Book Synopsis:

Molly Hooper has a secret. It haunts her dreams and casts a dark shadow over life with her gorgeous three-year-old daughter, Eva. Arriving in Sunnybrook has given her a glimpse of sunshine. The Little Duck Pond Cafe crew seem so welcoming and there’s even the chance of a new job. Baking delicious cakes has always taken Molly to a happy place, so the job – at the glorious Brambleberry Manor Cafe – might just be perfect for her. It would mean she and little Eva could finally put down some roots at last. But is Sunnybrook the sanctuary Molly is searching for? Or will the past come back to haunt her, wherever she hides?

Lemon Drizzle Mondays At The Duck Pond Cafe is available in ebook now for the fantastic price of 99p. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

This was another wonderful, fun and engaging addition to the brilliant Little Duck Pond series which offered some much needed escapism in these weird times.

It was great to be back with the lovely people from the little duck pond and learn more about Molly and her daughter. I’ve always loved how the author manages to make the group seem so accessable and like a group of friends that you actually know in real life. The fantastic sense of community was so nice to see as the residents all try to come up with some interesting ideas on how to get more people into the cafe.

The author manages to include some real life problems into the story like dementia and abuse in a clever way so that they can gain awareness of it but without completing changing the tone of the book. The overall message in this book was how important being kind is and how a little kindness can go a long way which is something we all need to remember.

Overall I loved this fabulous book a d can’t wait for a chance to visit The Little Duck Pond again. If you are looking for a fun, escapist read then I really recommend this series.

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:

Rosie has been scribbling stories ever since she was little. Back then, they were rip-roaring adventure tales with a young heroine in perilous danger of falling off a cliff or being tied up by ‘the baddies’. Thankfully, Rosie has moved on somewhat, and now much prefers to write romantic comedies that melt your heart and make you smile, with really not much perilous danger involved at all – unless you count the heroine losing her heart in love. Rosie’s Little Duck Pond Cafe series of novellas is centred around life in a village cafe. Each book can be read as a stand-alone story. The latest, ‘A Winter Wedding at the Little Duck Pond Cafe’, is out now. Watch out for further tales of the Little Duck Pond Cafe: ‘Lemon Drizzle Mondays’, which will be published in February 2020, followed by the tenth novella in the series, ‘A Cornish Summer Holiday’ in April 2020. Rosie has also written a full-length, stand-alone book, ‘Snowflakes over Moondance Cottage’, and she’s currently working on a second.

Book Synopsis:

Britain is a land riven by anarchy, slaughter, famine, filth and darkness. Its armies are destroyed, its heroes dead, or missing. Arthur and Lancelot fell in the last great battle and Merlin has not been seen these past ten years. Now, the Saxons are gathering again, their warbands stalk the land, their king seeks dominion. As for the lords and kings of Britain, they look only to their own survival and will not unite as they once did under Arthur and his legendary sword Excalibur.

But in an isolated monastery in the marshes of Avalon, a novice of the order is preparing to take his vows when the life he has known is suddenly turned upside down in a welter of blood. Two strangers – the wild-spirited, Saxon-killing Iselle and the ageing warrior Gawain – will pluck the young man from the wreckage of his simple existence. Together, they will seek the last druid and the cauldron of a god. And the young man must come to terms with his legacy and fate as the son of the most celebrated yet most infamous of Arthur’s warriors: Lancelot.

For this is the story of Galahad, Lancelot’s son – the reluctant warrior who dared to keep the dream of Camelot alive . . .

Camelot is published in ebook and hardback on the 14th May 2020. You can pre-order your copy using the link below.

My Review:

Camelot is the fantastic sequel to Lancelot which is one of my favourite books ever. Once again the author has written a beautiful, clever book which makes history come to life so that you feel you are living everything alongside the characters. This is a story that has a bit of everything in it, adventure, magic, epic brutal battles and love which combined helps to make this an incredibly absorbing read. There are also some very emotional, heartbreaking moments which were just gut wrenching to read. I thought it was very clever how the author manages to write the different parts so well and move seamlessly between them.

