#The Visitor by Louvie G. Tucker

 

Today it's a pleasure to take part in the BlogTour The Visitor by Louvie G. Tucker.

About the Author

Louvie G. Tucker lives and works in the Pacific Northwest with his wife. Born in Buffalo, New York, he’s called various U.S. states, Japan, and China home at points in his life. When he’s not working in cyber security, he enjoys rock climbing, staying up to date on current events, keeping up with his Japanese language skills, and riding his bicycle. He is currently working on the second book in the Corrupted Genes series.

About the book

Nusans don’t cause trouble. Peter is a good Nusan. Single, annoyed with his best friend’s constant blind dates, and comfortably provided for with his job as a genmod technician, he spends his days telling expectant parents what their unborn children will look like. For a fee, he can modify physical and mental traits. 

To ensure Nusa’s perfect society, however, it is law that all babies must be born with white skin, an IQ 120 or above, and without any illnesses or disabilities. These modifications are free of charge. It’s the law. And good Nusans obey the law. The people of Susa, however, are known to be troublemakers. 

Thank goodness the dark-skinned Susans all live south of the border, in Susa. The closest Peter ever has to come to a dangerous Susan is either on the silver screen being vanquished by a heroic Nusan hero or on the news as deporters -- the force charged to keep Nusa safe -- prepare to send them south to Susa. 

That is, until a dark-skinned visitor is suddenly inside the four walls of Peter’s quiet existence. Snarky. Irreverent and without any regard for the rules, the stranger should be a Susan but is he? Why is he claiming to have fallen from the stars? 

Everything Peter knows is suddenly in question and even his status as a good Nusan is under threat as deporters seek him out on suspicion of a capital crime. Has Peter caused trouble? 

Life as Peter has known it is fragile. Can he survive long enough to learn the truth? And will he even want to believe it once he finds it?  

Review

This is a novella length read and although it's dystopian it is very much a social commentary on our society now. On racism, eugenics, capitalism and the division of people. The cracks in society that are becoming wider and the voices of dissent who rise up to counter the hatred.

Peter is a law-abiding Nusan, who believes the propaganda both for his people and for the Susans. The slogans reminding him of his duty and to not doubt the hierarchy or upper echelon. the light-skinned Nusans, who stay out of trouble, as opposed to the Susans, the dark-skinned troublemakers.

The author doesn't wander too far from reality with the baby factory genetics. Parents being able to pick eye colour, skin colour, gender and size. It also means they are able to eradicate genetic faults, and yes they are the ones who decide whether it is a fault. This is already a possibility in many countries. The problem with that is what one person may view as a disadvantage another may adore.

I hope this isn't the last we read by this particular author. I'd like to see the more speculative elements fade to let the social commentary be heard more clearly.

Buy The Visitor at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogTour The Silent Daughter by Kirsty Ferguson

 

It's my turn on the BlogTour The Silent Daughter by Kirsty Ferguson.

About the Author

Kirsty Ferguson is a born and bred Australian. She writes crimes and mystery novels. Her stories center around strong women and dark themes that are topical and relevant to today. Kirsty chooses to deconstruct and enthrall her readers with the secrets of any everyday person behind closed doors. She has long been a lover or writing and reading, creating stories from a young age

Follow @kfergusonauthor on Twitter, on Facebook, on Instagram, Visit www.kirstyferguson.com, Buy The Silent Daughter

About the book

Secrets can kill and Danni Brooks knows that better than anyone.

When her husband and two of her three children perish in a devastating house fire, Danni is sure it is arson. She’s even more sure that her and her eldest daughter Mia were meant to die in the fire too. But they are just a normal family. Who would want them dead? 

Mia doesn’t talk. She can’t. She is locked in her own world where no one, not even her mother can reach her. 

Desperate for answers, and convinced the truth might help her to reach her daughter, Danni tries to piece together the events leading up to that murderous night and uncover the arsonist. But with so many lies to untangle, what is the truth?

Prepare to have your breath taken away by an unforgettable twist that will leave you reeling...

Review

It's one of those stupid accidents, everyone does it. A mistake, but one with devastating consequences. Now the only person Danni has left is treating her with utter disdain. Is it grief or is there more to the story?

It's a very dark domestic thriller and perhaps one that will make people uncomfortable about a few home truths there are in it. The first being that sisterly love is a concept romanticised by the media, society and most definitely social media. Why? Because it sounds so much better, the cotton candy fluffy supportive love between sisters, as opposed to the destructive, violent, jealous and often hidden hatred that lurks just beneath the surface. Then again sometimes it doesn't even bother lurking.

Kudos to Ferguson for that, even if the storyline is merely in the fictional context of this story- it is still refreshing to read the reality of what a sisterly relationship can look like when it doesn't conform to the norm. When movies, books and people tell you that the person closest to you in the family unit should be your biggest supporter and confidante, and instead is your most vicious enemy intent on harming you. It happens - it's very real.

This is a dark, sinister read with graphic scenes at times and characters who are quite unforgiving when it comes to emotional distress and harming each other. It's not escapism and it doesn't try to be. Ferguson wants you to wonder about the the stories and gossip you hear, perhaps this will make you look at someone from a different perspective.

