Book Synopsis:

Icelandic sisters Áróra and Ísafold live in different countries and aren‘t on speaking terms, but when their mother loses contact with Ísafold, Áróra reluctantly returns to Iceland to find her sister. But she soon realizes that her sister isn’t avoiding her … she has disappeared, without trace. As she confronts Ísafold’s abusive, drug-dealing boyfriend Björn, and begins to probe her sister’s reclusive neighbours – who have their own reasons for staying out of sight – Áróra is led into an ever-darker web of intrigue and manipulation. Baffled by the conflicting details of her sister’s life, and blinded by the shiveringly bright midnight sun of the Icelandic summer, Áróra enlists the help of police officer Daníel, as she tries to track her sister’s movements, and begins to tail Björn – but she isn’t the only one watching…Slick, tense, atmospheric and superbly plotted, Cold as Hell marks the start of a riveting, addictive new series from one of Iceland’s bestselling crime writers.

My Review:

Cold As Hell is an emotional, atmospheric read which felt a little different to her previous books though somehow just as addictive!

The thing that most stood out for me in this book is the sense of foreboding that runs through the book. I quickly figured out what was happening and who was doing it but not their motivation behind it which made me very intrigued. It made for a very creepy atmosphere and I almost felt like someone was watching me, as they were watching Arora in the book.

Ãrora’s investigation was very interesting and I liked how the author gradually peels back the layers of her sister’s life to reveal some quite disturbing truths about her relationship. I couldn’t decide whether I liked Ãrora or not. On one hand she seems very clever and has a hidden depth to her which I enjoyed getting to learn more about, but in the other she’s quite prickly which doesn’t make her easy to warm to. The author seems to be good a creating characters like to this that I’m not sure I like but still somehow care about at the same time.

Overall i did enjoy this book which kept me gripped throughout. I liked the change in pace from her previous books that I felt allowed me time to get to know the characters more and appreciate the natural beauty of Iceland. The author does a great job here with the vivid descriptions allowing the reader to picture the island in their mind. The landscape seems to sometimes reflect the characters mood too which I thought was clever and helped to draw the reader further into the story.

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

About The Author:

Icelandic crime-writer Lilja Sigurdardóttir was born in the town of Akranes in 1972 and raised in Mexico, Sweden, Spain and Iceland. An award-winning playwright, Lilja has written four crime novels, with Snare, the first in a series and Lilja’s English debut shortlisting for the CWA International Dagger and hitting bestseller lists worldwide. Trap soon followed suit, with the third in the trilogy Cage winning the Best Icelandic Crime Novel of the Year, and was a Guardian Book of the Year. Lilja’s standalone Betrayal, was shortlisted for the Glass Key Award for Best Nordic Crime Novel. The film rights have been bought by Palomar Pictures in California. Lilja is also an award-winning screenwriter in her native Iceland. She lives in Reykjavík with her partner.

Book Synopsis:

Scotland, 1949: Caroline Gillan and her new husband Alasdair have moved back to Kelly Castle, his dilapidated family estate in the middle of nowhere. Stuck caring for their tiny baby, and trying to find her way with an opinionated mother-in-law, Caroline feels adrift, alone and unwelcome.

But when she is tasked with sorting out the family archives, Caroline discovers a century-old mystery that sparks her back to life. There is one Gillan bride who is completely unknown – no photos exist, no records have been kept – the only thing that is certain is that she had a legitimate child. Alasdair’s grandmother.

As Caroline uncovers a strange story that stretches as far as the Arctic circle, her desire to find the truth turns obsessive. And when a body is found in the grounds of the castle, her hunt becomes more than just a case of curiosity. What happened all those years ago? Who was the bride? And who is the body…?

The Woman Made Of Snow is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the links below.

My Review:

I’m such a huge fan of this author and always look forward to new books from her. A Woman Made Of Snow is a beautifully written, dual timeline book which is part love story, part mystery and a completely amazing read.

