#BlogTour Burning Secret by R.J. Lloyd

It’s my turn on the Blogtour Burning Secret by R.J. Lloyd – ‘An ancestor found, a name change, criminal activity and more in Harry Mason’s great great grandson’s fictionalised retelling of his life.’

About the Author

Tracing your ancestors has never been more popular, but what if your ancestor was far more intriguing than you ever thought? 

In R J Lloyd’s fictionalised reconstruction of his lost ancestor, Burning Secret, he explores the rich past of his great great grandfather and what might have been. Follow @rjlwriteruk on Twitter

About the book

As in life, the book begins in 1844, when Enoch Price was born into poverty. An ambitious youth, he becomes a bare-knuckle fighter in London’s underworld. In debt to a violent and unscrupulous moneylender and facing ruin and imprisonment, he escapes to Jacksonville, Florida, abandoning his wife and three young daughters, a decision that will haunt him for the rest of his life. By the time he arrives in Florida, Enoch Price has become Harry Mason.

Through a series of thrilling and risky escapades, he plays an important role in the development and history of Jacksonville, building an extraordinary new life of political and financial notoriety, shooting a rival, and concealment of a murder. Despite imploring his wife to join him, she declines, exhausted by his lies. 

Tormented by loneliness and guilt, Harry seeks solace through a bigamous marriage, leading him into a web of deceit as he tries to conceal his true identity. Meanwhile, lauded and enjoying popular success, Harry is elected in 1903 to the Florida State House of Representatives with the prospect of becoming State Governor. He advances his business interests through a series of corrupt practices, becoming a wealthy and  successful politician. 

However, success brings neither happiness nor contentment, and, seeking redemption, Harry plans to return home – but life is never that simple as the First World War breaks out, the Spanish flu takes its toll, and the American government introduces prohibition. Will there be a good end for Harry, or will his secrets prove to be the death of him?

Review

Enoch is hanging on to life outside of prison by the skin of his teeth – it’s only a question of time until his troubles catch up with him. He has a wife and three daughters to think of, and he decides to go on the run. With a purpose, with the promise of new beginnings for all of them.

Except it doesn’t work out that way, well for him it does, as he reinvents himself and makes his mark on and in a new country, whilst always thinking about his loved ones. His wife no longer trusts him, and in the end Enoch, now Harry, leaves all aspects of the old life in the past and turns to pastures greener.

In the afterword, there is a lot of information about familial connections and their fate, historical and relevant figures to the story. What I would like to know was just how much of the story is based on fact or fiction. Given the extra information I would say the author has merely filled in the blanks and created likely scenarios, regardless of whether they are often seen from a more positive and/or negative perspective given the the main character is family, and there is no way to reproduce how the first family and wife really felt about the way he abandoned them. 

If he was truly tormented then surely he would have done something about it, but then the house of cards would have collapsed, right? It’s easier to imagine that life goes on, regardless of his presence, but the real question is whether his presence and/or the status he acquired would have made a difference to their lives. The reality of a woman and three small children being left behind in those circumstances – it would have been tough.

It’s a fascinating story that can be interpreted in different ways. You can see the deception and the fact this man led a lifetime of lies or see the man who navigated another path for himself, and made a more positive impact in the second part of his story. Either way it is one heck of a story, and life.

Buy Burning Secret at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Matador, pub date 28 June 2022 | ISBN: 9781803131498 | Price: £10.99. Buy at Amazon com. Buy via Troubador – Matador.

#BlogTour The Cumbria and Lake District Coast by Kevin Sene

It’s my turn on the BlogTour The Cumbria and Lake District Coast by Kevin Sene.

About the Author

Kevin Sene is a scientist and writer on water and climate themes. The idea for this guide arose from many enjoyable walks and cycle rides along the Cumbrian coast when living in Kendal and Carlisle and an interest in its history and wildlife. He has also written a book on tidal bores and a travel guide to the Mersey Estuary describing places to visit around its Liverpool, Wirral and Cheshire shores. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and has worked extensively in Europe, Africa and Asia. Follow @meteowriternews on Twitter, Visit meteowriter.com

About the book

The coastline of Cumbria stretches for almost two hundred miles from Morecambe Bay to the Solway Firth and passes through the beautiful Lake District National Park. The Cumbria and Lake District Coast provides suggestions for places to visit along the coast, including picturesque harbours, stately homes, museums and seaside resorts. Readers will also discover less well-known sights such as medieval buildings, lighthouses and stone circles. The Lancashire shores of Morecambe Bay and the Scottish shores of the Solway Firth are included too.

