Sunshine and Sweet Peas in Nightingale Square

by

Heidi Swain

BLOG TOUR

I'm delighted to be a part of the Blog Tour for Heidi Swain's new book Sunshine and Sweet Pease in Nightingale Square. I have met Heidi a couple of times and she is a lovely lady and lives in a fabulous part of Norfolk that I can't wait to visit! Today, I have an extract for you so sit back and enjoy an extract. By the way, I love the title!

Prologue

'Are you sure you’re all right, Kate?’ David asked as our

honeymoon flight finally touched down and I twisted in my

seat to catch my first glimpse of an Italian sunrise. ‘I know

she said something to you.’

‘Honestly,’ I said, shaking my head and dismissing the harsh

words my mother had used to warn me that my marriage

would last six months, if I was lucky. ‘I’m fine. It’s nothing.’

‘But you were late to the church,’ David persisted in spite

of my reassurance. ‘Very late.’

‘I’ve already told you,’ I laughed, reaching for his hand and

kissing it. ‘That was down to Dad dithering about. He was

more nervous than I was.’

David nodded.

‘Did you think she’d finally got to me?’ I asked, halfjokingly.

‘I hope you didn’t think she’d made me change

‘The thought did enter my head as the seconds began to

tick by,’ he admitted with a boyish grin.

‘Then you’re more deluded than she is,’ I tutted. ‘I love

you, David and no amount of mithering from my mother

could ever change that.’

It was true. I loved the man in the seat next to me body

and soul. I had from the very first moment I laid eyes on

him. Yes, he had a dubious relationship history but I knew he

wasn’t the same person any more. Unfortunately, my mother

didn’t share my belief, but had she paid half as much attention

to the impeccable present as she did to the promiscuous past,

she would have seen for herself just how well- suited we were.

David hadn’t so much as looked at another woman since

our relationship had turned from casual to serious and sitting

on that flight, poised to explore Rome, Venice and beyond,

I could see both my marriage and my career comfortingly

stretching out ahead of me. David and I were to be partners

both in our lives and our work in the antiques trade. Granted

we had each chosen to make sacrifices to make our relationship

work, but we were both equally determined to make a

success of it all.

‘She still doesn’t know you like I do,’ I said consolingly,

‘but she will. In time.’

David didn’t look convinced.

‘I just wish I could make her see how much I love you,

Mrs Kate Harper.’ He burst out, more serious all of a sudden,

‘I just want her to understand that I would never hurt you,

that this old leopard really has changed his spots.’

‘Hey,’ I cut in, feeling giddy at the sound of my married

name, ‘less of the old, thank you very much! There aren’t

that many years between us.’

David was not to be distracted from making his heartfelt

declaration.

‘No,’ he said, ‘I mean this, Kate. You’re the best thing

that’s ever happened to me. You’ve been a breath of fresh air

since the first moment I clapped eyes on you and I would

never, ever do, or say, anything that would hurt you or

make you doubt me. I don’t care what anyone else thinks of

us, all I need to know is that you trust me with every bit of

your heart.’

I closed my eyes as he tenderly cupped my face in his hands

and brushed his lips lightly against mine. I had never felt so

happy, so loved and cherished. I held tight to that moment

and locked it away for safekeeping.

‘I trust you,’ I whispered, looking deep into his eyes.

The Street Orphans

by

Mary Wood

BLOG TOUR

Today, it's my turn on the Blog Tour for the wonderful Mary Wood's new novel, The Street Orphans. I have to admit that this is the first book I have read from this author, but as a saga lover, I'm sure it certainly won't be my last! Please find my review below.

Thank you so much to the author for letting me be a part of this fabulous tour.

Blurb

Born with a club foot in a remote village in the Pennines, Ruth is feared and ridiculed by her superstitious neighbours who see her affliction as a sign of witchcraft. When her father is killed in an accident and her family evicted from their cottage, she hopes to leave her old life behind, to start afresh in the Blackburn cotton mills. But tragedy strikes once again, setting in motion a chain of events that will unravel her family’s lives.

Their fate is in the hands of the Earl of Harrogate, and his betrothed, Lady Katrina. But more sinister is the scheming Marcia, Lady Katrina’s jealous sister. Impossible dreams beset Ruth from the moment she meets the Earl. Dreams that lead her to hope that he will save her from the terrible fate that awaits those accused of witchcraft. Dreams that one day her destiny and the Earl’s will be entwined.