The story follows two timelines one set in 1950 & the other 1870’s. Unusually for me I enjoyed following both timelines equally, soon warming to the two main characters Caro and Oliver who despite being a century apart were having to deal with similar issues to each other. The wonderful descriptions of Oliver’s job as a surgeon on board an artic whaling ship was fascinating and I really enjoyed learning more about it. The author has a great way of describing the cold, stark beauty of the Arctic which made me feel like I was actually there experiencing everything alongside the characters. Some of the descriptions of the killing of the whales and seals did make my stomach churn but it was very interesting to learn more about the innuit and their traditions. Caro’s story was also very interesting as I would have loved to have a research job like she did, trying to solve an old family mystery. It was great to follow the two timelines together and see the secrets gradually be revealed.

This story has some amazing historical detail and the author has clearly done her research as she manages to bring both periods to life. There are some quite serious issues discussed in the book like prejudice and social class which I found very interesting to learn more about. Oliver’s mother perfectly demonstrated societies views in the late 1800s and I found myself very glad that things have moved on.

Overall I loved this book and will be recommending it to everyone. There is something wonderfully immersive to this book which made if very hard to put down as I was so absorbed in the story. The gradual revealing of the secrets was brilliantly done and I thought the end was hugely satisfying.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Corvus for my copy of this book. If you’re a fan of dual timeline historical fiction then I highly recommend this book!

About The Author:

Elisabeth Gifford grew up in a vicarage in the industrial Midlands. She studied French literature and world religions at Leeds University. She has a Diploma in Creative Writing from Oxford OUDCE and an MA in Creative Writing from Royal Holloway College. She is married with three children, and lives in Kingston upon Thames.

Book Synopsis:

Some secrets can never be concealed . . .

Nell Galilee, her husband and twelve year old step-daughter Maude rent a holiday cottage by the sea, needing time and space away from home. Nell grew up in this small, wind-blown town and has mixed feelings about returning, and it isn’t long before she is recognised by a neighbour, seemingly desperate to befriend her. The cottage has been empty for some time, and from the start Nell feels uncomfortable there. Something isn’t quite right about this place . . .

Maude, furious about being brought here against her will, soon finds herself beguiled by the house’s strange atmosphere. There are peculiar marks in the roof beams above her bedroom, and in another room, a hiding place, concealing a strange, unnerving object.

As the house gradually reveals its secrets, Nell becomes increasingly uneasy – and Maude spellbound. But these women – and the women that surround them – are harbouring their own secrets too, and soon events will come to a terrible head . . .

A brilliant, unsettling and chilling novel of mothers and daughters, truth and deception and the lengths people will go to, to obtain power over their own lives, The Hiding Place is the second chilling novel from the acclaimed author of The Wayward Girls.

The Wayward Girls is published in ebook and hardback on the 14th October 2021. You can pre-order your copy using the links below.

My Review:

The Hiding Place is a chilling, atmospheric thriller that will definitely stay with me. It’s a perfect book to read at this time of year as the nights draw in and Halloween approaches.

As frequent readers of my blog may know I love books that feature creepy houses so this book instantly appealed to me. I really enjoyed slowly exploring the house and discovering it’s disturbing secrets. I was very intrigued by Maude’s discoveries and was soon trying to work out what happened there.

The coastal setting was perfectly for this book as the town has a real life history of witchcraft making the book seem more realistic The atmosphere in the book slowly increases with things gradually becoming stranger and stranger. I found myself reading faster as I neared the end, both wanting to find out what was happening and not sure I would like the answer. The ending was brilliant and I thought the conclusion very clever.

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

About The Author:

Amanda Mason was born and brought up in Whitby, North Yorkshire. She studied Theatre at Dartington College of Arts where she began writing by devising and directing plays. After a few years earning a very irregular living in lots of odd jobs, and performing in a comedy street magic act, she became a teacher and has worked in the UK, Italy, Spain and Germany. She now lives in in North Yorkshire and has given up teaching for writing.Her short stories have been published in several anthologies, including collections from Parthian Books, Unthank Books, and The Fiction Desk, and her debut novel, The Wayward Girls was published in 2019. The Hiding Place is her second novel.

