How To Find Home by Mahsuda Snaith @mahsudasnaith @TransworldBooks #HowToFindHome #5Stars #mustread

Book Synopsis:

Molly has lived on the streets for nearly a decade. She has close friends but spends most of her nights sleeping rough in dangerous places. So when a new acquaintance invites her on a journey across the country, she decides to go along. He is searching for treasure while she is searching for hope.

At every stop on their unusual quest, Molly senses something close behind her: the footsteps of an old enemy and the memories of a life she has tried to erase. And yet she must find the courage to continue if she’s ever going to discover a place that really feels like home.

A vibrant, invigorating, and affecting novel and the inspiring portrait of a young homeless woman from Observer New Face of Fiction Mahsuda Snaith.

How To Find Home is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase a copy of both using the link below.

My Review:

I really enjoyed this wonderfully written, heart warming and emotional book. The author cleverly takes the reader on a journey alongside the characters as they discover more about who they are. It’s also a lovely exploration of what home can mean to different people.

I absolutely loved the main characters in this book who make up a rather motley crew on a journey across Britain. The author has created characters that the I easily warmed to and quickly started caring about, their individual back stories are slowly revealed so we learn more about each of them. It’s hard not to get emotional as you read about all that they’ve been through. The language the author used is quite rough and rude at times, which further makes the characters come to life as it makes it seem very realistic.

Throughout this book the author has helped give a face and a voice to the homeless, a group of people normally discriminated against. It was very emotional to read about the various attitudes people have towards them, more so as you know them to be true. The author has obviously put a lot of research into this book and it was interesting to learn about the different reasons people may become homeless.

This book is quite fast paced and has a great flow to it which makes it difficult to put down. I was soon absorbed into the story and the lives of the characters. The threat of a dangerous ex and the police plus the uncertainty of where they are going makes for an intriguing read. It definitely made me want to keep reading to find out what was going to happen.

This is the second book I’ve read by this author and I’m excited to read more from her in the future. I think this is an important book that everyone should read as it really makes you think and will help to challenge prejudices that people have against the homeless. I think it would make a great book club read as there is lots to discuss.

Huge thanks to Transworld publishers for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

About The Author:

Mahsuda Snaith is the winner of the SI Leeds Literary Prize 2014, Bristol Short Story Prize 2014 and was an Observer New Face of Fiction in 2017. She lives in Leicester where she teaches creative writing and tries to find time to read.

#BlogBlitz: Spices And Seasons by Rinku Bhattacharya @Wchestermasala @rararesources #SeasonsAndSpices #recommended

Book Synopsis:

In this new cookbook, author Rinku Bhattacharya combines her two great loves—Indian cooking and sustainable living—to give readers a simple, accessible way to cook seasonally, locally, and flavorfully. Inspired by the bounty of local produce, mostly from her own backyard, Rinku set out to create recipes for busy, time-strapped home cooks who want to blend Indian flavors into nutritious family meals. Arranged in chapters from appetizers through desserts, the cookbook includes everything from small bites, soups, seafood, meat and poultry, and vegetables, to condiments, breads, and sweets. You’ll find recipes for tempting fare like “Mango and Goat Cheese Mini Crisps,” “Roasted Red Pepper Chutney,” “Crisped Okra with Dry Spice Rub,” “Smoky Roasted Eggplant and Tomato Puree,” and “Red Harvest Masala Cornish Hens,” to name a few. As exotic and enticing as these recipes sound, the ingredients are easily found and the instructions are simple. Rinku encourages readers to explore the bounty of their local farms and markets, and embrace the rich flavors of India to cook food that is nutritious, healthy, seasonal and most importantly, delicious.

Spices and Seasons is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

My husband and I are huge curry fans so we’re always looking for new recipes to try. We really enjoyed trying some of these easy to follow receipes which I am happy to report made some delicious curries! The author includes advice about how to make this vegetarian or gluten free which was very helpful for us as my daughter’s gluten free.