For those interested in the history of the coast, there is an introduction to the role of coastal trade through the centuries. Topics include the Roman coastal defences that once extended to Maryport beyond Hadrian’s Wall, how mining contributed to the growth of ports such as Barrow, Millom and Workington, and the canals that linked ports at Lancaster, Ulverston and Carlisle to the shore.

For wildlife enthusiasts, the book highlights the many nature reserves that dot the shoreline and the varied habitats that are found, such as sand dunes, lowland raised mires and spectacular sea cliffs. There are also tips on watching waterbirds, for which Morecambe Bay and the Solway Firth are famed, and on where to see seals and tidal bores such as the Arnside Bore.

With stunning colour photographs, The Cumbria and Lake District Coast is a must-read for travellers and local residents alike. It will also be of interest to walkers along the England Coast Path, a fabulous new long-distance trail which is due to be completed shortly.

Review

I think books like this have taken a bit of a hit in the last few decades, especially in the era of the internet. Nowadays if you want information or an image of an area or place you would like to visit, you can just use a search engine. Instant results. I can remember using a popular brand name guide book in the late 80s in New York. It’s a completely different experience to hold a book like this in your hands and experience Cumbria and the Lake District.

I also thinks it is the cherry on top of the sundae that the images in the book have been taken by the author himself. The result is authenticity instead of high gloss airbrushed magazine quality. It’s the person aligned with time, place and nature, which will resonate with readers who like to discover new places and indeed rediscover the area they live in.

It’s fairly easy to forget the natural beauty and historical relevance of our surroundings. The majority of us don’t take enough time to appreciate the small things in life. This book gives readers, walkers, explorers and historians the chance to do just that. It’s a detailed, riveting homage to Cumbria and the Lake District. I can only there will be many more.

Buy The Cumbria and Lake District Coast by Kevin Sene at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Matador – Troubador Publishing. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogTour Breathe by Elena Kravchenko

It’s my turn on the BlogTour Breathe by Elena Kravchenko.

About the Author

I grew up in Kiev, Ukraine at the end of Soviet era, small enough not to fully understand the changes which swept all over my country but big enough to remember before and after. I remember my father asking me, what is the capital of your country? Moscow, I said. His eyes filled with bitterness. ‘It’s Kiev. Kiev!’ he shouted at me. That was not true, I thought, that is not what they taught us at school, but I felt too small to argue with him.

After Lenin’s portrait was taken down in our classroom, my years in school I mostly remember for being self-conscious about being tall, very tall in fact, the tallest girl in the school. Hiding, spending a lot of time at home, I read books that took me to the worlds I thought I could only dream of going to. And then the coin flipped and being tall and skinny was appreciated. I changed from studying at university to distance learning, and left for Paris on a one-way ticket to become a model. 

There were highs and lows, but mostly there was a lot of travelling, I lived a peripatetic life in many capitals in all the continents, some cities became home for a while and some I just passed through. The modelling years finished and I completed my Masters degree in Art and Business and I worked for a while at Sotheby’s, the auction house, in London – a cosmopolitan hub where every one of my friends came from different corner of the world, with vastly different backgrounds, stories, pursuits and visions of tomorrow. I felt that I fitted right in with this motely band of gypsies. 

Every year, I went to my husband’s summer house in the North of Sweden. The pine trees and birches, soft bright green moss, the smell of dry grass, hare bells and red clover in the meadow reminded me of my grandparents’ home where as a child I was sent for long summer months. But it was only when my first son was born, I finally felt the true meaning of home – it’s where my heart was, it was in front of me. Last year, we left London and settled in the Chilterns, where I began a new chapter of my life, planting my dream garden and working on my next book.

Follow  ElenaKravchenkoauthor on Facebook or Instagram

About the book

He has to look back to see tomorrow. – December 26, 2004: The Indian Ocean tsunami has flooded great swathes of western Thailand.

Carl’s best friend and his wife are missing. He travels from London to Thailand to discover what has happened to them, only to learn there is nothing one man can do in the devastation the wave left behind. What started as an impulsive quest ends up with him examining the very essence of his being.

A unique combination of an action-packed quest for truth and a philosophical exploration of life’s deeper meaning, Breathe is a poignant, tense and intelligently written story that will have you contemplating its meaning and message long after you have reached the final page.

Review

Carl doesn’t think much at first when he hears the news. It’s not until later that he realises his friends are in the middle of a tsunami. Missing, presumed dead. He know he has to help find them and bring them home. His journey to find them is closely linked to a personal philosophical epiphany.

