#BlogTour A Wild Winter Swan by Gregory Maguire

 It's my turn on the BlogTour A Wild Winter Swan by Gregory Maguire. A poignant coming-of-age story inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's The Wild Swans,' set amid the magic of Christmas in 1960s New York. (Author photo by Andy Newman)

About the Author

Gregory Maguire received his Ph.D. in English and American Literature from Tufts University, and his B.A. from the State University of New York at Albany. He was a professor and co-director at the Simmons College Center for the Study of Children's Literature from 1979-1985. In 1987 he co-founded Children's Literature New England. He still serves as co-director of CLNE, although that organization has announced its intention to close after its 2006 institute.

The bestselling author of Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, Lost, Mirror Mirror, and the Wicked Years, a series that includes Wicked, Son of a Witch, and A Lion Among Men. Wicked, now a beloved classic, is the basis for the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical of the same name. Maguire has lectured on art, literature, and culture both at home and abroad.

He has three adopted children and is married to painter Andy Newman. He lives with his family near Boston, Massachusetts.

About the book

Laura lives on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in an aging brownstone with her old-world grandparents - but she may well be sent to a boarding school in Montreal in the new year after being expelled from school for behaviour unbecoming of a young lady.

Constantly telling herself stories about the events surrounding her to divorce herself from te tragedies of her life, Laura truly finds herself inside a fairy tale when a handsome boy with a swan wing in place of a left arm lands on her roof. But Laura must forge unlikely allies in her quest to keep this storybook character from overturning her life in all the wrong ways.

Greogory  Maquire conjures a haunting tale of magical realism that illuminates one young woman's heartbreak and hope as she begins the inevitable journey to adulthood.

Review

Laura has a hard time connecting to her peers and finds her grandparents rules and choices hard to comprehend. She is isolated, and yet lives in a family where her safety and wellbeing is paramount. When her life is disrupted by a young man with one arm and a wing for the other, she recognises him from the many fairy tales she has read. It seems so magical in the stories, however the reality of the swan boy is slightly more disturbing and disruptive.

I haven't read anything by Maguire before, but I will certainly be changing that going forward. He writes with such eloquence and projects the illusion of shallow, whilst delivering great depth. The fluid interpretation of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales as he merges them with a story filled with magical realism.

In a way it feels as if the story is an homage to Andersen, and simultaneously it is a postmodern tale with pinch of noir and a flair of repressed violence, which lends itself to a more speculative read. The balance between old-world and modern is noted in the relationship between the grandparents and Laura. The grandparents try to keep her cocooned in their bubble and views, to protect and nurture. Laura is trying to burst free of the constraints of her own anxieties, her additional needs, and the the grandparents who are reluctant to let her fly.

The swan boy becomes an analogy for the gilded cage, the fear of the unknown, the equally repressed fluttering of sexuality, the longing to escape and desire for love.

I absolutely loved it. It's a beautifully crafted story.

Buy A Wild Winter Swan at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher ‏: WmMorrowPB; pub date 14 Oct. 2021. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogTour The Woman in the Woods by Lisa Hall

 It's my turn on the BlogTour The Woman in the Woods by Lisa Hall.

About the Author

Lisa loves words, reading and everything there is to love about books. She has dreamed of being a writer since she was a little girl - either that or a librarian - and after years of talking about it, was finally brave enough to put pen to paper (and let people actually read it). 

Lisa lives in a small village in Kent, surrounded by her towering TBR pile, a rather large brood of children, dogs, chickens and ponies and her long-suffering husband. She is also rather partial to eating cheese and drinking wine. Readers can follow @LisaHallAuthor on Twitter, Visit lisahallauthor.co.uk

About the book

She’s out there. Waiting for you. - When Allie moves to a quaint old cottage with her husband, it’s their dream home. Nestled in the village of Pluckley, it seems a perfect haven in which to raise their two children. But Pluckley has a reputation. It’s known as England’s most haunted village. And not long after the birth of their new son, Allie begins to notice strange things…   

 What’s the flash of white she sees moving quickly through the woods to the back of their house? And what’s the strange scratching noise from the chimney?