Buy The Silent Daughter at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher : Boldwood Books; pub date 10 Nov. 2020. Buy at Amazon com. Buy at Hive. Buy at Bookshop.org. Buy at Boldwood Books

#BlogTour Reformed Dreamer by Deborah King

Today it's my turn on the BlogTour Reformed Dreamer by Deborah King. Reformed Dreamer will be .99 c /p until 4th October.

About the Author
Deborah King is a spirited woman who was inspired to pursue her dreams due to her mother’s death from early onset Alzheimer’s disease. She has the unique ability to read people and tackle life’s hardships.

Deborah is an acclaimed, distinctive new voice in romantic women’s fiction. After raising two children, working with a not-for-profit wildlife rescue organization, and reading too many books to count, she retired from her personal training and weight management business to follow her dream of writing.

She is extremely grateful for having the opportunity to work with many different people sharing and teaching what inspires her, which you’ll catch glimpses of in her books.

Deborah’s lived in several diverse areas in her city as well as three years in a rural setting. She lives in Missouri with her supportive husband, two rescue cats, who believe they’re dogs, her mini fitness store, and her eclectic collection of books

For all the latest information, excerpts from her upcoming books, general fun, or to chat, follow Deborah on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DeborahKingAuthor.

She loves to hear from her fans. To follow Deborah’s social media links, reviews of her women’s fiction books, her blog, and to sign up for her monthly updates, visit her at https://deborahkingbooks.com.

Follow @dkingnovels on Twitter, on Facebook, Inside Scoop/Facebook, on Pinterest, on Goodreads, on Amazon, Buy Reformed Dreamer

About the book
She’s wreaked havoc in everyone’s lives. Can she find forgiveness… even from within?
Former drug addict Melinda desperately wants to make amends for years of misguided aggression. Fresh out of rehab and in control of her type of bipolar disorder, she’s grateful to have a secure job and a safe homestead for her long road to recovery. Welcomed by a glorious cliffside sunset and her handsome rancher host, she’s surprised by their instant attraction.

Determined to excel at her work, Melinda does her utmost to display kindness and forges a healthy connection with the horses. And when her dedication warms the heart of the steeds’ drop-dead gorgeous owner, she starts to believe in the possibility of unexpected love and a new future.
Can Melinda truly conquer the demons of her past to find redemption?

Reformed Dreamer is the fourth and final book in the sweet Inspiration in Cologne women’s fiction series. If you like hard-won second chances, surprising romance, and rising above mental health hurdles, then you’ll love Deborah King’s touching story.

Review
This is the fourth and final book in the Inspiration in Cologne series. Reading the other books in the series isn't a necessity to get the gist of the series, however it will help readers to comprehend some of the secondary characters in this series and the overall sense of the stories. They are very much a combination of betrayal, doubt, addiction, love and learning to respect yourself.

I have to say I think Melinda gets a hard sell. Yes, she has proven herself untrustworthy, instable and has plenty of baggage and issues. But she seems to get no respite from all of the aforementioned, and it isn't the main job of her friends to be her therapists, judge and jury over every waking moment. Just saying.

At times it feels as if the pressure put on her to be healthy could be counterproductive at the very least, and there isn't much accountability on her part, especially in the beginning, because she doesn't get the chance to even breathe without someone being right there questioning motives and emotions.

King has created a interesting group of friends and stories which she combines with romance, friendship and also more serious topics. I think the dialogue is too detailed with many superfluous moments and scenes, however King has stepped up her game when it comes to the plot, the characters and the emotional connection between reader and story. Realism meets dream, mental health meets compassion, and love meets understanding.


Buy Reformed Dreamer at Amazon Uk (Kindle) or Paperback or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Buy at Amazon com (Kindle) or Paperback.

Read my review of Daring Dreamer by Deborah King.

#BlogTour Tipping Point by Michelle Cook

Today it's my turn on the BlogTour Tipping Point by Michelle Cook.

About the Author
Michelle lives in Worcestershire, UK, with her husband Daniel, their two young children, and a cat called Lyra Belacqua. By day, she works for the NHS, a job which she has almost as much passion for as fiction.

Her first joyful steps into creative writing were at the age of ten, when the teacher read out her short story in class. A slapstick tale of two talking kangaroos breaking out of a zoo, the work was sadly lost to history. Still, Michelle never forgot the buzz of others enjoying her words.

More recently, she has had several flash pieces published, was long-listed for the Cambridge 2020 prize for flash fiction, and placed first in the February 2020 Writers’ Forum competition with her short story The Truth About Cherry House. Tipping Point is her debut novel. Connect with Michelle Cook via https://linktr.ee/michellecookwriter

Follow @CookieM72 on Twitter, on Facebook, on Instagram, on Goodreads, on BookBub, Visit michellecookauthor, Buy Tipping Point

About the book
A tale of loss, manipulation, and the search for the truth. What would you risk to turn back the tide?

