#BlogTour The Lion Tamer Who Lost by Louise Beech

Today it is a an absolute pleasure to take part in the BlogTour The Lion Tamer Who Lost by Louise Beech. It's a touching story of resilience, shame and confusion, and yet ultimately also one which highlights the complex structure of relationships and love.

About the Author
Louise Beech is an exceptional literary talent, whose debut novel How To Be Brave was a Guardian Readers’ Choice for 2015. The sequel, The Mountain in My Shoe was shortlisted for Not the Booker Prize. Her third book, Maria in the Moon, was widely reviewed and critically acclaimed. Her short fiction has won the Glass Woman Prize, the Eric Hoffer Award for Prose, and the Aesthetica Creative Works competition, as well as shortlisting for the Bridport Prize twice. Louise lives with her husband and children on the outskirts of Hull, and loves her job as a Front of House Usher at Hull Truck Theatre, where her first play was performed in 2012.

Follow @LouiseWriter @Orendabooks #LionTamerWhoLost
Visit louisebeech.co.uk
Buy The Lion Tamer Who Lost

About the book
Be careful what you wish for…
Long ago, Andrew made a childhood wish, and kept it in a silver box. When it finally comes true, he
wishes it hadn’t…
Long ago, Ben made a promise and he had a dream: to travel to Africa to volunteer at a lion reserve.
When he finally makes it, it isn’t for the reasons he imagined…
Ben and Andrew keep meeting in unexpected places, and the intense relationship that develops seems
to be guided by fate. Or is it?
What if the very thing that draws them together is tainted by past secrets that threaten everything?

Review
After I finished this book I went for a walk to think about what spoke to me the most. Is this Ben or Andrew's story? Is it a story of coming-of-age, finding yourself, about love or being true to yourself? In a way it is all of those things and more.

It reminded me of a book I read many decades ago, an important work of literary fiction, the kind of book that leaves a mark. Homo Faber by Max Frisch has many elements in common with the story of Ben and Andrew. A story of an inexplicable connection and a love that was meant to be, but at the same time never allowed to be. GSA is common because it is hardwired into our psychology. A tribal instinct embedded into our DNA perhaps.

I have to pause for a moment and compliment the author on the research that went into the lion sanctuary part of this story. Did she spend half a year sleeping in the cage of an angry and anxious lion cub? That is how convincing the scenes between Ben and Lucy are.

There is no doubt Beech is a natural scribe and storyteller, and even if she hadn't already cemented that with her previous books, then this book certainly does. This book speaks to the oddity and tragedy of life, of the connections we make, the ones which leave the strongest memories and alter the course of our lives.

In a way I believe Lucy's journey is not only a life-changing experience for the young man wounded by fate and crippled by his fear of rejection, it is also a beautiful metaphor for his own journey. The anxious, fearful Ben is taught to trust, love, live and ultimately to embrace himself and his desires. Ben gives Lucy a helping hand, and in his own way Andrew does the same for Ben.

I purposely haven't written about the various threads in this tale, because I think every reader should discover and follow them for themselves. What resonates so strongly for me may merely be a passing thought for someone else. It's a touching story of resilience, shame and confusion, and yet ultimately also one which highlights the complex structure of relationships and love.

It's a beautiful read.

Buy The Lion Tamer Who Lost at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.
Publisher: Orenda Books, orendabooks.co.uk
Read my review of Maria in the Moon by Louise Beech

#BlogTour The Angel's Mark by S.W. Perry

It's my turn on the BlogTour for The Angel's Mark by S.W. Perry. It's an intricately plotted piece of historical detective fiction.This author is one to keep an eye on.

About the Author
S. W. Perry was a journalist and broadcaster before retraining as an airline pilot. He lives in Worcestershire with his wife and two spaniels.
Follow @swperry_history @CorvusBooks on Twitter #TheAngelsMark
Buy The Angel's Mark

About the book
A fantastic, high class debut murder mystery set in Elizabethan London.

