tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38653483100886921122024-03-06T08:34:25.499+00:00A Novel ThoughtJess Bickertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690456484271388695noreply@blogger.comBlogger125125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865348310088692112.post-74627125806070493442021-05-30T13:47:00.005+01:002021-05-30T14:28:12.904+01:00Blog Tour: Book Review of Song of the Nile by Hannah Fielding<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgawB1Hquw85QUjHjuTGh9ioh3nRXaW73A0U9W5w6KU9VMVgosB8_GjsaFVsbqO-8SOgKYib3AqMYKZ9i-w_hs4UZIVZPjOHuFR6LtqWUCzM8kGpk4T6jjfMwixypX7oB3KoxLd1o_StNCf/s475/00C6DA4C-E57C-4A42-9C98-4B908B8C37F9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="415" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgawB1Hquw85QUjHjuTGh9ioh3nRXaW73A0U9W5w6KU9VMVgosB8_GjsaFVsbqO-8SOgKYib3AqMYKZ9i-w_hs4UZIVZPjOHuFR6LtqWUCzM8kGpk4T6jjfMwixypX7oB3KoxLd1o_StNCf/w275-h415/00C6DA4C-E57C-4A42-9C98-4B908B8C37F9.jpeg" width="275" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Published by Midas Publishing, 27 May 2021</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Get your hands on a copy here;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Song-Nile-Hannah-Fielding-ebook/dp/B095RFMR8R/ref=sr_1_2?crid=179KINAWED616&dchild=1&keywords=song+of+the+nile+by+hannah+fielding+book&qid=1622377574&sprefix=song+of+the+nile+by+hannah+fielding%2Caps%2C242&sr=8-2" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Song-Nile-Hannah-Fielding-ebook/dp/B095RFMR8R/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=Song+of+the+Nile&qid=1622377646&sr=8-3" target="_blank">Amazon US</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><b>About the book:</b><br /><br />From the award winning romance novelist, comes a passionate, slow-burning romance that will have you wanting to move to the continent for an old fashioned holiday romance of pure escapism. <br /><br />Luxor, 1946. When young nurse Aida El Masri returns from war-torn London to her family’s estate in Egypt she steels herself against the challenges ahead.<br /><br />Eight years have passed since her father, Ayoub, was framed for a crime he did not commit, and died as a tragic result. Yet Aida has not forgotten, and now she wants revenge against the man she believes betrayed her father – his best friend, Kamel Pharaony.<br /><br />Then Aida is reunited with Kamel’s son, the captivating surgeon Phares, who offers her marriage. In spite of herself, the secret passion Aida harboured for him as a young girl reignites. Still, how can she marry the son of the man who destroyed her father and brought shame on her family? Will coming home bring her love, or only danger and heartache?<br /><br />Set in the exotic and bygone world of Upper Egypt, Song of the Nile follows Aida’s journey of rediscovery – of the homeland she loves, with its white-sailed feluccas on the Nile, old-world charms of Cairo and the ancient secrets of its burning desert sands – and of the man she has never forgotten.<br /><br />A compelling story of passion and intrigue – a novel that lays open the beating heart of Egypt.<br /><br />A sensual tale of romance and nostalgia, Song of the Nile illustrates the pain of loss, the power of love and the strength of heroine determined to put things right.<br /><br /><br /><b>My thoughts:</b><br /><br />In a time when travel is restricted and we’re all wishing we could whisk ourselves away on an exciting new adventure again - well, I know I am anyway - Song of the Nile provides an incredibly magical and elegant escape into the world of Egypt post World War 2. <br /><br />Hannah Fielding has an unquestionable talent in transporting the reader into another world. You find yourself feeling completely immersed in the elite high life of Egypt, the glamorous dresses and fancy social parties. Fielding clearly draws on her own experiences to help bring this other world alive for the reader; the sites, the sounds, the whole atmosphere. <br /><br />Fielding’s protagonist, Aida, has returned to her home after nursing in England during the war with a real determination to settle her family’s affairs and to find out the truth about who was responsible for her father’s death. We delve into a world where strong-minded women are not taken too kindly by a society that has never allowed them to have their own voice. Aida finds herself falling back into the elite lifestyle easily, however relationships with others are tense due to her stubbornness to accept a life chosen for her, rather than one she chooses for herself. <br /><br />Then comes Phares, the son of the man she believes is responsible for her father’s death. Everything in her head is telling her to stay away, but she finds herself challenged and captivated by him. This is a deliciously sensual story that follows Aida’s struggle between revenge and the undeniable feelings she starts to develop for the one man she wanted to stay away from. <br /><br />A beautifully captivating story entangled with loss, love and family honour.