 As Allie discovers more about the history of their new home, she uncovers a story of witchcraft and superstition, which casts a long shadow into the present day. And not everything is as it seems. Her family might well be in danger, but it’s a danger none of them could have foreseen…

Bestseller Lisa Hall’s The Woman in the Woods is full of creeping unease and nerve-wracking tension, and will have readers on the edge of their seats…

Review

Allie has moved into a old place with a dire history she is as yet unaware of. She has a husband who is a bit of a workaholic and two young children - one of which is a new baby. She is tired, stressed and a little fed-up with people interfering with her life in general. Out of every corner the question of how she is coping is being forced upon her. 

Popping Co-codamol while you're breastfeeding  also isn't the done thing and certainly wouldn't be prescribed by health professionals to a nursing mother due to the codeine, but perhaps that is indicative of the downwards spiral Allie is heading towards. The question is whether she is being pushed in that direction by malevolent forces or is there something in the world around her with nefarious intentions?

I thought this was a cracking read, especially because Hall takes you in multiple directions and as a reader you quite willingly follow where she leads you, only to be confronted with something else entirely. I have to say this story made me angry - a lot. Angry for Allie and the way she was treated. Angry at Allie for not telling people to get stuffed. 

The author delivers a great plot with an important message, and yet in the end the reader is also left with questions. Is the solution really that simple or is it just a temporary plaster? 

Buy The Woman in the Woods at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher ‏: ‎HQ; pub date 30 Sept. 2021. Buy at Amazon com.

#Blogtour Highland Games by Evie Alexander

 It's my turn on the BlogTour Highland Games by Evie Alexander.

About the Author

Evie Alexander is the author of sexy romantic comedies with a very British sense of humour. She takes a method approach to her work, believing her capacity to repeatedly fail at life and love is what has given her such a rich supply of material for her writing.

Her interests include reading, eating, saving the world, and fantasising about people who only exist between the pages of her books. She lives in the West country with her family.

About the book

Welcome to Kinloch, and the hottest winter Scotland’s ever seen. Zoe’s always played it safe, just as her parents wanted. But when her great-uncle dies and leaves her a ramshackle cabin in the Scottish Highlands, she decides it’s time to change her life.

Upping sticks seems like a good idea in her cosy flat in London, but the reality is very different. There’s no electricity or running water, the roof leaks and there’s no front door. If that wasn’t bad enough, she’s moved up in the depths of winter and her scorching hot neighbour wants her out.

Rory’s got a fifty thousand tonne problem. If he can’t make Kinloch castle profitable, he’s out of a job. He needs a clear head, but there’s someone living in the cabin he saw as his own and she’s turned his world upside down.

Rory needs Zoe out of Scotland, and out of his life. The trouble is, she has no intention of leaving. Let the games begin…

Follow @Evie_author on Twitter, on Facebook, eviealexanderauthor on Instagram, Bookbub, Pinterest, Goodreads, Visit eviealexanderauthor.com

Review

Am I the only one that thinks the cover looks like the young lady is partaking in a bit of cheeky up the skirt/kilt viewing and enjoying it a wee bit too much?

Life Rules - Always wear clean, or in this case your best, underwear in case you get run over by a bus or mauled by a bear! My grandmother swore by that rule, although admittedly she never mentioned any bears unlike the main character, so it definitely made me laugh.

Zoe is fulfilling her uncle's last wish and doing something for herself, something not everyone is supportive off, but then that is understandable seeing as she is alone in the Scottish wilderness (is that a thing?) in a cabin. Turns out there is someone invested in seeing the back of her, but she digs her heels in.

What evolves from a risky adventure is hot romance built on mutual attraction and a budding friendship. The meeting of two people who genuinely want the best for each other - and of course the fact they are drawn to each other like magnets and find it hard to resist each other, well it helps and also means the story gets a bit hot and heavy at times.