LONDON, 1590. Queen Elizabeth I's control over her kingdom is wavering. Amidst a tumultuous backdrop of Spanish plotters, Catholic heretics and foreign wars threatening the country's fragile stability, the body of a small boy is found in the City of London, with strange marks that no one can explain.

When idealistic physician Nicholas Shelby finds another body displaying the same marks only days later, he becomes convinced that a killer is at work, preying on the weak and destitute of London.

Determined to find out who is behind these terrible murders, Nicholas is joined in his investigations by Bianca, a spirited tavern keeper. But when their inquiries lead them to the fearsome attentions of the powerful Robert Cecil, Nicholas is forced into playing to Cecil's agenda, and becoming a spy...

As more bodies are discovered, the pair find themselves caught in the middle of a sinister plot. With the killer still at large, and Bianca in terrible danger, Nicholas's choice seems impossible - to save Bianca, or save himself...

Review
Most periods in English history are darkened by either war, conflicts about the who sits on the throne, and of course religion. The Elizabethan era is no exception, and is defined not only by the strong female monarch, but also by the religious friction caused by Henry VIII and his merry-go-round of wives and mistresses.

Heresy is a felony, and there are plenty of people willing to whisper in the ears of the authorities to rid themselves of someone they dislike or feel slighted by. A dangerous time when you consider the punishment doesn't in any way fit the crime or the alleged crime. Torture, death, healers being burnt at the stake for witchcraft. Denouncements are a sign of the times.

The main character is a physician called Nicholas Shelby, who finds evidence of a murder, but there is a lack of interest in his discovery. Before he can find out why a crippled child has been thrown in the river like trash, he suffers a horrific personal tragedy that changes his entire outlook on life.

Gone is the curious man of science, the man dedicated to healing and understanding diseases. Faded is the husband and the admired man of the medical community. A chance encounter draws him back into the world of a ruthless killer, who goes unseen because the destitute and homeless are invisible. Nobody notices when the expendable members of society turn up dead.

Perry writes a good mystery. It's a slow burner, however I personally think it's exactly the right way to go when it comes to historical fiction. The ambience, surroundings and historical context set the stage for a murder story, which is hopefully just the beginning for Nicholas Shelby. Hint, hint, write another one.

It's definitely reminiscent of C.J. Sansom, but with more of a Ken Follett pace, meticulous plotting and a Frankenstein Chronicles vibe. Perry has definitely made his mark with this book. Intricate plotting with authentic characters and the potential for further ventures into the life of the heartbroken physician make this a great read.

Buy The Angel's Mark at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.

#BlogBlitz Sleeping Through War by Jackie Carreira

It's my turn on the fantastic three day Blog Blitz for Sleeping Through War by Jackie Carreira. It's the story of a few women in 1968 on the same days in different countries. It accentuates the fact that we as women experience the same things under the same sky, albeit under different flags.

About the Author
Jackie Carreira is a writer, musician, designer, co-founder of QuirkHouse Theatre Company, and award-winning playwright. She mostly grew up and went to school in Hackney, East London, but spent part of her early childhood with grandparents in Lisbon's Old Quarter. Her colourful early life has greatly influenced this novel. Jackie now lives in leafy Suffolk with her actor husband, AJ Deane, two cats and too many books.
Connect with @SleepingThroughWar on Facebook
Visit jackiecarreira.co.uk
Buy Sleeping Through War

About the book
It is May 1968. Students are rioting, civil rights are being fought and died for, nuclear bombs are being tested, and war is raging in Vietnam. For three ordinary women in Lisbon, London and Washington life must go on as usual. For them, just to survive is an act of courage. How much has really changed in 50 years?

Review
This is the story of multiple women taking place in different countries at the same time on the same days in the year 1968. Mixed in with the accounts are news reports of important events taking place throughout the world at the same time. Events such as important protests, deaths of civil rights leaders, important political news and of course wars classified as political skirmishes.

There is a mother in Washington D.C, who writes to her son the soldier in Vietnam. As we follow her letters we realise, as does she, that the fact they have gone unanswered for many months probably means he isn't coming back. Her hope and faith in his return is kept strong through the idea of communication. If I am writing then somewhere he must be reading my letters. It is powerful, and equally heartbreaking.

