The Coal Miner's Wife

by

Jennie Felton

Somerset, 1911. Miner's wife Lorna Harrison sometimes wonders what became of her marriage. The affection has gone, and her husband Harry is surly and cold. But Lorna will always be grateful for the joy that their two daughters bring.

When a devastating accident occurs at the pit and Harry is unable to work, Lorna worries about how she will make ends meet. Worse, the pit owner wants them out of their house. And neighbours turn their backs, as rumours spread that Harry helped cause the mine collapse.

At her lowest ebb, Lorna is befriended by Bradley Robinson, the colliery safety officer, whose kindness is a beacon of light. But as shocking secrets are revealed, Lorna wonders if Bradley is only using her to learn the truth about the pit. As she struggles to keep her daughters safe, Lorna must decide if she can trust the man she is falling in love with . . .

Review

Lorna Harrison is married to coal miner Harry and when there is a tragic accident at the pit where he works and Harry is very badly injured, Lorna is beside herself with worry about how they will cope financially whilst Harry is not working. 

Bradley Robinson is the Safety Officer at the pit and is determined to find out how the accident happened, if in fact it was an accident...

Rumours spread quickly that Harry had something to do with the accident as witnesses say they heard an explosion just before the pit collapse. 

Life with Harry is unbearable as he was a miserable so and so before he was injured and now he is just a drain on Lorna's nerves and so when Lorna meets Bradley after he visits her and Harry about the accident, there seems to be an instant spark between them, but Lorna is so worried about how she is going to feed her family (they have 2 small children), that she tries to put any growing feelings she may have for Bradley to the back of her mind.

This is such a great saga (as usual, I love this author's work). It held my attention from beginning to end and I just couldn't put it down as I wanted to know what happened in the end! A great mix of characters, some you love, some you hate with a passion! 

If you love sagas then this one is a must!

Amazon Link UK

Amazon.co.uk : the coal miners wife jennie felton

Scandalous women

 Scandalous Women

by

Gill Paul

BLOG TOUR

1966: In London, Jackie Collins’s racy The World is Full of Married Men hits bookshops and launches her career. In New York, Jacqueline Susann’s debut novel Valley of the Dolls is published, and she’s desperate for it to be a bestseller. But neither author is prepared for the price they will pay for begin women who dare to write about sex. In Manhattan, college graduate Nancy White is excited to take up her dream job at a Manhattan publishing house. But Nancy could never be prepared for the rampant sexism she will encounter on the job. But when Nancy introduces the two Jackies, she never could have predicted what was about to happen next. As she strives to achieve her ambition of becoming an editor, can all three women succeed despite the men determined to hold them back?

REVIEW

Anyone who is anyone knows that I have loved all of this author's books and I always eagerly await the next one. I was particularly interested in the blurb for this one because I have actually met Jackie Collins at her book event for The Santangelos in the Dorchester Hotel just a few weeks before she sadly died. 

The characters in this book are concentrated on Jackie Collins, Jacqueline Susann and a wannabe book editor called Nancy. 
Jacqueline Susann was an American author who wrote Valley of the Dolls which went to number one in the US bestsellers list. Jacqueline was married to Irving, her long suffering husband. She was the one who wore the trousers in their marriage, but they were devoted to one another. 
Jackie Collins (sister of Joan Collins) became a published author a couple of years after Jacqueline, but her novels were more popular in the UK, but she dreamed of making it on the US bestsellers list. 
Nancy always dreamed of working in publishing and becoming an editor in New York and when she got the chance to meet Jacqueline Susann, little did she known how much her life would change, but could she work her way up to editor when working in a male dominated environment?
This book flits between the three main characters with short chapters (which I love), so you can easily read “one more chapter” befor bed!
The story has some hard hitting topics including sexism in the workplace which sadly was rife for women in the 60’s and drug taking and how this affected peoples lives.
I must admit, I didn’t know anything about Jacqueline Susann, but I was lucky enough to meet Jackie Collins before she died (and read a few of her books), but what I loved most is that when I read the chapters about Jackie, I really thought I could hear her talking! That’s the talent of a great writer. Thank you Gill for writing another fabulous read. I really couldn’t put this one down and devoured it in just a few days.   

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gill Paul is an author of historical fiction, specializing in the twentieth century and often writing about the lives of real women. Her novels have topped bestseller lists in the US and Canada as well as the UK and have been translated into twenty languages. The Secret Wife has sold over half a million copies and is a book club favourite worldwide. She is also the author of several non-fiction books on historical subjects. She lives in London and swims year-round in a wild pond.