This is based on the true events of December 2004, the earthquake and tsunami that left complete devastation in its wake. 

I’m not sure this should have been a story torn in two directions, because for the majority it was and perhaps to the detriment of both. On one side you have Carl’s emotional journey to find his friends and the trauma based on the true life catastrophe – the tsunami of 2004. On the other side you have Carl’s journey of self discovery, and whilst both make for a good read it’s a bit like two alphas battling for attention at the same time. There is no dual crown, someone is going to lose. The question is whether you forfeit one for the other or give them both their own arenas instead of having them duke it out. 

I admit I was more invested in Carl’s journey and determination to do right by his friend and his friend’s wife. To me it was a testament of his friendship and an example of what it means to be non-bio family. What goes on in the background in regards to the facts of the catastrophe and the aftermath was equally as important. The failings, the lack of interest, the unanswered fates of so many victims. It really puts the trauma and scale of the events into perspective. It’s an introspective and emotional read, one I think will stick with readers.

Buy Breathe at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher : Matador pub date 13 April 2021. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogTour Mime by Chrissey Harrison

It’s the last day on the Blogtour Mime by Chrissey Harrison and also my turn.About the Author

Chrissey Harrison – Author of supernatural thrillers and other spec genre fiction.

What can you expect from my books? Monsters, magic, action and adventure, and fragile human characters trying to muddle through as best they can. They make mistakes and bad choices sometimes, and they have to learn to recognise their own strengths and weaknesses and turn to their friends and loved ones for help and support.

My debut novel, “Mime”, released June 2020. Working on this book has been an epic 10 year journey learning how to be a writer. Although Mime was my first project, it has routinely been on the back burner while I worked on other projects. You can discover the published ones in the books section of my website, and novelette “The Star Coin Prophecy” is available as a free download for subscribers. Subscribe to her newsletter for free bonus content

I’m a science geek, gamer, fan of sci-fi and fantasy, and wearer of many hats. Metaphorical hats, that is, not so much real hats. At the moment I mostly wear my writer hat, my designer and my crafter hat. I also used to wear my film maker hat when producing movies with my amazing colleagues over at The Great Escape.

I live in Clevedon in a creaky old Victorian terrace with my partner and my 17 year-old goldfish Ambition. One day I will own a cat… one day.

Follow @ChrisseyWrites on Twitter, on Facebook, on Goodreads, on Amazon, Visit chrisseyharrison.com, Buy Mime

About the book

There’s a supernatural killer on the loose…

Elliot Cross didn t believe in monsters. At least, not until his brother died at the hands of something unnatural. Four years later and a string of impossible deaths leave the police baffled. Consumed by a desire to shine a journalistic light on the supernatural world, Elliot sees a chance to make a difference. Enlisting the help of his (only) employee, Samantha, he quickly identifies the culprit a demonic mime artist whose invisible creations are fatally real.

Way out of his depth, Elliot’s only hope is renowned demon hunter Gabriel Cushing. But tracking down Gabriel is only the beginning The search for a way to end the demon forever will take Elliot and Sam across the country, uncovering lost history, buried secrets, and a few new truths about themselves.

Review

Elliot and Samantha report the news, but not just any old news. They go looking for stories that seem a bit peculiar, the things that don’t appear to have a logical explanation. They are on the hunt for the supernatural occurrences that everyone else dismisses as accidents or freak ones at that.

Elliot and Samantha report news, but not just any old news. They go looking for stories that seem a bit peculiar, the things that don’t appear to have a logical explanation. They are on the hunt for the supernatural occurrences that everyone else dismisses as accidents or freak ones at that.

But Elliot knows when something isn’t quite right, even when the police are willing to just sweep odd deaths and accidents under the rug. There is something or someone spreading death around like butter on hot toast. It’s glaringly obvious to some that something evil is up, but others prefer their bread without a dip in the toaster.

I think this is a nice little juggling act of magical realism, the supernatural, the macabre and the secrets that live in the shadows. It’s one thing searching for something not quite of this world to blame and focus your energy on, but it is quite another altogether when your suspicions become a reality. The next mystery you solve or stone you look under might just be hiding a doorway to hell, a gaggle of demons – is it a group, swarm or perhaps just a gang? Is it true or are they figments of the imagination? Or is it all simply just an over-active imagination. Welcome to the world of demons and portals.

It has the quirky charm of Butchers Dresden Files. The kind of characters who just happen to have a penchant for the inexplicable, whilst the world around them has to remain completely oblivious to that fact. A little wit and a pinch of horror, which goes well with psych thriller and killer vibe.

