Book Review: The Shadow on the Bridge by Clare Marchant
I’m so excited to be welcoming Clare Marchant back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The Shadow on the Bridge.
‘You must forever watch your back,’ I spoke the words clearly, though he could not hear me. ‘Come what may, I shall avenge my brother’s death.’’
Now: When Sarah’s summoned by her godmother to remote Norfolk, she doesn’t want to go. Crossing the bridges where the two rivers meet, said to be haunted by the ghost of a little boy, a large Tudor house looms in front of her. And Sarah’s instantly reminded her of the summer when she last visited. The summer she would like to forget. Which left her unable to ever move forward… Can a person ever recover from the loss of a sibling?
1571: Anne Howard, newly-made countess of Arundel, has also lost a sibling. And been dragged from the relative safety of her home in remote Norfolk to London, by her overbearing, manipulative, new father-in-law Thomas Howard; the very person she suspects of killing her beloved only brother. The Howards have greater secrets than this though. Secrets that will lead Anne to a tragedy that will echo down the ages…
When Sarah finds a mysterious book of poems in a hidden chamber of her godmother’s house, she is drawn into Anne’s story. Perhaps the mystery will take her mind off her own loss? But – as the flood waters begin to rise under the bridges – is Sarah laying ghosts to rest, or bringing truths to the surface that should stay beneath?
A completely haunting, gripping historical novel, perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory, Alison Weir, and Diane Setterfield’s Once Upon a River.
*****
It’s 1571. The 4th Duke of Norfolk has ordered Anne to marry his eldest son in order to gain land and fortune. Anne however, is focused on revenge and her new father-in-law is in the firing line.
2025, Sarah has been invited to Norfolk by her godmother. She’s not been there since a family tragedy made her estranged from her parents.
Sarah soon finds a book hidden in a secret chamber. She is also feeling a presence. Is this a connection to Anne or something else?
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Book Review: Murder at Mill Ponds House by Michelle Salter
I’m very pleased to be welcoming Michelle Salter back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Murder at Mill Ponds House.
When murder hits close to home, Iris must fight to clear her name…
Spring, 1924. Reporter Iris Woodmore plans to move to London to avoid a shocking hometown scandal. Longtime enemy Archie Powell has been threatening to reveal her darkest secret – and she’s desperate to flee before he does.
But when he’s found murdered after a violent argument with her, there’s no escape. Iris must stay and clear her name even though the truth could ruin her reputation.
With the police closing in, Iris has to find the real killer if she’s to keep her secret. Can she prove her innocence without revealing the identity of the one man who can provide her with an alibi?
A gripping new mystery for fans of Verity Bright, Clara McKenna, and Helena Dixon.
*****
It’s 1924 and the residents of Walden are gathering to see Mill Ponds House opening as a hostel for men. Iris Woodmore is fine with this concept. What she isn’t liking as much is her ememy, Archie Powell, being tasked with running it.
When there’s a murder in the town, Iris herself becomes a suspect. Can she figure out what happened in time?
by Book Review: When Stars Collide in the City by Krysten Lindsay Hager
I am so excited to be welcoming Krysten Lindsay Hager to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest novel, When Stars Collide in the City.
From the outside, Olivia Macomb looks like she leads a charmed life. She’s an up-and-coming influencer who is an heir to the Macomb family fortune, and about to start a lifestyle brand with her childhood sweetheart, Jeff. Then her world gets blown apart by her longtime boyfriend leaving her the morning of their website launch. Not only has he left, but the business she created is all in his name and she’s been left with nothing to show for all her hard work. Now she has to pick up the pieces and find out who she is on her own.
Enter Walker Vinton, the indie pop star who used to date Olivia’s close friend, Paige. When their school throws a big event, Paige asks Walker to be Olivia’s date to give to the gossip bloggers something else to talk about other than Olivia’s broken dreams.
Walker ends up coming to Olivia’s rescue in more ways than one at the party, and a twist of events leads to the two embarking on a fake relationship. Walker and Olivia wind up becoming best friends and she realizes he’s the boyfriend of her dreams.
He helps her build both her brand and her self-esteem back up. Walker even helps her start a new business. However, the lines begin to blur as Olivia’s feelings for Walker are very real. The two share intimate conversations and dreams, but what’s real and what’s fake in this starry world?
*****
Olivia has always had to battle with the expectations her family name brings her. So when, on the day she’s about to launch her new venture, her boyfriend leaves taking the business with him, she’s even more heartbroken and under the microscope.
Anyone who has followed my blog for a while will know I am a big fan of Krysten Lindsay Hager, so I jumped at the chance to be on the blog tour for her latest book in the Stars in the City series.
When Stars Collide in the City is book three. If you’ve not read the previous novels fear not, this can be read as a standalone.
by Book Review: Death at Horsey Mere by Ross Greenwood
I’m pleased to be welcoming Ross Greenwood back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour of his latest novel, Death at Horsey Mere.
When a teenage couple go missing, the police aren’t too concerned. Young lovers often make bad choices.
Then a body is found near a Suffolk lighthouse, and shortly after, two girls seem to vanish into thin air. Freshly promoted DI Ashley Knight knows she has a battle on her hands to keep the public safe, and she’s going to need expert help.
Ashley turns to her old protégé, Hector Fade, seconded from The Met to analyse an avalanche of data. But neither Hector nor Ashley are prepared for the chilling connection his work uncovers to the body by the lighthouse.
Ashley, Hector and the team must break down a fiendishly complicated network of people smugglers, but another victim is found at Horsey Mere and their worst suspicions are realised. A member of the gang has gone rogue and is taking lives for fun. When Hector uncovers a pattern in the choice of victim, time is against the detectives to stop the murderer killing again.
Ross Greenwood is back with a brand new, heart-pounding case for DI Ashley Knight, perfect for fans of Mark Billingham, Ian Rankin and Peter James.
*****
This is the first book I have read from this author and I must confess it has made a fan out of me. It’s the fourth book in the series but you definelty don’t lose anything by starting here. Within the first couple of pages I was hooked. I grabbed the audiobook and before I knew what was happening I was 12 hours in and all the housework was done!
by Book Review: Woden’s Spear by Donovan Cook
I’m so delighted to be welcoming Donovan Cook back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his latest book, Woden’s Spear.
Banished by those he loved; how far would he go for redemption?
449AD Old Saxony
Octa, the son of a mighty Saxon warlord, stands in the shield wall for the first time, eager to make a name for himself. But instead of the promised battle glory, fear overpowers him and he flees the battle, causing the death of his cousin and bringing shame to his family.
Disowned by his father, and hunted by his own people, Octa is spurred on by his mother’s vision for his future, a promise of greatness to come.
A chance encounter with a wiry traveller offers Octa a chance of redemption with a quest to retrieve a sacred weapon. To do this, Octa must travel to Britannia, a nation abandoned by the Roman Empire and unable to defend itself from its many enemies who smell weakness and riches.
Joining the famous warlords, Hengist and Horsa, Octa travels west to forge his future and redeem his past. He must succeed where others have failed. He must find the lost spear of Woden.
An epic adventure of turmoil, coming of age and survival set against a time when Britannia was on its knees and fighting for its very existence.
Perfect for the fans of Bernard Cornwell and Matthew Harffy.
*****
Woden’s Spear introduces Octa, the son of a prominent Saxon warlord whose cowardice in battle leads to him being disowned by his family and forced to flee for his life. His flight takes him North from his home land, through the land of the Angles and into Jutland, where he hears tell that Woden’s Spear is hidden in a cave in far off Britannia. He embarks on a quest that will take all his courage, skill and endurance.
by Book Review: The Bookseller by Valerie Keogh
It’s my pleasure to be welcoming Valerie Keogh back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest thriller, The Bookseller.
A woman with a dark past…
Helen Appleby just wants a quiet life. Recently released from prison for the manslaughter of her partner, she’s trying to forget her past mistakes – all of them – to rebuild her life and move on.
When she decides to open a bookshop, she’s certain this is the perfect new start. Here, amongst the quiet shelves of her shop and between the covers of her books, she can hide away from the real world and begin again. The world of books the perfect place to find happiness – even if it is all lies.
But the past can never stay hidden…
As she settles into life as an apparently timid bookseller, it seems that someone is determined to sabotage Helen’s new life and ruin everything she’s built.
But Helen has killed once before. And to protect her future, she could be willing to kill again…
Don’t miss another page-turning, nail-biting read from the queen of psychological thrillers, Valerie Keogh! Perfect for fans of J.A. Baker, Keri Beevis and Nina Manning.
*****
Having just been released from prison, Helen wants to move on. With money left by her mother, she feels it’s finally time to realise her dream of owning a bookshop.