Below is a photo of me and the late Jackie Collins at a book launch at The Dorchester Hotel less than 3 weeks before she died. She gladly posed for photos and signed books of her latest book The Santangelos (which I have and will treasure). She was a lovely lady and taken far too soon. 

A Modern Midlife Christmas Carol

COVER REVEAL

A Modern Midlife Christmas Carol

by

Alana Oxford

Christmas cheer was dead, to begin with.

The world rests on Eliza’s shoulders. The kids, her husband, work, her elderly mother and don’t forget her newest friend, perimenopause. It’s too much to carry, but she’s been doing it for years. It’s just what a good wife and mother does, isn’t it?

When another Christmas rolls around, Eliza is drained by all the expectations and logistics of the holiday season. She’s fast approaching her breaking point, only no one around her notices she’s on the edge.

After an incident at her in-law’s on Christmas Eve brings things to a boiling point, she finds herself with three unexpected visitors. The spirits of the past, present, and future take her on a journey through her life to shake her out of the rut she’s gotten into. Their messages leave her with new possibilities: reconnect with her past, reclaim her present, or forge a new future, and you, the reader, decide which option is best!

Pre-order Links https://books2read.com/u/3kw7gO https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DDHX2854

Publication Date: 15th October 2024

Author Bio 

Alana Oxford is a Michigan author of romcoms, sweet romance, and humorous women's fiction. She wants her stories to bring sunshine and smiles to her readers. She enjoys improv comedy, moody music, everything book related, and has an ongoing love affair with the United Kingdom.

Social Media Links –

https://twitter.com/AlanaOxford

https://instagram.com/AlanaOxford

https://www.facebook.com/AlanaOxford https://www.tiktok.com/@alanaoxford

 Felicity's War

by

Jean Fullerton

BLOG TOUR

1941. Whilst London is battered by air raids, Felicity ‘Fliss’ Carmichael has troubles of her own. Reeling from her fiancé’s betrayal, she flees to her family home at St. Winifred’s Rectory.

 Though heartbroken, Fliss finds purpose again as a journalist. On assignment, she crosses paths with Detective Inspector Timothy Wallace, who shares

her passion for truth and justice - though not necessarily her political beliefs. Despite their differences, an instant spark ignites between them.

 In a city under siege, Fliss and Tim forge an unlikely bond. But can their blossoming romance endure the perils ahead?

 Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Felicitys-War-Jean-Fullerton-ebook/dp/B0CRMRHDL4

https://www.amazon.com/Felicitys-War-Jean-Fullerton-ebook/dp/B0CRMRHDL4

 

Review

When Felicity (Fliss) catches her fiance in bed with his Secretary, it is the final straw and she tries to find solace in a bottle of gin, only to be found by a Policeman and taken back to her parents house.

Fliss is a journalist and whilst staying with her parents she finds work locally. This is where she meets up with Detective Inspector Timothy Wallace. They lock horns several times, but as they say, opposites attract!

Can Fliss find love again, especially after giving her heart to someone who deceived her so badly? 

This was a great wartime story, with likeable characters (mostly!). The author has a great knowledge of WWII and I love reading her stories. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Author Bio – Born and bred in East London Jean was a District Nurse by trade working throughout East London. She had published twenty-three sagas, including the popular WW2 RATION BOOK, which like all her books is set in East London. Jean has also written her autobiography A Child of the East End, about growing up in post-war Stepney and Wapping. She is currently working on first book of her new four book WW2 series.    

Social Media Links –

 http://jeanfullerton.com/

Facebook:            https://bit.ly/3sjifVL

X (formally Twitter):  JeanFullerton_

Instagram:           https://www.instagram.com/jean_fullerton/

Amazon:              Jean’s Amazon Page https://amzn.to/3GSWMam

The Bookshop Ladies

 The Bookshop Ladies

by

Faith Hogan

BLOG TOUR

Review

Joy and her husband Yves are on their way back from his retirement party when they are involved in a car accident and Yves is critically injured, causing him to have a heart attack. He knows he is dying and so he tries to speak, but Joy keeps trying to calm him down, but he is adamant he has something to say and when his last words to her were that he has a daughter, Joy feels so many different emotions she finds it hard to comprehend, especially as they were never able to have children of their own.

