The Devil's Tune by Fran Kempton #BlogTour

"Music... it followed me everywhere although I could not sing or play a note. Persistent melodies rang in my head. Gesualdo's ghastly madrigals, Gaetano's light-hearted gondolier songs, the chanting of the mass, even the tune the peddler whistled in Sicily".

The Devil's Tune by Fran Kempton is a fabulously engaging, dark historical novel set in the late 16c - early 17C. The story moves from Sicily to Naples, Venice and many other Italian locations in between.

This rich historical tapestry shimmers with darkness.

The novel is based on the true story of Carlo Gesualdo, Prince of Venosa and Count of Conza, who is famous for his madrigals, sacred music and for murdering his first wife and her lover. His life has been an inspiration for several operas and Werner Herzog movie.

We first encounter Laura Scala at Carlo Gesualdo's palace in Naples in 1585. Years earlier Laura, then a 13-years-old girl, a rape victim on the run, was rescued by Gesualdo's wife in Sicily and taken into their household. 

The Princess, Donna Maria d'Avalos, has to endure the fate of the aristocratic woman of her times, being valued for her title, dowry and family connections only. She herself is a pawn, who has no freedom of choice. She's been married off three times by her unscrupulous vultures of parents. 

Laura watches "Donna Maria growing more bored and dissatisfied with her life. Perhaps she was tired of being passed from husband to husband, finally reaching the Prince of Venosa, the man with the dead eyes, who loved only music and horses".

Donna Maria confides her secrets to Laura. "I believe my attachment to Donna Maria and her fondness for me lay in the fact that we kept each other's secrets". Outwardly she appears a demure, angelic noblewoman, but she is passionate and fiery, and totally unappreciated by her husband.

And like many aristocratic wives in her position, Donna Maria seeks relief from her dull, unremarkable husband with a young passionate lover. Only she is quite indiscreet about it. She openly discusses her lover with her maid. "I was not exactly her confidante - she was too grand for that, but I was her accomplice and therefore kept close".

When the Prince finds out about the affair, his revenge is savage. Laura Scala witnesses the events and vowes to avenge her mistress's brutal murder.

Fuelled by her mission of revenge, Laura travels from Naples to Venice, where she meets a kind-hearted gondolier and becomes a lady's maid in the Venetian ghetto.

More tragic events follow. Laura is convinced she's the bringer of misfortune to everyone who she cares about. When Donna Maria was alive, she has gifted three pearls to Laura as her future dowry. These beautiful gems will play an important part in her life.

Is Laura truly cursed? Or is it her connection with the ignoble Prince who dabbles in the occult?

The Prince is a mesmerising character. "He could have been a monk - or a criminal. The most extraordinary thing about him was his hands with their long fingers, like a spider. They were a musician's fingers, it was said". A talented musician, his compositions were experimental and ahead of his time. There is evidence that the Prince has been tortured by guilt until his dying day, which may have influenced the style of his music.

Alex Ross wrote in The New Yorker, "If Gesualdo had not committed such shocking acts, we might not pay such close attention to his music. But if he had not written such shocking music we would not care so much about his deeds. Many bloodier crimes have been forgotten; it's the nexus of high art and foul play that catches our fancy".

The author tells her story in rich, vivid detail. It is an intoxicating novel of art, love and revenge. Deeply researched, The Devil's Tune vividly captures the volatile historical period, and the unenviable fate of women, whatever class and status they belonged to.

Potential triggers: rape, murder including infanticide.

 Purchase Links

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Devils-Tune-Italian-trilogy-ebook/dp/B07CQ8FDP3

US - https://www.amazon.com/Devils-Tune-Italian-trilogy-ebook/dp/B07CQ8FDP3

Author Bio – Frances Kempton  is a reclusive writer fleeing from  the clutches of Jane Austen.

She has an obsession with Italy. This is the first book in an Italian trilogy.

This post is part of the blog tour for The Devil's Tune.

Many thanks to Fran Kempton and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

Degustabox Selection

 I always enjoy opening the subscription food boxes from Degustabox, as I love surprises. Degustabox Selection is one of their best yet.

Degustabox is a monthly food and drink subscription box. It's an excellent way of discovering new products which have only just appeared in the shops, or those whoch have been around in a while but you haven't had a chance to try them yet.

Thanks to Degustbox, I have found new favourites to add to our shopping list, including some products which I probably wouldn't have tried otherwise.

Each time the monthly box arrives, its contents are a total surprise. You get a good selection of foods and drinks.

Degustabox Selection is a premium selection of 10-14 high-quality fine food and drink items. It gives you a unique unboxing experience of exploring exciting new products and flavours. Only limited quantities are available and this offer will not be repeated. Give yourself or someone you love a well-deserved treat today!

