Clues to You by Claire Huston

"You and Max are as bad as each other."

"What do you mean?"

"This sleuthing business. You both take it far too seriously. It's a game, Kate. No one's dead for real."

Not yet, thought Kate as she trained her sights on Max. Not yet." 

Clues to You by Claire Huston is a sweet romantic comedy and a cosy mystery in one.

This is book 3 in the Love in the Comptons series (all are standalone romcoms).

Clues to You

One murder mystery weekend. Two rival sleuths.

They’re looking for answers. But will they find love?

 

Kate Brannon is delighted to be attending her first murder mystery weekend in a movie-worthy Victorian manor house. Still getting over being dumped, cracking the case would be a welcome boost to her flagging confidence. And the prize money wouldn’t hurt either.

But Kate’s dreams of victory become a nightmare with the arrival of Max Ravenscroft. Smart, enigmatic and annoyingly handsome, Max is Kate’s sleuthing nemesis.

 When she and Max are forced to work together, Kate despairs. But, as the investigation brings them closer, she finds being his partner in solving crime isn’t all bad.

 With growing suspicions that the game is rigged against them, can Kate and Max beat the odds to find the killer? And, as their partnership deepens, can they find romance too?

 

Kate Brannon arrives to The Old Grange Hotel for Merryman's Murder Mystery Weekend with great hopes. For her, spending a weekend, trying to solve the murder mystery, is pure happiness. Her best friend Bella is expected to attend the event with her fiance Ethan. With these two on her team, Kate knows she has a chance.

She " was determined to have a fun weekend with good friends. And maybe, just maybe, it would be a weekend with a dream ending. Her eyes fluttered closed for a moment and she pictured her team solving the case to rapturous applause and carrying off fifty thousand pounds".

Her bubble of excitement is burst, when Max Ravenscroft makes his appearance, "her old rival, sleuthing nemesis and destroyer of dreams of detective glory..." She dreads working together with Max on the same team.

"She had hoped she stood a small chance of cracking the case. But the addition of another mystery - and none other than the diabolical enigma that was Max Ravenscroft - could well make the weekend more than she could handle".

To be fair, Kate does exaggerate her dislike of the formidable Max. In fact, he is very considerate to her, offering Kate cookies, when her stomach makes embarrassing noises.

With his sharp mind, Max asks direct questions that help their team. "In the middle of a weekend of extended role play, a weird fictional situation in which everyone was voluntarily suspending their disbelief, he was unwaveringly present and solid".

Like Elizabeth to her Mr Darcy, Kate's prejudices begin to melt away.

As Kate and Max probe further into the secrets of the family, they seem to be drawn together. Max shows that he can be caring and attentive, and not at all the monster she has envisaged in her mind. As each clue is being revealed, their mutual attraction grows.

There are rumours that the game has been rigged, and the game organisers are not playing fair, which they obviously deny. Is it possible for anyone to solve the clues and win the game?

Kate and Max are determined to find the answers. Will they find the killer? They are following the clues, but is it finally the time to start following their hearts as well?

Kate is a sweet likeable character, shy and not overly bursting with confidence, and with a quirky style in clothes. 

Max is the epitome of elegance and poise, and at first appears borderline smug over-confident.

They make an awesome duo of sleuths, complementing each other's strenghts. And they do take their hobby seriously (which is quite endearing).

The murder mystery is set in the 1930s, and at times you forget that the main action is happening at present, and the murder investigation is staged and performed by the team of actors. The murder mystery characters are fleshed out effortlessly, with insightful glimpses into their backstories. 

The whole story would make a fabulous TV series with a delightful set of characters, Archie "Tinkety-Tonk" Forbes being one of my personal favourites.

Clues to You is a very entertaining and an immensely enjoyable story, with a great charm and a sense of humour. 

A charming and fun read, with an original concept.

This review is part of the blog tour for Clues to You.

Many thanks to Claire Huston, Goldcrest Books and Rachel's Random Resources for my copy of the book (and it's also signed by the author!)

Purchase Link - 

https://mybook.to/CluesToYou

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   

Under a Gilded Sky by Imogen Martin

 

"Running a farm with only her younger sister for help needed a daily dose of optimism and a large dash of resilience".

Under a Gilded Sky by Imogen Martin is a historical romance novel, set a decade after the end of the civil war.

Blurb:

In this epic and unforgettable love story, set in the wilds of Missouri and the glamour of high society Boston at the dawn of the Gilded Age, one woman's life changes forever the day that a stranger turns up on her doorstep.