Essie Glass might have been a typical eighteen-year-old – had life not dealt her an early blow. Struggling to come to terms with the loss of her family in a terrorist attack, and left with nothing, Essie’s not kidding herself about her world. She wants change, and she’ll be honest about it, whatever the cost. From behind her keyboard, that is…

After all, this is England, 2035. Earth’s climate continues its accelerating collapse. A powerful elite controls the disaster-weary population with propaganda, intimidation, and constant surveillance.

By all appearances, Alex Langford is a respected local businessman – until Essie discovers that he’s a murderous conspirator who’d see the planet die for his fortune. When their paths collide, Essie must decide: how much is she really willing to pay for her honesty?

Her choices, and the events she sets in motion, pit her against both enemies and supposed friends as she risks more than just her life to thwart them. Will she succeed in revealing the truth? And will she survive?

Review
Essie is consumed by survivor's guilt, which makes her susceptible to predators, vigilante causes and anything in general really. Being the only survivor of her family makes her seek acceptance, love and also some understanding of what has happened to her. It makes her doubt herself and her friends at times. Then again are her friends really who they say they are or is she just a vulnerable young adult trying to find her place in a society in the year 2035 that determines every thought and word you say.

Overall I thought it was a really good premise and read. It's a futuristic dystopian thriller with Orwellian overtones and the dangers of climate change. It's a read that fits in both the YA sub-genre and upwards.

Cook takes 21st century fears and turns them into reality, but also incorporates the paranoia, the doubt and the inevitable conspiracy theories. All of which go along with any kind of disaster or change, regardless of whether man-made or not. At this point I do have to say that allowing for an implication or belief of global corporations and or government involvement in something of global proportions does play into the misguided paranoia of many. Fiction you say? I knew it - they will shout.

But you know what they say about paranoia - it isn't paranoia when they really are out to get you. I'll be interested to see whether Cook takes this story or futuristic society forward and if so hope that it gets fleshed out more, gives the characters more depth and it's less flighty.

I enjoyed the Big Brother state ideas combined with the smallest wave of insurgence starting to create bigger waves, better resistance infrastructures, and yet simultaneously the complete chaos caused by the police state and complete surveillance. One wonders if this is a worrying look into our bleak future - 2035 is only fifteen years from now.

Buy Tipping Point at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: darkstroke / crooked cat; pub date 22 Sept. 2020. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogTour Not Myself Today by Muriel Ellis Pritchett

Today it's my turn on the BlogTour Not Myself Today by Muriel Ellis Pritchett.

About the Author
Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, Muriel Ellis Pritchett graduated from the University of Georgia and began her journalism career while living in Japan and Germany. Her journalism career included playwriting, editing and writing for magazines and newspapers, and working in public relations, university relations, and media relations.

After retiring, Muriel’s family doctor recommended she get a hobby.  So, she began writing fun fiction about feisty older women who had been wronged and had to pull themselves up out of the muck. But her award-winning fourth book, Not Myself Today, is a change in genres—a YA paranormal thriller. It is scheduled for release September 24, 2020. Her first three “fruity” books, fun romance for older women, are Making Lemonade, Like Peaches and Pickles, and Rotten Bananas and the Emerald Dream. She is currently working on another “fruity” book, titled Sour Grapes and Balmy Knight.

When not writing, Muriel loves cruising all over the world, eating good Belgian chocolate, and spending time in any Disney park. Her favorite Disney attractions are SOARING at Disney World’s EPCOT in Florida, Alice’s Curious Labyrinth at Disneyland Paris, Journey to the Center of the Earth at DisneySeas in Tokyo, and Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland in California.

Follow @PritchettMuriel on Twitter,  on Amazon, on Goodreads, Visit murielpritchett.com, Buy Not Myself Today

About the book
High school soccer star Lindsey Anderson was at the top of her game with graduation approaching and a full-ride soccer scholarship offer in her hand. Then she dropped dead on the soccer field, only to wake up in the body of a teenage sex-trafficking victim. No one believes who she really is. Not even her dad. Chased by her new body’s drug-dealing pimp and rabid parapsychologists out to dissect her, Lindsey searches to get her body and her life back before graduation day. Can her BFF and the high school nerdy boy she detests help save her life?

Review
Lindsey is on top of the world. Everything is going her way. She is a top athlete with a full scholarship looming - just one more game to go. The next thing she knows she wakes up in hospital, but everything seems to be a little bit off.

For some strange reason everyone thinks she is some dirty teen with addiction problems and a myriad of criminals and troublemakers following her around. What the heck is going on? Why won't anyone believe her when she tells them who she really is.

It's a YA paranormal read with a crime element.

The question is what do you take from the read? The Freaky Friday aspect of it, the parapsychologists need to discover more frontiers or the sex-trafficking? It's interesting how Pritchett keeps the story entertaining with a lot of discord, but weaves some serious issues into the fabric of it.

The majority of people seem to have set ideas about what sex or human trafficking entails. Foreign countries and kidnapped women and children come to mind, but nobody thinks of all the national in-country children, who fall prey to the predators. The vulnerable, the runaways, the homeless and the missing.

