Blood on the Tyne: Red Snow by Colin Garrow (guest post)

I'm thrilled to invite Colin Garrow to my blog today!

 Blood on the Tyne: Red Snow (book 3 in the Rosie Robson series).

A dead body. A hoard of forged banknotes. A gangster out for blood.

Newcastle, December 1955. Returning home after a weekend away, singer and amateur sleuth Rosie Robson discovers a man lying on a baggage trolley with his throat cut. After the police get involved, an attack on Rosie and her boss prompts Inspector Vic Walton to find a safe house for the pair. But the bad guys seem to be one step ahead of them and Rosie is forced to track down a possible witness to the murder in a bid to learn the truth. Can the canny crooner solve the mystery before a Newcastle gang boss catches up with her? 

Set on Tyneside, Blood on the Tyne: Red Snow is book #3 in the Rosie Robson Murder Mysteries series.

Purchase Link - https://geni.us/3PKXkN

Author Bio:

True-born Geordie Colin Garrow grew up in a former mining town in Northumberland and has worked in a plethora of professions including taxi driver, antiques dealer, drama facilitator, theatre director and fish processor. He has also occasionally masqueraded as a pirate. Colin’s published books include the Watson Letters series, the Terry Bell Mysteries and the Rosie Robson Murder Mysteries. His short stories have appeared in several literary mags, including: SN Review, Flash Fiction Magazine, The Grind, A3 Review, Inkapture and Scribble Magazine. These days he lives in a humble cottage in Northeast Scotland.

 

Social Media Links –

Website (Adults) https://colingarrow.org/

Website (Children) https://colingarrowbooks.com/

Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B014Z5DZD4

Twitter https://twitter.com/colingarrow

Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/colingarrow

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

Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/colin-garrow

It's alwayas fascinating to have a glimpse on the writing process, and today Colin Garrow talks about his writing methods, and what he thinks of the concept of the first draft.

Guest Post – What’s All This First Draft Nonsense?

 

Whenever I read blogs or Twitter posts by an author who’s just finished the first draft of their WIP (work in progress), I always wonder if I’m the only person in the world who thinks first drafts are just another way of saying, ‘what I’ve written is crap so I’m going to do it all again.’

First of all, I’m aware that many writers create a first draft to get the basic story down on paper and develop ideas. It’s also likely that this first version of the book hasn’t undergone any kind of editing and will be stuffed full of clunky dialogue, rambling sentences, grammatical gaffs and hundreds of typos. So, then they write the second draft, working on the structure and sorting out stuff like conflict and resolution and fixing any plot holes. Those who write murder mysteries, for example, might want to make sure they’ve given the reader enough clues to allow them to work out who the killer is while creating a puzzle that will still leave a surprise at the end.

But I don’t do any of that.

Why? Because I practice my craft with a slightly obsessive attention to detail.

In the past, I’ve tried those techniques where you start writing and ignore typos, gaffs and anything else that might distract from the story, and power on to the end of the book. And yes, that would be great if I could do it. But I can’t. My need to correct my work as I go comes from the same place that screams at me when I read an email or a text message with misspelled words or missing capital letters. Instead of concentrating on the message, I want to respond to the writer with suggestions on how to improve their grammar.

In place of writing a first and second draft, I write the final draft, correcting and rewriting as I go along. Admittedly, there will still be typos and grammatical blunders that depart from what is true, right, or proper. But luckily those will usually be picked up by my editor. I don’t seem to suffer from problems with the plot, which I suspect is due to my habit of rereading everything from the beginning before I start each writing session (obviously I don’t this this so much when the book has reached thirty or forty-thousand words).

Being a pantser (an author who writes with no plan or outline), I detest any hint at knowing how the story will end. Sometimes, of course, I have a sense of how a particular character or scenario might work out, but often the ending is as much a surprise to me as to my readers.

The only problem with this method is that sometimes my lack of planning ties me up in knots, such as with Terminal Black, the first book in my Relic Black Thriller series, where I became totally confused by the plot and the ridiculous number of characters I’d created. But usually, it works out fine. If there comes a time when it doesn’t, I might have to reconsider, but being a control freak, I probably won’t.