Review

When Ruth's father is tragically killed, the family are turfed out of their home within a day of his death and with nowhere else to go, the family decide to up sticks and move to Blackburn to try and make a new life for themselves in the cotton mills. A tragedy along the way involving a horse and carriage ends with the death of Ruth's mother and the Earl of Harrogate's arrogant, bully of a brother. Never did Ruth or her siblings know that what happened that day, will come back to haunt them all in more ways than they could ever imagine.

The Earl of Harrogate is married to Lady Katrina, but the only person he has on his mind is Ruth. When he tries to help Ruth and her siblings to make a better life for themselves, he doesn't take into account Lady Katrina's scheming sister Marcia, who will do whatever it takes to get the Earl to herself!

There are twists and turns at every corner in this historical saga. It's not secret that I love a saga and this one didn't disappoint! 

In traditional saga style, there are some uncomfortable topics that the author writes about, but I have no doubt that these were the terrible things that women had to endure during those times. 

This was a great story of good over bad, love over hate, rich and poor - everything you need for a really good historical saga!! 

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read my first book by this author and as I said before, this will certainly not be my last! 

About the Author

Born in Maidstone, Kent, in 1945, the thirteenth child of fifteen children, Mary's family settled in Leicestershire after the war ended.

Mary married young and now, after 54 years of happy marriage, four children, 12 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren, Mary and her husband live in Blackpool during the summer and Spain during the winter - a place that Mary calls, 'her writing retreat'.

After many jobs from cleaning to catering, all chosen to fit in with bringing up her family, and boost the family money-pot, Mary ended her 9 - 5 working days as a Probation Service Officer, a job that showed her another side to life, and which influences her writing, bringing a realism and grittiness to her novels

Mary first put pen to paper, in 1989, but it wasn't until 2010 that she finally found some success by self-publishing on kindle.

Being spotted by an editor at Pan Macmillan in 2013, finally saw Mary reach her publishing dream.

When not writing, Mary enjoys family time, reading, eating out, and gardening.

One of her favourite past times is interacting with her readers on her Facebook page.

 www.facebook.com/HistoricalNovels
And on her web page: www.authormarywood.com
She is also on Twitter: @Authormary

To order a copy of the book from Amazon click here

** COVER REVEAL **

I have an absolutely gorgeous cover reveal for you today. It's the 5th instalment in the Families of Fairley Terrace Sagas and it is being published later this year in hardback/ebook/audio (6th September) and for the paperback, you will have to wait a bit longer, January 2019, published by Headline. I am a little bit behind with my TBR pile and I still have book 4 to read, but it's up there on my pile and I hope to review for you soon! If you love family sagas as much as I do, you must read this series. You will be gripped from the very first page!




To pre-order this from Amazon click here

                  

 

Gravity Well

by

Melanie Joosten

BLOG TOUR

I always feel very privileged when I am ask to open a Blog Tour and today I am delighted to be kicking off the tour for Gravity Well. I have a prologue for you and by just reading that, it sounds like it's going to be a great read! Wishing the author the best of luck with this book.

#Gravitywell

PROLOGUE

JANUARY 2015

The flyscreen door bangs shut as you thump down the steps to the garage. You haul up the roller door, the dust coming alive in the sunlight. The campervan is faded, a memory of itself; the stickers on the bumper describe things people used to care about: Keep Australia Beautiful. Be Safe, Be Sure. Give a Damn, Vote Democrat. 

Squeezing into the narrow space between the wall of the garage and the van, you ease the driver’s door open and pull yourself into the seat. The vinyl is cool against your bare legs, but there’s an old beach towel handy to sit on; the seat will burn hot if the van is parked in the sun for a few hours. You don’t expect the battery to start, but when you turn the key, the engine coughs into service. Releasing the handbrake, you put the van in reverse. Throwing your left arm over the jump seat, you grab the passenger headrest and look back at the driveway. After the dark of the garage the bright sun flares, and you clench your eyes shut, put your foot to the floor. The van leaps backwards, you don’t want it to stall. Give it some more petrol and push out into the day. 

And then everything stops. 

