Summer at the French Café by Sue Moorcroft

 

"Another day at the book cafe began to the usual soundtrack of a hissing coffee machine and chattering customers, the air fragranced by good things to eat, the backdrop shelves and shelves of enticing books. The sun shone, brightening red shopfronts as Kat went out to the outside tables.

She drew in a deep lungful of warm summer air. Her job was the loveliest in the world".

Kat Jenson, the main heroine of Summer at the French Café by Sue Moorcroft, enjoys her job in a book café in the middle of wonderful Parc Lemmel, with its rides and lakes, formal gardens and vast green areas. The vibrant place sounds idyllic, and Kat is happy.

Before living in France, Kat was a travel journalist. "With no close ties to the UK, she'd gone freelance, wandering Europe, writing travel features and website content. Then she'd reached Alsace and fallen in love with" it.

She has a lovely little house in the French village of Kirchhoffen, a faithful albeit high-strung dog named Angelique and a handsome boyfriend Jakey. 

A dating app had brought them together a few months earlier. "She wasn't sure that this whirlwind romance was going to come to anything, partly because half the time there was geographical distance between them."

Summer is her favourite season, and Kat is intent on enjoying every bit of it. 

That is until she discovers that her boyfriend has been stringing her along. The perfect summer suddenly becomes complicated. She has to deal with the bitter venomous troublemakers, wreaking havoc at her place of work, family heartache and close friend going through a chemo as well as a personality transformation.

Kat's younger step-brother Solly moves to France for a working holiday. He shares staff accommodation with mysterious Noah, who arrives to Park Lemmel, pursuing his own agenda.

Noah has big problems of his own, trying to re-establish contact with his young daughter. His ex has married a controlling bully of a man. "Florine dumped reasonable, reliable Noah and fell into step behind Yohan like a trained dog".

Noah's daughter Clémence is "highly emotional", and reacts to even simple triggers with floods of tears. He knows he has to be careful as not to make his daughter's life even more anxiety-susceptible and confusing. Yohan enjoys his "pathetic power plays over a little girl", while submissive Florine is "sucked in by manipulative tosser". He considers only himself, and sees his wife and step-daughter as possessions.

"People think controlling behaviour is about loud voices, outright aggression, accusations and physical violence. But it doesn't have to be. It can be about emotional manipulation, isolation, using teasing or guilt as weapons".

Both Kat and Noah have to overcome their problems. Will they be able to find love again?

The book addresses serious issues of controlling behaviour, as well as disfunctional step-families, where children are often victims of their parents' egoistic decisions. The parents find new partners, and children's wishes and needs are not taken into consideration. 

While villains appear rather one-dimensional here, on the point of a caricature, narcissitic personalities are abundant in real life, if you tend to believe the tales of many parenting forums, especially the step-parenting sub-forums.

I have slightly mixed feelings about this book. This is the fourth book by the author that I have read so far, and for me the biggest attraction of Sue Moorcroft's stories is her evocative, atmospheric settings. When you travel with her to Sweden in winter, you can feel the crispy snow. Visit the coast of Norfolk, and you can smell the salty breeze of the sea. 

The French setting is excellent, and a joy to read. The book brings the sights, sounds and culinary delights of Alsace to life. The summer holiday vibe is second to none in its evocation of the French countryside.

I didn't care much about Kat, and "fur babies" in fiction usually tend to leave me indifferent. There was just too much time spent on the dog's frolics (which is a trend in romance books nowadays, there is always either a female character with a loopy dog, or she is dating a guy with a dog). I can see why it would appeal to people who are crazy about their dogs.

A word of warning: there is a pretty graphic sex scene that might offend some readers. As I have a lot of blog readers from the States who prefer the so called clean romance, this is definitely not one. 

Potential triggers: controlling behaviour/domestic abuse, cancer, step-parenting hostility.

Summer at the French café is an emotional read, heartwarming and uplifting. It's an enjoyable story of second chances and love, family loyalties and feuds, loss and betrayal, regrets and hope.

Purchase Links 

Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/Summer-French-Caf%C3%A9-feel-good-fiction-ebook/dp/B09JBL9X3L/

Kobo https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/summer-at-the-french-cafe-1

Apple books https://books.apple.com/gb/book/summer-at-the-french-caf%C3%A9/id1598083256

Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/Summer-French-Caf%C3%A9-feel-good-fiction-ebook/dp/B09JBL9X3L/

This post is part of the blog tour for Summer at the French Café.

