Time to Say Goodbye

 by 

S D Robertson

Blog Tour

Today it's my turn to host this beautiful book. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Have your tissues handy.........

HOW DO YOU LEAVE THE PERSON YOU LOVE THE MOST?

Will Curtis's six-year-old daughter, Ella, knows her father will never leave her. After all, he promised her so when her mother died. And he's going to do everything he can to keep his word.

What Will doesn't know is that the promise he made to his little girl might be harder to keep than he imagined. When he's faced with an impossible decision, Will finds that the most obvious choice might not be the right one.

But the future is full of unexpected surprises. And father and daughter are about to embark on an unforgettable journey together . . .

Review

When I read the first page of this book (I don’t think I will be giving any spoilers away here) and found out the main character had died, I just knew I was going to enjoy this book! Two of my favourite books ever have been where the main character is dead and comes back as a “spirit” for a time.

William (Will) is a 30 something widower bringing up his six year old daughter Ella on his own when he is tragically knocked off his bike, leaving him with fatal injuries. He realises straight away that something is wrong as he looks down at the paramedics desperately trying to revive him, to no avail.

Meanwhile Ella is waiting at school for her Dad to collect her at the end of the day and wondering why her Dad is late.

Not long after Will realises he has died he meets Lizzie, who is his spirit guide. She tells him that he has a few weeks to decide if he wants to pass over to the “other side” or stay looking out for Ella. The only thing with staying is that he would not be able to change his mind again, he would be left in limbo forever. This has happened to another spirit called Arthur who has regretted his decision not to go to Heaven with his wife.

I know this story sounds very far fetched, but I love reading about other people’s perceptions of what they think happens to us when we die. I think the author told the story very sympathetically and in great detail. The characters were very well described and I loved Will and thought Ella was a sweet, intelligent, sensitive little girl. The only character I personally had trouble believing was Will’s Dad and what evolves about his past.

Will’s parents are not only trying to come to terms with their grief over losing their son, but when Will’s Dad has a major stroke and is rushed to hospital, all sorts of family secrets unfold that will have another devastating effect on everyone!

I really loved this book right up to the last chapter when I had to read it again as I got a bit confused. I wasn’t sure at first what was happening, which was a bit of a disappointment, but on the whole I loved this book and would thoroughly recommend it and am already passing it on!

While I Was Waiting 
by 
Georgia Hill 
Blog Tour
&
Giveaway

Genre: Historical/time-slip romance

Release Date: 2/7/15 (e-pub) 10/9/15 (print)

Publisher:  Harper Impulse

Tired of her life in London, freelance illustrator Rachel buys the beautiful but dilapidated Clematis Cottage and sets about creating the home of her dreams. But tucked away behind the water tank in the attic and left to gather dust for decades, is an old biscuit tin containing letters, postcards and a diary. So much more than old scraps of paper, these are precious memories that tell the story of Henrietta Trenchard-Lewis, a love lost in the Great War and the girl who was left behind.

Review

When I saw the cover of this book, I knew instantly that it was going to be my kind of read! I love reading about stories that flip back to days gone by.

Although technically this isn't a wartime story, it does flit back to the past.

Rachel Makepeace is sick of living in a one bedroom flat in Camberwell, South East London (coincidentally I had a one bed flat in Camberwell!!) and decides to buy a lovely cottage in the country (i'm jealous already!). When builders find an old tin, they hand it to Rachel and finding it legally belongs to her, she starts reading the contents of the tin and so starts a journey that changes Rachel's life.

Hetty is the previous owner of Clematis Cottage and is the writer of letters in the tin. She tells of her childhood at having to go and live in Delemere House with two sisters Hester and Leonora and also two brothers Richard and Edward and the years of growing older and falling in love with one brother, but marrying another.

Meanwhile, Gabe is one of her builders, who happens to be as fit as a Butcher's dog and you don't need me to tell you what is likely to happen there!!

This book had a great mixture of characters and I loved them all, especially Rachel's gay best friend Tim!!

This was a lovely read and I really felt that Rachel had a connection with Hetty, especially whilst reading the letters. She even felt Hetty's presence in the cottage now and again!

I would thoroughly recommend this book and although I read it on kindle, I love the cover so much that I would love to have read the actual paperback.

Thank you to Georgia Hill and JB Johnston at Brook Cottage Books for letting me review this book.