Saying that, Pritchett keeps the YA vibe flowing, which means there are sweet moments and eye-openers, and also the kind of moments you only get when you happen to die and end up in the wrong body. I can imagine this plot being ramped up and venturing into the NA genre.

Buy Not Myself Today at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher : Black Rose Writing; pub date 24 Sept. 2020. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogTour The Summer of Madness by Alexander Raphael

Today it's my turn on the BlogTour The Summer of Madness by Alexander Raphael.

About the Author
Half-Welsh, half-Mexican and growing up in London, Alex Raphael was surrounded by different influences and interests. But it was always books that spoke to him most and had the greatest impact. He started writing when at college, where his love of reading evolved into a desire to write, in particular focusing on poetry and short stories.

Studying English and American Literature at university meant he took a break from writing, as well as giving him the chance to see more of Mexico on his travels. He concentrated on his journalistic career while working on different writing projects, but his favourite genre of literature has always been short stories as they are what first inspired him to write.

That’s why his first book was The Summer of Madness, a romantic short story that tells of a guy who goes out to try to win his ex-girlfriend back. Will you be rooting for Kurt and his big public gesture or is it more complicated than that and you don’t want her to date him again? Either way you’ll get to know a memorable set of characters along for the ride.

His second book Illusions, Delusions reflects Raphael’s love of alternative short stories from the writers of his childhood and challenges the idea of the narrative. Will your favourite be the story in the form of a questionnaire, a poem or a set of jokes, among the seven very different styles?
Alex Raphael is currently working on his third collection of short stories, which will provide a wide blend of genres and an assortment of very original premises and distinctive character, with his trademark imagination, humour and memorable dialogue.

Follow on Amazon, on Goodreads, Buy The Summer of Madness  Visit alexanderraphaelwriter.com and alexraphael.wordpress.com,

About the book
In the summer of love, or rather of madness, a whole set of stories are emerging. But there is one that has got everyone talking. When Kurt Vannes decides to win back his ex-girlfriend with the help of a literary classic, he sets off a string of events that will build to a dramatic finale.

Review
It's a short read, perhaps speculative if literary fiction can be considered that. Also disjointed and sometimes seeming like a story with no connection or ability to reach out to the audience - it reminded me of flash fiction. But let's get down to the nitty-gritty.

Raphael draws an interesting comparison between Wuthering Heights and Kurt and his love story and the attempt to regain his lost love. Presented as the boyfriend who wants to win back his girlfriend no matter what - he stages something akin to a romantic ploy to get her back.

Now there is twofold here. Raphael has picked a classic novel, and her favourite book, which is predominantly known for being a romance and tragedy like none other. On the flip-side the author knows many interpret that same story as one of manipulation, of a dysfunctional love, a destructive relationship painted in such unicorn colours that many are willing to forget the darkness and the pain.

Said girlfriend doesn't want to return to him though and views his attempts as manipulative, embarrassing and perhaps even a little scary. The smaller group of individuals who view his attempts as supportive of this Mr Darcyesque public outcry of thwarted love, but when it all becomes known to the wider world the word stalker slips into the vocabulary.

It's intriguing how Raphael presents four views of the same relationship. You have Kurt, the girlfriend, the more intimate gathering and then the wider public. Each has a slightly different view on the matter and his actions, which of course is exactly what happens in real life. The girlfriend and her feelings become secondary to his needs, his wants and his convictions. She is silenced and there is no consent.

The smaller group is convinced by his charm and enthusiasm, whereas the larger group sees a bigger picture or is it more about the greater unknown finding something to critique?

I'd like to see the author bring more order into both his ideas, the dialogue and the writing. There can't be any expectation that the audience will see what is inside your head and what you believe is on the pages - reading will always remain a subjective experience.

Buy The Summer of Madness at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogTour My Christmas Number One by Leonie Mack

Today it's the last day on the BlogTour My Christmas Number One by Leonie Mack.

About the Author
Leonie Mack is a debut romantic novelist. Having lived in London for many years her home is now in Germany with her husband and three children. Leonie loves train travel, medieval towns, hiking and happy endings! Sign up for her newsletter here

Follow @LeonieMAuthor on Twitter, on Instagram, on Facebook, on Amazon, on Goodreads,Visit leoniemack.com, Buy My Christmas Number One

About the book
There’s nothing quite like a Christmas love story, to get you in the mood for celebrating…
Cara doesn’t do sexy and she only does ‘Happy Christmas’ under duress. She is, after all, a serious musician, and her stubborn streak is born from her struggle to recover from a serious injury.

Javi lives for escapist fun - in his music, and in his life - especially since he’s always failed at life’s more serious challenges, including marriage and fatherhood.

Javi and Cara are forced to record a Christmas single together, but neither of them have plans to spend any more time with each other than they absolutely have to. With Christmas traditions that couldn’t be more different, and outlooks on life that are worlds apart, the chemistry just shouldn’t work. But the magic of Christmas can bring even opposites together…

From the snowy beauty of London at Christmas, to the candle-lit magic of Javi’s traditional family celebrations, let Leonie Mack whisk you away on a memorable festive adventure. Perfect for fans of Trisha Ashley, Mandy Baggot and Holly Martin.