The Fear

by

C.L. Taylor

BLOG TOUR

I am absolutely delighted to be a part of the huge Blog Tour for C.L. Taylor's latest psychological thriller The Fear. I have read all of this author's books and I count her as one of my favourite authors. Her books seem to get better and better and I devoured this one in just over a day (a record for me!!). I have always had a soft spot for Cally's first thriller The Accident, but I think this may have pipped it to the post!! I have even recommended this book whilst browsing around Waterstone's when people have been looking at the cover!! If you haven't read this, or any other of C.L. Taylor's novels, then I can only say, why not!! they are gripping, a bit dark and on more than one occasion, I found myself holding my breath!! Oh, and I actually gasped out loud when reading the last page.........

Review

Why is it when you read a fabulous book, it's always so hard to review it?! I have enjoyed all of C.L. Taylor's previous books and before I read this one I had seen a lot of people saying this one is her best yet, so obviously I had to read it as soon as I could to see what all the fuss was about!

Lou Wandsworth has tried so hard to forget her past, but sometimes unfinished business makes the past come back and haunt you. As a 15 year old, Lou fell in love with Mike who was twice her age. They elope to France where Lou dreams of endless days of holding hands and happy ever afters, but the reality is far from that. Mike becomes aggressive, possessive and almost takes on another personality, leaving Lou frightened and desperate to escape.

Now, aged 32, Lou is moving back to her childhood home to sort out her late father's estate and to her horror, she discovers Mike with a young girl at a garden centre and all the past comes crashing back around her ears.

Chloe Meadows is falling into the same trap as Lou did all those years ago. Can Lou get to Chloe and help her away from Mike's clutches before it's too late?.....

There have been many gripping psychological thrillers in the past where reviewers have said that they were on the edge of their seat, but in this case, I really was! I often found myself holding my breath and having to take a couple of minutes to take everything in!

The author deals with some difficult issues in this book very sensitively and the research that obviously went into it shows as it is expertly written and you feel Lou's fear, pain, her highs and lows and when you see what is happening to Chloe you just want to shout at her "NO"!!!

C.L. Taylor is just getting better and better with every book. I always had a soft spot for The Accident as it was her first book and also The Lie was the first Blog Tour and book event I ever went to as a book blogger!

I have recommended this book countless times and have even recommended it in Waterstones once! Well done Cally on yet another fantastic read. People often mention a twist when reading psychological thrillers and I can honestly say that the last chapter and page made me gasp out loud! One of my favourite books of the year for sure and one that I feel I could read again and again.

Tapestry of War

by

Jane Mackenzie

BLOG TOUR

It's the final leg of the Blog Tour for Tapestry of War and today I have an extract from Chapter Two for you. You can also read Chapter One on the Allison & Busby website (link below).

In Alexandria, Fran finds her life turned upside down as Rommel’s forces advance on the idyllic shores of Egypt. In place of the luxury and stability that she is used to, she finds herself having to deal with loss, heartache and political uncertainty.

Meanwhile, on the Firth of Clyde, Catriona works day in, day out nursing injured servicemen. As the war rages on, the two women’s lives become entwined – bringing love and friendship to both.

Extract



That evening they had been due to attend a garden party given by the city’s most distinguished Englishman to welcome new naval personnel to Alexandria. The party, though, had been put back until the following afternoon, because the air raids had become so much more frequent recently, and it was becoming difficult to do anything out of doors in the evening. Blackouts meant you couldn’t open up the house to the outside, and the few tiny candles allowed made gardens gloomy places after dark.

Instead, therefore, the Trevillians invited their nearest neighbours for cocktails, and for a couple of hours they sat outside under the light of the stars, and watched the light display created by yet another evening of raids. Bombs never fell out here among the villas of the wealthy. The Germans concentrated their fire around the Western Harbour, where the navy had its ships. Houses downtown had taken bad hits, but here you could sleep in your own bed, and the noise of the raids was more bothersome than threatening.

The noise meant you had to speak up, but Fran was happy just to sit back and watch, letting her parents and the Eatons talk amongst themselves. She was both weary and restless at the same time. Her experience of this morning was too raw in her mind for her to take much from an evening among middle-aged people she’d known all her life, chatting about the relentlessly familiar just as she’d heard them do for years.

And yet she wouldn’t have had the energy this evening to seek out any of her own friends, and there were precious few of her own age group left in Alexandria anyway. It suited her mood to sit back on a cane chair with a glass

in her hand and nothing required of her. She swilled her gin lightly, letting the ice clink against the glass, and listened with half an ear.