BUY LINKS

AMAZON UK

AMAZON US

ABOUT GEORGIA HILL

I used to live in London, where I worked in the theatre. Then I got the bizarre job of teaching road safety to the U.S. navy – in Marble Arch!

A few years ago, I did an ‘Escape to the Country’. I now live in a tiny Herefordshire village, where I scandalise the neighbours by not keeping ‘country hours’ and being unable to make a decent pot of plum jam. Home is a converted Oast house (Old agricultural building used for drying hops), which I share with my two beloved spaniels, husband (also beloved) and a ghost called Zoe.

I’ve been lucky enough to travel widely, though prefer to set my novels closer to home. Perhaps more research is needed? I’ve always wanted to base a book in the Caribbean!

I am addicted to Belgian chocolate, Jane Austen and, most of all, Strictly Come Dancing.

AUTHOR LINKS

https://www.facebook.com/georgiahillauthor/

https://twitter.com/georgiawrites

http://www.georgiahill.co.uk/

https://www.pinterest.com/georgiawrites/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blood and Roses by Catherine Hokin Blog Tour

Blurb

Blood and Roses tells the story of Margaret of Anjou (1430-82), wife of Henry VI and a key protagonist in the Wars of the Roses. This is a feminist revision of a woman frequently imagined only as the shadowy figure demonised by Shakespeare - Blood and Roses examines Margaret as a Queen unable to wield the power and authority she is capable of, as a wife trapped in marriage to a man born to be a saint and as a mother whose son meets a terrible fate she has set in motion. It is the story of a woman caught up in the pursuit of power, playing a game ultimately no one can control...

Review

This is the author's debut historical novel based mainly on the life of Margaret of Anjou, who was brought over from France to marry Henry VI.

Margaret was around 14 years old when it was decided she was to come to England to marry Henry VI Henry was a devoutly religious man, who had no interest in marrying but everyone around him kept telling him he needed to produce an heir. Henry was more interested in praying from dawn to dusk.

This book covers the period of the War of the Roses in around 1400s. I must admit, I do love a bit of history, but this was even further back than I remembered at school!

Margaret marries Henry and you read about how she tries desperately for Henry to lover her and given her position, trying to produce an heir. Henry was having none of it and basically told Margaret that if an heir was to be conceived, she would have to pray for a miracle!

This leads to Margaret having to do desperate measures in order to get pregnant and i;m sure you can guess what happens!

This is a book not only about history, but about the relationship between a mother and her son and the trials they had to endure to basically stay alive.

If you love a bit of history then this is a great book for you. I did find there were a lot of characters to deal with, buth other than that a real insight into how you had to watch your back and be strong to hold on to power in England during the 1400s!!

About the Author

Catherine is a Glasgow-based author with a degree in History from Manchester University. After years of talking about it, she finally started writing seriously about 3 years ago, researching and writing her debut novel, Blood and Roses, which will be published in January 2016 by Yolk Publishing. 

The novel tells the story of Margaret of Anjou and her pivotal role in the Wars of the Roses, exploring the relationship between Margaret and her son and her part in shaping the course of the bloody political rivalry of the fifteenth century. 

About a year ago, Catherine also started writing short stories - she was recently 3rd prize winner in the 2015 West Sussex Writers Short Story Competition and a finalist in the Scottish Arts Club 2015 Short Story Competition. 

She regularly blogs as Heroine Chic, casting a historical, and often hysterical, eye over women in history, popular culture and life in general. 

Social media links:

https://www.catherinehokin.com/

http://catherinehokin.blogspot.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/cathokin/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

Twitter @cathokin

Thank you to Catherine Hokin and Yolk Publishing for letter me read and review this book.

The Child's Secret 
by
 Amanda Brooke 
Blog Tour
Guest Post & Review

Guest Post

I would like to welcome the author of The Child's Secret, Amanda Brooke talking about the location of her book and there is a clue in there that the location might be used again........

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

When I begin to plan a new book, I concentrate first and foremost on the people and the situation that are central to the plot, and while I have an idea of the surroundings, I don’t often consider the location until I’m literally at the point of starting that first chapter. This isn’t possibly the greatest strategy and it has been known to catch me out. I was geared up to start writing Where I Found You when I realised I hadn’t settled on a particular location, even though I already had a very clear picture in my head of the imaginary park where much of the story would take place. I quickly realised that of all the parks I knew in and around Liverpool, they didn’t quite fit with what I needed so I resorted to using Google Earth to extend my search. The problem was I needed to find that all important park bench where my main characters would meet and although Google is usually an author’s best friend, it didn’t come up with the goods. I didn’t want to compromise and dismantle this imaginary world that had become so familiar to me so I had no choice but to create my very own Victoria Park in the fictional town of Sedgefield. It’s a town ‘somewhere,’ in the Cheshire countryside and I even made a return visit in my novella If I Should Go.