She even documents the way many people in the US reacted to this war in particular. Many demonstrated against the futile war and the number of deaths caused by the games of politicians. What is absolutely shameful is the way these poor soldiers were treated by their fellow countrymen, a cloud of shame they still haven't managed to lift after all these decades.

In London (UK) we have a nurse from St. Lucia, who has to deal with the racism because of her skin colour. We hear about Jim Crow laws, but less is said about the No Blacks, No Dogs and No Irish signs people had in their windows. One of the most poignant sentences and points in her story is that the British cover up their lack of friendliness by being ever so polite. I couldn't have said it better myself. In some countries they are openly racist, many Brits pretend they aren't, but are actually covert racists. I think the pretence is worse than the open hatred.

In Lisbon (Portugal) we hear from a mother, a war widow, who has to sell herself to ensure her son can be clothed and fed. How she falls into the trap with no way out and sacrifices herself to save him.

I purposely haven't added their names, because to me they are all in the same boat on different water and in a variety of weather conditions. You do what you have to, to survive. Grief and loss are emotions we all experience, but then again so is kindness.

What does become apparent, and I think this is something we all tend to forget, is that the lives of these women take place and go on simultaneously. It's almost like parallel worlds or universes that have no idea the other exists. Being completely unaware of each other and yet going through the same kind of problems, and that is the message I think Carreira wants the readers to take away from this book.

No matter who and where you are, and what situation you are in, some things are universal. The worry a mother has for her missing child, the extremes women will go to in order to protect their children, the doubts we have as mothers and the support we need from each other. The sisterhood remains the same no matter what nationality, the colour of your skin or which situation you find yourself in.

A little understanding, warmth, compassion and kindness go a long way in a cold world. Carreira connects the world of strangers by linking their pain, fear and emotions. It's a beautiful read, albeit at times a sad one.

Buy Sleeping Through War at Amazon Uk
Buy Sleeping Through War at Wordery Waterstones

The Map of Us by Jules Preston

In my humble opinion this is sat in and has been published under the wrong genre. It is not chick-lit, and that is not meant in a derogatory way in regards to that particular genre, but this isn't just your normal romcom, romancey and happy-go-lucky read.

Perhaps the publisher struggled to define it and put it into a definitive category. Credit should be given where credit is due though, because this is an extraordinary read.

What is Map of Us about? In a way it is the story of the roots of a family told in the form of short, really short - often only a paragraph, chapters by each character. It's as if the narrator is making a diary entry about each one of them.

The seedling of the family tree is Violet, and her roots and family, both blood and non-blood, begin with a man without a name and a dog named Dog.

It's quirky, memorable and in a way a small work of art. Hopefully one day more people will recognise that. I would not only put it in the bracket of women's fiction, I would also put it in literary fiction.

For me personally the best moment and quote from the story, aside from the Compatibility Index of course, is 'nice toast' courtesy of Abby. So much more than just a throwaway comment, it's a point of connection and affirmation of feeling comfort and possibly even trust for the very first time.

What I take away from this story is that sometimes blood doesn't bond and bind us and it's ok to walk away from toxicity. Family isn't necessarily who we are related to, it's the people we connect with and become part of our inner circle. Simultaneously some moments in time family can be the protective cocoon we yearn for and need.

It's a remarkable read and there will probably be real requests for the fictional Compatibility Index. It will definitely be going on my exceptional reads of the year list.

Buy The Map of Us at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.
Follow @jules_preston_ @HarperImpulse
Publisher: HarperImpulse Pub date. 4 May 2018

The Rabbit Hunter by Lars Kepler

It's Scandinavian Noir with a smidgen of horror and side-helping of psychological thriller. It's dark, and as it gets deeper, it gets a lot darker.

Lars Kepler is the pseudonym for husband and wife writing duo Alexander Ahndoril and Alexandra Coelho Ahndoril.

Their stories can be gruesome, bloody and cross some boundaries. If you know Lars Kepler books then you know what you are letting yourself in for in terms of  bloody, graphic violence and sexual violence.

