Book Synopsis:

They need him to remember. He wants to forget.

1918. In the last week of the First World War, a uniformed soldier is arrested in Durham Cathedral. When questioned, it becomes clear he has no memory of who he is or how he came to be there.

The soldier is given the name Adam and transferred to a rehabilitation home. His doctor James is determined to recover who this man once was. But Adam doesn’t want to remember. Unwilling to relive the trauma of war, Adam has locked his memory away, seemingly for good.

When a newspaper publishes a feature about Adam, three women come forward, each claiming that he is someone she lost in the war. But does he believe any of these women? Or is there another family out there waiting for him to come home?

Based on true events, When I Come Home Again is a deeply moving and powerful story of a nation’s outpouring of grief, and the search for hope in the aftermath of war.

When I Come Home Again is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below or by ordering from your local indie bookstore!

My Review:

This was an emotional, poignant read which I found very absorbing. The author does a great job of setting the scene and I felt fully able to envision what life must have been like after the war. It must have been an incredibly emotional, hard time for everyone with lots of families trying to deal with lost loved ones and traumatised soldiers returning from the front. I could almost feel the three families desperation and anguish as they each tried to convince themselves that Adam was their lost loved one. I found those scenes utterly heartbreaking as I realised, as all of them must have too, that he couldn’t belong to all of them.

It was very interesting to learn more about how they dealt with the emotional trauma and memory loss of soldiers returning from the war. My understanding is that it was still quite a new area of medicine so was still in quite an experimental stage. I enjoyed learning more about memories, especially how they are formed and lost. I thought it gave the book more depth and helped me to understand what Adam was going through more.

Overall I really enjoyed this beautifully written book which will stay with me for a long time. It did take me a little while to get into but I’m glad I stuck with it as I ended up really enjoying it. It reminded me a bit of My Dear I Wanted To Tell You so if you liked that book I think you’ll like this one too!

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

About The Author:

Caroline completed a PhD in History at the University of Durham. She has a particular interest in the experience of women during the First World War, in the challenges faced by the returning soldier, and in the development of tourism and pilgrimage in the former conflict zones. Caroline is originally from Lancashire, but now lives in south-west France.

Book Synopsis:

The most chilling read of Christmas 2020.

As the snow begins to fall, the body count begins to climb…

DI James Walker is ready for a quiet family Christmas in the sleepy village of Kirkby Abbey.
 
But when he opens an early Christmas present left on his doorstep, he soon realises it is no gift. Inside is a gruesome surprise, and a promise – twelve days, twelve murders. Not long after, the first body is found, half frozen in the snow.
 
As the blizzards descend, panic spreads through the remote Cumbrian village – there’s a killer amongst them, and with eleven more victims to go, anyone could be next….
 
Can James stop the killer before they strike again?

The first in a new series, Alex Pine has written a dark, atmospheric crime novel, set in a snowed-in Cumbrian village, for fans of Val McDermid, Ross Greenwood and LJ Ross.

The Christmas killer is available in ebook and paperback now. The ebook is currently only 99p. You can purchase your copy using the link below or by visiting your local indie bookstore!

My Review:

Ooh I do like a thriller set at Christmas time. The expectation of it being a happy occasion always makes the book more atmospheric and the crimes extra chilling. This book was no exception and I liked the added twist that the snow falling created a locked room scenario where the killer was trapped in the village alongside everyone. The mention of 12 murders helps give an ominous countdown to Christmas and one that I’d prefer not to have. This did ensure I kept reading as I wanted to see when the next letter would show up and where.

The characters were all very interesting creations and I enjoyed following them throughout the book. The setting of a small, gossipy village was fantastically done and I did so enjoy finding out about all the residents little secrets. There were some characters who I warmed to instantly but others who I loved to hate which always makes a story more fun to read. I did like DI Walker and found his constant surprise about the snow quite amusing, however I found his wife very annoying. She seemed really needy and quite nosey as she always had to know everything that was happening in the investigation. I’m not sure if a DI would be able to discuss the case with his partner in real life but his recaps did help me keep up to date with everything that was going on.

The book does start off quite slowly and I did guess who the murderer was fairly early on However I did so enjoy trying to figure out their motives and who they were going to target next. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes their crime fiction with a bit of a slower pace so that it allows them to become more absorbed in the story. It will be great for curling up with this winter!

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

About The Author:

Alex Pine was born and raised on a council estate in South London and left school at sixteen. Before long, he embarked on a career in journalism, which took him all over the world – many of the stories he covered were crime-related. Among his favourite hobbies are hiking and water-based activities, so he and his family have spent lots of holidays in the Lake District. He now lives with his wife on a marina close to the New Forest on the South Coast – providing him with the best of both worlds!

Good morning everyone, I hope you are all doing ok on the first day of lockdown? I have an interesting extract to share with you today from Bloodstock by Rod Humphris which is the fourth book in the Simon Ellice series.

Bloodstock is available in ebook and paperback now. You can order you copy using the link below or why not visit your local indie bookstore.