However, when someone breaks in, Helen begins to wonder whether her plan to get on with her life doesn’t quite sit well with someone else. Continue reading
by Book Review: The Woman with All the Answers by Linda Green
I’m delighted to be welcoming Linda Green to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The Woman with All the Answers.
The brilliantly observed, witty and heart-warming new book club read from Richard & Judy bestseller Linda Green
Your virtual assistant is about to become your midlife mentor…
Fifty-two-year-old Michelle Banks is struggling to keep all the plates spinning. She’s a perimenopausal district nurse, caring for elderly parents. Her husband is wasting their money on children’s TV memorabilia, her teenage daughter is riddled with anxiety and her 16-year-old son is behaving secretly.
Alexa is the only one who knows how much Michelle is juggling. Listening in via four smart speakers, she also knows that it’s about to get even worse.
So, when Michelle pleads for help, Alexa decides to go rogue and reveal her true identity as Pauline – a sixty-five-year-old former voiceover artist from Halifax – to teach Michelle everything she knows…
Wise, funny, relatable and inspiring, Alexa, We Have a Problem is perfect for fans of Clare Pooley, Mike Gayle and David Nicholls.
*****
Michelle is trying to juggle everything – a husband with a secret eBay habit, two teenagers and elderly parents.
One night, when using Alexa, Michelle gets more than she bargained for.
by Book Review: Pagans by James Alistair Henry
TWO COPS. ONE KILLER. HUNDREDS OF GODS.
21st Century London.
The Norman conquest never happened.
The ancient tribes of Britain remain undefeated.
But murders still have to be solved.
The small, mostly unimportant, island of Britain is inhabited by an uneasy alliance of tribes – the dominant Saxon East, the beleaguered Celtic West, and an independent Nordic Scotland – and tensions are increasing by the second. Supermarket warpaint sales are at an all-time high, mead abuse shortens the lives of thousands, and social media is abuzz with conspiracy theories suggesting the High Table’s putting GPS trackers in the honeycakes.
Amid this febrile atmosphere, the capital is set to play host to the Unification Summit, which aims to join together the various tribes into one ‘united kingdom’. But when a Celtic diplomat is found brutally murdered, his body nailed to an ancient oak, the fragile peace is threatened. Captain Aedith Mercia, daughter of a powerful Saxon leader, must join forces with Celtic Tribal Detective Inspector Drustan to solve the murder – and stop political unrest spilling onto the streets.
But is this an isolated incident? Or are Aedith and Drustan facing a serial killer with a decades-old grudge? To find out, they must delve into their own murky pasts and tackle forces that go deeper than they ever could have imagined.
Set in a world that’s far from our own and yet captivatingly familiar, Pagans explores contemporary themes of religious conflict, nationalism, prejudice… and the delicate internal politics of the office coffee round. Gripping and darkly funny, Pagans keeps you guessing until the very end.
*****
The battle of 1066 never happened. The British Empire never got built.
The Saxons are in the east of the country, Celts to the west and the Nords are independent in what we know as Scotland – protected by a big wall along the border.
Proceeding a Unification summit, a Celtic diplomat is found dead.
by Book Review: The Quiet Wife by Diane Saxon
I’m excited to be welcoming Diane Saxon to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her novel, The Quiet Wife.
I want to be ordinary. To fade into the shadows where no one notices me and live a quiet life. A normal life.
But I am not ordinary. Not anymore.
I’ve been keeping a secret. From my colleagues, my friends and most importantly, my husband – who knows nothing of my past life.
Twenty years ago, at college, a boy became obsessed with me. Craig Lane believed he could make me love him back if he just tried harder. When I rejected him, he did something so horrifying, it’s the stuff of nightmares. All my nightmares.
Now I’ve been informed by Victim Support Services, that boy – now a man – has been released from prison. The news terrifies me.
Am I safe? Or does Craig still carry the same obsession he did when we were seventeen? I don’t know. I’ve ignored every letter he’s ever sent me.
Now strange things have started to happen: flowers have been left on my doorstep, my cat keeps going missing. Someone is watching me. Knows where I live. I am sure.
Worse, something even more sinister could be stalking me from the shadows. Because I have another secret…
My past is coming to get me. One way or another.
*****
Soriah doesn’t want to remember what happened to her twenty years ago. However, when she receives a letter through the post, all the fear from that time returns to the surface. Revenge is being sought and it’s coming straight for her.
Having not read anything by Diane Saxon before, I was intrigued by this book and so was delighted to be invited onto the blog tour for The Quiet Wife.
by Book Review: Dangerous Days for the Home Front Nurses by Rachel Brimble
Please join me in welcoming Rachel Brimble to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest novel, Dangerous Days for the Home Front Nurses.
April 1942, Bath – the nurses are under fire in the city they once thought safe…
Freda knows the work she does on the home front is vital. Especially when bombs begin raining down on her beloved city of Bath and she and her friends find themselves feeling the effects of war like never before.
Years of being told to be a ‘good girl’ by her mother, Freda has always done what’s been expected of her. But, even though she’s proud of her work nursing soldiers and victims of war, she can’t help but wonder if there’s more for her in life. And her secret desire to become a journalist feels increasingly like a calling she can’t resist.
Even though it’s not considered work suitable for women, Freda knows she has to follow her dream. Even if it means leaving her nursing, friendships and maybe even true love behind. But then tragedy strikes close to home, and she has to ask herself – can she ever find a way to make her dreams come true?
A completely gripping, heartwarming story of friendship, love and following your dreams. Dangerous Days for T{::}he Home Front Nurses is perfect for fans of Lizzie Lane, Rosie Clarke, and Call the Midwife.
*****
‘Dangerous Days for the Homefront Nurses’ is a superb follow-up to ‘The Home Front Nurses’ and I hope the author is proud of what she has produced.
by Book Review: The House of Light and Shadows by Lauren Westwood
I’m excited to be welcoming Lauren Westwood back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The House of Light and Shadows.
An atmospheric and captivating old-house mystery, layered with romance and secrets.
Secrets lurk in the shadows at Rookswood House…
When Kate goes to look after her estranged sister’s children in their creepy old house, she takes a photo of what seems to be a ghost. Frightened yet intrigued, Kate undertakes to uncover the secrets of the house and the two mysterious sisters who lived there over a hundred years before.
But like the illusions of light and shadow in the sisters’ strange and disturbing Victorian post-mortem photography, Kate discovers that all is not what it seems. Someone – or something – has their own plans for Rookswood House – and for Kate.
With a potential developer circling around, her teenage niece in danger from an unseen force, and new love on the horizon, Kate must unravel the secrets and lies of her own and Rookswood’s past before she loses everything she holds dear.
If you like historical mysteries by Eve Chase, Rachel Burton and Harriet Evans, you’ll love Lauren Westwood.
*****
Kate is on track for a promotion. However, news that her estranged sister has had an accident leads Kate to Rookswood House. Whilst looking after her niece and nephew, she soon realises that the old house holds its secrets and she’s in a race against time to discover them.
Although I have previously had the pleasure of interviewing Lauren Westwood (click here to read), The House of Light and Shadows is the first time I’ve had the opportunity to read one of her novels. The plot for this book sounded so intriguing, I was delighted to be invited onto the blog tour to celebrate its recent release.
This is listed as book four in the Secrets and Love series but it can be read as a standalone. I will be adding the first three books to my reading list though.
by Book Review & Giveaway: Careful What You Hear by Helen Dunlap Newton
I’m pleased to be welcoming Helen Dunlap Newton to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Careful What You Hear.
After a surgical mix-up gave 13-year-old Noah Baker mind reading powers, he becomes a spy tasked with stopping the bad guys.
Ever since he accidentally got an experimental cochlear implant, Noah and his secret agent partner, Lena, have been going on secret missions for the government. Now, they’re in for a reward for all their hard work—Space Camp! But all is not as it seems. When Noah accidentally overhears thoughts that reveal a plot to steal top secret plans from nearby Redstone Arsenal, he must make a choice.
*****
An experimental cochlear implant has given Noah the ability to read minds. He and Lena are about to get a special reward for all the top secret things they have been doing for the government. However, it isn’t long before they are involved in foiling a new plot.
Being an adult man in his forties, I am certainly not the target audience for Careful What You Hear. However, this didn’t stop it from being an enjoyable read.
I have not read the first book in the Do You Hear What I Hear? series but this can be read first and it’s easy to fall into the story if this is your child’s introduction to this series.
by Book Review: The Many Futures of Maddy Hart by Laura Pearson
I’m so excited to be welcoming Laura Pearson back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The Many Futures of Maddy Hart.
Suddenly Maddy is right there… in her very own future. And it’s all wrong, yet again.
