I’m thrilled to be on the blog tour for The Warrior With The Pierced Heart by Chris Bishop today and to have a great extract to share.  Thanks so much to the lovely Kelly from Love Books Group for letting me change to an extract rather than a review when I couldn’t read the book in time due to the kids being ill.

The Warrior With The Pierced Heart is available to buy in paperback now and you can purchase your copy here.

Before I share my extract with you here is a little bit about the book.

Book Synopsis:

In the second book in the exciting and atmospheric Shadow of the Raven series we rejoin novice monk turned warrior, Matthew as he marches ahead of King Alfred, to Exeter to herald the King’s triumphant return to the city, marking his great victory at Edington.

It should have been a journey of just five or perhaps six days but, as Matthew is to find to his cost, in life the road you’re given to travel is seldom what you wish for and never what you expect.

In this much-anticipated sequel Chris Bishop again deposits the reader slap-bang into the middle of Saxon Britain, where battles rage and life is cheap. An early confrontation leaves Matthew wounded, but found and tended by a woodland-dwelling healer he survives, albeit with the warning that the damage to his heart will eventually take his life.

Matthew faces many challenges as he battles to make his way back to Chippenham to be reunited with King Alfred and also with the woman he wants to make his wife. This is an epic tale of triumph over adversity as we will the warrior with the pierced heart to make it back to those he loves, before it is too late.

Extract:

About The Author:

Chris Bishop is a retired chartered surveyor who has pursued his love of writing for as long as he can remember. He is an intrepid traveller and a retired Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. He is married with two children and four granddaughters and lives in London

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I’m so excited to be on the blog blitz for This Little Piggy by the fabulous Rob Ashman. Due to ill kids and a teething baby I’ve sadly not had time to review but I can’t wait to read it at the earliest opportunity!

This Little Piggy is available to buy now in ebook and paperback.  The ebook is currently only £1.99 and you can purchase a copy of both here.

Before I share my extract with you here is a little bit about the book.

Book Synopsis:

Best-selling author, Rob Ashman, is back with a serial killer thriller you don’t want to miss.

Kevin Palmer is a regular sort of guy, or he was until his life fell apart. His wife, his money, his business and his reputation are all taken away from him. He tries to fight back and ends up in prison. 

There he concocts elaborate fantasies to wreak vengeance. He is sent to work in an abattoir and the final piece of the jigsaw falls into place with chilling consequences. Then a cruel twist of fate changes everything.

DI Rosalind Kray is battling her own demons having returned to work following a brutal attack. She finds herself on the trail of a sick and twisted killer and cracks the macabre pattern of murders. But her boss is unconvinced.

Kray has Palmer squarely in her sights. But he has other ideas …

Can Kray break him in time to save the final victim?

Time is running out.

Extract:

Preface

‘As you watch your life drain away, I want you to remember one thing … I never wanted any of this.

‘I was the man with a wife and kids, who lived in a house, went to work every morning and enjoyed the occasional holiday. But that was never enough. You made that clear.
‘You lined up for your pound of flesh and, one by one, tore apart the building blocks of my life. You took each piece, shredded the goodness from it, and handed it back. Then laughed in my face as I crumbled to dust.
‘Life is all about change, and things are about to get worse. Much worse.
‘You know who you are …
‘You all know who you are …
‘But what you don’t know is …
‘It’s time to make the piggies squeal.’

Chapter 1

‘Bloody hell, this is a s–’ He dances at the end of my arm as I jab the metal pins into his stomach, sending his central nervous system into meltdown. His face resembles a landed carp, mouth gaping open as his muscles go into spasm. He topples back into the hallway landing face up on the parquet floor.

His body jolts and convulses at my feet. I step across the welcome mat and into the house, closing the door behind me. I unzip my bag, rummage around and bring out a handful of thick black cable ties. I roll him onto his front, securing his wrists tight behind his back and bind his feet together at the ankles.
He continues to jerk and spasm as I straddle him. I reach forward and ram a tea-towel into his mouth, shoving it past his teeth with my thumb until his cheeks bulge. I tie it in place with a length of cord knotted behind his head. I step off him, pull a white coverall from the bag and slip it on, zipping the front right up to my neck. The hood covers my head and the drawstrings pull the material tight around my face.
Next, I don a pair of overshoes and gloves …

About The Author:

