Good morning everyone and welcome to another Music Monday. Today I’m featuring the amazing Field Fare by the lovely Bethan Le Mas.
Bethan is a UK singer songwriter who lives somewhere in the beautiful English countryside, jokingly referred to as ‘The Bunker’ on stream. She is a multi talented lady who can play guitar, piano, cello and Celtic harp. Her streams are always great fun filled with a variety of originals and fun, quirky covers. She often live learns songs on stream which is always very impressive to watch, especially when they require her to sing in a different language. Bethan streams under the name Corny Ears on twitch three/ four times a week. If you’d like to watch please click on the link below.
Bethan writes folk inspired lyrics on acoustic tracks and her music is truly beautiful. I’m a huge fan of all the songs on the album but my particular favourite has to be Temperate Pretender, especially as it’s accompanied by a lovely video that Bethan shot herself.
I’ve also included a video of another song by Bethan called Lavender & Oranges which is taken from her EP Harp Songs of A Land Women.
How To Listen:
Bethan’s music is available to listen to on the following streaming platforms as linked below.
You can now listen to Bethan and all the artists previously featured on Music Monday in the special playlist I have created, linked below. If you like what you hear why not click follow or share it and help spread the word!
The new novel by the best-selling author Allie Cresswell** **A prequel to the award-winning Tall Chimneys** The Talbots are wealthy. But their wealth is from ‘trade’. With neither ancient lineage nor title, they struggle for entrance into elite Regency society. Finally, aided by an impecunious viscount, they gain access to the drawing rooms of England’s most illustrious houses. Mrs Talbot intends her daughter Jocelyn to marry well, to eliminate the stain of the family’s ignoble beginnings. But the young men Jocelyn meets are vacuous, seeing Jocelyn as merely a substantial dowry. Only Lieutenant Barnaby Willow sees the real Jocelyn, but he is deployed to war. The hypocrisy of fashionable society repulses Jocelyn—beneath the courtly manners she finds deceit, dissipation and vice. She stumbles upon and then is embroiled in a sordid scandal which threatens utter disgrace for the Talbot family. Humiliated and dishonoured, she is sent to a remote house hidden in a hollow of the Yorkshire moors, irrevocably separated from family, friends and any hope of hearing about the lieutenant’s fate.
The House In The Hallow is available in ebook and paperback. You can purchase your copy using the link below.
Guest Post:Desert Island Disks
Desert Island Disks is a long-running radio show that asks guests to choose eight old-fashioned records they would choose to keep them company when marooned on a desert island.
The concept is somewhat outmoded these days, when we have hundreds of songs on our phones and our phone is the thing we would cling most tightly to when the wave swept us from the deck. How else would we call home to say we might be just a little late? How else, indeed, would we be able to update our social media feed?
Allie Cresswell is feeling frazzled. 😲
OMG! Can’t believe what just happened! Ship has sunk. So annoying as was due to have facial this pm. 👎 ☂️ 🌊
But I like the idea of choosing, out of hundreds, just a handful of things. It concentrates the mind and requires us to prioritise. So when Jo asked me to choose the eight books I’d pack (hurriedly) into my hermetically sealed and beautifully buoyant trunk before lashing myself to it and committing myself to the sea, I was thrilled.
The rules prohibit any books that might be of use, so no ‘How to survive on a desert island’ manuals, no ‘fishing for beginners’ or, ‘make your own bivouac in moments’ handbooks are permitted. I’d need l o n g books, to help the days and weeks pass before rescue came. And, make no mistake about it; rescue would have to come as I have no practical skills to speak of. Even if I could catch a fish I’m not sure I could gut one. Making a fire is going to be tricky due to a dearth of boy scouts to rub together. I’m praying for a source of fresh water, a shady palm tree, weather that is not too hot, wet or windy, sea that is not infested by sharks or jelly fish, and plenty of low-hanging fruit.
I’d choose four books that are well-known to me. Re-reading them would be like inviting old friends to my encampment beneath that obliging palm tree. Knowing their endings would be a comfort as I think I would have enough uncertainty in my life without inviting more.
