#BookReview: Dead Ground by M.W.Craven @MWCravenUK @LittleBrownUK #DeadGround #MWCraven #teampoe #teamtilly #5stars #recommended

Book Synopsis:

Detective Sergeant Washington Poe is in court, fighting eviction from his beloved and isolated croft, when he is summoned to a backstreet brothel in Carlisle where a man has been beaten to death with a baseball bat. Poe is confused – he hunts serial killers and this appears to be a straightforward murder-by-pimp – but his attendance was requested personally, by the kind of people who prefer to remain in the shadows.

As Poe and the socially awkward programmer Tilly Bradshaw delve deeper into the case, they are faced with seemingly unanswerable questions: despite being heavily vetted for a high-profile job, why does nothing in the victim’s background check out? Why was a small ornament left at the murder scene – and why did someone on the investigation team steal it? And what is the connection to a flawlessly executed bank heist three years earlier, a heist where nothing was taken . . .

Dead Ground is available in ebook, hardback and audiobook now. You can purchase your copy using the links below.

My Review:

I’ve been a huge fan of this series from the start, so a new Poe & Tilly book is always cause for great excitement. This book was no exception as I thought it was a hugely enjoyable, intriguing and gripping read.

It was great to be back solving a case with the fantastic Tilly and Poe. I have always loved the special relationship they have and the hilarious banter between them. Some of their conversations actually made me laugh out loud at times which helped break up some of the darker moments in the book. It was nice to see some old characters return and to meet some new ones too. Despite not initially liking Hannah I found myself warming to her and hope that she makes an appearance in a future book.

The murder case was a very interesting one and I really enjoyed following it. As you might expect from this series it was incredibly well plotted with lots of red herrings that kept me guessing who the murderer was until the end. There was also some fascinating descriptions of some of the technology available now which I loved learning about, although my hardware engineer husband wasn’t enthusiastic about all my questions.

This was a bit of slow starter as the author sets the scene but I didn’t mind this as I was enjoying getting to know the case. It soon picks up though and the pace gets faster as the story goes on. I read half the book in one evening as I was so caught up in the story and really wanted to see how it ends. The ending of the book was brilliant and very dramatic with lots of surprises right until the end. There are hints at the end about a new case for Tilly and Poe which I can’t wait to read!

Huge thanks to Little Brown for my copy of this book via netgalley. If you are looking for a new crime series I highly recommend this one!

About The Author:

M. W. Craven was born in Carlisle but grew up in Newcastle, returning after 31 years 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.

His first novel featuring Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw, The Puppet Show, was published by Constable to huge acclaim, and it has since won the CWA Gold Dagger Award and been shortlisted for the Amazon Publishing Readers’ Awards: Best Crime Novel, the Goldsboro Glass Bell Award and the Dead Good Reader Awards.

M. W. Craven 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.

#BlogTour: The House In The Clouds by Victoria Connelly @VictoriaDarcy @rararesources #TheHouseInTheClouds #VictoriaConnelly

Book Synopsis:

Two strangers, one house, and a secret to be revealed.

Artist Abigail Carey has always dreamed of a life in the country and, when Winfield Hall comes up at auction, she’s desperate to make the place her home. The only trouble is that businessman, Edward Townsend, has exactly the same idea.

With its position high on the Sussex Downs, Winfield is a stunning house, but it hasn’t been a home for a long time and there’s a lot of work to do to restore it to its former glory. It’s going to take a lot of time and money, so Edward and Abi decide to take a risk and share the house, each living in their own wing.

But can these two strangers agree on a vision that suits them both? And will free-spirited Abi ever get the rather reserved Edward to reveal the secret he’s been hiding for so long?The House in the Clouds is the first novel in a brand new trilogy from the bestselling author of The Rose Girls and The Book Lovers series.

The House In The Clouds is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy by clicking on the links below.

My Review:

The House In The Clouds is a captivating and intriguing read which is the first in a planned trilogy.

Firstly i always love books set in big, old houses as there is always so much potential for things to happen. I quickly fell in love with Winfield Hall and found myself wishing I lived there or that I could visit it. The beautiful, vivid descriptions of the surrounding countryside made me feel like I was actually there at times and able to see the view with my own eyes.