There are some interesting spices and ingredients used in this book which are listed in the helpful introduction at the front of the book. I’d not heard of some of these so enjoyed exploring them and discovering how they all taste. Most of the ingredients aren’t available in a normal supermarket so you will need to have access to an Indian supermarket or specialist shop for them. We’re lucky to have one not far from us but I’m not sure everyone would.

The author’s passion for Indian cookery shines from the page and I loved the background information she gives on every recipe. She helps make the cooking even easier with lots of helpful hints and advice which as a fairly novice cook I found very helpful. There are also some lovely pictures of the food accompanying the recipes which are bound to make your mouth water. I can see this book being a family favourite and I can’t wait to try all the wonderful recipes!

Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Rinku Bhattacharya was born in Kolkata, India and currently resides in Westchester, New York. She teaches cooking classes, maintains a popular food blog, Cooking in Westchester, and writes a weekly column, Spices and Seasons, for the Journal News website.

#BlogTour: The Abandoned Daughter by Mary Wood @Authormary @panmacmillan @EllisKeene #TheAbandonedDaughter

Book Synopsis:

Voluntary nurse Ella is haunted by the soldiers’ cries she hears on the battlefields of Dieppe. But that’s not the only thing that haunts her. When her dear friend Jim breaks her trust, Ella is left bruised and heartbroken. Over the years, her friendships have been pulled apart at the seams by the effects of war. Now, more than ever, she feels so alone.

At a military hospital in France, Ella befriends Connie and Paddy. Slowly she begins to heal, and finds comfort in the arms of a French officer called Paulo – could he be her salvation?

With the end of the war on the horizon, surely things have to get better? Ella grew up not knowing her real family but a clue leads her in their direction. What did happen to Ella’s parents, and why is she so desperate to find out?

The Abandoned Daughter by Mary Wood is the second book in The Girls Who Went To War series.

The Abandoned Daughter is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy of both using the link below.

My Review:

I’m such a huge fan of this author’s books and always look forward to reading more from her as I know I’m going to enjoy them.

The Abandoned Daughter was another fantastic historical read from the The Girls Who Went To War series. One of the things I most like about this author is her ability to tell things as they would have been. She doesn’t shy away from the hard, uncomfortable facts to spare the reader’s feelings but instead tells the reader the hard truths which I really admire her for. This does mean she often makes me cry though.

Once again the author has created some wonderful characters that I warmed to very quickly. I especially liked the main character Ella who I couldn’t help but like even if I found her story truly heartbreaking at times. The poor girl seems to have everything thrown at her but battles through it bravely. Just when it looked like everything might be going right for her something happened and everything changed again. Her relationship with Rowena was wonderful to read about and I loved watching it develop. Rowena is a fantastic friend to her just when she needs one and their interactions were some of my favourite parts of the book. I found I desperately wanted to keep reading to find out what happens to them and to see if they get the happy ending I felt they deserved.

Mary always manages to find a part of history I haven’t read much about before which I always find fascinating. This time it was about the treatment of the returning soldiers and what their families were dealing with. It was so sad to read about how many of the soldiers ended up homeless, begging on the streets and how their families were just left to deal with any problems that they had.

This was a very gripping, fast paced read that I couldn’t put down and often found myself sneaking away to try and read a few more pages. Whilst this book could be read as a standalone it’s probably best to read the books in order as it gives you more of an understanding of the background to this book.

Huge thanks to the lovely Mary Wood for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Ellis from Pan Macmillan for my copy of this book. If you like well researched, emotional historical sagas then you need to read this book.

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 pastimes is interacting with her readers on her Facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/HistoricalNovels
And on her web page: http://www.authormarywood.com
She is also on Twitter: @Authormary

Mary welcomes all contact with her readers and feedback on her work.

#BlogTour: Bloom Where You’re Planted by Lasairiona E. McMaster @QueenofFireLas @rararesources #BloomWhereYouvePlanted #LifeTheExpatWay

Book Synopsis:

Are you contemplating a move abroad? Don’t panic!