New Year & Enjoyable Moments 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 the New Year & Enjoyable Moments Degustabox box?

Plantastic Sweet Apricot & Ginger Flapjacks with almonds (£2.25) combine tasty oats with sweet apricot chunks and a little kick of ginger. Topped off with almond nibs for a crunchy texture, these plant-based flapjacks are a good source of fibre and contain no artificial colours or flavours.

A lovely start to your day, if you want to keep up your Veganuary resolutions going.

Nutritional values: 135kcal and 11.7g of sugar per flapjack.

Available at Tesco and on Amazon.

Dorset Cereals Dark Choc & Hazelnut Muesli Crunch happens to be the Mystery product of the month. This cereal is a combination of signature muesli grains, crispy granola pieces, deluxe dark chocolate curls and caramelised hazelnuts.

Nutritional information: 208kcal and 4.7g of sugar per 45g serving.

High in fibre, suitable for vegetarians and non-GO. It doesn't say Vegan on the box but I don't see any dairy ingredients.

This cereal makes an excellent ingredient for making cookies too.

Kit Kat Bites (£1.59) are bite-sized pieces of the classic milk chocolate bar, with a smooth chocolatey centre and crispy wafer bits.

Working with Rainforest Alliance, Kit Kat proudly displays the badge to show their support for the cocoa farmers and their communities.

Open the pouch and share with your family or friends. You can reseal the pouch to treat yourself later, if there's any left. 

Nutritional information: 100kcal and 10g of sugar per 10 sweets.

Available in all major supermarket chains.

Munchies Caramel and Biscuit Sharing Bar (£1) is a chocolate treat which combines gooey caramel and crispy biscuit inside a milk chocolate shell. Perfect for sharing with family and friends.

The bar has mysteriously disappeared after I took the photo, and nobody has confessed as to who's eaten it. So much for sharing. :)

Nutritional information: 89kcal and 9.1g of sugar per 2 pieces.

Available at B&M, Booker, Spar, Iceland, Aldi, Poundland, Home Bargains and NISA. 

Lee Kum Kee (Europe) Limited Sachet Sample Box (£4.99) is packed with small sachets of umami flavours which will allow you to explore the authentic Chinese cuisine.

I'm a frequent visitor to Lee Kum Kee site, and have quite a stash of their sauces and oils in my pantry. Their Hoisin sauce is delicious, and Teriyaki sauce is exceptionally good, probably our top favourite Teriyaki sauce, and we've tried many brands.

The sample box includes Premium Oyster sauce (40g), Chiu Chow Chilli Oil (3g), Sweet Soy Sauce (20ml), Chilli Garlic Sauce (30g), Hoisin Sauce (30g), Yellow Bean Sauce (40g) and Lee Kum Kee cooking guide.

It's a great starter pack which allows you to sample products without buying full sized ones. 

Try drizzling the chilli oil over noodles, pizza or soup to add a little kick of heat.

Available at Tesco, ASDA, Sainsbury's, CO-OP, Morrisons, Waitrose, Ocado & Chinese and Oriental supermarkets.

Knorr Organic Chicken Stock Pot (£2) is a handy addition to the pantry to bring a rich flavour into your dishes. Made with quality organic ingredients, slowly simmered with authentic flavours, this stock is great in risotto, soup, pasta dishes and one-pot dishes.

Free from artificial preservatives & colours, gluten free, made with sustainably grown herbs and vegetables. 

Nutritional values: 8kcal and 0.93g of salt per 125ml.

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

Heinz Made for Veggiez Balsamic & Rosemary sauce (£2.50) is an expertly crafted sauce from the new range.

A couple of months ago Degustabox has introduced a different sauce from the range - Chilli & Miso - which we absolutely loved. It was perfect for roasted vegetables. I was very pleased to find another flavour from the range.