What did we get in Degustabox Selection box?

Aspall Premier Cru Cyder (£2.20) is the product of the month. Crafted at the original Cyder House in Suffolk, Aspall Premier Cru is a refined and elegant cyder with a fresh apple taste and long dry finish. It has floral notes and presents a perfect balance of acidity and soft tannins. Recommended to be served with roast pork, spicy tagines, Red Leicester and White Stilton.

It is vegan friendly and naturally gluten free.

If you enjoy cider (cyder) based cocktails, how about a Cider Sangria or a Snakebite cocktail?!

Available in all major supermarkets and at Majestic.

Odysea Extra Virgin Olive Oil (£8.99): both Greek Early Harvest and Kalamata PDO are produced with hand-picked olives from groves in the Peloponnese, an area known for its fine oil. The oil is cold extracted within hours of the olive harvest to ensure exceptional quality and flavour.

Greek Early Harvest Extra Virgin Olive Oil is produced with hand-picked Megaritiki olives and sourced by Yannis Sellas from groves in Corinth. It's a complex medium to robust oil, with notes of green herbs and salad leaves. 

As I go through litres of olive oil, cooking all kinds of meals, I was delighted with this product. 

You should receive 1 od 2 items in your box.

Available on odysea.com, Amazon, at Sainsbury's and Wholefoods.

Hilltop Hot Honey (£3.50 for 340g) is a honey infused with chillies. It's an inspired combination of sweet and spicy. Hilltop signature honey is infused with chillies for an innovatory and sophisticated taste. 

Free from additives and bursting with flavour. It works great as a base of marinade for meat or drizzled over vegetables (sweet potatoes, carrots, parsnips, beetroot). Add sweet heat to ice-cream, pizza, cocktails and more.

It is more suitable for people who love spicy food. My younger son didn't quite appreciate a crumpet with this honey.

I used it to make a salad dressing, and also drizzled over the roasted vegetables.

Available at lovehilltop.com

Lyons Coffee Bags (Go-Joe/Rockadero/Perkadilly or Decaf Dreams, £2.20) are compostable coffee bags which can go in the food recycing or green waste bin. The bags are a convenient way of enjoying a freshly roasted ground coffee, without a mess.

You will receive 1 of 4 flavours in your box.

When you buy a box of Lyons coffee bags, they make a donation to Project Waterfall, which is committed to providing a sustainable source of safe water and sanitation for coffee growing communities around the world.

Geeta's mango chutney is one of my favourite products. And their lime pickle is excellent too. I was delighted to see a couple of items from Geeta's extensive range.

Geeta's Sweet & Spicy Mango Sauce (£1.50) is inspired by the family-favourite mango chutney recipes. This versatile sauce is made with juicy Indian mangoes, a pinch of chilli and a selection of aromatic spices (cumin, cardamom, black pepper and nigella seeds).

Use it as a dip for vegetable sticks, a drizzle over your favourite salad or jacket potatoes, a marinade for kebabs, both meat-based and vegetarian, or in a stir fry.

Available at Ocado, Amazon, and Geeta's online shop.

Geeta's Tandoori Marinade (£0.75) helps create a delicious North Indian dish from Punjab, which is simple and easy to prepare. 

Ingredients include paprika, salt, roasted cumin powder, dried ginger, dried garlic, roasted fenugreek powder, dried mint, chilli powder, black pepper powder, dried mango powder, dried fenugreek leaf, dried lemon juice powder, cardamon powder, cinnamon powder, cloves powder, cumin powder and bay leaf powder.

The recipe on the back of the sachet is for a Tandoori chicken, but it could also be used with king prawns or paneer.

I haven't tried it yet, as I plan to take it with us when we stay in a cottage on holidays.

Rustichella d'Abruzzo Penne (£3.49) is a product of Italy. This Durum Wheat Semolina pasta is bronze drawn, and dried slowly at low temperature. The pasta has a unique texture and a superior taste.

Rustichella d'Abruzzo was born in 1924 and after almost 100 years of history, this is the pasta brand used by the best chefs around the world.

Perfect with a tomato-based sauce, with fresh basil, and Grana or Parmesan cheese.

Available at odysea.com/brands/rustichella

Mr Filbert's Chilli & Fennel Gourmet Mixed Nuts (£1.75) is an exciting snack, made with 100% natural ingredients. It is gluten and dairy free, and contains nothing artificial. These mixed nuts (peanuts, cashews and almonds) are roasted to perfection, and flavoured with chipotle chillies and fennel.

A great little snack for when you're feeling peckish, or as part of a cheese and snack board.

Suitable for vegans, these nuts are a great source of plant protein.