Review

Although this is ultimately a story about Christmas and being able to enjoy it or not, it's more about people connecting on a deeper level. People who under different circumstances would never even entertain the idea of being together. Ships that notice each other as they pass in the night, and only notice the presence of the other briefly.

Cara and Javi are thrown together by forces not under their control. Music contracts determine a collaboration that makes both of them doubt whether they can work together at all. A Christmas single by two people who have completely different Christmas traditions and music styles, and where Cara is concerned it's a case of - Christmas is a no no.

And yet they still have to find away to connect their music styles, their thoughts on life and the whole concept of Christmas. What happens instead is this beautiful bond that happens with people who have a visceral reaction and connection to the sound and creation of beautiful music, and that is the unexpected beginning of a foundation they are both unaware of.

Despite the fact this is a Christmas read, it isn't necessarily a jingle bell jolly one. I found it very much one of hope, of experiencing a person who is your opposite, and in doing so being able to discover new elements of life and rediscover the emotions you have been keeping buried for so long.

Mack manages to create a fun and often witty read, which is actual quite deep at times. I think this author is particularly good at being able to make readers feel the passion, which in this case isn't the one you might think of per se, but very much being able to experience the Joie de vivre certain characters absolutely bring to the pages.

Buy My Christmas Number One at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher : Boldwood Books; pub date 10 Sept. 2020. Buy at Amazon com. Buy via Boldwood Books.

#BookBirthdayBlitz The Rue Stone by Janet Stock

Today its my turn on the BlogTour The Rue Stone by Janet Stock.

Enter the Giveaway below to Win 5 paperback copies of The Rue Stone (UK Only)

About the Author
Having written all of my life, I decided to self-publish my writing when I turned 50. I have published four books since then. Two are collections of short stories; Dark & Fluffy; Dark & Fluffy II and 500 Words, which is flash fiction. My latest book The Rue Stone is a fantasy novella.

My passion is medieval fiction, and I am working on my first novel The Little Servant - The Wait's Son, set in the 12th century, in Lincoln, where I live. All four books are available on Amazon.

Follow @JanetStock12 on Twitter, on Amazon, on Facebook, on Goodreads, Visit janetstockwriter.wordpress.com, Buy The Rue Stone at Amazon Uk

About the book
The rue is a mysterious and rare being who is rarely seen, and Janna is amazed when one arrives at the inn where she works, looking for a room. The next morning, her life has changed, and she is left wondering whether she will ever see him again, but only time and the rue stone know the answer to that question.

Review
This is a short fantasy novella, about 75 pages, absolutely worth the read though. It's paranormal romance with elements of folklore and myths.

The rue are known to the people of the village. They built the village inn in an attempt to connect with the mortal folk, but different always remains different to some people. So with time the rue became a distant memory and a thing of myths the older people would talk about now and again.

Tales of how they seek endlessly for that one woman they will connect with and eventually return to. Beings of beauty who captivate and enthrall the one they attract, which is exactly what may happen to one of the young women who works at the inn.

Stock has a compelling idea that can be developed into something bigger, perhaps with more depth and complexity. Where do the rues come from or their stones? Why men and not women? Magic, myth and fantasy.

It will be intriguing to see if the author returns to fantasy in one way or the other. Aside from that the writing promises a good read regardless of the genre.

Buy The Rue Stone at Amazon Uk (Kindle) - Paperpack or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Buy at Amazon com.

Enter the Giveaway to Win 5 paperback copies of The Rue Stone (UK Only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway *Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

#BlogBlitz The Awakening of Claudia Faraday by Patsy Trench

Today it's my turn on the Blog Blitz The Awakening of Claudia Faraday by Patsy Trench.

About the Author
Patsy Trench lives a quiet and largely respectable life in north London. Claudia’s story shows a side of her normally shy and reserved nature that is little known, even to her friends and acquaintances. Her previous books, about her family’s history in Australia, are entertaining and informative accounts of that country’s early colonial beginnings. She began writing late, and in a previous life she was an actress, scriptwriter, playscout, founder of The Children’s Musical Theatre of London and lyricist.

When not writing books she emerges from her shell to teach theatre and organise theatre trips for overseas students. She is the grateful mother of two clever and grown-up children, and she is addicted to rag rugging and, when current circumstances permit, fossicking on the Thames foreshore for ancient treasure.

Follow @PatsyTrench on Twitter, claudiafaraday1920 on Instagram, on Facebook, on Goodreads, Visit patsytrench.com, Buy The Awakening Of Claudia Faraday

About the book
‘It got better, in time, though to be truthful it always felt more of a duty than a pleasure: a little like homework, satisfying when over, and done well, but never exactly enjoyable. But then nobody had ever suggested it could be otherwise.’

This was the view of Claudia Faraday, 1920s respectable wife and mother of three, on the subject of sex. That is until an unexpected turn of events shakes her out of her torpor and propels her back into the world revitalised and reawakened, where she discovers, as Marie Stopes might have said: Approached in the right way, even homework can be fun.