Missouri, February 1874:

The last thing struggling homesteader Ginny needs is a scandal on her hands. But when a badly injured drifter arrives at Snow Farm in desperate need of medical attention, Ginny's kind nature and good upbringing means she has no choice but to treat his wounds and care for him until he's back on his feet, no matter the danger he might pose.

Ginny's been running the farm and looking after her fourteen-year-old sister Mary-Lou since their papa died two years ago, each morning pulling on his old leather coat and pushing her feet into stout boots that come up to her knees, before heading out to tend to the cattle. She's determined to hold onto one thing that connects them to memories of their parents - whatever the cost. And when their uninvited guest - Lex - is well enough he offers his help, and she surprises herself by accepting it.

But not long after Lex moves on, Ginny realises that her heart has gone with him. And when the farm's fortunes take a turn, she faces her hardest test yet. Can she save the only home she's ever known, and everything she holds dear? And what if doing so means risking a chance at love and happiness she never expected to come her way?

Ginny Snow lives with her younger sister Mary Lou on a remote farm in Missouri. Their father passed away two years earlier. He has gambled so much of their land on cattle, leaving them almost destitute. Both sisters have to work hard to keep the farm afloat, budgeting every cent.

Ginny is determined to keep the farm, "This farm is the only thing we've got left of Mama and Papa. It's how Mary Lou and I keep connected with them. I can't let it slip away".

Their parents' marriage was considered a mésalliance by her mother's side of the family. Mama's family disavowed her for marrying against their wishes and expectations.

One day Mary-Lou finds a wounded stranger who is barely able to stand, and helps him into the farm. There's no shelter for miles around, and both sisters know that he'd freeze to death if they leave him outside. The stranger looks like a farm worker, or a cowboy, travelling from place to place. How on earth did he end up in the vicinity of Snow Farm? Is he an outlaw on the run, a robber or worse?

Ginny "keenly felt the vulnerability of running Snow Farm by themselves. Papa had died two years ago, but she'd been determined to keep the family homestead".

They come up with a plan: "We mustn't let the stranger know it's just us two here. We need him to think there's a man in the homestead". Thus the girls pretend for the stranger's sake that their father is alive.

From years looking after the livestock on the farm, Ginny knows a thing or two about bones and muscles. She examines the wounded man's leg, and tends to him.

Ginny is worried, "being trapped in their home with an unknown man was the last thing they needed".

Lex Carlton fought in the American Civil War, supporting the Union's side. Looking around the Snows' house, he realises where the family sympathies lie. Missouri is the state of divided loyalties, and they have to be vigilant regarding who they confide in.

He is also amazed to see a piano in the parlour. Ginny is a talented pianist, educated by her mother, who insisted on daily practice. Music is her escape from the daily drudgery and constant fear of losing the farm.

Ginny is too proud to ask for help. "She didn't want people's pity, or for them to think she was dissatisfied with what life had dealt her. She could manage by herself". But running such a big homestead is an almost impossible task. When Lex offers help, she is very reluctant to accept the kind offer. 

"Ginny and Mary Lou just about kept their heads above water, with hired help. One unexpected catastrophe had left them with no one to lean on." Lex believes he can help to keep the farm going, but it takes a lot of convincing. 

Ginny's pride prevents her from recognising the fact that she needs to learn to accept help when offered. As Lex tells her, "There is a joy in giving. But for someone to experience that joy, someone else has to accept the gift".

When time comes for Lex to move back to where his family is, Ginny comes to realise the depth of her feelings for him. 

Yet life goes on, and there are much bigger worries on her mind. The farm has been struggling with the debts since before Mr Snow's death. And now Ginny is going to lose everything that had belonged to her family. The girls are facing an uncertain future.

Is there any chance for Ginny and Mary Lou's home to be saved? Will Ginny make the right decision when it comes to the matters of the heart?

Ginny and Mary Lou are likeable protagonists, brave, strong-willed and determined, and also kind and compassionate. Their struggles to keep the farm afloat, and their isolation and vulnerability are portrayed realistically.

The historical background feels authentic and well-researched. 

Under a Gilded Sky is a dramatic, moving story with a spirited heroine. A tale of survival and hope, it is also a portrayal of America after the civil war, with its divided loyalties and economic struggles. It is a beautifully told story with a vivid sense of place.

