#Blogtour How Not to Murder Your Ex by Katie Marsh

It's a pleasure to take part in the Blogtour How Not to Murder Your Ex by Katie Marsh.

About the Author

Katie Marsh wrote five bestselling, uplifting women’s fiction novels before turning to cosy crime for Boldwood. Previously published by Hodder, the first in her new crime series  How Not To Murder Your Ex, following the fortunes of the Bad Girls Detective Agency, will be published in December 2023.

About the book

It is 5:30 am on Clio's forty-fifth birthday and her hated ex is lying dead on her doorstep. Even worse, this is no accident. Someone’s killed him...

When single mum Clio’s ex Gary turns up dead on the doorstep of her caravan – the one she’s been forced to live in ever since he stole every penny she had – there’s only one suspect. Her.

What’s more, she doesn’t remember much about the night he was killed – not just because of the forgetfulness that’s been plaguing her along with the hot flushes – but because she definitely had one too many cocktails with her two best friends Amber and Jeanie.

Clio does remember them talking about how much they all hated him though. And, in the frame for murder, she has to ask herself – if she didn’t kill Gary, who did? One of his many enemies? Or someone a little closer to home? And can she and her friends find the real killer before it’s too late?

Unputdownable mystery set on the English coast – perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club, Bad Sisters, and How to Kill Your Family. Follow @marshisms on X, Sign up to Katie's newsletter

Review

Chaos reigns supreme in this first book in the Bad Girls Detective Agency. It's exactly how you might imagine the discovery of a dead body might go after a boozy night out with the girls. First thought is to get rid of the body, you know like some mob killer. Why would Clio think she needed to hide a crime she didn't commit, well is fairly certain she didn't commit - umm not entirely clear on what happened the night before and could have killed her ex. 

Flanked and supported by her best friends, who are helpful and entirely unhelpful sometimes, depending on the circumstances. They are however convinced that Clio is innocent - there is that pesky detail about the blackout though - and are willing to go to great lengths to prove it. The ex was a scoundrel, scammer and a wannabe Brad Pitt who liked to swim in dangerous waters with bigger sharks than he was. He was always convinced the solution to every problem was just round the corner waiting to be found.

It's cosy crime with a comedy element to it, perhaps because the core and depth of the friendship between the women and the situations they find themselves will resonate with readers. It's serious enough to make you grumble at the injustice, and yet wanders so close to the edge of hilarity to make it an entertaining read.

Buy How Not To Murder Your Ex at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher ‏: ‎ Boldwood Books; pub date 1 Dec. 2023. Buy at Amazon com.

#Blogtour Murder in the Bookshop by Anita Davison

It's a pleasure to take part in the Blogtour Murder in the Bookshop by Anita Davison.

About the Author

Anita Davison is the author of the successful Flora Maguire historical mystery series. Previously published by Aria, she is writing a new cosy mystery series for Boldwood, the first title of which, Murder in the Bookshop, will be published in August 2023. Follow @anitasdavison on Twitter, @Anitadavison3740 on Instagram.

About the book

Someone’s been read their last rites…

1915, London: Working in the dusty bookshop that her Aunt Violet mysteriously inherited, Hannah Merrill is accustomed to finding twists in every tale. But discovering her beloved best friend Lily-Anne – with a paperknife through her heart – in the middle of the bookshop, is not a plotline she saw coming.

The case is anything but textbook. With the discovery of a coded German message, and Hannah’s instinct that Lily-Anne’s husband is keeping secrets, she determines to get to the bottom of it.

She can’t do it alone though. To crack this case, Hannah will need the enlist the help of her outrageous, opinionated, only-occasionally-objectionable Aunt Violet.

They think they’re making progress until one of their chief suspects is found dead. And Hannah realises that she is herself now in the murderer’s sights. Will the final chapter be the ending of a killer… or just a killer ending?

A totally addictive, WW1-set cozy mystery, perfect for fans of Verity Bright, T.E. Kinsey, and Agatha Christie.