Many thanks to Sue Moorcroft, NetGalley and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

If you like the sound of this book, you might want to check out my reviews of the other books by Sue Moorcroft, which I enjoyed in the past:

A Summer to Remember

and

Let It Snow

Author Bio – 

Sue Moorcroft is a Sunday Times bestselling author. She’s reached the coveted #1 spot on Amazon Kindle UK and Top 100 on Kindle US. She’s won the Goldsboro Books Contemporary Novel of the Year, Readers’ Best Romantic Novel award and the Katie Fforde Bursary.

Her novels, short stories, serials, columns, writing ‘how to’ and courses have appeared around the world.

Social Media Links – 

Website [www.suemoorcroft.com]

Blog [http://suemoorcroft.wordpress.com]

Facebook profile [Sue.Moorcroft.3]

Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/SueMoorcroftAuthor

Twitter  [@suemoorcroft]

Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/suemoorcroftauthor/] @SueMoorcroftAuthor

LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/suemoorcroft]

Newsletter sign-up https://www.suemoorcroft.com/page_2.php?pgenme=eric&signup=2

Degustabox UK vs International

 UK vs International is the theme of the latest Degustabox.

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 been around for 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 otherwise wouldn't have tried.

Each time a 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 £3off discount from your first box (and you can unsubscribe any time), just use code DKRLN when placing an order. 

What did we get in UK vs International Degustabox box? 

Newman's Own French Dressing & Dip (£1.85) is a great pantry staple. This zingy dressing and dip will transform a variety of simple salads into a feast.

French dressing includes such ingredients as rapeseed oil, water, sugar, extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, salt, concentrated lemon juice, garlic puree, chives, parsley, black pepper, stabiliser and mustard extract.

It is suitable for vegeratians and vegans.

Best of all, 100% of profits go to charity, how cool is that?! Here in the UK it supports Over the Wall, a serious fun charity, who provide free and fun activity camps for children with serious health challenges. 

Available in Sainsbury's, Waitrose and on Ocado.

Bitburger Drive 0.0% Alcohol Free (£0.95) is a full-flavoured and totally alcohol-free beer. It is naturally brewed following German Beer Purity laws. Light and refreshing, it is a great accompaniment to a pizza or a cheese and cold meats platter.

Available in selected trade and gastronomy outlets and adnams.co.uk.

Bitburger Premium Pils (£1.65) is a crystal-clear and straw-coloured pilsner. This is one of the most popular German beers, with a history going back 200 years. 

Available in selected trade and gastronomy outlets and adnams.co.uk.

I am not exactly a beer connoisseur but we certainly enjoyed both beers with a takeaway pizza.

Sacla' Rooted in Nature Organic Sun-Dried Tomato Stir-in Sauce (£2.80) is made in Italy, using the best organic tomatoes. The brand enjoys three generations of family know-how.

With no added sugar or salt, this sauce is very tomatoey, flavourful and utterly delicious. Great with pasta, this is another product to add to your pantry staples' list.

Available in Waitrose, on Ocado and sacla.co.uk.

KnorrBeef Gravy Pot (£2) contains quality ingredients and real meat juices to enhance a meat-based family meal. Think a traditional Sunday roast, or beef Stroganoff. It will enrich a simple vegetable or mushroom soup, and you can also stir it into a risotto.

The gravy pot recreates the authentic flavour of rich homemade gravy in minutes.

Contains no added MSG and free from artificial colours and preservatives.

Available in the major supermarket chains such as Tesco, ASDA and Sainsbury's.

nucao Almond Sea Salt/Crunchy Nougat/Crisp & Crunch (£2.25) is presented as "chocolate for a nu world". This a smooth vegan organic chocolate. With no refined sugar (65% less sugar than most), natural and ethically sourced ingredients and plastic free packaging, this chocolate bar is ready to make a difference.

Nutritional values: 238kcal and 7.4g of sugar per 40g bar.

You should receive 1 of 3 items in your box.

Available in the Wellbeing aisle in Sainsbury's, Holland & Barrett and the-nu-company.co.uk.

Freedom Mallows Choc Mallow Bites (£1.49) is a lovely dairy-free treat. These are toasted vanilla and strawberry chewy bites smothered in chocolate.

They are egg-free, dairy-free, gelatine-free, peanut and soy-free and gluten-free.

The small bag didn't last very long between three of us.

Available on www.freedommallows.com.