This review is part of the blog tour for Under a Gilded Sky.

Many thanks to Imogen Martin and Rachel's Random Resorces for my e-copy of the book!

 

Purchase Links

multi retailer choice link - all retailer options : https://geni.us/176-al-aut-ch

 

Separate retailer links

Google: https://geni.us/176-al-aut-go

Apple: https://geni.us/176-al-aut-ap

Kobo: https://geni.us/176-al-aut-ko

Amazon: https://geni.us/176-al-aut-am

B&N: https://geni.us/176-al-aut-ba

Author Bio –

Imogen writes sweeping, historical fiction. Her first two novels are set in nineteenth century America.

As a teenager, she took the Greyhound bus from San Francisco to New York. Over those three days of staring out of the window at the majestic mountains and endless flat plains, stories wound themselves into her head: tales of brooding, charismatic men captivated by independent women.

Since then, she has worked in a coffee-shop in Piccadilly, a famous bookstore, and a children’s home. She has run festivals, and turned a derelict housing block on one of the poorest estates in the UK into an award-winning arts centre.

During 2020 Imogen was selected by Kate Nash Literary Agency as one of their BookCamp mentees, a mentorship programme designed to accelerate the careers of promising new writers.

Married with two children, Imogen divides her time between Wales and Sardinia.

She hopes her books will bring you the tingle of a new love affair whilst immersed in a different time and place.

Social Media Links –

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ImogenMartin9

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImogenMartin.Author/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imogenmartinauthor/?hl=en-gb

Degustabox August Box

 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 August Box Degustabox box?

Nature's Heart Sweet Chilli Crunch or Sour Cream & Chive Crunch (£2.25) is a tasty mix of edamame, peas, broad beans and seeds. They come in six different flavours, and you should receive one.

We've got Sour Cream & Chive Flavour Crunch, a classic flavour combination that works perfectly in savoury snacks.

Nutritional values: 12g protein and 8g of fibre, 1of 5 a day. 1 portion contains at least 4tsbp of vegetables. Suitable for vegans.

Lovely on its own, this crunchy mix will also be a nice addition to a cheese board, with some apple slices and celery sticks.

Available at Waitrose, Holland & Barrett, WHSmith, on Ocado and Amazon.

Knorr Pastaria Pasta Parmesana/ Bolognese or Carbonara (£1.40) is a mix to make pasta in a rich tomato and beef sauce. This comfort food could be ready in about 10 minutes. 

Nutritional values: 306kcal and 1.7g of salt per portion; no artififical colours or preservatives.

It's not the same pasta Bolognese as you would cook yourself from scratch, but if you're in a hurry and/or not very experienced in the kitchen, this pasta packet could come handy.

You should receive 1 item of 3 in your box.

Available at ASDA.

Rubies in the Rubble Squeezy Tomato Ketchup (£3.50) is one of the Great Taste award winners in 2021. This ketchup is made with fruit which would've gone to waste (tomatoes, surplus pears, apples).

Nutritional information: 86kcal and 20g of sugar per 100g. Carbon neutral, twice the fruit, half the refined sugar, 100% recyclable bottle.

Use as you would use any standard ketchup: with fries, in burgers, sandwiches, added to tomato ragu sauces etc.

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

BEAR Paws Strawberry & Apple and Raspberry & Blueberry (£0.60 each) are gently baked chewy fruit paw shapes made with 100% fruit, no added sugar and not from concentrates.

BEAR Paws bring back many memories of my younger son taking Bear snacks to primary school as part of his lunchbox. I haven't bought Bear snacks in years, and seeing them was like meeting an old friend. 

Nutritional values: 62kcal and 9g of sugar per portion.

You should receive two items in your box.

Available at all major retailers and online on Amazon and Ocado.

Whitworths SHOTS Fruity Biscuit 4 pack (£2) are a lovely mix of sultanas, dried cranberries and white chocolate coated shortcake pieces.

These small sized snacks are less than 100kcal per shot. A handy snack to have in the bag for when you're on the go and feeling peckish.

While I enjoy the cranberries and sultanas, the white chocolate is a tad too sweet for me. 

Available in all major supermarket chains.

PITCH Strawberry (£1.75) is a new addition to the Pitch range of baked goodies. 

My sons love Pitch brioche, plain or filled with chocolate, and liked the strawberry flavoured brioche as much.

Lovely for lunchboxes, or with a cup of morning coffee. Each brioche comes individually wrapped for freshness.