Balsamic & Rosemary is another sauce, great for cooking vegetables with. It is made with Balsamic vinegar of Modena, Bramley apple puree, olive oil, a selection of vegetables, herbs and spices. Inspired by the Mediterranean flavours, it works perfectly with grilled or roasted courgettes, peppers and tomatoes. 

Add a generous dollop, when making a tomato-based sauce for pasta. You can also use this sauce as a dip.

Available at Morrisons and Ocado.

Odysea Harissa Houmous/Spicy Ajvar dip (£2.75) - a popular side dish to serve with a variety of snacks, like crisps, crackers, slices of chunky bread. Either dip goes well with roasted vegetables and cheeses, as well as cold meats.

You will receive one item of two. We got Spicy Ajvar dip, made with roasted red pepper and aubergines, garlic and spices. This is a traditional recipe from the Balkans. Rich and spicy, this vegetable-based dish is suitable for vegans. 

Nutritional values: 124kcal and 5.5g of sugar per 100g.

Available at Sainsbury's and on odysea.com.

Vandham Turmeric Sampler (£5) contains four sachets of best-selling turmeric teas infused with superfoods and packed in pyramid-shaped tea bags.

Flavours include: Turmeric Moringa, Turmeric Ashwagandha, Turmeric Ginger and Turmeric Spiced. All these teas are caffeine-free and 100% natural, certified Plastic Neutral product and Climate Neutral.

1% of revenue is directed towards the education of their farmers' children.

Available only online at www.vandham.com, and the full range products at Holland & Barrett.

You can make a chai latte with a turmeric tea and milk of your choice.

Eisberg Alcohol Free Wine (Alcohol free Mulled or Alcohol free Merlot) (£3.25) is another product to help you with new year's resolutions, if you are taking part in the Dry January.

Available in Sparkling, Whites, Rose and Red as well as the Limited Edition Mulled alcohol free, these drinks are lower in calories and are vegan. Perfect for parties, when you don't fancy alcohol, or/are a designated driver, but don't want to stick just to lemonade or iced tea.

We received a bottle of Mulled wine, which is rich and fruity, and full of flavour.

Available at Tesco, Morrisons, Waitrose, Co-Op, Ocado, Nisa and on Amazon.

What was your favourite product from the latest Degusatbox?

Degustabox Advent Calendar'22, part II

 

This post is Part II and wrap-up on the Degustabox Advent Calendar: I keep unboxing 24 foodie surprises each day. The Degustabox advent calendar included a great selection of festive snacks, sweet treats and drinks.

Day 13: Ricola Soothe & Clear Original/Honey Lemon Echinacea (£1.49)

Winter season and inevitable colds could be made more tolerable with a selection of Ricola herb lozenges. I buy them regularly at Holland & Barrett, as they are soothing for the sore throat.

We received a bag of Honey Lemon Echinacea lozenges, just perfect for this time of the year. These candies are made with Fair Trade honey, lemon juice and Vitamin C. Other ingredients include a mix of 13 Swiss mountain herbs, echinacea dry pressed juice, mint oil, peppermint oil, menthol.

They taste like mildly medicinal, old-fashioned candy, but pleasant.

Nutritional values: 14kcal and 2.6g of sugar per lozenge.

Available at H&B, Sainsbury's, Tesco, online and other retailers.

Day 14: Well & Truly Oat M&lk Chocolate (£2) is a plant-based chocolate treat.

Gluten free, ethical and fairly traded, vegan and containing 43% single origin cocoa.

I still prefer dairy chocolate, as the vegan milk chocolate has a slightly powdery aftertaste, but it's not bad at all. I would also prefer less sugar.

Nutritional values: 166kcal and 11.5g of sugar per 30g.

Available at Ocado and online on wellandfruity.co.uk and Amazon.

Day 15: Double Dutch Drinks Cucumber Margarita with Chilli Soda (£1.20) is a premium mixer, which is low in calories and has natural flavours.

We've had Double Dutch in the past Degustabox boxes before, and they are all high quality mixers, suitable for a variety of cocktails. 

Nutritional information: 19kcal and 4.6g of sugar per 100ml.