Review

Running a bookshop in the middle of London, as the bombing of the city by the Germans begins in earnest, isn't a simple task. It's also slightly more difficult to run a business when someone decides to commit a murder in said bookshop. Everyone starts to look like a suspect even Hannah and her Aunt Violet.

It reminded me of Christie's Tommy and Tuppence, the Miss Scarlet series with the slightly rebellious Aunt Violet giving a bit of Miss Fisher vibes. Set in 1915 with Britain finally coming to the realisation that there is no end in sight when it comes to the war, in fact the real devastation is only just beginning.

There are plenty of personal tragedies and perhaps what is the most tragic is the way the remaining men, regardless of age, are treated with such disdain for not volunteering. This is before they have no choice and the thoughtless cruelty of their own friends, neighbours and fellow countrymen and women poisons their country. 

I enjoyed the way the author combines historical fact with the comfortable feel of characters inviting you in for a look into their lives and keeps the story on a never quite even keel by introducing death, betrayal and suspicion into the mix.

Buy Murder in the Bookshop at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher ‏: Boldwood Books; pub date 22 Aug. 2023. Buy at Amazon com. Buy here.

#Blogtour A Mother's War by Helen Parusel

 It's a pleasure to take part in the Blogtour A Mother's War by Helen Parusel.

About the Author

Helen Parusel - I am from London but now live in Hamburg, Germany with my husband and daughter. I gave English lessons to retired Germans for twenty years and became intrigued by many of their wartime stories. My mother comes from Linz, Austria and I spent my summer holidays there for years which inspired my next novel. I have always loved reading and writing, and now finally have the time to devote to writing. Follow @HelenParusel on Twitter

About the book

Narvik, 1940. After Laila awakens to the sight of warships in the fjord, it isn't long before she turns resistor to the brutal Nazi regime. She is horrified when local girls begin affairs with enemy soldiers, yet against her own principles, she finds herself falling in love with German soldier, Josef.

Josef is not like the others. He becomes involved in helping her and the locals with resistance activities, risking his life on more than one occasion.

But then Laila finds out she is pregnant. With Josef sent to the Russian front, and Laila cast out by her family, she turns to a home for women which promises to care for her and her unborn child. But instead, she finds herself caught in a system of evil far beyond what she thought possible…

Review

Laila's first instinct, when her hometown is invaded, is to protect her family. The close family bond threatens to shatter when her emotions aren't willing to see every invader as the enemy. It's a choice that leaves her vulnerable and in danger when she inadvertently falls into a scheme created by the Nazi regime to ensure the master race survives and thrives.

The invasion of Norway by the Nazi's during World War 2, tends to be mentioned less frequently, although the repercussions remain deeply embedded in their heritage now. The important part they played in the Lebensborn scheme is also a part of history that isn't mentioned often. Playing an integral part in the handpicked and planned next generation of Aryans, thereby creating a legacy, but not in the way it was intended.

Up to 12000 children is a lot and it's a travesty that they haven't been recognised and compensated in some way for the abuse and mistreatment they have had to endure. Innocent children being used as scapegoats for the atrocities committed by an invading force driven by fantastical ideology - anyone using them to punish the Nazi regime is guilty of misplaced vengeance.

I enjoyed the way the author captured the tragedy of the historical events, whilst delivering a message of endurance, strength and connection.

Buy A Mother's War at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher ‏: ‎Boldwood Books; pub date 17 May 2023. Buy at Amazon com.

#Blogtour Odin's Betrayal by Donovan Cook

 It's my turn on the Blogtour Odin's Betrayal by Donovan Cook.

About the Author

Donovan Cook is the author of the well-received Ormstunga Saga series which combines fast-paced narrative with meticulously researched history of the Viking world, and is inspired by his interest in Norse Mythology.  He lives in Lancashire and his first title in a new series for Boldwood will be published in Spring 2023. Follow @DonovanCook20 on Twitter

About the book

Two kingdoms destined for war, one boy caught in the eye of the storm...