Typical values: 25kcal and 8.6g of sugar per brioche.

Available at Aldi from 27th August to 3rd September, and at Tesco from 4th September. Hopefully they will be available at the other retailers soon.

LU Le Petit Ganache (£1.70) is the first filled biscuit in the LU range.

We're fans of LU Le Petit Chocolat and Le Petit Beurre biscuits, and Le Petit Ganache is pretty good too, if you enjoy gooey chocolate and hazelnut filled biscuits.

The LU bakery was created in 1846 in Nantes, France, and to this day, they use the traditional recipes and quality ingredients in their tasty bakes.

Typical values: 162kcal and 10g of sugar per 3 biscuits.

Available in major supermarket chains.

J2O Spritz Apple & Elderflower/ Spritz Pear & Raspberry (£3.55 per pack of four) are fruity soft drinks with lots of bubbles. 

You should receive 4 units of 1 flavour in your box.

We received Spritz Apple & Elderflower flavour. It is light, sparkling, sweet and fruity. 

It will also make a nice ingredient for a jelly with fresh berries.

Nutritional values: 18kcal and 4g of sugar per 100ml.

Available in major supermarkets across different formats.

Tropicana Long Life Smooth Orange (£3) is a pure fruit juice, 100% from natural origin. Now it is fresher for longer in a long life carton. Tropicana oranges are hand picked at the right moment and squeezed within 24 hours. 

Typical values: 40kcal and 8.6g of sugar per 100ml. No added sugar, a source of vitamin C, 1 of 5 a day per 150ml. 

Best served chilled. Drink on its own, or as part of a fruity cocktail, with alcohol or non-alcoholic drinks.

Available at Tesco, ASDA, Sainsbury's, on Ocado and Spar.

Carlsberg 0.0 Pilsner (£0.88 each) is a non-alcoholic beer. It has a full flavour and zero alcohol - just perfect when you fancy a beer but don't want or cannot drink alcohol.

Enjoy with a pizza, crisps, burgers, a seafood plate, or a sharing bag of jalapeno cheese curls. 

Available at selected Tesco stores. Carlsberg 0.0 Pilsner is only available in a 4x330ml multipack at £3.50.

You should receive 2 units in your box.

And finally, the Product of the Month - Fruit-tella Strawberry Water Enhancer (£1.30).

Packed with delightful flavours and crafted with natural fruit juices, these water enhancers will make it easier to drink more water and less soft drinks. They are a healthier alternative to sugar-laden beverages.

Available in two flavours: strawberry and blackcurrant.

Available exclusively at B&M for summer 2023. Grab it while you still have a chance!

And that's all for August. What was your favourite product from the August Box?

Clues to You by Claire Huston (Cover reveal)

 

I'm delighted to do a cover reveal for Clues to You by Claire Huston. I have read and reviewed three 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.

Clues to You

One murder mystery weekend. Two rival sleuths.

They’re looking for answers. But will they find love?

 

Kate Brannon is delighted to be attending her first murder mystery weekend in a movie-worthy Victorian manor house. Still getting over being dumped, cracking the case would be a welcome boost to her flagging confidence. And the prize money wouldn’t hurt either.

 

But Kate’s dreams of victory become a nightmare with the arrival of Max Ravenscroft. Smart, enigmatic and annoyingly handsome, Max is Kate’s sleuthing nemesis.

 

When she and Max are forced to work together, Kate despairs. But, as the investigation brings them closer, she finds being his partner in solving crime isn’t all bad.

 

With growing suspicions that the game is rigged against them, can Kate and Max beat the odds to find the killer? And, as their partnership deepens, can they find romance too?

 

A sweet romantic comedy with a cosy mystery at its heart. Perfect for fans of Kathryn Freeman, Laura Jane Williams and Katie Fforde.

And now that you've read the blurb, are you ready to see the new cover?

 

Pre-order Link - https://mybook.to/CluesToYou

Publication Date: 19^th September

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 Stranger Beside Me by Caroline England

 

"How do you draw the line? Making choices, emotional decisions. Leave those you love in the past".

The Stranger Beside Me by Caroline England is a tense, emotionally charged psychological thriller.

Synopsis:

Katy Henry is lost and lonely. A single mother, plagued by fatigue and anxiety, she rarely has time for friends. But when she encounters Sibeal Matthews, all this changes. Sibeal is everything that Katy is not: assured, headstrong and charming.