From culture shock to capable, from language barriers to lifelong friends, and from foreign land to the familiar. Being hurled into life in a strange new place can be daunting and overwhelming, but it can also be exciting and enjoyable. Rich with tips on how to expat like a boss, Lasairiona McMaster’s “Bloom where you’re planted”, takes you on a journey from packing up her life in Northern Ireland to jumping in at the deep-end as an expat in two countries.

An experienced expat from a decade of living abroad, her honest and uncensored tales of what to expect when you’re expatriating, are as funny as they are poignant, and as practical as they are heartfelt. If you’ve lived abroad, or you’re considering the move from local to expat.

If you’re looking to rediscover yourself, or simply wondering how on earth to help your children develop into adaptable, resilient, and well-rounded people, this book has something for you.

Get yourself – and your house – ready for the big move.
Travel with kids, like a boss.
Make life-long friends, super-fast.
Dealing with distance.
It takes a village.

Bloom Where You’re Planted is available in ebook and paperback now. It’s currently available on Kindle Unlimited if you have membership. Purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

I though this was a funny, informative read that is surely a must read for anyone considering moving abroad or who wants to be assured that their own expat experience isn’t unusual!

This book is written in a fantastic style that just draws the reader in and makes them want to keep reading the book. I felt like I was having a conversation with a friend rather than reading the book at times which helps demonstrate the easy, engaging writing style in the book.

The author has included a lot of information in this book which covers everything you will need to know. I liked how honest she was about her own experiences and how she didn’t try to sugar coat expat life. Instead she includes information and hilarious stories covering the highs and lows of what to expect. I found a lot of these very funny and often read bit aloud for my husband to enjoy too!

Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Lasairiona McMaster grew up dreaming of an exciting life abroad, and, after graduating from Queens University, Belfast, that is exactly what she did – with her then-boyfriend, now husband of almost ten years. Having recently repatriated to Northern Ireland after a decade abroad spanned over two countries (seven and a half years in America and eighteen months in India), she now finds herself ‘home’, with itchy feet and dreams of her next expatriation. With a penchant for both travelling, and writing, she started a blog during her first relocation to Houston, Texas and, since repatriating to Northern Ireland, has decided to do as everyone has been telling her to do for years, and finally pen a book (or two) and get published while she tries to adjust to the people and place she left ten years ago, where nothing looks the same as it did when she left.

Social Media Links –

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/QueenofFireLas

Twitter –  https://twitter.com/QueenofFireLas

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/queenoffirelas/?hl=en

#BlogTour: Breakers by Doug Johnstone @doug_johnstone @OrendaBooks @annecater #Breakers #RandomThingsTours #5Stars

Book Synopsis:

A toxic family … a fight for survival…

Seventeen-year-old Tyler lives in one of Edinburgh’s most deprived areas. Coerced into robbing rich people’s homes by his bullying older siblings, he’s also trying to care for his little sister and his drug-addict mum.

On a job, his brother Barry stabs a homeowner and leaves her for dead, but that’s just the beginning of their nightmare, because the woman is the wife of Edinburgh’s biggest crime lord, Deke Holt.

With the police and the Holts closing in, and his shattered family in devastating danger, Tyler meets posh girl Flick in another stranger’s house, and he thinks she may just be his salvation … unless he drags her down too.

A pulsatingly tense psychological thriller, Breakers is also a breathtakingly brutal, beautiful and deeply moving story of a good kid in the wrong family, from one of Scotland’s finest crime writers.

Breakers is available now in ebook and paperback. You can purchase your copy of both using the link below.

My Review:

Breakers is an absorbing, thought provoking, gripping book that I really enjoyed.

I’ve always loved Edinburgh and have always though it a beautiful, historical city when I’ve visited it. As with most big cities though it has its dark side full of crime and people in poverty which is the setting of this book. It was quite an eye opener to read what could go on behind the normal everyday view of the city. These are quite vividly described so I felt like I was there watching everything unfold.