There’s a chance the town will reappear in a future book too and writing about a place that doesn’t really exist has its advantages, but I do like writing about real places too, especially Liverpool where I’ve lived all my life. When I do write about my home town, I try to choose places that aren’t so well-known, and in Another Way to Fall in particular, I had fun taking my characters to parts of Liverpool that readers might not be so familiar with, such as St Luke’s Church (locally known as The Bombed Out Church), The Palm House in Sefton Park and Otterspool Promenade. And even though I thought I knew these places really well, when it came to describing the detail, I quickly realised I wasn’t as observant as I thought I was. There were quite a few emergency dashes to local spots so I could pick out the subtle detail such as the colour of the railings or the view from a particular entrance.

Sometimes however, I like to take a little poetic licence and alter locations, occasionally because the story needs it, but mostly because I simply don’t like moving my characters into some poor unsuspecting person’s home. In The Missing Husband, you won’t find Beaumont Avenue and you’d be hard pressed to find the short cut to the station either.

It was only when I came to write The Child’s Secret, that the location was never in doubt, and that was because the initial inspiration for the story had come from a real place. I had the germ of an idea for a story where my main character would be able to find out a little girl’s secret wishes, but I hadn’t come up with the device I needed to pull the story together. It was only when I was taking a stroll around Calderstones Park in Liverpool that I remembered the Allerton Oak which is supposed to be a thousand years old. By the time I left, the Wishing Tree had come to life in my mind and I knew I had a book to write.

Blurb

A little girl is missing. Her parents are hiding something. Who will pay the price?

When eight-year-old Jasmine Peterson goes missing, the police want to know everything.

What is local park ranger, Sam McIntyre, running away from and why did he go out of his way to befriend a young girl?

Why can’t Jasmine’s mother and father stand to be in the same room as each other?

With every passing minute, an unstoppable chain of events hurtles towards a tragic conclusion.

Everyone has secrets. The question is: who will pay the price?

Review

This is the first novel I have read by Amanda Brooke and I was drawn in from the very first page! 

Jasmine is a little girl who lives with her Mum Laura and her Dad Finn. She goes on a school trip to a park where there is a very old tree that the Park Ranger Sam says has magic powers and if you write a note and put it near the tree, it can grant wishes!

Poor Jasmine is desperate for her Dad to get a job as being out of work is making him very unhappy and abusive, therefore her Mum is also sad and home life is far from idyllic. So when she finds out that the "Wishing Tree" can grant wishes, what harm can it do?

Sam is a Park Ranger and loves teaching the local school children about nature and especially telling stories about the Wishing Tree. 

When Jasmine goes missing the police question Sam as they seem to think he was involved. I loved how the chapters went from the present (when Sam was questioned) and then back to before and up to Jasmine's disappearance.

Everyone is a suspect, including Sam's girlfriend Anna and his landlady Selina, who has more to her past than even Sam knows about!

There was a good mix of characters in the book. Jasmine was a sweet, good natured little girl who just wanted her Dad to love her. Her Mum Laura seemed quite weak at first, but I loved it when she came in to her own when Jasmine disappeared. Anna wasn't all she seemed and it was great to see these characters changing throughout the story. I think my favourite character was landlady Selina. She was always loyal and looking out for Sam and only wanted the best for him. 

I loved this book as it keeps you guessing right up until the very last page (and I mean the very last page!!) about what happens to Sam.

I definitely want to read more from this author as I was thoroughly engrossed in this book.

Thank you to Jaime Frost at Harper Collins for sending me a copy to review.

Cover Reveal

Today I am delighted to show you the cover of a new psychological thriller, The Teacher by Katerina Diamond.

I must say, I think the cover is really good and eye catching, but once you read the blurb, you may think twice about reading it! It sounds heart stoppingly scary and even I am thinking whether my old ticker could stand it! but on the other hand, can I resist? I think not!

Do you think you are brave enough to read it?..........

Blurb

A LESSON YOU WILL NEVER FORGET

The body of the head teacher of an exclusive Devon school is found hanging from the rafters in the assembly hall.