Rob is married to Karen with two grown up daughters. He is originally from South Wales and after moving around with work settled in North Lincolnshire where he’s spent the last twenty-two years.
Like all good welsh valley boys Rob worked for the National Coal Board after leaving school at sixteen and went to University at the tender age of twenty-three when the pit closures began to bite. Since then he’s worked in a variety of manufacturing and consulting roles both in the UK and abroad.
It took Rob twenty-four years to write his first book. He only became serious about writing it when his dad got cancer. It was an aggressive illness and Rob gave up work for three months to look after him and his mum. Writing Those That Remain became his coping mechanism. After he wrote the book his family encouraged him to continue, so not being one for half measures, Rob got himself made redundant, went self-employed so he could devote more time to writing and four years later the Mechanic Trilogy is the result.
Rob has published Those That Remain, In Your Name and Pay the Penance with Bloodhound Books and has since written Faceless, This Little Piggy and Suspended Retribution which will also be published by Bloodhound.
When he is not writing, Rob is a frustrated chef with a liking for beer and prosecco, and is known for occasional outbreaks of dancing.

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Book Synopsis:

It is the seventies and the colleges of Oxford are finally opening their doors to women. Sarah Addleshaw, young, spirited and keen to prove her worth, begins term as the first female academic at her college. She is in fact, her college’s only female ‘Fellow’

My Review:

The Reading Room is a very intriguing, lovely novel with a fantastic main character.

I found it very interesting to find out more about the famous Oxford University and about daily life there.  It seams to be a place full of traditions and some beautiful old buildings.  I found Fenella’s descriptions of the traditional university trying to accommodate Sarah, their first female teacher very humourous!  As Sarah herself says, they don’t seem quite sure what to do with her!

The Reading party is a fantastic idea and one that I wish had been available at my school as it’s a great way to get to know like minded people.  The descriptions of what happens on the trip and the lively conversations that the party have were lovely to read about.  It brought back memories of late night study sessions at university for me.

Sarah is a great main character.  She’s very strong and doesn’t let being a woman stand in her way.  I thought she was very brave being the first woman to work at the university and having to ‘set the standard’ for future females.  She doesn’t seem to take things too seriously and is happy to poke fun at herself making her very endearing.  I wanted her to do well and succeed so found my self frustrated and wanting to shout at her when I felt things were getting a little inappropriate with the student.

The author’s writing style just flows, drawing the reader into the story and the world of Oxford.  She manages to blend humour, history and 70’s nostalgia together perfectly for a fabulously original read.

The Reading Party is Fenella Gentleman’s debut book and I look forward to reading more from her in future.  If you like original, intriguing novels full of warmth and humour you will love this book.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater and Muswell Press for my copy of this book and for inviting me onto the blog tour.

About The Author:

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Book Synopsis:

Ruth’s tribe are her lively children and her filmmaker husband, Simon, who has Motor Neurone Disease and can only communicate with his eyes. Ruth’s other ‘tribe’ are the friends who gather at the cove in Greystones, Co. Wicklow, and regularly throw themselves into the freezing cold water, just for kicks.

‘The Tragic Wives’ Swimming Club’, as they jokingly call themselves, meet to cope with the extreme challenges life puts in their way, not to mention the monster waves rolling over the horizon.

An invocation to all of us to love as hard as we can, and live even harder, I Found My Tribe is an urgent and uplifting letter to a husband, family, friends, the natural world and the brightness of life.

I found My Tribe is available now in ebook and hardback.  It will also be available in paperback on the 28th June.  You can purchase or pre-order your copy here.

My Review:

I Found My Tribe is a beautiful, emotional and up lifting memoir that I thoroughly enjoyed.  Ruth’s writing is beautiful, touching and honest and her personality shines through even when talking about some very emotional subjects.

The descriptions of her life with a husband who has motor neurones disease is heartbreaking, particularly when you realise how much it has changed and what she has had to give up.  The fact that she misses kisses from her husband made me cry as it is such a simple thing that most of us take for granted. The impact of having lots of carers, ultimately strangers, in her house was very eye opening.  I’ve actually done care work in someone’s house and never really thought about the effect it must have on the others living in the house.

