–       Authors revealed at Evening Standard Stories Festival featuring Mosse & Wheatle

–       ‘Buy one gift one’ 10^th anniversary campaign sees 35,507 books donated to new readers

– Quick Reads 2022 titles set to form part of World Book Night booklist

About Quick Reads 2022 Titles (14 April 2022)

MW Craven, The Cutting Season (Hachette, Constable)

M. W. Craven was born in Carlisle but grew up in Newcastle, running away to join the army at the tender age of sixteen. He spent the next ten years travelling the world having fun, leaving in 1995 to complete a degree in social work with specialisms in criminology and substance misuse. Thirty-one years after leaving Cumbria, he returned to take up a probation officer position in Whitehaven, eventually working his way up to chief officer grade. Sixteen years later he took the plunge, accepted redundancy and became a full-time author. He now has entirely different motivations for trying to get inside the minds of criminals… M. W. Craven is married and lives in Carlisle with his wife, Joanne. When he isn’t out with his springer spaniel, or talking nonsense in the pub, he can usually be found at punk gigs and writing festivals up and down the country. http://www.mwcraven.com

Book Synopsis:

Poe’s just hanging out on a Saturday afternoon… Hanging from a hook in a meat packing plant isn’t how Washington Poe wants to spend his weekend. He’s been punched and kicked, and when the Pale Man arrives it seems things will soon go from bad to worse. The Pale Man is a contract killer, and he and his razor are feared all over London. But Poe knows two things the Pale Man doesn’t. And now things are about to get interesting…

Paula Hawkins, Blind Spot (Penguin Random House, Transworld, Doubleday)

PAULA HAWKINS worked as a journalist for fifteen years before writing her first book. Paula was born and brought up in Zimbabwe. She moved to London in 1989 and has lived there ever since. Her first thriller, The Girl on the Train, has sold 23 million copies worldwide. Published in over forty languages, it has been a Number 1 bestseller around the world and was a box office hit film starring Emily Blunt.Paula’s second thriller, Into the Water, and her latest book, A Slow Fire Burning, were also instant Number 1 bestsellers.

Book Synopsis:

‘How can you say things like this? How can you be so blind?’ Since they were kids, Edie, Jake and Ryan have been the closest of friends. It’s been the three of them against the world. Edie thought the bonds between them were unbreakable. So when Jake is brutally murdered and Ryan accused of the crime, her world is shattered. Edie is alone for the first time in years, living in the remote house that she and Jake shared. She is grief-stricken and afraid – with good reason. Because someone is watching. Someone has been waiting for this moment. Now that Edie is alone, the past she tried so hard to leave behind is about to catch up with her…

Ayisha Malik, Sofia Khan: The Baby Blues (Headline, Review)

Ayisha Malik was born and raised in South London and is a lover of books (obviously), and writer of contemporary fiction. A former publicist at Penguin Random House, turned managing editor at Cornerstones Literary Consultancy, turned full-time writer. Her debut novel, Sofia Khan is not Obliged, and its sequel, The Other Half of Happiness, (Zaffre), were dubbed as the ‘Muslim Bridget Jones.’ Her latest novel, This Green and Pleasant Land, (Zaffre) is out now. She has also contributed to the anthology, A Change is Gonna Come, (Stripes Publishing), and upcoming collection, A Match Made in Heaven, (Hope Road Publishing). Malik is also known for ghost-writing Great British Bake Off winner, Nadiya Hussain’s, adult books. http://www.ayishamalik.com

Book Synopsis:

Sofia Khan is going about everything the wrong way. At least, that’s what her mother, Mehnaz, thinks. Sofia is twice-divorced, homeless and – worst of all – refusing to give up on a fostered baby girl. Sofia’s just not behaving like a normal woman should. Sofia doesn’t see it like that. She’s planning to adopt Millie, and she’s sure it’ll be worth it. (Even if it means she and Millie have to stay at Mehnaz’s place for a while.) And as Sofia finally begins to live the life she’s chosen, she finds both romance and happiness start to blossom. But then someone comes back from the past – and not even Sofia’s own past. Suddenly, she’s faced with a choice. To do what’s best for those she loves, Sofia might have to break her own heart. And she might find herself needing the last person she expected…

Santa Montefiore, The Kiss (Simon & Schuster)

Santa Montefiore’s books have been translated into more than twenty-five languages and have sold more than six million copies in England and Europe. She is the bestselling author of The Temptation of Gracie and the Deverill series, among many others. She is married to writer Simon Sebag Montefiore. They live with their two children, Lily and Sasha, in London. santamontefiore.co.uk

Book Synopsis:

Sometimes your biggest mistake can also be a blessing… Madison has always known she had a different father to her siblings. But it wasn’t until she turned eighteen that she learned his name. And now she wants to meet the man who shares her fair hair and blue eyes: Robert. Robert is a very lucky man. A big house, beautiful wife, three handsome sons. Eighteen years ago, he made a mistake. A brief fling that resulted in a daughter nobody knows about. Robert must finally tell his family the truth. Will they ever be able to forgive him and accept Madison as one of their own?