The chapters switch between Edward and Abi’s perspective which made for very interesting reading. It was great fun getting to know the characters and to learn more about their lives. They initially seem so different to each other but as the book goes on the reader learns that they do actually have things in common which I thought was very clever. Both characters have a few secrets about their past/ families that they are keeping from each other and I enjoyed watching that unfold. I did keep hoping it wouldn’t be anything too dramatic though as I didn’t want anything to stop the characters living at Winfield Hall together.

Overall I thought this was a great first book and I look forward to seeing what happens next time.

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

About The Author:

Victoria Connelly is the bestselling author of The Rose Girls and The Book Lovers series. With over one million sales, her books have been translated into a dozen languages. The first, Flights of Angels, was made into a film in Germany. Victoria flew to Berlin to see it being made and even played a cameo role in it. A Weekend with Mr Darcy, the first in her popular Austen Addicts series about fans of Jane Austen has sold over 100,000 copies. She is also the author of several romantic comedies including The Runaway Actress which was nominated for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Best Romantic Comedy of the Year. Victoria was brought up in Norfolk, England before moving to Yorkshire where she got married in a medieval castle. After 11 years in London, she moved to rural Suffolk where she lives in a 500-year old thatched cottage with her artist husband, a Springer spaniel and her ex-battery hens. She’s written about her experience of country life in three volumes of autobiography: Escape to Mulberry Cottage, A Year at Mulberry Cottage and Summer at Mulberry Cottage. You can get a heart-warming novella, A Dog Called Hope, when you sign up for her newsletter at: victoriaconnelly.com You can find her on Twitter @VictoriaDarcy and at facebook.com/victoriaconnelly

#BlogTour: And Now You’re Back by Jill Mansell @JillMansell @JessFarrugiaPR @headlinepg @RandomTTours #AndNowYoureBack #JillMansell #RandomThingsTours

Book Synopsis:

One magical night in Venice, Didi fell in love. But it ended – and he left without even saying goodbye.

Now, thirteen years on, Shay Mason is back.

The old spark is still there, but Didi’s determined to ignore it. As manager of a stunning Cotswolds hotel, she’s happy at last, and soon to be married. Anyway, Shay isn’t staying. He’s made a promise to his father. He’s going to keep it. And then he’ll be gone.

But Shay’s return stirs up long-forgotten emotions, and the scandal that led him to leave raises its head once again. It’s time for buried secrets to come to light. And it seems that this was someone’s intention all along . . .

From the beloved author of IT STARTED WITH A SECRET comes a fabulous new novel about love, friendship and finding the way to your best life.

And Now You’re Back is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the links below.

My Review:

I always love Jill’s book as they are great to escape from reality for a little while which was much needed over the chaos of half term. This book was no exception and I loved being transported into another person’s life for a few hours.

I was drawn into the book from the start and absolutely loved the opening scene of the couple in snowy Venice. It all sounded so perfect that I wished I was there too experience everything alongside the characters. The book isn’t all fluffy though and this book often felt a bit more serious then previous books which I found very interesting.

The book is told from multiple points of view and I definitely had my favourites amongst the characters. I did wish some of the characters had more story then others but I think that would have made the story completely different. There are lots of different plot lines going alongside each other and I found it very interesting to follow the characters as they try to work through their problems. This author is know for her happy endings but there were times when she kept me on my toes and made me wonder how things would end which I enjoyed.

Overall another funny, feel good read from one of my favourite authors that will be perfect for enjoying on the beach this summer, or in your garden depending on how things go.

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

About The Author:

‘The queen of witty, heart-warming, feel-good love stories’ Red; ‘One of my favourite writers’ Katie Fforde

Jill Mansell started writing fiction while working in the NHS, after she read a magazine article that inspired her to join a local creative writing class. She has since written over twenty Sunday Times bestsellers, including It Started With A Secret,Maybe This Time,This Could Change Everything,The One You Really Want and You And Me, Always, and her books have sold over 13 million copies around the world.

Jill’s hobbies include buying stationery, particularly magical new colours of ink for the fountain pen she uses to write all her books. She lives in Bristol with her family.

Jill keeps in touch with her readers on Twitter – @JillMansell – and Facebook – /OfficialJillMansell.