Katy soon finds herself pulled out of her isolation into a fierce friendship. But Sibeal is not all that she seems. Tragedy haunts her, and for all her feistiness, she is startingly dependent on her brother, Gabriel. And when her life begins to spectacularly unravel, Katy is swept up in the storm.

As Katy fights to protect herself and her son, it's not just Sibeal who threatens to endanger them - Katy's own past starts to rupture. Who can Katy trust? Can she even trust herself?

Katy Henry is a single mother, living with her son Milo and father Alexander. She accompanies her father to the funeral of his old friend, where she meets Sibeal and Gabe, two handsome siblings.

On an impulse, Katy offers to help sorting out their father's house before it could be sold. Working together on the house, two women appraise each other.

"Watching the brother and sister again was captivating. Katy can't quite make them out. On the face of it Sibeal is the more dominant - and certainly more vocal - sibling, and yet the balance of power appears pretty equal  overall".

Sibeal Matthews looks sophisticated, self-assured and strong-willed, all the qualities that Katy wishes she had herself. 

In fact, on the outside they are complete opposites. Katy is nervous, with a crippling anxiety which turns her into a social recluse, and makes her disquieted about seemingly basic things. Often Katy is not coping physically and emotionally, and stays in bed, relying on her father and the family friend to look after Milo. 

Having tragically lost her Mum in a car accident several years earlier, Katy's depression has intensified, which brings on the CFS. Her condition is so debilitating, that she has missed out days and weeks "on enjoying her son, not to mention life in general".

It's a mystery how quickly Katy and Sibeal are drawn into each other's orbit. Soon enough Sibeal begins to show her vulnerable side, confessing about her own tragedy. Her lover Robin died recently. Sibeal is bereft, yet she cannot openly grieve for her lost lover, as he has been married and left a wife and a young child. Sibeal does not feel any remorse about her affair, she also resents the fact that her lover has a child, while she doesn't.

Sibeal is strangely dependent on her brother, Gabe. "Would Gabriel approve? It has been the acid test her whole adult life. Mostly failing it, and often deliberately, but always wanting his endorsement nonetheless". There is a lot of conflicting emotions mixed into the family drama. Their late mother favoured her older child, and paid hardly any attention to her daughter. 

"Sib's brusque exterior hides trauma and loneliness. She wasn't just brutally abandoned by her mother at eleven; she was rejected from the moment she was born". 

Both young women are familiar with loneliness and isolation. For Sibeal, alcohol is the way of coping with rejection and trauma. Her behaviour becomes more and more erratic, and makes Katy question her judgment. As Sibeal's drama is unfolding, Katy becomes embroiled in the mess. Everything she holds dear is endangered. 

Is there anyone she can trust unreservedly?

The narrative acquires menacing notes as it progresses. There's twist after twist you never see coming.

The Stranger Beside Me is a first-rate thriller, with flawed characters and perfect pacing. 

This is the fourth novel by the author that I've read. One can see a common theme of twisted relationships, power, control and obsession. There is also a subject of how the childhood trauma keeps damaging one's psyche into adulthood. Vulnerability and obsession become two sides of one coin. The motivations of the main characters are complex and nuanced. 

With its shocking reveals and sinister, unsettling plot, The Stranger Beside Me is an addictive page-turner.

This review is part of the blog tour for The Stranger Beside Me.

Many thanks to Caroline England for inviting me to take part in the tour!

Author's Bio and Social Links:

CWA Dagger shortlisted Caroline England is known as the ‘Duchess of dark domestic noir’. Her psychological suspense thrillers are BENEATH THE SKIN, the top ten ebook bestseller MY HUSBAND'S LIES, BETRAY HER, TRUTH GAMES and THE SINNER. THE STRANGER BESIDE ME will be published on the 3rd August 2023.

Caroline also pens gothic-tinged psychological thrillers as CE Rose. Stand alone THE HOUSE OF HIDDEN SECRETS was followed by THE HOUSE ON THE WATER'S EDGE and THE SHADOWS OF RUTHERFORD HOUSE. THE ATTIC AT WILTON PLACE will be published on 30th March 2023.

Both CE and Caroline write multi-layered, dark and edgy ‘domestic suspense’ stories that delve into complicated relationships, secrets and the moral grey area.