I must admit to not knowing much about this period of history so found it fascinating to learn more about it. It was definitely an unpredictable, cut throat time where everyone just seemed to be interested in their own agendas rather than looking at what’s best overall. For me it was especially interesting to see how much things had changed in the ten years since Lancelot and not necessarily for the better.

This is the second book in the series and it is probably best to read Lancelot first as this story revisits a lot of the same characters and places. I found it very interesting to see how everyone had changed and to catch up with everyone again. I’m hoping that the ending means there will be a sequel to this book as I’d love to read more!

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

About The Author:

Family history (he is half Norwegian) and a passion for the fiction of Bernard Cornwell inspired GILES KRISTIAN to write. Set in the Viking world, his bestselling ‘Raven’ and ‘The Rise of Sigurd’ trilogies have been acclaimed by his peers, reviewers and readers alike. In The Bleeding Land and Brothers’ Fury, he tells the story of a family torn apart by the English Civil War. He also co-wrote Wilbur Smith’s No.1 bestseller, Golden Lion. In his most recent novel, the Sunday Times bestseller Lancelot, Giles plunged into the rich waters of the Arthurian legend. For his next book, he continues his epic reimagining of our greatest island ‘history’.
Giles Kristian lives in Leicestershire.

Book Synopsis:

Under a Wartime Sky is an enthralling historical novel by Liz Trenow, based on real-life events at a top-secret wartime research station. Telling the story of the heroes behind the discovery of radar, it’s perfect for readers of Kate Furnivall and Rachel Hore.

Bawdsey Manor holds a secret.

1936: the threat of war hangs over Europe. Churchill gathers the brightest minds in Britain at a grand house in Suffolk. Bound to complete secrecy, they work together on an invention that could mean victory for the Allies. Among them is Vic, a gifted but shy physicist who, for the first time, feels like he belongs.

Local girl Kathleen wants to do more than serving tea and biscuits to ‘do her bit’. So when the Bawdsey team begin to recruit women to operate their top secret system, she dedicates herself to this life-or-death work. Kath and Vic form an unlikely friendship as the skies over Britain fill with German bombers. Little does Kath know just whose life she will change forever, one fateful night . . .

Based on the real history of Bawdsey Manor, Under a Wartime Sky is a novel about courage, belonging and hope.

Under A Wartime Sky is available in all formats now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

As frequent readers of my blog know I’m a huge fan of historical fiction especially set in the Second World War, so I was very excited to read Under A Wartime Sky. Once again the author has written a very interesting and absorbing dual timeline novel about a side of the war I didn’t know much about.

Firstly whilst I had obviously heard of Bawdsey Manor I didn’t know much about the work they did so found it utterly fascinating to learn more about it. My husband who is actually an engineer for an aerospace company got thoroughly fed up with all the questions I kept asking him about what was discussed in the book but I was incredibly intrigued by it and wanted to learn as much as possible. Any kind of new developments during the war had great benefits to the war effort and I enjoyed finding out how they were all developed.

The relationship that develops between Kath and Vic is really sweet to follow. The two of them seem unlikely friends to start with but I enjoyed watching them grow closer and help each other when they most seemed to need it. I kept hoping that their relationship would develop further and wanted to keep reading to find out if it did.

This isn’t perhaps the most fast paced book but it is still very absorbing and I found I really enjoyed the story. The two stories came together really well and I liked the gradual unraveling of the mystery of what had happened which was really clever. I did enjoy the wartime story more than the more recent one but it was good to have a glimpse at all that had happened in the years after the war.

Huge thanks to Ellis from Pan Macmillan for my copy of this book. If you’re a fan of historical fiction then you’ll definitely enjoy this book.