Available on Ocado, Amazon and at www.mrfilberts.com

Mr Filbert's Classic Dry Roasted Peanuts (£0.99) are a twist on the classic recipe. Suitable for vegans and free from gluten and dairy, they contain no artificial flavours and preservatives. A good source of plant protein. 

Ingredients include 94% peanuts with sea salt, yeast extract, smoked paprika, ground celery seed, onion powder, rapeseed oil, garlic powder.

If you love peanuts, you will find them irresistible.

Avaialble at Ocado, Amazon and www.mrfilberts.com

Who doesn't love Bahlsen biscuits? Bahlsen Ohne Gleichen Milk (£1.79) are a delicious treat, great with a cup of hot chocolate, tea or coffee. You get a delightful praline cream sandwiched between two crisp wafers and topped with a square of creamy mild chocolate.

Nutritional information: 174kcal and 11g of sugar per 3 biscuits.

Available at Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Ocado.

Mackie's of Scotland Pickled Onion Potato Crisps (£1.70) are thick cut potato crisps made in Perthshire, Scotland, by the award winning family business Mackie's, who use the best varieties of potatoes and carefully selected seasonings, and never add any artificial colours and flavourings.

Suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

These crisps have a great crunch and dry texture. If you love the taste of pickled onion, you'll be in a crisps' heaven with this pack.

Available in all major retailers, selected Scottish stores only.

The Original Black Garlic 1Shot Pate (£1.99) is described as "a flavour bomb, missing ingredient and superfood in one". Its flavour is a combination of sweet and savoury umami. This handy pate will add depth to a variety of dishes, from chilli to Bolgnese, from dressings to stocks, stir fries, risotto and sauces.

You should get 2 items in your box. Range is available at Sainsbury's. Ottolenghi, Planet Organic, Sous Chef and Spice Mountain.

And finally, the drinks - Double Dutch Drinks (Cucumber & Watermelon Mixer/Skinny Tonic Water/Pomegranate & Basil Mixer, £0.60 per can or £3.50 for a pack of 6).

Double Dutch founders Joyce and Raissa are passionate about all things flavour. Their inspired range of naturally flavoured drink mixers and soft drinks features among others such lovely flavours as Cucumber & Watermelon, Pomegranate & Basil and Skinny Tonic. These are great mixers for gin and other spirits.

You should receive 3 items in your box.

Use code DEGUSTASUMMER10 at doubledutchdrinks.com for 10% off your order.

Available at Waitrose, Ocado & Amazon.

What did I tell you?! A fantastic selection! 

Picnic Degustabox

 It's hard to believe we're already in peak summer. The school will be over in a blink of an eye, and long summer holidays will begin in earnest. Time to think of picnics and outdoor treats.

Picnic is the theme of the latest Degustabox selection. And you just know, when Degustabox invites you to a picnic, there will be lots of treats.

Degustabox is a monthly food and drink subscription box. It's an excellent way of discovering new products which have only just appeared in the shops, or those which have beena around in a while but you haven't had a chance to try them yet.

Thanks to Degustabox, I have found new favourites to add to our shopping list, including some products which I probably wouldn't have tried otherwise.

Each time the monthly box arrives, its contents are a total surprise. You get a good selection of foods and drinks.

If you haven't tried Degustabox subscription box yet, and would like to have a go, I have a £3 off discount from your first box (and you can unsubscribe any time), just use code DKRLN when placing an order.

What did we get in Picnic Degustabox?

McVitie's British Icons Chocolate Digestives (Strawberry Cheesecake Flavour or Lemon Drizzle Flavour, £1.59) has been selected as product of the month. This dazzling twist on the classic chocolate digestives has been inspired by the iconic British desserts. Lemon Drizzle makes you think of the zingy dessert, while Strawberry Cheesecake has a lovely flavour of summer fruit. Combined with the crunchy digestive base and smooth milk chocolate, this is a welcome addition to any tea or coffee break.

You will receive 1 of 2 flavours in the box. We've got a Lemon Drizzle one, but we also tried the Strawberry Cheesecake, as we've spotted it in the supermarket.

Available in all major supermarket chains.

Nutritional information: 80kcal and 4.6g of sugar per biscuit.

The Coconut Collaborative Little Choc Pots (£2.50) are utterly heavenly. I love coconut-based desserts, and these treats come in just the right size, not too big, not too small. Lovely treats to go with a coffee or as an after-dinner course. You can also make a dairy free hot chocolate with them, but I just gobbled them up before I had a chance to try it. 

Nutritional information: 100kcal and 6.8g of sugar per pot. These choc pots are gluten free, ethically sourced and 100% plant-based.

Available in all major supermarkets.