I enjoyed the way Harrison played with all the different elements of this read. How the mind is programmed to evaluate certain oddities in a way that excludes anything other than what we consider to be the norm. This appears to be the first in the series, it will be interesting to see where Harrison takes Weird news next. Just how dark are we going to get?

But Elliot knows when something isn’t quite right, even when the police are willing to just sweep odd deaths and accidents under the rug. There is something or someone spreading death around like butter on hot toast. It’s glaringly obvious to some that something evil is up, but others prefer their bread without a dip in the toaster.

I think this is a nice little juggling act of magical realism, the supernatural, the macabre and the secrets that live in the shadows. It’s one thing searching for something not quite of this world to blame and focus your energy on, but it is quite another altogether when your suspicions become a reality. The next mystery you solve or stone you look under might just be hiding a doorway to hell, a gaggle of demons – is it a group, swarm or perhaps just a gang? Is it true or are they figments of the imagination? Or is it all simply just an over-active imagination. Welcome to the world of demons and portals.

It has the quirky charm of Butchers Dresden Files. The kind of characters who just happen to have a penchant for the inexplicable, whilst the world around them has to remain completely oblivious to that fact. A little wit and a pinch of horror, which goes well with psych thriller and killer vibe.

I enjoyed the way Harrison played with all the different elements of this read. How the mind is programmed to evaluate certain oddities in a way that excludes anything other than what we consider to be the norm. This appears to be the first in the series, it will be interesting to see where Harrison takes Weird news next. Just how dark are we going to get?

Buy Mime at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Matador; pub date 10 July 2020. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogTour Homeward Bound by Richard Smith

Today it’s my turn on the BlogTour Homeward Bound by Richard Smith.

About the Author

Richard Smith is a writer and storyteller for sponsored films and commercials, with subjects as varied as caring for the elderly, teenage pregnancies, communities in the Niger delta, anti- drug campaigns and fighting organised crime. Their aim has been to make a positive difference, but, worryingly, two commercials he worked on featured in a British Library exhibition, ‘Propaganda’.

Follow @RichardWrites2 on Twitter, on Amazon, on Goodreads, Visit richardsmithwrites.com, Buy Homeward Bound

About the book

Homeward Bound features 79-year-old grandfather George, who didn’t quite make it as a rock star in the ‘60s. He’s expected to be in retirement but in truth he’s not ready to close the lid on his dreams and will do anything for a last chance. When he finds himself on a tour of retirement homes instead of a cream tea at the seaside his family has promised, it seems his story might prematurely be over.

He finds the answer by inviting Tara, his 18-year-old granddaughter, to share his house, along with his memories and vast collection of records. She is an aspiring musician as well, although her idea of music is not George’s. What unfolds are clashes and unlikely parallels between the generations – neither knows nor cares how to use a dishwasher – as they both chase their ambitions.

Review

George’s daughter and son-in-law want rid of the meddlesome old man. Since he lost his wife he has become a burden or so said son-in law says. A cynic would think Toby is more interested in making a profit by selling everything George owns when they shove him off into a care home. Unfortunately George isn’t on board with those plans, especially if it means giving up his records, memories and independence.

He thinks he has come up with a brilliant solution when he invites Tara to stay with him while she attends uni. That way he can stay in his home and she has a safe place to stay. Two birds, one stone. Of course the reality of a slightly eccentric, lonely and yet incredibly interesting old man and a young girl on the cusp of adulthood and coming-of-age sharing a house together is going to be an experience filled with hiccups.

Tara and George bridge the gap – the huge generational gap, despite the differences between them. Grandfather and granddaughter have much more in common than they both realise and they also recognise the times they need support to each other or be a sympathetic listener.

Smith has written a tender, emotional and poignant story. It’s a story driven by a love of music. I think it’s one that readers will relate to. We are all somewhere in the generational hierarchy. We used to be Tara and one day we will be George, and hopefully we won’t have to deal with a daughter, son or in-law determined to see us end our days in an abysmal uncaring home for the elderly.

Buy Homeward Bound at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Matador; pub date 2 Feb. 2020. Buy at Amazon com. Buy at Barnes and Noble. Buy at Waterstones. Buy at Ink84bookshop.

#BlogTour Blood List by Ali Carter

Today it’s my turn on the BlogTour Blood List Ali Carter. It’s a psychological thriller with shades of Dr Foster, but rather more deadly.

About the Author

Ali Carter was born in Surrey in 1958 and moved to East Anglia in 2003, settling just outside King’s Lynn 4 years later where she currently lives with her husband, 5 dogs and 6 cats. (Yes she knows the dog/cat thing is a bit mad!)