The author does a great job of letting the reader see the person behind the crime so that you start understanding the characters a bit more. I had mixed feelings about the main character Tyler. On one hand I hated him for the distress that he causes the people he robs but on the other hand his obvious love for his sister made me warm to him and his interactions with her were some of my favourite in the book. His friendship with Flick also helped me to see his gentle side and I enjoyed watching this develop. It was interesting to see how teenagers can be from very different backgrounds but still have to deal with the same problems.

This was a fast paced, gripping read that I just couldn’t put down as I found I had to know what would happen to the characters. I went through a range of emotions whilst reading feeling angry at the characters, sorry for them and them hopeful that they would make a better life for themselves. There are some passages which whilst quite uncomfortable to read, as they were very realistic, helped create a lot of the tension and atmosphere in the book which made them necessary to what’s happening. I’ve read all of this author’s books and in my opinion he keeps getting better and better. I can’t wait to read what his next one.

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

About The Author:

Doug Johnstone is an author, journalist and musician based in Edinburgh. He’s had eight novels published, most recently Crash Land. His previous novel, The Jump, was a finalist for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year. Several of his other novels have been award winners and bestsellers, and he’s had short stories published in numerous anthologies and literary magazines. His work has been praised by the likes of Ian Rankin, Val McDermid and Irvine Welsh. Several of his novels have been optioned for film and television. Doug is also a Royal Literary Fund Consultant Fellow. He’s worked as an RLF Fellow at Queen Margaret University, taught creative writing at Strathclyde University and William Purves Funeral Directors. He mentors and assesses manuscripts for The Literary Consultancy and regularly tutors at Moniack Mhor writing retreat. Doug has released seven albums in various bands, and is the drummer for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers, a band of crime writers. He also reviews books for The Big Issuemagazine, is player-manager for Scotland Writers Football Club and has a PhD in nuclear physics.
Follow him on Twitter @doug_johnstone and visit his website: dougjohnstone.com

#BlogTour: Foul Deeds Will Rise by Elizabeth Ireland @EbethIreland @rararesources #FoulDeedsWillRise #ABackstageMystery

Book Synopsis:

By 1875, Lillian Nolan believes she has successfully shut off any connection to the spirit world. That winter she is thrilled when she wins the role of Ophelia in a new production of Hamlet in her home town of Chicago. Everything changes when the body of the managing director is found sprawled across the steps of the dress circle and all the investors’ money is missing. Lillian fears, once again, her career is over before it begins.After her dearest friend is arrested for murder, Lillian commits herself to discovering the truth. 

Her search is complicated by a strange man who is following her, the romantic overtures of her co-star, and a reunion with an old nemesis. But nothing is what it seems. What she does find puts a member of her own family at risk and leads to the unmasking of the killer with lethal consequences for herself. 

Foul DeedsWill Rise is the second standalone book in the Backstage Mystery Series. If you enjoy historical mysteries that blend fact and fiction and include a touch of the paranormal, then you’ll love Elizabeth Ireland’s story of the adventures of one young actress during the golden age of acting and spiritualism in America.

Buy Foul Deeds Will Rise and discover that death may just be the beginning…

Foul Deeds Will Rise is available in ebook and paperback now. The ebook is currently available on Kindle Unlimited. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

Foul Deeds Will Rise is an intriguing historical mystery, which is the second book in the Backstage Mystery series.

This books once again follows Lilian as she joins a theatre company and tries to make a career as an actress. I really liked Lilian and admired her determination to try to follow her dreams despite fierce opposition. The details about life in the theatre company was very interesting and I enjoyed learning more about it, especially as it seemed a harder career choice then I had first imagined. Lilian really matures in this book and it was great to see her develop from quite a niave young lady to the confident lady she becomes.