NINE bars (Dark Choc, Pistachio & Brazil; Salted Caramel & Pecan or White Choc & Raspberry, £1.29): each NINE bar provides nine powerful benefits, designed to look after your health and wellbeing.

Sunflower, pumpkin, flax and hemp seeds are the nutritional force behind each bar. There's at least 50% seeds in every single flavour.

You will receive 2 of 3 flavours. I love the combination of nuts, seeds and dark chocolate, and enjoyed the Dark Chocolate, Pistachio & Brazil bar. 

Available at Morrisons, Tesco, Amazon, Ocado & Holland & Barrett.

PLAYinCHOC JustChocBox M.LK (£1.69) is a creamy natural and organic vegan chocolate. With 1/3 less sugar than most chocolates, the recipe includes organic Peruvian cacao, coconut and vanilla.

It is dairy, nut and gluten free. Other brand credentials: they are plastic-free, zero-waste, ethical and sustainable.

Available at www.playinchoc.com

Sun-Pat EXTRA Salted Caramel Crunchy Peanut Butter (£3) is a flavoured peanut butter. There is a pronounced trend nowadays to make flavoured peanut butter, with some ideas better than the others. I wasn't quite convinced about Marmite flavour. 

But salted caramel works very well. Thankfully, it is not too sweet, and has a good salty taste. The texture is a combination of smooth and crunchy, you get whole caramel coated peanuts.

Available at Tesco.

I made a batch of peanut butter cookies with it, and they didn't last long.

Well & Truly Crunchies (£0.80) are gluten free snacks, made of 100% natural ingredients. 

I haven't had a chance to try them. We had electrical works done in the house, and I offered these snacks with coffee to the team. One of them is an Aussie, and he asked where I got these snacks, which reminded him of some tasty snacks from home.

If you fancy trying them yourselves, you can get a 25% off on your 1st purchase for all flavours (except bundles) at www.wellandtruly.co.uk if you use code DB25.

They come in several flavours, and you will receive 2 of 3 in the box. Avaialable in Tesco, Sainsbury's, Ocado, Waitrose, Amazon, Wholefoods, at wellandtruly.co.uk and Booths.

Carr's Black Olive Melts (£1.49) are a tasty savoury snack. Deliciously crisp, munch them on their own, or as part of a cheeseboard. Also great with dips, try them with hummus or babaganoush. They have a lovely melting texture.

Nutritional values: 22kcal and 0.4g of sugar per biscuit.

Available in all major retailers.

Deli Kitchen Carb Lite Wraps (£1.40) are great for lunches and picnics. These are vegan-friendly wraps, convenient for a quick and easy meal. There is just 14.6g of carbs. They are a source of protein and are high in fibre.

My younger son loves wraps in his school lunch box. His favourite combination is ham, cheese and ketchup. Yes, he's a ketchup man. You can make them suitable for a meat-free meal, with hummus, salad, sweet peppers and falafel; or with cream cheese and smoked salmon for pescatarians.

Available at Tesco.

Hellmann's Garlic & Herv Sauce 250ml Squeeze (£1.70) is a versatile condiment, suitable for a variety of meals and recipes. Add it to salads, wraps, sandwiches, jacket potatoes, burgers or use as a picnic dip. It is creamy and has a lovely garlic flavour.

It is vegetarian and gluten free, and comes in recyclable bottles.

Available at Tesco, Sainsbury's, ASDA, Co-Op and at Ocado.

Original Korean Kimchi Mix (£1.20) is an exciting international product. You can make your own kimchi by just sprinkling the vegetables with the kimchi mix. You can eat it right away or let it ferment for at least 3-6 hours at room temperature.

Ingredients include red pepper powder, sugar, salt, garlic powder, anchovy fish sauce powder, ginger powder, kelp powder, onion powder, green onion powder, radish powder, carrot powder and more.

Available soon in the UK.

And finally, the drinks:

XITE Nootropic Energy (£1.50) is a vegan energy drink. Have you heard of nootropic drinks (me neither)?! Now is your chance to find out what it is. Nootropics are proven to increase cognitive function, particularly executive functions such as memory, creativity and motivation. 

Perfect for the gym, studying or any other busy activity day. Zero sugar, vegan, XITE contain natural caffeine and no preservatives.

We received a Raspberry & Watermelon flavoured XITE, which contains 3 active nootropics, 118mg natural caffeine and 5 vitamins.

Avaiable at Holland & Barrett, WHSmith and Booths.

Caleño Light & Zesty non-alcoholic drink (£2). Long gone are the days when designated drivers or teetotalers had to nurse a sad-looking coke or other soda at a party. Now there are so many different varieties of non-alcoholic drinks.