Kudos to the author for coming up with the steamy scene index in the back. I think it's a brilliant idea and hopefully it will catch on with readers who would like enjoy certain moments over and over again.

Buy Highland Games at Amazon UK or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher ‏: ‎Emlin Press pub date 15 Oct. 2021. Buy at Amazon com.

Giveaway to Win a signed copy of Highland Games, Shortbread and more… (Open to UK Only) -Prize is a signed copy of Highland Games, Exclusive postcard and bookmark, Personalised heart & Shortbread

 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.*

#BlogTour Song of the Robin by R.V. Biggs

 It's my turn on the BlogTour for Sarah Macintyre series by R.V. Biggs, starting with The Song of the Robin followed by Reunion and Broken in a few days on this three book tour.

About the Author

R V Biggs lives in a small ex-mining village near Wolverhampton, England, with his wife Julie and Mags the black lab. He has four grown up children and eight grandchildren. Walking with the dog is a favourite pastime and much of the story line for his first novel was developed during these lengthy outings.

Robert worked for 35 years in telecommunications but changed career paths to a managerial supporting role within a local Mental Health National Health Service trust. It was during the period between these roles that the concept for his first novel was born.

Robert is a firm believer that destiny and co-incidence exist hand in hand and this conviction extends to his writing. He has a passion for holistic well-being and after first-hand experience of the potential healing powers of Reiki, a form of energy therapy, took a Reiki level 1 training course to heighten his spiritual awareness. Robert’s experiences in these areas helped conceive the ideas that led to Song of the Robin and its sequels Reunion and Broken, novels with central themes of fate, love, and the strength of family. His writing is not fantasy however but is set in modern times involving real people living real lives. Follow RVBiggs on Facebook, Visit rvbiggs.com

About the book

The whispered voices and unsettling dreams were puzzling enough, but when the visions began, disquiet crept into Sarah Richards heart.

Living a joyless and unfulfilled existence, Sarah’s life, however, is ordered and routine. But one autumn morning she sees a figure waving to her, the figure of a man more ghostly than real.

Several times he appears, but is the spectre harmless, or are his intentions malevolent? Disturbed and intrigued, Sarah endeavours to understand the mystery, to identify her unknown stalker.

But with each visitation, she becomes ever more bewildered, and as her ordered life begins to unravel, she questions the reality of all that she knows, and with mounting horror, even her own sanity.

Review

Sarah's life is existing and not living. Day in and day out the same routine, until one day something or someone inserts itself into her life and emotions. A presence that awakens certain emotions and reactions, and yet grows steadily more malevolent in nature.

I think it's quite important to skirt entirely around the revelation that gives readers a certain solution. At the same time doing so means taking everyone in a different direction. The story often clashes in that regard. On one side you have the truth and on the other side you have what the truth could possibly be.

It's a speculative read that wanders heavily into sight, sound, senses connected to the aspect of spirituality, and perhaps also the things we are unable to explain.

At times it is long-winded and could do with an edit, I think there is also this element of trying to outsmart the reader. The result is a a feeling of disconnect, confusion and a plot that needs to be tightened. Indeed there moments that don't seem to make a lot of sense, possibly because the author has written the trilogy and has written it knowing where it's going and what's coming - the downside is the reader doesn't have the same insight.

Buy Song of the Robin at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Pub date May 2 2017. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogBlitz The Secrets of Hawthorn Place by Jenni Keer

 

It's my turn on the BlogBlitz The Secrets of Hawthorn Place by Jenni Keer.

About the Author

Jenni Keer is a history graduate who embarked on a career in contract flooring before settling in the middle of the Suffolk countryside with her antique furniture restorer husband. She has valiantly attempted to master the ancient art of housework but with four teenage boys in the house it remains a mystery. Instead, she spends her time at the keyboard writing commercial women's fiction to combat the testosterone-fuelled atmosphere, with her number one fan #Blindcat by her side. Much younger in her head than she is on paper, she adores any excuse for fancy-dress and is part of a disco formation dance team.

