When Rosemary Sherwood overhears a disturbing conversation between her husband, Harry Sherwood and an unknown caller, she has no idea that her life’s about to change forever. Fleeing to France for fear of her own safety, Harry threatens to kill their son if she ever dares to breathe a word of anything she overheard.
Torn between hiding out in France and re-connecting with her estranged son, Rosemary returns to England twelve years later believing that she and her son are now out of danger…
A web of deceit and lies has been woven over the years to cover up the antics of Harry and his friends, who are no strangers to violence and murder and who will stop at nothing to ensure they aren’t exposed.
Private Detective Daniel Appleman takes on the case, but can he track down these men before they wreak havoc on the Sherwood family?
The Telephone Call is available in paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.
My Review:
The Telephone Call is a dark, gritty detective thriller from a new author for me.
The story is told from multiple points of view which made for interesting reading with lot of fabulous characters who I enjoyed learning more about. They are introduced quite quickly which was a little confusing a first, but I soon got the hang of who was who. My favourite characters had to be Daniel and his family which I thought gave some light relief in an otherwise dark story. I really hope this isn’t the last we’ll see from them.
Overall I thought the plot was well developed with some of the revelations taking me completely by surprise. The tension is slowly increased as we learn more about the characters which made the book hard to put down. I really enjoyed the gradual unfolding of all the secrets and watching how everything tied together. The pace does dip a little bit in the middle, but do keep going as it’s definitely worth it!
Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book. I look forward to reading more books in this series.
About the Author:
Michael Pakenham is part of a well-known Irish Literary family. Generations of his family lived at Langford Lodge on Loch Neagh outside Belfast. His father was killed in the Second World War and the Estate was sold. His mother then took Michael and his sister to Tucson Arizona until the end of the war. On returning to England his mother bought a farm in Hampshire and Michael has lived in the county ever since. Having served in the Grenadier Guards – the fourth generation to do so – Michael returned to take over his mother’s farming enterprises until he sold his farming interests in 1990 and started his writing career. This will be his eighth book and the second in the Daniel Appleman series. He lives outside Winchester with his wife.
Billionaire terminal cancer patient John Longmire’s going to die today, and he’s going out in style in the classiest euthanasia clinic in the world. But the strange nurse with the clipboard and the look of a goddess is spoiling the mood, with all her irksome questions about how he’s lived his life.
Recent retiree Gerald loves his wife Barbara and he loves his garden, but Barbara hates the garden. Because the garden’s taking Gerald over, and Barbara says he has to stop before he has another ‘incident’.
Bullied, ridiculed and unloved, moustachioed schoolgirl “Hairy” Mhairi Barry has never had any friends but the ones she finds on the shelves of the library where she’s spent most of her lonely childhood. But tonight, she’s going to a party with all the cool kids, to show them what she’s learned in all those books.
A suspicious smelling smorgasbord of lovelorn psychopaths, vengeful mugging victims, pawn shop philosophers and rhyming Glaswegian alien abduction, Tales of the What the Fuck is a dark, touching, horrific and hilarious collection of short stories, flash fiction and epic poetry from People’s Book Prize nominated author D.A. Watson. Things are about to get weird.
Tales Of The What The F**k is available in ebook now. Purchase your copy using the link below.
My Review:
Firstly I have to be honest and say that I was drawn to this book because of the title and cover which seemed really unusual. My first impressions were correct as this has to be one of the most unique books I have read.
The author has an amazing, though dark, imagination which leads to some very interesting short stories and poems. Although dark there is also some fantastic humour in this book which often made me laugh out loud. Some of his observations were particularly amusing and provided some relief from the darker aspects of the book.
The stories all cover similar themes and the fantastic stories just intrigued me straight away. There were moments when I didn’t know where the story was going and some serious ‘what the f**k’ moments where the story took an unusual twist. There are some gory moments which made me feel a bit queasy and some swearing which might not be to everyone’s taste but overall I thought this was a hugely enjoyable read!
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:
D.A. Watson was halfway through a music and media degree at the University of Glasgow and planning on being a teacher when he discovered he was actually a better writer than musician. He unleashed his debut novel In the Devil’s Name on an unsuspecting public in the summer of 2012, and plans of a stable career in education left firmly in the dust, later gained his masters in Creative Writing from the University of Stirling.
He has since published two more novels; The Wolves of Langabhat and Cuttin’ Heads, a collection of short fiction and poetry, Tales of the What the F*ck, and several acclaimed articles, poems and stories, including Durty Diana, which was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in the US in 2016, and the Burns parody Tam O’ Shatner, prizewinner at the Falkirk Storytelling Festival and Dunedin Burns Poetry Competition, and nominated for the People’s Book Prize in 2018.