The suggestion on the bottle is to pair it with tequila. We don't typically buy tequila, and I wonder if gin will be a suitable alternative? (still haven't opened the bottle).

Available at major supermarket chains.

Day 16: NICK'S nut bar almond crunch (£1.50) is a vegan nut bar with almonds and chocolate. 

No added sugar, no gluten, no palm oil. There's a good amount of crunchy chewy nuts in the bar.

Nutritional values: 173kcal and 1.2g of sugar per 40g bar.

Available at WHSmth and online on Amazon and try-nicks.co.uk.

Day 17: Gunna Drinks Gunna Ginger Rebel - Ginger Lemonade (£1.20) is a flavourful and zingy soft drink. If you like ginger-flavoured drinks, you will enjoy this sharp lemonade.

It is uniquely sweet, sour, bitter and spicy.

Nutritional values: 21kcal and 4.9g of sugar per 100ml.

Available at Holland & Barrett, Ocado and on Amazon.

Day 18: Treat Kitchen Good Egg Message Bottle (£6) is a bottle filled with egg gummy sweets. 

They have a tangy centre filled sweet flavours of citrus, mango and passionfruit - a posh twist on the classic sweet shop candy. Not suitable for vegetarians and vegans as they are made with pork gelatine.

My guys loved the funky bottle, and enjoyed the sweets.

Nutritional values: 340kcal and 51.6g of sugar per 100g. Suggested serving: 30g.

Day 19: FULFIL Chocolate Salted Caramel Vitamin and Protein bar (£2.25) is a healthier snack to enjoy. Packed with 9 vitamins and containing low sugar and high protein, it's a handy bar to have in a bag for when you are out and about and are feeling peckish.

Nutritional information: 148kcal and 1.2g of sugar per 40g bar.

Available at Tesco, Sainsbury's, Co-Op, Morrisons, Waitrose, Ocado, Boots, Holland & Barrett, Superdrug, WHS Travel, BP, Shell, most convenience stores and online on Amazon.

Day 20: Clearspring Organic Seaveg Crispies Original (£1.19) is a delicious, light and crispy seaweed snack. I am a big fan of seaweed snacks, and prefer the original plain flavour.

This toasted Nori snack is gluten free, MSG free, has high fibre and contains only 24kcal per pack.

You can add them to salads, but I prefer to eat them on their own. You can also find it in Ginger, Turmeric, Chilli and Black Pepper flavours.

Available at Ocado.

Day 21: Rootles Milk Chocolate Carrot Biscuits & White Chocolate Beetroot Biscuits (£1.20): these are truly unique - chocolate covered root-vegetable-based biscuits. They have more crunch, fewer calories and are bursting with natural sweetness.

Each pack contains 3 crunchy chocolate fingers, baked with 35% root veg. 121kcal each, they are a guilt-free treat.

Baking cakes with vegetables is very trendy nowadays, and these biscuits prove you can add vegetables to any bakes.

You should receive two items.

Available on Amazon, Rootles website and Roadchef.

Day 22: Raw Bean Definitely Decaf Pyramid Bean Bag, Relax Revive Go Pyramid Bean Bag (£1.15) is a proper coffee in a bag. The slogan on the pouch promises "No mess, no fuss, just cracking coffee".

Definitely Decaf is made with 100% Arabica coffee from El Eden, Quindio, Colombia, and is naturally decaffeinated by the 100% chemical free Swiss Water Process.

Just like with tea bags, pop the bean bag in a mug and pour hot water over it, steep for 3 minutes and enjoy.

Available on www.rawbean.co.uk.

Day 23: Hellmann's Gravy Mayonnaise 250ml (£2.50) is a restaurant-inspired condiment. Drizzle on top of burgers, fried or crumbed chicken, or chips.

It has a rich flavour with a touch of onion and garlic to add an extra oomph to your meals.

Suitable for vegetarians, it adds a meaty flavour to any veggie burger and other non-meat-based dishes too.

Nutritional values: 43kcal and 0.7g of sugar per portion.

Available at Morrisons.