Drawing on her days as a divorce and professional indemnity lawyer, she loves to create ordinary, relatable characters who get caught up in extraordinary situations, pressures, dilemmas or crime. She admits to a slight obsession with the human psyche, what goes on behind closed doors and beneath people’s façades. She also enjoys performing a literary sleight of hand in her novels and hopefully surprising her readers!

WATCHING HORSEPATS FEED THE ROSES and HANGED BY THE NECK are her dark, twisty short story collections.

Website: https://carolineenglandauthor.co.uk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CazEngland

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CazEngland1/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cazengland1/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cazengland1

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-england-35888064/

AmazonUK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/~/e/B009UQC1YS

The Cornish Rebel by Nicola Pryce ( review + #giveaway )

"Well, I was twenty-one years old now; I was my own person. I was not perfect, not beautiful, not elegant or refined. I spoke with a different accent and lacked society manners, but she would just have to take me how I was..."

The Cornish Rebel by Nicola Pryce is a historical novel, set in Cornwall, 1801. This beautiful and thought-provoking tale is the seventh novel in the Cornish saga series. It reads as a standalone.

Blurb:

In the wake of her mother's death, Pandora Woodville is desperate to escape her domineering father and finally return to Cornwall. Posing as a widow, she safely makes it across the Atlantic, bright with the dream of working ar her Aunt Harriet's school for young women. But as Pandora is soon to learn, the school is facing imminent closure after a series of sinister events threatened its reputation.

Acclaimed chemist Benedict Aubyn has also recently returned to Cornwall, to take up a new role as Turnpike Trust Surveyor. Pandora's arrival has been a strange one, so she is grateful when he shows her kindness. As news of the school's ruin spreads around town, everyone seems to be after her aunt's estate. Now, Pandora and Aunt Harriet must do everything in their power to save the school, or risk losing everything.

However, Pandora has another problem. She's falling for Benedict. But can she trust him, or is he simply looking after his own interests?

Pandora Woodville arrives to Cornwall in March 1801. While travelling alone on board Jane O'Leary, she poses as a widow, for safety reasons. Behind, in the States, she leaves her authoritarian and despotic father. 

Cornwall is more than her childhood home, it is a symbol of freedom and dreams of becoming independent. Pandora was six when her parents left Corwall in a hurry, with a promise to come back later. Only it didn't happen. Pandora's mother died, and her father has had different plans for her.

She believes once she is safely with Aunt Harriet, at St Feoca, all the issues will be hopefully resolved. She will find a job at the school for young ladies, and make her aunt proud.

Pandora's expectations of a happy reunion come to a rather bitter disappointment. She is dismayed to find out that her aunt's school is on the point of being shut down. There's been a series of alarming, menacing events in and around the school, and now all the students have left.

Aunt Hetty is also not a kindly matron from her childhood that she remembers. 

"No warm embrace. No sign of love. No holding me, no asking me about my mother and how she died. No questions about my journey. Just her stiff upper lip and haughty tone, her chin in the air, her penetrating eyes."

The refuge Pandora has been dreaming about for so long is an illusion. The harsh reality is that there is a very strong possibility that the school will be closed soon, and the house and lands will go to a distant cousin of grandfather's, as stipulated in the school's constitution. 

On arrival to Falmouth, Pandora meets Benedict Aubyn. He kindly offers to help her, despite her protestations. While waiting at the inn, she eavesdrops on the conversation between Aubyn and The Turnpike Trust men. He is expected to sign a contract to provide an efficient route from Truro to Falmouth to link with the Penzance and Newlyn turnpike.

The gossip spreads about the imminent closure of the school. With the Turnpike project going ahead, the local hawks are circling around St Feoca. There's big money to be made from the new road, and who is going to think twice about the dwindling fortunes of the spinster headmistress of the closing school and her niece?!

Pandora is in two minds about Benedict. He is kind, attentive and considerate. Yet can she trust him at all, seeing that he's employed as the surveyor by the Trust?! Is he just another unscrupulous and manipulative man? 

Saving the school's reputation is no mean feat, given the circumstances and time constraints Aunt Harriet and Pandora are fighting against. They are on the brink of losing everything. Someone is trying their hardest to get hold of the St Feoca estate. Who is the merciless enemy, taunting them?

With growing suspicions and dramatic revelations, can Pandora and Benedict discover the truth behind the mystery of St Feoca, and find romance?

Pandora is an appealing protagonist. As someone who enjoys painting, I liked the idea of Pandora painting miniatures on shells. 