Watson’s writing has appeared in several anthologies and collections including 404 Ink, Dark Eclipse, Speculative Books, Haunted Voices and The Flexible Persona, and he is also a regular spoken word performer, with past gigs at Bloody Scotland, Tamfest, Sonnet Youth, Express Yourself, Clusterf*ck Circus, and the Burnsfest festival in 2018, where he appeared on the main stage as the warm up act for the one and only Chesney Hawkes, a personal milestone and career highlight.
His fourth novel Adonias Low will be released by Stirling Pubishing in 2021. He lives with his family in a witch infested village on the west coast of Scotland, and continues to write some seriously weird sh*t.
The house on Curmudgeon Avenue should be happy now, the nincompoop residents have all met their sorry ends. But they haven’t quite left… now that a new family move in can the house find peace? Or are the ghosts of Curmudgeon Avenue going to interfere with the goings-on, romance and dramas that new residents bring?
Gordon and Zandra Bennett – along with their lovelorn daughter Krystina move all the way from London to Curmudgeon Avenue. Zandra has her heart set on renovating the four-storey Victorian terrace and hires Harry to rip out the old and bring in the new. Wonder how that will go down with the grumpy, yet proud house? Not to mention Harold, Edna and Edith who are trapped in their previous home with no choice but to haunt Krystina, moan about the new layout and get up to mischief.
The Ghosts Of Curmudgeon Avenue is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.
My Review:
I really enjoyed this quirky, funny read from a new author for me.
Firstly I don’t think I’ve ever read a book which is told from the point of view of the house before, so this instantly drew me into the story as I found this very amusing. There are some absolutely mad, hilarious characters, particularly the ghosts, which often had me laughing out loud with their antics. There were however some unsavoury characters who I loved to hate and this provided a great balance.
There was lots more going on then I expected when I started which was a lovely surprise. The plot is actually quite complex with lots of different storylines happening at once. The tone is easy to read and written as if a friend was telling you the story which was a nice touch.
This is actually book four in the series which I hadn’t realised and while it can be read a standalone I think it might be beneficial to read them in order as I think you’d know more about the character’s background.
Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book. If you like quirky, funny reads with a great plot then you’ll love this book!
About The Author:
Samantha Henthorn was born in 1970something in Bury, England; where she has lived her entire life. Readers who enjoy Sophie Kinsella, Marian Keyes, Nick Spalding and the Bridget Jones’s Diary series will enjoy her writing. Her books include the contemporary comedy-drama series set in Whitefield, Curmudgeon Avenue. The historical fiction ‘1962’ (An Uplifting Tale of 1960s Lancashire), the short story collection ‘Quirky Tales to Make Your Day’ and the novella ‘Piccalilly’.
She has two cats, one dog, one gorgeous grown-up daughter and one husband. When not reading or writing, she is listening to heavy metal (particularly the grunge years of the early ’90s). Samantha would be thrilled to bits if someone read – or listened to her books.
Samantha had a twenty-year nursing career in the NHS, working both in hospital and community settings in Salford. After a diagnosis of MS in 2005, she eventually accepted early retirement in 2014. Looking for a career where she can work for herself within a paced routine, Samantha remembered her love of reading and drew on her observation skills and imagination to start writing. Samantha often feels as though she is living in a sit-com and this is reflected in her style.
Samantha looks after her condition by attending physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, sleeping whenever and wherever possible, wearing sunglasses indoors, avoiding emotional vampires and enjoying life as much as she physically can.
Meet the Skelfs: well-known Edinburgh family, proprietors of a long-established funeral-home business, and private investigators…
When patriarch Jim dies, it’s left to his wife Dorothy, daughter Jenny and granddaughter Hannah to take charge of both businesses, kicking off an unexpected series of events.
Dorothy discovers mysterious payments to another woman, suggesting that Jim wasn’t the husband she thought he was. Hannah’s best friend Mel has vanished from university, and the simple adultery case that Jenny takes on leads to something stranger and far darker than any of them could have imagined.
As the women struggle to come to terms with their grief, and the demands of the business threaten to overwhelm them, secrets from the past emerge, which change everything…
A compelling, tense and shocking thriller and a darkly funny and warm portrait of a family in turmoil, A Dark Matter introduces a cast of unforgettable characters, marking the start of an addictive new series.
A Dark Matter is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.
My Review:
I’m a huge fan of Doug’s books as they are always fantastic, unique stories which are gripping reads.
