

From the moment they board the ship for America, there is mystery and potential crimes.

The plot thickens when Fiona’s prime suspect is found dead.

Can Fiona solve the mystery?

I was intrigued by the premise of this novel. I love mysteries and so this seemed right up my street and it didn’t disappoint.

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Book Review: The Coming Darkness by Greg Mosse

We are pleased to be welcoming Greg Mosse to Novel Kicks. He’s here with the blog tour for his new novel, The Coming Darkness. 

Paris, 2037. Alexandre Lamarque of the French external security service is hunting for eco-terrorists. Experience has taught him there is no one he can trust – not his secretive lover Mariam, not even his old mentor, Professor Fayard, the man at the centre of the web. He is ready to give up. But he can’t.

In search of the truth, Alex must follow the trail through an ominous spiral of events, from a string of brutal child murders to a chaotic coup in North Africa. He rapidly finds himself in a heart-thumping race against chaos and destruction. He could be the world’s only hope of preventing THE COMING DARKNESS . . .

*****

Alexandre is in the French external security service, hunting for eco-terrorists.

He doesn’t know who to trust, not even his lover or his former mentor.

However, he can’t give up his search for the truth.

This book really hooked me from the first page. It’s fast paced and has multiple story lines running throughout. I wondered how they were all going to converge and couldn’t wait to find out.

Even though this is the first of his novels, you can tell that Greg Mosse is a seasoned writer. This book, in my opinion is very well written.

It offers short pieces of information that skilfully drive the plot forward which meant that I wanted to keep reading to find out how it was going to end.

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Book Review: A White Christmas on Winter Street by Sue Moorcroft

We are very pleased to be welcoming Sue Moorcroft back to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her novel, A White Christmas on Winter Street. 

When Sky Terran returns to the village of Middledip after losing the job she loves, she anticipates a quiet Christmas getting used to her new life. However, the annual street decoration competition is coming up and this year, the residents of Winter Street are determined to win.

As she is pulled into the preparations, Sky quickly grows to love the quirky, tight-knit community she is now part of. Including the extremely handsome Daz, who soon becomes more than just a friendly neighbour.

But when Daz’s ex turns up determined to win him back and it seems he might not be the man Sky thought he was, she remembers how much allowing people into her life – and heart – can hurt. As the snow falls, will she and Daz find a way through – and help win a Christmas victory for Winter Street?

*****

Let me give you a definition of a pointless exercise – finding fault in a Sue Moorcroft novel.

For her Christmas story this year, we’re back in the welcoming fold of Middledip, Sue’s fictional village where quite a few of her stories are set, or touch upon. Warm, welcoming, A White Christmas on Winter Street delivers exactly what is says on the tin and instantly finds itself on my list of books to reread at that time of year from now on.

Principally the tale of Sky and Daz who don’t get off to the best of starts, so far as their relationship goes as they go head to head over the same item at an auction.

Sky’s in need of a new start and it turns out that finding herself in the middle of such a close community is exactly what she needs. Gradually, she warms to those around her as, without intending to, she discovers a warm, giving side to her personality she hadn’t been aware of.

A multi-generational tale, A White Christmas on Winter Street cracks along at just the right pace and, indeed, I found this a very hard book to put down. The characters, in this readers opinion, are beautifully written and Middledip has never been more enticing.

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Book Review: The Twelve Wishes of Christmas by Ruby Basu

I am pleased to welcoming Ruby Basu to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the book birthday blitz tour for her novel, The Twelve Wishes of Christmas.

She’s here for the perfect Christmas escape…

When Sharmila discovers her late friend, Thomas, has gifted her the holiday of her dreams, she can’t pack her bags fast enough. Arriving in Pineford, it’s everything she’d ever hoped for and more.

But she’s in for another surprise, because Thomas has left her with one last request: if she completes his Christmas wish list of festive activities, her chosen charity will receive a big donation. Or so Sharmila thinks.

…He’s there to reclaim his family’s legacy

Little does she know, she’s set to inherit Thomas’s estate too, much to his nephew Zach’s disbelief. Determined not to see his family’s legacy left to a stranger, he’s come to Pineford to do whatever it takes to stop Sharmila from fulfilling that list.

When Sharmila and Zach meet, neither are prepared for sparks to fly. For Sharmila’s sworn off love, and Zach doesn’t trust her. But with every passing wish they find themselves growing closer. And amongst the twinkling town lights and fallen snow, Sharmila can feel her heart opening up to Zach. But when she learns he’s been keeping a secret from her, can Sharmila forgive him and get the happy-ever-after she’s always wished for this Christmas?

****

When Sharmila finds out that she’s been gifted a holiday by her late friend, Thomas, she can’t wait to pack her bags and experience an American Christmas. Thomas has set her festive themed challenges. If she completes them, she gets money to donate to charity. What she doesn’t know is that she is also set to inherit Thomas’s estate, something his nephew Zach wants to stop. Can Christmas work its magic and bring a happy ending? 

I was so pleased to be invited onto the tour for The Twelve Wishes of Christmas. 

I really fell in love with the premise of this novel. It felt so romantic plus the cover is so lovely.

As I adore Christmas, I want to be Sharmila in this novel in that, I want to be able to experience a Christmas with all these activities and experiences. It sounds like a dream. 

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Book Review: The Three Loves of Sebastian Cooper by Zoë Folbigg

I am pleased to be welcoming Zoë Folbigg to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her new novel, The Three Loves of Sebastian Cooper.

As the crowds gather for charming and charismatic Seb Cooper’s funeral, three women sit in the congregation, mourning his loss.

First there is Clair, Seb’s wife and partner of twenty years, and mother of his two children. Furious at Seb for dying and leaving their children without a father, Clair isn’t sure of her place, and has been left baffled and bemused by the conflicting stories of Seb’s last days.

Then there’s Desiree, the woman Seb left Clair for. Heartbroken, self-conscious, and wondering if she made a mistake coming today.

And the third and noisiest mourner of all is Noemie – Seb’s lover and the last woman to see him alive.

Three women who loved Seb in their own different ways.

Three women whose lives have changed forever.