Day 24: Montezuma's Chocolate Milk Chocolate Buttons (£2.59) is the final treat of the calendar. A decent sized box of chocolatey delights - buttons in different sizes, smooth, creamy and melting in the mouth.

Made with 38% cocoa, these buttons are organic and gluten free, always free from palm oil and made in 100% recyclable, compostable or biodegradable packaging.

Available in all Montezuma stores, and on www.montezumas.co.uk.

This excellent box of foodie surprises worth £50 costs £39.39 to purchase on Degustabox.com (while stocks lasted). 

Top marks for the selection of foods and drinks, great design of the packaging and value for money. 

A few thoughts and perhaps suggestions on the future boxes: if it's feasible, to make separate selections for vegans and non-vegans. 

With a few exceptions, vegan chocolate is just not the same as dairy-based. 

Maybe add more festive snacks for sharing rather than individual protein bars, and more Christmas-themed foods, like Santa or reindeer shaped chocolate, festive crisps, pouches of olives, crackers for cheese, cheese straws, anything that could be added to buffets and festive tables. 

Did you have this advent calendar? What was your favourite treat? 

Advent Degustabox (Part I)

May your holidays

be happy days,

filled with love

and laughter.

And may each day

bring joy your way

in the year

that follows after!

Dark December mornings and early evenings are much more enjoyable, if you have daily little treats of advent calendars to look forward to. 

Oh the pleasure of opening the little doors every day! While my sons had their own advent calendars filled with chocolate surprises, I treated myself to a beauty advent calendar. I also received the most glorious Degustabox advent calendar for reviewing.

I loved last year's Degustabox advent box so much, and I knew the new one will be as special. When Degustabox has offered to send one of those beauties for me for reviewing, I was delighted.  The Degustabox Advent Calendar makes an awesome gift. I also bought one of them as a gift for my friend, and she was thrilled with it. She later told me they loved it so much, that they plan to buy one next year.

First of all, it's huge - it includes 24 foods and drinks, and comes in a well-designed sturdy box, which opens into two parts like a gigantic book with windows. The cardboard box is recyclable, and there is no plastic.

There is a little booklet enclosed to give you clues of what to expect in the coming days. You could either ignore it, if you want a complete surprise, or if you're impatient like me, you might have had a quick look and rub your hands with glee. 

The selection of products differs from the last year. 

What did we get? 

Day 1: Love Raw Nutty Choc Balls (£1.69) are a lovely vegan chocolate treat. There are two whole hazelnuts in cocoa coating and nut croquante. Basically, it's a plant-based version of Ferrero Rocher.

Nutritional information: 81kcal and 4.6g of sugar per choc ball.

Available at Holland & Barrett, ASDA and independent retailers.

Day 2: Belazu Ingredient Company Rosemary Nut Mix (£3.95) is a delicious mix of almonds, cashews and giant corn roatsed and blended with rosemary and sea salt.

Using small batch techniques and the highest grade nuts and corn, this mix is hand roasted and seasoned.

A perfect snack at a party table, for sharing with friends, or while relaxing with a film.

Nutritional information; 541kcal and 1.5g of salt per 100g.

Available at Belazu, Waitrose, Ocado, Planet Organic and on Amazon.

Day 3: Cadbury Christmas Puds (£0.65 each) - festive Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate with truffle centre, hazelnut pieces and crunchy puffed rice pieces.

You should receive 2 items in your advent calendar.

Available nationwide.

Day 4: Knorr Chicken Gravy Pot (£2) - if you are having a Christmas roast dinner, it won't be the same without some gravy.

Now you can prepare your chicken gravy in a flash - just use one pot of Knorr chicken gravy, made with high quality ingredients. 

Free from artitifical colours or preservatives, these pots will make cooking a family meal easier. Lovely with chicken sausages too.

Available in all major supermarket chains. 

Day 5: Bounce Indulgent Energy Ball Millionaire/Choc Brownie/Hazelnut Praline (£2) - these balanced nutritious vegan snacks are very popular. 

The chocolate coated range is a mini treat of plant protein, filled with a squishy centre and coated with chocolate.