#BlogTour: This Is How We Are Human by Louise Beech @LouiseWriter @OrendaBooks @RandomTTours #ThisIsHowWeAreHuman #LouiseBeech #TeamOrenda #RandomThingsTours #5stars #recommended

Book Synopsis:

Sebastian James Murphy is twenty years, six months and two days old. He loves swimming, fried eggs and Billy Ocean. Sebastian is autistic. And lonely.Veronica wants her son Sebastian to be happy … she wants the world to accept him for who he is. She is also thinking about paying a professional to give him what he desperately wants.Violetta is a high-class escort, who steps out into the night thinking only of money. Of her nursing degree. Paying for her dad’s care. Getting through the dark.When these three lives collide – intertwine in unexpected ways – everything changes. For everyone.A topical and moving drama about a mother’s love for her son, about getting it wrong when we think we know what’s best, about the lengths we go to care for family … to survive … This Is How We Are Human is a searching, rich and thought-provoking novel with an emotional core that will warm and break your heart.

This Is How We Are Human us available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the links below.

My Review:

Wow what an amazing read. I’m such a huge fan of this author and a new book from her is always very exciting. Once again she has written a thought provoking, moving book which I will be recommending to everyone.

The thing I most like about this author is the amazing way she has in creating characters and a situation that just draws the readers in so they feel like they are actually there watching everything unfold. I quickly fell in love with the three main characters and found myself caring about them like I would friends in real life.

Each chapter is told from the point of view of different characters and it was interesting to follow them through the book. The author gives the reader lots of time to really get to know the characters so I felt like I had really got inside their head and knew what made them tick. I found myself wondering what I would have done in the same situation and admiring Veronica for making what I felt were some very brave decisions.

As someone who has worked with people with autism and actually know a mum who made a similar decision to Veronica I was interested to see how the author described the situation. As expected it’s very sensitively done and I felt very realistic. My understanding is the author actually worked with a family to research this book and I thought the characters were beautifully portrayed. I so enjoyed getting to know them through the book and following them on their journey. I felt very sad to finish the book and leave them behind.

I think this would make a great book club read as I feel there would be lots to discuss and it might help educate people about autism. I will be recommending it to everyone and have already lent my copy to my mum.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour. I purchased my own copy of this book.

About The Author:

Louise Beech is an exceptional literary talent, whose debut novel How To Be Brave was a Guardian Readers’ Choice for 2015. The follow-up, The Mountain in My Shoe was shortlisted for Not the Booker Prize. Both of her previous books Maria in the Moon and The Lion Tamer Who Lost were widely reviewed, critically acclaimed and number-one bestsellers on Kindle. The Lion Tamer Who Lost was shortlisted for the RNA Most Popular Romantic Novel Award in 2019. Her short fiction has won the Glass Woman Prize, the Eric Hoffer Award for Prose, and the Aesthetica Creative Works competition, as well as shortlisting for the Bridport Prize twice. Louise lives with her husband on the outskirts of Hull, and loves her job as a Front of House Usher at Hull Truck Theatre, where her first play was performed in 2012. Follow Louise on Twitter @LouiseWriter and visit her website: louisebeech.co.uk

#BlogTour: The Cookbook of Common Prayer by Francesca Haig @FrancescaHaig @AllenAndUnwinUK @RandomTTours #TheCookBookOfCommonPrayer #FrancescaHaig #RandomThingsTours

Book Synopsis:

When Gill and Gabe’s elder son drowns overseas, they decide they must hide the truth from their desperately unwell teenaged daughter. But as Gill begins to send letters from her dead son to his sister, the increasingly elaborate lie threatens to prove more dangerous than the truth.

A novel about family, food, grief, and hope, this gripping, lyrical story moves between Tasmania and London, exploring the many ways that a family can break down – and the unexpected ways that it can be put back together.

The Cookbook of Common Prayer is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the links below.

My Review:

The Cookbook of Common Prayer is an emotional, absorbing read that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about.

Firstly I’ve got to admit this book wasn’t at all what I thought it would be – in a good way. Yes it was very emotional as I had expected but it was also quite hopeful and uplifting in places which I really liked. I felt this was predominantly a story about love and family which was lovely to read about.