The mystery about who killed Philip was very interesting and it was great to follow Lilian as she tries to find his murderer. I was soon absorbed in the story and I had fun trying to guess who had done it. The final twist was surprising and took me by surprise which always adds to my enjoyment.

Although this book could be read as a standalone it might be best to read them in order so you understand a bit more about the book. There isn’t such a supernatural theme in this book which I was a little disappointed about but the wonderful development of Lilian more than made up for it. I’m very excited to read more about her and am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Elizabeth Ireland discovered her passion for theater early. After receiving undergraduate and graduate degrees in Theater, she accepted a teaching position in a performing arts department at a college in northern Illinois. For ten years, she taught, directed and ran front-of-house operations. American Theater History–particularly that of the 19th century–has always been of particular interest to her.

THE BACKSTAGE MYSTERY SERIES was written out of the fascination she has with that period. It is set against the backdrop of the Gilded Age, and stars Lillian Nolan, an unconventional member of Chicago’s upper class who dreams of a career of fortune and fame in the theater. Talented and ambitious, she possesses a hidden skill which she is extremely reluctant to use–the ability to communicate with those who have died and now live in the world of “The Beyond.” 

The series chronicles her adventures in which she continually becomes enmeshed in solving mysteries which often require her accessing the realm of the paranormal. Filled with an incredible cast of characters–factual, fictional, and sometimes non-physical–who either help or hinder her quest for the truth, the stories take place during a period considered to be the golden age of both acting and spiritualism in America. 

Ireland has been a quarter-finalist and a semi-finalist for the Don and Gee Nicholl Fellowship in screenwriting sponsored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Her nonfiction work, WOMEN OF VISION: ORDINARY WOMEN, EXTRAORDINARY LIVES was published in 2008. Her work has also been published in a collection of paranormal short stories, PARAMOURTAL: TALES OF UNDYING LOVE AND LOVING THE UNDEAD. She lives in metro Atlanta with her ever-patient husband, and two quirky dachshunds.

#BlogTour: The Peacock Room by Merryn Corcoran @MerrynCorcoran @RedDoorBooks #ThePeacockRoom

Book Synopsis:

‘A castle, mystery and love set in Tuscany are the perfect ingredients for an entertaining and enjoyable read’ Santa Montefiore

A uplifting, romantic adventure set against the stunning backdrop of a Tuscan Castle

When Allegra O’Brien discovers her husband s infidelity, her world is shattered and she seeks solace in the sanctuary family. Her Italian grandpapas s tales of legendary Mama Cosima and the mysterious Peacock Room reawaken her love of historic, interior architecture, inspiring Allegra to take a trip to Tuscany to learn more about her heritage.

While a dangerous encounter throws her off course, a handsome stranger helps Allegra discover there is more to her family history than she could ever imagine. With her new-found confidence, and in the wake of her grandpapa s illness, Allegra makes an unexpected discovery, and finally commits to fulfilling the promise she made to solve a family mystery.

Richly laced with the colours and contours of Tuscany, and the kaleidoscopic beauty of Sammezzano Castle, this full-bodied romance will captivate you to the very end.

The Peacock Room is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

The Peacock Room is an intriguing historical mystery set in Italy that manages to be part family drama and romance too.

Firstly the author does a great job of setting the scene of this novel as the descriptions of the beautiful Italian countryside and the Italian lifestyle are vividly described which makes it easy for the reader to imagine. I so wanted to visit Italy and experience everything for myself. I also loved the fact that the castle, and the Peacock Room, is real which meant I wasted a lot of time on the internet looking at the stunning pictures!

The mystery part of the book was very intriguing and I soon became absorbed in the story, wanting to know how it ends. The author does a great job in making Allegra’s investigation into her family history seem real and there are some great, rich details which helps make the mystery come to life.

My only slight issue with this book was with the main character who I just found very frustrating and couldn’t warm to. Her decision making was very poor and I found myself getting more and more annoyed with her for some of the things she does. She is painted as the victim in the story which seems wrong considering her choice of romantic partner (no spoilers) later on.