Jenni is also the author of The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker and The Unexpected Life of Maisie Meadows. Follow @JenniKeer on Twitter, jennikeerwriter on Facebook, jennikeer on Instagram

About the book

Love will always find a way… Discover the intriguing secrets of Hawthorn Place in this heartfelt dual-time novel, filled with warmth and charm, perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley and Cecelia Ahern.

Two houses, hundreds of miles apart...yet connected always. When life throws Molly Butterfield a curveball, she decides to spend some time with her recently widowed granddad, Wally, at Hawthorn Place, his quirky Victorian house on the Dorset coast.

But cosseted Molly struggles to look after herself, never mind her grieving granddad, until the accidental discovery of an identical Art and Crafts house on the Norfolk coast offers her an unexpected purpose, as well as revealing a bewildering mystery.

Discovering that both Hawthorn Place and Acacia House were designed by architect Percy Gladwell, Molly uncovers the secret of a love which linked them, so powerful it defied reason. What follows is a summer which will change Molly for ever... 

Review

Molly is used to having a safety net, which is probably why she is unable to adult by herself. Even now she wants her mother and stepfather to catch in the midst of her latest fall. This time they have decided to pull the rug out from under her - there is no net. There is nowhere else to go but to her grandfather, in the middle of the sticks with no internet.

It sets her on the path of self-discovery, to friendship, to love and to a story about a hidden love and even bigger secrets. I love the fact the author managed to do all of that so smoothly.

Hawthorn Place and Acacia House - I need that kind of exciting architectural secret in my life. Of course it's also the kind of secret that could be used for both good or evil. (Yup evil - I have a one-track mind).

Unfortunately I can't go into the details of what that secret may be, it's a creative one though, and one that casts a spell on more than one generation.

This dual timeline historical romance takes place in the present and the past. It's a moving tale of forbidden love, and also one about taking responsibility and being brave enough to grab love when it presents itself. It's a lovely escapism read.

Buy The Secrets of Hawthorn Place at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher ‏: ‎Headline Accent pub date 14 Oct. 2021. Buy at Amazon com.

Giveaway to Win a Signed copy of the Secrets of Hawthorn Place, plus chocolate and a sparkly pen. (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.*

#BlogTour The Rabbit Factor by Antti Tuomainen

It's a pleasure to take part in the BlogTour The Rabbit Factor by Antti Tuomainen, translated by David Hackston.

 'From the critically acclaimed, award-winning author of The Man Who Died comes The Rabbit Factor, a madcap, high-octane existential thriller, currently being adapted for the screen starring Steve Carell'

About the Author

Antti Tuomainen was an award-winning copywriter when he made his literary debut in 2007 as a suspense author in 2013, the Finnish press crowned Tuomainen the ‘King of Helsinki Noir’ when Dark as My Heart was published. 

With a piercing and evocative style, Tuomainen was one of the first to challenge the Scandinavian crime genre formula, and his poignant, dark and hilarious The Man Who Died became an international bestseller, shortlisting for the Petrona and Last Laugh Awards. A TV adaptation is in the works, and Jussi Vatanen (Man In Room 301) has just been announced as a leading role. 

Palm Beach Finland  was an immense success, with Marcel Berlins (The Times) calling Tuomainen ‘the funniest writer in Europe’. His latest thriller, Little Siberia, was shortlisted for the CWA International Dagger, the Amazon Publishing/Capital Crime Awards and the CrimeFest Last Laugh Award, and won the Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year. In total, Antti Tuomainen has been short- and longlisted for 12 UK awards. Follow @antti_tuomainen on Twitter, Visit anttituomainen.com

About the book

Award-winning author Antti Tuomainen launches his first series with The Rabbit Factor, an energetic black comedy, currently being adapted for the screen by Amazon/Mandeville Films with Steve Carell to star, and Antti executive producing.

What makes life perfect? Insurance mathematician Henri Koskinen knows the answer because he calculates everything down to the very last decimal. Until he is faced with the incalculable, after a series of unforeseeable events.