Kate Mosse, The Black Mountain (Macmillan, Pan Books)

Kate Mosse is an award-winning novelist, playwright and non-fiction writer, the author of six novels and short story collections, including the multimillion-selling Languedoc Trilogy – Labyrinth, Sepulchre and Citadel – and number one bestselling Gothic fiction The Winter Ghosts and The Taxidermist’s Daughter. Her books have been translated into thirty-seven languages and published in more than forty countries. The Founder Director of the Women’s Prize for Fiction, she is also the Deputy Chair of the National Theatre in London. Kate divides her time between Chichester in West Sussex and Carcassonne in south-west France. http://www.katemosse.co.uk

Book Synopsis:

It is May, 1706. Ana, a young Spanish woman, lives in a small town on the north-west coast of Tenerife with her mother and twin younger brothers. The town is in the shadow of a mighty volcano, which legend says has the devil living inside it. However, there has been no eruption for thousands of years and no one believes it is a threat. One day, Ana notices that the air feels strange and heavy, that the birds have stopped singing. Tending the family vineyard, a sudden strange tremor in the earth frightens her. Very soon it will be a race against time for Ana to help persuade the town that they are in danger and should flee before the volcano erupts and destroys their world. Will they listen? And Ana herself faces another danger… ‘A powerful storyteller with an abundant imagination’ Daily Telegraph

Graham Norton, The Swimmer (Hodder, Coronet)

Book Synopsis:

Lemn Sissay, My Name Is Why (abridged) (Canongate)

Book Synopsis:

Alex Wheatle, Witness (Serpent’s Tail)

Book Synopsis:

About The Reading Agency & Quick Reads

The Reading Agency is a national charity that tackles life’s big challenges through the proven power of reading. We work closely with partners to develop and deliver programmes for people of all ages and backgrounds. The Reading Agency is funded by Arts Council England. www.readingagency.org.uk

Quick Reads, a programme by The Reading Agency,aims to bring the pleasures and benefits of reading to everyone, including the one in three adults in the UK who do not regularly read for pleasure, and the one in six adults in the UK who find reading difficult. The scheme changes lives and plays a vital role in addressing the national crisis around adult literacy in the UK. Each year, Quick Reads works with UK publishers to commission high profile authors to write short, engaging books that are specifically designed to be easy to read. Since 2006, over 6 million books have been distributed through the initiative, 5 million library loans (PLR) have been registered and through outreach work hundreds of thousands of new readers each year have been introduced to the joys and benefits of reading. From 2020 – 2022, the initiative is supported by a philanthropic gift from bestselling author Jojo Moyes.

Book Synopsis:

They thought it was perfect. They were wrong…

A glamorous chateau

Aura and Nick don’t talk about what happened in England. They’ve bought a chateau in France to make a fresh start, and their kids need them to stay together – whatever it costs.

A couple on the brink

The expat community is welcoming, but when a neighbour is murdered at a lavish party, Aura and Nick don’t know who to trust.

A secret that is bound to come out…

Someone knows exactly why they really came to the chateau. And someone is going to give them what they deserve.

The Sunday Times bestseller is back with a rollercoaster read, perfect for fans of Lucy Foley and Ruth Ware.

The Chateau is out in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the links below.

My Review:

I absolutely loved this author’s debut novel so I was very excited to read this book. I was definitely not disappointed as once again the author has written an addictive book which was hugely enjoyable to read.

I was quickly drawn into the story and into the character’s brilliant sounding life in rural France. It’s a bit of a dream of mine to renovate an old house so I loved living precariously through the characters as they went through the process. The author does a great job of setting the scene in this book and the descriptions of rural France as well as the welcoming ex pat community sent a tingle down my spine. I felt like I’d love to live among this community (with the exception of the murder obviously). It definitely seemed like a charmed life and I enjoyed feeling a part of it as I read.

The story is told in two timelines, one following the couple as they arrive in France and the other flashing back to two months ago. I enjoyed following both timelines and watching secrets being revealed in one which helped me make sense of what was happening in the present day. Neither of the main characters were particularly likeable but that didn’t spoil the book for me as it helped me read without any prejudice. They seemed quite realistic characters and it was great to follow them throughout the book.

Overall i really enjoyed this book and would definitely be recommending it to others. As you can expect from this author there is a fantastic plot with some great misdirection and some jaw dropping twists that helped keep me guessing. The end twist was truly amazing and took me completely by surprise which I always love.

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

About The Author:

Catherine Cooper is a freelance journalist living in the South of France with her family. Her debut thriller THE CHALET was a top five Sunday Times bestseller and spent three weeks in the Kindle top 100. THE CHATEAU is her second novel.