The story was told from the point of view of several different characters which allows the reader to get an holistic view about what was happening within the family. It was interesting to get to know them all personally and to see the different ways they were dealing with their grief. I started to feel I knew them all personally and wished I was able to help them somehow. My favourite character was definitely Teddy who I quickly fell in love with. His devotion to his papa as well as his determination to try and help in some way despite grieving himself was very poignant to read about.

I really enjoyed this book and found it quite hard to put down. I often found myself trying to sneak away from the kids to try and read a few more pages. I loved spending time with the family and going on a journey with them. The recipes were a great edition to the book too and it was lovely to see how cooking helped Gill. I felt quite sad when the book ended and I had to say goodbye to the family.

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

About The Author:

Francesca Haig is an author and academic. Her previous novels are The Fire SermonThe Map of Bones; and The Forever Ship. Her poetry has been widely published in journals and anthologies, and in her 2006 collection, Bodies of Water. She grew up in Tasmania, and gained her PhD from the University of Melbourne. She lives in London.

#MusicMonday: First Light by Samuel Alexander @AlusamMusic #FirstLight #SamuelAlexander #NewSingle #ClassicalMusic #TwitchStreamer #recommended

Good morning everyone and welcome to another Music Monday. Today I’m featuring the lovely Samuel Alexander and his beautiful new song First Light. As well as this I was also lucky enough to get Sam to answer some questions about his music!

First Light is a truly beautiful, relaxing piece of music that gives me chills every time I listen to it. The wonderful piano playing and bird song combine to make a relaxing piece of music that was much needed during half term. Sam’s music is starting to get some notice and he was recently featured on the radio in Australia which is amazing.

If you would like to follow Sam on social media you can do so by clicking on one of the links below.

First Light:

Sam’s music are mainly classical piano pieces though he is working on his first guitar track. He has had no process training and likes to just work things out by ear. Below is his new song First Light as well as his recent radio interview.

You can listen to more of Sam’s music by clicking on of the links below.

Interview:

What first got you into music?

I’ve always enjoyed the way that music can transport you to another place, another world. I wanted to be able to do that, so started learning piano from my grandmother in my early years. I learnt for a while but didn’t keep at it as I grew older, stopping before secondary school.

Who inspired you to make music?

I never anticipated to be creating music myself. I would mess around with ideas, but didn’t think much of them until my mid 20s when I really needed music as a creative outlet for the personal things I was walking through.

How would you describe the music that you typically create?

My music can be quite relaxing, transporting the listener to another place, however it can also be very cathartic. Much of my music was written while processing my own pain, and I try to show how hope can still exist through those parts of my music.

What is your creative process like?

Most of my music has been written by me connecting with my current emotion through the notes that are played. I will sit at the piano and close my eyes or look away. I play a single note at a time until I find that it resonates with my current state. Once that has been found, there is always a second note that accompanies it. After finding those two core notes, I find that building a piece around them starts to flow naturally.
I have also made a few pieces by specifically setting myself a challenge. It may be to try a new bass pattern, or create music out of a prompt or series of numbers. These challenges can be some of my favourite pieces as I remember where they all started.

Who would you most like to collaborate with?

Ludovico Einaudi. He is an incredible composer with a very similar style. I feel like he could make string arrangements that would more than accompany my pieces, they would enhance them immensely!

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

Again, Ludovico Einaudi. Mostly because once I’m finished with my set, I can sit back and enjoy his performance! Haha

What is one message you would give to your fans?

It’s never too late to learn or create, and play what you connect with. Music is so powerful and has the ability to heal. Don’t let anyone elses ability or opinion make you feel like your personal connection is meaningless or worthless. Especially yourself. Don’t play music to be good at music; play for yourself.

What is the most useless talent you have?

Oh, gee, I have too many things I can do that are useless! Haha

Do you sing in the shower? What songs?

Until a month ago I would have said no, however I may or may not have been caught belting ‘Royal, Brave and True’ recently. I though I was home alone!
I will never not sing Disney songs loud and proud.

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

Well, music isn’t really a career for me at the moment. It is a hobby that I would love to pursue further, but in the meantime I have spent the past 10 years working on camps for kids, teaching them outdoor recreation.