Francia AD853 - After a failed Viking raid on the Frankish coast over 20-years-ago, Jarl Sven the Boar is forced to leave his only son, Torkel, as a hostage and warned never to raid Francia again or his son will die.

In Hügelburg, a small town in East Francia, Torkel and his 9-year-old son Charles are ambushed at home. Before dying, Torkel thrusts a package into young Charles’s hands and tells him to flee Francia for Denmark in search of his grandfather Sven the Boar’s protection.

But the man Charles eventually finds is not who he expects, and Charles must put his fate in the hands of a man betrayed by Odin. Together they must uncover the significance of the package and why the Kings of Francia want Charles dead.

Review

Jarl has overcalculated his position and the repercussion of that is not only the deaths of his fellow countrymen, but also having to choose to save many in exchange for the life of his loved one. A hostage means leverage, but when the hostage is your child it also means the beginning of the end.

It's not uncommon for people who live abroad to return to their homeland, their family and countrymen (people), and be completely shocked that the world has moved on. That the idyllic image they have in their memories and head isn't the reality or in this case that life and age has changed someone into a quivering wreck of the person they used to be.

When Torkel automatically looks to the severed connection from his childhood he has no idea what kind of danger, disruption and challenging times he is sending his young son into. In the back of his mind is there perhaps an inkling of the redemption he deserves being delivered to his own son by the father who had to make a choice between life or death so many years before.

Will Charles be able to find and semblance of safety with the grandfather broken by the decisions he had to make to save himself and the rest of his men?

It's a fast paced venture into historical fiction, the ambitious and history altering migration, battles and expeditions that have left permanent footprints in our geographical and genealogical past - footprints and fixtures that are visible even today. 

Buy Odin's Betrayal at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher ‏: ‎Boldwood Books (11 April 2023)  Buy at Amazon com.

#Blogtour The Assistant by Amanda Reynolds

It's a pleasure to take part in the Blogtour The Assistant by Amanda Reynolds.

About the Author

Amanda Reynolds is the bestselling psychological suspense author whose debut novel, Close To Me, was adapted as a major six-part TV series for Channel 4 in 2021. Previously published by Headline, her books have been translated into multiple languages. Amanda lives near Cheltenham. Follow @amandareynoldsj on Twitter, /@ajreynolds2/ on Instagram,

About the book

I know many things about Larissa. I know what she eats, which must-have brands she applies to her face, and the price of each carefully selected ‘piece’ in her multi-million-pound home in Belgravia. Because Ris, as she is known to her many followers, likes to share. And now I’m here, in her home, watching her every move.

Entrusted with her secrets and running her diary from the bijou basement flat, I’m on hand to fulfil Ris’ every need. Her right-hand woman. But what she doesn’t know is why I’m really here. I’ve put a lot on the line to get this job, and now my plan can begin. I’ve waited long enough.

Review

The picture of the assistant is an incomplete picture and a blank canvas that we fill in as bits of information are presented to the reader. Are we talking a psycho determined to get revenge for some obscure reason, is it just someone with mad ambition or is it just a comedy of misunderstanding and errors.

As Gail inserts herself into the life and times of Ris, who is more concerned about her image than the reality of her lived experience, the cracks begin to show for both of them. At the end of the day is there really a winner in this situation?

I think it's fair to say that this book has a good chance of being picked up for a tv adaptation too - it is an excellent cat and mouse dark domestic thriller. Written in a similar style to Hallett's Appeal - the audience or the reader becomes part of structure, suspicion and plot development. 

The story is written in a variety of diary entries, communication between interviewer and interviewee, and a retelling of the past by one of the main characters. It's done well, the story runs without a disjointed feel, despite the rapid quick fire changes in the way the story is communicated.

I enjoyed it and it is definitely a read I would recommend. I especially liked the way the reader is kept in a constant state of imbalance - is there any person in this situation who is innocent or free from guilt or blame?