Book Synopsis:

After what feels like a lifetime of mayhem, Simon Ellice returns to the Hampshire village where he grew up. He enjoys the solace and tranquility of rural life, working on a farm and getting to know the lively locals, but suddenly Si walks right into a deadly mystery. Old friends are going missing and then turning up dead. Someone from the City is spreading their evil tentacles and Si dives into London’s underworld to uncover a conspiracy of poisoning, murder and pagan ritual that threatens those closest to him. Written with Humphris’ razor-sharp style, this is Simon Ellice’s darkest and most challenging adventure yet, touching on themes of sacrifice and objectification, that threaten the very foundations of our civilised world.

Extract:

AN INEXPENSIVE WOMAN
I saw her and wanted her. What can I say; I’m a man, and it had been a while. She was leaning on the rail, looking across the waterat Polly, and I was certain she was alone. I went over to her and said, “She looks like a swan in the company of pigs, doesn’t she?” Iwas the best I could think of at the time.
“She?” she said, in a Russian accent. She didn’t move her head, but kept right on looking at Polly.“All boats are female,” I said.
“Boat go anywhere,” she said.
“You can. From shore to shining shore. She has swum the coral main and braced the foaming seas of faery lands forlorn.”“Boat yours?” She turned to me now. Her face was lovely in that pale, high cheek-boned way. Her widely spaced eyes were asblue, in their heavily shadowed orbits, as the winter skies over the caucasus. Or so it seemed to me.

Ooh sounds intriguing doesn’t it, I’m definitely going to read more!

About The Author:

Rod Humphris is the author of a number of acclaimed thrillers. He is the
happiest and most productive when travelling about in his battered old
truck with a canoe in top and a dog in the back. He currently lives in Bath.
Rod Humphris is the winner of N. N. Light Best Fiction Award 2016

Book Synopsis:

They survived the Great War, but will life ever be the same?

Spring 1919: WW1 is over and a fragile peace has descended over the country. Now living in Cambridge with husband Edmond, Amy Derwent is settling into her new life as wife and mother to little Beth. But the shadow of the Great War looms large, particularly as the injuries Edmond sustained at Ypres still take their toll on him today.

Edmond’s cousin, Vicky, has now grown into a fine young woman, eager to help her
country. Throwing off her privileged background to train as a nurse, she spends her days tending to the many soldiers still suffering the after-effects of their time on the battlefield.

Meeting Maxim Duclos, a young Frenchman who has arrived in Larchbury, fills her heart with joy – but when it is discovered that Maxim may be hiding the truth about his past, Vicky is faced with an impossible choice. Follow her heart’s desire and risk her family’s disapproval or keep her family – but deny herself the chance of true love?

The war may be over, but Edmond, Amy and Vicky must all face a new battle, finding their own peace in a country wounded by loss.

Until We Can Forgive is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

Ok firstly, disclaimer, this is the first book I’ve read by this author. I’m not sure why I’ve never picked up one of her books before but I was very impressed with the quality of writing in this one, so I’ll definitely be going back and reading all of her previous books now.

The thing that most stood out for me in this book was the fantastic, vivid descriptions which helped me feel very connected to the story. I really felt like I was inside the story experiencing everything alongside the characters which gave me a fascinating insight into what life must have been like in ww1.

I thought there were some fascinating characters in this book. Some I absolutely adored and some I wished would get their just deserts. It was great fun following them throughout the book and seeing how things ended for them. I must admit to loving how the book ended as I found it incredibly satisfying to see people get the happy endings I felt they deserved.

I think I went through all the emotions whilst reading this book. Some of the scenes were very emotional but others were really uplifting and I felt like I went through everything alongside the characters. I always think this shows great skill by the author to make a reader feel so strongly about a book.

Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Hera books for my copy via Netgalley

About The Author:

Rosemary Goodacre was thrilled to have a three book deal with Hera Books. Her World War I romance, Until We Meet Again, the first of the books from this deal was released in October 2019.  Her heroine, Amy, faced many challenges as she works as a nurse and struggles to spend time with Edmond, her sweetheart.

Previously Rosemary has had a novella published, entitled A Fortnight is not Enough, and a science fiction story in the anthology Telescoping Time.

Rosemary always loved languages and travel, mainly in Europe. In her spare time she enjoyed country walking, bridge and classical music. She lived in Kent, England.

Sadly it was announced by Hera Books that Rosemary passed away in October 2020 and my thought are with her family.

Book Synopsis:

Wanted: Company Daughters. Virtuous young ladies to become the brides of industrious settlers in a foreign land. The Company will pay the cost of the lady’s dowry and travel. Returns not permitted, orphans preferred.

Amsterdam, 1620. Jana Beil has learned that life rarely provides moments of joy. Having run away from a violent father, her days are spent searching for work in an effort to stay out of the city brothels, where desperate women trade their bodies for a mouthful of bread. But when Jana is hired as a servant for the wealthy and kind Master Reynst and his beautiful daughter Sontje, Jana’s future begins to look brighter.