But only one woman knows what really happened at the end…and only one truly had his heart…

*****

People gather at the funeral of Sebastian Cooper.

Three women in particular mourn for him.

Clair, the woman he had known since childhood, the mother of his children.

Desiree, the woman he left Clair for.

Noemie, the last woman to see him alive.

The premise for this novel intrigued me. Three women who had loved one man. The story packs a punch from the first page, starting with the funeral. How did they all get to that point? I just had to know. As a result, I couldn’t put the book down.

All the main characters are interesting in their own ways. All are complicated and flawed.

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Book Review: When The Children Fight Back by Barry Kirwan

I am so pleased to welcome Barry Kirwan back to Novel Kicks. He’s here with the blog tour for his book, When the Children Fight Back.

In the near future, Artificial Intelligences will be smarter than us. Is that a good thing?

“Really entertaining, a brilliant balance between action and emotion.”

“A wonderful story. So much imagination!”

A mega-AI known as the Eye is intent on purifying the galaxy, by annihilating all ‘organics’. Humanity, itself already decimated after an attack by the Eye, must join eleven other species in the final battle at Orion’s Gate to stop their nemesis. Led by Sally, humans have a secret weapon: Ares, the last AI from a dead alien race. But can they really trust Ares? And as the battle rages in the heart of a star nursery nebula, Sally realises that one of the other species is about to betray them all…

The thrilling climax to the Children of the Eye series…

*****

The eye is intent on wiping out all ‘organics’ from the galaxy. What is left of humanity must join other species in the final battle against their nemesis.

Sally must lead them into battle. Plus, they still have Ares but can they trust him? Is someone about to betray them all?

I had enjoyed the first two books in this series so I was excited to be invited onto the blog tour for When the Children Fight Back.

As I have said in previous reviews of this series, I’m not always the one to immediately gravitate to novels in this genre but there is something about this series that draws me in. These novels are not just sci-fi, they have a high thriller theme and this book packs quite an emotional punch.

As with its predecessors, I was completely drawn in from page one.

I like that it’s told from the point of view of multiple characters. It gives you a real, well-rounded idea of what everyone is feeling and thinking.

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Book Review: Dreams Come True at Glendale Hall by Victoria Walters

I am pleased to be welcoming Victoria Walters to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her novel, Dreams Come True at Glendale Hall.

Lorna is following her dreams. But can she follow her heart?

Lorna Ferguson has dreamt of opening her own bed and breakfast in the village of Glendale for as long as she’d pictured falling in love. While her love life remains frankly hopeless, Lorna is determined to secure Dove House – the home she imagined living in as a child – to start this new venture with her family.

Along with brother Adam, Lorna starts restoring the house to its Art Deco glory, but faced with a whole host of renovation problems and their money fast running out, they worry that Dove House will never be ready to open in the New Year.

When a mystery man turns up, needing to fulfil a promise he made to his dying father and find the object he left at Dove House many years ago, Lorna’s heart goes out to him. But what they find there is going to change both of their lives forever.

Facing problems at every turn, and distracted by her heart, Lorna is going to need all the magic that her beloved Glendale can supply to make all her dreams come true..

*****

Lorna and her brother, Adam have always dreamed of buying Dove House in Glendale, restoring it to its former glory and making it into a B&B.

When it comes up for sale, they decide that now is the time to try and make their dream into a reality. When their bid is successful, that is when the hard work begins.
Can Glendale once again work its magic? Can they finally make their dream into a reality?

Having previously read Always and Forever at Glendale Hall I was looking forward to heading back to Glendale in the Scottish Highlands. Even though this is book five of the Glendale series, this can be read as a standalone. I am hoping to read the others in the series though as these books and the characters within are just wonderful. It was a delight to catch up with everyone.

This novel focuses on Lorna as she and her brother renovate Dove House and from the get go, I wanted them to succeed.

Lorna is a relatable, likeable character who is an inspiration. Despite the fact that she’s scared at making this big change and commitment, she goes for it and I admire that.

Adam is also wonderful and I wanted him to succeed just as much. I wanted to jump into the page and tell him and Grace that they belonged together.

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Book Review: In The Mood by M W Arnold

I am so excited to be welcoming M W Arnold back to Novel Kicks. He’s here with the blog tour for his new novel, In the Mood. 

During a hectic couple of weeks in February 1944, the girls of the Air Transport Auxiliary Mystery Club must face devastating personal loss amongst their number. A member of an illegal faction blackmails Betty, whilst a mystery at Mary’s ancestral home threatens to cause more trouble than anyone thought possible.

In the midst of what should be the happiest of times, the portents seem to be catching up and little is what it seems to be.

Can the girls find the strength to battle forces both internal and external, yet still maintain their dignity and friendship?

*****

It’s 1944 and after loosing one of their own, another member of the ATA mystery club finds herself being blackmailed whilst another finds herself in a mystery surrounding her honeymoon. Can these ladies solve the puzzles and keep themselves out of danger?

I was so pleased to be invited onto the blog tour for In The Mood, the latest book in the Broken Wings series as it meant I was reunited once again with the ladies from the ATA.

Four books in and it really feels like I’m catching up with old friends. There is not one of these characters I don’t like but I do have a soft spot for Doris and with what Bobby the dog goes through, I wanted to jump into the book and hurt the villains responsible and I’m not usually a violent person.

This fourth instalment is just as gripping as its three predecessors. Although there were some heartbreaking moments in this book, overall there is such a wonderful feeling of warmth, friendship, love and humour weaved into the heart of this novel. The characters really feel like one big family.

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Book Review: Just Date and See by Portia MacIntosh

I am so pleased to be welcoming Portia MacIntosh back to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her novel, Just Date and See.

Billie is looking forward to a quiet, man-free Christmas. It’s just a shame her family doesn’t feel the same way…

With a house full of unexpected (and unwanted) guests, Billie needs to find the perfect escape to get away from the chaos.

So when her dating app recommends a week of singles nights in her area, Billie decides that braving these events has to be better than making conversation with her dad’s new wife, dealing with her mum’s mid-life crisis or witnessing her sister flirting with her insufferably arrogant next-door neighbour.