Good evening everyone today on Tunes For Tuesday I’m featuring Haven the new song from the lovely Samuel Alexander!

Sam is a twitch streamer who composes some absolutely beautiful piano music. Haven is a particularly special song for him as he wrote it for his girlfriend Luna on her birthday. Sam creates special music for people by asking them for some numbers that are special to them (dates of birthdays, anniversaries, lucky numbers), assigns notes to them and makes up a piano piece around them. He hasn’t revealed what the numbers are or their meaning to Luna but I know she absolutely loves the piece as I’m sure you will when you listen to it too. He actually released the song on Luna’s birthday too which was a lovely touch!

If you’d like to follow Sam on Social media or watch him on twitch please click on the links below!

How To Listen:

Haven is available on all the major streaming platforms now as linked below. I definitely recommend it if you are wanting some music to relax to after a busy day. I have linked the YouTube video below for your convenience along with One More Melody which is my all time favourite song from Sam.

Interview:

Sam was kind enough to answer some questions for me in a previous feature so you can find out more about Sam and his music my clicking on the link below.

Playlists:

You can now listen to all previously featured Music Monday artists and follow my new Tunes For Tuesday playlist via the links below!

Thanks for reading and happy listening!

Book Synopsis:

The streets of Tokyo are different at night. There is darkness behind the glitter and the neon lights, and people who prefer to stay in the shadows, to dwell in the underworld – whores, gangsters, the homeless, the lost. People like Sato. He’s part of this world, he always has been, but a feeling of change is lingering in the heavy air of the bustling city. A feeling brought to life by fateful encounters of solitary souls.

Shadow Shinjuku is a dark, yet magical journey into the depths of Tokyo’s nightlife and the depths of the human soul. Ryu Takeshi’s first novel is both a crime thriller and urban fantasy. It’s a unique and mesmerizing blend of the imagery of Japanese animation and film, the colors and details of street photography, and the mystical lyricism of soulful music. But above everything, it is a gripping story that doesn’t let go.

Shadow Shinjuku is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the links below.

Extract:

Every time I look at Tokyo’s lights from above, loneliness engulfs me. I see life resisting darkness down there, but I can’t feel it. It’s too far away. Even the sounds are muffled, and an endless sea rumbles between me and the ground below. Sometimes, I can see it, its shallow waves steadily rising and falling, and no reflections escaping the murky surface.

That night was no different, and after a few seconds, I had to turn away from the window. I wanted to light up, but I couldn’t. New rules. I clenched my fists, and I looked around. Everything was made of concrete. Grey and cold. Only the dark green of the carpet struggled against the emptiness of the space. There was no light, just what leaked in through the windows, and the pallid red of the “EXIT” sign at the end of the corridor.

My watch showed half-past midnight. I had been waiting for nearly half an hour to see the boss. He liked to make people wait. Uncertainty was his favorite weapon, or rather the fear it created, and he used it with everyone, in every possible way. Like the desolate corridors in front of his office.
Finally, the door swung open:
‘Please, come in,’ Kobayashi-san said.
I put my hands in my pockets and walked in. I had a hundred-yen coin in my right pocket. I took it between my thumb and index finger and rubbed it gently.

As I reached the door, I stopped to look at the nameplate. “Akira Yamaguchi”. Most people knew the name, and most people feared it. Even Kobayashi-san. I was one of the few who didn’t. I feared something else.