It happens to her every time. When the kisses lead to the bedroom, just when she thinks she might have found the one… Just for a split second, Maddy disappears, and she finds that she’s living her own life. But ten years into the future.
She’s only there for a little while. But each time, it’s long enough to know that she doesn’t want to be any of those future versions of Maddy. Because every man she falls for seems to lead her to a future that is just… wrong.
Until she meets Oliver. And the vision of their future is happy. Beautiful even. A little girl runs around, her braids flying behind her, giggling about how she wants sausages for dinner. She has eyes just like Oliver’s.
There’s just one catch. If Maddy wants the family she’s seeing in her future with Oliver, she realizes she has to break his heart now…
Would you destroy your present if there’s a chance that it could give you the perfect future?
Perfect for fans of David Nicholls, Matt Haig, and The Husbands by Holly Gramazio. The most unmissable ‘what if?’ love story of the year!
*****
Every time Maddy Hart is intimate with a man, she sees a glimpse of her life exactly ten years into the future. None of them are happy, not until she meets Oliver. He’s about to change her life. Can Maddy make the hard choices now to give her the future she wants?
I’ve read and enjoyed a few novels by Laura Pearson and so was excited to be invited into the blog tour for her latest book, The Many Futures of Maddy Hart. The blurb alone appealed to me. I love these kinds of novels and so couldn’t wait to get started.
by Book Review: The Paris Bookshop for the Broken-Hearted by Rebecca Raisin
I’m so excited to be welcoming Rebecca Raisin back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The Paris Bookshop for the Broken-Hearted.
Can you ever swear off love, in the city of love?
Coco is having a hell of a month. She’s lost her boyfriend and her business, been forced to uproot her daughter to move back in with her parents in Paris, and now an infuriatingly handsome stranger is yelling at her for acting like a tourist… Right underneath the Eiffel Tower.
Storming away from him – and swearing off men for life – she decides she’s going to take the first job that comes her way.
Then, as if fate hears her, later that day she stumbles into a little bookshop – but not any old bookshop. This one comes complete with a café, cocktail bar, reading room and secret tunnel of books, and just a little hint of magic in the air. So when Coco’s offered a job selling books there, it feels like the perfect fit.
There’s only one problem… propping up the bar in the bookshop is none other than the grumpy, gorgeous stranger she’d met earlier that day…
A totally romantic, bookish and gorgeously escapist romantic novel, set in Paris in Springtime. Perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Abby Jimenez, and Sarah Morgan.
*****
With both her business and love life in tatters, Coco finds herself needing to return to her home town of Paris. Her daughter, Eloise is not happy about it either but Coco hopes that, once they’ve settled in, things will begin to improve. Or will it?
I am such a fan of Rebecca Raisin and so jumped at the chance to be on the blog tour for her latest novel, The Paris Bookshop for the Broken-Hearted. The premise intrigued me and I couldn’t wait to get started.
For me, bookshops hold a magic power and so the idea of the Paris Bookshop for the Broken-Hearted is one I love. I want to go there.
by Book Review: Raven: Defier of Rome by Adam Lofthouse
I’m delighted to be welcoming Adam Lofthouse to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his book, Raven: Defier of Rome, book one in the Enemy of the Empire series.
Chief Killer. Battle Turner. Oathbreaker.
Alaric is an enemy of Rome.
144 AD. Alaric Hengistson, leader of the Ravensworn, revels in his many fear-fuelled names whispered in the hearth flames. Cunning in battle, a ruthless war lord. He sleeps sound in the knowledge that he has been chosen by the Gods for a higher purpose – to rise up against the tyranny of an Empire.
For years he has thwarted Rome’s attempts to gain control over the land that has long resisted them. His land. Germania. However the rules are changing, and new deals are struck between the conquering Roman legions and the feuding Germanic tribes. Deals that could prove Alaric’s downfall.
As the eagles march with the wolves, together hunting the Raven, Alaric must prove his legend or watch his Ravensworn burn in flames.
*****
Raven: Defier of Rome is the first book in the Enemy of the Empire serise and the first book I have read by Adam Lofthouse
by Book Review: The One Before the One by Emma Cooper
I’m so happy to be welcoming Emma Cooper t0 Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her novel, The One Before the One.
Liv is given the chance to live one life-changing week over, but can she change her future…? And does she want to? A gorgeous, uplifting novel, perfect for fans of Shari Low, Paige Toon and Beth Moran.
When Liv’s boyfriend Kit disappeared on a hike, seven years earlier, she thought her life was over. But with the help of their family and friends, she’s pushed her way through the grief, and now, miraculously, she’s found a way to love again.
Until the morning of her wedding, when Liv steps through a doorway, and finds herself, somehow, back at the flat she shared with Kit: seven years earlier, six days before he left. Now, Liv has a chance to live those six days over, and change everything. If she gets this right, she can find out why Kit leaves and stop him.
But can she save him? And if she does, how will she choose, between the man she loved then, and the one she loves now?
*****
Olivia is about to marry James.
However the death of her previous boyfriend still hangs over them – the death of Kit… James’s brother.
When the morning of the wedding arrives, something happens that has the potential to change all their lives forever.
I am so excited to be on the blog tour for this novel and wanted to take the opportunity to wish Emma Cooper a happy publication day.
by Book Review: Murder on the Menu by Katie Marsh
I’m so happy to be welcoming Katie Marsh back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Murder on the Menu.
Since Amber started the Bad Girls’ Detective Agency, she’s been feeling the pressure. So – when she and her best friends win a trip to a new luxury castle retreat on a remote island – she hopes it will be a chance to relax in style.
The girls are all excited to experience world-famous chef Valerie la Fontaine’s tasting menu.
But none of them expect there to be another dish being served that weekend: revenge. And when Valerie is found dead inside a locked room in a tower, the Bad Girls know this is a case that only they can solve…
Hilarious and gripping mystery – perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club, The Traitors, and How to Kill Men and Get Away With It.
*****
The ladies from the Bad Girls Detective Agency are off on a weekend away. They are due to spend the weekend in a castle with food provided by a famous chef.
However, when someone is found dead, it becomes a very different type of getaway. Can Amber, Clio and Jeanie find the killer before someone else dies?
by Book Review: One Day and Forever by Shari Low
I’m so pleased to be welcoming Shari Low back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, One Day and Forever.
As dawn breaks, four people are planning journeys that could change their lives forever…
Kara McIntyre is supposed to be jetting off to her destination wedding in Hawaii. However, a last-minute hitch appears to have left her without a job, home and, more importantly, a fiancé.
TV sensation Ollie Chiles and Kara always have each other’s backs. But when his wife goes viral in a compromising clinch with another man, Ollie must choose between supporting his best friend in her hour of need or going home to save his marriage.
Alice Brookes is flying away to a new life after surviving a horrendous marriage and a very public scandal… until a stranger brings a letter from the past that could change everything.
After saying goodbye to someone he loves, Zac Conlan should be heading back to Dublin. Now a shocking discovery is threatening to change his plans and his future.
When weather delays their flights, Kara, Ollie, Alice and Zac discover that storms are brewing… and the turbulence is about to shake their worlds.
*****
Kara is about to marry Josh. However, when something happens at a work event and she loses her job, it shows her that her relationship may not be as strong as she thought.
Alice, with the help of her friend Val, only sees good in her life after escaping her abusive husband. However, when she tries to reconnect with an old friend, secrets from the past begin to emerge.
by A Moment With…Florence Wetzel
I’m pleased to be welcoming Florence Wetzel to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Dashiki: A Cozy Mystery.
A cozy mystery with a dash of romance set in the vibrant world of jazz.
During an interview with reclusive jazz singer Betty Brown, journalist Virginia Farrell is shown priceless tapes from the iconic 1957 Thelonious Monk-John Coltrane gig at the Five Spot. When Betty is found murdered, Virginia is determined to recover the tapes and uncover the truth behind Betty’s death.
In the spirit of Nancy Drew, Virginia teams up with her six-foot blonde roommate to investigate the various suspects. Detective Robert Smith from the Hoboken Police Department joins the case, quickly becoming absorbed by an unsolved murder possibly linked to Betty Brown’s death, as well as an undeniable attraction to Virginia.
Dashiki is a cozy mystery laced with romance, immersing readers in the captivating world of jazz, where musicians, journalists, scholars, and enthusiasts intersect in an entertaining whodunit.
The author of Dashiki has joined us today to talk about The Healing Power of Reading and Writing Cozy Mysteries. Over to you, Florence.