We received a Choc Brownie. Inside there is a tasty nut butter. High in fibre and protein, it comes at 190kcal per energy ball.

Available at Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Waitrose, Co-Op, BP, Ocado and Holland & Barrett.

Day 6: Maretti Oven Baked Bruschette Chips (£1.49**) are crunchy, crispy pieces of bread, made with carefully selected ingredients and offered in a variety of flavours. They are seasoned on one side to offer you a choice of more intense or mild taste. 

Add your own toppings or offer with dips like hummus or guacamole as a starter.

Available at Iceland, Lidl, Ocado, Holland & Barrett, www.goodfood-company.co.uk and many local stores.

Day 7: Yogi Tea Christmas Tea Organic (£2.59) is an ayurvedic blend with honebush, cinnamon and star anise.

For many years Yogi Tea have been supporting the non-profit Nevandra Association, which provides children in India with an education and a roof over their heads with the motto "Education - The Key for a Bright Future".

This is a beautiful flavourful tea, with great taste and great credentials too.

Available at independent health food stores nationwide.

Day 8: Terry's Chocolate Orange Crispy Oranges (£1)

Terry's Chocolate Orange is back with these fun crispy oranges. 

Made with smooth creamy milk chocolate  flavoured with real orange oil and a crunchy cereal centre, these little treats will make a lovely lighter snack. They are also a perfect ingredient for decorating all those festive bakes, from cookies to chocolate log. Or drop them in the brownie dough for an extra indulgent twist.

Nutritional values: 131kcal and 11g of sugar per 9 balls.

There are two bags in the calendar.

Available at all major supermarket chains and in convenience stores.

Day 9: La Baleine Coarse Sea Salt Box (£1.95) is a naturally white sea salt. 

It's being harvested in France from the Mediterranean sea for over 150 years, and crystallized thanks to the sun and wind.

Free from additives, this salt is excellent in cooking. 

Sprinkle over a focaccia dough, with sprigs of rosemary, for that lovely crunch. 

Available at Ocado and on Amazon.

I used some of this salt to prepare a home-cured salmon.

Day 10: Dorset Cereals Marvellous Pecan and Almond Muesli Crunch & Ultimate Fruit and Nut Muesli Crunch (£1.29) is a tasty breakfast for one.

You will receive one item of two. 

We got a pack of Pecan & Almond Muesli Crunch.

It's a mix of delicious signature muesli grains with crispy granola pieces, caramelised maple pecans and nutty almonds.

Nutritional values: 459kcal and 10.3g of sugar per 100g (one pack is 75g).

Available at Tesco, Waitrose, Ocado and on Amazon. Pecan and almond is also available at Sainsbury's.

Day 11: Surprise!!!

What's better than getting a surprise? There is a mystery product inside door 11, you won't know what it is from looking inside the booklet.

As it happens, there is a Starbucks Signature Chocolate Salted Caramel behind the door no.11 - ten sticks of hot chocolate with a hint of salt.

Stir with milk and indulge in the chocolatey treat.

Nutritional values: 178kcal and 21.1g of sugar per mug. 

Starbucks is known for its high sugar content drinks, and this one is way too sweet. I plan to use it, mixing with plain cocoa to make several cups of hot chocolate, to lower the sugar content.

Day 12: Filippo Berio Basil Pasta Sauce (£2.50) is an excellent Italian pasta sauce, made with naturally sweet Italian tomatoes, fragrant basil and Filippo Berio Extra Virgin olive oil. 

This lovely sauce will enhance many a pasta dish, bringing you the authentic flavours of Italy.

Gluten free and lactose free, this sauce is suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Available at www.filippoberio.co.uk.

That's the first half of the Advent Calendar. To see what other treats were available, check out the Part II of Advent Degustabox post.

This amazing box of foodie delights worth £50 costs £39.39 to purchase on Degustabox.com (while stocks lasted). 

Top marks for the selection of foods and drinks, great design of the packaging and value for money. 