Book Synopsis:

A British nurse in WWI Egypt races to deliver explosive intelligence that could change the course of the war in this novel of suspense, adventure, and love.

May, 1917. Ginger Whitman left a life of wealth and privilege in England to train as a battlefield nurse and serve in the Great War. Working on the brutal frontlines in Palestine, she finds a wounded soldier hiding in her camp. The soldier claims to carry intelligence unmasking a secret plot against the British—and that traitors within British intelligence are searching for him. Desperate and dying, the soldier entrusts a coded message to her care.

Ginger is hurled into an unfamiliar world of intrigue and murder amidst the war-ravaged Arabian desert. She’s determined to help her country but trusting the wrong person could cost her life. Then the arrival of mysterious and handsome British intelligence officer Major Noah Benson offers a chance of help. But Noah may be as dangerous as he is charming. As she’s swept away by stolen moments on the desert sands, Ginger realizes her heart may also be at risk.

Hunted by a shadowy enemy spy, Ginger must decide if she can trust Noah. But as she grapples with her decision, Ginger makes a shocking discovery: a sinister secret that threatens to shatter the world she thought she knew.

Windswept is available in all formats now. You can purchase your copy using the links below.

My Review:

Windswept is a thrilling and moving book that I thoroughly enjoyed. I love books set in the first and second war so this book instantly appealed to me.

Firstly I loved the main character Ginger, who was a very inspirational and fiesty lady. Coming from a privileged background it would have been easy for her to sit out the war and I admired her determination to get involved. I found it fascinating to follow her on her journey to Egypt and to learn more about her experiences there. The romance between Noah and herself was lovely to watch develop. It helped bring some light relief from some of the more serious moments in the book and I found myself hoping that everything would work out.

The historical details in this book were really interesting and it’s obvious the author has done a lot of research into the time which made the story seem very realistic. I hadn’t read much about the first world war in Egypt and Palestine, I didn’t even realise it stretched that far out of Europe, so I eagerly drank in all the details about the British Gaza campaign.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and would definitely be recommending it to others. The plot was incredibly fast paced and there always seemed to be something happening to keep me glued to the page. The story seemed to have a bit of everything in it with lots of adventure, action and romance which made for a very thrilling read which kept me guessing until the end. I hope that there will be more books featuring Ginger in it in the future.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book. If you are a fan of historical fiction then I’d definitely recommend this book.

About The Author:

Annabelle McCormack writes to bring under-explored periods of history to life. She is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins University’s M.A. in Writing Program. Half-Costa Rican, she also speaks fluent Spanish. She lives in Maryland with her hilarious husband, where she serves as a snack bitch for her (lucky-they’re-cute) five children. Visit her at http://www.annabellemccormack.com or http://instagram.com/annabellemccormack to follow her daily adventures.

Good morning everyone and welcome to another Music Monday – on a Tuesday as my youngest wasn’t well yesterday.

Today I’m featuring the lovely Kristi Kates who is an amazing music streamer on twitch. She is based on the East coast of America so sadly streams a little early for me but I often see her being really supportive in other streams. Her community is always really welcoming and I’m always thrilled when I can catch a stream as she has some beautiful original music, as well as some fun covers. She was kind enough to answer some questions for me which I’ve included below.

If you would like to follow Kristi on twitch or social media you can do so by clicking the links below.

How To Listen:

Kristi sadly doesn’t have any original music on music streaming platforms yet but there are some lovely covers and a few originals on YouTube. I have included my favourites below. You can of course also listen to her on twitch and I have included a few twitch clips below too.

Interview:

Tell us a little about yourself?

Hi! I’m Kristi – I’m a musician, singer-songwriter, and sometimes actress or voiceover artist when I get those opportunities. I live just north of Manhattan (New York City, USA) and I love performing, creating stuff, and travelling.

What first got you into music?

I started reading when I was 3, and singing along to music not long after; got my first (toy) guitar at 5 or 6. When I got gifted a proper real guitar and a little Casio keyboard at 12 years old, I started learning how to create my own music, and that was it.

Who inspired you to make music?

I’ve always listened to lots of different music, but it’s the post-Britpop era – Travis, Coldplay, Snow Patrol, Keane, Radiohead – that’s stuck with me.

I love that mix of poetic vocal lines, storytelling, and elegantly-ordered beats and arrangements, and I wanted to figure out how to recreate that type of songwriting with my own music.

How would you describe the music that you typically create?

It would probably be classified as indie-pop, I think? Much like the inspirations above, I like to be a little fantastical with the lyrics, and I like a good, catchy pop melody.

I try to put a bit of optimism in, too; I think it’s important to try and keep a positive outlook in songwriting as well as life in general, as best as we can.

What is your creative process like?

I’m always writing down ideas or singing them into the voice recorder on my iPhone; but it varies as to how an actual song is written. Sometimes I’ll purposefully sit down and dig through my notes/recordings, sometimes a song will just kind of arrive out of nowhere!