Hours earlier he’d received a package, and only he could understand the silent message it conveyed. It meant the end.

As Exeter suffers a rising count of gruesome deaths, troubled DS Imogen Grey and DS Adrian Miles must solve the case and make their city safe again.

But as they’re drawn into a network of corruption, lies and exploitation, every step brings them closer to grim secrets hidden at the heart of their community.

And once they learn what’s motivating this killer, will they truly want to stop him?

SMART. GRIPPING. GRUESOME.

This is a psychological crime thriller in a class of its own.

Warning: Most definitely *not* for the faint-hearted!

The Girl in The Red Coat by Kate Hamer Blog Tour

Welcome to 2016! and this is the first of what I hope to be many blog tours for this year!

Synopsis

Eight-year-old Carmel has always been different - sensitive, distracted, with an heartstopping tendency to go missing. Her mother Beth, newly single, worries about her daughter's strangeness, especially as she is trying to rebuild a life for the two of them on her own.

When she takes Carmel for an outing to a local festival, her worst fear is realised: Carmel disappears into the crowd. Unable to accept the possibility that her daughter might be gone for good, Beth embarks on a mission to find her. Meanwhile, Carmel begins an extraordinary and terrifying journey of her own. But do the real clues to Carmel's disappearance lie in the otherworldly qualities her mother had only begun to guess at?

Review

I always find books about missing children very disturbing, but this book is not like your run of the mill missing child novel.

Carmel is eight years old and has a habit of disappearing from her Mum, but soon turns up except for the time they go to a book festival and Beth's worst fears materialise, Carmel disappears.

The book then tells the story of what happens next with Carmel and the person who takes her, but also the story of Beth's journey in coming to terms with her daughter's disappearance. 

Carmel is a very independent child, who seems more mature than her eight years, but in other ways she shows some strange behaviour that her parents pick up on. Carmel is a dreamer and a bit too trustworthy, something that comes back to haunt her when she is taken away from her mother.

I was gripped from the start with this book and as much as I was a bit frustrated with Carmel being so dreamy, I couldn't help but like her. She was a kind girl who wanted to be friends with everyone, even to the person who took her, she believed they were doing it for the right reasons.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and thought it was a brilliant debut by Kate Hamer. If you want to know what happens in the end, I suggest you get yourself a copy!! The mark of a great author is when the ending leaves you wanting more and I certainly wanted that! I have a bit of a book hangover already and it's only the beginning of January!!

Thank you to Sophie Portas at Faber & Faber for sending me a copy to review.

Welcome to December and the beginning of Advent! today I am pleased to host The Return of The Christmas Spirit by Susan Buchanan Blog Tour

Blurb

Christmas is just around the corner when Star begins working at Butterburn library, but not everyone is embracing the spirit of the season.

Sixteen-year-old Arianna’s mock exams are looming and she’s feeling under pressure. With her father living abroad and her mother working three jobs, she doesn’t have much support at home.

The bank is threatening to repossess Evan’s house, and he has no idea how he’s going to get through Christmas with two children who are used to getting everything they want.

Patricia’s cliché of a husband, after 23 years of marriage, has announced he’s moving out of the family home, and moving in with his secretary.

Daniel is doing the work of three people in his sales job, as well as looking after his kids and his wife. Pulled in too many different directions, he’s feeling stressed out.

Can Star, the library’s Good Samaritan, help set them on the path to happiness this Christmas?

Review

This is one of those feel good Christmas books that gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling once you have finished it!

Star is working in her local library for the festive season, where many of the customers are not looking forward to Christmas in one way or another.

Arianna is studying for her exams and has the added pressure of not seeing much of her mother as she is holding down numerous jobs to keep afloat.

Evan is struggling to make ends meet after losing his job.

Patricia is in shock after her husband tells her he is leaving.

Daniel is also struggling to cope with the day to day life of bringing up 3 children whilst his wife is suffering from depression.

All these people could do with a helping hand, I wonder who would be able to do that and steer them in the right direction? Star has a magical way of putting these people in the right place at the right time!

I liked the mixture of characters in this book. All had believable stories to tell of life getting them down and then getting a “helping hand” to steer them in the right direction to make things better for them.

This was a lovely Christmassy story and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I actually felt like the story could have been a bit longer (it’s not often I say that about books!).

Thank you to JB Johnston and Brook Cottage Books for sending me a copy to review.