A Child for the Reich by Andie Newton (book extract)

 

I'm thrilled to welcome Andie Newton to my blog today. 

A Child for the Reich

From the USA Today bestselling author comes a gripping new emotional WW2 historical novel. Inspired by a true story!

'A moving story of a mother's love battling against the determination of the Reich to create a pure Aryan race…A recommended read' Glynis Peters

'An intensely moving, brilliantly researched novel about love, loss, and the lengths a mother will go to for her child…utterly compelling' Deborah Carr

Rumours of the Nazis coming for Czech children swept through the villages like a breeze through the trees, and the story was always the same…

They wanted our children to raise as their own

Since her husband, Josef, joined the Czech resistance three years ago, Anna Dankova has done everything possible to keep her daughter, Ema, safe. But when blonde haired, blue-eyed Ema is ripped from her mother’s arms in the local marketplace by the dreaded Brown Sisters, nurses who were dedicated to Hitler’s cause, Anna is forced to go to new extremes to take back what the Nazis have stolen from her.

Going undercover as a devoted German subject eager to prove her worth to the Reich, the former actress takes on a role of a lifetime to find and save her daughter. But getting close to Ema is one thing. Convincing her that the Germans are lying when they claim Anna stole her from her true parents is another…

 

Purchase Links

HarperCollins US: https://bit.ly/3xJUXdD

HarperCollins UK: https://bit.ly/3dAADVe

 

UK retailers:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3qWMQ9W

Kobo:  https://bit.ly/3LCjSpa

Apple: https://apple.co/3S7zPX9

 

US retailers:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3feRMUQ

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3f4sNUd

Apple: https://apple.co/3faOrX7

Barnes and Noble: https://bit.ly/3eZZoum

 

GOODREADS: https://bit.ly/3DI0i99

BOOKBUB: https://bit.ly/3C31iDu

Author Bio –

Andie Newton is the USA Today bestselling author of The Girls from the Beach, The Girl from Vichy, and The Girl I Left Behind.

She writes gritty and emotional war stories about strong women. Andie holds a bachelor's degree in history and a master's in teaching. She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband, her two boys, and one very lazy cat.

You can find book club discussion questions on andienewton.com.

 

Social Media Links –

Twitter: @AndieNewton

FB: Andie Newton Author Page

Instagram: andienewtonauthor

Publisher Socials:

Twitter: @OneMoreChapter_ @Harper360

Instagram: @onemorechapterhc  @harpercollins360

Website: http://andienewton.com/

Below is an extract from A Child for the Reich. The Brown Sisters, nurses sympathetic to the Reich’s cause, are in town searching for Aryan-looking children to kidnap and take back to Germany to raise as their own. Sisters Anna and Dasa are moving their children from one house to the other, under the cover of night so that nobody can see them. The sisters have a secret they are hiding from the children, though they are starting to figure out something is going on.

 

Extract:

 

We waited until dusk before sneaking over to my house, through Dasa’s brown pasture where nobody from the road would see us with the children. Matka didn’t like having to change beds, but she wasn’t about to stay at Dasa’s now that the Reich had visited it.

“There will be more dead Germans by daybreak if I stay at that house,” Matka said. “And as for you, Dasa. You’ll confess to God. We can go to a church and make it official in the sanctuary,” Matka said. “He’ll understand because she was a devil. When the signs are right.”

“You can’t have it both ways, Matka,” I said. “You can’t be religious yet lead your life by signs and omens and fairy tales.”

“Yes,” she said. “I can. It’s who we are, Anna.”

“I’ll tell you who we are, Matka. We’re a family of secrets, and this is just another secret we’ll have to keep.” I reached out to pet the baby’s head in Dasa’s arms. “There’s so many now…”

Knowing German was the mildest secret we kept, and the baby so far was relatively easy to hide from the villagers. Our husbands’ fates were our biggest lies. Matka had taken her wedding band off, thinking someone would kill her for it, but I kept my wedding band on. Rumor had spread that my husband was working in Prague, when in fact he’d fled for the Czech Resistance. It was the lucky break I needed to keep the German men away from my land, but things were harder for Dasa. To qualify for assistance, she’d told the New Town Hall her husband had died, and it was to her detriment. Ever since, more and more of her pasture had been eaten up by German landowners, taking what they wanted.