Interestingly the story revolves around the Skelf family and their businesses of an investigation service and a funeral home. This made me smile as they seemed to have all aspects of death covered. Need to find out who murdered your friend? They can help. Need a coffin for the body? They’ve got you! I found this very amusing and as I don’t remember reading another book like it.
There are two stories running alongside each other in this book. One follows the fantastic Dorothy who has discovered one of her late father’s secrets and is trying to find out more. The other follows the investigation of Jenny’s roommate which allows the reader to find out more about the Skelf family and what they are like. Unusually I enjoyed both storylines equally which never normally happens. Both were full of tension and mystery which made it very hard to put down. I found myself reading faster and faster as I desperately wanted to finish one part of the story to start the offer one.
The Skelf women were all wonderful main characters that I really enjoyed reading about. They are all very different to each other and I found it very endearing how close they were despite this. My favourite sister was definitely Jenny who is a young, confident scientist whose passion for the subject was catching. The author has included a lot of science facts into the book which I found fascinating and has lead to lots of further reading.
This isn’t necessarily a fast paced book but it is a very absorbing one which I found difficult to put down. It has an almost old fashioned vibe to it as there was not lot of modern police equipment used which was interesting. As the book goes on and we discover more about the two stories, the tension slowly increases making the story incredibly gripping. There were lots of twists and secrets revealed, alongside some truly nail biting moments. The ending took me completely by surprise as I thought I had things all figured out when in fact I was nowhere near!
Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
Doug Johnstone is an author, journalist and musician based in Edinburgh. He’s had eight novels published, most recently Crash Land. His previous novel, The Jump, was a finalist for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year. Several of his other novels have been award winners and bestsellers, and he’s had short stories published in numerous anthologies and literary magazines. His work has been praised by the likes of Ian Rankin, Val McDermid and Irvine Welsh. Several of his novels have been optioned for film and television. Doug is also a Royal Literary Fund Consultant Fellow. He’s worked as an RLF Fellow at Queen Margaret University, taught creative writing at Strathclyde University and William Purves Funeral Directors. He mentors and assesses manuscripts for The Literary Consultancy and regularly tutors at Moniack Mhor writing retreat. Doug has released seven albums in various bands, and is the drummer for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers, a band of crime writers. He also reviews books for The Big Issue magazine, is player-manager for Scotland Writers Football Club and has a PhD in nuclear physics. Follow him on Twitter @doug_johnstone and visit his website: dougjohnstone.com
Meet the Skelfs: well-known Edinburgh family, proprietors of a long-established funeral-home business, and private investigators…
When patriarch Jim dies, it’s left to his wife Dorothy, daughter Jenny and granddaughter Hannah to take charge of both businesses, kicking off an unexpected series of events.
Dorothy discovers mysterious payments to another woman, suggesting that Jim wasn’t the husband she thought he was. Hannah’s best friend Mel has vanished from university, and the simple adultery case that Jenny takes on leads to something stranger and far darker than any of them could have imagined.
As the women struggle to come to terms with their grief, and the demands of the business threaten to overwhelm them, secrets from the past emerge, which change everything…
A compelling, tense and shocking thriller and a darkly funny and warm portrait of a family in turmoil, A Dark Matter introduces a cast of unforgettable characters, marking the start of an addictive new series.
A Dark Matter is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.
My Review:
I’m a huge fan of Doug’s books as they are always fantastic, unique stories which are gripping reads.
Interestingly the story revolves around the Skelf family and their businesses of an investigation service and a funeral home. This made me smile as they seemed to have all aspects of death covered. Need to find out who murdered your friend? They can help. Need a coffin for the body? They’ve got you! I found this very amusing and as I don’t remember reading another book like it.
There are two stories running alongside each other in this book. One follows the fantastic Dorothy who has discovered one of her late father’s secrets and is trying to find out more. The other follows the investigation of Jenny’s roommate which allows the reader to find out more about the Skelf family and what they are like. Unusually I enjoyed both storylines equally which never normally happens. Both were full of tension and mystery which made it very hard to put down. I found myself reading faster and faster as I desperately wanted to finish one part of the story to start the offer one.
The Skelf women were all wonderful main characters that I really enjoyed reading about. They are all very different to each other and I found it very endearing how close they were despite this. My favourite sister was definitely Jenny who is a young, confident scientist whose passion for the subject was catching. The author has included a lot of science facts into the book which I found fascinating and has lead to lots of further reading.
This isn’t necessarily a fast paced book but it is a very absorbing one which I found difficult to put down. It has an almost old fashioned vibe to it as there was not lot of modern police equipment used which was interesting. As the book goes on and we discover more about the two stories, the tension slowly increases making the story incredibly gripping. There were lots of twists and secrets revealed, alongside some truly nail biting moments. The ending took me completely by surprise as I thought I had things all figured out when in fact I was nowhere near!
Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
Doug Johnstone is an author, journalist and musician based in Edinburgh. He’s had eight novels published, most recently Crash Land. His previous novel, The Jump, was a finalist for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year. Several of his other novels have been award winners and bestsellers, and he’s had short stories published in numerous anthologies and literary magazines. His work has been praised by the likes of Ian Rankin, Val McDermid and Irvine Welsh. Several of his novels have been optioned for film and television. Doug is also a Royal Literary Fund Consultant Fellow. He’s worked as an RLF Fellow at Queen Margaret University, taught creative writing at Strathclyde University and William Purves Funeral Directors. He mentors and assesses manuscripts for The Literary Consultancy and regularly tutors at Moniack Mhor writing retreat. Doug has released seven albums in various bands, and is the drummer for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers, a band of crime writers. He also reviews books for The Big Issue magazine, is player-manager for Scotland Writers Football Club and has a PhD in nuclear physics. Follow him on Twitter @doug_johnstone and visit his website: dougjohnstone.com
DI Hunter Wilson never has just one problem to solve.
Three elderly women he knows have died in mysterious circumstances. Hunter appears to be the only link.
A little girl goes missing on a cold winter’s night. When his team discovers cocaine hidden at the farm where she was living, the search becomes even more urgent.
Why did the women die? And what did the child witness?
Hunter must find the answers to these questions to ensure his family and his city are safe.
Hunter’s Blood is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.
My Review:
I’m a big fan of this fantastic series which in my opinion keeps getting better and better. This book was no exception with the story once again being a chilling, gripping read.
Hunter has to be one of my favourite literary detectives as he’s incredibly likeable and seems very real which made me like him even more. I thought it was impressive how, in such a case, he is able to remain professional and upbeat where it might drag some down.
There are lots of different threads in this story which start off seeming completely unrelated but it soon becomes obvious that they are actually connected. I thought the way the author pulls them together was very clever and it kept me guessing as to what was going on.
Despite the chilling story line the author doesn’t let this set the tone for the whole story and there is actually some humour in the story which provides a welcome break from the serious stuff. I felt very involved in the story with the vivid descriptions allowing me to fully imagine everything that goes on. The ending was very clever and a great way to end the book.
Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book. If you are a fan of crime fiction I thoroughly recommend this series.
About The Author:
Val Penny is an American author living in SW Scotland. She has two adult daughters of whom she is justly proud and lives with her husband and two cats. She has a Law degree from Edinburgh University and her MSc from Napier University. She has had many jobs including hairdresser, waitress, lawyer, banker, azalea farmer and lecturer. However, she has not yet achieved either of her childhood dreams of being a ballerina or owning a candy store. Until those dreams come true, she has turned her hand to writing poetry, short stories and novels. Her crime novels, ‘Hunter’s Chase’ Hunter’s Revenge, Hunter’s Force and Hunter’s Blood are set in Edinburgh, Scotland, published by Crooked Cat Books. The fifth book in the series, Hunter’s Secret, follows shortly.
Ellie Perkins life was right on track until her boyfriend Sam suffers a near-fatal car accident, leaving him in a coma and all their future plans in limbo.
Desperately in need of something to fix, Ellie has to find a project and when her grandparents old house is put up for sale, she jumps at the chance. Because, like Ellie, the house is broken. And if she can fix the house, then surely, it’s just a matter of time before she and Sam are back on their path to happily-ever-after…
In life, when the worst happens how do you pick up the pieces?
A heart-breaking story of love, loss and the path to forgiveness, perfect for fans of Faith Hogan and Amanda Prowse. To be read with tissues.
When We Say Goodbye is available in ebook now and is currently the bargain price of £1.99! You can purchase your copy using the link below.
My Review:
When We Say Goodbye is a very enjoyable book which manages to be both funny and emotional at the same time.
One of my favourite daydreams is getting to fix up an old house, so this book instantly appealed to me. I liked following Ellie as she fixed up the house and liked how the author uses the house as a metaphor to her also trying to sort out her own life which I thought was cleverly done.
Ellie was a fantastic character who I warmed to instantly. She’s a strong woman who seems able to pick herself up and try new things. The way she deals with her grief seemed very real , especially when she has to deal with how hard it is to see the world continue as it always has. This is exactly as I remember it being when my dad died.
This was a wonderfully read that I found hard to put down as I wanted to find out what would happen next. I found myself laughing and crying alongside the characters as I felt so involved in the story. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I’ll definitely be reading more from her in the future.