While this is definitely not the festive season she had planned, between disco bowling and boozy bingo, little does Billie know that she may find love this year after all – she’ll just have to date and see…

*****

Having had a year where her boyfriend left her and having to face renovating her house, Billie just wants a quiet Christmas.

However, it’s not long before her family descend on her along with some not so welcome houseguests.

In an attempt to escape the chaos, Billie signs up to some singles nights but will these just cause more trouble?

I have become such a big fan of Portia MacIntosh and so was looking forward to reading Just Date and See, especially when I found out it was set over Christmas.

Billie is a wonderful character. She seems comfortable enough in her own skin but seems real at the same time. I want to be her friend.

Rocco is the best kind of male lead. He’s a gentleman. I loved him.

Kate and Jess are brilliant too and bring much humour to the story.

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Book Review: Sometimes People Die by Simon Stephenson

The year is 1999. Returning to practice after a suspension for stealing opioids, a young Scottish doctor takes the only job he can find: a post as a senior house officer in the struggling east London hospital of St Luke’s.

Amid the maelstrom of sick patients, over-worked staff and underfunded wards a darker secret soon declares itself: too many patients are dying.

Which of the medical professionals our protagonist has encountered is behind the murders? And can our unnamed narrator’s version of the events be trusted?

*****

It’s the 1990s. Our narrator has a new job as as a senior house officer at an East London hospital after a suspension for stealing opioids. 

When suspicious and unexplained deaths start to plague the hospital, who is responsible? Can we even trust our main character? 

I’d not read any of Simon Stephenson’s previous books so I didn’t know what to expect. The premise however intrigued me so I was eager to get started. 

I have to admit, it did take me a couple of chapters to settle into this novel as I got to know the main protagonist. Once this had happened though, I found I couldn’t put the novel down as I became completely invested in this story. 

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Book Review: The Santa Killer by Ross Greenwood

I am so pleased to be welcoming Ross Greenwood back to Novel Kicks. He’s here with the blog tour for his novel, The Santa Killer.

The Santa Killer is coming to town…

One night less than two weeks before Christmas, a single mother is violently assaulted. It’s a brutal crime at the time of year when there should be goodwill to all. When DI Barton begins his investigation, he’s surprised to find the victim is a woman with nothing to hide and no reason for anyone to hurt her.

A few days later, the mother of the woman attacked rings the police station. Her granddaughter has drawn a shocking picture. It seems she was looking out of the window when her mother was attacked. And when her grandmother asks the young girl who the person with the weapon is, she whispers two words.

Bad Santa.

The rumours start spreading, and none of the city’s women feel safe – which one of them will be next?

He’s got a list. It’s quite precise. It won’t matter even if you’re nice.

*****

A woman is violently attacked two weeks before Christmas. When DI Barton and his team begin to investigate, there seems to be no motive for the attack.

The daughter of the victim produces a drawing whilst whispering two words ‘Bad Santa.’

Can they find the Santa Killer before he attacks the next person on his list?

I have become such a fan of the DI Barton series that I couldn’t wait to get started on the latest book, The Santa Killer.

As with previous novels, it didn’t take long for me to be completely enthralled in this story. Ross has a great skill in getting you completely invested in the plot quickly and before you know it, it’s the early hours of the morning and you realise you’ve read the whole book in one session.

I love DI Barton. He is one of my favourite fictional detectives. In a lot of ways, he is uncomplicated. He’s simply a family man who is struggling with the commitment to his job whilst balancing family life, something a lot of us can relate to. He also has a great, strong team around him and there isn’t one of them I don’t like.

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Book Review: The Lost Notebook by Louise Douglas

I am so pleased to be welcoming Louise Douglas back to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her latest novel, The Lost Notebook.

A notebook full of secrets, two untimely deaths – something sinister is stirring in the perfect seaside town of Morranez…

It’s summer and holidaymakers are flocking to the idyllic Brittany coast. But when first an old traveller woman dies in suspicious circumstances, and then a campaign of hate seemingly drives another victim to take his own life, events take a very dark turn.

Mila Shepherd has come to France to look after her niece, Ani, following the accident in which both Ani’s parents were lost at sea. Mila has moved into their family holiday home, as well as taken her sister Sophie’s place in an agency which specialises in tracking down missing people, until new recruit Carter Jackson starts.

It’s clear that malevolent forces are at work in Morranez, but the local police are choosing to look the other way. Only Mila and Carter can uncover the truth about what’s really going on in this beautiful, but mysterious place before anyone else suffers. But someone is desperate to protect a terrible truth, at any cost…

*****

It’s summer in Morranez on the Brittany coast but for Mila, the anniversary of her sisters death casts a deep shadow.

There to look after her orphaned niece, Mila is counting the days until she can be back in England. However, when there are two mysterious deaths, Mila is desperate to reveal the truth… but at what cost?

I loved Louise’s previous novel, The Room in the Attic so I was very eager to read the The Lost Notebook.

The cover is beautiful.

This book pulled me in from page one. The mystery and puzzles immediately make it hard to put this book down once I’d begun.

Mila is an interesting character. She’s guarded and a little broken due to her sister’s death. Saying that, she comes through for the people she loves when it counts.

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Novel Kicks Book Club: Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

September is here. Autumn is in the air and the book I’ve picked for this month is one that has just been released as a motion picture with a song by Taylor Swift. 

I am talking about Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. 

I have been wanting to read this book for ages. It sounds very intriguing and I can’t wait to start. I also would like to read the book before I see the movie. Anyone else have the need to do this?

Our book club is online so you can take part from the comfort of your armchair. It’s open to all, whether you’re in the middle of reading it, not started yet or have read it and want to talk about it.

I’ve posted a question below in the comments to get the discussion going. I’m looking forward to chatting about this book with you.

 

About the book: 

For years, rumours of the ‘Marsh Girl’ have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl.

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Book Review: Let it Snow by Beth Moran

I am so happy to be welcoming Beth Moran back to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her novel, Let It Snow.

