I Am Dust by Louise Beech @LouiseWriter @OrendaBooks @annecater #IAmDust #LouiseBeech #RandomThingsTours #5Stars

I Am Dust by Louise Beech @LouiseWriter @OrendaBooks @annecater #IAmDust #LouiseBeech #RandomThingsTours #5Stars

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Book Synopsis:

A haunted theatre
A murdered actress
Three cursed teenagers
A secret that devastates them all…

The Dean Wilson Theatre is believed to be haunted by a long-dead actress, singing her last song, waiting for her final cue, looking for her killer…

Now Dust, the iconic musical, is returning after twenty years. But who will be brave enough to take on the role of ghostly goddess Esme Black, last played by Morgan Miller, who was murdered in her dressing room?

Theatre usher Chloe Dee is caught up in the spectacle. As the new actors arrive, including an unexpected face from her past, everything changes. Are the eerie sounds and sightings backstage real or just her imagination? Is someone playing games?

Is the role of Esme Black cursed? Could witchcraft be at the heart of the tragedy? And are dark deeds from Chloe’s past about to catch up with her?
Not all the drama takes place onstage. Sometimes murder, magic, obsession and the biggest of betrayals are real life. When you’re in the theatre shadows, you see everything.

And Chloe has been watching…

I Am Dust is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

Firstly let me start by saying that Louise Beech is one of my all time favourite authors and I have thoroughly enjoyed every book she’s written. I just love her fantastic storytelling, the way she can just draw you into a story so that you feel you are living it alongside the characters. She’s an incredibly versatile writer too, which ensures all of her books are uniquely different reads.

I Am Dust is another wonderful read which is darker than anything she’s written before. It has a bit of a gothic feel to it which slowly builds as the book continues and becomes very creepy. I could feel my hair standing on end and jumped a mile when my husband walked through the door. This book definitely gets in your head!

Chloe is a very interesting main character who I wasn’t sure if I liked or not. She’s obviously a bit of a troubled lady with a lot of broken dreams. I wasn’t entirely sure I trusted her which, as the story is told from her point of view, made me unsure whether to believe what was unfolding. This ensured that I kept reading however as I tried to work out what was going on.

The inclusion of the ouija board was an interesting one which brought back a few memories from trying it at boarding school. This further added to the atmosphere of the book but also my disbelief as in my experience nothing real ever happened. It was definitely interesting following Chloe and her friends through their experiences with it.

Overall I absolutely loved this delicious creepy, thoroughly enjoyable read which kept me guessing until the end. If you are a fan of anything Phantom Of The Opera related or just like atmospheric books then you’ll love this book.

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

About The Author:

Louise Beech is an exceptional literary talent, whose debut novel How To Be Brave was a Guardian Reader’s Choice in 2015. The sequel, The Mountain in My Shoe was shortlisted for the Not the Booker Prize. Her third book, Maria in the Moon was widely reviewed and critically acclaimed. Her short fiction has won the Glass Woman Prize, the Eric Hoffer Award for Prose, and the Aesthetica Creative competition, as well as shortlisting for the Bridport Prize twice. Louise is currently writing her next book. She lives with her husband and children on the outskirts of Hull – the UK’s 2017 City of Culture – and loves her job as 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.

A Prison In The Sun by Isobel Blackthorn @IBlackthorn @NextChapterPB @DamppebblesBTs #APrisonInTheSun #CanaryIslandMysteries #damppebblestours

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Book Synopsis:

After millennial ghostwriter Trevor Moore rents an old farmhouse in Fuerteventura, he moves in to find his muse.

Instead, he discovers a rucksack filled with cash. Who does it belong to – and should he hand it in… or keep it?

Struggling to make up his mind, Trevor unravels the harrowing true story of a little-known concentration camp that incarcerated gay men in the 1950s and 60s.

A Prison In The Sun is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

This was a very intriguing mystery story based on true historical events which I hadn’t heard of before.