Caleño Light & Zesty non-alcoholic drink is a distilled blend of Inca berry, pineapple, papaya, coriander, juniper berry, green cardamom & lemon peel, twisted with naturally light tonic for the ultimate fiesta. Doesn't it sound wonderful?!

It is suitable for vegans, allergen free and contains no artifical flavourings.

What a box of treats!

Elle's A to Z of Love by Claire Huston #BlogTour

 

"The headlights briefly illuminated the village sign and Elle felt the intense rush of happiness she always experienced when she returned to the beautiful place which was home to the people she loved most in the world."

Elle's A to Z of Love by Claire Huston is a perfect summer read, uplifting, entertaining and romantic.

Last year I read and reviewed Claire's book Art & Soul, and have been following her on Insta since then. If you enjoy looking at the photos of delicious bakes and family treats, then check out Claire's Insta feed.

I live in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, and enjoy the familiar settings in books. The fictional village of Haileybrook, in the peaceful Cotswolds countryside, could be described as an idyllic place. As one of the main character's friends describes it, "This place is downright idyllic. And the church must be booked solid for weddings and christenings. It should feature on Christmas cards."

But all this charm and picturesque scenery don't appeal to Elle. Born and raised in this small village, she is dreaming of escaping this place for good. From an early age she had a plan, to pack her suitcase, stride down the High Street, saying Good bye to the village, walking "past the sign which marked the eastern boundary of the village and the beginning of the open road. That was when she would break into song". 

"Her plan had changed subtly over the years, but the main point remianed the same: get out of Haileybrook at all costs". Elle dreams of moving to London after finishing her degree. Her bestie Serena offers her a spare room in their family flat, and the bright lights are calling her. 

Elle has big plans of travelling abroad with Serena and visiting all the places she's been reading about. We first encounter her in the library, reading A Room with a View, sitting in a hidden corner, letting "her imagination roam the pages of her favourite stories".

As she reads Forster, she cannot help being distracted by an attractive stranger being knocked down to the carpet by the heavy volumes falling from the top shelves (entirely his own fault, who steps on the wobbly first shelf to access the books above?!). It so happens, that Zach studies computer science.

There is an immediate attraction, and an invitation issued to the party. But the fates interfere in the budding romance. Elle has to get back to Haileybrook straight away. 

That's the story of her life. Every time Elle is ready to explore the big wide world, her old loves and loyalties pull her back.

And it's not just the family who want her nearby. There's a smoking hot Adam who works in the pub, and Toby, "handsome in a brooding, Heathcliff sort of way". Elle's been hankering after Adam for years, but he didn't seem to notice her in a romantic way. Toby also sends conflicting signals.

And there's Zach who re-appears in her life as a long-distance penpal (or should that be an email-pal?).

Love is blind, and sweet Elle will have to find strength to discover what and who is right for her. She needs to stop being a crowd-pleaser and stand up for herself.

Will Elle be able to pursue her dreams and visit Florence? And will she find happiness at the distant shores or closer to home?

It is a really lovely story, laced with gentle humour. 

One of my favourite quotes from Elle's A to Z of love is about books: "E-books were fantastic and super-practical but there was nothing like a real book. Mrs Cooper felt the same. Wrinkling her nose at the e-reader the boys had given her for Christmas a few years ago, she had told Elle about how she loved the unique feel of every book in her welcoming hands, their individual crinkle, their particular heft". Amen to that. I read enough e-books (in fact, this book was sent to me in an e-format), but nothing compares to the feel of the "proper" books.

And a little teaser (you'll just have to find out who it might refer to), "Slowly, she brushed her fingertips over her tingling lips, only to find they were the same as ever. Everything seemed the same, but something had shifted. As if she had fallen asleep in a black-and-white world and woken up to find everything in blinding Technicolor." That's the power of love, it changes life to Technicolor.

Elle's A to Z of Love is crammed with romance and emotion. Pure joy!

Purchase Link

 

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B096SMVRD4

US  - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B096SMVRD4

 

Author Bio:

Claire Huston lives in Warwickshire with her husband and two children. Her debut, Art and Soul, a heart-warming contemporary romance, was published in 2020. Elle’s A to Z of Love is her second novel.

 

A keen amateur baker, she enjoys making cakes, biscuits and brownies almost as much as eating them. You can find recipes for over a hundred sweet treats at clairehuston.co.uk. This is also where she talks about and reviews books.

 

Social Media Links:

Website, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Goodreads: 

Twitter: @ClaraVal
Facebook: Claire Huston Author
Pinterest: pinterest.co.uk/claire_huston

https://linktr.ee/clairehuston_author 

This post is part of the blog tour for Elle's A to Z of Love. 