<br /><p class="s3" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="s20" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s3" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="s20" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s3" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="s20" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s3" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="s20" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s3" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="s20" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s3" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="s20" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s3" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="s20" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s3" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="s20" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s3" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="s20" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></p>Jess Bickertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690456484271388695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865348310088692112.post-54006306840566441422021-03-19T18:55:00.006+00:002021-03-19T19:00:28.604+00:00Book Review: The Shipyard Girls on the Home Front by Nancy Revell<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49QPDQQJ7sHpN9ZbwiCinv4LdOwX1cIOauvo5oOhyphenhyphenEteURTL7GztafAceDThhXpsEg5y9RdNsBke8VihEbm1JhBnf00ear7EL3ebWD7IydWGiwfWbYR5YC6DYyPtZZKtRS5RA-MMIHYQR/s1242/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-19+at+18.39.10.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1242" data-original-width="1242" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49QPDQQJ7sHpN9ZbwiCinv4LdOwX1cIOauvo5oOhyphenhyphenEteURTL7GztafAceDThhXpsEg5y9RdNsBke8VihEbm1JhBnf00ear7EL3ebWD7IydWGiwfWbYR5YC6DYyPtZZKtRS5RA-MMIHYQR/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-19+at+18.39.10.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><b>Published by Arrow, 18th March 2021</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><b><br /></b></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #e06666;">My thoughts:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #e06666;"><br /></span></b></div>I love a good historical fiction novel and Nancy Revell's Shipyard Girls series is no exception. In this tenth instalment, Revell continues to bring us a beautiful story filled with brave, courageous and real women. <br /><br />I love the connection Nancy Revell has with the story and her own family's background and I really believe you can feel this coming through in her characters. I would definitely recommend reading the series from the start if you haven't already. Not because you can't read them as a stand alone, but because I have loved watching how the characters have developed throughout the series. The relationships that are built and those that are broken. Revell's characters are so relatable and convincing and you quickly find yourself wrapped up in each of their stories. <br /><br />The Shipyard Girls on the Home Front is full of the drama that we expect from a Revell novel. Some shocking truths are revealed and some unlikely alliances formed. I love the way this book celebrates these brave women who helped during the war. Revell truly does them justice in bringing not only their triumphs to light, but also the grave struggles and sacrifices they had to make during the war. It is so easy to forget what the women left at home went through. <br /><br />Another beautiful story of strong, courageous and real women during WW2! <br /><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDu4m-TWoOV5FJXYQmQ-1UKSIpPZWb35w8O5IYr22My-nQWY7fROpuAyHbsN1hyphenhyphenlJfUFB1HFvvW9vgzpjz23pmohMos0rinLyTfgkgsNZMUv8ALFw-gMAnVhkcvGr7aicMwpDkUb34cjT7/w191-h79/sign+love+jess+x+pink.png" /></a><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><b>About the book:</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><br /></span></div><div>Join The Shipyard Girls in the tenth instalment of the Sunday Times bestselling series by Nancy Revell. <br />Inspired by the author’s own close family ties to the Sunderland shipyards and her campaign to get the brave women who worked on the shipyards during WWII recognised for their<br />history changing service. <br /><br /><b>December, 1943. <br /></b>As the war effort gathers steam in Europe, it's all hands on deck on the home front.