I think most people know that people’s attitudes towards gay men were very different but I was unaware of quite how far or harsh that treatment was until reading this book. As you can probably guess life at the camp was very difficult and some of the scenes described were very difficult to read about at times, especially as you know that they are true. The author does a great job of explaining how the men must have felt which made me feel like everything was happening to me too. I found myself getting very indignant on their behalf and wishing I could step in and help in some way.

I thought this was a multi layered, historical mystery which was very well written. I liked how the author has managed to weave Trevor’s own personal journey into the story as it was great to see things from his point of view too. There were lots of twists and turns to this story which ensured that the book kept my attention until the end. This was the first book I’ve read by this author and I’d definitely be interested in reading more from her in the future.

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:

Award-winning author, Isobel Blackthorn, is a prolific novelist of unique and engaging fiction. She writes across a range of genres, including gripping mysteries and dark psychological thrillers. Isobel was shortlisted for the Ada Cambridge Prose Prize 2019. Isobel holds a PhD in Western Esotericism from the University of Western Sydney for her ground-breaking study of the texts of Theosophist Alice A. Bailey. Her engagement with Alice Bailey’s life and works has culminated in the biographical novel The Unlikely Occultist and the full biography Alice A. Bailey: Life and Legacy. Isobel carries a lifelong passion for the Canary Islands, Spain, her former home. Four of her novels are set on the islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. These standalone novels are setting rich and fall into the broad genre of travel fiction. Isobel has led a rich and interesting life and her stories are as diverse as her experiences, the highs and lows, and the dramas. A life-long campaigner for social justice, Isobel has written, protested and leant her weight to a range of issues including asylum seekers and family violence. A Londoner originally, Isobel currently lives in Queensland, Australia. https://twitter.com/IBlackthorn https://www.facebook.com/Lovesick.Isobel.Blackthorn/ http://www.isobelblackthorn.com

It’s All In The Mind: The Life And Legacy Of Larry Stephens by Julie Warren @lsggbg @unbounders @annecater #ItsAllInTheMind #LarryStephens #RandomThingsTours #Extract

It’s All In The Mind: The Life And Legacy Of Larry Stephens by Julie Warren @lsggbg @unbounders @annecater #ItsAllInTheMind #LarryStephens #RandomThingsTours #Extract

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Book Synopsis:

British popular culture would probably be very different had Larry Stephens not been born. We could now be living in a world without the Carry On films or Monty Python, and we may never have heard of Tony Hancock, Peter Sellers or Spike Milligan.

Stephens’ promising career as a jazz pianist was interrupted by the war, and after serving as an officer with the commandos he moved to London and struck up a friendship with Tony Hancock, becoming the sole writer of his stage material. Hancock introduced him to Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe, Spike Milligan and Michael Bentine and together they created The Goon Show, arguably the world’s most influential comedy programme. As one of the main writers throughout its nine-year run, Stephens’ experiences and acquaintances became themes and characters within the show.

For the first time, the life and work of this unsung hero of British comedy has been thoroughly explored. Using unrivalled access to Larry Stephens’ personal archive of letters, photographs and artwork, plus interviews with Stephens’ many notable friends, family members, comrades and colleagues, It’s All In The Mind tells the story of a boy from the Black Country whose short life had an enduring impact.

It’s All In The Mind is published in ebook and hardback on the 23rd April 2020. You can pre-order your copy using the link below.

Extract:

Larry had expected his medical examination to be a formality but he came away with devastating news. He later told his friends at Associated London Scripts what the doctor had said to him:
“You have the highest blood pressure I’ve ever seen. If you give up drink and cigarettes you might live for a year.”
It is impossible to imagine what a shock it must have been. Larry knew he had problems with high blood pressure but to be given just a year to live seemed ludicrous. He was writing The Army Game with Maurice and he had recently started writing another series of the Goon Show – the eighth – with Spike; everything else in his life was stable and normal. He thought back to his commando days and how he had learned that you could overcome any obstacle or physical discomfort if you really put your mind to it and believed you could. He remembered the first time he had heard the instructors bellowing, “it’s all in the mind,” at him and how he had yelled the same thing at the recruits when he became an instructor himself. That was the answer: as long as he truly believed it, he could prove the doctor wrong.
On the 28th of October 1957, the phrase, ‘it’s all in the mind, you know,’ appeared at the end of a Goon Show broadcast for the first time. It was as if Larry was sending himself a reminder to keep believing and to stay positive. The phrase was only ever included in the show when Larry was involved in writing the script; following this initial mention it is not used in any of the eight episodes from series eight that Spike wrote alone or in collaboration with John Antrobus, only in those that Larry wrote single-handedly or jointly with Spike or Maurice Wiltshire.
Larry wasn’t alone in suffering health problems as Spike was showing signs of nervous strain again. His wife, June, sent another Doctor’s note to the BBC on the 5th of November which certified that Spike was unable to work and explained in an accompanying letter that Larry would be writing that week’s show.
A mistrust of doctors and matters of life and death became significant themes in Larry’s art. He drew a doctor with medicine jars labelled ‘eeny’, ‘meeny’ and ‘miny’ on a shelf behind him; he drew another writing out a prescription and seemingly unaware that his patient had hanged himself from the ceiling. He drew Dickensian-looking undertakers with top hats and mourning veils.

About The Author:

Julie Warren is a virtual assistant specialising in research. She currently lives in Essex and pretends to channel Larry Stephens on Twitter. @lsggbg

The Last Crossing by Brian McGilloway @BrianMcGilloway @DomePress #TheLastCrossing #BrianMcGilloway

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Book Synopsis:

Tony, Hugh and Karen thought they’d seen the last of each other thirty years ago. Half a lifetime has passed and memories have been buried. But when they are asked to reunite – to lay ghosts to rest for the good of the future – they all have their own reasons to agree. As they take the ferry from Northern Ireland to Scotland the past is brought in to terrible focus – some things are impossible to leave behind.

In The Last Crossing memory is unreliable, truth shifts and slips and the lingering legacy of the Troubles threatens the present once again.

The Last Crossing is available in all formats now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

The Last Crossing is an intriguing story which manages to be more than just a crime story.

The story starts off a bit dramatically with a murder and the pace doesn’t let off much. The reader is taken back and forwards in time to learn more about the group of friends and their motivation for the murder. I’ve said before in my reviews that I always enjoy books based on old friendship groups as there is always so much room for potential and hidden secrets which always makes it hugely enjoyable to read.

The atmosphere in the story was very cleverly created as it was set from the time of all the trouble in Ireland to the present day which helped create a bit of tension to the story as I felt there was always a suggestion that violence could errupt. I found it interesting to learn a bit more about Ireland’s history and how past events had affected everyone for years to come.

Overall I thought this was a fantastic read which I found hard to put down. Karen and Tony were very sympathetic characters who I felt had got dragged into something completely over their heads for the wrong reasons. I liked that they were flawed as it made them and the story seem more realistic. The twist at the end of the book took me totally by surprise which I always enjoy. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I’ll look forward to reading more from him in the future.

Huge thanks to Emily from Done Press for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Brian McGilloway is the New York Times bestselling author of the critically acclaimed Inspector Benedict Devlin and DS Lucy Black series. He was born in Derry, Northern Ireland in 1974. After studying English at Queen’s University, Belfast, he took up a teaching position in St Columb’s College in Derry, where he was Head of English. His first novel, Borderlands, published by Macmillan New Writing, was shortlisted for the CWA New Blood Dagger 2007 and was hailed by The Times as ‘one of (2007’s) most impressive debuts.’ The second novel in the series, Gallows Lane, was shortlisted for both the 2009 Irish Book Awards/Ireland AM Crime Novel of the Year and the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2010. Bleed A River Deep, the third Devlin novel, was selected by Publishers Weekly as one of their Best Books of 2010. Brian’s fifth novel, Little Girl Lost, which introduced a new series featuring DS Lucy Black, won the University of Ulster’s McCrea Literary Award in 2011 and was a New York Times Bestseller in the US and a No.1 Bestseller in the UK. The follow-up novel, Hurt, was published in late 2013 by Constable and Robinson and will be published in the USA in May 2014. The third Lucy Black novel will follow later in 2014. In 2014, Brian won BBC NI’s Tony Doyle Award for his screenplay, Little Emperors, an award which sees him become Writer In Residence with BBC NI. Brian lives near the Irish borderlands with his wife, daughter and three sons.