About The Author:

Ryu loves to write. It’s a way for him to find and explore new worlds, both inner ones and those way outside. And this process is spontaneous and instinctive, his stories born out of a single image, following a path Ryu himself never fully understands – not its origin, nor its end -, immersed in the magic of the moment, and the magic of everything that surrounds us, the visible and the invisible. Ryu is a daydreamer, a believer in the magic of humanity, a friend to all the mystical creatures of the night, and a sucker for the visual beauty of anime. But above all else, Ryu is just a human being, like yourself. Ryu was born in 1983, has a beautiful wife, a funny little dog, and a lovely daughter. He adores sumo, practices traditional kenjutsu, sometimes plays basketball (Go Denver Nuggets!), relaxes playing video games, watching anime and reading books. Oh, and he loves to eat! But who doesn’t…

Book Synopsis:

Upon the cliffs of a remote Scottish island, Lòn Haven, stands a lighthouse.

A lighthouse that has weathered more than storms.

Mysterious and terrible events have happened on this island. It started with a witch hunt. Now, centuries later, islanders are vanishing without explanation.

Coincidence? Or curse?

Liv Stay flees to the island with her three daughters, in search of a home. She doesn’t believe in witches, or dark omens, or hauntings. But within months, her daughter Luna will be the only one of them left.

Twenty years later, Luna is drawn back to the place her family vanished. As the last sister left, it’s up to her to find out the truth . . .

But what really happened at the lighthouse all those years ago?

The Lighthouse Witches is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the links below.

My Review:

Wow I did enjoy this atmospheric and gripping gothic thriller. I was a big fan of this author’s first book but this book surpassed all of my expectations and I’d happily call it one of my books of the year.

Firstly I loved the descriptions of the island and especially the lighthouse which were really vivid helping me to picture it in my mind. I have a bit of a thing about lighthouses which always seem full of mystery and magic somehow so I loved learning more about the history of this one. The island is certainly an interesting place with some of the locals giving off some very creepy vibes. It’s a place I’d love to visit and experience for a day but only if I had an immediate way of leaving if anything happened!

The story changes between 1998 when Liv comes to live on the island and 2001 when one of Liv’s daughters comes back to the island to find out what happens. The time changes are quite abrupt at times and it did confuse me to start with, especially as it changed between first and third person too. I soon git used to this though and found I enjoyed both timelines equally which is unusual for me. There is also some flashbacks to the Scottish Witch Hunts which were interesting to learn more about.

Overall, as you can probably tell, I really enjoyed this book which I found very hard to put down. It’s a book that merges a few genres together and does so very successfully. There’s a deliciously creepy atmosphere to the book that helped draw me into the story and was perfect for snuggling up with on cold nights. There are lots of family drama, chilling moments that made my heart beat faster and a truly amazing twist at the end which I didn’t see coming.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Harper for my copy of this book via netgalley. I highly recommend this book!

About The Author:

C.J. Cooke is an acclaimed, award-winning poet, novelist and academic with numerous other publications written under the name of Carolyn Jess-Cooke. Her work has been published in twenty-three languages to date. Born in Belfast, C.J. has a PhD in Literature from Queen’s University, Belfast, and is currently Reader in Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow, where she researches creative writing interventions for mental health. C.J. Cooke lives in Glasgow with her husband and four children.

Book Synopsis:

A brand-new Ancient Egyptian novel from the master of adventure fiction and global number 1 bestselling author, Wilbur Smith.

In the heart of Egypt
Under the watchful eye of the gods
A new power is rising

In the city of Lahun, Hui lives an enchanted life. The favoured son of a doting father, and ruler-in-waiting of the great city, his fate is set. But behind the beautiful façades a sinister evil is plotting. Craving power and embittered by jealousy, Hui’s stepmother, the great sorceress Isetnofret, and Hui’s own brother Qen, orchestrate the downfall of Hui’s father, condemning Hui and seizing power in the city.

Cast out and alone, Hui finds himself a captive of a skilled and powerful army of outlaws, the Hyksos. Determined to seek vengeance for the death of his father and rescue his sister, Ipwet, Hui swears his allegiance to these enemies of Egypt. Through them he learns the art of war, learning how to fight and becoming an envied charioteer.