This book is quite fast paced and there is lots going on to keep the reader entertained. I liked the gradual discovery of her family’s secrets and the ending was a great, satisfactory way to end the book.

Huge thanks to Anna from Red Door Books for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

About The Author:

Merryn Corcoran was born in New Zealand and has enjoyed success in the business world. In addition to writing, Merryn is the London ambassador for Beau Joie champagne. She also works for London-based Cork Films as executive producer and publicist, with its most recent movie The Stolen released in UK cinemas in October 2017. Merryn has been a keen supporter of UNICEF for the past 14 years, chaired and organised an annual celebrity Gala Ball in London and raised approximately GBP100,000,000 for the charity. She was made a UNICEF Honorary Fellow (UK) in 2002. Merryn’s first novel The Silent Village (2013) made it to the best-selling list in New Zealand. Her second novel, The Paris Inheritance also went straight to #2 on the best-selling list in 2014. She divides her time between Menton in the south of France, London and New Zealand.

#BlogTour: The Dangerous Kind by Deborah 0’Connor @deboc77 @bonnierbooks_uk @Tr4cyF3nt0n #TheDangerousKind #1in100People

Book Synopsis:

One in 100 of us is a ‘potentially dangerous person’ – someone likely to commit a violent crime. We all know them: these charmers, liars and manipulators. The ones who send prickles up the back of our neck. These people hide in plain sight, they can be teachers, doctors, holding positions of trust, of power. 

Jessamine Gooch makes a living tracking the 1 in 100. Each week she broadcasts a radio show that examines brutal offences, asking if more could have been done to identify and prevent their perpetrators.

But when she agrees to investigate a missing person case involving a young mother, she is drawn into a web of danger that will ultimately lead to the upper echelons of power, and threaten the safety of her own family.

What if the people we trust are the ones we should fear?

The Dangerous Kind is available in all formats now. The ebook is currently only £0.98p. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I have to say I was very impressed. The Dangerous Kind is a heart breaking, thought provoking and gripping read that I just tore through as I couldn’t put it down.

The author manages to use the difficult subject of child abuse with great sensitivity. The abuse isn’t graphically described just to shock the reader and make for uncomfortable reading. Instead it is just used to give the reader an idea of the situation the youngsters find themselves in. The dangers of the internet and how to keep children safe is a very current issue that strikes the fear of dread in most parents. This book deeply affected me as I’m dreading my kids growing up and having to deal with all the dangers online. I found myself sneaking upstairs to give my kids a hug often whilst reading.

The story is told from multiple points of view which helps create lots of tension and intrigue especially as the chapters often ended on a dramatic moment. This meant I found myself turning the pages faster and faster so I could get back to find out what’s happening. The different story lines were never confusing though and they all tied together in the end in a surprising way which I never guessed.

As mentioned in this is the first book I’ve read by this author and I’ll definitely be going back to read her previous books. I hope this isn’t the last we’ll be seeing of Jessamine as I thought she was a fantastic character and I’d love her to have another investigation to solve.

Huge thanks to Tracy Fenton for inviting me onto the blog tour and to the publishers for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

About The Author:

Deborah O’Connor is a writer and TV producer. Born and bred in the North-East of England, in 2010 she completed the Faber Academy novel writing course. She lives in London with her husband and daughter.

You can follow her on twitter here @deboc77

Or on instagram here @deborahleighoconnor

https://www.instagram.com/deborahleighoconnor/ 

#BlogTour: The Den by Abi Maxwell @TinderPress @annecater #TheDen #AbiMaxwell #RandomThingsTours

Book Synopsis:

Henrietta and Jane are growing up in a farmhouse on the outskirts of town, their mother a remote artist, their father in thrall to the folklore and legend of their corner of New England. When Henrietta falls under the spell of Kaus, an outsider and petty criminal, Jane takes to trailing the couple, spying on their trysts, until one night, Henrietta vanishes into the woods.