The Prisoner’s Wife by Maggie Brookes @maggiebrookes27 @arrowpublishing @Rachel90Kennedy #ThePrisonersWife #ww2 #hisfic

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Book Synopsis:

Their love is a death sentence. But can it keep them alive?

Czechoslovakia, 1944. In the dead of night, a farm girl and a British soldier creep through abandoned villages. Secretly married and on the run, Bill and Izabela are searching for Izabela’s brother and father, who are fighting for the Czech resistance. They know their luck will not last.

Captured by the German army, it seems they must be separated – but they have prepared for this moment. By cutting her hair and pretending to be mute, Izabela successfully disguises herself as a British soldier. Together, they face the terrible conditions of a POW camp, reliant on the help of their fellow POWs to maintain their fragile deception.

Their situation is beyond dangerous. If Izabela is discovered, she and Bill – and all the men who helped them – will face lethal consequences.
_______________________________
A novel set in war-torn Czechoslovakia amid the extreme privations of a prisoner of war camp, based on a true story of passion, heroism and a love that transcends overwhelming odds.

The Prisoner’s Wife is published in ebook and hardback on the 16th April 2020. You can pre-order your copy using the link below.

My Review:

This was a very interesting, absorbing book which is based on a true story. It manages to be both a harrowing read but also an intense love story at the same time.

I always start these type of books with a fair amount of trepidation as although I’m interested in the subject matter I know that the book will be hard to read in places, more so as you know it did happen to someone. This book was no exception and it did take me a little while to relax into the story, though that was my problem and nothing to do with the writing. The love story between Bill and Izabella soon made me forget my fears though and I loved watching it develop. It was nice to see some nice, normal moments amongst all the horror.

I don’t think I’ve read many books based in a prisoner of war camp as they tend to be focused on concentration camps more, so it was interesting to see how the conditions in them differed. As expected the conditions are still quite horrific and daily life for the prisoners was very hard. The author does a great job of explaining the conditions in the camp without making them too graphic which I thought made the book much easier to read. The wonderful togetherness of the prisoners was lovely to read about and helped provide some heartwarming moments. It was so nice to see how they all supported and look out for each other despite everything that was going on.

My only slight criticism of this book was that I would have loved to have found out what happened next, after the war. However this didn’t stop me enjoying the book and I’ll definitely be recommending it to others.

Huge thanks to Rachel Kennedy from Arrow publishing for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Maggie Brookes is an ex-journalist and BBC TV documentary producer, turned poet and novelist. She’s also an associate professor at Middlesex University, and an advisory fellow of the Royal Literary Fund.

The Prisoner’s Wife is based on a true story told to her in a lift, by a World War II prisoner of war. Maggie visited Czechoslovakia, Poland and Germany as part of her research for the book, uncovering largely forgotten aspects of the war. Although the story can be harrowing at times, it’s also about the power of friendship and of love.

My Pear-Shaped Life by Carmel Harrington @HappyMrsH @fictionpubteam @HarperCollinsUK @annecater #MyPearShapedLife #CarmelHarrington #RandomThingsTours #5Stars

My Pear-Shaped Life by Carmel Harrington @HappyMrsH @fictionpubteam @HarperCollinsUK @annecater #MyPearShapedLife #CarmelHarrington #RandomThingsTours #5Stars

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Book Synopsis:

Meet Greta.

She’s funny.

She’s flawed.

She’s hiding so much behind her big smile she’s forgotten who she is.

But Greta is about to discover that the key to being happy is…being yourself.

Greta Gale has played the part of the funny fat one her entire life, hiding her insecurities behind a big smile. But size doesn’t matter when you can laugh at yourself, right?
Until Greta realises she’s the only one not laughing. And deep down, she’s not sure if she’ll ever laugh again.