When your heart’s broken, all roads lead home…

After the end of a long-term relationship, local weather girl Bea Armstrong has been avoiding her family, and their inevitable ‘I-told-you-sos.’ But with Christmas fast approaching, she is finally on her way home to Charis House, the school in Sherwood Forest that her mum and dad run in their old family home. And to top it all off, the insufferable Henry Fairfax – who her parents have always wanted her to marry – has also been invited.

Relief comes in the shape of a last minute interview for her dream job. There are just a few minor problems… The interview is in Scotland, Bea has no car, and the snow is falling already. The only solution is for Henry to drive her – could this Christmas get any worse…

But during an unforgettable two day interview, a stay in a log cabin and a nightmare journey through the snow, Henry turns out to be nothing like she thought.  And when Bea’s first love and recent ex shows up, Bea has a difficult choice to make…

*****

Bea Armstrong’s on and off again relationship with boyfriend Adam is once again off and although she wants to avoid her family’s chimes of ‘I told you so,’ she finds herself heading back to the family home for Christmas. Once there, she also realises that her childhood nemesis, Henry, will also be joining the Armstrongs for the festive season.

When Bea is invited to a two day interview in Scotland just before Christmas, she jumps at the chance even if it means she has to share a car with Henry.

I loved Take A Chance on Me so I was very excited to be invited onto the blog tour for Let it Snow.

First of all, the cover for this book has to be one of my favourites. It’s beautiful. It’s just stunning.

It really didn’t take me long to get engrossed in this book. To say I devoured it would be a better description.

I’m always up for a Christmas novel and this one really built up a festive atmosphere. I read this at the end of August and felt Christmassy.

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Book Review: Coming Home To Puddleduck Farm by Della Galton

I am pleased to be welcoming Della Galton to Novel Kicks today. She’s here with the blog tour for her novel, Coming Home to Puddleduck Farm

When your heart’s broken, all roads lead home…

London City Vet, Phoebe Dashwood, finds her partner Hugh and their boss in a passionate clinch beneath the mistletoe at their works Christmas party.

Heartbroken, she bolts to the New Forest, her childhood home to regroup and soul search.

Being home gives Phoebe the chance to reconnect with friends and family and especially with her fiercely independent gran, widower Maggie Crowther, owner of Puddleduck Farm, and makeshift animal shelter New Forest Neddies.

Deciding not to return to London, Phoebe hunts for work locally, hoping she can also help Maggie, who’s clearly swamped and not coping. But will Maggie accept Phoebe’s help?

Her quest is hampered by stubborn grandmothers, meddling mums, an attractive childhood friend, a real-life Lord, a remorseful ex, and a best friend who’s determined to play matchmaker.

Can Phoebe find happiness professionally and personally in the place she calls home, surrounded by those she loves or does fate have other plans for Phoebe?

*****

Coming Home to Puddleduck Farm is the first in a brand new series from author Della Galton. 

After seeing the man she loves kissing their boss at the Christmas party, Phoebe retreats from London to her childhood home in the New Forest. 

Can Phoebe, who feels so lost, find herself again in the place where she grew up? 

From the beginning, this book had such a warm, inviting feel to it that I immediately fell into Phoebe and Sam’s story. I wanted to know what happened. I wanted them to be ok. 

Phoebe is, despite everything, a strong woman. She leaves London and, following advice from her grandmother, decides not to go back to her life in the city and that takes bravery, even if she didn’t feel like it was. I liked her very much. 

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Book Review: Meet Me on Platform 3 by Zara Stoneley

I’m very happy to be welcoming Zara Stoneley back to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her novel, Meet Me on Platform 3.

Two people. One journey…

Millie loves her city life, her city friends and writing her true(ish) confessions column – but she’s starting to wonder if the grass really is greener on the other side, or if her heart really belongs back in Northumberland, with her mum who is struggling after the death of Millie’s dad.

Joe is happy doing what he does, writing games. He could do it anywhere, but since leaving home he’s lived believing that looking back means you’ve failed, and life is about taking chances and seeing the world.

So when the two meet up surely it can never work, their lives are moving in opposite directions. On different tracks…

*****

Millie loves her job and living in London. When she bumps into her perfect man on Platform 3, she finds she has a crush and a subject for her column. When fate throws them together, have they really found the one or will they end up taking different tracks?

I have really loved previous novels from Zara Stoneley so I was excited to get going on this novel as I really liked the premise.

The style of writing is almost conversational as it’s told from the point of view of both Mille and Joe. I like these duel narratives as it really gives you an insight into the mind of both characters.

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A Moment With… Liz Taylorson (and Harry Brand.)

I am very happy to be welcoming Liz Taylorson to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her novel, Summer Showers at Elder Fell Farm.

 

A simple holiday just got complicated …

Single mum Amy has been struggling since her mother’s death and now her son, Harry, has been accused of bullying schoolmate Oliver — giving Amy’s dictatorial ex-husband yet another reason to criticise her parenting.

All Amy wants is the chance to spend time with her son. Where better to escape all her troubles than camping at the remote but beautiful Lake District farm where she spent idyllic summers with her mother when she was a little girl?

Her tranquil escape seems doomed when Oliver, and his widowed dad, Matt, turn up on the neighbouring pitch — but at Elder Fell Farm, unlikely friendships can be forged. Are Matt and Amy ready to fall in love again? And will their boys bring them together – or drive them apart?

 

*****

 

To celebrate the release of Summer Showers at Elder Fell Farm, Harry, the heroine’s son, having been asked to write a book review for school, has written about this novel. Over to you, Harry.

 

My Book Review of ‘Summer Showers at Elder Fell Farm’

By Harry Brand, aged 8 and 2 months.

 

I chose this book to write about because Summer Showers at Elder Fell Farm is all about me and my best friend, Oliver and what happened when we went on our summer holidays. Okay, it’s a bit about my mam, Amy, and Ollie’s dad, Matt, because they were there too, but all they did was, like, snogging and stuff which is gross, so mainly I’m going to write about the other things in the book.