Who would you most like to collaborate with?

Oh nooo, that’s such a long list! Well, Tim Rice-Oxley, Neil Finn, Taylor Swift, and Jack Antonoff would all be amazing to write with; Chris Martin, Gary Lightbody, and Regina Spektor to sing with; and Nigel Godrich, Brian Eno, and Finneas as producers… that’s a start!

Clearly big dreams, ha ha! But why not?

If you could go open a show for any artist who would it be?

Coldplay – I like the colour and positive energy of their live shows so much, and I think they’d also be great fun to hang out with after the gig.

What is one message you would give to your fans?

“Thank you!”

While I’d always write and sing regardless, without people listening to and resonating with what you perform, it’s a bit less rewarding, isn’t it? I feel quite honoured by the people who support my music and other projects.

What is the most useless talent you have?

Uhhh… well, I can do the cup-flipping rhythm trick from that Anna Kendrick song!

Do you sing in the shower?

Ha ha! Not generally – I think I’m more apt to sing while cooking.

What would you be doing right now, if it wasn’t for your music career?

I can’t picture not doing music, as it’s the one thing I’ve consistently wanted to do most of my life.

But if my music skills mysteriously vanished, I’d probably either do more acting – or something with animals, perhaps be a zookeeper.

Where have you performed?

Lots on Twitch the past several years! Also many of the smaller venues in NYC and a few each in L.A. and Chicago. And I was fortunate to get to perform on the Official TwitchCon Music Stages in 2018 (San Jose CA) and 2019 (San Diego), that was super fun.

What are your favourite and least favourite venues?

Favourite: Joe’s Pub and Rockwood are both excellent for live music here in NYC! On the opposite coast, I really like the Hotel Cafe in L.A.

Least Favourite: Anywhere that the musicians are secondary, and therefore basically being ignored; for instance, I don’t much enjoy doing restaurant gigs or such where your music is primarily background sound. Fortunately I haven’t had to do those in quite some time!

Do you have any upcoming shows?

I don’t have any shows booked IRL at the moment, thanks to the pandemic – but I do perform live on Twitch 3x a week. We do Mon/Fri/Sat live music shows – the Monday show is like a coffeehouse gig, while Fridays and Saturdays alternate between a “stage” set and assorted music theme nights.

How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business?

It’s much easier to reach out to people you’d like to create music with, because the traditional avenues (agent, manager, etc.) between musician-musician have dissolved somewhat, which is great as I think we’ve all been missing collaborating over the past couple of years.

I also think – hope – that musicians performing online during the pandemic has been something of a helpful escape for people. Music is a necessity, after all 🙂

What is your favourite song to perform?

I can never answer the “pick one” sorts of questions, ha ha!

I think at the moment, I’ve been enjoying throwing some dance-pop into our sets, as that’s a bit different from the music I usually do.

Which famous musicians do you admire?

See my list of inspirations above! 🙂

What is the most trouble you’ve ever gotten into?

I’m not a terribly trouble-prone person, thankfully!

I did sneak into a ton of live shows here before I was technically old enough to even be in a bar/venue, but I never got caught, probably because I don’t really drink, so I never pressed my luck.

I just wanted to stand in the back and spy on the bands and the techs and the crew, so I could figure out how everything worked on a big “real” stage!

What is the best advice you’ve been given?

Don’t compare yourself to other performers or trends; keep your focus and energy in your own lane and on creating your own sound and story, and people will find you.

If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?

I wish the DMCA would be updated to reflect current times. It first became effective in 1998, and the music industry has undergone seismic shifts since then, between digital music in general and the internet. All of the restrictions and fines and whatnot don’t help us share music properly (so that musicians CAN get paid fairly, and can reap the benefits of people who love their music wanting to share it!) – they only slow everything down, and create unneeded friction between creatives and industry people.

What’s next for you?

We have some big seasonal stream events coming up on our Twitch channel between now and the end of 2021, including our Halloween weekend and then our full week of annual holiday content in mid-December, which has become a yearly tradition!

For next year, I’m planning to evolve my sound by finally sitting down to properly learn a DAW so I can start producing and releasing my own music, at least in demo form; and then getting back into an actual recording studio at some point to properly record some songs and expand upon some collaborations. I’m so looking forward to it!

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions!

Music Monday Playlist:

You can listen to all previously featured Music Monday artists on a special playlist I’ve created on Spotify.

Thanks for reading and happy listening!

Book Synopsis:

The first book in a brand new sweeping historical series from the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author.

France, 1944.

 
Deep in the river valley of the Dordogne, in an old stone cottage on the edge of a beautiful village, three sisters long for the end of the war.
 
Hélène, the eldest, is trying her hardest to steer her family to safety, even as the Nazi occupation becomes more threatening.

Elise, the rebel, is determined to help the Resistance, whatever the cost.

And Florence, the dreamer, just yearns for a world where France is free.