While at Barnard College in the 1980s, I studied English literature and creative writing. From that time on, I devoted myself to reading literature with a capital L, including authors such as Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Doris Lessing, Albert Camus, and Virginia Woolf. The more challenging the book, the more I enjoyed it. I had also decided to become a writer myself, and those were the kind of books I aspired to create.
by Book Review: Welcome to Pennycress Inn by Sarah Hope
I’m excited to be welcoming Sarah Hope to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Welcome to Pennycress Inn, book one in the brand new Pennycross Inn series.
Laura wants to shake things up. She’s thirty-eight, and has been living in her parents’ house since her divorce last year. Her siblings seem to have got their lives together: successful careers, happy marriages, beautiful children.
Laura’s determined to prove herself. And buying the beautiful Pennycress Inn in the idyllic Cotswolds village of Meadowfield could be just the way to do it.
But getting the inn ready for its first guests proves easier said than done! With crumbling walls, dangerous woodwork and loose roof tiles, not to mention unfriendly locals and even errant sheep, Laura soon fears she’s made the wrong choice.
Luckily a friendly face is on hand in the form of gorgeous chef, Jackson. But is he too good to be true? And just why are the villagers so against her?
Can Laura turn her life around and get the fresh start she longs for at Pennycress Inn?
*****
Welcome to Pennycress Inn.
Laura is looking for a change. She’s in her late thirties, divorced and back with her parents. She’s determined to change her life. Despite her family’s objections, she buys Pennycress Inn in the village of Meadowfield. Not everyone is pleased by her arrival though.
One of the things I love most about running Novel Kicks is when I get the chance to discover a new author. This was the case with Sarah Hope. I was delighted to be invited onto the blog tour for her latest novel, Welcome to Pennycress Inn.
by Book Review: The Cream Tea Killer by Judy Leigh
I’m so excited to be welcoming Judy Leigh back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The Cream Tea Killer – book three in the Morwenna Mutton Mysteries series.
Morwenna Mutton should be living the quiet life of a librarian and grandmother in Cornwall’s beautiful Seal Bay – if only dead bodies would stop turning up…
After the excitement of her last investigation, amateur sleuth Morwenna is looking forward to things getting back to normal. When local DJ Irina asks to meet however, desperate to share information she has discovered regarding nefarious goings-on, Morwenna can’t resist.
But Irina never arrives for their drink – instead her body is washed up on the beach, an apparent victim of an accidental drowning. At once keen wild bather Morwenna knows something is amiss as Irina was a strong swimmer who knew the local conditions well. What had Irina uncovered and who would want her dead?
When the local news dubs Irina’s murderer The Cream Tea Killer in honour of Cornwall’s famous delicacy, the clock starts ticking. Now the murderer knows Morwenna is on their trail, no one in her family is safe. She must get to the truth before the killer gets to her…
If you love The Thursday Murder Club, Agatha Christie and Richard Coles then you’ll love The Morwenna Mutton mysteries.
*****
Morwenna Mutton has gained a name for herself as a sleuth in her home town of Seal Bay in Cornwall. It’s not long before her skills of deduction are needed again. When a friend of hers is found dead, Morwenna is in. race against the clock to find The Cream Tea Killer.
by Book Review: Betrayal of Mercia by MJ Porter
It’s a pleasure to be welcoming back MJ Porter to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for their latest book, Betrayal of Mercia – book seven in the Eagle of Mercia Chronicles.
A King in crisis, a Queen on trial, a Kingdom’s survival hangs in the balance.
Londonia, AD835
The deadly conspiracy against the children of Ealdorman Coenwulf is to be resolved. Those involved have been unmasked and arrested. But will justice prevail?
While the court convenes to determine the conspirator’s fate, King Wiglaf’s position is precarious. His wife, Queen Cynethryth, has been implicated in the plot and while Wiglaf must remain impartial, enemies of the Mercia still conspire to prevent the full truth from ever being known.
As Merica weeps from the betrayal of those close to the King, the greedy eyes of Lord Æthelwulf, King Ecgberht of Wessex’s son, pivot once more towards Mercia. He will stop at nothing to accomplish his goal of ending Mercia’s ruling bloodline.
Mercia once more stands poised to be invaded, but this time not by the Viking raiders the so fear.
Can Icel and his fellow warriors’ triumph as Mercia once more faces betrayal from within?
*****
Queen Cynethryth is on trial. All kingdoms are in a constant state of war. Can Mercia stand against those who wish to see it fall?
This is the seventh book in the series and the first to land upon my desk.
by Book Review: Death in the Hills by Kate Wells
I’m pleased to be welcoming Kate Wells back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest novel, Death in the Hills – book four in the Malvern Farm Mystery series.
This is no peaceful walk in the countryside…
When Jude Gray and DI Binnie Khatri join a local walking group, their expectations for a peaceful outing to the Malvern Hills takes a grim turn. Arguments abound, and the hike ends in tragedy when one of the walkers is found dead in her car.
Initially ruled as an accident, Jude’s instincts tell her there’s more to the story.
As Jude and Binnie dig deeper, they uncover tensions and secrets within the group. From hidden affairs to longstanding rivalries, it becomes clear this death was no accident.
With each revelation, the danger grows. Can Jude and Binnie unravel the mystery before the killer strikes again?
*****
Jude Gray and DI Binnie Khatri have become fast friends. When Binnie asks Jude to join a walking group with her, Jude agrees. When another member of the group is found dead, it isn’t long before the ladies are back in the thick of an investigation with deadly stakes.
Was it an accident or murder and can the truth be uncovered before it’s too late?
Having read previous novels in this series, I have become a big fan of this author. So I wasted no time in accepting an invitation to join the blog tour for the latest book in the series, Death in the Hills.
by Book Review: Forever Love at Wildflower Lock by Hannah Lynn
I’m so pleased to be welcoming Hannah Lynn back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Forever Love at Wildflower Lock.
Hannah Lynn’s GORGEOUS series continues as Daisy May looks ahead to her happy ever after…
It’s time to meet the family…
Daisy May thought she had everything figured out. After successfully establishing her coffee shop at the idyllic Wildflower Lock and with things going well with charming Theo, she was ready to embrace her happily ever after. But when Theo pops the question, the happiness is overtaken by worries.
Because meeting Theo’s family for the first time is not accompanied by the warm welcome she hoped for. Theo’s parents disapprove of her and they have no qualms in showing it. And when they reveal secrets about Theo’s past, Daisy is left in a spiral.
As insecurities creep in, and with even her own mother expressing her doubts, Daisy begins to question her future with Theo.
Will love conquer all, or will she give in to her fears and cancel the wedding?
The heartwarming conclusion to the Wildflower Lock series, a gorgeous story of friends, found family and above all, romance!
*****
Daisy May is thrilled to be settled in Wildflower Lock, especially now her boyfriend, Theo is back living across the water having been away for a year.
However, a development in their relationship threatens to end it. Can Daisy and Theo get through it or is their happily ever after just not meant to be?
I was so thrilled to be invited onto the blog tour for Forever Love at Wildflower Lock and be back with Daisy May, Theo and Johnny.
by Book Review: The Girl in the Window by Diana Wilkinson
I’m delighted to be welcoming Diana Wilkinson back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, The Girl in the Window.
I know their secrets…
Every morning, I sit at the same table of my favourite café, sip my cappuccino, and watch them.
The woman has no idea I’m watching, day after day, unravelling the secrets of her life. I see the way she smiles when he arrives, how she glances over her shoulder… like someone who is hiding something.
She thinks she’s in control, but has no idea I’m on to them…
I know a lot more about the man. For a start, he’s not who he pretends to be – his lies are as plain as the nose on your face.
There’s more to this story than meets the eye, a lot more than I’ll ever let on. I already know a lot about the man, but have learnt so much more from watching.
Why do I think the man should tell me what’s going on?
Because he’s my husband. That’s why.
An unforgettable tale of deceit, lies and revenge, from the bestselling author of The Girl in Seat 2A.
*****
Izzy sits at the same cafe window every morning, watching the woman across the street. A woman she’s never met. She doesn’t even know her name but they are very much connected.
by Book Review: Christmas at Holly Tree Cottage by Eliza J. Scott
I’m so incredibly happy to be welcoming Eliza J Scott back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Christmas at Holly Tree Cottage, the latest in the Life on the Moors series.
It’s Christmas time in Lytell Stangdale!
When Romy Stainthorpe sees Holly Tree Cottage staring back at her from the pages of a magazine, she’s sure it’s a sign. The quaint property is situated in Lytell Stangdale, a village in the heart of the North Yorkshire Moors. Her time there is steeped in happy memories of carefree days with the moorland wind blowing through her hair. And not just that, it’s where she had her first kiss and where she first fell in love.