Ruth comes across as a very interesting, capable and strong women who is trying her best in a difficult situation.  I can only imagine what it must be like seeing someone you love deteriorate like that but Ruth seems to tackle it head on with lots of positivity, humour and some amazing strength which was wonderful to read about.  I loved the coping strategies she’s developed which made me smile at times, from the little things like drinking coffee while looking at a view to her love of the sea which she uses to draw strength from on bad days was great to read about.  It definitely puts into perspective the supposed ‘bad’ days I think I have.

This is definitely a book I think everyone should read as it really helped increase my knowledge and understanding of Motor Neurones Disease and what it’s like living with someone who has it.  My husband’s grannie suffered from it and said it was heartbreaking to see her decline.  Even if you don’t normally read memoirs please make this the exception.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater and Vintage books for my copy of this book and for inviting me onto the blog tour.

About The Author:

Ruth Fitzmaurice was born in 1976 and grew up in Co. Louth, Ireland. She was a radio researcher and producer when she married film director and writer, Simon, in 2004 and had three children. In 2008, Simon was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease and given three years to live. Simon went into respiratory failure in 2010 and was accidentally placed on a ventilator during an emergency procedure. He decided, against medical advice, to keep the ventilator; Ruth and Simon went on to have twins in 2012. In January 2016, Ruth wrote her first piece for the Irish Times about family life and a new passion, sea swimming. She lives in Greystones, Co. Wicklow, with her five children Jack, Raife, Arden, Sadie, Hunter, a dog and a cat. Simon passed away in October 2017.

Twitter @RuthONeillFitz

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I’m on the blog tour for Letterbox by P A Davies and to have an extract to share with you.  Huge thanks to Caroline for letting me change my stop from a review to an extract when two ill children meant I wasn’t able to read the book in time.

Letterbox is available in ebook and paperback now, you can purchase a copy of bothhere.

Before I share my extract with you here is a little bit about the book.

Book Synopsis:

An outstanding debut novel from English Author, P.A.Davies, that has all the ingredients of a good read … Gripping, thought provoking and a tad controversial from the off, this is a real page turner!

At approximately 09.00hrs on the 15th June 1996, an unassuming white lorry was parked on Corporation Street in the city centre of Manchester, England; it contained over 3000 pounds of high explosive.
At 11.15hrs the same day, Manchester witnessed the detonation of the largest device on the British mainland since the second World War … The Irish Republican Army claimed responsibility for the attack.

Based around actual events, LETTERBOX tells the story of Liam Connor, an ordinary boy brought up in Manchester by a seemingly ordinary family. He goes to the local school, loves football and has a best friend called Sean … an ordinary life!
Unbeknown to Liam, his father, Michael Connor, harbors a dark historic secret, following a life a lot less ordinary … as a furtive, yet high ranking soldier within the IRA.

As a result of extraordinary circumstances, Liam’s innocent and carefree world is shattered when he is exposed to the truth about his family’s heritage and then learns about the tragic death of his father at the hands of the SAS.

Consumed with both hate and the need to seek retribution, Liam is taken to Ireland where he is intensively trained to become a highly skilled and efficient soldier within the Irish Republican Army … He is 16 years old!
Some years later, following the drug-induced death of his beloved sister, Liam is given the opportunity to exact his revenge on those he believed should truly be blamed for the tragedies in his life … The British Government!
Thus, on the 15th June 1996, it was Liam’s responsibility to drive the bomb laden lorry into the unsuspecting city of Manchester and let the voice of the IRA be clearly heard … And listened to!!

Extract:

Letterbox – Chapter 1:

11.30hrs Saturday 15th June 1996

The first chilling images of devastation, beamed relentlessly across the airwaves onto millions of television screens throughout the nation. Radio broadcasts became dominated by the incredulous story that no one doubted, would change the face of history … not only in the United Kingdom, but throughout the entire world.

Many saw the terrorist attack on the City of Manchester, as nothing more than a cold and callous act of violence by a group of evil and cowardly thugs, whilst others, deemed it to be an unprecedented victory against a complacent and oppressive regime that hid behind the walls of Parliament under the guise of the British Government.

For one man, this was the day that had served to exorcise some personal demons yet paradoxically, had also rekindled a conscience that he believed to be long dead. For another, this was the day when the powerful voice of the Irish Republican Army had spoken … and been listened to.