She originally found some success in writing poetry in the 80’s and 90’s, but inspiration for her debut novel ‘Blood List’ came after the Shipman case hit the headlines – a few years later the dark and deeply psychotic G.P. ‘Charlotte’ was born. The full story took its time in completion however as there was a very long period of writer’s block about three quarters of the way through the book. It was an author friend who finally persuaded her to pull it out of the laptop and finish it, for which she will be eternally grateful. At the time of writing, a sequel is in its infancy which she sincerely hopes won’t take another 12 years to come to fruition!

Ali is also a proud mum to two grown up sons, and an extra proud nanny to her adorable granddaughter, although at only 5 she won’t be reading ‘Blood List’ anytime soon!

Follow @alicrimewriter on Twitter, on Goodreads, Visit alicarterauthor.com

Buy Blood ListAbout the book

Think the Lake District is a lovely place to visit? Think again. A Psychological & Chilling Thriller set in and around the fictional town of Kirkdale in Cumbria. One by one the young women of Kirkdale are being found grotesquely murdered, with no clues as to why.

Lying between the great lake Kirkwater and the base of Kirkby Pike, although beautiful, Kirkdale isn’t exactly the most exciting place on the planet. But after young reporter Jenny Flood moves into the relaxed Cumbrian town, it sets a catalogue of events in motion that brings this comfortable community to its knees.

When middle aged G.P. Charlotte Peterson discovers Jenny has followed her from Bradenthorpe, six years after a fling with her philandering doctor husband Miles, it stirs deeply buried mental health issues from her youth. In the run up to the Kirkdale country show, the arrival of this third and most recent adversary triggers the already edgy and emotionally scarred Charlotte into finally stepping over the edge. Her longing to destroy Jenny has been on a slow and very resentful burn for years, now the reality of achieving that presents itself as a genuine possibility.

Can journalist Andrew Gale protect new colleague Jenny, girlfriend Gina and her best friend Molly from the psychotic GP’s insane agenda? How will sarcastic ex Met. Officer Harry Longbridge deal with Andrew’s continued interference?

Then there’s the unexpected arrival of an American mystery woman. And just who is on the Blood List?Review

I sincerely hope I never feel any man is worth becoming so deranged that I self-implode and destroy my own life and future. Charlotte places his fidelity above everything else in her life. Above her career, her happiness and her peace of mind. It’s all about what Miles is doing 24/7, and with whom. It’s obsessive, controlling and perhaps a wee bit insane.

Miles is a dog. There is no doubt about it. If he could get away with it he would probably have an affair with every attractive woman in his vicinity. However his greed appears to be bigger than his wish to be a single man.

Then there is the person who makes up this triangle of messiness, Jenny. She inadvertently starts the ball rolling in this fast-paced and often ruthless story.

There is a lot going on in this book. The beginning is packed full of characters, It’s a lot to take in, so I would suggest giving it all a minute to sink in. The motives of the killer seem pretty clear until you start digging around and uncover the why. There is more to this story than meets the eye.

It’s a psychological thriller with shades of Dr Foster, but rather more deadly. The jealous wife, the philandering husband and an obsession that turns deadly.

I’m not going to give anything away about the ending, but I was a little bit like: What? But that means they are… Yeh, I wonder how that will get sorted out and it sounds as if the psycho has more in store for them. Nothing keeps a goal driven bat crap crazy person down for long.

Buy Blood List at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Troubador Publishing; pub date 11 Oct. 2018.

#BlogTour A Patient Man by S. Lynn Scott

It’s an absolute pleasure to take part in the BlogTour A Patient Man by S. Lynn Scott. It’s a well-written and plotted compelling crime read with a psychological thriller element to it.About the Author

S. Lynn Scott began her adult life determined to take the theatrical world by storm. The theatrical world, it turned out, wasn’t quite so keen to embrace her as she had expected it would be, and so, nothing daunted, she successfully turned her undoubted talents to Terpsichorean entertainment in dark, exotic places. There she learned that a jewelled bra and a very large feathered fan are no substitutes for a good book and a cheese and Branston Pickle sandwich. Her further youthful adventures are, mercifully, lost in the mists of time and she now lives with suitable decorum in Leicestershire where she writes, insists on directing others who are better at acting than she is, dreams of working for the RSC and then writes some more. “Elizabeth, William…and Me” was her debut novel. A Patient Man is her second novel.