<br /><br />Gloria is over the moon to be reunited with her sweetheart Jack. But her sons Bobby and Gordon are away with the Navy and still know nothing of their mother's divorce and new half-sister.<br /><br />Rosie's squad of welders must work gruelling hours in the yard as they prepare for the Allied invasion of Normandy. All the while Rosie herself waits anxiously for news of her husband Peter, who is carrying out dangerous work as an undercover operative in France.<br /><br />Meanwhile welder Dorothy has a feeling that her beau Toby is planning to pop the question when he's next on leave. But it seems that her head is being turned by someone closer to home...<br /><br />It will take great strength and friendship if the shipyard girls are to weather the storms to come.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg318y3oBFp6ceQA_Eg38RO4R76AA4FzB88zshJZIOtdpNnc9iY1ebgSSVMEJkwUFoljeV5AB-chpKtSKrhos5OM1EZDk7n50VZudy_BG_ohjVMBuBq3xhnKgv8fTf8HcWdzT-ATdRNTDrN/s688/image002.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="115" data-original-width="688" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg318y3oBFp6ceQA_Eg38RO4R76AA4FzB88zshJZIOtdpNnc9iY1ebgSSVMEJkwUFoljeV5AB-chpKtSKrhos5OM1EZDk7n50VZudy_BG_ohjVMBuBq3xhnKgv8fTf8HcWdzT-ATdRNTDrN/w640-h107/image002.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #e06666;">About the author:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #e06666;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b>Nancy Revell</b> is the pen name of writer and journalist Amanda Revell Walton, who has worked for the national press for the past 25 years, providing them with hard-hitting news stories and in-depth features. She has also worked for just about every woman’s magazine, writing amazing and inspirational true life stories.<br /><br />Nancy Revell is spearheading a campaign to honour the real women of the Sunderland shipyards in her home town with a new public statue that will be displayed within the historic Sunderland Shipyards. Nancy has worked closely with the Sunderland City Council and the Sunderland Soroptimists, a worldwide volunteer service organization for women, and after putting out a call on her own social media channels, Nancy was approached by local artist Rosanne Robertson who has been commissioned to create the statue that will be unveiled later this year.<br /><br />Sunderland boasted the largest shipyard in Europe during WWII, and produced a quarter of Britain's merchant shipping at the time. When the men went away to war, the courageous Shipyard Girls took up the back breaking work building ships for the British Navy. Due to its size, the Sunderland Shipyards were a key target of Hitler’s Blitzkreig, making the work not only backbreaking but incredibly dangerous. Historians have estimated that without the courageous women working in Sunderlands’ shipyards during the war, WWII could very likely have been lost due to lack of ability to transport troops, provisions and ammunition.</div>Jess Bickertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690456484271388695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865348310088692112.post-50527052983852909072020-10-23T10:23:00.002+01:002020-10-23T10:25:47.801+01:00Blog Tour: Review of This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLUk_YfAIWehpkpH6ZNHVt7Kr1kWBevUcDuSoaRWCSs6GZgbFWblrFkYQAA1JtjjThQcEMn5xCn-n275hSy_GwR5nnAKQowLfp5-dcOFdtvgKia6CI0I318_DLmO-utBmxzI0N48TnzBf/s2048/Asset+1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLUk_YfAIWehpkpH6ZNHVt7Kr1kWBevUcDuSoaRWCSs6GZgbFWblrFkYQAA1JtjjThQcEMn5xCn-n275hSy_GwR5nnAKQowLfp5-dcOFdtvgKia6CI0I318_DLmO-utBmxzI0N48TnzBf/w640-h640/Asset+1.