###

The Commander sat behind his desk gently stroking his thick beard as he watched with interest, the unfolding stories coming through live from Manchester. There would be much celebration this evening he thought, but for now, he needed to remain focused and consider his next move. “Set up a meeting of the council for this afternoon,” he instructed, without taking his eyes off the television. A man stood by his side, nodded silently and began to leave the room. “And Marty,” he added sternly, before the man had reached the door. “Bring Joseph here as soon as he returns!”

Once the man had left the room, the Commander glanced down at the two phones on his desk and wondered which of the two would ring first. Would it be the one that brought a
tedious dialogue from the sycophantic lapdogs of the Prime Minister, decrying this outrageous act whilst issuing veiled threats on behalf of John Major and his countrymen?  Threats that they had neither the balls nor the power to carry out … ‘Small cogs in a big wheel!’ he pondered … Or would it be the anticipated call to his private and secure line? A call that would be the focal point of their meeting later that day and would undoubtedly result
in the extending of the proverbial olive branch. It was a call that would ensure a place for Sinn Fein at the negotiating table and take them one step closer to a free Ireland. But whichever one it was, it always amused this particular Leader, how the right hand of the British Government had no idea what the left hand was doing … or capable of.

He continued to watch the television, quietly musing how today had undoubtedly shown the free world the capabilities and commitment of his comrades, dedicated in the pursuit of their beliefs. It was also the day, he thought with some respect, that Liam Connor had finally become a man. When one of the phones began to ring, the Commander looked down at it and smiled.

About The Author:

P.A.Davies was born in Manchester, UK, a city he has lived in and around all his life. He loves Manchester and is proud to be part of the multi-cultural, modern city that houses two Premiership football teams and is the birthplace of many a famous band, such as Oasis, the Stone Roses, Take That and Simply Red.

For most of his life, he has dabbled with writing various pieces – from poems to short fictional stories – but this was always just for fun. However, following advice from a good friend he decided to have a go at writing a novel. Thus, his first novel ‘Letterbox’ was conceived, a fictional take on the infamous IRA bombing of Manchester in 1996. It took him over a year to complete but while doing so, he found it to be one of the most satisfying and interesting paths he had ever followed. It came as no surprise that the writing bug subsequently became firmly embedded within him.

P.A.Davies’ second book – George: A gentleman of the road – was published in May 2013 and is a true story about one of Manchester’s homeless. His third novel – The Good in Mister Philips – is an erotic novel (arguably set to rival Fifty Shades…!) and his fourth – Nobody Heard Me Cry (Dec. 2015) – is again a fact-based tale about Manchester’s darker side. The thriller ‘Absolution’ (Oct. 2017) is his fifth novel.

To label P.A.Davies’ writings would be difficult because his works range from thrillers to touching novels to true-to-life tales embedded in a captivating story, making P.A.Davies an imaginative and versatile storyteller.

P.A. Davies on Social Media:
Website: http://www.padavies.co.uk/
FB Author Page: bit.ly/padavies
Twitter: @padavies_

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I’m on the blog tour for The Heat Is on by Helen Bridgett today and have a great extract to share with you.  Huge thanks to Kelly for letting me change my post to an extract rather than a review when two sick children meant reafrea was impossible. It’s so appreciated Kelly!

The Heat Is On will be published in ebook on the 5th July and in paperback on the 2nd August.  The ebook is currently available to pre-order for £1.99 and you can pre-order a copy of both here.

Before I share my extract with you here is a little about the book.

Book Synopsis:

‘And have you booked in your vejazzler?’
‘My what?’
‘You can’t roll up with your grey wire wool when he’s expecting rhinestone!’

Angie Shepherd is back and this time she means business!

Life is perfect for Angie Shepherd. Her dreams of becoming an entrepreneur have come true, business is booming, and her best friend Patty is back in town. So when the opportunity of investing in a luxury hotel comes up, it seems like a no-brainer. It’s all going swimmingly until a rival travel agency opens up across the street. Before long, The Mercury Travel Club is undercut, double-crossed and in deep trouble. It’s time for Angie to up the stakes. But with costs mounting up, sales going down, and her personal life suddenly in freefall, can Angie and her friends weather the storm?

Witty and charming in equal measure, this feel-good novel shows that when the going gets tough, the tough definitely get going.