Follow @SLSwriter on Twitter, on Goodreads, Visit slynnscott.com

Buy A Patient Man

About the book

It is 1976 and Mikey, eight-years-old and street-wise beyond his years, is looking forward to a summer of freedom, roaming the creeks and the mud-flats of Canvey Island. But violent emotions are rumbling beneath the surface, about to destroy all that he thought he knew.

When Mikey’s neighbours, the Freemans, win a great deal of money, the old couple become the targets of a criminal act that leaves Peggy Freeman dead and her husband, Bert thirsting for revenge. Believing that young Mikey’s family is responsible, Bert devises a highly unusual but devastatingly effective form of reprisal. But where does the guilt really lie, and will there be punishment or redemption?

Told from Mikey’s viewpoint with light touches of humour, A Patient Man is a gripping crime novel peopled with believable characters who are drawn inexorably in to a story that explores the effects of greed, money and the human need for retribution.

Review

The story is told in first person from the point of view of nine-year-old Mikey. He spends his days exploring the mudflats of Canvey Island, as only a child of certain eras or decades will relate to. Nowadays building tree houses, climbing walls and spending every minute of non-darkness and free time getting up to mischief is lost to the youth of today. Technology has replaced the natural urge to forage, hunt and explore our surroundings.

Mikey is a child in the 70s and nothing is more enticing than what happens behind the twitching curtains of a neighbours house or tormenting the local animals. Torment in a cheeky way and not in a serial killer way. Just sticking up for Mikey. The majority of us didn’t spend our childhoods tormenting animals, although I must admit I did like to make the gaggle of geese in our local neighbourhood honk and hiss. Insider tip: geese are excellent guard dogs.

I have to say I thought this was an excellent read. Scott captures the time period and the essence of small town life, and of course the hierarchy of social status really well. The fact Mikey’s family belongs to the lower socio-economic status, translation – common as muck, makes them social pariahs. Not that they are bothered by it.

The assumption of a certain peace and status quo in the street is shattered when an elderly couple wins the lottery. Not long after that a woman disappears, an event that slowly destroys life as Mikey knows it.

The question the reader is left with at the end is whether what happens is in Mikey’s best interest. Indeed if you take the criminal element out of it and replace it with a Pygmalion premise the question still remains the same. Does an education, elocution and etiquette replace the need for family and human affection, the need for biological connections.

The other moral dilemma is whether revenge and justice is worth it and worth waiting for.

It’s a well-written and plotted compelling crime read with a psychological thriller element to it. I look forward to reading more by this author.

Buy A Patient Man at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.Publisher: Troubador – Matador Publishing; pub date 21 Aug. 2018. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogBlitz Chickens Eat Pasta – Escape to Umbria by Clare Pedrick

Today it’s my turn on the BlogTour Chickens Eat Pasta – Escape to Umbria by Clare Pedrick. It’s a memoir, which seems so perfect that one could assume it’s fiction.

Enter the Giveaway below to Win an audiobook copy of Chickens Eat Pasta (Open Internationally) (Winner gets to pick between audible and ibooks audio code)

About the Author

Clare Pedrick is a British journalist who studied Italian at Cambridge University before becoming a reporter. She went on to work as the Rome correspondent for the Washington Post and as European Editor of an international features agency. She still lives in Italy with her husband, whom she met in the village where she bought her house.

Follow @ClarePedrick on Twitter, Chickens Eat Pasta on Facebook, Follow Clare Pedrick on Facebook, Visit ChickenEatPasta

Buy Chickens Eat Pasta

About the book

Not just another romance, but a story of escapism, coincidences, friendship, luck and most of all… love.

Chickens Eat Pasta is the tale of how a young Englishwoman starts a new life after watching a video showing a chicken eating spaghetti in a mediaeval hill village in central Italy.

“Here I was, 26 years old, alone and numb with boredom at the prospect of a future which until recently had seemed to be just what I wanted.”

Unlike some recent bestsellers, this is not simply an account of a foreigner’s move to Italy, but a love story written from the unusual perspective of both within and outside of the story. As events unfold, the strong storyline carries with it a rich portrayal of Italian life from the inside, with a supporting cast of memorable characters. Along the way, the book explores and captures the warmth and colour of Italy, as well as some of the cultural differences – between England and Italy, but also between regional Italian lifestyles and behaviour. It is a story with a happy ending. The author and her husband are still married, with three children, who love the old house on the hill (now much restored) almost as much as she does.

Chickens Eat Pasta is Clare’s autobiography, and ultimately a love story – with the house itself and with the man that Clare met there and went on to marry. If you yearn for a happy ending, you won’t be disappointed. It’s a story that proves anything is possible if you only try.Review

I really need to stop reading books that make me want to move to New Zealand, search for pearls on Pearl Island or in this case uproot my entire life to move to a ruin of a building in Umbria.