Review
I think this goes far beyond Lady Chatterley discovering passion and experiencing a lust that leads her from temptation to brave and relentless discovery. Claudia is a middle-aged woman, neglected by her husband, her motherly nest empty, with seemingly no other purpose than to just...be.

An accidental encounter opens her eyes to so many experiences she has been missing. Awakens the need for more, both self-exploration of her sexuality and the exploration of her sexuality by others. A flower who has finally blossomed and been introduced to a world of pleasure. This is her journey - this is her awakening.

It was interesting how the self-doubt that is piled upon women, especially those of a mature age, was woven into this story. Claudia spends so much time looking for the next thrill and  waiting in anticipation of finding and experiencing more, that she completely overlooks the fact she is a desirable woman to whom one should expect sexual partners to flock.

It is almost hammered into women daily that age equals not being attractive or desirable to anyone. In fact this probably helps to speed along the process of aging - the thought of going from a woman who is noticed and appraised to a woman is glanced over and dismissed.

Trench combines the charm of the early 20th century with a facet of womanhood that hasn't really changed that much at all. We put the pleasure of others before our own, because society tends to deem it be correct that way. And goodness gracious me if one does endeavour to discover and enjoy pleasure, and demand it no less - well I never, what would people say?

Buy The Awakening Of Claudia Faraday at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Prefab Publications; pub date 16 Aug. 2019. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogBlitz The Unquiet Spirit by Penny Hampson

Today it's the Blog Blitz for The Unquiet Spirit by Penny Hampson.

About the Author
Some time ago Penny Hampson decided to follow her passion for history by studying with the Open University. She graduated with honours and went on to complete a post-graduate degree.

Penny then landed her dream role, working in an environment where she was surrounded by rare books and historical manuscripts. Flash forward nineteen years, and the opportunity came along to indulge her other main passion – writing. Penny joined the New Writers’ Scheme of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and  three years later published her debut novel, A Gentleman’s Promise, a  historical mystery/romance. Other books in the same genre soon followed.

But never happy in a rut, Penny also writes contemporary suspense with paranormal and romantic elements. Her first book in this genre is The Unquiet Spirit, published by Darkstroke.

Penny lives with her family in Oxfordshire, and when she is not writing, she enjoys reading, walking, swimming, and the odd gin and tonic (not all at the same time). For more on Penny’s writing, visit her blog: pennyhampson.co.uk/blog/

Follow @penny_hampson on Twitter, on Facebook, on Goodreads, on Amazon, Buy The Unquiet Spirit

About the book
A new beginning. A house with a past. A man with secrets. It was a dream come true…that turned into a nightmare.

Kate Wilson thinks moving back to Cornwall might be the answer to her prayers. But it isn’t long before she begins to have doubts. Is the house she inherited from her godmother haunted? Or is she going out of her mind? With a stalker, threats, and attempted break-ins, Kate’s troubles multiply.

Then there’s her enigmatic neighbour, the brooding Tom Carbis; a man with secrets he doesn’t wish to share. Can she trust him when he says he wants to help? In her quest to unravel the mysteries surrounding her, will Kate uncover more than she bargains for?

Review

Kate isn't expecting to inherit anything from her godmother Win, so when she inherits an entire house in Cornwall it's comes as a surprise, but not exactly a bad one. She is already spooked because she thinks someone is following her in her hometown, and multiple break-ins in her new home do nothing to alleviate her worries.

Her broody neighbour with the overly friendly dog doesn't make her feel more at ease. She is afraid of dogs and her last relationship was a bit of a disaster. They can both keep their distance as far as she is concerned, but somehow they both seem to insert themselves in her life every chance they get.

Hmm it's a question of tread lightly or give all the secrets away. This is a story of ghosts and the paranormal, but Hampson also has a strong sub-plot that plays alongside the ghost story. An important one, which tends to be silenced by the stigma surrounding it. Shame, guilt and embarrassment keeps the victims who suffer in the darkness. To admit is equal to being considered weak.

I liked the way the author approached this, by creating a character who is at first glance abrupt, rude and not very likeable. It's an interesting way of showing the barriers and walls that are constructed to protect and heal, and how they are viewed from the outside by someone with no prior information about said person.

It's an intriguing combination of mystery, ghost story and even a murder thrown in for free. It doesn't stop there though because Hampson also adds a note of romance to the mixture.

Buy The Unquiet Spirit at Amazon Uk go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher : Crooked Cat / darkstroke; pub date 21 Aug. 2020. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogTour Accidentally in Love by Belinda Missen

Today it's a pleasure to take part in the BlogTour Accidentally in Love by Belinda Missen.

About the Author
Author and sometimes foodie, Belinda is a ridiculous romantic who met her husband after being set up by a friend two states away.

Residing in country Victoria, surrounded by books, cat-fur, and half-eaten cake, Belinda divides her days between writing rom-coms, baking, and indulging her love of comic books.