Buy The Assistant at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher : ‎Boldwood Books, pub date 5 April 2023. Buy at Amazon com.

#Blogtour His Fatal Legacy by Heather Atkinson

It's my turn on the Blogtour His Fatal Legacy by Heather Atkinson.

About the Author

Heather Atkinson is the author of over fifty books – predominantly in the crime fiction genre.  Although Lancashire born and bred she now lives with her family, including twin teenage daughters, on the beautiful west coast of Scotland.  Her gangland series for Boldwood, set on the fictional Gallowburn estate in Glasgow begins with the title Blood Brothers. Follow @HeatherAtkinso1 on Twitter, @heathercrimeauthor on Instagram, Sign up to her newsletter here

About the book

Edinburgh 1896 - Amy Alardyce's once-perfect life is in tatters. Her eldest son, Robert, has come of age, become the master of his own home, and married his childhood love Jane.  But with maturity has come a terrible legacy, and the dark desires Robert inherited from his evil father Matthew, are fighting to get loose.

Whilst Jane is working hard to get her and Robert accepted into fashionable society, poor women are being hunted on the streets of Edinburgh, and Amy fears her son is to blame.  And once the infamous Inspector Murphy takes up the case, Amy has to face a stark choice - denounce her son as a monster or risk her own safety to protect him from the consequences of his lethal actions.

Review

This is the third book in the Alardyce Series and can be read as a standalone, although I would recommend reading the first two to get the gist and the the history of the family. How we got to the point that Amy has a grown son suspected of being the worst kind of criminal.

The story actually brings some core questions to the table, the kind that apply to any family and any period in time. Does the love of a mother override any crime or heinous action their child may commit? Is it possible to draw a line in the sand when it comes to emotions and the bond between mother and child, especially when a grown child could potentially be a bad influence or a danger to their siblings. Is the possibility of becoming outcasts in society a factor that makes the decision easier or harder.

The most poignant storyline, that is woven through into this book from the prior books in the series, is the whether evil is nature vs nurture, ergo passed along like a short leg, wonky eye or more a case of learning by seeing. Can Amy make the right choices for herself, her family, and even Robert?

It could have done with a little more depth when it came to characters and relationships, saying that the series is more of a cosy historical crime series and it's about disappearing into the streets of Edinburgh for a while and enjoying the read.

Buy His Fatal Legacy at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher ‏: ‎Boldwood Books pub date 20 Mar. 2023. Buy at Amazon com.

#Blogtour Murder in the Highlands by Debbie Young

It's a pleasure to take part in the Blogtour Murder in the Highlands by Debbie Young. 

About the Author

Debbie Young is the much-loved author of the Sophie Sayers and St Brides cosy crime mysteries. She lives in a Cotswold village where she runs the local literary festival, and has worked at Westonbirt School, both of which provide inspiration for her writing. 

She is bringing both her series to Boldwood in a 13-book contract. They will be publishing several new titles in each series and republishing the backlist, starting in September 2022. Follow @DebbieYoungBN on Twitter

About the book

Sophie and Hector are heading to the Highlands. - For Sophie it’s a trip home and for Hector it’s time to meet Sophie’s parents... Though their trip has village tongues wagging about a stop at Scotland’s notorious elopement spot, Gretna Green.

No matter what, it’ll make a nice break from the murder and mayhem that has been plaguing their beautiful Cotswolds village. But Sophie and Hector are barely on the road before they’re being hassled by reckless drivers and at their first rest stop a body is discovered.

Then comes a series of ‘accidents’ that leave poor Hector a little worse for wear. Is someone after Hector? Who could even know he was in the Highlands? Accidents or not, can they find some way to keep Hector safe?

Review

Sophie and Hector are off on a holiday to the Highlands. The intention is for Hector to get to know Sophie's parents, although the people around them are convinced the two of them are planning to take their relationship to a new level.