My favourite character in the book is Harry, aka me! He does lots of cool stuff in the book, he finds a den and plays in the beck quite a lot with his best friend Oliver, but he isn’t allowed to go skinny dipping, which is the same thing as swimming in the nuddy, which means with NO CLOTHES ON. But Mam wouldn’t let me … I mean, him. The boys also make up an awesome game called ‘bonky, bonky’ and an air bed got burst, but it definitely wasn’t Harry that burst it, honestly.

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Book Review: The Little Theatre on Halfpenny Lane by Clodagh Murphy

It is my pleasure to welcome Clodagh Murphy to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her novel, The Little Theatre on Halfpenny Lane. 

 Aoife and her sisters know exactly what to do when they inherit their Great-aunt Detta’s theatre on Halfpenny Lane:

  • Restore the dilapidated building to its former glory.
  • Perform together on its stage to packed houses and rapturous applause.
  • Live happily ever after.

But they didn’t count on Detta leaving a share in the theatre to her godson, Jonathan. Now they’ll have to persuade him to buy into their vision of stardust and magic – or find the money to buy him out.

As they fight to save the theatre, Aoife also battles her growing feelings for Jonathan. Because she can’t let herself fall for the man who’s about to bring the curtain down on their dreams.

*****

Aoife, Mimi and Sive have always had the impression that they’d inherit their Great-Aunt Detta’s theatre on Halfpenny Lane. However, they had not counted on Jonathan, Detta’s Godson inheriting a share.

Now, in order to save their beloved theatre and restore it to its former glory, they either have to convince Jonathan to remain a willing investor or buy him out.

Can they save their theatre or will they lose their dream?

This book was my introduction to Clodagh Murphy and I was excited to be invited onto the blog tour for the Little Theatre on Halfpenny Lane.

I read this novel in one sitting. I couldn’t stop reading. I instantly fell in love with these characters and the setting. I could picture The Halfpenny Theatre and the charm it holds. I could see the stage, the rows of chairs and the overall atmosphere. I wanted it saved.

The plot moves well and Clodagh Murphy’s writing style makes it easy to fall into this novel and get invested in the story. Will they or won’t they save the theatre?

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Book Review: The Split by Amanda Brookfield

I am pleased to be welcoming Amanda Brookfield to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her novel, The Split.

Two decades on from a passionate courtship and marriage, Lucas and Esther are getting divorced.

For Esther, it’s proving hard not to feel bitter watching Lucas enjoying his successful career, not to mention the attentions of his gorgeous, intelligent, and predictably younger lover. She meanwhile is struggling to forge a new life for herself, navigating the pitfalls of modern dating, while trying not to despair at the cost of living as a single woman of a certain age.

Then Lucas faces a shattering accusation at the same time as their children Dylan and Lily, start to implode.  When Dylan runs away, and as his father fights to save his reputation, Lucas and Esther find themselves back in each other’s lives, whether they like it or not.

Has too much water passed under the bridge, or will long-forgotten loyalties and feelings bring the family back together, just when they need each other the most?

*****

After a twenty year marriage, Esther and Lucas are divorced. They, and the two children they share, now have to adjust to the new normal.

Esther is finding it difficult to witness her ex-husband’s new life. With a great job and a fiancée, he’s flying high. She knows that she has to find her new place in the world.

However, when Lucas’s life is derailed and their son, Dylan runs away, Lucas and Esther have to communicate, whether they want to or not.

Having previously not read any of Amanda Brookfield’s previous books, I didn’t know what type of novel this was going to be.

The Spilt is a slow burner and it did take me a while to get into it. To begin with, I wasn’t sure I was going to like it. I was very pleased I persevered. What I found was that this was a very interesting and detailed look into relationships between ordinary people. There are many twists and turns. Sometimes I loved the characters, other times I disliked their behaviour but as I progressed through the book, I became invested in them. Oh, and I want to adopt the cat.

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Book Review: The Highland Hens by Judy Leigh

I am very excited to be welcoming Judy Leigh back to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her novel, The Highland Hens.

In the imposing Glen Carrick House overlooking Scotland’s famous Loch Ness, lives eighty-eight-year-old Mimi McKinlay, cared for by her three adult sons. Hamish has inherited his mother’s musical talents, Fin is the responsible brother, and Angus has the complicated and brooding personality to match his dashing good looks.

But what all the brothers share is a concern that their beloved mother is living in her memories of her days on stage, while letting her present days pass her by.

Jess Oliver is at a turning point. Amicably divorced after years of being married, this trip to the Highlands is a first taste of independence. It isn’t long before the beauty and hospitality of Scotland captures her heart.

When Mimi and Jess’s paths cross, a friendship is formed that will change both women’s lives.  And as together they find ways to look forward instead of to the past, long forgotten dreams are within reach, and every new day is fresh with possibilities.

Take a trip to the Highlands with Judy Leigh for an unforgettable story of glorious pasts and fabulous futures, of love, friendship, family and fun. 

*****

Jess has come to Scotland for a holiday and has instantly fallen in love. When circumstances mean she can’t immediately return to her home, she replies to an ad for a companion to an elderly lady. She has a few months before she can return home. Why not?

It’s here she meets Mimi. As the women become close, Jess starts to see life in a new way and when she meets Mimi’s three sons, maybe love won’t be too far behind?

I am a big fan of Judy Leigh’s novels having previously read and enjoyed A Year of Mr Maybes and Lil’s Bus trip. Therefore, I was excited to be invited onto the blog tour for her latest novel, The Highland Hens.

I visited Scotland a few times as a child (I’d really love to go back,) so I adored the setting for this novel. I could picture myself standing at Mimi’s window looking out at the beautiful scenery of Loch Ness.

It’s not hard to fall in love with the ladies in this novel.

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Book Review: The Lodger by Valerie Keogh

I am pleased to be welcoming Valerie Keogh to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her novel, The Lodger.

She’s in your home…

Leigh Simons can’t say for sure what made her do it. A moment of madness, perhaps, but when the young, loud and gorgeous waitress at her favorite coffee shop reveals she is homeless, Leigh offers her the empty room in her house.