Huge thanks to Rachel for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
Michelle Vernal is a New Zealand author who writes stories she hopes will make you feel as though you are curled up, having a cosy chat with your new BFF. She lives in Christchurch with her husband, Paul, their two teenage sons and a three-legged cat called Blue.
If you’d like to keep up to date with Michelle’s writing news swing by her website, just visit http://www.michellevernalbooks.com. When you subscribe to her newsletter you’ll receive an exclusive O’Mara women Character Profile to say thanks!
You never forget the one that got away. But what if ‘what could have been’ is yet to come?
Daniel was the first boy to make Alison a mix tape.
But that was years ago and Ali hasn’t thought about him in a very long time. Even if she had, she might not have called him ‘the one that got away’; after all, she’d been the one to run.
Then Dan’s name pops up on her phone, with a link to a song from their shared past.
For two blissful minutes, Alison is no longer an adult in Adelaide with temperamental daughters; she is sixteen in Sheffield, dancing in her skin-tight jeans. She cannot help but respond in kind.
And so begins a new mix tape.
Ali and Dan exchange songs – some new, some old – across oceans and time zones, across a lifetime of different experiences, until one of them breaks the rules and sends a message that will change everything…
Because what if ‘what could have been’ is yet to come?
Mixed Tape is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.
My Review:
I absolutely adored this book and would easily rate it as one of the best books I’ve ever read. Sometimes a book just clicks with you and this is certainly what happened with this book. I’ll try my best to tell you all the great things about it without coming across as too much of a fan girl but I can’t hold any promises!
At it’s heart this is a beautiful, tender love story which was wonderful to read about. How many if us have wondered about our old boyfriends and what could have been? This book gives the reader a chance to live precariously through its characters and I have to say I loved every moment of it. Even though both characters are in other relationships, it soon becomes obvious that they aren’t really happy and I found myself hoping that they would get together and have a happy ending.
As a huge music lover I always love books that combine music into the story, especially when it is music from my youth. I think it helps draw you further into the story and allows you to vividly picture the scene as you might even have been in a similar situation yourself. This was definitely the case in this book as some of the songs featured were ones I remembered from school disco’s (particularly Belle and Sebastian which I haven’t listened to in years). It was great to rediscover some old favourites and find some new music too.
Interestingly the story is told from the point of views of Ali and Dan with flashbacks from their relationship as teenagers which helped me to understand more about their lives both in the past and in the present. I really enjoyed following their story and laughed and cried alongside them. Towards the end I found myself rationing how much of the book I read per day as I really didn’t want the story to end which is always a sign of a great book.
This was the first book I’ve read by this author and I’ll definitely be reading more books by her in the future. I highly recommend this book to everyone as I think it would appeal to many different types of reader.
Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Hayley at Transworld for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
Jane Sanderson was born in South Yorkshire in 1962. She studied English at Leicester University, then after graduating she became a journalist. After a series of jobs with local newspapers she joined the BBC where she worked as a producer for Radio 4, first on the World at One, and then on Woman’s Hour. She lives with her husband, the Independent journalist and author Brian Viner, and their three children in rural Herefordshire.
Good morning everyone and happy Sunday! I’m on the blog tour for The Spirit Of Prophecy by J. J Hughes today and have a great extract to share with you.
Before I share this extract, here’s a little about the book.
Book Synopsis:
A gifted psychic but an emotional wreck, Rosetta Barrett is much more than a simple Detective seconded to a sleepy, rural English constabulary. She’s part of the International psychic CID, and a high-ranking member of EPIS (Elite Paranormal Intelligence Services) a super-secret, Inter-Governmental, global organization, based underground in Dulce, USA. EPIS is tasked with dealing with the new realities of the twenty-first century – the rise of AI and ensuring robotic, deep-learning doesn’t lead to humanity’s destruction; alien visitation and cracking their telepathic communication codes are also part of the remit. Plus expanding psychic powers including prophecy, in order to automate crime prediction and prevention.
When Juliet Jermaine’s Olympic Champion horse Gothic, and his teenage stable-hand rider are callously murdered, in what appears to be a terrorist-inspired road-rage incident, the police are baffled. Even EPIS are behind the curve, as this doesn’t fit any MO they’ve ever come across before. Plus, with the arrival of some rogue E.T.’s back at the Dulce HQ, the time portal is dangerously malfunctioning. So, Barrett will have to rely on old fashioned door-to-door detective work to try, and unravel the cause and effect buried way back in the past. Linear time is running down, meanwhile can they stop the incidents from speeding up, and the death count inexorably rising?