Quite inadvertently the two of them become involved in a crime when a body is found on their travels. A coincidence? Is the death connected the strange series of events connected to Hector, who appears to have become an easy target for road raging bullies and what odd incidents that are making their 'meet the parents' trip a little uncomfortable.

It's a cosy read, a light-hearted mystery with a strong set of relatable characters. The setting of the town/village Sophie and Hector live in is both a driver, and the hive of interpersonal relationships that give the series both a personal touch and its charming moments.

It will be fun to see Sophie and Hector continue with their very particular style of sleuthing, the accidentally falling straight into a mystery kind of read. And of course reading about how their helpful villagers, friends and family further influence their relationship.

Buy Murder in the Highlands at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Buy at Amazon com. Buy via Boldwood Books.

#Blogtour The Memory Keeper of Kyiv by Erin Litteken

It's my turn on the Blogtour The Memory Keeper of Kyiv by Erin Litteken.

About the Author

Erin Litteken is a debut novelist with a degree in history and a passion for research. At a young age, she was enthralled by stories of her family’s harrowing experiences in Ukraine before, during and after World War II. Her first historical fiction title, The Memory Keeper of Kyiv, draws on those experiences. She lives in Illinois, USA with her husband and children. Follow @ErinLitteken on Twitter, Visit Erin’s website: erinlitteken.com

About the book

In the 1930s, Stalin’s activists marched through the Soviet Union, espousing the greatness of collective farming. It was the first step in creating a man-made famine that, in Ukraine, stole almost 4 million lives. Inspired by the history the world forgot, and the Russian government denies, Erin Litteken reimagines their story.

In 1929, Katya is 16 years old, surrounded by family and in love with the boy next door. When Stalin’s activists arrive in her village, it’s just a few, a little pressure to join the collective. But soon neighbours disappear, those who speak out are never seen again and every new day is uncertain.

Resistance has a price, and as desperate hunger grips the countryside, survival seems more a dream than a possibility. But, even in the darkest times, love beckons. Seventy years later, a young widow discovers her grandmother’s journal, one that will reveal the long-buried secrets of her family’s haunted past.

This is a story of the resilience of the human spirit, the love that sees us through our darkest hours and the true horror of what happened during the Holodomor. - May we never forget, lest history repeat itself.

A share of proceeds will be donated to DEC's Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

Review

I think of myself as lucky in regard to the influence my father has had on my education - in filling the gaps created by country hops, school moves, schoolyear jumps and just in general where society and the system is inadequate in passing on knowledge. Irrespective of whether it be intentional or due to curriculum changes. 

He is a font of knowledge, especially when it comes to history, and putting historical events into perspective when it comes to current events. Why is this story of historical importance, even if certain details and characters make it faction - a melding of historical fact and fiction. It's important because it gives context to the current conflict - the invasion of the Ukraine by Russia, or Putin to be more precise.

Putin styles himself on a man he admires, a ruler upheld by many of the Soviets then and even now in Russia. Stalin was a murderer, a monster, a dictator who was a master of propaganda, both inside and outside the boundaries of Mother Russia. Even now the millions of the Ukrainian people he purposely starved, killed and tortured - they are a mere footnote in history, and one that is purposely held under a suspicion of doubt.

In a way that is exactly why Katya's story is buried and hidden for decades. It's not uncommon for survivors of extreme trauma, such as war or the Holodomor - the Terror Famine - to simply remain silent about the events they have experienced. People displaced, ripped from their homes, family and culture in the most horrifying way, only to then be subjected to the horrors of World War 2. How do you resume a semblance of normality after that?

This story is about generational trauma, family secrets and about finding peace after experiencing the unimaginable. It's also a stark reminder about the lack of empathy when it comes to the pursuit of power and control, which is why the small gestures and moments of connection are even more important. It's a captivating story - a timely piece of work.

Buy The Memory Keeper of Kyiv at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher ‏: ‎ Boldwood Books pub date 16 May 2022. Buy at Amazon com. Buy at Boldwood.