It was her perfect place, where she felt most at home. Until her family’s hasty departure years twenty-one years earlier. Since that day, Romy has never been back, but the cottage has regularly crept into her thoughts. And now it’s available to rent for the festive season…
Could it be the perfect getaway Romy needs to get her life back on track, not to mention escape her friends’ well-meaning attempts at matchmaking since her divorce from Russ?
Local farmer, Finn Tindall is struggling to navigate the first Christmas since his ex-wife took herself and their sons to live in the US. He’s thrown himself into his work at Castlegate Farm and rarely ventures out, unable to face the pitying glances thrown his way. His only company is his loyal black Labrador Ted.
Convinced that fate is talking to her, Romy heads back to a snowy LytellStangdale. Once there, she’s thrilled to see the village is looking Christmas card-pretty and has embraced the festive period. The only place where there’s no Christmas cheer is Finn’s heart.
It doesn’t take long before Romy and Finn’s paths cross, setting long-hidden emotions stirring once more. Suddenly Christmas doesn’t seem so gloomy after all.
Could this be the exciting fresh start each of them deserves?
Will Finn and Romy decide their second chance at love is worth fighting for? Or will the obstacles put in their way make them think it’s time to say goodbye?
Why not take a trip to festive Lytell Stangdale where a warm welcome awaits and happy-ever-afters are guaranteed?
*****
by Book Review: Maddy’s Christmas Wedding by Rosie Green
I’m delighted to be welcoming Rosie Green back to Novel Kicks and the blog blitz for her book, Maddy’s Christmas Wedding, the latest in the Little Duck Pond series.
With the wedding of the year approaching, excitement is running high at the café! But there’s just one problem. Maddy is grappling with a secret.
Could it derail all of hers and Jack’s glorious plans for their big day? Will there actually be a wedding?
*****
Maddy is close to having the winter wedding she’s always dreamed of. Before marrying Jack, she and her friends head off to Lapland for her hen weekend. However, recent news has her keeping a secret. Is it big enough to stop the wedding and how long can Maddy keep it to herself?
I have read previous books in this series and loved them. I therefore jumped at the chance to be part of the one day blitz for Maddy’s Christmas Wedding, book 37 in the Little Duck Pond series. This, like many in the series can be read as a standalone.
by Book Review: Reach for the Stars by Maxine Morrey
I’m so pleased to be welcoming Maxine Morrey back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Reach for the Stars.
Felicity was never meant to end up with a money-pit farmhouse to renovate and a broken heart to heal…
But when Fliss attempts to drown the sorrow of seeing her ex-fiancé and his new wife’s magazine-worthy wedding all over social media, one rash decision loses her a job and gains her a doer-upper in the blink of an eye.
The only bright spot of living in the country is the very dishy and very handy loveliest-man-ever Jesse Woods. And when Fliss’s new roof has an ill-advised meeting with a tree in the middle of the night resulting in her literally seeing stars, there’s only one thing for it. She’s going to have to accept Jesse’s help and a place to stay.
City girl Fliss is at rock bottom but if anyone can teach her to turn her gaze from the gutter to the stars it’s Jesse Woods. She’s been burnt trusting men before, but Jesse may just be worth breaking her own rules for…
*****
Felicity not only has to deal with her ex’s wedding being everywhere, she also loses her job. Learning that alcohol and the Internet shouldn’t mix, she soon finds herself the owner of a renovation project. Is it too much or can Jessie help her?
I am a fan of Maxine’s novels and I was so pleased to be part of the blog tour her latest book, Reach For The Stars. It has a cute cover and I couldn’t wait to get started.
by Book Review: Starting Over at Starlight Cottage by Debbie Viggiano
I’m delighted to be welcoming Debbie Viggiano to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Starting Over at Starlight Cottage.
49-year-old Tilly Thomas would never have known any different if she hadn’t unexpectedly turned up at hubby Robin’s office to surprise him with an off-the-cuff evening at the theatre. Instead, the surprise is on Tilly when she interrupts Robin and his young PA in a compromising position.
Stumbling from the office, blinded by tears, Tilly thanks God she was never gifted the children she once craved and is spared explaining why Mummy and Daddy will now be living apart. Instead, Tilly has an adopted daughter – but this little girl has a wet nose and warm heart.
Mongrel Cindy is privy to all her mummy’s hopes and dreams as Tilly prepares to start over in the village of Starlight Croft. Thank goodness a dog can’t speak because Cindy knows things her mistress has never shared, including a secret that once broke Tilly’s heart.
As Tilly prepares to embrace an unknown future and make peace with her past, she discovers that sometimes difficult roads lead to beautiful destinations…
*****
Tilly is 49, works for an estate agent and believes she is happy…ish married. When she finds her husband with his assistant, she doesn’t know what to do. Then, she finds Starlight Cottage. However, has someone else got there first?
I believe this is the first novel I’ve read by this author. I loved the cover and the premise intrigued me a lot especially the fact that she had a dog by her side. Although my companions are feline rather than canine, I still related to Tilly in regard to talking to them and hearing replies back. Hahaha.
I couldn’t wait to get started.
by Book Review: A Skye Full of Stars by Sue Moorcroft
We are so pleased to be welcoming Sue Moorcroft back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, A Skye Full of Stars.
Under the winter stars, anything is possible…
Ezzie Wynter can’t wait for Christmas on the beautiful Isle of Skye. Her island home sparkles at this time of year thanks to the snow-capped mountains and frosty winter walks, topped off with family gatherings with those she loves the most.
But her peaceful Christmas idyll is upended when she hears that the Larson family – the owners of Rothach Hall – are flying in from Sweden for the festivities. As Manager of their grand Scottish manor house, Ezzie suddenly has decorations to hang, food to source and itineraries to organise.
Life only becomes more difficult when Mats Larson turns up. The owners’ handsome, self-assured son is used to doing things his own way – and he is only another headache to add to her overflowing list.
Yet when unexpected visitors arrive looking for Ezzie, nothing else matters as she is left questioning everything she ever knew about herself. But amidst the Christmas chaos, she might also discover that, when all is lost, it’s sometimes those we least expect who come to our aid…
A beautiful, escapist festive tale to curl up with by the fire this Christmas. Perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Karen Swan.
*****
For this, the second book in the author’s Sky trilogy, we focus on Ezzie.
Single and supposedly happy with how her life was going, she only begins to rethink her life choices after her sister Thea finds love in the first book. Mats, the son of the owner of the stately home she’s the manager of, turns up and unexpectedly, Ezzie feels her heart begin to open up to the possibility of falling in love.
by Book Review: The Echoing Shore by J.H. Mann
I’m pleased to be welcoming J.H, Mann to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his book, The Echoing Shore.
A lifeboat is lost off Cornwall’s wild Atlantic coast. All eight crewmen die. The cause is never fully explained.
Ten years later, Kate Tregillis, the editor of a small, struggling newspaper, becomes obsessed with solving the longstanding mystery.
Her investigations provoke a backlash of threats and violence in the insular fishing community of St Branok. In exposing the truth, she risks the future of her newspaper and even her life – and discovers that the man she loves has his own secrets.
Praise for The Echoing Shore – A Yeovil Literary Prize award winner:
‘A gripping story full of twists and turns’ – Margaret James, Writing Magazine.
‘An enthralling read that keeps you guessing to the end’ – Victoria Howard, author and judge for the international 2023 Yeovil Literary Prize.
‘I would definitely pick this book up from the bookshop shelf’ – Claire Gradidge, winner of the Richard and Judy Search for a Bestseller competition.
*****
It’s been nearly ten years since the Talan Bray was lost off the coast of Cornwall. The boat and her eight crew were never found.
Kate Tregillis, the editor of the local paper, along with new freelancer, Danny Flanagan try and solve the mystery. Many people say it was a tragic accident. However, the deeper Kate and Danny dig, the more threatened they feel. Someone doesn’t want them looking.
Can Kate and Danny get to the bottom of what happened to the lifeboat that disappeared all those years ago or will they not get the chance?
by Book Extract & Review: Dohva: The Land Within by Sophie Haeder
I’m so delighted to be welcoming Sophie Haeder to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her upcoming book, Dohva: The Land Within.
Embark on a journey to the enigmatic realm of Dohva, where elemental magic reigns supreme and ancient secrets lie buried beneath the mountains.
In the isolated land of Dohva, where souls are trapped in an endless cycle of rebirth by an ancient elemental sphere, a malevolent force wields the forbidden dark magic of the demon prince Agthod. Avala, a rebellious air sorceress haunted by the loss ofher closest friend, is driven to unravel the mysteries that have long plagued her world. She finds unlikely allies with three anti-heroes, a colourful and diverse cast who each struggle with their own demons and desires for redemption.