Elspeth and Claire are sisters separated by an ocean. Elspeth’s pregnancy at seventeen meant she was quickly married and sent away from her Scottish village to make a new life in America. When she comes to the attention of the local mill owner, a series of wrenching and violent events unfolds, culminating in her disappearance.

As Jane and Claire search in their own times for their missing sisters, each uncovers the strange legend of Cold Thursday, and of a family apparently transformed into coyotes. But what does his myth really mean? Are their sisters dead, destroyed by the men who desired them? Or have they made new lives, elsewhere, beyond the watchful eyes of the community they longed to escape?

The Den is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase a copy of both using the link below.

My Review:

I’m a big fan of historical mysteries especially when they are done over two timelines so the blurb for The Den appealed to me instantly. I was not disappointed as The Den is a very thought provoking, atmospheric book that made for a very intriguing read.

The present day story follows Jane as she tries to investigate her sisters strange disappearance in the wood, while 150 years ago Elsbeth is trying to investigate her own sister Clara’s disappearance in similar circumstances. The chapters are told from the point of view of each of the four women which makes for fascinating reading. Through these chapters we learn more about the four woman, their lives and their reasons for staying or going.

The author does a great job in creating a really creepy and atmospheric read which slowly helps build up the mystery in the book, making the book incredibly absorbing. The connection between the two timelines is gradually revealed after many strange theories have been explored. I didn’t know which way the story was going and I loved going on the twisty journey with Jane trying to discover what was going on.

This is the author’s debut novel and I’m excited to see what she comes up with next. I think this would make a great book club read as there is lots to discuss.

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

About The Author:

Abi Maxwell is the author of an acclaimed story collection, LAKE PEOPLE, and her fiction has also appeared in McSweeney’s. She studied writing at the University of Montana and now lives in New Hampshire, where she grew up, with her husband and son.

#BlogTour: Ellie And The Harp Maker by Hazel Prior @haveAharp @TransworldBooks @hannahlbright29 @annecater #EllieAndTheHarpMaker #RandomThingsTours #5Stars

Book Synopsis:

Meet Ellie. She’s perfectly happy with her home and her husband and her quiet life. Happy enough, anyway. Which is why she’s so surprised to find herself drawn to an extraordinary stranger who gives her a gift – and a fresh perspective.

Meet Dan. He thinks that all he needs to be content is the time and space to carry on making harps. But the last thing he expects is for Ellie – and her cherry-coloured socks – to whirl into his life, bringing a string of surprises to his ordered existence.

Sometimes it takes a chance encounter to discover what your life can be . . .

This heart-warming, funny and quirky love story features…

86 plums,
69 sandwiches,
27 birch trees,
a 17-step staircase,
and a pheasant named Phineas

… and will stay with you long after you finish the last page.

Ellie And The Harp Maker is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

Oh I so adored this beautiful, unique book! It was such an enjoyable, heartwarming read that I didn’t want it to end.

The story focuses on Dan and Ellie, two quite quirky individuals who form a wonderful friendship together. I instantly warmed to both of them and the unique way they look at the world, particularly Dan who seems to enjoy the simple joys in life. They are very both well developed throughout the book and I loved learning more about them, especially the things that make them who they are like their sweet hobbies of collecting pennies or writing poetry.

The chapters alternate between Dan and Ellie giving the reader access to their personal thoughts and feeling which made me feel like I really knew them. We learn more about Ellie’s tough home life with her horrible husband, who I wished I could have a strong word or two with, and about the fascinating process of making a beautiful harp from a piece of wood that allows Dan’s personality to just shine through.

Overall I thought this was a fantastic book and one that will stay with me for ages. I was very sad to have finished the book and kept flipping back to re-read my favourite parts. I can’t wait to read more from this author and to see what she comes up with next.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Transworld for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

About The Author:

Hazel Prior lives on Exmoor with her husband and a huge ginger cat. As well as writing, she works as a freelance harpist.