The murder investigation takes first Rosetta, and then Juliet to Southern Ireland, where they both fall for the devilishly handsome, Irish-traveller, horse dealer, Tommy Rafferty. Does Tommy know more about the road rage deaths than he’s letting on, and ultimately will he betray his soul mate, Juliet, to save his clan?
With Barrett’s ex-husband, a power-obsessed Foreign Office Diplomat to Russia being a prime suspect, and Jermaine not taking the karmic connection seriously, Rosetta is under intense pressure. She knows only too well that Wrongs not Atoned = #HIT-REPEAT.
For all her experience and gifts, has Detective Barrett more than met her match? Is she simply in way too deep this time, with no chance of ESCAPE?
The Spirit Of Prophecy is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.
Extract:
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE Juliet Inis Cara
The drive to the Dublin airport would take half an hour or so. Not far, but too far considering the effect the celebrations had on Tommy’s brain. He swayed slightly and slurred his words. Juliet sighed as she shoved him into the Jeep on the passenger side. She decided not to mention the strange threat. It was probably one of his jilted lovers who’d had too much to drink. Not the only one, she thought with a shrug. ‘I’m perfectly-perfect capable of driving,’ he insisted, to no avail. ‘An’ you’ll never manage this temperamental old girl.’ She laughed. Although she didn’t find inebriated men particularly attractive, she couldn’t be pissed off with him for long. He looked so like a little-lost-boy. Sure, he had well and truly pickled his liver, but then today his horse had won the local Grand National. ‘I’ll handle it. I’ve got my HGV license and I’m used to driving horse-boxes the size of houses. Now can you just quit bitching and concentrate on where we’re going.’ ‘Aye-aye, captain.’ He had the window open and his elbow poked out. The breeze ruffled his hair so that it flapped gently against the collar of his jacket. ‘Why don’t you put your sunglasses on and hide your bloodshot eyes?’ She double-declutched, but the gearshift still jumped, screeching in protest at her attempted change. ‘Charmed, I’m sure. I can’t look as bad as all that.’ ‘Worse.’ She laughed. Then she looked up and saw the sign saying two miles to the airport – only two miles until she left Ireland, Espiritus, and Tommy behind. Her laughter disintegrated into the hollow emptiness of her stomach. Half an hour later, they sat lingering over a cup of coffee in the airport restaurant, which had huge sixties-style windows that overlooked the runway. Her phone pinged as a message came in. She glanced at the screen and read the text from DS Barrett wanting to know Espiritus’ date of birth. ‘Can you tell me when Espiritus was born?’ It was a long shot, she decided, given the alcohol-addled state of his brain, but as usual he surprised her. ‘Of course, I can. It’s 17th February 2017. It was a long night, a long labour, and bloody well freezing. But it turned out grand in the end an’ all.’ Tommy grinned. ‘Cheers,’ she said, texting the detective back with the details. ‘Can you let me have a copy of her passport? I’ll need it for the import paperwork.’ He nodded. ‘I’ll email it as soon as I get home.’ ‘Thanks.’ Juliet sighed. Then, she stared out the window. The light had faded, and the runway was lit up, so she could just make out a plane about to take off. The announcement system called the gate number for the Aer Lingus flight to Heathrow, and her heart sank. She glanced at her watch, willing the second hand to stop. In less than half an hour, she would be boarding a plane back to England. ‘It’s almost time,’ she said, unable to meet his eye. ‘What gate was it again?’ ‘Seven?’ He seemed better after the injection of caffeine, but his voice still sounded dull and listless. ‘So, what are we going to do?’ He looked her straight in the eye, his meaning direct and personal. ‘I don’t know,’ she said, turning away. She had been dreading this moment. ‘Stay,’ he said as he reached over and held her hands. ‘I mean it. Oh, I’ve never been one for settling down, and I can’t make any promises about the future, but I think this time it could be different.’ She hesitated. Her doubts came not from the tremendous strength of her feelings for him but from a more practical and mundane level. Ireland was an inconvenient platform to underpin her eventing career, and she’d come too far, worked too hard not to maximize her chances of success. ‘The timing’s not right. I need to focus on securing a ride for Badminton. There might not even be enough time left for that, so it might be Burghley for the next big outing.’ She paused. ‘I need to get a string of four-star horses in order to qualify for the next Olympics.’ ‘But after that, surely you can move your horses and make your base here with me?’ His eyes blazed with passionate intensity. She gulped, not trusting herself to speak. Right now, her ambition to win another gold medal transcended everything. She had to go back home to Matt, at least until she had the horse, and yet she wanted Tommy so badly. ‘Maybe. It’s a way off. Let’s see.’ ‘Matt will never understand you like I do. Never in a thousand years.’ ‘Please.’ She pulled herself free. ‘It’s all happening so quickly. Don’t you think we ought to wait a while?’ ‘I know it’s what you really want. Damn it. Just say yes.’ ‘Oh,’ she whispered, and her answer rose from her heart. ‘Of course, I want us to be together. It’s just that… well. Maybe you could move to England?’ Tommy shrugged. ‘I’m an Irishman born and bred. No offence intended, but I don’t set much store by England and most of the English. Some o’ them look down their noses as if we’re only fit for tarmacking driveways and the like. But for you, since you’re an American and they love the Irish, I’ll think about it.’ At that moment, the sound of a phone ringing came shrill and insistent from the depths of her purse. Juliet jumped. She looked down and snatched up her cell phone. ‘Don’t answer it.’ Tommy leaned over the table and grabbed her arm with an unexpected roughness. As his face moved closer, she could smell the whiskey on his breath. ‘Tommy, please…’ He loosened his grip and watched every move as she picked up the phone and took the call. ‘Hello?’ ‘Juliet, good news,’ Matt said without any hint of animosity or anger. ‘We got full planning permission and Land Development Ltd. have just improved their offer by half a million. I think I can increase that to three-quarters of a million more. It’s the chance of a lifetime.’ ‘Oh, that’s great,’ came her flat reply. ‘And that’s not all. Chi-Chi Charlie’s in the bag.’ He paused. ‘They’ll get him moved to our yard next week, but with one proviso. Soon, we’ll need to find a base near the M1. When are you coming home?’ Juliet bit her lip. ‘I’m at the airport.’ She looked at Tommy and registered the pain and confusion in his face. She screwed her eyes tight shut. ‘Hello, did you hear me?’ Juliet took a deep breath. ‘Yes, I heard you.’ She turned the phone off and replaced it in her purse. ‘Matt found me a four-star horse that’s entered for Badminton. I have to go back. It’s my last chance to qualify.’ ‘Right you are, then,’ Tommy said, his tone even, but the look of desolation on his face told a different story. She felt his pain as sharp and keen as if she owned it. ‘Tommy, please. Right now, I have to do this, but we can work something out. We can –’ she started, but he raised a finger to her lips. ‘Shush. You know that we’re meant to be together now. Don’t you?’ They both stood up and took a few steps. He drew her in his arms and held her close. ‘Well then,’ he said at last. ‘It’s time to be making tracks. Now, you have my mobile number?’ ‘Yes.’ She forced herself to walk slowly towards the departure gate. ‘And you’ll be sure to phone me about the arrangements for Espiritus, and anything else? You won’t hesitate to call me, anytime, if there are any problems?’ Juliet turned. She wanted to speak but she couldn’t. She said no with a shake of her head and tried to swallow the lump in her throat. She stopped. Neither of them moved. She didn’t want to let him out of her sight. A loudspeaker announcement called for the last passengers on her flight to board immediately. Reluctantly, she set off, wondering how it would feel without him. But right now, she had to be tough. She had to make sure that she brought home another Olympic gold. Aim straight and keep your focus. She gave herself an internal pep talk. ‘Juliet,’ he called, sprinting after her. ‘There’s something that I must tell you. I –’ Juliet waved. ‘I’ll call you when I land.’ And she continued briskly to the gate, wondering what he had to say that was so important.