The books I’d choose in this category would be Jane Austen’s Emma, The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollop (it’s his longest book), Bleak House by Charles Dickens and Henry James’ The Ambassadors (to see if I can, finally, figure out what’s actually going on in it.)
The final four books are trickier. I’m tempted to choose books written by friends. B Fleetwood is an old friend of mine and her ChromaTrilogy is remarkable for its world-building. Helen Ryan is a writer I admire for the tough subjects she tackles. But I’m going to be brave and choose four books from my TBR pile. They are by authors I already know and trust, so it’s not too risky. All write prose that inspires and enthrals me. They sweep me off to places and situations that will broaden my watery horizon and help me escape, if only temporarily, from that sandy shore.
These books would be: The Ragged Edge of Night by Olivia Hawker. Her first book, One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow awed me by its elegiac descriptions and subtle nuances of character. I’d hope this one would do the same. Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout. This is her Pulitzer-prize winning novel. I love the infinitesimally delicate precision of Strout’s prose. Any book by John Boyne is sure to be wonderful but I think I’d choose Next of Kin, just because the title appeals. The Alchemy and Rose is the new novel by Sarah Maine, who writes enthralling time-shift historical novels set in places I recognise.
It’s tradition on Desert Island Disks for a wave to come and threaten the shipwreck survivor’s collection. She’s allowed to save just one. Mine would be Emma. I have spent years disliking Emma Woodhouse and it is only since writing my Highbury Trilogy that I have come to understand her and feel sorry for her. Saving her would be my act of atonement.
I believe I’m allowed one luxury. Although the accoutrements for tea-making would be great, my ability to find water and light a fire is doubtful. I’d ask for paper and pens so I could write my next novel (and, who knows, perhaps also several more after that, time allowing) but no one, least of all me, would be able to read my scribble, so that’s a lost cause. I’d better have a vat of moisturiser, please, so that my face does not implode before rescue arrives.
Thanks so much for this fantastic guest post Allie!
About The Author:
Allie Cresswell is the recipient of two coveted One Stop Fiction Five Star Awards and three Readers’ Favorite Awards Allie was born in Stockport, UK and began writing fiction as soon as she could hold a pencil. Allie recalls: ‘I was about 8 years old. Our teacher asked us to write about a family occasion and I launched into a detailed, harrowing and entirely fictional account of my grandfather’s funeral. I think he died very soon after I was born; certainly I have no memory of him and definitely did not attend his funeral, but I got right into the details, making them up as I went along (I decided he had been a Vicar, which I spelled ‘Vice’). My teacher obviously considered this outpouring very good bereavement therapy so she allowed me to continue with the story on several subsequent days, and I got out of maths and PE on a few occasions before I was rumbled.’ She went on to do a BA in English Literature at Birmingham University and an MA at Queen Mary College, London. She has been a print-buyer, a pub landlady, a book-keeper, run a B & B and a group of boutique holiday cottages. Nowadays Allie writes full time having retired from teaching literature to lifelong learners. She has two grown-up children, two granddaughters and two grandsons, is married to Tim and lives in Cumbria.
Alone and stranded in the Arctic wasteland, would you risk your life to save a stranger or try to get home?
Paul is a father-to-be; traumatised by his past, he’s terrified of becoming a father after his own beat him until he was unilaterally deaf. While working as a freelance cameraman in the Arctic, he’s caught in a blizzard, separated from his crew, and falls into a chasm. Alone, and waiting for death to come, personal demons plague his mind.
When a young native girl falls into the chasm with him, Paul must learn how to accept responsibility and what it takes to give your life for a child.
FERAL SNOW, while a tense and action-packed story, is an intimate journey between two polar opposites and how love can be forged in the unlikeliest of circumstances.
It has been compared to The Revenant, 127 Hours, and The Road by Cormac McCarthy.
Feral Snow is available in ebook and paperback now. The ebook is currently only £1.99. You can purchase your copy using the link below.
My Review:
Feral Snow is an incredibly tense, gripping read which is hard to believe is a debut novel. It’s a fairly dark read at times but the author also manages to inject a bit of humour and compassion into the story which balances it out nicely.
