#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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#BlogTour Perfect Ten by Jacqueline Ward

Let's kick off this BlogTour for Perfect Ten by Jacqueline Ward. It's a tense, realistic and emotionally charged read. It will make you question who the real villain is in this situation.

About the Author
Jacqueline Ward is a Chartered Psychologist and scientist working in high hazard safety. She holds a PhD which explored the stories we use in everyday life to construct our identities, and in 2013 received an MBE for services to vulnerable people. She lives in Oldham with her partner and their dog.

Follow @JacquiAnnC  @CorvusBooks on Twitter
Visit jacquelineward.co.uk
Buy Perfect Ten

About the book
An explosive debut thriller about one woman's search for revenge - and the dangerous chain of events she sets in motion...

Caroline Atkinson is powerless and angry. She has lost more than most - her marriage, her reputation, her children.  Then one day, she receives an unusual delivery: lost luggage belonging to the very man who is responsible, her estranged husband Jack.

In a leather holdall, Caroline unearths a dark secret, one that finally confirms her worst suspicions. Jack has kept a detailed diary of all his affairs; every name, every meeting, every lie is recorded. He even marks the women out of ten.

Caroline decides it's time to even the score. She will make this man pay, even if it means risking everything...

Review
Caroline is a compulsive hoarder, has a drinking problem and has lost her children to her ex due to her mental instability. At least that's what he would like you to believe, but then again Caroline is willing to go to really crazy lengths to get revenge on Jack and his perfect partners.

Throughout the story the reader is never quite sure whether Caroline is a complete fruitcase and fits the criteria for her own psychopathy test or whether her ex is the actual threat. That in itself is the actual dilemma, especially in real life scenarios. In a he said, she said situation the more convincing liar is the one who is believed.

At a certain point in the story there is no clear distinction between Caroline and Jack, which is the whole point of or rather the moral of the story. Neither of them are doing what is best for their children, while they are consumed with hate and revenge for each other. Regardless of who started what and who was at fault first, they have both become right-fighters and fight to be right instead of fighting for what is right for their two children. A tale as old as time when it comes to divorce and separation.

From personal experience I can tell you that if the intelligent well-educated Caroline plays nice then she has no hope of keeping her children, because when you are dealing with a manipulative abuser with psychopathic tendencies, playing nice and being therapeutically correct just doesn't cut it. If your ex is a two-faced individual, who has a charming side for the outside world and a ruthless abusive one for you, then the majority of people will want to believe he is mister nice guy, as opposed to the nightmare he really is.

Friends don't want to be involved, and yet take sides anyway. People who know the truth brush it aside for a more convenient and pleasant narrative. Family members protect and enable the abuser. The only way to win against a person like that is to play dirty too. You have to leave your morals and good intentions at the front door.

You know what the best and most ironic thing about this book is? The title. Perfect Ten is the Holy Grail of imaginary perfection, and just so we are clear the grass isn't greener on the other side - it's still just plain old green.

Ward is an expert at keeping her readers on their toes in this potent tale of revenge, obsession, control and abuse. She makes it easy to comprehend how an abuse victim is unable to recognise the abuse and to fall into the trap of a self-fulfilling prophecy, especially when the victim is subjected to repeated messages about her supposed mental ill-health, her inability to be a good mother and her lack of self-worth.

It's a tense and frustrating reminder of the injustice many victims experience in situations like this, and how many abusers can convince everyone around them that they are the victims instead. You have to be your own army, because trust me when the going gets tough you'll find your so-called friends were never friends in the first place. I think the author wants us to think about that the next time we pass judgement too quickly or decide sitting on the bench is better than supporting someone in genuine need of a helping hand.

I enjoyed the read, because it rang a lot of bells for me and despite it seeming far-fetched, dramatic and wee bit like a television drama, I can assure you this is the unfortunate reality for many in abusive relationships. Kudos to Ward for highlighting the more manipulative, controlling and psychological side of abuse.

Buy Perfect Ten at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.
Publisher: Corvus Books

#SpotlightTour Ruin of Stars by Linsey Miller

Today it's my turn on the Spotlight Tour for Ruin of Stars by Linsey Miller, the second part of Mask of Shadows. Enter the Giveaway below to win 2 Copies of Ruin of Stars (Open to US & Canada only)

About the Author
A wayward biologist from Arkansas, Linsey previously worked as a crime lab intern, neuroscience lab assistant, and pharmacy technician. She can be found writing about science and magic anywhere there’s coffee.

Follow @LinseyMiller @SourcebooksFire on Twitter
Connect with Linsey On Instagram
Visit Linsey Miller at linseymiller.com
Buy Ruin the Stars

About the book
The thrilling conclusion to the Mask of Shadows duology that weaves a tale of magic, shadows, and most importantly, revenge.

As one of the Queen’s elite assassins, Sal finally has the power, prestige, and permission to hunt down the lords who killed their family. But Sal still has to figure out who the culprits are. They must enlist the help of some old friends and enemies while ignoring a growing distaste for the queen and that the charming Elise is being held prisoner by her father.

But there’s something terribly wrong in the north. Talk of the return of shadows, missing children, and magic abounds. As Sal takes out the people responsible for their ruined homeland, Sal learns secrets and truths that can’t be forgotten.

Review
This is the second book in the Mask of Shadows series, and although it can be read as a standalone I personally would suggest reading the first book, to do the second justice and understand the complex world-building better.

The topic of gender-fluidity is paramount to understanding both the characters and the premise, because it is woven into the culture, moral fibre and laws of the Erlend nobility. A country and people who only recognise the sexual concept, partnership and marriage of man and woman. The rulers and supporters of Erlend become the bible-thumpers of the 21st century. The acknowledgement of gender fluidity or lack of it becomes the cornerstone of their oppression, which also includes destroying those they consider to be Untermenschen in an attempt to gain more power and property.

The main character Sal is a survivor of the massacres put in place by said nobility, and has taken their place as part of an esteemed set of assassins. One of a set of killers who protect their leader and kill without impunity. As Opal, Sal becomes the masked version of revenge, complete with a set of names on a kill list, which is whispered in times of anger or stress.

What's interesting to me is the suggestion that the lack of conformity when it comes to gender is presented as a personal failure and downfall for that person. If you are not one of the two, you are socially unacceptable, which sort of mirrors the reaction today in our own society.

The story could be written and told without that aspect of fear and hate-mongering, but I think it was important to Miller to show the similarity between the fictional scenario and the hate non-heterosexuals, and gender fluid persons have to deal with. It isn't a fictional fantasy problem. It's a real life problem with real repercussions when oppression is part of our daily existence and own identity.

Miller is a creative writer with fascinating ideas, although I could have done with a map of the countries and reading the first book would have spared me a little confusion at the beginning. The end of the book may leave the door open for further ventures into this world of magic, shadows, oppression and murder. Either way Miller has made her mark in the world of fantasy fiction, and writes captivating stories.

Buy Ruin of Stars at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.
Buy on Amazon com Barnes & Noble BookAMillion  !indigo Indiebound
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: August 28, 2018

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