Then, one dark night, the Allies come knocking for help. And Hélène knows that she cannot sit on the sidelines any longer. But secrets from their own mysterious past threaten to unravel everything they hold most dear… 

The first in an epic new series from the No.1 Sunday Times bestseller, Daughters of War is a stunning tale of sisters, secrets and bravery in the darkness of war-torn France…

Book Review:

I absolutely loved this absorbing, gripping read from a favourite author of mine.

I was quickly drawn into the story and into the lives of the three sisters. As I might have mentioned before I’m a huge fan of historical fiction, particularly if it is set in the second world war, so I absolutely loved all the brilliant descriptions of the period. I knew a little about France under the Nazi occupation but always enjoy learning new facts about the time. I was fascinated to learn more about the French resistance and to learn about the brutal Maquis who I hadn’t heard of before.

The three sisters were fantastic creations who I loved following throughout the book. I liked how different each of them were, how they each complemented each other and brought different elements to the story. As an older sister I did sympathize with Helene the most as I think that, if in a similar situation I too would be trying my hardest to keep everyone safe. The reader follows each sister on their own story and I found it very interesting to see where each sister ends up.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and found it hard to put down as I was so absorbed in the story. It’s one of those books that I quickly realised I’d like so I felt I could just relax and enjoy where the story took me. It was fascinating to see where the three sisters stories lead them and I enjoyed discovering all the secrets that are revealed. As you can probably imagine with a book that’s set in wartime, there a few scenes that were difficult to read but I thought the author handled them sensitively so they weren’t overly upsetting.

This is the first book in a new series and I can’t wait to read more in the future.

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

About The Author:

Dinah Jefferies began her career with The Separation, followed by the number 1 Sunday Times and Richard and Judy bestseller The Tea-Planter’s Wife. Born in Malaysia, she moved to England at the age of nine. When she began writing novels, deeply influenced by her Eastern childhood, she was able to return there on annual research trips for each new novel.With her most recent bestseller, her seventh novel The Tuscan Contessa, she has moved to writing about a European setting for the first time and continues that in this new series.She is published in 28 languages and over 30 countries and has twice been a Richard and Judy bookclub pick.

Book Synopsis:

THE STUNNING SECOND WORLD WAR THRILLER FROM THE CELEBRATED SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR SIMON SCARROW

‘Taut and chilling – I was completely gripped’ Anthony Horowitz

‘A wonderfully compelling thriller, reeking of authenticity, and a terrific depiction of the human world within the chilling world of the Third Reich’ Peter James

Berlin, December 1939

As Germany goes to war, the Nazis tighten their terrifying grip. Paranoia in the capital is intensified by a rigidly enforced blackout that plunges the city into oppressive darkness every night, as the bleak winter sun sets.

When a young woman is murdered, Criminal Inspector Horst Schenke is under pressure to solve the case, swiftly. Distrusted by his superiors for his failure to join the Nazi Party, Schenke walks a perilous line – for disloyalty is a death sentence.

The discovery of a second victim confirms Schenke’s worst fears. He must uncover the truth before evil strikes again.

As the investigation takes him closer to the sinister heart of the regime, Schenke realises there is danger everywhere – and the warring factions of the Reich can be as deadly as a killer stalking the streets . . .

My Review:

Blackout is a tense, atmospheric read that kept me guessing. It is the first book I’ve read by this author and it has definitely left me wanting to read more.

Firstly I loved the amazing historical details the author has included in the book which helps paint a vivid picture of what Berlin must have been like at the start of the war. The fear and tension felt almost palpable at times, making me feel like I was actually there experiencing everything first hand. It was fascinating getting a closer look into the Nazi party and seeing how far everyone was willing to go to keep themselves safe by constantly blaming other people or groups. I can well imagine that it brought out the worst side in people and indeed some parts of this book was hard to read as it truly showed how cruel and calculated the members could be.

I really liked the main character Horst Schenke particularly as he was a bit of a rebel for refusing to join the nazi party. I thought he was incredibly brave to stand up to his principles despite the fact it would have been much safer for him to tow the line. In my opinion this helped add an interesting element to the book as through him we are able to see the truth or what happened rather than what the Nazi party wanted people to see which I thought was very clever. I really enjoyed following his investigation throughout the book.

Overall I really enjoyed this book which had a great pace to it. There are a few calmer parts of the book but things always pick up and about half way through the book becomes almost impossible to put down. The twist towards the end took me completely by surprise and I thought the ending was brilliant. I would loved to see a sequel with Horst Schenke in the future.

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

About The Author:

Simon Scarrow is a Sunday Times No. 1 bestselling author. His many successful books include his Eagles of the Empire novels featuring Roman soldiers Macro and Cato, most recently TRAITORS OF ROME, THE BLOOD OF ROME, DAY OF THE CAESARS, INVICTUS and BRITANNIA, as well as HEARTS OF STONE, set in Greece during the Second World War, SWORD AND SCIMITAR, about the 1565 Siege of Malta, and a quartet about Wellington and Napoleon including the No. 1 Sunday Times bestseller THE FIELDS OF DEATH. He is the author with T. J. Andrews of the bestselling novels ARENA, INVADER and PIRATA.