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Published by Arrow (Penguin Random House), 15th October 2020</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Get your hands on a copy;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/#"><span style="color: #ea9999;">Amazon UK</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pre-order here;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/#"><span style="color: #ea9999;">Amazon US</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><b>My thoughts:<br /></b><br />What a beautiful story from Sophie Cousens! <br /><br />Before delving into the possible change of love, we are immersed in Minnie's whirlwind birthday rituals (or lack there of as you'll soon find out) as we learn about the story of how she came into this world, and why she likes to hide away on her birthday every year! The first strong relationship we are introduced to is Minnie and her best friend Leila. Cousens portrays such a real friendship, as you see them go from doting on each other, to bickering like sisters! I love the banter between them and how there different personalities and characters bounce off of one another. We all need a Leila in our lives!<br /><br />Then there's Quinn! They guy Minnie has grown up hating (even though she'd never met him!) and yet for some reason she can't help but feel drawn to him. I love how Cousens builds on their relationship throughout the story - it's not a simple, two people meet, fall in love and that's it. Watching their characters develop as individuals and their interactions with one another is pretty special. <br /><br />Cousens has also created some brilliant secondary characters in this story who are authentic and real and bring so much more to the overall pleasure in reading This Time Next Year. <br /><br />This story is filled with laughter, excitement and a great big dollop of romance! All in the most indulgent and beautiful way. <br /><br />Also... any movie producers out there, you need to snap this up!!! Quick! <br /><br /><br /><b>About the book:</b><div><b><br /></b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/#"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4JSoKQ55FQY3U3hoM7iB76u-CDRFuAfZEbZcBtdGe8PY4scKlO7mhCSGgqHAcfCsfB6ilbta_KXFmM4nNYiBQfpQTCtHnnZMoCB4dL589ZK5AWy4scnUT1ypyco6FwOK5gKizAii6Sdx8/w131-h200/81FWBwrGDzL.jpg" /></a></div><div><br />Quinn and Minnie are born on New Year's Eve, in the same hospital, one minute apart.<br />Their lives may begin together, but their worlds couldn't be more different. Thirty years later they find themselves together again in the same place, at the same time.<br />What if fate is trying to bring them together?<br />Maybe it's time to take a chance on love...<br /><br /><br /><b>About the author:<br /></b><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/#"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-P0qzKfLly5ZrOblkagP1xcEkbPfinZlu9gkz3TNbni4dCzQd_cjdKQZyaP7ghhyw-jgU75SNHJzYcodFyqs69x8CNpdzRvxJgCI1Z6R90-bG9kM7pEYcq0RgNdmDH6cUG_OJflrNuIj/w200-h200/a8f2d3a9-2a97-42a2-b075-da6c9925d5dd.__CR100%252C0%252C600%252C600_PT0_SX300_V1___.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Sophie Cousens started her career in television, where she produced, among other things, The Graham Norton Show, Big Brother, Ant and Dec and Russell Howard's Good News. Working in TV taught her three things;<br /><br />1 - Wearing a lanyard makes you look as though you know what you are doing. 2 -The best phrase you can contribute in meetings is "let's action that!" If you say it often enough, hopefully someone else will do your work for you. 3 - If in doubt, find someone wearing a lanyard - they'll know what to do.<br /><br />Sophie currently lives in Jersey where she now writes full time. She lives with her husband Tim and has two small children who keep her occupied with important questions such as 'but did Cinderella have a toothbrush?' and 'do giraffe's know they have really long necks?' She yearns for a time when she will be able to add a miniature dachshund to the party.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Jess Bickertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690456484271388695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865348310088692112.post-3127002054845659712020-10-01T23:26:00.012+01:002020-10-01T23:39:07.032+01:00Blog Tour: Review of A Christmas Wish for the Shipyard Girls by Nancy Revell<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcfosiKKdPpoVrCmi4Um8k9OEdW9yfyiiUQ1cUVpQu_ydrH0v9-YzEO3FenDRkNW-WKv96g2dNwzBg4wjrWiJgc_VdMt9EFQp-XYWD360yYrzMRqscIvfVhjSifPrZLAV75ENFDCKGfYh/s1242/WhatsApp+Image+2020-10-01+at+23.12.17.