The setting in this book was absolutely beautiful and I loved the wonderful descriptions of the hostile atmosphere the two characters find themselves. The way the author describes the snow, the silence and wildlife was incredibly vivid which help me to picture it in my mind. At times the setting almost seemed like a sinister character working against the characters as they tried to survive.
The two main characters were fabulous creations that I really enjoyed following throughout the book. Paul was quite a troubled character with a difficult past. When he’s stranded he has a lot of time to think which gives the reader an insight into his inner thoughts. Through this we learn more about him and start to understand his decision to travel so far when his wife is about to give birth. My favourite character was Nanny who I absolutely loved and found it hard to believe was only 12 years old. She’s an incredibly strong, tough girl and I loved watching how she helps Paul confront his past. Watching how Paul changes as a result was wonderful to read about.
Overall I really enjoyed this fast paced read which was very hard to put down. There was always something happening with Paul and Nanny seemingly bouncing from one disaster to the next. The author cleverly manages to include some information about global warming into the story which I found very interesting to learn about. There’s more to it then just the ice melting which I don’t think I’d realised before. It was definitely very thought provoking and I’ve continued to think about this book long after reading.
Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
Mark Lowes is a former teacher, current early childhood educator, and future dad. He lives in Cardiff, Wales, UK, and is sometimes found lamenting over how awful his football team is. While he’s not working with deaf children and their families, he’s writing dark and twisty fiction. Mark is the winner of Litopia’s Pop-Up Submissions and of a pitch contest at the Cardiff Book Festival.
Good morning everyone and welcome to another Music Monday! Today I’m featuring a wonderful musical duo called The Complements.
The Complement’s are made up of Greg, an L.A native, and Aleesha who grew up in Europe and Asia. Greg is a classically trained pianist and self taught guitarist while Aleesha is trained in everything Greg isn’t! They are known for their soulful vocal harmonies and charming performances. They describe themselves as ‘an award winning singer-songwriter duo who sound like they have walked off a Glee/ Disney crossover show’.
I heard about them through twitch where they stream Monday – Friday from 14h00 BST. Due to lockdown in California it has been mainly Greg streaming on his own, though Aleesha has been making surprise appearances. Their streams are always good fun to watch and I look forward to them. Greg is always very welcoming and his energy is infectious as he plays their songlist which has lots of variety in it. If you’d like to watch The Complements on twitch, the link to their channel is below.
The Complement’s have recorded some really beautiful covers and their latest single ‘Yellow’ is no exception. I love listening to this and I think the video is brilliant too!
How To Listen:
The Complement’s music is available to listen to on most streaming platforms including:
You can now listen to The Complements and all the artist that I’ve featured on Music Monday on a special playlist I have created on Spotify. Click the link below to have a listen and if you like it why not follow it!
From the bestselling author of the Welcome to Harpers Emporium and The Mulberry Lane Series. The Harpers Girls come face to face with the harsh reality of the cruelty of war.
Oxford Street, London 1915
Sally Harper quietly battles to keep Harpers afloat in the difficult days of the war, whilst husband Ben is working all hours for the War Office.
Beth Burrow is fighting concern for her husband Jack, now at sea with the Merchant Navy, and the fear she may never see him again and be blessed with a child.
Driven to exhaustion, Maggie Gibbs, is now working as a nursing assistant on the battlefields in France. With the everyday horrors of the casualties of war to contend with she suffers her own personal tragedy when her fiancé’s plane ditches in the sea.
Can the Harpers Girls and their loved ones survive the perils of war and find a path to future happiness?
A heart-warming saga following the lives, loves and losses of the Harpers Girls. Perfect for fans of Nadine Dorries, Pam Howes and Dilly Court.
Harper’s Heroes is available in all formats now. You can purchase your copy using the link below or through your local indie bookstore.
My Review:
I’m a huge fan of this wonderful series, so I couldn’t wait to read this book. Once again the author has written an atmospheric, gripping and emotional read.