About The Author:

Liz Trenow is the author of several historical novels, including The Last Telegram, The Forgotten Seamstress, and The Poppy Factory. Liz’s family have been silk weavers for nearly three hundred years, and she grew up in the house next to the mill in Suffolk, England, which still operates today, weaving for top-end fashion houses and royal commissions. This unique history inspired her first two novels and her fourth novel, The Silk Weaver.

Liz is a former journalist who spent fifteen years on regional and national newspapers, and on BBC radio and television news, before turning her hand to fiction. She lives in East Anglia, UK, with her artist husband, and they have two grown-up daughters.

Book Synopsis:

No-one knows you better than your family.

They know the little things that make you smile. Your proudest achievements. Your darkest secrets.

Sure, you haven’t always been best friends.

But if it seemed as though someone was after you, that you might be in danger, then you’d be on each other’s side.

Right?

So gripping you won’t stop reading.

So twisty that you won’t know who to trust.

And so dark that you’ll realise something truly chilling:

No-one is more dangerous than the ones who know you best.

He Started It us available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

He Started It is a very entertaining, twisty thriller which wasn’t at all what I was expecting. The title made me laugh as I thought it perfectly captured what the book was about as who hasn’t said something similar when having arguments with their siblings.

The story starts off innocently enough with three siblings and their partners trying to recreate a road trip they took with their grandfather years earlier but as you can imagine things don’t go according to plan. All of the characters in this book were pretty unlikeable with all of them having the ability to do and say some mean things. This made it quite difficult to decide who was the good sibling out of all of them. Just when I thought I had it figured out one of them would do something horrible which meant I had to change my mind again.

The roadtrip itself has to be one of the most bizarre I’ve ever read about as not only are there car chases and guns involved but the siblings visit some very strange attractions on the way, all of which are real places. There actually is a barbed wire museum and a codger pole that people can visit which I couldn’t believe. It’s well worth looking up on the internet as the pictures are very interesting to say the least.

I thought this book was very well written as the author manages to perfectly describe the difficulties of a sibling relationship in her writting. There are moments where they get on but also moments of tension when they argue or fall out. I thought it was very interesting to see how all the relationships change as the journey progresses.

The ending was a very interesting, unreal one which took me completely by surprise as I would never have imagined the book to end that way. It’s definitely an ending I’ll remember!

Huge thanks to Sriya from Michael St Joseph for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

About The Author:

Samantha Downing is the author of the Edgar Award-nominated novel My Lovely Wife. Amazon Studios and Nicole Kidman’s Blossom Films have partnered to produce a feature film based on the novel. Her next book is called He Started It and will be released in 2020. She currently lives in New Orleans, where she is furiously typing away on her next novel.

Book Synopsis:

You’ve got to be in the club to know the truth.

Everyone’s heard the rumours about elite gentlemen’s clubs, where the champagne flows freely, the parties are the height of decadence . . . and the secrets are darker than you could possibly imagine.

DS Maeve Kerrigan finds herself in an unfamiliar world of wealth, luxury and ruthless behaviour when she investigates the murder of a young journalist, Paige Hargreaves. Paige was working on a story about the Chiron Club, a private society for the richest and most privileged men in London. Then she disappeared. 

It’s clear to Maeve that the members have many secrets. But Maeve is hiding secrets of her own – even from her partner DI Josh Derwent. Will she uncover the truth about Paige’s death? Or will time run out for Maeve first?

The Cutting Place is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

Book Review:

I’m a huge fan of this author and couldn’t wait to read this as I knew it would be a great read. It was really nice to be back with Maeve and Derwent again as I followed them on their latest case. The banter between the two of them is always very funny which helps bring some humourous moments to an otherwise dark story. I keep hoping that the two of them will get together and always feel slightly disappointed that they don’t, despite obviously being great for each other. Liv actually hinted about a relationship between them in this book though so I’m very hopeful they’ll get together soon. It was nice to see a gentler more vulnerable side of Maeve too as it made me like her even more.