Find out more at http://www.simonscarrow.co.uk and on Facebook /officialsimonscarrow and Twitter @SimonScarrow

Good morning everyone! I’m re-sharing my review of the fantastic A Beautiful Spy by Rachel Hore today in celebration of the paperback release and as part of the Rachel’s Random Resources tour.

Before I share my review here is a little about the book.

Book Synopsis:

Minnie Gray is an ordinary young woman.
She is also a spy for the British government.
 
It all began in the summer of 1928…
 
Minnie is supposed to find a nice man, get married and have children. The problem is it doesn’t appeal to her at all. She is working as a secretary, but longs to make a difference.
 
Then, one day, she gets her chance. She is recruited by the British government as a spy. Under strict instructions not to tell anyone, not even her family, she moves to London and begins her mission – to infiltrate the Communist movement.
 
She soon gains the trust of important leaders. But as she grows more and more entangled in the workings of the movement, her job becomes increasingly dangerous. Leading a double life is starting to take its toll on her relationships and, feeling more isolated than ever, she starts to wonder how this is all going to end. The Russians are notorious for ruthlessly disposing of people given the slightest suspicion.
 
What if they find out?
 
Full of suspense, courage and love, A Beautiful Spy is a stunningly written story about resisting the norm and following your dreams, even if they come with sacrifices.

My Review:

I’m a huge fan of Rachel’s so I was very excited to be invited onto the blog tour for this, her latest book. One again this author has written a gripping and intriguing book which was hard to put down.

Firstly I absolutely loved Minnie, who I liked from pretty much the first page. She knows what she wants and doesn’t want to just get married like everyone else. She shows lots of courage and determination throughout the book which was wonderful to read about. It definitely made me warm to her more and I found I wanted to continue reading to find out what happens to her.

The author does a great job in setting the scene in this book and I loved how she describes the time period by adding in lots of historical detail. It was definitely an interesting time with lots of political things happening in the run up to the second world war which I always enjoy learning more about. It was a completely different time for women too with society expecting them to get married and then give up their careers or job to become a housewife. This made Minnie’s story even more interesting as she was completely different from the norm.

I felt this book gives the reader a unusual insight into what it’s like to be a spy as it doesn’t just focus on their mission like normal books but also gives the reader a look into their lives so that we can see how difficult it is to be a spy at times. As we follow Minnie throughout the book we become aware of her emotional turmoil as she struggles balancing her two worlds of spying and normal life. I’ve never properly thought about this before so I found this very interesting.

Overall I really enjoyed this intriguing, gripping read which has a very thrilling plot line. This book is actually based on real life spy Olga Grey which I always love and I spent too long googling up things on the internet as I wanted to learn more about her. I raced through this book in a couple of days which is no mean feat when you are homeschooling three children. I felt very sad to finish the book and have to leave Minnie behind.

Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Simon and Schuster for my copy of this book. If you are a fan of gripping historical fiction based on real life historical figures then I thoroughly recommend this book.

About The Author:

Rachel Hore worked in London publishing for many years before moving with her family to Norwich, where she taught publishing and creative writing at the University of East Anglia before becoming a full-time writer. She is married to the writer D. J. Taylor and they have three sons.

Book Synopsis:

A reality TV star becomes a suspect in an Essex murder case in the sharp, funny and moving new thriller from M.K. Hill

Three years ago, Danny ‘Abs’ Cruikshank, star of reality show Laid in Essex!, was living the dream. But on the night of the party, everything changed.

It was supposed to be an intimate weekend gathering, just a few close friends in a remote cottage in Wales. But after a night of heavy drinking in the village pub, a local girl was reported missing – and never seen again. Abs and his friends had been the last to see her alive.

No-one was ever charged, but the controversy destroyed Abs’s career. And now one of his mates has been murdered…

DI Sasha Dawson and her team must race against the clock to find the killer before they strike again – but first she must discover what happened to Rhiannon Jenkins on the night she vanished. Will the truth set Abs free? Or bury him?

My Review:

The Woman In The Woods is a fast paced, addictive read that I couldn’t put down. I managed to read half the book in one day as I was so enjoying it.

Firstly this isn’t a gritty crime read but a more character driven story which I thought made a nice change. It manages to be emotional in parts but also quite funny in places which I wasn’t expecting. The story is told from the pov of Sacha as she tries to solve the murder case and Abs as he tries to work through his guilt of what happened. There are also some interesting flashbacks from three years ago which helps tell the readers what actually happened.