But soon Hui finds himself in an even greater battle – one for the very heart of Egypt itself. As the pieces fall into place and the Gods themselves join the fray, Hui finds himself fighting alongside the Egyptian General Tanus and renowned Mage, Taita. Now Hui must choose his path – will he be a hero in the old world, or a master in a new kingdom?

The New Kingdom is available in hardback and ebook now. You can purchase your copy using the links below.

My Review:

The New Kingdom is another gripping and entertaining page turner from one of my favourite authors. I have loved this series from the start and am so pleased to see it continuing!

I’ve always loved learning more about ancient Egypt so this series appealed to me from the start. The author has clearly done his research, with the vivid descriptions helping to transport me back to ancient Egypt as if I was actually there watching it all unfold. I loved learning more about ancient Egyptian culture and how different it is to modern day life. I particularly liked meeting some of the gods they used to worship and learning a little bit about them.

There are some great characters in this book who I enjoyed following throughout the book. Hui is a fantastic main character who seemed really believable. I warmed to him early on and was soon completely on his side. I thought it was very interesting to follow him through his warfare training and to see this learning process. The the combination of old and new characters in this story was great to see and I enjoyed getting to know new characters while enjoy seeing some of the original characters too. There were some characters that I absolutely loved and others who I loved to hate which always make the book more fun.

Overall I loved this book which I thought was a great addition to the series. There was lots of action and always something happening to keep me glued to the page. The ending was brilliant and I can’t wait to read more from this series soon.

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

About The Author:

Wilbur Smith is a worldwide phenomenon. His readership has built up over fifty-five years of writing.
Born in Central Africa in 1933, Wilbur became a full-time writer in 1964 following the success of When the Lion Feeds, and has since published over forty global bestsellers, including the Courtney Series, the Ballantyne Series, the Egyptian Series, the Hector Cross Series and many successful standalone novels, all meticulously researched on his numerous expeditions worldwide.
The establishment of the Wilbur & Niso Smith Foundation in 2015 cemented Wilbur’s passion for empowering writers, promoting literacy and advancing adventure writing as a genre. The foundation’s flagship programme is the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize.
For all the latest information on Wilbur visit http://www.wilbursmithbooks.com or facebook.com/WilburSmith

Book Synopsis:

This book will have you breaking your heart one minute and laughing out loud the next.

In the dying days of the old asylums, three paths intersect.

Henry was only a boy when he waved goodbye to his glamorous grown-up sister; approaching sixty, his life is still on hold as he awaits her return.

As a high-society hostess renowned for her recitals, Matty’s burden weighs heavily upon her, but she bears it with fortitude and grace.

Janice, a young social worker, wants to set the world to rights, but she needs to tackle challenges closer to home.
A brother and sister separated by decades of deceit. Will truth prevail over bigotry, or will the buried secret keep family apart?

Told with compassion and humour, Anne Goodwin’s third novel is a poignant, compelling and brilliantly authentic portrayal of asylum life, with a quirky protagonist you won’t easily forget.

Matilda Windsor Is Coming Home is available in paperback and ebook now. You can purchase your copy using the links below.

My Review:

Matilda Windsor is coming home is a beautiful, absorbing, heart breaking read that will definitely be staying with me.

Firstly I have a bit of a fascination with the old Asylums so I always find them interesting to read about. It’s thankfully hard to imagine in these days such a cold, final method of care for mental health patients as there used to be – especially as some of the patients didn’t actually have mental any mental health problems which I always find quite shocking. As such I enjoyed reading about the transition from the old style asylum to the softer community approach we have now.

The author clearly has some experience in this field which made this story seem very real and my heart broke for Matilda and all the other patients, especially those who had spent so long in the asylums that they were unable to live outside of a care setting. I absolutely loved Matilda as a main character and enjoyed following her story throughout the book. Her story is heartbreaking and I often wished I could reach into the book and give her a hug. I loved the descriptions of the imaginary world she has created and felt glad she had that to take her away from her everyday life. The different characters help offer different views of the care system which I thought was a good touch as it helped me to understand more about the history of asylums and the mental health care that used to be available. It was especially interesting to see the reasoning behind the old Asylums and the attitudes towards the patients.