Many thanks to Claire Huston and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

Coldharbour by John Mead #BlogTour

 

Coldharbour by John Mead is a dramatic and tightly-plotted dark crime thriller, with a strong police procedural basis. It addresses such sensitive and grave issues as human trafficking, refugee camps and organised crime.

It reads perfectly well as a standalone, but it might help to understand the dynamics between the main protagonists as well as the police unit, if you've read the previous book(s) in the series.

A couple of years ago I read and reviewed The fourth victim, a crime thriller where we first encounter Detective Inspector Matthew Merry (now Chief Inspector). 

In Coldharbour we observe a more subdued and mature Merry. There are personal issues which make him rethink his work-family life (dis)balance. 

Blurb:

The Met Police’s Major Investigation Team East has its hands full: a rush of tit for tat gang related stabbings, a strangled housewife, the decomposed remains of a woman found in a ditch and more to come. Adding to their woes is their boss, Chief Inspector Matthew Merry, being distracted by his problems at home.

For Matthew’s wife, Kathy, her only concern is dealing with the aftermath of being drugged and raped by a co-worker. Will the trial of the man responsible be enough to give her the justice she demands. Or, as her therapist states, is it revenge she really desires. She doesn’t know. As her emotions see-saw from elation to depression, her only certainty is that her husband seems more concerned about his work than her.

And Matthew is only too aware of his failings both at home and work. But the police machine grinds on, seeking information and sifting evidence — justice is not their concern..

Kathy needs her husband's support more than ever. She's been sexually assaulted, and after months of delay the trial failed. Matthew thinks his wife is strong and is coping with the situation, since outwardly she maintains "a buoyant, enthusiastic air, but inwardly her emotions were in turmoil, and she could not express what she felt because she felt constantly changed". The failed trial brings a mental breakdown and depression. In anguish Kathy runs away to her old haunts in Portsmouth, only to end up as a witness in the ongoing investigation. 

Matthew should be making it easier for his wife to adjust to life, but he believes he's no much help, "when I'm with her I want to help, although the truth is that in reality, there's nothing I can say or do that makes a difference." And Kathy feels abandoned and unwanted. "The simple fact was that her husband was putting his work before her..."

There is a lot going on, and action moves from the UK across Europe, following the leads of organised crime groups traversing the borders with ease. There are several separate investigations being conducted - the young woman killed in Coldharbour, the gang running a brothel, human trafficking ring, moving people across Italy and France.

The British, French and Italian police have to work together to find out the full extent of the organised crime operation. All the relevant information is shared. Gabrielle Jouvet from the French Police Nationale is trying to find out how her colleague died while on the undercover operation in the UK. She says, "the whole point of our operation was to assess the scale of what we might be dealing with. We are well aware that people are trafficked all across Africa, the Middle and Far East, across Europe, and even into North America". The British police is only too aware of the increasing cross-channel trade in people smuggling. "Despite the political rhetoric, such trade had increased since the UK had officially cut its links with the EU".

The theme of human trafficking is one of the major plotlines in this book. Some scenes are harrowing and hard to imagine, but if you watch the news and read the political news, then you will know that the author doesn't exaggerate the extent of the human suffering in the refugee camps and the misery of modern-day slavery.

Coldharbour is a chilling thriller, credible and gut-wrenching. This book will make you stop and think. You will be riveted all the way through.

Purchase Links – 

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Coldharbour-John-Mead-ebook/dp/B08NF7VK8N

US - https://www.amazon.com/Coldharbour-John-Mead-ebook/dp/B08NF7VK8N

John Mead

John was born in the mid-fifties in Dagenham, London, on part of the largest council estate ever built, and was the first pupil from his local secondary modern school to attend university. He has now taken early retirement to write, having spent the first part of his life working in education and the public sector. He was the director of a college, a senior school inspector for a local authority, and was head of a unit for young people with physical and mental health needs. When he is not travelling, going to the theatre or the pub, he writes.

John is currently working on a seies of novels set in modern day London. These police procedurals examine the darker side of modern life in the East End of the city.

Amazon author profile: https://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B07B8SQ2ZH

Goodreads profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17891273.John_Mead

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnMeadAuthor

This post is part of the blog tour for Coldharbour.

Many thanks to John Mead and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

Angel of the Lost Treasure by Marie Laval #BlogTour

 

"Marie-Ange leant against the gates and pressed her hands against her throat to fight a wave of nausea. She wasn't Malleval's guest any longer. She was his prisoner".

Angel of the Lost Treasure by Marie Laval is a historical romance aventure. You can see how the author has been influenced by the French historical fiction - Alexandre Dumas, Juliette Benzoni, Sergeanne Golon and others.