The author has created some amazing characters who I enjoyed following throughout the book and who I’ve kept thinking about long after I’ve finished reading. I really liked that Sasha wasn’t the stereotypical police officer you normally find in crime books. She has a family (albeit a slightly broken one) and therefore a life outside work. She is a strong, capable women but she also has a soft side and is always happy to listen to her colleagues problems. I absolutely loved Abs and the other Laid in Essex cast members who were so true to life that I actually had Mark Wright in my head when I was picturing Abs! Their antics and opinions in the book often had me laughing out loud and I found myself warming to Abs as the book continued.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read more from this author. The book had a great pace to it and there was always something happening to keep me reading. I often found myself trying to hide away in the kitchen so I could just read one more chapter. I did guess part of the ending but a huge twist towards the end took me completely by surprise which I absolutely loved. The author let’s the reader know what happened afterwards to each of the characters which I thought was a nice touch and helped clear up any loose ends to the story. The very last pages were brilliant and I closed the book with a huge smile on my face.

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

About The Author:

Mark Hill was a journalist and an award-winning music radio producer before becoming a full-time writer. The first novel in the Sasha Dawson series, The Bad Place, was described as ‘everything a police procedural should be’ by The Times, who also named it as their crime book of the month. He lives in London.

Good evening everyone I’m pleased to finally share an extract from Wilson Indeed! as part of the Zooloo blog tour.

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

Book Synopsis:

Wilson Armitage was just five years old when he started speaking French. Unusual, because at primary school Wilson was still on the foothills of the ABCs. An ascent of Mont Blanc should have been unthinkable, given that he’d never had a French lesson in his life.

His astonished parents looked to Foreign Language Syndrome as an explanation – a rare phenomenon resulting from a head injury. Playground rough and tumble perhaps? Unfortunately, that wouldn’t explain the other incidents.

The fact is, no rational explanation could ever account for Wilson’s talents, because Wilson was able to acquire expertise and knowledge during his night life. He was a Number Eleven, one of a small number of remarkable people who learn through their dreams.

When he meets Daisy Meadowcroft in a dream and then arranges to meet her the next day, in Starbucks, in Manchester, in real life, his cover is blown. Enthralled by their shared gift, an ability to bridge the gap between dreams and reality, they strike up a close friendship and encourage each other to seek a rational explanation for their unique talents. 

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

Extract:

Over the course of twelve years, from speaking French at the age of five, Wilson visited The Market Square at least once a week, sometimes for three or four nights in a row.

In the early years, he was drawn to L’École and behind a desk in Class 6a, wearing a blazer with a flaming orange sun embroidered on the pocket, he was introduced to number of languages in which he quickly became adept. It was as though in the course of a dream, Wilson could soak up the steady drip drip of foreign words and then in day light hours, trace the leak back to a full reservoir of vocabulary and grammar. Having dreamed a little, it seemed Wilson knew where to find the lot. In the same way, Wilson mastered a wide variety of other subjects on L ’É cole timetable. By clutching a twig of information during the night, he found it was connected to an entire tree of knowledge when he woke the next day.

Now you’d think living a schizophrenic double life, with all that information crammed inside your head, not to mention the paranoia, self doubt and self identity issues, would drive you crazy.

And why bother going to college when you can learn more at night school?

Well, one reason Wilson was able to maintain an even keel, was because the knowledge acquired during his dreams wasn’t actually stored in his memory; only the links to it. It was as though once Wilson had been given the taster for a particular experience or topic, (the drip drip) the entire subject matter, the reservoir of knowledge was held on file in the equivalent of a data server, a ‘cloud computer’, somewhere beyond the realms of his consciousness. When not logged in to his cloud account, Wilson could concentrate on being himself, with no distractions. But when the need arose, as was the case with the rescue of Sally Bennett, he could tap a key to recall a first aid lesson and thereafter, access an entire Wikipedia of paramedic skills.

The second reason for the level headedness was the fact that although Wilson knew he was abnormal as a teenager, he had no intention of being seen as anything other than completely normal So the self questioning was always put to one side, ignored, avoided, left for on another day, when no doubt the psychiatrist would be called.There’s much to be explained and all will be revealed, but right now, we have to catch up with Wilson, as he is today, almost eighteen and just a few hours away from an unlikely rendezvous and a potentially ‘game changing’ event.

About The Author:

For twenty years Steve Walsh honed his skills in prose as an advertising copywriter; the ‘ideas’ man in a Manchester based marketing agency that carried his name. In the late 1990’s he stumbled into the world of the dotcom entrepreneur and his claim to fame is as the creator of the hotel booking service, laterooms.com and the first car insurance comparison site, easycover.com. So, the birth of Meerkats, a Welsh opera singer and being confused.com might be considered as down to him, for which he apologises. He now uses his vivid imagination and gentle Mancunian wit to write visionary novels with bold concepts. Wilson indeed, the first book in his trilogy The WiFi of Dreams takes the reader on a richly imagined, fact meets fiction adventure story to which we can relate and feel we can touch. A whimsical interrogation of the inexplicable and fundamental tenets of our lives – the role and meaning of dreams, the nature of the hereafter, hard and soft science, a love story – what more can you want? Butterfly Assassins, the second book in the trilogy, will be published in Summer 2021. In a recent survey, 85% of people said yes to the question: “Do you believe there are things out there that science can’t explain?”If you’re one of those 85%, you’ll love The WiFi of Dreams. Born and bred in the north west of England, Steve Walsh has three children and likes to fly fish in his spare time.