#BlogTour The Mersey Mothers by Sheila Riley

It's my turn on the BlogTour The Mersey Mothers by Sheila Riley. This is the third book in the Reckoner's Row series.

About the Author

Sheila Riley wrote four #1 bestselling novels under the pseudonym Annie Groves and is now writing the Reckoner's Row series under her own name. She has set it around the River Mersey and its docklands near to where she spent her early years. She still lives in Liverpool. Follow Sheila on @1sheilariley Twitter, Facebook, @sheilarileynovelist on Instagram, Sign up to her newsletter here

About the book

Liverpool 1953 - January sees the dawn of the Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation year as the mothers of Reckoners Row unite in preparation for the celebration of the new Queen.

Meanwhile Evie Kilgaren is dreaming of her summer wedding to Danny Harris, but trouble looms for Skinner & Sons with a new rival trying to put them out of business, but no-one knows why....

Ada Harris is summoned to the bedside of her estranged husband, who, in his dying moment confesses to a deadly secret - he knows who really murdered Evie’s mam Rene all those years ago and the consequences are far reaching.

Has an innocent man been jailed and is there still a murderer walking carefree? Will Evie get the happy-ever-after she so longs for with Danny? And will The Mersey Mothers unite and still be friends?

Review

If you've stumbled upon the Reckoner's Row series before the beginning of the book gives us the events of The Mersey Orphan from a different perspective. That common thread or event now serves as the intro to the lives of the children left behind as they deal with the complications of a post-war world and adulthood.

Evie and Danny fight to keep his business afloat in the lead up to their nuptials. It seems someone is playing dirty when it comes to trying to shut them down for good. On top of that a killer close to home has escaped and is intent on finding himself some justice. It's a constantly moving daily bag of troubles, strife, love and friendship, which is of course what readers are looking for in this kind of saga meets historical fiction with just enough cosy and large portion of reality.

Kudos also for the timely plot in regard to the coronation. What better way to give a nod to the upcoming milestone by referencing the beginning of her journey, the country and its people, who embraced the moment of light after times of loss and darkness.

The author gives readers a Cookson style relatable plot, but with less misery and more satisfying character developments if you like a wee bit of joy with your hard times.

Buy The Mersey Mothers at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher ‏: ‎ Boldwood Books pub date 19 April 2022. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogTour Fool's Gold by Gillian Godden

 It's my turn on the BlogTour Fool's Gold by Gillian Godden.

About the Author

Gillian Godden is a brilliantly reviewed writer of gangland fiction as well as a full-time NHS Key Worker in Hull. She lived in London for over thirty years, where she sets her thrillers, and during this time worked in various stripper pubs and venues which have inspired her stories. Follow @GGodden on Twitter, on Instagram goddengillian or gilliangoddenauthor on Facebook.

About the book

A new life… With their wretched life in Liverpool behind them, Julie and Ralph Gold head to London for their next big break. Julie’s had enough of slumming it, she's ready to quit their life of crime and go legit.

The same old game… But it seems their reputation had beat them to it, and the underworld is already bubbling with news of the their arrival.  And as much as Julie tries to go straight, the more people underestimate them and treat them like fools. And there is only so much Julie can take…

One last trick. - So when they are offered one final big job, Julie knows they should say no. It’s risky and could cost them everything they have. But it could also be their last chance to make it big.

And when fools rush in, the Golds take the spoils. Read what happens next for Julie and Ralph Gold in another gripping story by Gillian Godden.

Review

Ralph is offering a new start, a new life for Julie. A life away from the hardship she has known and the need to do anything and everything to survive. She is full of uncertainty, and yet takes the plunge anyway. The problem is their reputations proceed them and the criminal world is waiting around every corner.