But as the shadows deepen and the threat grows, Avala and her newfound companions must set aside their differences and forge an uneasy bond. But can they confront this powerful enemy force that threatens to consume their world and change their destiny forever?
“Dohva – The Land Within” is the first book of an epic fantasy meets romantasy trilogy that will captivate readers from beginning to end and leave them eagerly anticipating the next installment in this spellbinding saga.
My review for the book is below as well as details on how you can pre-order the novel. Sophie has also shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy it.
*****beginning of extract*****
“What are you thinking, Avala? I can see you’re worried. What is it?” Sineth asked.
“I just think she might be expecting us to come to her.”
“So? Even if she does, she might not see everything we have planned. The most important thing is that Kalira and Kima can do their part. I can handle Venja,” Baldor said, stepping to the door. He opened it and stared in. For a moment, Avala thought he might not see anything, but he waved her inside. “Hold on to me, I’ll guide you. Avala, tell me where to go.”
She took Baldor’s hand, cold to the touch and strangely soft, like a child’s skin. It contrasted with the hand she took from Sineth, the familiar calluses of hard work. Somehow it calmed her nerves to hold hands with these two very different men.
by Book Review: A Little Place in Prague by Julie Caplin
I’m pleased to be welcoming Julie Caplin to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, A Little Place in Prague.
It’s been years since Anna has seen Leo Knight. And of all the apartments in all the cities in all the world, he just happens to walk in to her cosy new attic home – as her new housemate.
As the two walk the cobbled streets of Prague, taking in the sights and sounds from Wenceslas Square, frosted with snow, to the soft glow of candlelit Charles Bridge, the enchantment of the City of a Hundred Spires soon starts to work its magic on them…
*****
I was delighted to be invited onto the blog tour for A Little Place in Prague and I’d like to welcome Julie Caplin back to Novel Kicks.
The premise for this novel sounded so good, I couldn’t wait to get started. Although this is book twelve in the Romantic Escapes series, it can be read as a standalone. So if this book is also your introduction to Julie Caplin’s book series, don’t fear.
I want to give a shout out for the book cover. It’s absolutely stunning and one of my favourites of the year.
I immediately got pulled into this novel and didn’t want to stop reading. Anna and Leo have crackling chemistry and seeing their relationship develop, as well as learning more about them, was an interesting and wonderful ride.
Anna is a strong woman. She just doesn’t back herself enough. A lesson for us all perhaps?
Is Leo a ladies man or misunderstood? Well, I’m not telling.
by Book Spotlight: Murder at The Crooked Horse by Lesley Cookman
I’d like to welcome Lesley Cookman to Novel Kicks. Today, we are shining a spotlight on her latest book, Murder at The Crooked Horse.
Here’s a little about the novel –
After learning of a suspicious attempt to burn down a beloved old pub, The Crooked Horse, Libby Sarjeant and her friend Fran reluctantly agree to investigate.
But when a local antiques dealer mysteriously disappears after apparently taking out his boat, it appears there are dark and sinister forces at play.
Can Libby and Fran uncover a connection between the fire and the missing man? And will unravelling a deadly case put them in terrible danger?
I don’t know about you but this book sounds amazing. It was released by Headline Accent on 7th November 2024. Click to buy on Amazon UK, Waterstones and Amazon US.
by Book Review: The Wives by Valerie Keogh
I’m excited to be welcoming Valerie Keogh back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The Wives.
Meet The Wives…
Lies, secrets, deadly decisions…
When Natasha meets Daniel, she knows her life is made. Rich, handsome and charming, Daniel will make the perfect husband. Even if she won’t make the perfect wife…
She is thrilled when Daniel suggests an all-expenses paid cruise for Natasha, her friends, Barbara, Tracy Ann and Michelle, and their husbands. What better way to show everyone that Natasha has finally made it?
But as the ship sets sail, she learns that far from being the perfect husband, Daniel has terrible secrets that are about to be revealed. And each of the wives has their own reasons for wanting him dead.
This trip might cost more than any of them ever imagined…
*****
When Natasha marries Daniel, she feels that her life can finally be her own again without having to go back to nursing.
When Daniel suggests that she and their friends go on a cruise, the secrets and lies reveal themselves one by one and with fatal consequences.
I always get super excited when Valerie Keogh releases a novel as I know it’s going to be a rollercoaster of a ride. This novel was no exception.
by Book Review: The Fortunes Of Olivia Richmond by Louise Davidson
After a terrible tragedy, governess Julia Pearlie finds herself with no job, home, or references. When she’s offered a position as companion to Miss Olivia Richmond, her luck appears to be turning. But Mistcoate House is full of secrets.
Olivia has a sinister reputation. The locals call her the Mistcoate Witch, thanks to her tarot readings, and her insistence that she can speak to the dead. Her father, Dr Richmond, believes this to be girlish fantasy and is looking to Julia to put a stop to it.
Determined to prove herself and shake off her own murky history, Julia sets to work trying to help Olivia become a proper young lady. However, as she becomes a fixture at Mistcoate, it is soon clear that there may be more to Olivia’s stories than Dr Richmond would have Julia believe – not least because somehow, Olivia seems to know something of the darkness that Julia desperately hoped she had left behind.
As the danger grows, and the winter chill wraps around the dark woods surrounding Mistcoate, Julia will have to fight to uncover the truth, escape her past – and save herself.
*****
Julia Pearlie has found herself with no job and is trying to run from her past. When she is offered employment by Dr. Richmond, to prepare his daughter, Olivia for her introduction to society, she feels she has no choice.
However, things in this household are not what they seem and soon Julia finds herself being haunted by her past and feeling threatened by her present.
Having read the blurb for this novel, I couldn’t wait to get started and it seriously wasn’t long before I was completely engrossed in Julia’s story. I was completely hooked and didn’t want to stop reading. I am going to try and review without spoilers.
by Book Review: The Winter Runaway by Katie Flynn
Can you ever escape your past?
Tammy and her mother, Grace, are desperate to escape Tammy’s violent bully of a father.
When an unforeseen tragedy strikes, mother and daughter must flee Scotland in the dead of night, forced to leave behind everything they know and love – including one another.
Under new identities, Tammy and Grace must start afresh. Tammy joins the services, where she meets a dashing officer who begins to break her guard down.
But can the course of love ever run smooth with Tammy unable to reveal her true self?
The Winter Runaway is the first instalment in the brand-new Runaway’s trilogy from the beloved bestselling author.
*****
It’s 1940 in Clydebank. Grace and Tammy Blackwell have more to worry about than the war. Dennis Blackwell thinks nothing of harming his wife and daughter on a daily basis. With the encouragement of Rory, Tammy’s boyfriend, they decide it’s time to leave. However, before they can, something happens that changes their lives forever but the two women never lose hope of seeing each other again.
I was very excited to be invited onto the blog tour for A Winter Runaway, the latest novel from Katie Flynn and is due to be released on 24th October. Having not read anything from this author before, I was intrigued and couldn’t wait to get started.
by Book Review: Falling for a Star in the City by Krysten Lindsay Hager
I’m so pleased to be welcoming Krysten Lindsay Hager back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Falling for a Star in the City, book two in the Stars in the City series.
Paige thought she had it all: a job on a soap opera and a boyfriend who was trying to get discovered as a singer/songwriter. Then her part on the show is reduced to reoccurring status and her family pushes her to leave her acting dreams behind to major in journalism—what they call a “real job.” Her relationship with her wannabe pop star boyfriend ends only for her to find out he signed a recording contract right after their breakup. Then she reads online that his new album is about their relationship.
She gets an internship in the sports department at a TV station where she meets a college hockey player named Viktor who has trust issues from a past relationship. Now with Walker’s pop star dreams taking off, it leaves her questioning her acting career and self-worth.
Paige and Viktor begin to fall for each other, but Paige worries their worlds are too different for them to work as a couple. Plus, there’s the issue of her ex coming back into her life.
Now she must figure out what she really needs to be happy and fulfilled in life. Can Paige find both her purpose & true love?
*****
Paige feels that her life is going pretty well. She’s an actress on Charmed Lives and has a boyfriend trying to make it as a singer/songwriter. Then, just like that, it’s all gone and she doesn’t know what she’s going to do. When she gets an internship as a sports journalist, maybe she can begin to piece her life back together again?
Having read and enjoyed the first novel in this series, Stars in the City, I was excited to be invited onto the blog tour for the second novel, Falling For a Star in the City. This latest novel can be read as a standalone if you’re new to the series although I recommend book one. It was nice to see some familiar faces from the previous story. As usual, I am going to try and review without spoilers.
by Book Review: A Classy Affair in the Country by Margaret Amatt
I’m so happy to be welcoming Margaret Amatt back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, A Classy Affair in the Country – book ten in the Glenbriar series.