LU Le Petit Chocolat/Le Petit Beurre (£1.50) is a delightful buttery biscuit, elegant and understated. In this UK vs International selection, it epitomises the French elegance and inspiration.

Le Petit Beurre is a delicious sweet biscuit that has a subtle hint of salt in it, while Le Petit Chocolat is a crunchy buttery biscuit with a layer of smooth and creamy milk chocolate.

You should receive 1 of 2 items in your box.

Available in all major supermarket chains.

Jaffa Cakes Lemon & Lime Flavour (£1.20) is a wonderfully zingy twist on a classic. Jaffa Cakes have been introducing a lot of new flavours recently, and this one is definitely a winner.

It has an indulgent lemon and lime centre, sandwiched between the iconic dark chocolate and light sponge layers. Very nice with a cup of tea.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Sour Patch Kids Watermelon Flavour (£1.32) is perfect, if you enjoy a combination of sweet and (very) sour. I'm not the biggest fan of sour candy, but my sons are, and they enjoyed the pack of sours between them. 

The flavour changes from sour to sweet as you eat these candies.

This is also the first product in the Sour Patch Kids range to be certified vegan.

Available in all major supermarket chains.

Pip Organic Sparkling Apple (£1.50) is a delicious refreshing blend of organic apple juice (not from concentrate) and sparkling water. It contains no added sugar or sweeteners.

At only 65kcal, this drink counts as one of your five a day. 

Available on Ocado, Amazon and Abel & Cole.

KETTLE Bread Bites Sea Salt, Rosemary & Extra Virgin Olive Oil Focaccia Bites (£2.09) is a brand new KETTLE product, which brings together the classic Italian flavours of focaccia bread, infused with rosemary and olive oil.

This crunchy snack is very moreish. Triple baked with real food ingredients, these tasty bites make a perfect vessel for dips.

Available in Morrisons and Tesco.

In this battle of flavours, are you team UK or team International?

The Only Exception by Claire Huston (cover reveal)

 

I'm delighted to do a cover reveal for The Only Exception by Claire Huston. I have read and reviewed two of Claire's previous books, and follow her on social media. Claire's cakes and bakes are legendary, and her books are feel-good stories, sweet, funny and entertaining.

The Only Exception (Love in the Comptons 2)

Lucinda Green knows something is missing from her life. But what? Her catering business is enjoying modest success and she loves her cosy house, even if she does have to share it with her irritating ex-fiancé. 

Whatever’s making her unsettled and edgy, Lucinda’s certain that a lack of romance isn’t the problem. How could it be when she doesn’t believe in true love?

But Lucinda’s beliefs are shaken by a series of electric encounters with Alex Fraser, a newly-notorious actor who gradually proves himself to be infuriatingly funny and smart, as well as handsome. 

Not that any of that matters. Because Lucinda doesn’t believe in all that ‘The One’ nonsense. That’s the rule.

But doesn’t every rule have an exception?

This uplifting grumpy-meets-sunshine romance is perfect for fans of Katie Fforde, Phillipa Ashley and Milly Johnson.

Now that you've read the blurb, are you ready to see the book cover?

Ta dah!

Pre-order Link - getbook.at/TheOnlyException

Publication Date: 7th June

Author Bio:

Claire Huston lives in Warwickshire with her husband and two children. She writes uplifting modern love stories about characters who are meant for each other but sometimes need a little help to realise it.

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: https://linktr.ee/clairehuston_author 

The Secret Voices by M.J. White

 

"She wished she could help, but all she could do was listen to the echoes of other people's pain nobody else heard. Her ability gave her a window into other lives - a gift but also a curse. She carried their voices, their stories, in her mind".

The Secret Voices by M.J. White is a compelling psychological thriller/police procedural with an unforgettable, unique protagonist who will make you wonder how astonishing the human mind can be.

It's a market day in a small Suffolk village of St Just. Eight-year-old Hannah Perry is on her way home from school on the last day of term before the Easter holidays. She tells her friend and her mother that she is meeting her own Mum at the market. Hannah is reluctant to go home, as she knows there's only her mother's boyfriend Shaun waiting for her, while her mother is working. 

She pauses to look at the window of the local estate agents, daydreaming about living in one of the nice houses, with her dreamed-up dog Amber. The market is in full swing, and Hannah glimpses yellow balloons being offered to children. Maybe she could get one for her little sisters, Lily and Ruby.

Hannah never makes it home. 

The community and the police is shaken. There are just too many similarities to the disappearance of another child seven years earlier. A young boy named Matthew Cooper went missing, never to be seen alive again.

