Book Extract: Sing Me a Secret by Julie Houston

I am pleased to be welcoming back Julie Houston to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest novel, Sing Me a Secret.

The four Sutherland sisters have all had very different paths in life, but one secret and a slighty tense production of Jesus Christ Superstar are about to bring them all back together again…

When the news that pop-superstar Lexia Sutherland is returning to Westenbury, not everyone is thrilled by the news – including Lexia. There are too many memories she doesn’t need to face – or need re-surfacing. Meanwhile, Juno Sutherland just wants a little peace and quiet.

As the local village doctor, she’s got her priorities in order; kids, job, husband, tenacious pony, a role in the village musical… So when the sexy new locum turns up – and steals her office – the last thing she needed was to be hit with rising temperatures and an over-active imagination.

Will these sisters be able to uncover the past, deal with the future and put on the performance of a lifetime?

Return to Westenbury this spring and find out.

Julie and Aria have shared an extract with us today. Enjoy!

***** beginning of extract*****

‘Morning, love, it’s me foot.’

Juno looked up from trying to get the computer to actually log on and made two new year’s resolutions to: a) get herself to work at least half an hour before kick-off and b) be ready with a big smile on her face rather than the usual panicked, hell-I-can’t-even-log-on face.

‘Ah, Mr Kendal.’ She looked up at the octogenarian sitting in front of her and slipped into caring, enquiring GP speak. ‘How are we? You’ve a problem with your foot?’

‘Been hurting to buggery since yesterday.’ He winced as he spoke and proffered one shod foot in Juno’s direction.

‘In your left foot? And where did the pain start?’ She’d finally managed to log on and brought up Mr Kendal’s notes which she scrutinised. Hmm, diabetic. Not good to have a pain in your foot if you were diabetic.

‘In Aldi.’

‘Sorry?’

‘It started when I was in the tinned-food aisle in Aldi. I just fancied some beans. I know they make you fart – excuse me French, love – but you know, when you get the taste for beans on toast, you just have to go with it.’

Juno stared. ‘Right, OK, Mr Kendal. But the pain actually started in your foot. Nowhere else?’

He stared back. ‘Why would it start anywhere else, Doctor? The bloody tack’s stuck in me left shoe. Gone right through it. I’ve come in because me back’s so bad I can’t bend down to get it out meself.’

‘Right. Fine.’ Juno took a deep breath. ‘So, are you sure that’s what’s causing the pain?’

‘Am I sure? Aye, course I’m sure. I might be eighty-nine but I can still tell when a tack’s stuck in me shoe.’ He gave her an offended look.

‘But, Mr Kendal, didn’t it occur to you to pull it out once the shoe was off your foot? You know, before you put it back on this morning? Then you wouldn’t have had to bother that bad back of yours?’ (And you wouldn’t have to be fart arsing around bothering me – excuse my French.)

He looked even more offended. ‘And not turn up for my appointment? Oh no, I wouldn’t do that to you. I know what these people are like who just don’t turn up. Now, if you could just bend down, pull off me shoe and use one of your metal scalpel things to get it out, I’d be right grateful, love.’

***** end of extract*****

About Julie: 

Julie Houston is the author of THE ONE SAVING GRACE, GOODNESS, GRACE AND ME and LOOKING FOR LUCY, a Kindle top 100 general bestseller and a Kindle #1 bestseller. She is married, with two teenage children and a mad cockerpoo and, like her heroine, lives in a West Yorkshire village. She is also a teacher and a magistrate.

For more information, www.juliehouston.co.uk or say hi on Twitter and Facebook.

For more information from Aria, visit their website or say hi on Twitter.

Sing Me a Secret was released by Aria on 7th May 2020. Click to view on Amazon, Kobo and Google Play.

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.