Extract:

About The Author:

Helen Bridgett was born in the North-East and now lives in Manchester having stopped off at a few places in between. Following a career in Marketing, Helen took an MA in TV and Radio Scriptwriting and created short films before writing her first novel. She loves nothing more than a glass of wine and witty banter with friends; her love of dialogue feeds into her work and has given her the perfect excuse to eavesdrop on conversations. Helen lives with her husband and their chocolate Labrador, Angus; all three can often be found wandering the Cumbrian hills or in country pubs.

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Book Synopsis:

You’ll be the woman of this house, next, miss. And you’ll like it.’

1947

Governess Alice Miller loves Winterbourne the moment she sees it. Towering over the Cornish cliffs, its dark corners and tall turrets promise that, if Alice can hide from her ghosts anywhere, it’s here.

And who better to play hide and seek with than twins Constance and Edmund? Angelic and motherless, they are perfect little companions.

2018

Adopted at birth, Rachel’s roots are a mystery. So, when a letter brings news of the death of an unknown relative, Constance de Grey, Rachel travels to Cornwall, vowing to uncover her past.

With each new arrival, something in Winterbourne stirs. It’s hiding in the paintings. It’s sitting on the stairs.

It’s waiting in a mirror, behind a locked door.

The Women In The Mirror is available now in ebook and paperback, you can purchase a copy of both here.

My Review:

Ooh I do love a dark creepy book and The Woman In The Mirror definitely ticked both of those boxes.

From the start the book is incredibly atmospheric, especially when it comes to the eerie descriptions of the house.  The air almost crackles with mystery and feels weighed down with all the secrets the house holds.  The reader is given the sense that anything can happen at any moment which made me quite jumpy at times.  This is definitely a book to read with lots of people about and the light on! The description of all the paintings in the house sent a chill down my spine as they seemed so threatening and I shared Alice’s sense that they were watching her.

I felt quite sorry for both of the main characters who were both trying to find a new start and a place to belong.  It was quite emotional to see them not get the happy new life they hoped.  Both of them are hiding secrets in their past which I was very intrigued to find out more about.

The secrets of the house and what happened to Alice are slowly and tantalisingly unwrapped which ensured I was thoroughly gripped to the last page.  The slow merging of Alice and Rachel’s story was very realistically done and never seemed forced with some far fetched connection to each other.  I felt that this story could have actually happened, which did also help to add to the tension in the book.

The ending was brilliant and I closed the book with a happy, contented sigh of having read a fantastic book.  If anything I felt a little sad to have to leave the characters and Winterbourne behind.

Huge thanks to HQ stories and Joe Thomas for my copy if this book via Netgalley and for inviting me onto the blog tour.  If you like dark, creepy and atmospheric books with a dual timeline mystery than you will love this book!

About The Author:

Rebecca James was born in 1983. She worked in publishing for several years before leaving to write full-time, and is now the author of eight previous novels written under pseudonym. Her favourite things are autumn walks, Argentinean red wine and curling up in the winter with a good old-fashioned ghost story. She lives in Bristol with her husband and two daughters.

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Book Synopsis:

Thousands of years ago, in an ancient world where the gods control all and heroes fight to have their names remembered down the ages, two extraordinary women become entangled in one of the greatest heroic tales of all time . . . and must face how much they are willing to risk for immortality.

Desperate to save her dying brother, Admete persuades her father, the king of Tiryns, to let her join Hercules on one of his legendary twelve labours. Travelling to the renowned female warrior Amazons in search of a cure, Admete soon discovers that both Hercules and the fearsome Amazons are not as they first seemed.

The Amazons greet the arrival of the Greeks with mixed feelings – and none more so than Hippolyta, the revered queen of the tribe. For Hercules and his band of fighters pose a threat to her way of life – but also stir up painful memories that threaten to expose her deepest secret.

As battle lines are drawn between the Greeks and the Amazons, both women soon learn the inevitable truth – in war, sacrifices must be made; especially if they are to protect the ones they love most . . .

For The Imortal is out now in ebook and hardback now, you can purchase a copy of both here.

My Review:

I’ve been a huge fan of the Golden Apple trilogy for a while, so you can imagine my delight when I was invited onto the For The Immortal blog tour.

Emily really has a fantastic way of making the Greek legends come to life in this fantastic book.  The reader really feels like they have been transported to ancient Greece, watching events unfold.  I could almost smell the herbs that Admete used for her healing and smell the sweat, fear and blood from the fierce Amazon battles.