Marie-Ange Norton, a young widow of a British Naval officer, living in England, is invited to Beauregard in France, the home of her ancestors, to collect her inheritance in person (the stipulation is non-negotiable, she has to travel to claim it). The invitation comes from Monsieur Uxeloup Malleval, the current owner of her mother's childhood home. Before the revolution her late mother's family, the Beauregards, were the wealthiest landowners in the whole of Beaujolais.

Her own manor house in England is crumbling and requires major renovations, but there is no money. Malleval had promised a substantial legacy from her mother's family estate in Beaujolais. Marie-Ange is also hoping that her French inheritance will be enough to help her younger brother-in-law to buy a commission to join the Navy. 

To help Marie-Ange travel to France, Malleval sends a travelling companion to meet and accompany her. Capitaine Hugo Saintclair appears haughty, arrogant and condensending, but needs must. France is on the eve of Napoleon's return from exile, and travelling alone for an unprotected female is out of question. 

Malleval assured her in his letter that Saintclair would be the most reliable escort. He is definitely that, but he's also misogynistic. Boasting to his companions, he talks of women with derision, "Women are like kittens. A few caresses and they purr in your arms, they just can't help it". Marie-Ange is appalled by his attitude. The Capitaine thinks that all women are "false, easy to seduce, and unable to be faithful. Well, what did he know. She would remain true to Christopher for the rest of her life".

Thus their relationship has started on the wrong foot. But the more time Marie-Ange spends in Saintclair's company, the more she gets to know that he's not one-dimensional. He's loyal, brave, dependable and passionate. 

When Marie-Ange finally arrives to Beauregard and meets her mysterious relative, she realises that Malleval had lured her to France under a false pretence. He seems to be fascinated with the Beauregards' past history and their connection to the enigmatic Count Saint-Germain, who was an extraoridnary man, a philosopher, a mystic and a scientist. He was also Marie-Ange's mother's godfather who has bequeathed her an antique piece of jewellery with a hidden message. 

Malleval expects Marie-Ange to help him locate the Cross of Life, a sacred relic hidden during the times of the Knights Templar. The coded manuscripts hint that the Beauregards' family is connected to the mystery. Marie-Ange might know more than she realises, and her life is in grave danger.

She becomes a virtual prisoner of Malleval and his macabre shadow, Dr Karloff. The only person who can help her escape this prison is Saintclair. Hugo poses another kind of danger, as their mutual attraction is not just a flame which can be easily put out.

To make the situation even more complicated, Marie-Ange sees a stranger who she's convinced is her missing husband.

Marie-Ange is a beautiful and head-strong heroine. She reminded me of Angélique, whose incredible adventures I enjoyed many years ago, in high school. She is courageous, spirited, and can stand up for herself and those she cares about (the highway robbery scene is quite phenomenal).

Angel of the Lost Treasure is a combination of historical romance, adventure, magic realism, with elements of Gothic horror, which transports you on a turbulent romp through the nineteenth-century France.

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Angel-Lost-Treasure-captivating-romantic-ebook/dp/B08TX52MWK/ref

https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/angel-of-the-lost-treasure

Author Bio

 

Originally from Lyon in France, Marie has lived in the Rossendale Valley in Lancashire for the past few years. She writes both contemporary and historical romance. Her novels include best selling contemporary romantic suspense novels LITTLE PINK TAXI and ESCAPE TO THE LITTLE CHATEAU, which was shortlisted for the 2021 RNA Jackie Collins Romantic Suspense Awards, as well as A PARIS FAIRY TALE and BLUEBELL'S CHRISTMAS MAGIC. Her latest novel, ANGEL OF THE LOST TREASURE, was released in February 2021. Marie also contributes to the best selling Miss Moonshine's Emporium anthologies together with eight author friends from Authors on the Edge.

Social Media Links – 

https://www.facebook.com/marie.laval.9/

https://twitter.com/MarieLaval1

This post is part of the blog tour for Angel of the lost treasure. Many thanks to Marie Laval and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

The Gilded Cage on the Bosphorus by Ayşe Osmanoğlu

 

"Freedom lay so tantalisingly close - just beyond the high land walls that were vigilantly patrolled on both sides by guards handpicked for their fealty to Abdülhamid... In their worst moments, Murad and his family had the feeling of being buried alive, suffocated by the unrelieved frustration and monotony of a fishbowl existence in which normal human contact was impossible".

The Gilded Cage on the Bosphorus by Ayşe Osmanoğlu is a vastly engaging, highly readable personal account of the family history. The author describes it as neither an historical novel, nor an academic study, but something sitting in between.