After suddenly losing his job, Henri inherits an adventure park from his brother – its peculiar employees and troubling financial problems included. The worst of the financial issues appear to originate from big loans taken from some dangerous men who are very keen to get their money back.

All improbable and complicated problems. But what Henri really can’t compute is love. In the adventure park, Henri crosses paths with Laura, a happy-go-lucky artist with a chequered past, whose erratic lifestyle bewilders him. As the criminals go to increasingly extreme lengths to collect their debts and as Henri’s relationship with Laura deepens, he finds himself faced with situations and emotions that simply cannot be pinned down on his spreadsheets...

Review

Henri likes logic, order and common sense, but life isn't always like that. Life isn't always a mathematical equation you can solve. Nothing proves this more than when he inherits an adventure park, and all the responsibilities and debts that go with it. That includes some heavies who don't like the word no.

Tuomainen always manages to push boundaries and make his concepts seem speculative in nature when they in fact nothing of the sort. In fact he manages to capture human connections, thought processes and all the inexplicable moments between us. It's a bit like someone telling you to come into a large body of dark water, whilst telling you it's safe and shallow, then letting you step into a void of unknown depth.

I know I've said this before, but you really never know what you're going to get from this author. The premises are from one end of the spectrum to the other. What they have in common? Main characters who stay with you and plots you remember.

I can't wait to see the visual representation of this book, especially if the first part of the book is replicated accurately. Finally, my compliments to David Hackston - the translation is excellent.

Buy The Rabbit Factor at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher ‏: ‎Orenda; pub date 28 Oct. 2021. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogTour Pug Actually by Matt Dunn

It's a pleasure to take part in the BlogTour Pug Actually by Matt Dunn. 

'With over 400,000 copies sold in e-book, Matt Dunn's Pug Actually, is the heartwarming, hilarious, and strikingly perceptive story of the high and lows of modern relationships as seen through the eyes of a wise pug named Doug.'

About the Author

Matt Dunn is the author of numerous romantic comedy novels, including the bestselling The Ex-Boyfriend's Handbook and A Day at the Office. he's also written about life, love, and relationships for various publications including The Times, Guardian, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Company, Elle, and The Sun. Follow @mattdunnwrites on Twitter

About the book

Loyal rescue pug Doug wants his adoring owner Julie to find unconditional love and happiness - and he knows she won't find either in the arms of Luke, her married boss and lover. Julie, reluctant to end things with Luke, fears that if she chooses to be alone, she will end up like her eccentric cat-owning neighbour. It's a prospect that horrifies Doug too.

Hopeful to help Julie move on - Doug looks to match-make Julie and Tom, a newly divorced V-E-T, who is perfect for her (despite his questionable occupation). There's just one problem: Julie and Tom can't stand each other.

Doug doesn't quite understand the quirks and complexities of human relationships, but he won't let that get in the way of his mission to bring Tom and Julie together. After all, being a 'rescue' works both ways...

Review 

Doug doesn't see himself as a rescue dog - in his mind he is the one in charge of his owner's happiness. If something is making her sad then it has to go, hence his dislike of her boyfriend. Doug wants him gone, and he is willing to stalk, threaten and intimidate if necessary.

It suits Doug just fine when the humans around him, get on board with his ( it's always his brilliant idea of course) suggestion to introduce Julie to the perfect man - the person she doesn't knows she is missing yet.

I have to admit this had me chuckling within the first few pages. The stand-off chapter is absolutely hilarious and so is Doug. He's like a little old man combined with an agony aunt, and all the dog traits to boot. The narration is so human-like and on point that it's easy to forget there is a four legged canine at the end of the voice.

I'm guessing I won't be the only one that hopes this isn't the last time we hear from Doug, and would love to see him on screen. Dunn writes and creates with a certain ease, that it's easy to forget you're in the middle of a fictional scenario.

Buy Pug Actually at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher ‏: ‎HQ Digital; pub date 14 Oct. 2021. Buy at Amazon com.