But Greta is about to discover that sometimes the best moments in life come when it’s all gone a bit pear-shaped…

My Pear-Shaped Life is available in ebook now and hardback on the 16th April 2020. The ebook is currently only 99p. You can purchase or pre-order your copy using the link below.

My Review:

I so enjoyed this funny, heartwarming read which is sadly quite a current book as the subject of body image has become more of an issue recently.

I think what I most liked about this book was how much I could relate to the story. I’m perhaps a little bigger than I should be and have a few confidence issues relating to this. I therefore loved the messages that the author has included especially that your size doesn’t matter and it’s important to love yourself regardless.

Greta was such a funny character who was incredibly relatable. I felt a lot of empathy for her as she tries to put on a brave face and take the jokes about her size on the chin, while actually struggling with a lot of insecurities inside as I’ve often felt the same way. It was very interesting and quite therapeutic to follow her and to experience everything alongside her.

I found this book surprisingly gripping as I quickly grew very fond of Greta and wanted to keep reading to see how things turn out for her. I would love to read more about Greta in the future and really hope there will be a sequel.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Harper Collins for my copy of this book via Netgalley. If you are looking for a warm, funny and thought provoking read then I third recommend this one.

About The Author:

Carmel Harrington is an internationally published novelist from Co. Wexford, where she lives with her family. She has published seven novels and been shortlisted twice (2016 & 2017) for an Irish Book Award. Her books have captured the hearts of readers worldwide and are published in eight languages to date. She is co-founder of The Inspiration Project and was Chair of Wexford Literary Festival from 2015 – 2018.
info@carmelharrington.com | http://www.carmelharrington.com | FB/TW/INST: @HappyMrsH

#BlogTour: The Devil’s Porridge Gang by Collin Garrow @colingarrow @DamppebblesBTs #TheDevilsPorridgeGang #damppebbletours

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Book Synopsis:

1969. In a town where nothing happens, a gang of kids uncover a kidnapping plot.

In the days following the excitement of the moon landings, a group of criminals plan to kidnap the son of a Government rocket engineer – but they don’t expect a gang of kids to get in the way…

Sam Todd dreams of adventure and longs for something exciting to happen for him and his friends. When he and the gang try to add a touch of excitement to their lives by stealing empty bottles from a pop factory, they are easily caught. But the consequences lead them back to the factory where they begin to uncover a villainous scheme.

THE DEVIL’S PORRIDGE GANG is book #1 in this Sixties adventure series.

If you love historical mysteries, download your copy or buy the Ebook or paperback version of The Devil’s Porridge Gang now. Just scroll to the top of the page and select BUY to start your adventure today!

The Devil’s Porridge Gang is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

I loved this old fashioned, children’s adventure story that reminded me a lot of The Famous Five books. I felt completely transported back to my own childhood when my sister and I would play outside pretty much all day making up adventures for ourselves. The scene when the children sneak in to the factory was partially good as I remember us trying to sneak into an abandoned house when we were younger and all the thrill it brought us.

The story is told from multiple points of view which I found very interesting as it was great to learn about things not only from the gang’s perspective but also their neighbours and at one point the detective. It helped broaden my understanding of what was happening and helped me form an unbiased view of the gang themselves.

The author does a great job of setting the scene in this book which lots of references to what life was like back in the 60’s. It was quite a unpoliticaly correct time so some of these had me cringing and laughing in equal measures. The attitudes towards girls and black people were shocking to read about and made me quite glad that I live in a more understanding time.

Overall I would really recently this book to anyone kid who loves adventure stories as it’s an absolutely cracking read. The story is very addictive and I found it hard to out the book down at times. There was always something happening to keep my interest and I enjoyed following the kids as they tried to solve the mystery. I’ve actually already passed my copy onto my god daughter to read as I thought it was so enjoyable.