Ayşe Osmanoğlu says in the preface that many books have been written about the twilight years of the Ottoman Empire, but few tell the intimate story of the members of the Imperial family. She began to write this account of Sultan Murad V and his descendants, who for many years were kept captive in the Çirağan Palace by the shores of the Bosphorus, prompted by a desire to keep their memory alive.

This fascinating book covers the early years of the XX century. Sultan Murad was the 33rd sovereign of the Ottoman Dynasty. "His reign of only three months was the shortest among those of the thirty-six sultans of the dynasty. In August 1876 his brother Sultan Abdülhamid II replaced him as Sultan, and thereafter kept him and his entire family confined within the walls of the Çirağan Palace for twenty-eight years - until the death of the former Sultan Murad in 1904".

The thoroughly enlightening account starts with the story of a birth of a prince, the great grandson of Murad. The event is conducted according to the centuries-old traditions, with every precaution taken to ward off the evil eye, to protect the mother in labour and her baby. Every object is chosen carefully, and symbolises gratitude for the safe delivery of the child and signifies a bright new life.

To celebrate the birth of their new family member, the whole clan is invited to the big feast. Sultan Murad had eight consorts (spouses) as well as many favourites. Though not all of his wives were alive by then, it was still a very big family unit, with numerous children and grandchildren.

During the years of confinement, many "unbending rules of protocol that were a time-honoured feature of the Ottoman Court had been abandoned by Murad". He appears to be a devoted family man, who enjoys the company of his kinsfolk above all.

Murad follows the latest politics with anxiety, but imprisoned in the palace, he has no power to change anything. The new century heralds immense changes, with the anarchy and revolution threatening the established order.

Nihad, Murad's grandson, is also concerned about the Entente Cordiale, and what this treaty between two countries who have been enemies for centuries, means for the rest of the world. This treaty has far-reaching implications for the Ottoman Empire. Selahaddin (Murad's son) discusses the recent political events with his father and son, "As the new century begins to unfold, it is time our government planned the future of the Empire and ensured that we are in a position to protect our people..."

These are dangerous times for the once mighty Ottoman Empire, as it powerful enemies plot its fall. The former Sultan is an enlightened Liberal, much influenced by the French culture and ideas. His vision of the Empire is in a total opposition to Sultan Abdülhamid II. 

Only death will release Murad from his imprisonment.

Ayşe Osmanoğlu unpacks the secrets of the palace and the empire, with intrigues galore and scandals shattering the family. 

As the author says, it's neither a novel, nor an academic study. For a fictional account, it is too reverential, as if the author doesn't dare to offend her ancestors by being even slightly critical. For a non-fiction book, the author's involvement in the story is too personal to be impartial. 

The life in the harem is shown as almost idyllic. From most books which feature harems, it is clear that life was very constrictive for many women. There was constant competition and struggle for power between consorts and favourites. However, Murad's harem is portrayed as a harmonious family, where everyone loves and admires each other, which is not realistic. Showing it warts and all would not have been disloyal. 

We are taken on an enthralling journey through the confines of the Çirağan Palace, learning about its customs and traditions, its special rules of protocol. We walk through one room to another, studying the interior, watching the family dressing up for the occasion, taking part in ceremonies, enjoying their food. 

The Gilded Cage on the Bosphorus is a tremendously enjoyable historical interpretation, with a unique insight into the lives of a bygone age of the Imperial Istanbul. This book shimmers with a strong sense of period and time.

 

Purchase Links 

getbook.at/gildedcagebosphorus

https://payhip.com/b/56IX

https://www.kobo.com/ebook/the-gilded-cage-on-the-bosphorus

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-gilded-cage-on-the-bosphorus-ayse-osmanoglu/1137405897?ean=2940163045105

https://books.apple.com/gb/book/the-gilded-cage-on-the-bosphorus/id1566367619?mt=11&id=1566367619&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Ayşe_Osmanoğlu_The_Gilded_Cage_on_the_Bosphorus?id=EeMsEAAAQBAJ

Author Bio – 

 Ayşe Osmanoğlu is a member of the Imperial Ottoman family, being descended from Sultan Murad V through her grandfather and from Sultan Mehmed V (Mehmed Reşad) through her grandmother. After reading History and Politics at the University of Exeter, she then obtained an M.A. in Turkish Studies at SOAS, University of London, specialising in Ottoman History. She lives in the UK with her husband and five children.

 

Social Media Links – 

https://www.facebook.com/ayseosmanogluauthor

https://www.instagram.com/aysegulnevsultan/

https://twitter.com/AyseGulnev

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/aysegulnev/the-gilded-cage-on-the-bosphorus/şşş

Many thanks to Ayşe Osmanoğlu, Hanedan Press and Rachel's Random Resources for my copy of the book!