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1242" data-original-width="1242" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcfosiKKdPpoVrCmi4Um8k9OEdW9yfyiiUQ1cUVpQu_ydrH0v9-YzEO3FenDRkNW-WKv96g2dNwzBg4wjrWiJgc_VdMt9EFQp-XYWD360yYrzMRqscIvfVhjSifPrZLAV75ENFDCKGfYh/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2020-10-01+at+23.12.17.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Published 1st October 2020, Arrow Publishing</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Get your copy here: <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Christmas-Wish-Shipyard-Girls/dp/178746427X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=LPUW5TPJWR14&dchild=1&keywords=a+christmas+wish+for+the+shipyard+girls&qid=1601590524&sprefix=a+christmas+wish+for+%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e06666;">Amazon UK</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pre-order your copy here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Wish-Shipyard-Girls/dp/178746427X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1601590568&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e06666;">Amazon US</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>About the book:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #e06666;">Join The Shipyard Girls in the ninth instalment of the Sunday Times bestselling series by Nancy Revell. Inspired by her own close family links to the Sunderland shipyards and her campaign to get the brave women who worked on the shipyards during WWII recognised for their history changing service. </span></b></div><br /><b>Sunderland, 1943</b>: As Christmas approaches in the shipyards, everyone is hoping for a little magic…<br /><br />Helen would love to find the courage to tell the dashing Dr Parker of her true feelings for him. But how can she when he clearly has eyes for someone else?<br /><br />More than a year has passed since Bel’s wedding to sweetheart Joe. She knows she has much to feel thankful for and yet there is still one burning desire which she cannot ignore.<br /><br />And as Polly grows with child, she hopes against hope for a safe delivery – and that her husband Tommy can soon return from the front line to meet their new arrival.<br /><br />There will be storms to weather, but guided by their strength and friendship there is still hope for each of the shipyard girls that their Christmas wishes will come true.<div><br /><br /><b>My thoughts:<br /></b><br />You can always rely on Nancy Revell to offer up a story that is full of hopes, struggles and valuable friendships. As the 9th book in the series, A Christmas Wish for the Shipyard Girls, doesn't fail to disappoint. <br /><br />Hopefully you've been following the series so far - if not, do it now! - and are ready to find out what lies ahead for the Shipyard Girls. It is so wonderful to be back with the girls and to see how, not only their lives, but their characters are changing too. Revell's ability to create this depth to her characters makes them more believable and relatable to the reader. <br /><br />Christmas time is always a very emotive time for people and with that brings a whole lot of emotion to this book. It's a real tear-jerker, especially as you've come to know the characters so well as you've been on their whole journey with them. So, if you're a crier, like me, get the tissues ready just in case! But don't worry, there's a lot of happiness to go around! <br /><br />This book focuses on the courage of the Shipyard Girls during a turbulent time. I love how these woman are portrayed with so much strength and honest character, the good and the bad. <br /><br />If you love historical fiction and love a drama filled with strong female characters and friendships, then this book is for you! <br /><br /><br /><b>About the Author:<br /></b><br /><b>Nancy Revell</b> is the pen name of writer and journalist <b>Amanda Revell Walton</b>, who has worked for the national press for the past 25 years, providing them with hard-hitting news stories and in-depth features. She has also worked for just about every woman’s magazine, writing amazing and inspirational true life stories.<br /><br />Nancy Revell is spearheading a campaign to honour the real women of the Sunderland shipyards in her home town with a new public statue that will be displayed within the historic Sunderland Shipyards. Nancy has worked closely with the Sunderland City Council and the Sunderland Soroptimists, a worldwide volunteer service organization for women, and after putting out a call on her own social media channels, Nancy was approached by local artist Rosanne Robertson who has been commissioned to create the statue that will be unveiled later this year.