In your head…

Gina is the perfect lodger; Leigh, lonely and frustrated with her life, becomes infatuated with the woman – her boldness, her zeal. If only Leigh could be more like Gina…

And missing without trace.

So when Leigh returns from a work trip she’s shocked to find Gina missing. Where could the young woman have gone…and why?

Leigh fears that something terrible has happened – why else would Gina leave her?

But as she sets out to find her missing lodger, what Leigh discovers changes everything she knows about Gina….and her own life, too.

*****

When Leigh discovers that a waitress in her favourite coffee shop is becoming homeless, she offers up her spare room, a decision she instantly regrets.

However, when Leigh gets back from a week away, Gina has gone. Vanished without a trace.

This was my introduction to Valerie Keogh’s novels and the idea for this book really intrigued me so I was excited to get started.

It’s going to be quite hard to talk about this book without giving away spoilers but I’m going to try. Here goes…

Leigh is an interesting character. I got the feeling that she held a lot of herself back, being the person her boyfriend, Matt wanted her to be.

She is a lot braver than she thinks, especially when she eventually decides to speak up against a well liked male colleague. She is someone to admire in that respect.

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Book Review: Such a Good Mother by Helen Monks Takhar

Some things are too perfect to be true…

Rose O’Connell aspires to be the perfect mother.

And when she receives an unexpected invitation into The Circle, an elite clique of beautiful, wealthy and connected mums at her son’s exclusive school, it seems her dreams are about to come true. Every mother would kill for an invitation, and once she joins, Rose’s social status soars.

But what is each woman hiding beneath her immaculate exterior?

Why did a previous member take their own life?

And why have they singled out unassuming Rose to take her place?

Rose is about to find out that darkness lies at the heart of The Circle. And it’s far too late to run…

*****

Rose is determined to be the perfect mother for her son, Charlie.

When she gets invited into the Circle, the exclusive clique at her son’s new school, it seems like she is on her way. However, nothing is as it seems.

I had not read Helen’s previous novel, That Woman, so I didn’t fully know what to expect.

I pretty much devoured this novel, reading it in one sitting. You are immediately thrown into the action and mystery surrounding The Woolf School and the women running it.

Rose is certainly a character you have a lot of sympathy for when you first meet her. She is wanting to do what is best for her son, not having had the best childhood herself. I think a lot of people will relate to that. Having said that, not all of her behaviour is great. I did occasionally loose empathy with her. She’s a complicated and complex character.

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Book Review: The Other Girlfriend by Alex Stone

I am pleased to be welcoming Alex Stone to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her novel, The Other Girlfriend. 

She loves him…

Lizzie Green once loved Tom Murphy with a passion that bordered on obsession. All she wanted was his love to be returned. Then one night something terrible happened and Tom left Lizzie broken hearted. She swore she would never let him hurt her again….

She loves him not.

Now, ten years later, Tom turns up on Lizzie’s doorstep still as charming as ever. Lizzie knows he still has the power to break her heart and destroy her life again. But Lizzie can’t say no to him….

Can she?

*****

Lizzie had always loved Tom to the point where he became an obsession, but when a weekend away ends in tragedy, Tom disappears from her life, leaving her to deal with what’s broken. 

It’s ten years later and he’s back. Is this their chance to be together? Does Tom really mean it when he says he loves her? She’s determined to believe him. 

I was a big fan of Alex Stone’s last novel, The Perfect Daughter, so I couldn’t wait to start reading this novel. 

I love the fact that it’s set in Bournemouth. I know that town and so I could picture all the places mentioned. The atmosphere and setting is described so well. I could see every scene. I would love this to be adapted into a tv series. 

From page one, I was well and truly hooked and I read it in one day. I needed to know what happened and what would become of Lizzie. 

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Book Review: So Happy For You by Celia Laskey

Robin and Ellie have been best friends since childhood.

They’ve been through everything together, from Robin coming out to the death of Ellie’s dad. But when Ellie asks Robin to be her maid of honour, Robin is reluctant.

It’s not that Robin isn’t happy for Ellie, she just hates everything about weddings and marriage – plus the guy Ellie’s engaged to. There’s also the matter of the crazy (not to mention dangerous) wedding rituals that couples are resorting to in the hope of securing a lifetime of happiness.

Despite her misgivings, Robin finally says yes. But as the wedding day approaches, she gets the feeling that everyone in the bridal party is out to get her. And it seems Ellie is willing to do anything for the perfect day. After all, marriage is about sacrifice…

*****

Robin and Ellie have been friends since school. However, in a world where there is an increasing pressure to get married, Robin is relucent when Ellie asks her to be maid of honour.

As the day approaches, Robin can’t help but feel paranoid. After all, Ellie will do anything for a perfect day.

They say this book is a cross between Black Mirror and Bridesmaids and they weren’t wrong. It’s completely bonkers, in a good way.

So Happy For You is set in the future where the government encourages marriage, even offering tax breaks to married couples. This is due to the birth rate falling. There’s now lots of apps and websites and brides are trying all sorts of rituals to bring good luck.

This brought a feeling of dystopia to the novel. Very Handmaids Tale/Black Mirror.

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Book Review: Rough Diamonds by Gillian Godden

We are pleased to be welcoming Gillian Godden to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her latest novel, Rough Diamonds.

Flawed, tough, unbreakable….

In the aftermath of her husband’s shocking murder, Patsy Diamond wants answers. Who was Nick really? Where is all his money? And who killed the man she once loved? Patsy knows exactly who to go to first – Nick’s pregnant mistress, Natasha.

Natasha might seem young and innocent, but Patsy’s certain the girl is hiding something. And the only way to find out what is to keep Natasha close and make her part of the Diamond family.

With the two women forming an unlikely bond, they begin to dig deeper into Nick’s secret life and discover things that shock…and terrify them.

Because Nick Diamond played a deadly game and if the women in his life want payback, then they are going to have to follow his rules – or break them and make their own.

But the strongest diamonds are created under pressure and these women are no exception…

*****

Patsy always knew that there was a side to her husband she didn’t know. When he’s murdered and his associates start to close in, she finds herself teaming up with the most unlikely of people.. her husband’s mistress. 