Pedrick certainly makes the experience sound a lot more entertaining than it probably was. I can imagine it was nerve-racking and frustrating, but thrilling and fulfilling at the same time.

Imagine just throwing all caution aside and leaving family, career and friends behind based on a whim. An impulsive nostalgic moment of suggested freedom is the beginning and culminates in the purchase of a possible money pit.

It ends with a life, something completely different than she had perhaps imagined, but it ends with a chosen path. It makes one wonder whether there is such a thing as fate. Was it meant to be? Or is it all about being brave enough to listen to our gut instincts and reach out for something other than what society and family expects of us?

I think what makes this read such an entertaining one is the way the author captures the eccentricity of the small Italian or Umbrian community. They are so funny without even trying to be. At times it even seems as if they are living in a strange little time bubble.

It’s a memoir, which seems so perfect that one could assume it’s fiction. The fact it reads like a fictional story is also what will draw readers in, because memoirs can often be dry and a little on the boring side. This is many things, but boring isn’t one of them.

Buy Chickens Eat Pasta – Escape to Umbria at Amazon UK or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Matador; pub date 23 July 2015. Buy at Amazon com.

Buy the Audiobook at Amazon Uk and Amazon com.

Enter the Giveaway below to Win an audiobook copy of Chickens Eat Pasta (Open Internationally) (Winner gets to pick between audible and ibooks audio code)

Click here to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box above. 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.*

#BlogTour Dyed Souls by Gary Santorella

Today it’s my turn on the BlogTour Dyed Souls by Gary Santorella. It’s compelling literary fiction, the kind of read you remember.About the Author

Gary Santorella, Owner, Interactive Consulting is a Lean implementation, organizational development, conflict resolution, and team-building specialist. He has a BA in Behavioural Psychology from Providence College, Providence, RI (1980), a Master’s Degree in Occupational Social Welfare from UC Berkeley (1990), and is a licensed cognitive-behavioural therapist in the State of California. His book: Lean Culture for the Construction Industry: Building Responsible & Committed Project Teams 2nd Edition was published by Productivity Press (a division of Taylor & Francis) in 2017. His first novel, Dyed Souls, was published by Matador Publishing in 2018.

Follow Gary Santorella aka @dyedsouls on Twitter, on Facebook, on Goodreads,

Buy Dyed SoulsAbout the book

Described by John Lloyd of The Bookbag as “Catcher in the Cuckoo’s Nest,” Dyed Souls is a gritty coming-of-age literary novel, set in a residential treatment center in 1980’s California.

Charlie Lyle loves science, natural history, and the world of the mind, and it is his refuge and salvation as he copes with his drug-addicted mother and a world of circumstances well-beyond his grasp. More a work of philosophy than psychology, “For the teen it has a galling coming-of-age, redemption quest. For the adult it has that, as well as a literary look at a singular fictional life.”

Review

Now and again you get a gem of a book that comes along and takes you by surprise. With the kind of story that is so poignant you can hear the sound of it breaking walls as it penetrates the consciousness of readers.

This is the story of a teenage boy, who has spent his entire life being bandied about and abused by a mother who forgets him in a moments notice, as she seeks self-gratification in an attempt to forget her own misery.

Charlie feels the need to protect his mother on some level, despite the neglect and abuse he suffers at her hands, words and actions. She is the only one, bar his grandparents, who appears to have any interest in him.

The employees of Hawthorne are paid to inspect and dissect his life and emotional well-being like a bug under a microscope. Only the occasional person will feel and exhibit true compassion. In their defence, social workers or people working in the care system have to find a way to deal with the tragic reality of children in their care. The frustration of help or rescue being beyond their remit is often debilitating.

Santorella delivers a work of literary perfection. There are no moments of superfluous details or scenes, which are often added to give a story an added layer of attraction. It’s just the life and emotional turbulence of a teenager laid bare, as he navigates the obstacles of neglect, abuse, coming-of-age and confusion of mutual attraction.

It’s compelling literary fiction, written with an ease of memories flowing from the recesses of the mind to fingers eager to voice. A brief moment of time encapsulating the pain and fear that cements the pathway of an entire lifetime. Experiences that drive a vulnerable and troubled young person to pick a path of self-destruction or one with some semblance of peace and happiness.

It truly is a sublime read.

Buy Dyed Souls at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Troubador Publishing – Matador Books pub date 11 Feb. 2018. Buy at Amazon com. Buy at Troubador. iBooks. Google.