Pandora is intelligent and talented, she is also very insecure and emotionally needy. Growing up in a disfunctional family with an odious tyrant of a father, she feels she has to prove herself. She is jealous of her aunt's protegee Grace, who is more beautiful, and appears to be everything Pandora would like to be. Jealousy is not a pretty quality, even if understandable. That Pandora is not without flaws, makes her more realistic and easier to relate to.

This is the third novel by Nicola Pryce that I've read (see also The Cornish Lady and The Cornish Captive).  All three have spirited female protagonists, who don't conform to the views of society of what women's role in life should be. 

The latest book in the Cornish series keeps exploring the themes of the women's rights (or lack of them) and identity against the social and political restraints of the times. It's fascinating to meet some of the characters who appear in the previous books, like Lady Clarissa Crew, Mrs Lilly and Angelica Trevelyan, compassionate and strong-minded ladies.

There is a passionate discussion between Pandora and Benedict on how the society does not accept a woman having a life of her own.

"Men consider women their property  - that's how they view us. Either they shield us like delicate orchids and allow us to go nowhere or, if we do dare go somewhere, they brand us as forward and inviting trouble. We must marry and give up our freedom or become drab governesses and spend the rest of our lives avoiding unwanted advances from those who see us as fair game". 

And while the society has moved on regarding women's rights, there is still a lot of work to be done for the women's empowerment and gender equality.

The Cornish Rebel is a compelling novel, where history and its vivid characters come alive. Pryce has drawn a portrait of a complex and talented young woman. A storyteller of immense talent, Nicola Pryce creates an absolute treat from start to finish.

The book cover design deserves a special mention. A young woman, looking at us with a defiant expression on her face. She is not a mild and feeble simpering young lady, a man's subordinate, but someone who knows her mind and is ready to challenge the societal constrictions on women. Her hair is windblown, just like the blooms of the coastline, with birds floating free in the sky, as a symbol of freedom.

This book review is part of the blog tour for The Cornish Rebel.

Many thanks to Nicola Pryce, Corvus and Rachel's Random Resources for my copy of the book!

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cornish-Rebel-sweeping-historical-romance-ebook/dp/B0BV9F8TW2

https://www.amazon.com/Cornish-Rebel-sweeping-historical-romance-ebook/dp/B0BV9F8TW2

Author Bio

Nicola Pryce trained as a nurse at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London. She has always loved literature and completed an Open University degree in Humanities. She is a qualified adult literacy support volunteer and lives with her husband in the Blackdown Hills in Somerset. Together they sail the south coast of Cornwall in search of adventure.

Social Media Links – https://twitter.com/NPryce_Author 

https://www.facebook.com/nicolaprycebooks/

If you enjoy historical fiction, don't forget to enter the giveaway below.

 

Giveaway to Win a The Cornish Rebel Tote Bag and Paperback (Open to UK Only)

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I read The Cornish Rebel on our holiday to Cornwall. The waves and the beach in this super short video are properly Cornish.

Cornish Clouds and Silver Lining Skies by Ali McNamara

The word "Cornish" in the title, and an image of the island which reminds of St Michael's Mount is enough for me to reach for the bookshelf and buy the book. In fact, the fictional island of Aurora is inspired by St Michael's Mount, albeit on a much smaller scale.
 

Cornish Clouds and Silver Lining by Ali McNamara is a romantic comedy with a supernatural twist.

Blurb:

Meteorologist Sky Matthews does not like surprises.

Sky monitors her life like she does the weather, carefully and with a scientific eye. So, when she finds herself temporarily relocated to a tidal island off the Cornish harbour town of St Felix, she feels completely at sea. Worse still, she has to work alongside TV weatherman Sonny Samuels, who barely knows his storms from his tsunamis.

It doesn't take long for Sky to become enchanted by the strange weather patterns over St Felix. Sonny is convinced they link to local folklore, but Sky isn't about to fall for that. Until she meets Walter, a local weather watcher with no qualifications beyond a lifetime of experience, and Sky is forced to question everything she thought she knew about the weather, herself... and Sonny.

Is it possible the clouds were trying to tell her something all along?

Sky Matthews arrives to Cornwall with her little dog Fitz. She's got a job on a tidal island Aurora, off the busy harbour town of St Felix. "The offer to come to Cornwall had come completely out of the blue. Due to ill health I'd been on an extended leave of absence from my position as a senior meteoroloist at Met Central in London".