There is action right from page one and it didn’t take me long to get pulled into the story. 

It’s mostly made up of female characters which was a great perspective to have, especially when a lot of books in this genre focus on the men. 

Patsy is a strong character but she soon finds herself out of her depth. It was interesting to see how she dealt with situations especially when you factor in children. 

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Book Review: The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh

On New Year’s Eve, Rhys Lloyd has a house full of guests.

His lakeside holiday homes are a success, and he’s generously invited the village to drink champagne with their wealthy new neighbours. This will be the party to end all parties.

But not everyone is there to celebrate. By midnight, Rhys will be floating dead in the freezing waters of the lake.

On New Year’s Day, DC Ffion Morgan has a village full of suspects.

The tiny community is her home, so the suspects are her neighbours, friends and family – and Ffion has her own secrets to protect.

With a lie uncovered at every turn, soon the question isn’t who wanted Rhys dead . . . but who finally killed him.

In a village with this many secrets, a murder is just the beginning.

*****

It’s New Year’s Eve and Rhys Lloyd has a house full of guests. His holiday homes are a success and the small community from the nearby village have been invited to bring in the new year with their new wealthy neighbours.

By New Year’s Day, Rhys is dead and DC Ffion Morgan has a village full of suspects.

It seems Rhys had many enemies but who hated him enough to kill him?

This book was my introduction to Clare Mackintosh. The premise intrigued me so I was very pleased to get the chance to read and review The Last Party.

From the first page, this book had me seriously hooked to the point where I couldn’t put it down. I read it in pretty much one sitting.

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Book Review: The Lottery by Peter Venison

If you found an unsigned lottery ticket, what would you do if it turned out to be worth millions? Hand it in or claim the prize?

Follow the twisting path of Maggie and Greg when faced with this dilemma.

Who are the winners and who are the real losers? What is the price of honesty and does winning bring happiness?

Can you do more good in the world if you are rich or poor? Find out in this intriguing tale of an ordinary family.

*****

Maggie and Greg are an ordinary couple living an ordinary life. They love each other and their children. However, when they find a ‘lost’ but valid lottery ticket, they are surprised to see that it wins them over £490 million, an amount that will change their lives forever, in ways they could never imagine.

It was so lovely to be invited onto the Clink Street Publishing Summer Tour and to be reviewing The Lottery by Peter Venison.

The premise of this novel intrigued me as I, like many others, have thought about what I would do if a won a big prize on the lottery.

I have to admit, it took me a few pages to get into this novel but, as it progressed, I found I got more and more invested in their story as they try to navigate life as millionaires. I can only imagine how it would feel to have that much money suddenly thrust into your life.

It was interesting to see how the money affected Greg and Maggie’s relationship especially when it came to the different plans on how to spend it. Greg takes the business approach – using the money to create more money and in the process, becomes a little mean and then a little lost. It certainly doesn’t make him happy as he continuously has to battle the issues that come with the decisions he makes on the back of the win.

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Book Review: The Waitress by Nina Manning

I’m pleased to be welcoming Nina Manning back to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her latest novel, The Waitress

Nameless. Faceless. Deadly?

Waitress Kit Lowman knows that people look down on her and the job she does. But being anonymous offers Kit safety and security and allows her own terrible secrets to remain hidden.

And then Kit’s luck changes, and she suddenly faces a terrible dilemma: reveal her true identity and accept that life will never be the same. Or stay in the shadows…where she hopes she’ll be safe?

But secrets can’t stay hidden forever. And the more Kit tries to hide away, the more someone makes it clear that they are going to make her pay for what she did.

*****

Kit is aware that people look down on her for being a waitress. However, for Kit, it’s a job she’s good at. It means she can stay anonymous and allows her to keep her secrets.

She wins a house but is worried that it will expose what she did. The more she hides, the more someone is going to make her pay. Nothing is what it seems.

I’d previously read Queen Bee and loved it so I was looking forward to reading the new book by Nina Manning.

Kit is obviously running from something and from page one, I was immediately pulled into her journey and could feel the tension starting to build.

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Book Review: A Wedding at Sandy Cove by Bella Osborne

A big huge welcome back to Bella Osborne. She’s here with the blog tour for her latest novel, A Wedding At Sandy Cove.

Escape to Sandy Cove, where the scent of summer and the sound of wedding bells are in the air!

Ella makes brides’ dreams come true – there’s no dress she can’t make perfect with her sewing skills and some sparkle. But Ella’s own love life is no fairy tale. Recently dumped, surrounded by fussy brides and with the prospect of wearing a hideous brown bridesmaids dress to her friend’s wedding, Ella feels more alone than ever so agrees to go on a blind date.

A mix up on the night introduces her to Kit. 

Kit is definitely not the man she was supposed to meet, but he could end up changing her life in ways she never thought possible…

A perfectly funny, feel-good summer romance that will whisk you away to sandy beaches and a seaside wedding. Fans of Cathy Bramley, Katie Fforde and Milly Johnson will adore Bella Osborne.

*****

Working at a wedding dress shop, Ella is used to seeing other brides get their happily ever after. Her own life is totally different.

Dumped by her boyfriend and with her best friend’s wedding coming up, Ella lets herself get set up on a blind date. When she’s stood up, she bumps into Kit who is about to change her life forever.

I am always so excited when there is a new novel by Bella Osborne and I was pleased to be invited onto the blog tour for A Wedding at Sandy Cove.

First of all, the cover for this novel is so beautiful. You immediately feel the romance before you’ve even started the book.

I was immediately pulled into Ella’s story. She’s a sweet character and it was nice to see that this doesn’t change even when she begins to stick up for herself. She doesn’t lose her ability to see the good in people and I loved that.

Kit is a great example of someone who steps up when he needs to particularly when it comes to his family.

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Book Review: Anything Could Happen by Lucy Diamond

I am pleased to be welcoming Lucy Diamond to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her novel, Anything Could Happen which has been released in paperback. 

Your big secret is out. What next?

For Lara and her daughter Eliza, it has always been just the two of them. But when Eliza turns eighteen and wants to connect with her father, Lara is forced to admit a secret that she has been keeping from her daughter her whole life.