‘The war has destroyed international markets for Egyptian cotton,’ Bill Eaton was complaining. ‘There’s nothing to trade any more, and we’ll soon be closing the stock exchange for lack of business.’

Fran raised a private eyebrow, unseen in the gloom. Her father had a small smile on his face, and she waited to see what he would reply.

‘Are you worried that we’ll all be ruined for the want of a few cotton futures, Bill?’

Bill Eaton almost harrumphed. ‘Ruined no, but things aren’t what they were.’

‘No,’ Alan Trevillian replied. ‘The economy is struggling, but the British have bought up all the cotton from the last harvest. We’ll survive.’

‘At rock-bottom prices!’ Bill Eaton protested. ‘They say old Minton has lost everything.’

Alan Trevillian looked sceptical. ‘I rather doubt that. Minton will have taken the bulk of his fortune out of the country. It’s the small cotton farmers who are really suffering.’

Bill Eaton merely grunted. Egyptian peasants weren’t his concern. Fran looked across at her father, catching his eye, and he winked at her. She grinned over her glass. Her father was on good terms with his neighbours, but he was on a different plane to them, and to so many of the narrow Brits here. He was a far-thinking man with a generous view of the world, and a wry eye always open to its absurdities, and she loved him.

He was approaching fifty years old, but might have passed for ten years younger, with just a hint of grey touching his dark hair, and not an inch of spare flesh on his lean frame. He could be Italian, Fran thought, with his brown eyes and skin, and he had passed the same colouring on to her. It fitted very well in this cosmopolitan city, where the mix of French, Italian, Greek, Arab and Jew had created a unique commercial hub found nowhere else in the world.

And Alan Trevillian, brought up here in Egypt, the son of an eminent irrigation engineer, lived Alexandrian life to the full. He spoke four languages, drank endless cups of Turkish coffee over business each morning in the cafes by the stock exchange, and had an impressive network of friends and contacts across all of the city’s communities. The wealthiest financiers respected him, and those who worked for him held him in high regard. But above all he loved Egypt, loved it and cared about it and all of its people.

In contrast, Fran’s mother Barbara was more typically English in style, fair and neatly elegant in a restrained style, holding herself at a slight distance from the more exotic ladies of Alexandria, in their make-up and Paris fashions. She supported her husband loyally, but had built her own life among the British women of Alexandria. Since the desert war had begun, sending floods of helplessly injured soldiers to the city’s straining hospital, Barbara and her friends had manned kitchens, run clubs, and held weekly events for servicemen in their homes, in a very British demonstration of unity.

She was the calmest, most unfretful of parents on the outside. Standards of behaviour had to be maintained, but only insolence had brought down severe penalties when Fran and her brother Michael were growing up. Michael was the apple of Barbara Trevillian’s eye, the one who could get away with almost anything, and now that he was in the desert army, Fran occasionally glimpsed the worry that hid behind her mother’s British sangfroid. But never a word was spoken except to wonder mildly whether he had enough socks, and to regret that he was missing their cook’s most prized dishes.

As they drank their cocktails that evening, Fran studied them all and thought how individual was the life that Egypt offered them. The bombing raid came to an end and they sat on for a while, allowing themselves some brighter lamps as more drinks were served. The evening air was balmy after the heat of the day, and a pleasurable breeze circled around them. Their servant Mustafa set out freshly prepared snacks on a low table between them, hot chicken on skewers, roasted almonds, and little plates of cinnamon-spiced pasta. He moved almost silently between them, and an easy hush settled on the company.

Soon the Eatons would head home, and Fran would seek her bed. She hoped that there would be no more air raids that night. Sometimes they had none, other times two or three, and there was no rhythm to them, except that they had got so much worse since the Germans had overrun Greece, and now had their planes stationed on Crete, just a couple of hundred miles away in the Mediterranean. Alexandria was the Allies’ Naval HQ, a natural target, and things were unlikely to get any better.

Her father would not be on the yacht patrol again for at least a couple of weeks, and tonight he would sleep. Fran hoped that she would sleep too, but above all she hoped that her young French boy was sleeping in his hospital bed, that the Free French who had poured such anger on their countrymen had now been moved on from Alexandria, and that everyone else was safely under curfew on their ships. The night felt peaceful now, and Fran hoped that the same brief calm could give them all a full night’s rest.

You can find Chapter One from this novel over on Allison & Busby website:-

http://www.allisonandbusby.com/booksample/tapestry-of-war-chapter-sample.pdf