Julie's character is a tricky one. The reader feels empathy with her and she is certainly capable of showing compassion to others. Simultaneously there is also the brusque, foul-mouthed and aggressive Julie who reacts impulsively to perceived slights or judgements. It's a slightly jarring experience, because the lines become blurred between good and bad. Is that perhaps indicative of her true nature or is it the result of a life lived on the edge?

This is only the first in the Gold series and based on the teaser of the net one at the end of this read, it looks as if it's going to be a violent and bumpy ride for Julie. It's a gritty crime series with an urban crime vibe. 

Buy Fool's Gold at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher ‏: ‎Boldwood Books; pub date 14 Oct. 2021. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogTour Wartime Blues for the Harper Girls by Rosie Clarke

 It's a pleasure to take part in the BlogTour Wartime Blues for the Harper Girls.

About the Author

Rosie Clarke is a #1 bestselling saga writer whose most recent books include The Mulberry Lane series. She has written over 100 novels under different pseudonyms and is a RNA Award winner. She lives in Cambridgeshire. Rosie’s brand new saga series, Welcome to Harpers Emporium began in December 2019. Click here to sign up to Rosie Clarke's newsletter

Follow @AnneHerries on Twitter, on Bookbub, on Amazon, on Goodreads, Visit rosieclarke.co.uk,

About the book

London 1917 - As the Americans enter the War, there is renewed energy in the war effort. With husbands and sons fighting for freedom, the women of Harpers are left to tackle the day-to-day affairs at home and work. With Ben Harper away, Sally fears she is being followed by a mysterious woman. Who is she and what does she want?

Maggie Gibbs collapses seriously ill in the frontline hospitals and is brought back to England close to death. Can she be saved and what does the future hold for her and her broken heart? Marion Jackson’s father is on the run from the Police already wanted for murder. She fears he will return to threaten his family once more.

And Beth Burrows is pregnant with her second child, worried and anxious for her husband Jack, who has been many months at sea. As Christmas 1917 approaches what will the future hold for Harpers, its girls and their men at War?

Review

Although this can be read as a standalone novel, I would definitely recommend reading the others in the series, You can follow the entire lives of the characters that way.

All the women find their lives changed drastically by wartime. Relationships are strained by worry, a sense of duty and the need to adapt to the situations arising due to the war. Sally's worries for Ben are replaced by something akin to fear when she realises she is being followed by a  strange woman.

Maggie, who has proven to be fearless, a role model and she has discovered a real talent for caring for others. Her life is changed abruptly, so it's a question of finding something just as fulfilling to do when she returns home.

It's an escapism read, a saga built around female characters who have to persevere through the quickly evolving changes of the 20th century, and in this book they learn to navigate the difficulties of wartime. It's a book that tackles some difficult topics, but the escapism element means they are touched on and they don't go into much depth. 

The Harper Girls are worth a follow - strong women facing what seem like insurmountable obstacles, pain and difficult situations - it's a read that has something for everyone.

Buy Wartime Blues for the Harper Girls at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher ‏: ‎Boldwood Books 6 July 2021. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogTour A Second-Hand Husband by Claire Calman

 

It's my turn on the Blogtour A Second-Hand Husband by Claire Calman.

About the Author

Claire Calman is a writer and broadcaster known for her novels that combine wit and pathos, including the bestseller Love is a Four-Letter Word. She has appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and Loose Ends. Her first book for Boldwood was published in June 2020. Sign up to hear more from Claire Calman, Follow @clairecalman on Twitter, on Bookbub,

About the book

Natalie and Carl are newlyweds, but the honeymoon period is over already. Carl has just announced he has bought their first home at auction without telling Natalie where it is, never mind showing her a picture of it.

Natalie is horrified to discover that the dream home is in Little Wyford, mere minutes away from Carl’s ex-wife Antonia. And to make matters worse, Antonia’s palatial country mansion has a fully-functioning roof (and a heated swimming pool!), unlike the ramshackle cottage Carl has bought for them…

Antonia is Little Wyford’s Queen Bee, mistress of the book club, organiser of the Christmas Fair and leader of the ladies-who-lunch. No matter how hard she tries, Natalie just doesn’t fit in, and when Antonia insists on referring to Carl as ‘Our Husband’, Natalie’s dreams of happily-ever-after take another nose dive.