It was so nice to be back with the lovely Harper Girls and I felt quickly absorbed back into their lives. In this book we travel from Harper’s to the front lines to visit Maggie as she works with new friends as a nurse. I loved the two timelines and it was very interesting to learn more about what live was like back home during the war as well as on the front. As the book goes on we find out more about the girls past including how they met which I really liked. The conversations and the relationship between them was wonderful to read about. I liked that it felt so natural and realistic, as if I was watching real friends interact in front of me.
This book goes along at a great pace and there was always something happening to keep me reading. The author has obviously done her research and I really enjoyed all the little details about everyday life that helped make the past come to life. There is lots of heartache as you would expect in a book set in this period but also lots of joy that helped balance things out nicely. I can’t wait to read more from this author in the future and really hope there is more to come from the Harper Girls!
Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Boldwood for my copy of this book via Netgalley. If your looking for a historical series to curl up with this winter then I really recommend this one!
About The Author:
I currently write as Rosie Clarke for Boldwood Books, a marvellous new company. My books will now be out in e-book, paperback, audio and large print all at publication! I have written several books as Rosie Clarke including the Downstairs Maid and the Emma series. Lizzie’s Secret was a best seller and published on 1st April and Lizzie’s War followed on 1st September 2016. Lizzie’s Daughters was followed by the Mulberry Lane series. A lovely New Series begins on 3.12.19. This will begin with The Shop Girls of Harpers and there will be at least six books in the series. This series begins in the early 20th century and continues through the twenties and perhaps beyond. Then comes Love & Marriage at Harpers, Rainy Days at Harpers & Harpers’ Heroes! Do let us know what you think with reviews and tweets. Also, good news for fans a Christmas at Mulberry Lane book will be out in 2020 Rosie Clarke is an established author who also writes under other names. I would like to thank my many readers for the lovely reviews they’ve given my books on amazon.
Demanding Greek gods. A world of intrigue. A mysterious helper.
Zeus is used to getting what he wants…but that was before he met Barnabas Tew!
Barnabas and Wilfred, the unluckiest detectives ever, are enjoying their time in India, working on mastering their emotions and learning how to do all sorts of interesting yoga poses. They feel as if they’ve finally found some peace in their lives.
Everything changes, though, when Zeus whisks them away from their idyllic retreat and demands that they solve a case for him.
Having no choice, they reluctantly accept the job, but quickly come to realize that nothing is as it should be. Zeus’ motives are suspect from the beginning, the rest of the Greek gods and goddesses are untrustworthy at best, and Barnabas soon finds his temper hasn’t improved at all during his time in India.
Who is the mysterious lady who keeps popping up just when they need her? Is she friend, or is she foe?
Will Barnabas and Wilfred figure out what’s right and what’s wrong in this topsy-turvy world of lies, intrigue, and trickery? Or will the Greek gods and goddesses prove too much for them?
Barnabas Tew And The Case Of Hellenic Abduction is available in ebook and paperback now. The ebook is currently the bargain price of 99p. You can purchase your copy using the link below or through your local indie bookstore.
Other Books In The Series:
There are 5 books in the Barnabas Tew series and although they can be read as standalone books my understanding is that they are better read in order.