The story is told from the point of view of two very strong and determined woman from very different worlds.  Hippolyta is a fierce Amazon warrior queen who shows great skills on the battlefield but has a big heart when it comes to her tribe, particularly the children.  Admete is a princess but works hard at being a healer which she really enjoys.  She too has a big heart when it comes to her family and it is her desire to help her I’ll brother that makes her go on Hercules quest.  I actually liked both characters which made it hard to decide whose side I was on as I wanted them both to succeed!

This is a fast paced and gripping story that intrigued me straight away.  I was instantly hooked and kept turning the pages to find out what would happen next.  The author clearly knows her stuff when it comes to Greek history and I loved all the historical details about what life was like then and the food they used to eat.  I had of course heard of Hercules before (mainly sadly from the Disney film) but didn’t know much about his story so found this book to be a fascinating read.

This is Emily’s  third book and a brilliant conclusion to the Golden Apple trilogy.  It can easily be read as a standalone alone however as each book is about a different Greek Legends so there isn’t much overlap.

Huge thanks to Hannah Bright and Transworld publishers for my copy of this book and for inviting me onto the blog tour.  If you like gripping historical fiction I think you’ll like this book!

About The Author:

Born in Brighton and brought up in Suffolk, EMILY HAUSER studied Classics at Cambridge, where she was taught by Mary Beard, and completed a PhD at Yale University. She is now a Junior Fellow at Harvard University. For the Most Beautiful – the first book in the Golden Apple trilogy – was her debut novel and retells the story of the siege of Troy. Her second, For the Winner, is a reimagining of the myth of Atalanta and the legend of Jason, the Argonauts and the search for the Golden Fleece.

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I’m very excited to be on the blog tour for Death In Vienna by Kevin Wignall today and to have a copy of this fabulous looking book to giveaway.

I would like to thank Anne for letting me host a giveaway rather than a review, when due to 2 out of 3 kids being ill I was unable to read this book in time.  A review will be coming soon though once they are a bit better!

To Die In Vienna is available now in ebook and paperback, you can purchase a copy of both here.

Before I tell you about my giveaway here is a little bit about the book.

Book Synopsis:

Soon to be a major motion picture starring Jake Gyllenhaal.

He’s seen something that could get him killed. But what?

Freddie Makin is a spy for hire. For a year he’s been watching Jiang Cheng, an academic whose life seems suspiciously normal. To Freddie it’s just a job: he never asks who’s paying him and why—until the day someone is sent to kill him, and suddenly the watcher becomes the watched.

On the run from whoever wants him dead, Freddie knows he must have seen something incriminating. The only trouble is, he has no idea what. Is the CIA behind all this—or does it go higher than that? Have his trackers uncovered his own murky past?

As he’s forced into a lethal dance across Vienna, Freddie knows one thing for sure: his only hope for survival is keeping the truth from the other side, and making sure the secrets from his past stay hidden.

Giveaway:

I have a paperback copy of Death In Vienna for one lucky person to win! All you have to do to enter is RT the pinned tweet on my profile AND tag some other bookish friends you think might be interested!

On Facebook simply reply to the post on my blog page here.

The giveaway will close at the end of the tour and I will once again get my lovely son or daughter to pick a winner!

Good Luck everyone!

About The Author:

Kevin Wignall is a British writer, born in Brussels in 1967. He spent many years as an army child in different parts of Europe, and went on to study politics and international relations at Lancaster University. He became a full-time writer after the publication of his first book, People Die (2001). His other novels are Among the Dead (2002); Who Is Conrad Hirst? (2007), shortlisted for the Edgar Award and the Barry Award; and Dark Flag (2010). The Hunter’s Prayer was originally titled For the Dogs in the USA. The film The Hunter’s Prayer, directed by Jonathan Mostow and starring Sam Worthington and Odeya Rush, will be released worldwide in 2015.

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I’m excited to be on the blog tour for Alone Time by Stephanie Rosenbloom today and to be sharing a guest post of Stephanie’s as well as my review.

As the book visits four different countries, the bloggers on the tour were also assigned a certain city.  I was very pleased to get New York City as it’s a city that I’ve visited quite a few times and one that holds many memories for me.  I first visited the city only five days before the September the 11th terrorist attacks, actually visiting the twin towers and walking around the shops that existed under it which is quite scary to think of now.  New York is also the city my husband proposed in, going down on one knee in a wooded area of central Park, that we haven’t been able to find since.  He had planned on proposing in the row boats on the lake but after discovering them to be far too crowded, chose the wood area instead.  Of course like all good engagement stories I almost ruined the whole thing by continually moaning that my feet were tired!