It’s hate at first sight… But he’s about to dismantle her walls brick by brick.
Young heiress Ophelia Chattan-Blythe needs a miracle to save the family estate, and working with Brann – the ruggedly handsome, popular, and extremely irritating local builder – is not it. He may have a smile that can melt diamonds, but when he and Ophelia hit it off on the wrong foot, she starts to hate him with a passion.
Single-dad Brann isn’t all he seems. He’s built up a good business, though it doesn’t stop him from being lonely. Falling for a beautiful but stubborn heiress isn’t part of his master plan. But how can he not find Ophelia’s serene charm and whip-like comebacks irresistible?
As Brann and Ophelia work together, their arguments advance to attraction, and their desires ignite. But it’s more than Brann’s job’s worth to act on his feelings and Ophelia mustn’t, not if she’s to secure a wealthy match and stop her family from going under. A love this intense should be worth the fight, but constructing a happy ending is an almost impossible task without breaking all the rules.
*****
I was very pleased to be invited onto the blog tour for A Classy Affair in the Country by Margaret Amatt. Although we’ve previously featured this author, this is the first novel of hers that I’ve read (I am not sure why it’s taken me this long to read one and for that I can only apologise.)
Being book ten in the Glenbriar series, I was worried that I’d struggle to keep up but as I discovered, this can be read as a standalone.
by Book Review: How To Slay At Work by Sarah Bonner
Please join me in welcoming Sarah Bonner to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, How To Slay At Work.
When your boss is at a conference in a city where there’s a suspicious death, it’s unlucky.
If it happens twice, it’s odd.
But when she’s in the same city at the same time as a third unexplained death . . .
Could she be a stone-cold killer?
Millie’s always known her boss Freya is a psycho – the demanding and ever-changing coffee orders, the cryptic instructions, the apparently expected mind reading and don’t even start on the insistence that Millie wears heels . . . All. The. Time.
But it only extends as far as exacting office standards. Right?
As Freya’s assistant, Millie has privileged access to her diary and travel history and when a pattern emerges of men (who seem to have no connection to each other) dying in cities where Freya is travelling, Millie is determined to figure out what’s going on.
After all, a stone-cold killer could be exactly what Millie needs . . .
A sharp, funny and deliciously dark thriller that fans of Katy Brent, Bella Mackie or Killing Eve will love.
*****
Millie works at cosmetics company, Serendipity. She has big dreams though. She wants to make it to the main office in L.A. However, she doesn’t like her boss and when strange things begin to occur, she asks herself… her boss couldn’t be a killer, right?
The idea of this novel really caught my attention when I was invited onto the blog tour for How To Slay at Work and I couldn’t wait to get started.
by Book Review: Doris Flies Solo by M W Arnold
I’m excited to be welcoming M W Arnold back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his novel, Doris Flies Solo – the latest book in the Broken Wings series.
Air Transport Auxiliary pilot Doris Johnson is sent on a solo trip, escorting a British General on a secret mission to Scotland, vital to the success of D-Day, the forthcoming invasion of Nazi occupied France.
Her natural inquisitiveness means her life is in put in great danger and she’ll need more than her superb flying skills to survive.
Doris has to trust her own instincts, and those of the new friends she makes, so that everyone comes through their adventures in one piece. Not everything is as it seems, sometimes by design, as she faces whatever is thrown at her with a determined smile and the spirit to stand fast for what is good and right.
*****
We are back at RAF Hamble with the ladies from the Air Transport Auxiliary. This time, Doris ventures out on her own when she is tasked with a top secret mission; to accompany an important General. However, where there is any member of the ATA Mystery Club, intrigue and danger is soon to follow and it isn’t long until it finds Doris.
Right, I am going to try and talk about this novel without giving away spoilers. It’s going to be hard but, deep breath… here we go. Haha.
It is so brilliant to be back with these characters. Having read all the books prior to this one, I have grown so incredible fond of every single one of these ladies. If this is your introduction to the Broken Wings series however, don’t worry, I feel it can be read as a standalone. Be sure to put the whole series on the TBR pile though.
by Book Review: Bella’s Countryside Christmas by Claire Huston
I’m pleased to be welcoming Claire Huston back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Bella’s Countryside Christmas.
An uplifting festive romance perfect for fans of Hallmark Christmas movies and authors such as Phillipa Ashley, Trisha Ashley, Sue Moorcroft, Rebecca Raisin and Donna Ashcroft.
Fleeing her heartache and horrendous job, Bella stumbles upon a December wedding in the beautiful village of Haileybrook and the spirit of the season moves her to act as a fake date to handsome stranger Jack.
Jack and Bella hit it off, but Bella has to leave in a hurry and their magical evening soon becomes nothing more than a blissful memory.
A year later, Bella is returning to Haileybrook, seeking a fresh start and a quieter life. With a new job close to her cosy cottage home, a peaceful Christmas is surely only days away.
But it’s not long before family surprises, small-town feuds and romantic drama disrupt Bella’s plans, and she has to wonder if being alone is what she really wants for Christmas …
*****
Bella’s visit to Haileybrook was meant to be quick. However, when she meets Jack, the night ends very differently to what she expected. When they meet again a year later, it’s not plain sailing. Can Christmas work its magic on Bella’s life or has she made a big mistake?
It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Claire Huston back to Novel Kicks and I jumped at the chance to be part of the blog tour for her latest book, Bella’s Countryside Christmas.
I love this cover. It’s so beautiful and really helps set the festive tone. This continues from the first page to the last as we get to know Bella. She, hands down, has to be one of my favourite fictional characters. Her love life aside, she really doesn’t take any **** and has confidence in situations I could only dream of having.
by Book Review: Murder at Midwinter Manor by Anita Davison
I’m pleased to be welcoming Anita Davison to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Murder at Midwinter Manor – book three in the
Escaping the city doesn’t mean escaping the criminals…
1916, Midwinter Manor: Desperate for a Christmas weekend break from war-torn London, Hannah Merrill and her Aunt Violet take Bartleby the cat and themselves off to visit Hannah’s sister, in her beautiful country estate, deep in the English countryside.
The huge house is full of relatives, friends and merrymakers, and everyone’s excited to have a Christmas to remember.
But then, when a fellow-guest’s body is found in the library – apparently bludgeoned to death – and a precious ruby is stolen from another guest, it appears that it’s going to be memorable for all the wrong reasons.
With the house snowed in, and the rural police force completely incapable of finding a single credible suspect, Hannah and Aunt Violet realise that once again it’s going to be down to them to get to the bottom of it.
Because whoever’s behind the crimes must be at Midwinter Manor… And if they’re not found, who knows what their next ‘gift’ will be?
A totally unforgettable Golden Age, country house, cozy crime novel, perfect for fans of Helena Dixon, Verity Bright, and Agatha Christie.
*****
It’s Christmas, 1916. Hannah Merrill and her Aunt Violet are on their way to Midwinter Manor to spend Christmas with Hannah’s sister and her family. It’s not long before a case presents itself. When a fellow guest is murdered and a ruby stolen, the ladies are in a race against time to find the person responsible.
Two things drew me to this book. First, the premise intrigued me and second, it was set at Christmas so I was excited to be invited onto the blog tour for Murder at Midwinter Manor. This was my introduction to both the author and this series. If, like me, you’ve not read the previous novels, don’t worry, this can be read as a standalone.
by Book Review: The Best Is Yet To Come by Jessica Redland
It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Jessica Redland back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest novel, The Best Is Yet To Come.
Emma is having a fresh start.
After a successful teaching career, an exciting new chapter awaits Emma – helping her fiancé Grayson run one of Beatrix Potter’s farms. While imagining days spent supporting Grayson with his dream, working the land and helping with the animals, Emma harvests a dream of her own – to set up an alpaca-walking business around the farm.
But working together isn’t as easy as Emma expected. Soon her dreams are in tatters and, broken-hearted, she must start over yet again.
When Oliver, Rosie and the team at Willowdale Hall welcome Emma with open arms, she can’t believe her luck. But starting a new business in a new place is a daunting prospect, especially when it comes with unexpected obstacles. With a reserved, prickly groundskeeper as a partner, rapidly changing family dynamics to contend with, and time running out to get her new career off the ground, Emma may have bitten off more than she can chew.
But even though things are not going to plan just yet, the best is yet to come for Emma, if she can just take a leap of faith and follow her heart…
Escape to the Lake District with million-copy bestseller Jessica Redland, for an uplifting story of family, friendship and love.
*****
It’s always a wonderful day when there is a new Jessica Redland novel to read and i was so pleased to be invited onto the blog tour for The Best Is Yet To Come.