Overall I really enjoyed this book which had a great pace to it. I quickly grew fond of Matilda and found the book hard to put down as I wanted to find out more about her life. I think this would be a great book club read as I feel there would be lots to discuss.

Huge thanks to Zoe from Zooloo’s blog yours for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

nne Goodwin grew up in the non-touristy part of Cumbria,where this novel is set. When she went to university ninety miles away, no-onecould understand her accent. After nine years of studying, her first post onqualifying as a clinical psychologist was in a long-stay psychiatric hospitalin the process of closing.

Her debut novel, Sugarand Snails, about a woman who has kept her past identity a secret forthirty years, was shortlisted for the 2016 Polari First Book Prize. Her secondnovel, Underneath, about a manwho keeps a woman captive in his cellar, was published in 2017. Her short story collection, Becoming Someone,on the theme of identity, was published in November 2018. Subscribers to her newsletter can download a free e-book ofprize-winning short stories.

Book Synopsis:

Just one spreadsheet away from chaos…

What makes life perfect? Insurance mathematician Henri Koskinen knows the answer because he calculates everything down to the very last decimal.

And then, for the first time, Henri is faced with the incalculable. After suddenly losing his job, Henri inherits an adventure park from his brother – its peculiar employees and troubling financial problems included. The worst of the financial issues appear to originate from big loans taken from criminal quarters … and some dangerous men are very keen to get their money back.

But what Henri really can’t compute is love. In the adventure park, Henri crosses paths with Laura, an artist with a chequered past, and a joie de vivre and erratic lifestyle that bewilders him. As the criminals go to extreme lengths to collect their debts and as Henri’s relationship with Laura deepens, he finds himself faced with situations and emotions that simply cannot be pinned down on his spreadsheets…

Warmly funny, rich with quirky characters and absurd situations, The Rabbit Factor is a triumph of a dark thriller, its tension matched only by its ability to make us rejoice in the beauty and random nature of life.

The Rabbit Factor is published in ebook and hardback on the 28th October 2021. You can pre-order your copy using the links below.

My Review:

The Rabbit Factor is another fabulously entertaining, quirky read from one of my favourite authors. I’m always incredibly excited to read a new book from him as his books are always marvellously entertaining and his quirky storylines never fail to make me smile.

Henri was a great main character who I really enjoyed following throughout the book. He’s a very warm, likeable character who I quickly warmed to. I absolutely loved his relationship with Laura and it was lovely to watch it develop. I thought the author had created a lovely balance with the storyline with the darker moments being interspersed with some romantic scenes and some hilarious laugh out loud moments which I startled my husband with on a few occasions. I soon found the book hard to put down as I was so invested in the characters and had to keep reading to find out what on earth would happen next.

Overall, as you can probably tell, I loved this book which helped to lift my spirits in an emotional week. The author has a great way of describing the scene so that I felt like I was actually there watching everything unfold and the action seem quite realistic – even when it gets slight mad! The book had a great pace to it and even in the quieter moments I still really enjoyed the story as these moments helped me get to know the characters better. This book was recently commissioned to become a film and I’m seriously excited to see it on the big screen soon!

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

About The Author:

Finnish Antti Tuomainen was an award-winning copywriter when he made his literary debut in 2007 as a suspense author. In 2013, the Finnish press crowned Tuomainen the ‘King of Helsinki Noir’ when Dark as My Heart was published. With a piercing and evocative style, Tuomainen was one of the first to challenge the Scandinavian crime genre formula, and his poignant, dark and hilarious The Man Who Died became an international bestseller, shortlisting for the Petrona and Last Laugh Awards. Palm Beach Finland was an immense success, with Marcel Berlins (The Times) calling Tuomainen ‘the funniest writer in Europe’. His latest thriller, Little Siberia, was shortlisted for the CWA International Dagger, the Amazon Publishing/Capital Crime Awards and the CrimeFest Last Laugh Award, and won the Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year.