I have a great guest post from Stephanie about the things you definitely need to visit in New York later in this post, but first here is a little about the book.

Book Synopsis:

Travelling with friends and family is usually thought of as a privilege. In theory, anyway. In practice, it’s more often about debating which sights to see, panicking over diminishing phone batteries and bickering over what to eat. Not much joy in that. But alone you can do as you please. You can wander markets, relish silence, go to a park. Go to Paris. Why not?

In Alone Time, New York Times travel columnist Stephanie Rosenbloom travels alone in four seasons to four remarkable cities – Paris, Istanbul, Florence and New York – exploring the sensory experience of solitude. Along the way she illuminates the psychological arguments for alone time, revealing that whether you recognize it or not, it’s good to be alone now and then.

This is a book about the pleasures and benefits of savouring the moment, examining things closely, using all your senses to take in your surroundings, whether travelling to faraway places or walking the streets of your own city. Through on-the-ground observations and anecdotes, and drawing on the thinking of artists, writers and innovators who have cherished solitude, Alone Time lays bare the magic of going solo.

Alone Time is out now in ebook and hardback, you can purchase a copy of both here.

My Review:

As a mother of three I must admit alone time seems like a distance memory and one that i’d have no problem filling! However I very much enjoyed the journey to the four countries that the author takes us on.  I don’t think I’d ever dare to travel to a foreign country on my own, to a place where I knew no one, but I admire Stephanie for having the courage to do it.

The four cities (Paris, Istanbul, Florence and New York) are vividly described by the author so that the reader feels like they are there alongside her experiencing all the sights and sounds too.  I really felt that I could visualise the cities in my mind and I now want to visit them in the near future as Stephanie makes them seem so interesting.  In each city we are taken on a whistle stop tour of the tourist attractions and must see sights which were fascinating to read about.  I spent a lot of time on Google looking up some of the places as they sounded so intriguing.  This is cleverly interwoven with some history of each place and some quotes from famous people who lived in or visited the area.  This helped add to the experience of each place and it was very interesting to know more about how other people perceived the city too.

I found her experience of New York to be very intriguing, especially as there are places mentioned in the book that I haven’t visited yet.  I had no idea so many famous people had lived in New York and that so many interesting things had happened there.  Stephanie’s love for her home town shines from the page and it was lovely to detect a little bit of pride in her writing. I love the idea of revisiting your home town and seeing it again with fresh eyes.  I have lived in the same town for over twenty years and will be taking time out to visit some of the famous and beautiful areas as soon as possible.

This is Stephanie’s debut book and I’ll be interested to read more books from her in the future.

Huge thanks to Hayley and Transworld publishers for my copy of this book and for inviting me onto the blog tour.

Five Things Not To Miss In New York by Stephanie Rosenbloom:

1.  The elevated park known as the High Line is Central Park’s slender downtown sibling, where wildflowers and trees grow amid railroad tracks, and visitors are treated to lofty views of the Hudson River.

2.  Stop into the New York Public Library for a break from the city’s hustle and bustle, and walk the stately marble halls to some of the loveliest research rooms you’ve ever seen. Afterward, go ice skating in Bryant Park.

3.  Crack your wallet and head downtown to the streets of Soho and the East Village for the best boutique shopping (and brunching) in Manhattan.

4.   Get tickets to see a Broadway show – there are some great places to buy these without spending a fortune. TKTS is one of several ways to find discounted prices https://www.tdf.org/nyc/7/TKTS-ticket-booths.

5.  New York is home to Museum Mile, so there’s no shortage of world-class art. But should you tire of the MET and MoMA, go check out the dinosaur bones and dioramas at The Museum of Natural History— or travel to the Milky Way at a planetarium show in the adjoining Rose Center for Earth and Space.

About The Author:

Stephanie Rosenbloom is the staff columnist for the Travel section of The New York Times, where she has been a reporter for various desks (including Styles, Business, and Real Estate) for more than a decade. She has appeared on CNN’s American Morning, NBC’s The Today Show, and NPR’s The Takeaway.

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