But then Master Reynst loses his fortune on a bad investment, and everything changes. The house is sold to creditors, leaving Jana back on the street and Sontje without a future.

With no other choice, Jana and Sontje are forced to sign with the East India Company as Company Daughters: sailing to a colonial Dutch outpost to become the brides of male settlers they know nothing about. With fear in their hearts, the girls begin their journey – but what awaits them on the other side of the world is nothing like what they’ve been promised…

Based on true history, this is a beautiful and sensual historical novel, perfect for fans of Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Miniaturist and The Indigo Girl.

The Company Daughters is available in ebook and paperback now. The ebook is currently only 99p. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

The Company Daughters is a captivating, gripping read which was beautifully written.

Firstly I knew nothing about Dutch history so I loved all the little details describing how life was in 17th Century Holland. The author has clearly done her research and I was soon immersed into the characters lives. The practice of sending poor, ophaned girls who otherwise wouldn’t have had a future to Dutch colonies was something I hadn’t heard of before. I was quite shocked to see how they were treated and what they went through, from the dangerous journey to the bleak future that awaited them. My heart went out to them and I found myself reading faster and faster as I wanted to find out how things would end for them.

The two main characters were fantastic creations who I warned to quickly and enjoyed following throughout the book. Jana was a very endearing character who is trying to escape a life of poverty and prostitution by working as a house servant. There she meets Sontje, the daughter of the house who soon becomes a friend to her rather than an employer. I really like Jana who was incredibly strong and determined which was great to read about. She shows a lot of courage throughout the book and it was lovely to see how much she obviously cared for Sontje. The two girls soon became like friends to me and I really cared about what would happen to them. I felt quite sad to finish the book and I had to leave them behind.

Overall I really enjoyed this fascinating, gripping read which I couldn’t believe was the author’s debut novel. The author takes the reader on a wonderful journey of discovery which I didn’t know which way it was going next. My only slight niggle with this book is that I wish there had been English translations for the Dutch words that are included in the story but that’s only a small thing and didn’t stop me thoroughly enjoying the book.

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

About The Author:

Samantha Rajaram spent most of her childhood in Gillette, Wyoming, where she and her family were the first Indian-Americans to live in the community. As a law student, she focused on social justice and international human rights law with a focus on female sex trafficking.

She is now an educator, and currently teaches composition at Chabot College in Hayward, California. She lives in the California Bay Area with her three children.

Book Synopsis:

A truly original, bittersweet tale of life, loss and enduring love that had me completely hooked. A treasure of a book!’ Sunday Times bestseller, Ruth Hogan

This is the story of Ella.
And Robert.
And of all the things they should have said, but never did.

‘What have you been up to?’
I shrug, ‘Just existing, I guess.’
‘Looks like more than just existing.’
Robert gestures at the baby, the lifeboat, the ocean.
‘All right, not existing. Surviving.’
He laughs, not unkindly. ‘Sounds grim.’
‘It wasn’t so bad, really. But I wish you’d been there.’

Ella has known Robert all her life. Through seven key moments and seven key people their journey intertwines.
 
From the streets of Glasgow during WW2 to the sex, drugs and rock n’ roll of London in the 60s and beyond, this is a story of love and near misses. Of those who come in to our lives and leave it too soon. And of those who stay with you forever…

When The Music Stops is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below or by visiting your local indie bookstore.

My Review:

When The Music Stops has to be one of the most unique books I have read! It’s beautifully written and highly emotional which makes it a very compelling read.

There’s something very interesting about following one person throughout their life, especially if they have lived through some significant historical events. I found it fascinating to follow Ella and to see how certain things have shaped her life. That being said I never really warmed to Ella as a character as I found her to be very prickly and some of her decisions incredibly questionable. I did feel sympathetic towards her however and although I didn’t agree with her choices I had to admire her bravery.

The story is told in two timelines one following Ella through the important events her life, while the other focuses on elderly Ella who is trapped in a sinking boat with a baby. While she is trying to work out what’s happening and care for the baby she is visited by old friends who help her make amends for past mistakes. I have to admit I enjoyed the flash backs to Ella’s life much more then the present day as I found it quite stressful reading about Ella trying to care for the baby. It was a weird situation as I wanted to keep reading to see what happens to them but at the same time wanting to skip that part as I found the tension too great.

Overall I really enjoyed this absorbing and intriguing read which will definitely stay with me. I think I went through every emotion as I read, laughing and crying alongside the characters. I will be recommending this book to everyone and will definitely be buying a few copies as Christmas presents.

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

About The Author

Joe Heap was born in 1986 and grew up in Bradford, the son of two teachers. In 2004, he won the Foyle Young Poets award, and he is a published poet. He studied for a BA in English Literature at Stirling University and a Masters in Creative Writing at Glasgow University. Joe lives in London with his long-suffering girlfriend, short-suffering baby, and much-aggrieved cat. The Rules of Seeing is his first novel.