There is an automatic assumption about the why because of who the victim is, so in that sense the reader already knows what is coming and who is doing the killing, but the police are in the dark.

In this sixth book in the Joona Linna series it seems as if Joona played more of a laid back secondary role, despite being in the middle of all of the events. The killer definitely takes the main stage.

Kepler delivers a brutal read with the typical noirish quality of a Scandinavian thriller. It's slightly creepy and seems to echo inspiration from certain other stories. I would have liked to have seen a lot more of the relationship between Linna and Bauer, but hey maybe in the next book.

Buy The Rabbit Hunter at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.
Publisher: Harper Collins Uk, HQStories
Follow @HQStories

#SocialMediaTour The Rival by Charlotte Duckworth

It's my pleasure to take part in the Social Media Tour for The Rival by Charlotte Duckworth today. It's an incredibly powerful debut novel. Let me just say that although it fits into the genre of psychological thriller it is also in its own way an empowering piece of women's fiction and a reminder to pay more attention to the people around us.

About the Author
Charlotte Duckworth is a graduate of the Faber Academy’s acclaimed six-month ‘Writing a Novel’ course. She studied Classics at Leeds University and then completed a postgraduate diploma in magazine journalism. For the past 15 years she has worked as an interiors and lifestyle journalist, writing for a wide range of consumer magazines and websites. In 2011, she completed a postgraduate diploma in Screenwriting from London College of Communication.

She lives in Surrey with her partner and young daughter. She is currently working on her second novel, The Influencer.

Follow @charduck @Quercusbooks on Twitter #BringOntheRival
Visit charlotteduckworth.com
Buy The Rival

About the book
NOW:
Living in her home in the countryside Helena is a career woman without a job and a mother without a baby. She blames Ashley for destroying her life. But is what happened really Ashley's fault?

THEN:
When Helena hires Ashley to work with her, she's startled but impressed by her fierce ambition. They form a dream team and Helena is proud -maybe this is the protégé she's always wanted to have? But soon Helena realises that nothing will stand in the way of Ashley's drive to get to the top. And when Helena discovers she is pregnant, she quickly realises how vulnerable her position is, with devastating consequences.

The Rival is an addictive psychological suspense about ambition, female rivalry, mental health and motherhood and how far you'd ever go to get what you want.

Review
The reader is taken from the present to past and vice versa, as we meet Helena and her ambitious co-worker Ash. In the past Helena doesn't notice how Ash is encroaching on her terrain until it is too late to do anything about it. In the present the intelligent career woman has been reduced to a blubbering mess incapable of coping with life in general. Her job and career have disintegrated, and the house is now no longer filled with the sounds and smells of a baby.

Even when one takes the archaic patriarchal system into consideration and the fact there is still inequality between men and women, I still stand by the fact that women are often the greatest opposition to other women. The situation between Ash and Helena is an example of the way women think they should achieve and get rid of the competition in the workplace. Ash does what a lot of women do, especially in the world of business, she believes she has to be one of the men to succeed. Treating pregnant colleagues with disdain, judging their appearance instead of their professional capabilities, and being completely ruthless to get ahead.

Regardless of which aspect of this story you look at or connect with, it all comes back to support. The majority of us need support at some time or other during our lives, but I think the support women sometimes need is at the forefront of this read.

Motherhood is a topic that causes a lot of controversy, especially between women. Women who choose not to have children sneer at women who do, women who have children think childless women are missing out and aren't complete women. Women who have c-sections are told they aren't real mothers because only vaginal births count. Stay-at-home mothers are called lazy by career mothers, and career mothers are called neglectful by stay-at-home mothers. The author begins her story with a simple anonymous quote - Every mother is a working mother - and that is the truth. The above mentioned controversial and often hotly debated topics are just a few examples of how we degrade, demean and bring each other down instead of supporting and raising each other up.