We led the children into my cellar, walking down the rickety wooden stairs with Ema half asleep in my arms.

She roused when I went to lay her down. “Where are you going?” Ema asked.

“Aunt Dasa and I are going to sow some seeds tonight. The moon is right for planting, all the signs are there.”

“That’s right,” Dasa said as she made up beds for her girls with blankets and hay we used for insulation—Brigita with the biggest blanket, and her two other girls sharing one. “You know how the best planting happens during the night.” “Yes,” Ema said, sweetly.

These were stories we told ourselves. Stories we’d been brought up on. All good Czech families had their stories.

“But how come I can’t sleep in my own bed?” Ema asked.

“Ah, sweet girl,” I said, “you ask too many questions.” I tucked her into her new bed. “It’s just for tonight.” Ema sucked her thumb, looking up at me from the floor. “Kisses,” I said, and she pulled her thumb away so I could kiss her cheek.

“But you didn’t finish the story,” she said, reaching for me, and I kissed her once more.

Matka brought down Ema’s old baby basket, and we placed Dasa’s young son into it, blankets wrapped around him, unknowing what despicable deed his mama and I were about to go off and do. I lit a few candles in jars and placed them on the shelf. Brigita watched us looking at the baby, and Dasa snapped for her to roll over and go to sleep.

“I’m scared,” Brigita said after she pulled the blanket over her head. “Something isn’t right. Both of you, Aunt Anna,

Mama…”

Dasa kissed her daughter’s head through the blanket, giving her a squeeze, before following Matka up the stairs without another word.

“Mama,” Ema said from the covers, hands grabbing at the air between us. “The story. Lay down…”

Candlelight flickered between us. “Scoot over,” I said, and she made room for me on the floor. Dasa waved impatiently for me at the top of the stairs, but Dasa would have to wait. The Brown Sister would have to wait. Right now, Ema needed me.

I lay down.

Ema played with my fingers, the candlelight dancing over her little cheeks and glistening in her eyes. “Now, what story did you want to hear?” I asked, and she swiftly answered.

“The one about the actress in Prague.” “Oh yes, the woman from Prague.” I brushed a wisp of hair from her eyes.

“Tell me how pretty she was. Tell me about the prince.”

I kissed her hand, thinking up ways I could tell her about her father and me, ways a child would understand. “When her prince first saw her, it wasn’t the makeup he noticed, the fancy dress, or the jewelry that glittered around her wrists and neck.”

“It wasn’t?” she asked.

“He noticed her eyes. Looked right through them as if he could see her soul—as if he knew her soul—but how could he? He’d never met her before. And that’s what it’s like when love strikes. There’s a connection. Like me and you.” I snuggled her close. “We didn’t know each other before you were born, but we loved each other instantly.”

“I love you, Mama,” she said, and I kissed her cheek when she threw her arms around my neck for a hug. “Did they get married?”

“They did,” I said. “And it was the most beautiful wedding in all of Prague. An evening wedding under the stars. And they danced and danced and danced, and he told her he’d never leave her side, and she believed him because he was her love.”

I stared off into the gloomy cellar, remembering the champagne, the cheers, and the toasts from our families. Everything in the world seemed possible that night—a fairytale start.

“Was the devil there?” Ema asked.

“The devil?”

“Every story has a devil in it,” she said, and my eyes welled with tears, remembering all that had gone wrong since.

“The devil showed up after the wedding.” I pressed her fingers to my lips. “But that part of the story will have to wait for another night.”

She rolled over and sucked her thumb. Josef would have hated her sucking her thumb at five years old, but it was a comfort to her, and I let her do it.

I took hold of the light string, pausing, looking at our children sleeping on the cellar floor, in that dank and dark place where no children should ever sleep. “Damn you, Josef, for leaving me,” I whispered into the air, and I pulled on the light string.