About The Author:
J.J Hughes was born in Cottingley, a quaint little village in West Yorkshire, UK. Her grandfather Arthur Shackleton [was related to Sir Ernest Shackleton, the polar explorer – but the furthest grand-dad travelled perhaps was up the road to the men -only social club, but then he rose early and worked long and hard and filled the house with the amazing aromas of freshly baked cakes and bread..so could not be kneading dough and adventuring at the same time. Mouths always have to be fed, don’t they and baking is hard, hot, thirsty work] J.J. Hughes parents Margaret and Arnold Simpson lived with her grandfather above the shop, the house was large, old and rambling with a proliferation of attics and spider filled cellars, if you cared to look closely- generally the author did not, preferring to spend her time playing catch, hop-scotch and the like in the cobbled streets, catching minnows in the beck [a small stream] or swimming beneath the waterfall which is famous for fairies, after two local girls [Elsie Wright and Frances Griffiths] photographed them in 1917 [Or did they?]. Subsequently the photo’s proved to be fake, and this inspired a movie called ‘Fairy Tale: A True Story’ which starred Peter O’Toole playing Sir Arthur Conan Doyle [the creator/author of Sherlock Holmes.] He was taken in by the hoax, but then again to this day J.J.Hughes believes in elves/fairies/mermaids/unicorns and all things Elemental and Other Worldly. Nearby to Cottingley is the author’s Favourite Place: think Hovis ad’s , steam trains, cobbled streets, try Tetleys real ale in Haworth, which is famous for the wild moors and the Bronte sisters – who wrote ‘Wuthering Heights’ and ‘Jane Eyre’ which are two of her Favourite Novels , along with ‘Pride and Prejudice’ [Jane Austen] and ‘Gone with the Wind’ [Margaret Mitchell]. Feisty heroines and fill-their-boots heroes, win hands down every time? J.J.Hughes was blessed and inspired by two incredible English teachers, Paddy and Vanda. Thanks to Paddy, a brilliant photographer [a passionate, Irish man with big beard, bowler hat and rather eccentric black flowing cape] she developed a life long love of film as a medium. Later, after leaving school, she studied English/American Literature with Film Studies at the University of East Anglia [U.E.A.] Norwich, and subsequently an MA in Creative Writing at Surrey University. Career wise, after a year or so teaching English abroad she accidentally landed a job in the City of London in an Investment Bank. After three amazing children came along, she quit the City and headed for the Surrey Hills, trained as a Life Coach and Passion Test Facilitator, and went on to co-author a No 1 Best Selling Spiritual self help book called ‘Inspired by the Passion Test’. J.J Hughes is passionate about horses, the paranormal, New Age spirituality, self-development, travel, karma and reincarnation, crime…justice….. in no particular order. She has had numerous prophetic premonitions – usually about death, which so far despite a few close shaves she has escaped. She came to believe in reincarnation in her mid-twenties when her old horse Red made a re-appearance, this time as a palomino called Hooray Henry. Now, she’s an experienced Coach/Mentor, Passion Test Facilitator and Soul Re-alignment specialist. Topics currently piquing her interest are Spirituality and Science, where she’s hoping to see more inter-disciplinary co-operation, to solve the great remaining mysteries of life including man’s origins. On that note she’s keen on Panspermia – the theory of life being seeded from outer space. She’s mighty curious about Aliens- when will they come out of the closets – and what are the ethical, moral and other massive implications of A.I. and Robots? Will the FANGS [Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, Google..sorts] colonise Mars- will we get all the plastic out of the seas? Will humanity swap hugs and harmony for mass destruction? Love and Light from J.J.Hughes x
The trouble with secrets is that you can’t guess what the consequences will be . . .
Lainey has lost everything. Luckily one little fib (OK, quite a big fib) helps nail her dream job. Soon she’s living in a stunning house by the sea, fending off obsessed fans for a retired – if far-from-retiring – actor and organising his charming but chaotic family. It’s definitely worth the challenge of keeping her secret.
At least Lainey isn’t looking for love. It’s time for a break from all that. And yet . . . Seth, the actor’s grandson, really is rather attractive. There’s growing chemistry and a definite connection between them. But how would he react if he knew she hadn’t been honest with him?
Lainey’s not the only one with a secret, though. Seth has one of his own. And everything’s about to start unravelling . . .
It Started With A Secret is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.
My Review:
I’m a huge fan of this author and always look forward to new books from her. This is another wonderful, feel good read which is perfect for curling up with.
Firstly there are some fabulous characters in this book which were an absolute joy to read about. They just made the book for me with all their loud, mad antics which made me smile. They are a great mix of different personalities which made them very interesting to read about. I found myself wishing I knew this family in real life as they seemed a lot of fun.
I thought the story was very entertaining and I soon found myself absorbed into the story. I so enjoyed getting to know the family and found the book hard to put down as I didn’t want to leave their world. The story was well plotted with plenty of surprises to keep the readers interest. I loved how the story managed to be so heartwarming and funny as it made it an easy, fun read which I loved to escape into after a hard day.
Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Headline for my copy of this book. I can’t wait for her next book!
About The Author:
Jill Mansell’s books are full of love, life and friendship and have been bringing joy to readers for twenty-five years. She started writing fiction while working in the NHS, after joining a local creative writing class. She has since written over twenty Sunday Times bestsellers, including MAYBE THIS TIME, THIS COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING and YOU AND ME, ALWAYS, and her books have sold over 11 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 – Jill is one of the few authors who still write their books by hand. Jill also loves people-watching and finding new characters to put in her novels. So when you’re out, make sure to always be on your best behaviour. And beware of beady-eyed authors carrying notebooks . . .
Jill keeps in touch with her readers on Twitter – @JillMansell – and Facebook – /OfficialJillMansell.
Over The Rainbow Blog 