Eliza needs answers – and so does Lara. Their journey to the truth will take them on a road trip across England and eventually to New York, where it all began. Dreams might have been broken and opportunities missed, but there are still surprises in store…

*****

I loved the title and the premise for this novel so I was excited when I got invited onto the blog tour for Anything Could Happen.

Lara and Ben share a memorable night in New York and have dreams of a potential life together. However, life intervenes, and they don’t see each other until nineteen years later when their daughter, Eliza, tracks Ben down to inform him that he is her father.

For Ben, it’s a big shock, not to mention having to tell his wife, Kirsten who doesn’t take it very well.

Told from the point of view of Lara, Ben, Eliza and Kirsten, this book explores the impact of finding out that you have a child and how that affects your life. It also shines a spotlight on a marriage that was already only hanging on by a thread.

I loved Lara. She’s feisty and, even though she needs a little reminder to not be so scared, she knows herself. Eliza is like her mother – a strong female character. She is trying to find out who she is and discover what she wants from life and right now, she wants to get to meet the dad she never met.

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Book Review: And Then There’s Margaret by Carolyn Clarke

Marriage and midlife can be difficult. But when you add a controlling, manipulative and self-absorbed mother-in-law into the mix, things can get worse-much worse. Toxic, even.

When Allison Montgomery’s beloved father-in-law and long-time confidant passes away, her mother-in-law, Margaret, ‘temporarily’ moves in. From rearranging the furniture and taking over the kitchen, to undermining and embarrassing Allie at every turn, including funding her daughter’s escape, throwing a hissy fit at the mall, and publicly equating Allie’s glass of Chardonnay to full blown alcoholism, Margaret turns Allie’s life upside down causing her to bounce between a sincere desire to support her grieving mother-in-law and an intense urge to simply push her out of the nearest window.

Feeling annoyed, trapped and even a little childish, Allie struggles to avoid a complete meltdown with help from her fearless and audacious best friend, a plan for reinventing herself and enjoying a second act, and, yes, a few glasses of Chardonnay. Along the way, Allie discovers the reasons behind Margaret’s attitude toward her all these years. Does it help? Maybe…

*****

The premise for this novel intrigued me as I have always been fascinated by the relationships between family, especially when marriage occurs. You are thrown together with people who you may or may not have chosen to be around.

Allie has always had a good relationship with her father-in-law, George but, when he passes away, her mother-in-law, Margaret moves into her home for a while.

It’s clear from the outset that these two women should not be sharing a space. Haha. Allie behaves in a way that I feel is totally relatable and I cheered when she stood up for herself. However, Margaret is also going through a bad time in her life so it was hard to just dismiss her as difficult. There is more to Margaret’s behaviour than Allie realises.

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Book Review: Lucky Jack (1894-2000): Memoirs of a World War 1 POW by S. Bavey

We are so pleased to be welcoming S. Bavey to Novel Kicks today. She’s here with the blog tour for her book, Lucky Jack (1894 – 2000)

“One of the perils of being a sniper during the First World War was the likelihood of a grenade going off right next to you and burying you alive”.

Meet Jack Rogers. Born in 1894, he once locked eyes with Queen Victoria and was one of the first travellers on London’s ‘Tube’. An early car owner, he had many escapades on his days out to Brighton, including a time when his brakes failed and he had to drive through central London without them!

His skills as an entertainer earned him popularity throughout his life, and kept him out of the deadly mines while a prisoner during the First World War. At the tender age of 103 Jack earned the title of ‘The World’s Oldest Columnist’ as he began dictating his life’s exploits to a reporter from the local newspaper.

*****

I have to admit, memoir type books are not always something I will immediately pick to read but there was something about Jack’s story that drew me to it.

The book, written by Jack’s Granddaughter, is presented in a first person narrative, from Jack’s point of view, as though he were writing a diary. This felt as though I was going through his life with him and boy, what a life.

Born in the 1800’s, Jack lived through two world wars, fought in the first. becoming a POW, saw many prime ministers, witnessed many technological and medical advances, lived in three centuries, locked eyes with Queen Victoria and was amongst the first people to ride the Tube. His stories and anecdotes throughout were fascinating.

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Book Review: The Heart Warrior’s Mother by Marilyn Cohen de Villiers

I am pleased to be welcoming Marilyn Cohen de Villiers to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her book, The Heart Warrior’s Mother.

Kerry-Anne Aarons is over the moon. She and her husband, Imran Patel, are about to become the parents of a baby daughter, and give their son, Leo, an adored little sister.  It wasn’t planned, but Kerry knows that Lily’s arrival will complete the perfect little family she has always wanted. She, Imran and their two children are going to live happily ever after…

Then life intervenes.

Lily is born with a serious congenital heart defect and Kerry’s battle to save her daughter commences. It’s a battle that takes her from the operating theatres and Intensive Care Units of local hospitals to the High Court of South Africa. It’s a battle that strains her relationships with her friends, her parents, and – ultimately – her husband.  It’s a battle she is determined to win.

But how much will Kerry have to sacrifice to give Lily the future she deserves? 

“A true, cross-generational story of the eternal link between love and pain… the greater the love, the more inevitable the pain. Marilyn Cohen de Villiers once again – with amazing skill – depicts the common humanity that transcends differing cultures.”

James Mitchell – former Book Editor, The Star, Johannesburg

A  percentage of the proceeds of this novel will be donated to the Children’s Cardiac Foundation of Africa, an organisation that funds lifesaving heart surgery for children across the continent.

*****

This was not an easy book to read. It took me through a large rollercoaster of emotions and, I feel that, if you’ve lost a child, whether it be to miscarriage or illness post birth, be prepared as this novel deals with some very difficult issues. 

It however does this with extreme sensitivity and knowledge. There was a feeling that the author had really researched her subject matter and this adds a lot to the novel. To also know that this was based on a true story makes it all the more heart breaking. 

From the beginning, you really do feel for Kerry and Imran – to have to see a child going through so much from birth. I turned every page hoping that things would turn around – that everything will be ok. 

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