<br /><br />Sunderland boasted the largest shipyard in Europe during WWII, and produced a quarter of Britain's merchant shipping at the time. When the men went away to war, the courageous Shipyard Girls took up the back breaking work building ships for the British Navy. Due to its size, the Sunderland Shipyards were a key target of Hitler’s Blitzkreig, making the work not only backbreaking but incredibly dangerous. Historians have estimated that without the courageous women working in Sunderlands’ shipyards during the war, WWII could very likely have been lost due to lack of ability to transport troops, provisions and ammunition.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9tcXAK2TMCE00kW_S2RkTdwialMphyphenhyphenJn1n6J1KCi72nimXsDDIxdfuNXZ4BGW7gnb3_Riqou7yvu8kHumRViEvqasWWhoom5MESx6Th8N6zNMhXQlqoUKmm1H53dig2zCIKLi9XxgoaJ/s185/image004.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9tcXAK2TMCE00kW_S2RkTdwialMphyphenhyphenJn1n6J1KCi72nimXsDDIxdfuNXZ4BGW7gnb3_Riqou7yvu8kHumRViEvqasWWhoom5MESx6Th8N6zNMhXQlqoUKmm1H53dig2zCIKLi9XxgoaJ/s185/image004.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVasin-VpXwTGNeDGyZ03FfXFjs-dVjq6EhGNbksHw4TAAlqaFTVZEdcdhkpE1SxNJycn4CSrkAqFw5aIlGFRHXjxPx_AO3fhxCgXzpgmRm55t2RdJykm-FIkbHBq-_WYWuklfNnDBnKt/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-rNCcKSJB4p2o3XZB-1dvJoh-W9tOJIRtGp3u7_s820eFCos2cAzCvY_PX-e-MB6zKFxxnGT4xeAIBnvCcULZi43xDS7TSKs9YmSjEKma0-2H6AaXGuhXWD_Froz_TPiu8yiTV7MsHI9/s185/image004.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-rNCcKSJB4p2o3XZB-1dvJoh-W9tOJIRtGp3u7_s820eFCos2cAzCvY_PX-e-MB6zKFxxnGT4xeAIBnvCcULZi43xDS7TSKs9YmSjEKma0-2H6AaXGuhXWD_Froz_TPiu8yiTV7MsHI9/s185/image004.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZl4XQz8ht73XLrgH8oFyUgNVb_HKzImAU6v9YAUvlMYKjPYWQ89M3w89r0Umfoo7uDVhXnefne_9uY9aUYJH3cDsSSmDRZtLXCfeM9E4AFqVzmu5-nvIJENhqFrTRWuerv1X_YGSaZFM/s185/image004.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="185" data-original-width="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZl4XQz8ht73XLrgH8oFyUgNVb_HKzImAU6v9YAUvlMYKjPYWQ89M3w89r0Umfoo7uDVhXnefne_9uY9aUYJH3cDsSSmDRZtLXCfeM9E4AFqVzmu5-nvIJENhqFrTRWuerv1X_YGSaZFM/s0/image004.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><br /></div></div>Jess Bickertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690456484271388695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865348310088692112.post-70283407460882853612020-08-03T22:06:00.005+01:002020-08-03T22:09:34.190+01:00Blog Tour: Review of A Walk Along the Beach by Debbie Macomber<div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVEnPal96UcbRcFpsaIAuAqBupx3jBaWPgxwHnRxeFyn0oIknqZUZnhWg9WIG23TAga_Y36tUMkzAgzjL0SBh6nguXkymMEh2i7hEbIRlMrRzqhwd12PmPlFWxw5PaAvKa4t77Mf4HMhLy/s1242/WhatsApp+Image+2020-08-03+at+21.51.33.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1242" data-original-width="1242" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVEnPal96UcbRcFpsaIAuAqBupx3jBaWPgxwHnRxeFyn0oIknqZUZnhWg9WIG23TAga_Y36tUMkzAgzjL0SBh6nguXkymMEh2i7hEbIRlMrRzqhwd12PmPlFWxw5PaAvKa4t77Mf4HMhLy/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2020-08-03+at+21.51.33.jpeg" width="640" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Published by Arrow, (Penguin Random House), 6th August 2020</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Get your hands on a copy - pre-order here;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Walk-Along-Beach-Debbie-Macomber/dp/1784758779/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr="><font color="#ea9999">Amazon UK</font></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pre-order here;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Walk-Along-Beach-Novel/dp/0593171551/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1596488255&sr=8-1"><font color="#ea9999">Amazon US</font></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b><font color="#ea9999">My thoughts:</font></b></div><div><b><br /></b><div>Whenever I receive an ARC for a Debbie Macomber book it makes me smile... largely due to one of my friends telling me that I'm her new claim to fame because she knows someone who has reviewed a Debbie Macomber book. I mean... I'll take it! </div><div><br /></div><div>I started reading <i>A Walk Along the Beach </i>expecting