About the Author

Susan Buchanan lives in Central Scotland with her partner, Tony, and their two children. She is the author of four novels: Return of the Christmas Spirit, The Christmas Spirit, The Dating Game, and Sign of the Times. She is currently working on book five, What If.

Susan is also a proofreader, editor and translator, and when not working, writing, or caring for her two delightful cherubs, loves reading, the theatre, quiz shows and eating out - not necessarily in that order!

Living in the Shadows

 by

 Judith Barrow

 Blog Tour

Synopsis

Sequel to the acclaimed Changing Patterns and Pattern of Shadows. It's 1969 and Mary Schormann is living quietly in Wales with her ex-POW husband, Peter, and her teenage twins, Richard and Victoria. Her niece, Linda Booth, is a nurse - following in Mary's footsteps - and works in the maternity ward of her local hospital in Lancashire. At the end of a long night shift, a bullying new father visits the maternity ward and brings back Linda's darkest nightmares, her terror of being locked in. Who is this man, and why does he scare her so? There are secrets dating back to the war that still haunt the family, and finding out what lies at their root might be the only way Linda can escape their murderous consequences.

Review

This book is the third part in a trilogy from Judith Barrow, but can be read as a stand alone book. Although to be fair, if I had the time, I would have read the other two first, as their are a lot of characters to get to grips with and it took me a while to remember who was related to who! But once I did I really enjoyed it.

The book is set in the 1960's and gives the reader a great insight into life during the 60's and also how life was different within families then. The book starts with Linda Booth, who is a midwife and whilst caring for one of her patients who has just given birth, comes face to face with the patient's nasty, manipulative husband and the consequences of that meeting brings terrible memories flooding back to Linda and makes you want to carry on reading to find out why she was so afraid every time she saw him.

The book then tells us about twins Victoria and Richard and how differently their lives turn out. Richard is a medical student, who, although deaf, is determined to do well in life. Victoria on the other hand, is jealous of her brother and decides to run away with a man who she thinks at the time loves her. Little does she know that where she runs away to will change her life forever. There are a few harrowing bits in the book, but I felt the author dealt with these tactfully.

I really enjoy reading books about yesteryear and this book was no exception. I would recommend this book and I just wish I had personally read the previous two books, only because I enjoyed the last one but would have liked to have got more of an insight to the characters. Also I love the book cover!

Thank you so much to JB Johnston at Brook Cottage Books for sending me a copy to review.

About the Author

Judith Barrow,originally from Saddleworth, near Oldham,has lived in Pembrokeshire, Wales, for thirty four years. 

She has BA (Hons) in Literature with the Open University, a Diploma in Drama from Swansea University and a MA in Creative Writing with the University of Wales Trinity St David's College, Carmarthen. 

She has had short stories, plays, reviews and articles, published throughout the British Isles and has won several poetry competitions. She has completed three children's books.

She is also a Creative Writing tutor. 

And Baby Makes Four
 by Tilly Tennant
 Blog Tour
 (Final part in Mishaps in Millrise series)

Could Phoebe and Jack finally have put their troubles behind them? All is calm at Hendry’s toy store, and Jack’s mother has even developed a grudging respect for Phoebe. If Archie is serious about addressing his issues, then things are really starting to look rosy for the couple again. But when did Phoebe’s life ever go to plan? 

As they prepare for what should be the happiest day of their lives, fate decides to throw them yet another curve ball. What they face will test them to the limit, but Phoebe might just believe in miracles before it’s through. 

Review

I think you can guess by the title what happens in the final part of this lovely series! I have thoroughly enjoyed reading how Phoebe and Jack’s relationship has grown and the obstacles they have had to face from the beginning, mainly Jack having to bring up his daughter Maria alone after her Mum dies and how they both cope with that.  Phoebe being introduced to Jack’s family (in particular his domineering mother!) who finds great satisfaction in giving Phoebe a hard time.

This final part seems to tie things up, which is great, because who doesn’t love a happy ending!

Jack’s brother Archie finally sees the error of his ways and sets out to become a better person and once Phoebe and Jack come to terms with the pregnancy, things go from strength to strength, to the point where Jack asks Phoebe to marry him!

So, not only does Phoebe have her pregnancy to deal with, she has her job to secure, planning a wedding, moving in with Jack……what could possibly go wrong!!!

Well done Tilly Tennant for a lovely series. I have loved reading about the characters and am quite sad it is ending now!

Thank you to JB Johnston at Brook Cottage Books for sending me the series to review.