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:


Colin Garrow grew up in a former mining town in Northumberland. He has worked in a plethora of professions including: taxi driver, antiques dealer, drama facilitator, theatre director and fish processor, and has occasionally masqueraded as a pirate. All Colin’s books are available as eBooks and most are also out in paperback, too. His short stories have appeared in several literary mags, including: SN Review, Flash Fiction Magazine, Word Bohemia, Every Day Fiction, The Grind, A3 Review, 1,000 Words, Inkapture and Scribble Magazine. He currently lives in a humble cottage in North East Scotland where he writes novels, stories, poems and the occasional song. He also makes rather nice cakes.

#BlogTour: The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley @cpooleywriter @TransworldBooks @annecater #TheAuthenticityProject #RandomThingsTours

#BlogTour: The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley @cpooleywriter @TransworldBooks @annecater #TheAuthenticityProject #RandomThingsTours

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Book Synopsis:

Six strangers with one universal thing in common: their lives aren’t always what they make them out to be.

What would happen if they told the truth instead?

Julian Jessop is tired of hiding the deep loneliness he feels. So he begins The Authenticity Project – a small green notebook containing the truth about his life.

Leaving the notebook on a table in his friendly neighbourhood café, Julian never expects Monica, the owner, to track him down after finding it. Or that she’ll be inspired to write down her own story.

Little do they realize that such small acts of honesty hold the power to impact all those who discover the notebook and change their lives completely.

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

My Review:

This was an absolutely wonderful book, with a unique and original storyline which manages to be very thought provoking.

Firstly I loved the idea behind the book so much that I quite fancy trying it out for myself. We are all so keen to have this picture perfect life that we end up stressing ourselves out when things don’t go perfectly. I’ve often wondered how much better life would be if we were just honest about things as it would save a lot of trouble. I therefore found it very interesting to explore this idea through the characters and see how things could be changed.

The story is written from the point of view of six characters, which may sound confusing but they are each so different to each other that it’s easy to keep track of them all. I grew very fond of them throughout the book and so enjoyed going on the journey with them. Each of the characters are dealing with a difficult problem which they were struggling with and trying to work through. I thought this done in a very clever way as the author manages to bring up the subjects in a relatable way which made the characters seem more realistic.

Overall I really enjoyed this book which manages to be both heartwarming and funny but serious at times as there are some quite poignant moments too. The characters felt like old friends by the end and I found myself feeling quite sad when the book finished and I had to leave them behind. I’d love a sequel to this book as it would be great to visit all the characters again.

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:

Clare Pooley graduated from Newnham College, Cambridge and spent twenty years in the heady world of advertising, where the line between authenticity and fiction is constantly blurred, before becoming a full-time mum. She is the author of the hugely popular blog, Mummy was a Secret Drinker, under the pseudonym Sober Mummy and her memoir, The Sober Diaries was published in 2017 to critical acclaim. Her blog has had over two million hits and her TEDx talk, Making Sober Less Shameful, has had over 110,000 views.

Clare’s debut novel The Authenticity Project is inspired by her decision to expose the rather grubby truth about her seemingly perfect life in her memoir.

Clare writes from her kitchen table in Fulham, London where she lives with her long-suffering husband, three children, dog and an African pygmy hedgehog.

#CoverReveal: The Missing Pieces Of Nancy Moon by Sarah Steele @headlinepg @sarah_l_steele #FollowNancyMoon

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Book Synopsis:

To unravel the story of that long-lost summer, she had to follow the thread…

Florence Connelly is broken-hearted; her beloved grandmother has just died and her marriage has collapsed.

But things change when she opens a box of vintage 1960s dress patterns, discovered inside her grandmother’s wardrobe. Inside each pattern packet is a fabric swatch, a postcard from Europe and a faded photograph of a young woman wearing the hand-made dress. Why did Flo’s grandmother never speak of this mysterious woman – Nancy Moon?

Her life in tatters, Flo decides to remake Nancy’s dresses, and to head across to the Continent to re-create Nancy’s Grand Tour of 1962. As she follows the thread, Flo begins to unravel an untold story of love and loss in her family’s past. And perhaps to stitch the pieces of her own.