Where have you performed? What are your favourite and least favourite venues?

I have never performed in a public venue, however I do livestream my music from my living room to Twitch, so I guess my living room.

Do you have any upcoming shows?

No official shows, however I may be playing live during a break at an upcoming video game event in Melbourne.

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

In many ways, but I think exposure is the biggest way. People can be discovered quickly and grow a fanbase extremely fast through the internet, however this has also flooded the music industry. Recent developments with livestreaming platforms have definitely been a positive though.

What is your favourite song to perform?

On piano, probably ‘Resolve to Resolve’ by Samuel Alexander (me).
For guitar and singing, I’d say ‘Oceans Between Us’ by The Getaway Plan.

Which famous musicians do you admire?

Ludovico Einaudi, Hans Zimmer and many other composers.

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

I was suspended from school after passing notes during class. I won’t disclose what was written/drawn on said notes.

What is the best advice you have been given?

‘Whether you believe you can, or you can’t – you’re right.’ – Henry Ford
Now, Henry didn’t tell me this himself, but it speaks bounds about how much what we say and believe impacts the outcome. I’m still working on believing I can.

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

I would make it easier to navigate which organisations will bring in real exposure to you music and which won’t. Since releasing music a year ago, I have seen hundreds of advertisements telling me how to promote my music, however many of these organisations don’t bring real views or exposure, they just bring in numbers through the use of not accounts and other dodgy tactics.

What’s next for you?

Continue aspiring to grow through my online streams on Twitch whilst producing more music for my community to listen to.
Hopefully one day I will create the right connections to see my music become more than a hobby.

Thanks so much for answering my questions Sam, good luck with First Light!

Music Monday:

You can now listen to First Light and all previously featured Music Monday artists on a special playlist on Spotify.

#BlogTour: Thread Needle by Cari Thomas @Cari_Threads @HarperVoyagerUK @RandomTTours #ThreadNeedle #CariThomas #RandomThingsTours

Book Synopsis:

Within the boroughs of London, nestled among its streets, hides another city, filled with magic.

‘Magic and love. Love and magic. They destroy everything in the end …’

Anna’s Aunt has always warned her of the dangers of magic. Its twists. Its knots. Its deadly consequences.

Now Anna counts down the days to the ceremony that will bind her magic forever.

Until she meets Effie and Attis.

They open her eyes to a London she never knew existed. A shop that sells memories. A secret library where the librarian feeds off words. A club where revellers lose themselves in a haze of spells.

But as she is swept deeper into this world, Anna begins to wonder if her Aunt was right all along.

Is her magic a gift … or a curse?

Perfect for fans of Garth Nix, V.E. Schwab and Alix E. Harrow.

Thread Needle is out in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the links below.

My Review:

Thread Needle is a magical, gripping coming of age story which is the first book in the series.

Firstly I tend to love any books that have magic in them so I knew from the start that I would like this book. The author has done a great job of creating a fascinating magical world that lives, just out of sight, alongside modern day London. The world of magic and the binders was interesting to learn more about, particularly as a lot if the rituals are ones used in traditional witchcraft which I thought was a nice touch.

The author has created some amazing characters who I liked to follow through the book though I did love to hate a few of them especially Vivienne. There seemed to be a definite division between the characters as to whether they were good or bad which I found intriguing. Anna was a great main character who I felt it was easy to get behind. I really felt for her and the horrible way Vivienne treats her so found myself cheering for her when she starts to rebel and find herself.

I found this book very intriguing and quickly became absorbed into the story. There are multiple mysteries running alongside each other which I found very interesting and enjoyed watching them unravel. As you can probably guess with this being the first book in the series there are a few questions left unanswered and I now can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

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

About The Author:

Cari Thomas grew up in the Wye Valley area of Wales and, after studying English Literature & Creative Writing at Warwick University and Magazine Journalism at the Cardiff School of Journalism, moved to London. She worked as a journalist and at a creative agency, before finally doing what she’d always wanted to do: quit her job and write a book about magic. The result is Threadneedle, her debut novel and the first in her Language of Magic series. Be introduced to a world of wild, ancient witchcraft hidden within today’s London; where libraries made of books breathe dusty pages beneath the city, where witch clubs serve up magical cocktails and vintage shops sell memories. A world where magic gleams light and very, very dark. Cari now lives in Bristol with her husband and son. Discover more on her website: CariThomas.com

#BlogTour #Extract: Her Sister’s Baby by Emma Bennet @romanceemma @SpellBoundBks @zooloo2008 #HerSistersBaby #EmmaBennet #ZoolooBooktours

Book Synopsis:

A beautiful and emotional story about grief, the promises we make and finding love in the most unexpected of places.