1.) Barnabas Tew And The Case Of The Missing Scarab
2.) Barnabas Tew And The Case Of The Nine World’s
3.) Barnabas Tew And The Case Of The Cursed Serpent
4.) Barnabas Tew And The Case Of The Enlightened Cow
About The Author:
Columbkill Noonan was born in Philadelphia and grew up in the suburbs of Baltimore, Maryland. She teaches Anatomy and Physiology at a university in Maryland. Her writing is mostly speculative fiction (especially stories that involve mythology, or the supernatural, or any combination thereof). Some of her work is a bit on the spooky side, but usually there is a touch of humor (who says the afterlife has to be serious?) When she’s not teaching or writing, Columbkill can be found with her rescue horse (whose name is Mittens), hiking in the woods, or doing yoga of all kinds (aerial yoga and SUP yoga are particular favorites). She is an avid traveler, and most of her travels have resulted in a story (The Unexpected Travelers was written after a seriously oxygen-deprived trip to Machu Picchu). You can visit her on her website, http://columbkill.weebly.com/, or on Twitter @ColumbkillNoon1, or on Facebook
In this beautiful, lyrical sequel to the critically acclaimed We Were the Salt of the Sea, Detective Moralès finds that a seemingly straightforward search for a missing fisherwoman off Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula is anything but
‘A riveting story of old enmities, jealousies and friendships that come to light after a woman goes missing in a remote fishing village beautifully atmospheric’ Gill Paul
‘A haunting murder mystery about how human nature is every bit as dangerous and inscrutable as the sea draws out its suspense to the very last moment’ Foreword Reviews
_________________
It’s not just the sea that holds secrets
When an abandoned lobster trawler is found adrift off the coast of Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula, DS Joaquin Moralès begins a straightforward search for the boat’s missing captain, Angel Roberts a rare female in a male-dominated world. But Moralès finds himself blocked at every turn by his police colleagues, by fisheries bureaucrats, and by his grown-up son, who has turned up at his door with a host of his own personal problems.
When Angel’s body is finally discovered, it’s clear something very sinister is afoot, and Moralès and son are pulled into murky, dangerous waters, where old resentments run deep.
Exquisitely written, with Bouchard’s trademark lyrical prose, The Coral Bride evokes the power of the sea on the communities who depend on it, the never-ending struggle between the generations, and an extraordinary mystery at the heart of both.
The Coral Bride is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below or through your local indie bookstore.
My Review:
The Coral Bride is a beautifully written, emotional though tense story about a missing person and murder.
Firstly the author does an amazing job of setting the scene in this book and I loved the wonderfully vivid descriptions of the stunning landscape which helped me to visualise it perfectly. The author clearly has a great love of the sea which is very evident as she describes her characters feelings towards the sea and the peace that they get from it. The old fisherman tales that she includes in the story really helped add to the overall atmosphere of the book and helps make the story seem more realistic.
I thought there was a fascinating theme exploring family running throughout the book as we learn more about Angel and her family. I thought Angel was a fantastic character and I admired her bravery in working in a male dominated job. I found it very interesting to learn more about the ties between the different fishing families and the rivalries that exist which have been made worse by the changing fishing industry.
I went through this book quite quickly as I soon found myself absorbed into the story. I liked the way the author casts doubt on each of the characters, showing the reader their possible motivations for the murder. This made it impossible for me to guess who was innocent or guilty which ensured I kept reading as I really wanted to know. The ending was brilliant, very tense and emotional which I thought was a perfect way to end the book.
Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Orenda for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
Ten years or so ago, Roxanne Bouchard decided it was time she found her sea legs. So she learned to sail, first on the St Lawrence River, before taking to the open waters off the Gaspé Peninsula. The local fishermen soon invited her aboard to reel in their lobster nets, and Roxanne saw for herself that the sunrise over Bonaventure never lies. We Were the Salt of the Sea is her fifth novel, and her first to be translated into English. She lives in Quebec. Follow Roxanne on Twitter @RBouchard72 and on her website: roxannebouchard.com
DI Eve Hunter is back in the edge-of-your-seat new detective thriller from Deborah Masson, winning author of the Bloody Scotland Crime Debut of the Year 2020.
A young man, the son of an influential businessman, is discovered dead in his central Aberdeen apartment.
Hours later, a teenaged girl with no identification is found hanged in a suspected suicide.
As DI Eve Hunter and her team investigate the two cases, they find themselves in a tug-of-war between privilege and poverty; between the elite and those on the fringes of society.
Then an unexpected breakthrough leads them to the shocking conclusion: that those in power have been at the top for too long – and now, someone is going to desperate lengths to bring them down…
Can they stop someone who is dead set on revenge, no matter the cost?
Out For Blood is available in ebook now and in paperbackback on the 10th December 2020. You can purchase or pre-order your copy using the link below or through your local indie bookstore.
My Review:
I was a huge fan of this author’s debut novel so I was incredibly excited to read more from her, though a little nervous as surely she couldn’t write another book as brilliant. Well I pleased to say that yes, yes she can!