For readers of Joanna Cannon and Ruth Hogan, a standout debut novel for summer 2020 about how to piece a life, and a heart, back together after loss.

The Missing Pieces Of Nancy Moon will be published on the 6th of August 2020 in ebook and hardback. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

Early Praise:

Two captivating stories of love and heartbreak, stitched together by a trail through Europe in 1962. A scattering of clues to the secret of Nancy Moon’ Gill Paul

‘Warm and true… I loved reading the entwined stories…pays tribute to the heart and backbone of women who support each other when the world turns its back’ Stephanie Butland

About The Author:

Sarah Steele was the director of Wordfest at Gloucester Cathedral in 2018, which culminated in a suffragette march led by Helen Pankhurst. After training in London as a classical pianist and violinist, Sarah joined the world of publishing as assistant at Hodder and Stoughton. She was for many years a freelance editor. She lives in Stroud. THE MISSING PIECES OF NANCY MOON is her debut novel.

#BlogTour: You Will Be Safe Here by Damian Barr @Damian_Barr @BloomsburyBooks @annecater #YouWillBeSafe #RandomThingsTours

#BlogTour: You Will Be Safe Here by Damian Barr @Damian_Barr @BloomsburyBooks @annecater #YouWillBeSafe #RandomThingsTours

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Book Synopsis:

A beautiful and heart-breaking story set in South Africa where two mothers – a century apart – must fight for their sons, unaware their fates are inextricably linked.

Orange Free State, 1901. At the height of the Boer War, Sarah van der Watt and her six-year-old son Fred can only watch as the British burn their farm. The polite invaders cart them off to Bloemfontein Concentration Camp promising you will be safe here.

Johannesburg, 2010. Sixteen-year-old Willem is an outsider who just wants to be left alone with his Harry Potter books and Britney, his beloved pug. Worried he’s turning out soft, his Ma and her new boyfriend send him to New Dawn Safari Camp, where they ‘make men out of boys.’ Guaranteed.

The red earth of the veldt keeps countless secrets whether beaten by the blistering sun or stretching out beneath starlit stillness. But no secret can stay buried forever.

You Will Be Safe is available in all formats now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

This was a beautifully written, haunting book which will stay with me for a long time.

I didn’t know much about South African history so I found it fascinating to learn more about it now. The realisation that the British created the idea of a concentration camp was a sobering one, especially as you realise the events written about in this book could have actually happened to people. It made me feel quite sick whilst I read about the appalling conditions there and feel the desperation of Sarah as she tries to protect her son.

In the more recent timeline we follow Willem who is struggling with a mother who is trying to change who he is as she thinks he’s too soft. I felt desperately sorry for Willem who seemed such a lovely boy and just wanted to reach into the book and give him a huge cuddle, while also giving his mother a hard talking to. His friendship with Geldenhuys was lovely to read about and helped add some light relief to the story.

The author does a great job of setting the scene in this book with the vivid descriptions making me feel that I was right there experiencing everything alongside the characters. I even felt at times that I could smell things the way they would, particularly in the concentration camp which I think is proof of how well this book is written. The author manages to include the African dialogue and some of their culture into the story which further helps the reader envision the country the story is set in.

Overall I thought this was a fantastically written, compelling story that explores Africa’s rich and dramatic history. It is quite a sad story but it’s also an important one as a lot of the issues and prejudices discussed are sadly still happening in the world. It’s definitely a story that will deeply effect the reader and stay with you for a long time.

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

About The Author:

Damian Barr is an award-winning writer and columnist. Maggie & Me, his memoir about comingof age and coming out in Thatcher’s Britain, was a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week and Sunday Times Memoir of the Year, and wonthe Paddy Power Political Books ‘Satire’ Award and Stonewall Writer of the YearAward. Damian writes columns for the BigIssue and High Life and oftenappears on BBC Radio 4. He is creator and host of his own Literary Salon that premieres work from established and emerging writers. You Will Be Safe Here is his debut novel. Damian Barr lives in Brighton.

@Damian_Barr