"The monster responsible was never caught and for years St Just cowered in the shadow of the knowledge that the murderer was still out there. It had carved a deep scar on the community that never fully healed".

Acting DS Rob Minshull is leading the investigation. He is completely out of depth in this case. Substantial police and volunteer search efforts prove fruitless, and with each passing hour the fears are growing for Hannah. 

The journalist sharks are having a field day, accusing police of incompetence, "With no new developments and an embattled police investigation remaining tight-lipped, tonight the question is being asked here, as in the wider nation: Is Hannah Perry still alive?"

The investigation is full of dead ends. The kidnapper sends sinister packages to the police, which contain Hannah's belongings and cryptic messages. It is obvious, Hannah's life is endangered.

And then Dr Cora Lael is invited to help with the investigation. She is a psychologist of unique talents. She works for the neurological research project, and it was discovered that "the areas of Cora's brain linked to emotion and memory fired when she heard a voice from an object and came to the conclusion that the cognitive pathways were somehow linked together. Where a person with synaesthesia could perceive letters and numbers as colours, or experience words as taste, Cora could sense emotional echoes attached to objects, as real as if the emotions were her own".

Cora's life is not an easy one. She has to learn to live with her gift, or curse, depending on how you look at it. Most of the time she is control, convincing herself, "It's just a sound. It can't hurt me. The voices are just echoes of the past".

When Cora is shown the first of Hannah's belongings, she hears the young girl's scream.

As the leads are scarce, the police team rely on Cora's ability to find the clues to Hannah's whereabouts. At first, Minshull is unnerved and suspicious. "He'd expected a quasi-spiritual charlatan, a snake oil pedlar. Cora Lael was none of those things. There was fire in her - carefully guarded but ready to spark to her aid..."

The time is running out for Hannah. Will the police be able to find her before the tragedy strikes again?

The Secret Voices is perfect for readers who like their thrillers with an unusual twist. A true page-turner, with an intriguing premise.

The story is told from several different perspectives, including Hannah's voice, which shows a vulnerable yet spirited child.

The abductor's motivation revealed at the end didn't convince me as credible. I still think this is a promising series, and I will definitely read the next book when it's out.

This rollercoaster of twists will have you on the edge of your seat throughout. M.J. White manages the tension expertly.

It will make an excellent Netflix series, along the lines of Bordertown and The Sniffer, where the main protagonists have special talents that help them investigate crimes.

This post is part of the blog tour for The Secret Voices.

Many thanks to M.J. White and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

Purchase Links

AMZ: https://amzn.to/3IdYXpJ

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3fxbUia

Apple: https://apple.co/3IwAZGz

Author Bio – MJ White is the crime pen name of the internationally bestselling author Miranda Dickinson. To date she has sold over one million books worldwide and has been translated into sixteen languages. Miranda has always been a huge fan of crime fiction and The Secret Voices marks the start of a new and exciting departure for her writing.

https://twitter.com/MJWhite13

The Enemy Within (Tommy Wildeblood #2) by Adam Macqueen

 

"I might have done some bad things in my life - certainly a lot of things the Bible comes down pretty hard on - but there were lines I had not, would not, ever even come close to crossing. Things I knew instinctively were wrong, and that cried out for justice even back in the day when I was at my most desperate point".

"It felt like I was trapped in quicksand or ice: the situation was dire, and it was only going to get worse, but I seemed to be incapable of moving to do anything about it".

The Enemy Within by Adam Macqueen (Eye/Lightning) is a compulsive thriller, set in 1984. This is a sequel to the acclaimed Beneath the Streets, which was longlisted for the Polari Prize.

This follow-up is powerfully evocative of the period of the British history of the 1980s. The historical background feels authentic and believable. There is  real sense of foreboding as the story unfolds.

Tommy Wildeblood, a mature student of English Lit, is attending an Anti-Nazi protest, when he meets Liam Delaney. Liam is a student at Polytechnic of North London, who works part-time for Ken Livingston's council. The student union has voted to defy the orders of the High Court that Harrington (editor of National Front Views) should be allowed to enter all the premises of the polytechnic.

There is a skirmish with the police, and Tommy, Liam and several others find themselves arrested as obstructing the police in their duties.

Tommy is immediately attracted to Liam, but he has a "new policy" of not jumping in bed with any man he fancies. At twenty nine, he is on the hunt for someone he "could have an actual relationship with, or at least try out the concept for size".