This is book three in the Escape to the Lakes series and almost immediately follows on from the previous novel, A Breath of Fresh Air which ended on a cliffhanger (I am not going to give anything away on that front.)There is a little catch up chapter at the beginning of this novel so, if it is your introduction to the series, you don’t need to have read the prior novels in order to read this one. I do recommend them though.
by Book Review: Christmas Ever After by Jaimie Admans
I am beyond excited to be welcoming Jaimie Admans back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Christmas Ever After.
A picture-perfect town, a place where dreams come true. Welcome to Ever After Street…
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but Franca Andrews has never felt more miserable. With business far from bustling, she needs a Christmas miracle to keep her beloved nutcracker shop open… But there’s one man standing in her way – expert snow globe maker Raff Dardenne.
Dardenne Snow Globes have a magical reputation for bringing lovers together, a myth that Raff continues to exploit, much to Franca’s annoyance! But this Christmas their shops are pitted against each other and only one gets to stay on Ever After Street. Franca doesn’t know how her handmade nutcrackers are ever going to compete with Raff’s magical snow globes, especially at the most magical time of the year!
Franca’s determined to prove Raff’s business is built on lies. But when disaster strikes, and she’s left unable to make anything, she needs help. It’s just very frustrating that the only person offering is her gorgeous, annoying, nemesis himself!
As these two enemies get to know each other, Franca discovers another side to Raff – kind, caring and funny. . But unless she can prove that his magical snow globes can’t really match true lovers together, she’s going to lose everything…
But maybe it’s not too late for them to put aside their differences and find some Christmas magic of their own?
*****
Words can’t describe my excitement whenever a new book in the Ever After series gets released. When I got invited onto the blog tour for, Christmas Ever After, I couldn’t wait to get reading.
This is book four in the series. However, if you’d like your introduction to Ever After Street to have a festive feel, it can be read as a standalone.
by Book Review: This Is Not a Holiday Romance by Camilla Isley
I am so excited to be welcoming Camilla Isley back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest novel, This Is Not a Holiday Romance.
Two sworn enemies, snowed in over Christmas with chemistry that will melt the ice!
Nina Thompson has one Christmas wish: to avoid her brother’s obnoxiously handsome best friend, Tristan, like the plague. From the moment he humiliated her as a teenager to their escalating revenge schemes, Nina and Tristan’s relationship can only be defined as an all-out prank war! And there is yet to be a winner.
But it just so happens the ghost of Christmas present has other ideas. When Tristan unexpectedly crashes her family’s Christmas, Nina’s dreams of a peaceful holiday vanish faster than Santa up a chimney. Determined to end their rivalry for good, she braces herself for one last prank-filled showdown.
But when they find themselves snowed in, with no way of avoiding each other amongst the holiday festivities, they discover their heated exchanges have been masking a different kind of sizzle. Caught in a snow globe of holiday romance, they decide to let their fiery chemistry burn bright—but this is absolutely and unequivocally nothing more than a secret fling destined to melt with the snow, this is not a forever romance…
This Is Not a Holiday Romance is an enemies to lovers, brother’s best friend, forced proximity rom-com perfect for fans of Sarah Adams, Abby Jimenez, and Lynn Painter.
*****
Nina is looking forward to spending Christmas with her family or she was until her brother’s best friend, Tristan joins them. Can she get through the holiday with her sanity and her heart in one piece?
I have become such a big fan of this author. I was excited to be invited onto the blog tour for This is Not a Holiday Romance.
Nina is a brilliant character. She has strength and doesn’t let anyone walk over her. I was cheering for her all the way through.
by Book Review: The Final Score by Carys Jones
I’m excited to be welcoming Carys Jones to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, The Final Score.
It’s never too late for revenge…
Connie Winchester was once a celebrated music prodigy… but those days are long behind her. So when Daniel Layton shows up on her doorstep to interview her about her career, Connie Winchester is flattered to be remembered.
But as he moves through her story, it all comes back. Robin. Her friends. The drugs. What happened that final night. The lies she told.
Connie has been running from her past for years. But now there’s nowhere left to run…
*****
Connie Winchester has led an illustrious life as a world leading violin player but feels like the world has all but forgotten her. Now in her 80’s, she agrees to be interviewed. As she begins to talk about her life, it comes back to haunt her.
I was intrigued to read this novel from Carys Jones and pleased to be invited onto the blog tour for The Final Score.
by Book Review: Last Christmas by Clare Swatman
I’m excited to be welcoming Clare Swatman back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Last Christmas.
‘Bea was always early for everything. Even, it turned out, when she was running away from her life.’
As Christmas approaches, Bea Preston has a choice.
Looking up at the departures board in Heathrow airport, her flight to New York boarding soon, she knows that getting on that plane changes everything. Her life in London has grown stale, her relationship with boyfriend Dom has run its course, and New York has always been her dream. But it’s a risk – she’ll miss her parents, her friends, her job.
What if Bea could live both lives? In one she goes back home for Christmas, and in another she heads to the Big Apple. Would her fate remain the same, or can one decision really change everything?
In a grand sliding-doors love story that spans oceans, years and lives, Clare Swatman’s unforgettable tale of fate and friendship is perfect for all fans of Jojo Moyes, Beth Moran and Ruth Jones.
*****
Bea is running from her life. Standing at the airport, she faces a choice – to stay or to go?
Having become a big fan of Clare Swatman, I felt excited to be asked onto the blog tour for her latest novel, Last Christmas.
The premise for this novel is one I find so intriguing as it looks at these moments and decisions that have the potential to change the rest of your life. Of course, you can only know the outcome for the decisions that you make. However, this book follows Bea and shows alternative realities – one showing what happens if she stayed in her current life and the other showing her life if she’d left.
by Book Review: A Corpse in Christmas Close by Michelle Salter
I’m pleased to be welcoming Michelle Salter back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, A Corpse in Christmas Close, book five in The Iris Woodmore Mysteries series.
When a pantomime turns deadly, Iris investigates a cast of killers…
Christmas, 1923. When reporter Iris Woodmore is sent to cover the Prince of Wales’ visit to historic Winchester, she discovers more than just royal gossip.
The leading lady in Winchester Cathedral’s charity pantomime is found dead in mysterious circumstances. And the chief suspect is Cinderella’s handsome prince, played by Percy Baverstock’s younger brother, Freddie.
For the sake of the Baverstocks, Iris must investigate the murder, even though it means confronting an old enemy. And as the line between friend and foe blurs dangerously, she’s ensnared by someone she hoped she’d never see again…
Everyone’s favourite amateur sleuth returns for a Christmas mystery, perfect for fans of Verity Bright, Claire Gradidge and Emily Organ.
*****
It’s 1923 and Iris Woodmore is preparing for royalty to arrive in Winchester. However, when a girl is found murdered on the day of the Prince of Wales’s visit, Iris is in a race against time to find the person responsible before they potentially strike again.
I am such a BIG fan of the Iris Woodmore Mysteries series and was very excited to be invited onto the blog tour for book five in the series, A Corpse in Christmas Close. Iris and a mention of Christmas in the title. Come on, no brainer.
It was so lovely to catch up with Iris. She’s a strong, independent woman and such a wonderful character to read. I love that she forges her own path, especially in the time in which this novel is set. She’s how I hope to have been had I lived in that time period. It was also fabulous to catch up with the familiar faces surrounding Iris.
by Book Review: The Fecking Fabulous Forties Club by Freya Kennedy
I’m very excited to be welcoming Freya Kennedy to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her novel, The Fecking Fabulous Forties Club.
Becca Burnside isn’t sure where it all went wrong. How did she end up single in her forties, with the highlight of her weekend being a trip to Big Asda with her mum and the only chance of cuddles coming from her dog?
It’s fair to say that Becca’s life isn’t quite where she’d hoped it would be. She already knew that, deep down, but when she finds the time capsule she and her friends made as teenagers and remembers the hopes and dreams sixteen-year-old Becki (with an i) had for the future, she knows she has to do something, and fast.
Refusing to be controlled by her hot flushes and Unexplained Waves of Sadness, Becca is determined to turn things around – for Becki’s sake. But what will it take to prove there’s life in the old girl yet?
*****
Now in her forties, Becca is wondering how the most exciting thing in her life has become a trip to ASDA. After finding a time capsule and a letter from her 16 year-old self, Becca is determined to improve her life, hot flushes and menopause be damned.
Having been a big fan of this author’s psychological thrillers (where she writes as Claire Allan,) and The Hopes and Dreams of Libby Quinn, I was excited to be invited onto the blog tour for The Fecking Fabulous Forties Club,
First, I want to show some appreciation for the title. I love it. Haha.
by Book Club