Follow @belinda_missen on Twitter, on Instagram, on Facebook, on Amazon, on Goodreads, Visit belindamissen.com, Buy Accidentally in Love

About the book
In the space of a week, Katharine Patterson has quit her job, decided to move back home, and broken up with the guy she thought was the one. No big deal. Because Katharine has a plan. She’s going to open her own art gallery, just like she’s always wanted. What she’s not going to do is worry about boyfriends.

Then she meets Kit, a handsome and talented local artist. He might be the most stubborn person Katharine has ever met. He might also make her feel like no one ever has before. And Katharine might be about to fall accidentally in love…

Review
*Claps and waves a flag in support of Katharine in the office scene*
There is nothing more condescending than being stuck in a position without the possibility of advancement, because your gender negates all of your qualifications, experience and clear ability to do a better job than your male counterparts.

The last thing she needs when her entire future has just gone up in smoke is her family trying to play matchmaker, which wouldn't be such a bad thing if their choice wasn't an arrogant, self-involved artist. The type that thinks that her own art and aspirations are pathetically immature, and he smirks at her lack of knowledge of mainstream art, especially as an supposed art expert.

I found this point quite interesting - that mainstream artists don't get a platform or an opportunity to show their art to a larger audience, because the gatekeepers of the art world keep them locked outside. The focus always seems to be on the old classics, the dead, and the over-hyped and funded artists.

Although in essence a romcom, the author has grounded the story in realism, well as much as you can when you are writing an uplifting feel good read. I think this will resonate with many readers because it's relatable. Families can be funny, they interfere, they can be eccentric and they can be annoying.
Missen captures all of that, but more importantly she captures the intent, which is predominantly a genuine love and concern.

Love isn't a television film or episode. It's complicated, messy and it isn't always a fun filled breathless experience. It hurts. It can also be an exhilarating and freeing experience when you find someone who understands you, the things you like and what makes you laugh.

Sometimes love and relationships are just around the corner waiting to be discovered, accidentally in love is exactly the right title.

Buy Accidentally in Love at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: HQ Digital; pub date 11 Sept. 2020. Buy at Amazon com.  Buy from Nook, Apple, Kindle, Mondadori, Angus & Robertson, Google, !ndigo or Kobo at books2read.

#PublicationDayPush The Merry Month of Murder by Nicola Slade

Today it's Publication Day for The Merry Month of Murder by Nicola Slade.

About the Author
Nicola Slade is an award-winning, bestselling author of historical and contemporary mysteries and romantic fiction, all set in and around Winchester and Romsey in Hampshire – which is where she lives. The House at Ladywell – a contemporary romantic novel with historical echoes – won the International Chatelaine Grand Prize for Romantic Fiction at the CIBA awards in April 2019.

She is the author of the mid-Victorian Charlotte Richmond mysteries and the contemporary Harriet Quigley mysteries. The Convalescent Corpse, published November 2018, an Amazon best-seller, the first in a new series, The Fyttleton Mysteries, set in 1918.

The Merry Month of Murder, the second book in The Fyttleton Mysteries - Published 10th September 2020

Follow @nicolasladeuk on Twitter, on Facebook, on Amazon, on Goodreads,Visit nicolaslade.wordpress.com, Buy The Merry Month of Murder,

About the book
It was teatime on Tuesday, and nobody had died yet…

May 1918 - In a world where the men are at war and the women keep the home fires burning, Christabel Fyttleton is faced with domestic crises involving lodgers, rationing, maypole dancers and Kaiser Bill (don’t ask!) – as well as her most daunting challenge ever.

Not only that! There’s a sudden death – again – as though she hasn’t enough to cope with already. But is it murder, misadventure, or merely misfortune?

Review
Although this is described as a cosy murder mystery series I think it wanders more into realms of family dynamics. A light-hearted family saga that is cemented by the historical settings and the surroundings. The murder aspect becomes almost secondary to the emotional and often witty moments between the characters.

Even the characters themselves are in on the game when it comes to dealing with the tough as it is thrown at them and trying to make light of the repercussions of the war. What good is drowning in despair when life has to go on? The Fyttleton women have a whole box full of escapades and I particularly like the ironic tone the story is infused with.

Slade combines the serious and often desperate times experienced by those left behind, stoking the home fires as they say, whilst loved ones were fighting for their country overseas. She takes the moments of desperation and turns them into moments of laughter. The reader can smile and forget the serious side of their situation for just a second. The end of the war is near and yet the losses, the devastation and aftermath of the war, are leaving a trail that will touch everyone in some way or the other.

It's a cosy family mystery series that will appeal to readers who like their murder light and humorous. The author also delivers some more serious historical aspects of the story, which is what probably gives it the in-between genre feel. Let's see what the Fyttleton women fall into next - they sure do have an affinity for finding bodies and crime everywhere.

Buy The Merry Month of Murder at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: darkstroke  -  Crooked Cat pub date 10 Sept. 2020. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogTour Freedom of the Creed by N.J. Coleridge

Today it's my turn on the BlogTour Freedom of the Creed by N.J. Coleridge.