It's been eight years since Tommy was a rent boy and worked the Dilly. He is hoping to leave his scandal-hunting days behind him, but the politics is all around him. Apart from the battle against the National Front, there are miners' strikes which will be later described as "creative destruction". And there is a deadly new disease called AIDS spreading its tentacles. 

The country is split, and everyone has to pick a side. Tommy's sympathies lie with the miners. The students around him romanticise the revolutionary movements. On a pretext of attending a revolutionary summer camp (in reality wanting to spend more time with Liam), Tommy enrols both of them for a weekend at the College of Marxist Education.

The two are drawn deeper into the unsavoury side of radical politics. As their romance blossoms, Tommy has to face up to how little he knows about his new flame.

"There were certain things that would be unforgivable even in someone as handsome as Liam, and while I'm hardly in a position to lecture anyone on illegal activities, I do have some principles. Mrs Thatcher refused to negotiate with terrorists - I wasn't going to fuck them either".

As the story unfolds, you get glimpses into Tommy's background, and see his vulnerability. He accepts his dark past, but is determined to get his life on the right track. If only he could trust Liam... and he makes a big mistake of falling in love with someone who has so many secrets.

Set around the true events of the bombing of the Grand Hotel in Brighton, where Prime Minister and her cabinet are staying for the Conservative Party conference, you're plunged deep into the darkly engrossing chapters of the British history of the 1980s.

The book is a mix of fictional and real life characters. You meet a flamboyant Derek Jarman, young Corbyn, Maggie Thatcher herself and her cronies. The blend of fiction with real history is superbly done. 

There is such a rich cast of vividly painted characters. Some sub-plots are exceptionally moving and heartbreaking.

The Enemy Within is filled with depth, conflicting convictions and empathy. It's a moving and profound, emotionally powerful read. Gripping, unflinching and full of twists and turns.

Eye/Lightning has introduced me to so many fantastic authors. Macqueen is definitely a name that I will be looking out for.

Many thanks to Adam Macqueen and Eye/Lightning for my e-copy of the book1

Style and the Solitary by Miriam Drori (guest post + #giveaway)

 

I'm delighted today to invite you to celebrate the first book birthday for Style and the Solitary, a murder mystery by Miriam Drori. You have a chance to win one of the author's books, and read a guest post on bursting myths about social anxiety. 

Style and the Solitary

An unexpected murder. A suspect with a reason. The power of unwavering belief.

A murder has been committed in an office in Jerusalem. That’s for sure. The rest is not as clear-cut as it might seem.

Asaf languishes in his cell, unable to tell his story even to himself. How can he tell it to someone who elicits such fear within him?

His colleague, Nathalie, has studied Beauty and the Beast. She understands its moral. Maybe that’s why she’s the only one who believes in Asaf, the suspect. But she’s new in the company – and in the country. Would anyone take her opinion seriously?

She coerces her flatmates, Yarden and Tehila, into helping her investigate. As they uncover new trails, will they be able to reverse popular opinion?

In the end, will Beauty’s belief be strong enough to waken the Beast? Or, in this case, can Style waken the Solitary?

 

Purchase Link - mybook.to/styleandthesolitary

 

Author Bio –

When Miriam Drori says she loves to perform, people don’t believe her. When she says she’s not shy, they think she’s delusional. The fact is, things ain’t what they seem. A witch called social anxiety took away her ability to be spontaneous, but it didn’t change her exhibitionist nature. You need to watch her dancing or speaking before an audience to understand that.

 

Fortunately, she has found an outlet for her thoughts in writing, a solitary activity with multiple recipients. She never doubted her ability to write, but only in recent years has she managed to gather her views and observations together into papier-mâché balls worth throwing far and wide.

 

If you ignore the witch, life has been good to Miriam, especially since she made the decision to move from the UK to Israel. She has a wonderful husband, three lovely children and a delightful house. She loves to read, travel, hike and dance. She has worked in computer programming and technical writing, and now enjoys the freedom and versatility of creative writing. And she believes passionately in raising awareness of social anxiety.

Social Media Links –

Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Pinterest, Instagram, Wattpad and website/blog.

Amazon page: Author.to/MiriamDroriAtAmazon

Please welcome Miriam Drori, today she is talking about social anxiety.

Bursting Myths About Social Anxiety

I’ll begin with the same introduction I wrote for Reading Tonic. I don’t write solely about social anxiety, but, as it happens, the three books currently available all involve social anxiety. My (unavailable) romance and historical fiction don’t mention it and neither do any of my short stories.