Good morning everyone and welcome to another Music Monday. Today I’m featuring Nowhere Left To Run which is the fantastic new song from Theodor Elfving.

Theo is singer/ songwriter and twitch streamer from Sweden. His streams are normally around lunch time for me and I always look forward to relaxing to his streams. He has a wide variety of songs going from singing the mellow Vincent to the more upbeat music from The Bloodhound gang for the next request. He is a very genuine guy and has created a great community so his streams are great fun to watch.

You can follow Theo on social media or watch him on twitch by clicking on the links below.

How To Listen:

Theo’s new song, Nowhere To Run isn’t available on streaming services yet apart from YouTube sadly but he has plenty of other music which you can listen to in the meantime by clicking on the links below. I have included the YouTube videos for Nowhere To Run and his most recent cover below.

Interview:

Tell us a little about yourself?

Hi! I’m Theodor, I am a 34 year old swedish singer/songwriter who took to Twitch last year when all gigs were cancelled. I am now a very happy man who gets to hangout and play for a wonderful community every weekday.

What first got you into music?

I’ve loved music since I was a kid, I picked up a guitar during music class in community college, realized I could use YouTube to learn how to play.

Who inspired you to make music?

I’ve always loved folk, be it swedish or Americana. I love storytellers like Bob Dylan and Townes Van Zandt

How would you describe the music that you typically create?

Trying to tell a story or express a feeling. Its usually a way for me to sort through what’s happening inside.

What is your creative process like?

I wish I had a better process! I’ll sit around and play the guitar and come up with little melody lines or riffs. Or a thought will hit me at 3 in the morning and then I’ll try to flesh that line out to a full song.

Who would you most like to collaborate with?

Oh that is a difficult one! I don’t really know, I am happy collaborating with anyone

If you could go open a show for any artist who would it be?

Just for the chance to meet them, Gregory Alan Isakov or The Tallest Man On Earth (also because I love their music)

What is one message you would give to your fans?

Most important I think is thank you! And be more kind to yourself and to others.

What is the most useless talent you have?

I can make dolphin-esque sounds by sucking in air at the side of my mouth. It drove my middle school teachers mad.

Do you sing in the shower? What songs?

I do sing in the shower! Showtunes I guess, songs from musicals, or whatever is stuck in my head at the moment

What would you be doing right now, if it wasn’t for your music career?

I have no idea. I’ve worked as a substitute teacher off and on and I really enjoyed the classroom setting. It is also a performance, greeting your audience and making them enthustiastic about the topic of the day

Where have you performed?

I’ve mainly worked as an entertainer, playing corporate gigs and bars. For the past few years I’ve done 5 month stints playing on a boat that a friend built. He would pilot the boat and I would entertain the guests. That has been my favorite venue, during the same day I could play for a group of friends celebrating someone’s 65th birthday and the trip after that could be a hen-party.

What are your favourite and least favourite venues?

I love playing weddings, its just a day made to have a lot of fun Worst type of show would be “musical background” during dinner, noone listens or cares what you’re doing.

Do you have any upcoming shows?

As of now I don’t have any upcoming shows, I am super happy about Twitch and working on my original music.

How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business?

I think the Internet has opened up and connect alot of musicians with their audiences. You no longer have to browse a record store to find something new. I also think it has brought us closer to the people who are listening, which I love. Getting to interact with people is one of my favorite things about being a musician

What is your favourite song to perform?

Ugh, that is a tough one! When working a crowd I love silly sing-a-long-songs. I also love playing “serious” songs. Don McLeans song Vincent is a song I’ve performed a lot on Twitch, the lyrics hit me like a ton of bricks everytime.

Which famous musicians do you admire?

Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle. I really love folk

What is the most trouble you’ve ever gotten into?

Although my best efforts to label myself as a badboy, I’ve not gotten into much trouble.

What is the best advice you’ve been given?

A wise person told me “If you are going to charge for something, make sure that its good”

If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?

I would love to see more equality. Both in perfomers and producers.

What’s next for you?

Next for me is seeing about booking some gigs once I have both my shots of vaccine. And keeping up the streaming and interacting with kind and wonderful people on the internet. Hopefully there’s also an EP coming out at the end of this year if I can bring myself around to be satisfied with what I’ve written and record it.

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions Theo!

Music Monday Songlist:

You can now listen to Theo and all other previously featured Music Monday artists by clicking on the link below.

Thanks for reading & happy listening!