Woken in the middle of the night by the horrific news that her estranged sister has been killed in a fatal car crash, Sophie abruptly finds herself guardian to a niece, Alana, she never knew existed. The baby gives Sophie a way to cope with her grief, and a new focus to her life, but the unexpected appearance of Samson, Alana’s father, wanting his daughter to now live with him, threatens to destroy Sophie’s newly formed family. Can Sophie and the seemingly feckless Samson, reach a compromise, or will Sophie be forced to give up her sister’s baby?A beautiful page turner perfect for fans of Diane Chamberlian , Amanda Prowse and Imogen Clark.

Her Sister’s Baby is available in ebook now for the bargain price of £1.99. You can get you copy by clicking on the link below.

Extract:

Chapter 2

    Sophie took a deep inhalation; it was hard to concentrate with a baby screaming in her ear. She spotted a high chair in the corner of the kitchen and managed to strap an extremely indisposed Alana into it so she could at least use both hands and not worry about spilling hot water on her niece.

    She almost had the bottle prepared, when Sophie somehow heard the doorbell ring over the sound of the crying. She went to answer it, only remembering as she reached the kitchen door that she couldn’t simply leave the baby alone – goodness knows what could happen! Getting frazzled, she lifted her niece out of the highchair, which bizarrely seemed to make Alana even crosser than she’d been when she was originally put in it.

    The doorbell continued ringing, becoming more insistent, forcing Sophie’s blood pressure to soar even higher. The sheer number of locks and chains on the front door reminded Sophie her sister’s neighbourhood was perhaps not as salubrious as her own. There was no peephole, so she opened the door gingerly, ready to slam it shut quickly if necessary.

    What faced her could have been the god Thor, or perhaps someone from the cast of an Australian soap opera. One who worked out. A lot. At least 6’2’’, lean, very tanned and muscular, with shoulder-length, wavy blond hair. He wore a faded t-shirt and board shorts despite the fact the day hadn’t heated up yet. He, rather incongruously, held a pink teddy bear in his hands. Sophie met his eyes, which were the intense blue of the sea on a cloudless summer’s day. Her examination was brought to an abrupt halt by his wince as the full force of the baby’s crying hit him.

    “Is that Alana?” he asked, not taking his eyes off the baby, which Sophie was quite glad about as she was sure she looked an absolute state.

    “Who are you?” she asked, politely, forcing herself back to the reality of a stranger standing on the doorstep enquiring after her niece, but, bizarrely, not recognising the baby.

    “Is Natasha in?” he responded.

    “Are you a friend of hers?” Sophie questioned. Was it her imagination, or was this guy being deliberately elusive? And why did he seem so fascinated with the screaming child in her arms? – his attention still hadn’t left her.

    “You could say that,” he answered after a pause. “I’m Samson. Alana’s father.”

About The Author:

Emma grew up and lived in London, before falling in love and moving to Wales to marry her own hero. Emma now lives with her husband, 4 children, and many animals a few miles outside of a small Welsh market town. She can often be found in rivers attempting to control two overexcited chocolate labradors. Seven charming romances are currently available from the Amazon bestselling authoress: Number 1 Australian kindle bestseller, ‘His Secret Daughter’, is the heart-rending story of Iris, a woman falling in love with the father of her child. The only problem is she never told him they had a daughter. The beautiful landscape around her home gave Emma the inspiration for ‘The Green Hills of Home’, a tale of love and duty in which country girl Gwen struggles to save her family home and avoid her feelings for her handsome, suave new boss. Is he quite all he seems? ‘Snowed in for her Wedding Day’ is a novella picking up Gwen’s story as her wedding day approaches, but with terrible weather, and an absent groom, will she have the happy ending she so deserves? ‘Just Desserts’ is a novella about confused chef Leah, who’s falling for her handsome French co-worker Jean-Claude, but meant to be marrying to Dan in just a few weeks! Who will she choose? ‘Her Perfect Hero’ was released in July 2015 as ‘I Need a Hero’, it’s a lovely comic romantic read for anyone who’s ever searched for Mr Right (and failed to find him!). Despair of Bronte, a romance writer, incapable of spotting when the perfect man is right next door! Full of horses, country houses and dentists, just beware of the foul-tempered cat Mr Darcy! ‘Starstruck’, proves that falling in love with a rock star is harder than you’d think! When newly divorced Kate finds school friend, now super famous rock star Joseph Wild, on her doorstep, her whole quiet, ordinary life is thrown into disarray. Is the attraction between them enough to make up for all the hurdles they have to cross if they want to be together? Latest release, ‘Her Sister’s Baby’ is a beautiful and emotional story about grief, the promises we make and finding love in the most unexpected of places. Emma likes (in no particular order): cake, books, Cary Grant films, prosecco, chocolate, guinea pigs, knitting, quilting and happily ever afters!

#BlogTour: Everything Happens For A Reason by Katie Allen @KtAllenWriting @OrendaBooks @RandomTTours #EverythingHappensForAReason #KatieAllen #RandomThingsTours #TeamOrenda

Book Synopsis:

Mum-to-be Rachel did everything right, but it all went wrong. Her son, Luke, was stillborn and she finds herself on maternity leave without a baby, trying to make sense of her loss.

When a misguided well-wisher tells her that “everything happens for a reason”, she becomes obsessed with finding that reason, driven by grief and convinced that she is somehow to blame. She remembers that on the day she discovered her pregnancy, she’d stopped a man from jumping in front of a train, and she’s now certain that saving his life cost her the life of her son.

Desperate to find him, she enlists an unlikely ally in Lola, an Underground worker, and Lola’s seven-year-old daughter, Josephine, and eventually tracks him down, with completely unexpected results…

Both a heart-wrenchingly poignant portrait of grief and a gloriously uplifting and disarmingly funny story of a young woman’s determination, Everything Happens for a Reason is a bittersweet, life- affirming read and, quite simply, unforgettable.

Everything Happens For A Reason is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the links below.

My Review:

Everything Happens For A Reason is an incredibly moving, poignant but uplifting story told with wit and honesty.

Firstly this was a difficult book for me to read in places as sadly I also lost a baby six years ago so have experienced a lot of what was mentioned in the book. There really is no pain like losing a child and you never really recover from it. I remember all to well people saying everything happens for a reason which with hindsight I understand they didn’t know what to say but at the time had me wanting to scream at them. I really felt for Rachel and everything she was feeling. In a strange way it also helped me as it was quite therapeutic to work through things alongside Rachel and to realise I wasn’t alone in feeling how I had.

This story is told through a series of emails that Rachel has written to her son which gives the reader access to everything that she is feeling. The author has cleverly managed to make the emails feel different from each other which I think helps describe Rachel’s state of mind. As you can imagine this makes for truly heartbreaking reading at times.

Although Rachel is the main character there are quite a few characters in the story, mainly members of Rachel’s family, who were interesting to learn about. They all have very different opinions on how Rachel should be dealing with her loss. My heart flipped as I read of people who thought she should just get on with it as again I remember similar attitudes from older members of my family in particular. I found myself getting very angry on her behalf and wish I could have somehow reached into the book to support her.

Emily’s journey to find the man she saved was both poignant and fascinating to follow. I found myself hoping that it would somehow help her but also knowing that it wouldn’t help completely heal her pain. I think this would be a great book for a book club read as there would be lots to discuss but I also feel it would be a good book for people to read to understand grief and to start to understand how to help the person grieving.