But in researching and talking about social anxiety, I’ve come across several misconceptions, and I’d like to share some of them.

‘Social Anxiety’ is Just a Label

Older people, in particular, hate labels. Not all older people – I should probably say not all of us – but many. They say that in the old days, we didn’t have all those labels (which is true) and therefore people were happier (which is not). They say that nowadays, people hide behind labels; that they use labels as excuses for not tackling their problems. I think it’s more that people with problems hid themselves away so well that those label haters were unaware of them.

I think labels are good, when used properly. Labels help us to find others who struggle with similar problems, to share and support each other. They help us to find professional help. Most of all, they tell us we are not alone.

Social Anxiety is a Choice

Another misconception is that people choose to have social anxiety, and therefore they can choose not to have it, just like that (she says, snapping her fingers).

They apparently don’t realise that, along with social anxiety, comes embarrassment, stress, fear and many other negative feelings. It attracts ridicule, or simply causes others to ignore the sufferer.

No, no one chooses to have social anxiety.

Social Anxiety = Extreme Shyness

This one tends to be true; most people with social anxiety are also shy. They generally believe they were always shy, and their shyness developed throughout their childhood, leading to social anxiety.

However, that’s not true universally, and I’m a case in point. I was never shy, and that’s probably what enabled me to ‘come out’ and even deliver talks about social anxiety.

Social Anxiety = Autism

People who’ve heard a little about social anxiety could be forgiven for comparing it to autism. After all, in both cases, sufferers struggle to fit into society. And, either as a consequence of that or as a cause of it, they generally don’t talk a lot.

However, there’s at least one big difference. People with autism find it hard to understand what others are feeling or thinking, while those with social anxiety understand too well.

Conclusion

I hope I’ve opened up a window on social anxiety. Those three books of mine open doors.

·         Social Anxiety Revealed (non-fiction): a guide to social anxiety, written by me and many fellow sufferers, who agreed for their words to be quoted on condition that they remained anonymous.

·         Cultivating a Fuji (uplit), in which the main character is completely unsuited to the task he is given, of representing his company in Japan.

·         Style and the Solitary (cosy crime), in which the character is arrested for murder and unable to defend himself.

 

Giveaway to Win 5 x PB copies of Cultivating a Fuji by Miriam Drori (Open INT)

 

 

*Terms and Conditions –

Worldwide entries welcome.  

Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  

The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. 

If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. 

Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  

Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. 

This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  

I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

Please note that this giveaway will appear through several blogs taking part in the Book Birthday Blitz.

Chez Maximka has no access to the data collected, and is not involved in the selection of the winner or dispatch of the prize.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Perfect Holiday by T.J. Emerson

 

"I watched numerous episodes of Dreams in the Sun, the programme where couples venture abroad to find their ideal holiday home. I couldn't help picturing myself and Helen living such a life. Long, lazy days by the pool. Boozy lunches in the square of some picturesque village or market town. Heaven".

The Perfect Holiday by T.J. Emerson is a tense, convincing psychological thriller.

Olivia and Julian Griggs are having a good time at their villa in Spain, with the fabulous views of the Mediterranean, "stretching into the distance like a big blue dream". 

While Olivia is used to the moneyed lifestyle, Julian comes from a humble background. Four years earlier he was caring for his disabled first wife Helen, not knowing what the future holds in store for them. 

The timeline alternates between the "before" and "after". We get to know Julian as he cares for his wife, who's been left severely disabled after a car crash. He has also been a carer for his father for many years previously. Julian had to cope with responsibility from a early age, and life as a carer was all that he knew.

One dark night, while Julian was away from home, someone has broken into their Edinburgh home and murdered Helen in her sleep.  The money he received from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority has enabled him to set up a charity in his wife's name, Helen Griggs Award, which has become a success. 

And then Olivia comes into his life. She encourages Julian to write a memoir and share his story.

In his memoir about his life as a carer, Julian ponders, "Hard as it may be to believe, the accident made the bond between us stronger than ever... it is difficult to accept, that, to this day, her murder remains unsolved. It is an apparently motiveless crime... The lack of closure has left questions that may never be resolved: who killed my wife and why?"

The touching memoirs propel Julian into the public eye even further. 

Life with Olivia is worlds apart from his previous life. The new lifestyle suits Julian. They enjoy the unhurried pace of the Spanish holidays, with the relaxed siesta in the heat, long walks by the sea, seclusion of their villa, cooling swims in the pool and delicious Spanish food. Life couldn't be better, until the chance encounter with Gabriel.