Second-hand furniture has much to recommend it, especially when doing up a country cottage, second-hand clothes can be ever-so chic, but second-hand husbands are proving to be a very bad idea indeed… Can Natalie ever escape the label of Wife Number Two or is she destined to share her husband forever?

Hilariously funny, wickedly witty, but with a heart of gold and a warmth and wisdom that are all its own, A Second-Hand Husband is Claire Calman’s tour de force.

Review

Some readers might have a tendency to cringe at Natalie's actions and low self-esteem, and they wouldn't be completely wrong to do so. It verges on embarrassing the way she stumbles politely and ever so apologetically from one situation to the other, where others feel free to mock and belittle her.

She lets herself be manoeuvred into being second best, an afterthought, the friendly mouse and the new wife who doesn't shine as brightly as the old wife. Her first mistake is letting her husband get away with picking a new house right next door to the ex-wife, without any input from her, then keeping stumm every time someone uses her as a doormat.

Oh boy, sorry not sorry, but Carl and his actions aren't romantic in any way shape or form. He has no respect for Natalie at all. Natalie in turn doesn't seem able to distinguish between what possible toxicity or a romantic gesture may look like.

It's story of family dynamics, with romance and how to rebuild trust and relationships when a ready made family needs to open the doors to a new member. Calman doesn't have to wade too far into fiction with this premise, which is probably why certain characters will evoke strong emotional responses.

Buy A Second-Hand Husband at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher ‏: ‎ Boldwood Books pub date June 16, 2021. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogTour Dark Days for the Tobacco Girls by Lizzie Lane

 

It's my turn on the BlogTour Dark Days for the Tobacco Girls by Lizzie Lane.

About the Author

Lizzie Lane is the author of over 50 books, a number of which have been bestsellers.  She was born and bred in Bristol where many of her family worked in the cigarette and cigar factories.  This has inspired her new saga series for Boldwood The Tobacco Girls, the first part of which will be published in January 2021. Sign up to Lizzie's newsletter

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About the book

Nothing will stop the The Tobacco Girls, not even war... Bristol 1940. The Tobacco Girls cling together as they realise that the clouds of war are turning dark, the world is becoming more dangerous and their lives more unpredictable. Bridget Milligan’s big, happy family fragments when her siblings are evacuated to North Devon, then a letter from America further fills her with dismay.

Maisie Miles safe haven from both Eddie Bridgeman and her father is jeopardised and she is forced to move on, but where too this time? Phyllis Mason is struck down by tragedy and her life spirals downwards into despair until a new horizons beckons, but also perhaps great danger...

Regardless of the rationing, shortages and an ever-worsening situation, The Tobacco Girls all pull together and hope for better days to come.

Review

With the darkness of World War 2 looming over the girls they each have their own problems to deal with. Maisie sees her past and danger lurking behind each corner, whic technically isn't paranoia if it's true. Bridget has to watch her family be torn apart, even if it's in the best interest of her siblings. Phyllis experiences a tragedy which will turn her life around completely.

Each of them, in their own way, finds their own trauma and difficulties hard to cope with alone, but together they become strong enough to do what's right. More importantly they show each other the light in the hours of sadness and despair.

Maisie, Phyllis and Bridget will always be there for each other through thick, thin and in this case wartime. Even with the odd disgruntled snipes and their own problems, what they truly excel at is being there when one of them is in dire need of a friend. 

It's a story of friendship, sisterhood and family, because that's what they are ..family. It's lovely historical war fiction, escapism with its roots grounded firmly in history and the reality of friendship between women.

Buy Dark Days for the Tobacco Girls at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher ‏: ‎Boldwood Books; pub date 8 Jun. 2021. Buy at Amazon com.