This story is meticulously plotted, it doesn't go in the direction you think it will and ultimately doesn't focus on the element of the plot you think it might.I don't want to reveal the twist in the plot, although I would love to talk about the ending. Kudos to the author for highlighting the issues. It's an incredibly powerful and well thought out debut by Duckworth and I can't wait to read what she comes up with next.

Let me just say that although it fits into the genre of psychological thriller it is also in its own way an empowering piece of women's fiction and a reminder to pay more attention to the people around us.

Buy The Rival at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.
Publisher: Quercus Books, Pub. date 6th September 2018

#BlogTour The Mistress of Pennington's by Rachel Brimble

Today it's my turn on the BlogTour The Mistress of Pennington's by Rachel Brimble. It's a story about a woman who wants to be acknowledged and taken seriously by the men in her life. To make her father understand her gender isn't an obstacle when it comes to business sense.  Don't forget to enter the Giveaway at the bottom of the post to win a £20 / $20 Amazon Gift Card (Open Internationally).

About the Author
Rachel lives with her husband and two teenage daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK. Since 2007, she has had several novels published by small US presses, eight books published by Harlequin Superromance (Templeton Cove Stories) and four Victorian romances with eKensington/Lyrical.
In January 2018, she signed a four-book deal with Aria Fiction for a brand new Edwardian series set in Bath’s finest department store. The first book, The Mistress of Pennington’s released July 2018.

Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America, and was selected to mentor the Superromance finalist of So You Think You Can Write 2014 contest. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England.

Connect with @RachelBrimble @Aria_Fiction on Twitter
And with Rachel Brimble on Facebook
Rachel's Readers Group on Facebook
Visit rachelbrimble.com and rachelbrimble.blogspot.com
Buy The Mistress of Pennington's

About the book
1910 – A compelling tale of female empowerment in Bath's leading department store. Perfect for the fans of the TV series Mr Selfridge and The Paradise.
Elizabeth Pennington should be the rightful heir of Bath's premier department store through her enterprising schemes and dogged hard work. Her father, Edward Pennington believes his daughter lacks the business acumen to run his empire and is resolute a man will succeed him.

Determined to break from her father's iron-clad hold and prove she is worthy of inheriting the store, Elizabeth forms an unlikely alliance with ambitious and charismatic master glove-maker Joseph Carter. United they forge forward to bring Pennington's into a new decade, embracing woman's equality and progression whilst trying not to mix business and pleasure.
Can this dream team thwart Edward Pennington's plans for the store? Or will Edward prove himself an unshakeable force who will ultimately ruin both Elizabeth and Joseph?

Review
In an era where women are striding towards their own empowerment and to have their voices heard, which includes the vote and the suffragette movement, the main character is fighting for her own independence. Elizabeth is the only child of Edward Pennington, the owner of a large successful department store. A concept of shopping, which ended up connected the worlds of all social classes, genders and all kinds of products. It changed the face of sales and the retail industry.

It's a world Elizabeth loves to inhabit and hopes to one day control as the sole heir of her father's fortune. Just one minor problem, her father believes women are incapable of doing business or taking care of themselves. They all need a capable man in their lives to make all the important decisions for them. Women should be at home, taking care of the household and supervising their children.
This creates a lot of animosity between Elizabeth and her father, who is only interested in marrying her off and keeping her quiet.

In the 21st century we are still fighting for equality, but we should take a moment to remember all the women who fought, struggled and died to ensure we got the rights we deserve. That our daughters, and granddaughters can keep on establishing themselves, working in any industry and being equal members of society.

Brimble's main character is strong and intelligent. She is passionate about advancing her future and that of others, by recognising hard-work and original ideas. The premise is very much about the struggle she has with her father and not wanting to be controlled by any man.

The author gives the reader an excellent sense of the ambience and the charm of the department store, where every detail can mean a sale or no sale at all. The exclusivity and magic of seeing all these products in one place at the same time. It's a tale of struggle, controversy, love and determination mixed with the magic of progression and development.

Buy The Mistress of Pennington's at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.
Buy books by Rachel Brimble on Amazon com Barnes & Noble Kobo Google books
Publisher: Aria (ariafiction.com)

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