#BlogTour Meeting Lydia by Linda MacDonald

Today it is my pleasure to take part in the BlogTour for Meeting Lydia by Linda MacDonald. Her books focus on relationships and the complexities of those relationships, as they change and evolve throughout time. The perception of each person is subjective and seen through their own frame of references, which is how MacDonald approaches each book.

About the Author

Linda MacDonald is the author of four novels: Meeting Lydia and the stand-alone sequels, A Meeting of a Different Kind, The Alone Alternative and The Man in the Needlecord Jacket. All Linda’s books are contemporary adult fiction, multi-themed, but with a focus on relationship issues.

After studying psychology at Goldsmiths’, Linda trained as a secondary science and biology teacher. She taught these subjects for several years before moving to a sixth-form college to teach psychology. The first two novels took ten years in writing and publishing, using snatched moments in the evenings, weekends and holidays. In 2012, she gave up teaching to focus fully on writing.

Linda was born and brought up in Cockermouth, Cumbria and now lives in Beckenham in Kent.

Follow @LindaMac1 @MatadorBooks #MeetingLydia

Buy Meeting Lydia

About the book

Meeting Lydia explores the very relevant topics of childhood bullying, midlife crises, the pros and cons of internet relationships, and how the psychological effects of these affect the main character and those around her. Readers will be gripped by the turbulent life of Marianne who navigates the onset of menopause, an empty nest, a suspected errant husband and a demanding new obsession that pulls her in deeper as the story unfolds. Those interested in the psychology of relationships will enjoy this novel, as well as those who delight in an enthralling story with relatable characters and the powerful question of what happens when the past catches up with the present. This second edition has reworked the early chapters of the first edition, making for a pacy and shorter version more in line with the audiobook.

Marianne comes home from work one day to find her husband talking to a glamorous woman in their kitchen. Old childhood insecurities resurface, stemming from a time back at school when she was bullied. Jealousy rears its head and her happy marriage begins to crumble. Desperate for a solution – and introduced by her daughter to social networking – she tries to track down her first schoolgirl crush, the enigmatic Edward Harvey. But Marianne is unprepared for the power of email relationships …

Review

To be frank, I found Marianne completely unlikeable, especially in the first few chapters. There is incessant complaining and blaming of others. As the story unfolds her inner turmoil becomes a lot clearer, and the reasons why she seems at the very least like a petty jealous fishwife. Then some of the interactions with her husband make it easier to understand her.

He is insulting and crosses boundaries with other women he wouldn’t allow his wife to cross. He makes her feel small, invalid and unloved. Simultaneously Marianne makes it hard to be liked. She finds it difficult to deal with natural hormonal changes. The sense of feeling bereft at no longer being able to conceive is replaced by confusion about the uncontrollable physical symptoms she experiences. Instead of seeking help or talking with someone, she withdraws even further into the confines of her own fears and insecurities.

Meeting Lydia deals with historic bullying, the symptoms of early and perimenopause, the way society treats women after they pass into the middle-age bracket, and ultimately the way our deepest desires and goals remain unfulfilled as life passes us by.

And this is the moment where, as a reader, especially as a woman, you have to take a step back and try to understand her thought processes. Why do women of a certain age become invisible to others? The loss of youth, the ageing process, and definitely when their roles as mothers have been fulfilled, they are no longer of any interest to potential love partners for instance. Unfortunately the younger generations of women are unable to see themselves fitting into the same category ( ahh the innocence of youth), and more often than not they become the adversary instead of the supporter.

As for men, well they expect a woman to stay the same throughout the decades, despite letting themselves go. A hypocritical attitude, but quite common. There is also a lack of understanding for the changes women go through, although admittedly women don’t understand them completely either.

Marianne seeks closure for events in the past and tries to come to terms with the new phases of her relationship and her age. She starts what could be perceived as an emotional online relationship, which helps her to work through all of the above. In a way it is a long one-sided therapy session, with the other person being completely unaware of the importance of the correspondence.

MacDonald always manages to hit on core emotional issues in her stories. They may be woven into the fabric of a fictional scenario, but it doesn’t make them any less realistic for readers. The charm of her particular style of storytelling is the way she combines everyday emotions, problems and inner dialogues with relatable characters. Her main character represents the unhappy, confused, unloved and dissatisfied woman that lives in the majority of women, it just surfaces more often in some of us. In an way it is actually Marianne meeting Marianne or the woman she is, as she goes forward.

Buy Meeting Lydia at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.

Buy Paperback version

Read my review of The Man in the Needlecord Jacket by Linda MacDonald