The setting of The Chiron Club is frightening realistic and one I could sadly see existing somewhere. Some of the dubious behaviour in the club definitely made me cringe as we know from Harvey Weinstein that some women do put themselves in vulnerable situations without thinking. I wished I could go into the club and sort the members out myself as their actions made my blood boil at times.

Overall I thought this was a fast paced, intense and engrossing read which I found difficult to put down. I often found myself trying to sneak away from the kids to read a few more pages as I wanted to see what would happen next. There are a few graphic descriptions in the book, particularly towards the end which might not be to everyone’s taste but in a book titled The Cutting Place you kind of expect some gore!

My only slight quibble with this book was that I guess who the murderer was early on. I had an inkling as to who it might be and I was right. That said it didn’t really stop me enjoying the book and I enjoyed following Maeve as she went on her investigation as it’s always great to spend time with her.

Huge thanks to Harper Collins for my copy of this book via Netgalley. If you’re a fan of dark crime fiction then you’ll definitely love this series.

About The Author:

Jane Casey has written ten crime novels for adults and three for teenagers. A former editor, she is married to a criminal barrister who ensures her writing is realistic and as accurate as possible.

This authenticity has made her novels international bestsellers and critical successes. The Maeve Kerrigan series has been nominated for many awards: in 2015 Jane won the Mary Higgins Clark Award for The Stranger You Know and Irish Crime Novel of the Year for After the Fire. In 2019, Cruel Acts was chosen as Irish Crime Novel of the Year at the Irish Book Awards. It was a Sunday Times bestseller.

Born in Dublin, Jane now lives in southwest London with her husband and two children.

Book Synopsis:

Warning: This book contains details of embarrassingly awkward sexual encounters and is not for the cringe-hearted.

Thirty year old Jenny has her own house, a good job, friends, a psycho cat and a Mother who is willing to sell her off to the highest bidder. What more could she want from life? Oh yes, a man. In particular, the handsome hunk she works with. The dangerously good looking eye candy makes regular appearances to her office and she must do all in her power not to combust in her seat when he says her name…

Some people were destined to have all the luck, whereas others, like Jenny, were destined to embarrass themselves at every awkward opportunity. After giving up hopes of landing her dream man, Jenny gives in to her best friend’s requests and agrees to go on some blind dates and signs up to a dating app. She discovers some interesting characters whilst having some no-strings fun with her reliable man friend. What’s the worst that could happen?

Follow Jenny’s journey through the Yorkshire town of Halifax filled with disastrous dates and embarrassing sexual encounters in this romantic comedy of modern dating. Will she ever get what she’s looking for? Or is she destined to remain in singledom forever with her crazed cat?

Blond Date is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

This was a funny, light escapist read which I really enjoyed. It was just what I needed to cheer myself up in these difficult times.

I really loved Jenny who came across as such a lovely normal woman who is happily plodding her way through life. She isn’t particularly looking for a relationship but her mum and best friends have other ideas and sets her up on some very interesting blind dates which were hilarious to follow. Her cat was a fantastic supporting character whose behaviour helped add to the humour in the book. I’d love to read a sequel with him in it as he was very unique and hugely enjoyable.

The blind dates where all fabulously described so that I felt like I was on the dates with Jenny, experiencing everything alongside her. All I can say is that I’m glad I’m not single any more as some of Jenny’s dates were very interesting and more than a little bit cringey. I definitely felt for Jenny and could have happily hit her interfering mother on more than one occasion.

Overall I thought this was a very funny and relatable read which often had me laughing out loud at all that was happening. I actually wished it was a bit longer so I could spend more time with Jenny and her cat. Some of the humour is a little crude which might not be to everyone’s taste but definitely adds to the story!

Huge thanks to Emma from Damp Pebbles Tours for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Debbie is a Bradford born indie author and blogger.

Author of a comedy series; ‘Blind Date’ and ‘Holiday Date’. Two hilarious easy-read books guaranteed to have you laughing out loud.

Also author of ‘The Runaway Girl’ and paranormal horror ‘Abberton House’.

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email: debbieioannaauthor@gmail.com