About the Author
N.J Coleridge finds time to write when he is not performing his official duties as his daughter’s “royal servant.” He has always had a passion for the frontier and the old-west. Freedom of the Creed is his first novel. For more adventures featuring Saoirse be sure to read the novella "A Prayer for the Dying".

Follow Coleridge on Goodreads, on Facebook, Buy The Freedom of the Creed

About the book
The Woe-Be-Gone boys, a vicious gang of outlaws rushes south through the American frontier, leaving desolation in their wake. On their trail is Saoirse Creed, a bounty hunter with a debt to pay. Her only chance to pay that debt rides with the gang, but what depths will she sink to achieve her goal.

Now, as she tracks them down to a town on the precipice of despair, Saoirse must overcome the final hurdle in order to capture her man and return to a life that she thought was all but lost.

Review
Saoirse may appear to be a weak individual waiting to be picked off by any criminal or deviant waiting to find a victim, but she is fierce, trained and not afraid of pulling the trigger when she has to. She is hot on the heels of her prey. Stalking and sniffing him out like a bloodhound who has the scent.

Sometimes the stalker gets too confident though and ends up being the target for another predator. Can she stay ten steps ahead of her enemies and still manage to find the person on her wanted list?

One thing is certainly very clear when you read this, the love Coleridge has for the old west, the frontier and the genre of western fiction. It's very much a forgotten genre, regardless of whether it is in book or screen format. By adding a feisty woman as a main character with a slightly modern vibe to it the story is given an interesting flair.

Coleridge gives readers the feeling of old meets new. The old west uncovered, as the true amount of violence, violation and abuse is uncovered. The pink shaded glasses give everything an aura of romance, as opposed to the fierce competitive and deadly kind of life it actually was.

It will be interesting to see where the author takes Saoirse and the Creed family from this point forward. Will she be able to change the path her loved one has chosen or is she already being a hypocrite by embarking on a similar one?

Buy Freedom of Creed at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogTour Mindworm by David Pollard

Yesterday it was my turn on the BlogTour Mindworm by David Pollard. Unfortunately I was unable to post, but I am making up for it now.

About the Author

After more than forty years of paid employment David Pollard retired to glorious Hereford and immersed himself in the theatrical activities of the county. He is currently Chair of Hereford County Drama Festival.

David  sees himself as a teller of tales – he is a playwright, author of short stories and novels. He has a preference for dark and dystopian material. He is also an actor and theatrical director. Among the many authors admired by David is Robert Louis Stevenson – for his website David adopted the appellation Tuistala – Samoan for ‘Teller of Tales’ which the Samoan people called RLS.

Several of David’s plays have been published by Lazybee Scripts – one of which ‘Aspects of a Betrayal’ was shortlisted for the Kenneth Branagh prize at the Windsor Fringe Festival.

David has two works published on KDP/Amazon:
‘His Cat and Other Strange Tales’ – a collection of macabre short stories, ‘The Alienation of Ludovic Weiss’ – a psychological thriller. A third book ‘Mindworm ‘ is scheduled for publication in September 2020

When not writing, directing or acting David runs a podcast platform for the streaming of radio plays and short story readings – Hand to Mouth Sound Theatre. For relaxation David reads voraciously with a liking for history and thriller fiction. He also enjoys country walks of the strolling variety.

Follow @dpollardauthor on Twitter, on Goodreads, on Amazon, Visit thetusitala.co.uk, Buy Mindworm

About the book
The placid life of a college librarian is plunged into a desperate fight for survival  when he witnesses the death of his only friend. Suddenly he is forced to confront disturbing changes in his nature and appetites and their consequences. Suspected of murder and pursued by an implacable police detective he runs – but is he running from the law or from himself?

Review

A rather unassuming librarian ends up being hounded by a police officer who thinks he has caught the scent of a very clever and elusive killer. The bookworm seems to be attracting death. People conveniently just popping their clogs in his vicinity.

I kind of enjoyed the way the main character sways between benevolence and self-interest. The person who is merely doing someone a gracious favour and the flipside is him being consumed by lack of control and a selfish craving. The hunger is stronger than the human inside. Hmm the human inside?

A good person with urges he can't control, but wishes he could, or is it just a predator in denial? That aspect of this speculative read, which dapples in magical realism, actually presents an interesting idea or dilemma. Kill because you think you're helping or kill because you can't control the urge to do so.
Also the suggestion that to be free may come with a healthy helping of karma. 

It's a short read, novella length. Enough to give readers a sense of style and creativity of the author. It questions the boundaries of good and evil, and whether it depends on who determines what that means. Pollard also plays, towards the end, with the idea that the cosmic energy you give out or take will eventually want a repayment of some kind or pay it forward.

Some interesting ideas here and I also enjoyed the way the librarian remained in non-descriptive status until a certain point, so the reader makes assumptions perhaps and is then surprised with whom they are confronted with. Making the aspect of hunger, need, selfishness and yet simultaneously the need to belong and be a part of something bigger a fight within the main character - at first the faceless and then the almost non-descriptive.

Buy Mindworm at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Buy at Amazon com.