Gabriel is a handsome man, much younger than both Olivia and Julian. He has a striking tattoo of angel's wings on his back. This meeting will change everything. The Spanish idyll will turn into a dangerous cat and mouse game. 

Will Gabriel's wings be that of an angel of death? Will any of them emerge alive from this treacherous game?

The Perfect Holiday is an intense suspence, compellingly creepy and dark. The atmosphere of growing tension is pulsing with menace and hostility. The skilful narrative reveals that things are not always what they seem.

The dreary routine of the carer is chillingly accurate and authentic, describing "the burden of responsibility, the social isolation, the missed opportunities..." The author's portrayal of the strain on being the carer rings true, it's not just the physical side of sleepless nights and 24/7 care, but the psychological effect, the emptiness of seeing no way out. 

Julian appears devoted to his wife, caring and loyal. But he is also resentful and unethical.

From the moment Gabriel appears, you know he is a sinister character. As the story progresses, his personality acquires a more menacing and disturbing intensity.

The big reveal is unwrapped quite early in the plot (first third of the book), and then it's less of a mystery, and more of a (im)morality play.

If you enjoy vacation-gone-downhill thrillers while lounging on the beach or by the pool, The Perfect Holiday is for you.

This post is part of the blog tour for The Perfect Holiday.

Many thanks to T.J.Emerson and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/3GHeugH

Author Bio –

T.J. Emerson's debut psychological thriller was published by Legend Press and received brilliant reviews. Her short stories and features have been widely published in anthologies and magazines, and she works as a literary consultant and writing tutor. Her latest psychological thriller, The Perfect Holiday, will be published by Boldwood Books in April 2022. She lives in Scotland.

Social Media Links –

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TraceyEmersonAuthor

Twitter https://twitter.com/TraceyJEmerson

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tjemersonwrites/

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/TJEmersonNews

The Last King by M.J. Porter (book excerpt + #giveaway)

I'm delighted to introduce a new exciting historical novel, with a fascinating main protagonist.

You have a chance to read an excerpt from the book and also take part in the giveaway to win a hardback copy of the book.

 The Last King

From author M J Porter comes a thrilling new hero.

They sent three hundred warriors to kill one man. It wasn’t enough.

Mercia lies broken but not beaten, her alliance with Wessex in tatters.

Coelwulf, a fierce and bloody warrior, hears whispers that Mercia has been betrayed from his home in the west. He fears no man, especially not the Vikings sent to hunt him down.

To discover the truth of the rumours he hears, Coelwulf must travel to the heart of Mercia, and what he finds there will determine the fate of Mercia, as well as his own.

Purchase Link - https://books2read.com/u/31RBva

Author Bio – I'm an author of historical fiction (Early English, Vikings and the British Isles as a whole before the Norman Conquest, as well as two 20th-century mysteries). I was born in the old Mercian kingdom at some point since 1066. Raised in the shadow of a strange little building, told from a very young age that it housed the bones of long-dead Kings of Mercia and that our garden was littered with old pieces of pottery from a long-ago battle, it's little wonder that my curiosity in Early England ran riot. I can only blame my parents!

I write A LOT. You've been warned!

Find me at www.mjporterauthor.com and @coloursofunison on Twitter.

Social Media Links – 

https://linktr.ee/MJPorterauthor

The Last King

Excerpt

 

Intro: This scene occurs not long after Coelwulf has returned to Kingsholm, his home, and discovered that he must become Mercia’s king in the light of King Burgred fleeing Mercia when faced with the Raiders (Vikings). But, Mercia has more enemies than just the Raiders. (It also shows some of the humour that lightens the tone of these characters in perilous situations).

 

Within sight of Gloucester, I rein Haden in, my warriors following my actions. I turn to Edmund, my confusion reflected in the wrinkles on his forehead, his mouth hanging open.

“What the hell?” His words speak for us all.

“Am I really seeing that?” I demand to know. “Tell me I’m not really seeing that.”

“You’re really seeing that,” Edmund replies, Icel beside him. His face mirrors Edmund’s shocked one as well.

“Bloody hell,” I shake my head, aghast.

Of all the things. Well, this was not what I was expecting to see. Not in Gloucester.

And not right now.

“Stupid fools,” Icel’s voice rumbles with his distaste, and I agree with him.

“Why would they do that?”

“Because they’re idiots.” Edmund’s voice is filled with part admiration and part outrage. I share his feelings.