About The Translator:

David Hackston is a British Translator of Finnish and Swedish literature and drama. Notable publications include The Dedalus Book of Finnish Fantasy, Maria Peura’s coming-of-age novel At the Edge of Light, Johanna Sinisalo’s eco-thriller Birdbrain, two crime novels by Matti Joensuu and Kati Hiekkapelto’s Anna Fekete series (which currently includes The Hummingbird, The Defenceless and The Exiled, all published by Orenda Books). He also translates Antti Tuomainen’s stories. In 2007 he was awarded the Finnish State Prize for Translation. David is also a professional countertenor and a founding member of the English Vocal Consort of Helsinki. Follow David on Twitter @Countertenorist

Book Synopsis:

Get ready for a life-changing adventure!

Bernie and Boatie face an epic journey across the stormy seas, which will test their friendship and their mettle to the max. Will they overcome their fear and make it to the island across the ocean? All aboard the #BoatofHope

This book follows the real-life journey of Bernie Hollywood, OBE as he undertakes his greatest endurance test yet for charity. As part of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge Race, Bernie will be rowing solo for up to 90 days across the Atlantic Ocean in 2022. The story tells the tale of a young boy and his boat who face multiple ups and downs at sea. Together they discover there’s nothing to fear and a problem is halved when it’s shared with a friend.

Bernie And Boatie is published in ebook and paperback on the 12th October 2021. You can pre-order your copy or find out more about the Boat Of Hope charity by clicking on the link below.

My Review:

My little girl is a huge fan of this author’s books so you can imagine her excitement when she received a copy of Bernie And Boatie. It quickly got ripped open and I think I’d read it six times before she’d gone to bed – almost able to know the book off by heart.

Natalie really knows how to write books that capture children’s imagination and draw them into the story so they soon become firm favourites. My kids were soon sitting in cardboard boxes in our sitting room pretending to go on their own sea adventure.

I thought the story was well written, showing kids the dangers that Bernie may face at sea, managing to spark their interest without scaring them. The story is told in a gentle rhyme similar to Natalie’s other books and accompanied by some bright, beautiful full page illustrations that were just stunning to look at. My daughter and I spent ages looking at them and finding little details which we’d missed before. I particularly liked the inclusion of the famous Beatles statue and that the author herself was featured cheering Bernie on at the end. Each picture includes a rainbow which I absolutely loved as I have a thing about rainbows (as you can probably tell from my blog name). I thought this was a nice touch as they are known for being a symbol of hope – perfect colours for the boat of hope!

There is an important message hidden in the story to tell people that they aren’t alone and to encourage people to talk to other people if they have a problem. My initial thought was that this would go over my five year olds head but when I asked her she said the book was about helping people and being a friend to others so the message obviously gets through.

Overall we absolutely loved this book and I’m already thinking about giving it to friends children for Christmas, as well as a copy to my children’s school. Proceeds from this book and donations towards Bernie’s real life Atlantic challenge will go towards mental health charities aimed at helping children with their mental health.

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

About The Author:

Natalie Reeves Billing is a Liverpool lass with a dark sense of humour, which often spills onto the page. She loves to write spooky, fantastical stories for young audiences, and dabbles in poetry, contemporary fiction.Natalie spent most of her early career in the music industry as a performer and professional songwriter. This lead, almost inevitably, to storytelling.Natalie is an Arvon Foundation friend and is a student of the Golden Egg Academy. She is mentored under the Lloyds Bank SSE program, with her Bubs Literacy project. She is published in several anthologies with her poetry and flash fiction, including the Writing on the Wall, Read Now, Write Now, and is involved in several collaborations with fellow writers across poetry, song, and scriptwriting.Her new book, My Mummy is a Monster (part of the Monstrous Me collection) will be available in March 2020 and Carry Love in June 2020Connect with Natalie on Twitter @BillingReeves.