DI Hunter is a wonderful main character, a police woman with heart who really cares about getting justice for her victims. This often gets her into trouble with her senior colleagues however, especially when it causes her to lose her temper with members of the public. Her relationship with her team was interesting to read about and I liked the way they worked together. There is a lot of trust and mutual affection there, making it hard when one if the members of the team is asked to spy on Hunter as she leads the investigation. As the story continues we get to learn a little more about the detectives personal lives which I found very interesting as it gave me an insight into why they might be acting the way they are.
One of the things that I most like about this author is that she doesn’t shy away from tough, emotional storylines or about putting her characters in harm’s way which makes the reader unable to guess what’s going to happen. This book is no exception with the harrowing subject of human trafficking being included in the storyline. I found it hard to read about the awful situations that vulnerable people can find themselves in and I often found myself getting quite teary as I read. How people can do that to other human beings is beyond me and I found myself getting quite anxious about their survival, particularly one character who was pregnant but I think that was more to do with person experience making me more sensitive to it. I had to keep reading to find out what would happened to them.
This book does start off a little slowly as the author introduces the reader to the case and we get reacquainted with the characters again but it soon picks up speed after a twist makes things very intriguing indeed. I soon found myself completely absorbed in the story and kept attempting to hide myself in the kitchen away from the kids so I could read a bit more! The ending was brilliant and I can’t wait to read more from this author in the future. I’ll be recommending this book to everyone who liked gripping, emotional and absorbing crime thrillers.
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:
Deborah Masson was born and bred in Aberdeen, Scotland. Always restless and fighting against being a responsible adult, she worked in several jobs including secretarial, marketing, reporting for the city’s freebie newspaper and a stint as a postie – to name but a few.
Through it all, she always read crime fiction and, when motherhood finally settled her into being an adult (maybe even a responsible one) she turned her hand to writing what she loved. Deborah started with short stories and flash fiction whilst her daughter napped and, when she later welcomed her son into the world, she decided to challenge her writing further through online courses with Professional Writing Academy and Faber Academy. Her debut novel, Hold Your Tongue, is the result of those courses.
1945, Italy. Two sisters give birth to two little girls on the same night, huddled under blankets, deep in the black woods that surround the village of Bosconero. They hold their babies close as footsteps approach. If they make even the slightest sound, the German soldiers will find them…
1996. Luce Nardini searches the cobbled streets of a remote Italian village for a house with a faded blue door. Since her only child left home, and with her estranged husband more distant than ever, she’s been completely untethered. Discovering why her mother cut all contact with her family and the village she loved feels like Luce’s last hope at understanding who she is.
Inside the house, she’s relieved to find the grandmother she never knew living out her final days. With a longing look at an ornate wooden box on her nightstand, her grandmother is just beginning to tell the heart-wrenching story of a little village ravaged by war, and why Luce’s mother swore never to return, when then the unthinkable happens: an earth-shattering disaster that shakes the little village of Bosconero to its core.
Feeling more lost than ever before, Luce fears that the secrets of her past have been buried forever. Her only hope is to win back the trust of the small community and find her grandmother’s little wooden box amongst the rubble of the village.
But will the surprise arrival of the husband she thought she’d lost help sew Luce’s family back together, or tear it apart for good? And will anything have prepared her for the devastating betrayal she finds hidden inside the box…?
An unputdownable historical novel about the secrets we keep to protect the ones we love by the author of million-copy Amazon No 1. bestseller, Watch Over Me. Perfect for anyone who loves Fiona Valpy, Lily Graham or The Letter by Kathryn Hughes.
The Lost Village is available in ebook and paperback now. The ebook is currently only £1.99. You can purchase your copy using the link below or through your local indie bookstore.
My Review:
I’m such a huge fan of this author and I always look forward to a new book from her as I know they will be a fantastic read.
The Lost Village is once again set in the author’s native Italy and I loved all the wonderful, vivid descriptions of the beautiful rural countryside. The community spirit and the Italian way of life was lovely to read about too. I’ve always wanted to visit Italy and this book has made me even more determined to do so as soon as possible!