“Just what we need. Stupid Gwent Welsh Raiders on top of everything else.”

“What shall we do?”

“Kill them,” I state flatly. I’ve fought the Welsh men of Gwent almost as many times as I have the Raiders. Admittedly, I’ve never had to fight the Welsh and the Raiders in the same week, or even month.

The smoke that fills the air doesn’t come from the settlement of Gloucester itself, still seemingly protected behind its three ancient Roman walls. But on the quayside, the settlement is threatened.

“Why would they burn the bloody bridge?”

It makes no sense, but then, the Welsh of Gwent make no sense to me most of the time.

“It seems they mean to cut off their own noses to spite themselves.”

Without the wooden bridge, that links Gloucester with the Mercian lands on the eastern side, the Welsh will have to use ships to cross the Severn if they wish to trade with the inhabitants.

“Right, stupidity or not, let’s go and see if anyone needs killing on our side of the river.”

Kneeing Haden, I steer him quickly inside Gloucester. It seems our return has been expected, and the wooden gates are quickly flung open, the street just about deserted as we ride through it.

The town, like so many others in Mercia, is far from overpopulated other than by churches. In no time at all, my men and I are milling around close to the burning bridge.

The heat is surprisingly intense as yellow flames lick their way along the wooden struts.

I’ve nodded to those people I know as I lead my men on, the looks of relief on those faces, assuring me that Gloucester fears this new attack.

Edmund joins me, his hand already on his seax, death in his eyes, as we reach the quayside. He hates the Welsh. All of them. No matter their king or place of birth. If I allow him to, he’ll kill all of the men marooned on this side of the bridge and not think twice about it.

I watch with mild interest as the twenty or so Welsh warriors realise they’re not alone.

The tongue they speak is a gabble of too many syllables. But I’ve not lived all my life so close to the Welsh borderlands without learning some of the language.

A tight smile touches my cheeks.

It seems that facing me today was not their desire.

“Why?” I shout across the void, aware Icel has taken over the role of organising the men in light of Edmund’s seething hissing beside me. The man is quite unmanageable where the Welsh are concerned.

One man steps forward. His long hair is tied back behind his neck, his beard and moustache trimmed close to his face. He wears excellent battle wear, but it’s not going to help him if he needs to swim the Severn, for all it’s much narrower here than downstream.

The man’s Adam apple bobs, as he swallows heavily, his eyes widening with fear. I don’t know what Icel’s doing behind me, but I decide it’s probably Edmund’s wild features that cause so much concern.

“My Lord, My Lord Coelwulf.”

“Yes, and who are you?”

“I am Cadell ap Merfyn.”

“Well then, welcome to Gloucester, Cadell ap Merfyn.”

His grimace almost makes me smile.

“I.” He stops, and I wait, my hands still on the harness of my horse. The smell of the choking fumes of the treated, burning wood, is threatening to bring tears to my eyes. Any moment now, I think the flames will cover the twenty Welsh warriors, perhaps using it as a cover to slip back across the Severn.

Maybe, I consider, there’s a ship waiting for them.

But, Cadell’s nervousness speaks to me of an enormous mistake.

“I. Well we. Well, it was our intention to trade in Gloucester. It seems that our enemies thought differently.”

Ah, now this I can understand.

“Did they, by any chance, wait for you to cross into Gloucester and then set the bridge aflame?”

Relief washes over Cadell’s face, making him almost handsome if I avoid looking at his too sharp chin and elongated nose.

“How did you know? Did they tell you?” A touch of fury slips from Cadell’s tongue.

“No, we didn’t know. But you know, we have enemies too.”

From across the bridge, as the smoke blows clear for a heartbeat, I can actually make out a warband jeering at the enemy. Edmund growls, but I reach out and touch his hand, asking for a calmness that’s never easily found where the Welsh are concerned.

“Is that all of you?” I demand to know, jerking my head to indicate the warriors surrounding their spokesperson.

“Yes, yes,” the head bobs too quickly.

“No fools are hiding along the quayside, in the boats or storehouses.”

The quayside could play host to five hundred enemy warriors, and I’d be none the wiser.

“No. We are all here.” But he turns, hesitant to show me his back, and picks out the faces of the men who serve him.

I shake my head, meeting Icel’s amused eyes to the side of me.

“Edmund, do you want to take yourself off somewhere else. I think I need to speak to this Cadell.”

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Giveaway to Win a Hardback Copy of The Last King (Open INT)

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