When Joy attends the solicitor for the reading of the will, she finds out that Yves daughter is called Robyn Tessier and that he has left her a very valuable painting (he was an art dealer) and that Robyn lives in a village called Ballycove in Ireland. 

Robyn owns a bookshop and when Joy goes into the shop to confront Robyn, she just can’t bring herself at that point to say who she is and Robyn thinks she has turned up to work in the shop! 

Joy gets to know Robyn more and begins to settle into the village and they both discover each others secrets. 

A lovely heartwarming book of friendship, family, love and deceit. Who could ask for more from a book!

Love, Julie

 Love, Julie

by

Jamie Anderson

BLOG TOUR

Love, Julie

A Poignant and Humorous Journey of Self-discovery, Resilience, and Redemption

Once, Julie dreamed of a life filled with love and laughter. Now, in her mid-forties, she faces a starkly different reality. She's single, lonely, and reeling from breaking her hard-earned sobriety in front of her family and friends.

Opting for self-recovery over romance, Julie dives into planning her best friend Kate’s wedding. However, sharing this task with the irritatingly cheerful best man, single dad Luke, proves to be an unexpected challenge.

As Luke’s persistent kindness chips away at her icy exterior, a friendship forms, stirring a longing she’d sworn to suppress. But with self-forgiveness as her biggest hurdle, and her past ready to sabotage her future, can Julie confront the shame and trauma that have darkened so much of her life and find the courage to love again? Or will her demons shatter both her and Luke’s hearts in the process?

Jamie Anderson, author of the hilarious and heartwarming Someone to Kiss, is back with another witty, acerbic, and relatable story. Love, Julie is a richly emotional tale of recovery, forgiveness, and romance that readers have praised for “nailing the humor and snarky nature of our generation.”

 Review

Julie has been sober for nearly a year when she has a drink at the engagement party of her brother and her best friend Kate and so starts the slippery slope of alcoholism. She embarrasses herself and knows she has to do something about it now and so signs up to the local AA group.

When she meets Luke at the meeting, little did she know that he is her brother’s friend and that he is going to be best man!

As part of her healing process and to help keep her mind off the drink, Julie asks her brother Ben and her friend Kate if she can be their wedding planner. They reluctantly agree, but with one condition - that Luke helps her with the arrangements!

This is a story that touches the often taboo subject of alcoholism, but it deals with it with compassion and also humour. 

Purchase Links

https://mybook.to/lovejulie

 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D135N3R8
 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D135N3R8
 https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0D135N3R8
 https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0D135N3R8

 

Author Bio –

Jamie Anderson is based in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. A proud Canadian and Saskatchewanian, she wanted to set her first two novels in the place she was born and raised.

She’s been writing for as long as she can remember, and has been reading for longer than that. She lives happily with her mountain of books, her TV and her two plants.

 

You can read Jamie’s first novel Someone to Kiss here: https://mybook.to/someonetokiss

 

Social Media Links – https://linktr.ee/jamieandersonwrites

https://twitter.com/jandersonwrites

 Mrs England

by

Stacey Halls

West Yorkshire, 1904. When newly-graduated nurse Ruby May takes a position looking after the children of Charles and Lilian England, a wealthy couple form a powerful dynasty of mill owners, she hopes it will be the fresh start she needs. But as she adapts to life at the isolated Hardcastle House, it becomes clear there's something not quite right about the beautiful, mysterious Mrs England.

Ostracised by the other servants and feeling increasingly uneasy, soon a series of strange events will force Ruby to question everything she thought she knew . . .

Review

When Ruby May qualifies from the prestigious Norland Nanny College in London in 1904, no one is more surprised than her and she is soon placed with a family in London, but as they are emigrating to America, she feels she cannot go because of her own family in Birmingham, so when she finds out about a post in Yorkshire to look after 4 children whose parents own a cotton mill and are in need of a nanny, she asks to be placed with them. 

Charles England runs a cotton mill which belongs to his wife Lilian's family and at first Ruby thinks that Lilian behaves very strangely. She is distant to the children and spends most of the day in her bedroom, but as the weeks go on, it is Charles whose behaviour is taking Ruby by surprise. 

Ruby takes to the children immediately and soon builds a bond with them, but when they send their eldest daughter away to school, it sees the start of a turbulent time at Hardcastle House and Ruby feels out of her depth.

I loved this book (as I did all of this author's previous books) and the way the author describes the characters and places is fabulous. All her books are very well researched and this clearly shows in her writing.