The story goes between the present day and Italy in WW2. The present day follows Luce as she tries to learn more about her family history and the other follows her family through the war and the heartbreaking events that happened there. Unusually for me I actually preferred the present day part of the story. I think this was because I liked Luce so much as a character and I enjoyed following her as she gets to meet her family, especially her amazing Grandma.
The story is very compelling and I soon found myself drawn into the story. It unfolds at a good pace with lots of twists and surprises that kept me guessing. Just when I thought I had figured out which way the story was going, something happened and it went off in a completely new direction. I thought the ending was very surprising and not at all how I expected things to end.
Huge thanks to Sarah Hardy for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Bookouture for my copy of this book via Netgalley.
About The Author:
Daniela Sacerdoti is a phenomenon. Over one million copies of her novels have been sold in eBook, her debut novel Watch Over Me was the eighth bestselling Kindle book of all time in 2015 and she was also ranked as the eleventh top-selling Kindle author. Daniela writes beautiful, haunting and bestselling fiction for adults (the Glen Avich series), young adults (the Sarah Midnight trilogy) and children. Her novels have been translated in twelve languages. Daniela was born and raised in Italy. She studied Classics, then lived in Scotland for fourteen years, where she married and taught in a primary school. Daniela’s children’s book Really WeirdRemovals.Com was shortlisted for the Scottish Children’s Book Awards. She has also written for the BBC. Daniela, her husband and their two sons make their home in a tiny village in the Alps. To discover more about Daniela and her world, visit http://www.danielasacerdoti.com.
Set in a charming little Scottish town, The Bookshop of Second Chances is the most uplifting story you’ll read this Winter, by a hugely talented debut author.
Thea’s having a bad month. Not only has she been made redundant, she’s also discovered her husband of nearly twenty years is sleeping with one of her friends. And he’s not sorry – he’s leaving.
Bewildered and lost, Thea doesn’t know what to do. But, when she learns the great-uncle she barely knew has died and left her his huge collection of second-hand books and a house in the Scottish Lowlands, she seems to have been offered a second chance.
Running away to a little town where no one knows her seems like exactly what Thea needs. But when she meets the aristocratic Maltravers brothers – grumpy bookshop owner Edward and his estranged brother Charles, Lord Hollinshaw – her new life quickly becomes just as complicated as the life she was running from…
An enchanting story of Scottish lords, second-hand books, new beginnings and second chances perfect for fans of Cressida McLaughlin, Veronica Henry, Rachel Lucas and Jenny Colgan.
The Bookshop Of Second Chances is available in ebook now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.
My Review:
The Bookshop Of Second Chances is a captivating, funny book which is a truly heartwarming read.
Firstly I absolutely loved the location this book was set in. Living in a bookshop in a remote village in Scotland sounds amazing, especially as it’s getting colder as I’d have lots of books to curl up with on cold nights! I found myself wishing that I lived there instead of Thea as it sounds like such a nice place to live.
Thea is a wonderful main character who I loved following throughout the book. She seemed like such a fun, strong lady who I warmed to quickly. She’s perhaps a little older than most characters in these types of book but I thought that added more to the story as she had more life experience behind her. She’s someone I think I’d be friends with in real life as she seems a very genuine, real person who isn’t perfect and I really liked that about her!
This story has a great steady pace to it and there was always something going on to ensure I kept reading. Alongside Thea’s story it was very intriguing to find out more about the two brothers and their interesting relationship. The ending was brilliant and very uplifting. I thought I knew how the book was going to end but the author manages to surprise me which I always like.
Huge thanks to Simon and Schuster for my copy of this book via Netgalley.
About The Author:
Hello, I’m Jackie, and The Bookshop of Second Chances is my first published novel. I’ve been writing for a long time, and I’ve written lots of books, mostly to amuse myself. Writing is the only thing I like as much as reading, and both have brought me a lot of pleasure. I live in Hampshire with my boyfriend and our very elderly cat. When I’m not reading, writing or editing (my day job) you might find me climbing over gates to look at stone circles, taking photographs of rusty things, or poking about in antique shops.
Over The Rainbow Blog 