Sky has agreed to take a temporary position on Aurora to prove she is capable again. In the past she used to travel a lot, being placed in many usunual environments. Until twenty months earlier, she has had an exciting and challenging career.

She is supposed have an assitant, working and living in the same accommodation provided for the meteorologists. Talia is young and very enthusiastic.

When she arrives to the train station to meet Talia, Sky is in for a big surprise. Talia is accompanied by a man, who claims to be her new partner at the station, apparently in order to help unravel the mysterious weather conundrum. Sonny Samuels is a minor celebrity, a TV weather presenter, sent to Cornwall by Met Central.

Sky is not amused. In fact, she is rather alarmed, as all her mental preparations for the job are overthrown by this new arrival. "Now Sonny Samuels has been thrown into the mix, I get the feeling that dealing with the over-exuberant weather presenter... is going to cause me more trouble than anyhthing else this island could ever throw at me".

Sky resents his presence, she is not prepared mentally and psychologically to live in close quarters with someone who has an exuberance of a labrador puppy. "I'm trying here, really I am, but Sonny is the sort of person I usually do my best to avoid. He's loud and chatty and a bit too full of himself, and every time I think he might have calmed down a little, he springs right back into full Sonny mode..." 

Yes, Sonny is quite tiresome, but Sky is rude towards him from the first moment they meet. Sonny confides that his friends call him Jamie. Gradually, Sky begins to see a different side to the loud guy. He can be considerate and caring, sensitive and vulnerable under the veneer of over-confidence.

Sky comes to see that the first impressions and assessment of Sonny could be an error. She is trying to figure out how to deal with the mixed feelings she has about him. "I hadn't liked Jamie at all when we first met - but that wasn't his fault. He'd been thrust on me when I hadn't been expecting him, and I never cope well with surprises... But Jaie has changedsince he'd been here. The person I first met had much more Sonny than Jamie - like he had a sort of alter-ego he swapped between. I didn't care for Sonny at all, but I kind of liked Jamie now..."

Sky and Jamie are fascinated by the strange weather occurrences in the area, with the most unusual cloud shapes and virtually impossible meteoroloical patterns. Are they truly linked to the local legends, as Jamie believes? Is it even remotedly possible that the clouds above Aurora signify something personal to Sky?

It's hinted from the start that Sky has a hidden disability (ME). Apart from her serious condition, her behaviour borders on neuro diverse, with its rigidity of thinking. She struggles with changes in her preparations, everything has to be as she planned. While her being upset about the upturned plans is understandable, her rudeness is less so.

Sky believes she's been honest but she appears ill-mannered. Saying that, men like Sonny could drive anyone round the bend with their suggestive jokes and flirtatous behaviour.

Sky tries to hide her disability from her colleagues and friends, which doesn't sound sensible at all. 

"I can't tell them. They'd treat me differently if they knew, and I don't want to be different, I want to be the same as everyone else".

She wants to convince Sonny that she is more than her illness, that although it is part of her, it doesn't define her as a whole being. However, it's not Sonny she has to convince but herself first of all. She is wallowing in self-pity. It is Sky who has to accept herself as worthy of love rather than pity.

"I can't get away from it, however much I want to. My illness is there all the time - hiding, just waiting for me to weaken so that it can be unleashed once more. It's like a monster inside me, that unless I'm very careful, once unleashed, won't be controlled again for quite some time".

Cornish Clouds and Silver Lining Skies is a modern day romance, with paranormal elements, of a fairytale variety. The clouds sending images as messages might be a cute but rather an implausible motif.

For me the best parts were the descriptions of the sea, coast and nature (minus funny clouds). I loved the fictional island of Aurora, with its amazing views and a cosy cottage. St Felix, based on St Ives, also provides a beautiful setting for the story.

Dog lovers will be delighted with several dogs featuring quite prominently in the narrative: Eden's Yorkie Russell Fitz, Sonny's Comet and there's Barney who belongs to one of the minor characters. 

There are some quirky local characters, including the elderly weatherman, known as Wacky Walter Weather, for his weird and wonderful ways of forecasting the weather.

The smuggling plotline and secret tunnels ending in remote caves is a bit far-fetched. Sonny himself says, "If you think this is going to be some Famous Five adventure, with jolly japes and ginger beer, then you need to back out right now". But that's excatly how it feels at times, like Famous Five for grown-ups.

And here are some beautiful clouds over the Cornish coastline. Just clouds, no hidden messages in sight.