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

About The Author:

Everything Happens for a Reason is Katie Allen’s first novel. She used to be a reporter and columnist at the Guardian and Observer, and started her career as a Reuters correspondent in Berlin and London. The events in Everything Happens for a Reason are fiction, but the premise is loosely autobiographical. Katie’s son, Finn, was stillborn in 2010, and her grief and the experience of being on maternity leave without a baby inspired her main character. And yes, someone did say to her “Everything happens for a reason”. It didn’t propel her to borrow a sausage dog, but it was probably the kernel of this novel. Katie grew up in Warwickshire and now lives in South London with her husband, children, dog, cat and stick insects. When she’s not writing or walking children and dogs, she loves baking, watching comedies, reading news and wishing she had written other people’s brilliant novels. She also loves quiz shows and forcing friends to do quizzes and she wastes hours meandering on the web – but she put that to some use by appearing on the TV show Pointless with her brother Nick. If you like ginger cats and/or vain dogs you can follow Katie’s pets on Instagram (monkey_and_miko).

#BookReview: Mystic Bunny Boy Walks The Rainbow by Jodie & Bobby Webber @MysticBunnyBoy1 #MysticBunnyBoy #childrensbook #meditation #5stars #recommended

Book Synopsis:

Whether you are looking to gently introduce your child to simple meditations, or looking for a soothing bedtime book, let Mystic Bunny Boy help you! Mystic Bunny Boy is a child of the universe, made of stardust, moonbeams and eternal love. His goal is to enlighten and sooth children in need – giving them tools to overcome fears, challenges and anxieties. ‘Walk The Rainbow’ is the first Mystic Bunny Boy book. With eye-catching illustrations and a simple yet effective meditative story to take yourself and your child on a slow and gentle journey through the colours towards a peaceful night’s sleep!

Mystic Bunny Boy is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the links below.

My Review:

As a mum of three children I’m always looking for opportunities to get more sleep. My kids have never been great sleepers, often having problems falling asleep and then waking up very early in the morning. So when Jodie approached me about reviewing this book I must admit I jumped at the chance to try something new.

Firstly this book is beautifully illustrated with striking, colourful drawings on a white background which is really affective. The colour of the illustrations follow the colours of the rainbow so there is a page of red illustrations, then orange, then yellow and so on. My daughter loves the drawings and spent ages looking through the book and telling her own Mystic Bunny Boy story. I’m really hoping that there might be some wall art or posters available in the future.

The story is told in a gentle rhyme with parts of the story being repeated on each page which my daughter loves and often joined in with. The wonderful illustrations are accompanied by some really vivid descriptions which I really loved and it was easy to see how they might gently lull a child into sleep. My son, particularly liked this as he always has problems finding ‘nice things to think about’ before he sleeps.

I have three children aged 3, 5 and 8. I read the story to all of them and found it interesting to see the different ways the book affected them. My three year old really enjoyed the book and while he couldn’t perhaps understand some of the techniques mentioned, obviously liked the gentle rhythms of the book as I don’t think I’ve ever had him sit so still for a story. My five year old initially found it hilarious and couldn’t stop giggling but after a few reads settled down too and fell asleep quickly after. It was my eldest though that seemed to get the most out of the book. As he was older he was perhaps more able to follow the meditation techniques mentioned as loved the imagery the book helped him create in his mind. Like in the book he was often asleep before I finished.

Overall I really liked this book and would happily recommend it to other sleep deprived parents and children. In my experience it seems to be suitable for all ages as even though my kids all reacted differently it helped all of them calm down before bed.

Huge thanks to Jodie for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

The Accidental Author I’m just an ordinary North London girl, who grew up in a loving family and had a normal life. I’ve had various jobs, and am now happily married and mummy to one beautiful and amazing daughter. So, how did I end up an author? One day, when she was about 2 years old, my daughter started shouting at me ‘Mystic Bunny Boy!’ in a kinda crazy voice! I had no idea what she was on about, and neither did her nursery when I asked them! It wasn’t something she was reading or seeing on TV… What was this all about? It went on for months (and actually was often accompanied with a smack in the face!), and then suddenly the penny dropped! I realised my daughter was ‘gifting’ me a character for a book! And funnily enough, as soon as I decided to write a book she stopped doing it! Since it was her idea, it made sense I wrote a book for her to enjoy… We often ‘walk the rainbow’ together before bedtime, so the basis of the story I tell her combined with her character resulted in Mystic Bunny Boy’s first book – And that’s how I became an ‘accidental author’!