a light holiday read, nothing too heavy; a sweet, heartwarming story. I can honestly say, I got a lot more than I bargained for. </div><div><br /></div><div>Debbie Macomber's latest book pulls you in, makes you fall in love, breaks your heart and gives you a nice big hug at the end of it. When you read this book, be ready to feel a huge mix of emotion. I'll warn you now... I cried! </div><div>Macomber has a skill for creating well developed characters who you become whole-heartedly invested in. Sisters, Willa and Harper, are complete opposites. They can get on each other's nerves and drive each other crazy, but their love and bond is stronger than any other. It's bound to be after everything they've faced together. </div><div><br /></div><div>I don't want to say too much and give away any of the story... but if you love a heart-wrenching story and want to fall in love with some beautiful characters, then this is for you!</div><div><br /></div><div>I'd love to hear what you thought if you've read this book yet... or if you have another Debbie Macomber fave - leave a comment below.</div><div><br /></div><div><img border="0" data-original-height="1844" data-original-width="2048" height="97" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgycHxdRGFO0htJP4GptWzzrxZ6DwSJ3viccbXi2JW8BzSVwNJSq5elJpsWwV6UhnIiRlBu8xw7ChCs6Opvb_ubhhxjjJGwwOzJc0MEnw6UPojFgUUDNjf3-TKFsgbB3FgpI85NkIXlO3u/w107-h97/Jessy+B+Signature-03.png" width="107" /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><font color="#ea9999"><br /></font></b></div><div><b><font color="#ea9999"><br /></font></b></div><div><b><font color="#ea9999">About the book:</font></b></div><div><b><font color="#ea9999"><br /></font></b></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfA-5ncWY1hyphenhyphenBxR0MTQz3PHCG3dUcZlKUR97BtDUqhOnb2DRBtaLRkJb4S0igPaOcJy_35R-G5Pta6rQukmm-2j2CFVWK4R787r-zIJGe1QzrU3J1MJKSpEbXdI0KxhTwrkVjzti7ur_Vi/s2048/91dRL1hXm5L.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1334" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfA-5ncWY1hyphenhyphenBxR0MTQz3PHCG3dUcZlKUR97BtDUqhOnb2DRBtaLRkJb4S0igPaOcJy_35R-G5Pta6rQukmm-2j2CFVWK4R787r-zIJGe1QzrU3J1MJKSpEbXdI0KxhTwrkVjzti7ur_Vi/w171-h263/91dRL1hXm5L.jpg" width="171" /></a></div><font color="#ea9999"><br /></font></b></div><div><b><font color="#ea9999"><br /></font></b></div><div><b><font color="#ea9999"><br /></font></b></div><div><b><font color="#ea9999"><br /></font></b></div><div><b><font color="#ea9999"><br /></font></b></div><div><b><font color="#ea9999"><br /></font></b></div><div><b><font color="#ea9999"><br /></font></b></div><div><b><font color="#ea9999"><br /></font></b></div><div><b><font color="#ea9999"><br /></font></b></div><div><b><font color="#ea9999"><br /></font></b></div><div><b><font color="#ea9999"><br /></font></b></div><div><b><font color="#ea9999"><br /></font></b></div><div><b><font color="#ea9999"><br /></font></b></div><div><b><font color="#ea9999"><br /></font></b></div><div><br /></div><b><font color="#ea9999"><div><b><font color="#ea9999"><br /></font></b></div>A heart-warming tale of the love of sisters and finding inner strength you didn’t know you had from bestseller Debbie Macomber. </font></b><br /><br /></div><div>Sisters Willa and Harper mean the world to each other.<br /><br /></div><div>Inseparable since the loss of their mother as teenagers, the Lakey sisters are perfect opposites. Quiet, demure Willa has always admired Harper's sense of adventure. She enjoys her peaceful routine as a café owner in their coastal hometown of Oceanside.<br /><br /></div><div>When a handsome customer shows interest in Willa, Harper urges her sister to take a chance on love. Then Harper receives crushing news that threatens to bring everything to a halt. <br /><br /></div><div>Only by supporting each other will the sisters be able to face the trials to come. And though the time ahead may be tough, Willa and Harper will discover that the darkest times can lead to the most beautiful rewards.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><font color="#ea9999">About the author:</font></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxMuBoXvzJo-d4h7eBi3HlXu0fx8FY8ZNFSH-zztPVbWASdyC78m_1TDdFBSK9Dm2-tUu5QU6F0RKKyEWJtCZ9NYXLiG6DIQitNos1TRsVwX1LwAorDkMo08s8wQxVK2SQqu3pFmR41Zs/s159/image004-1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="126" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxMuBoXvzJo-d4h7eBi3HlXu0fx8FY8ZNFSH-zztPVbWASdyC78m_1TDdFBSK9Dm2-tUu5QU6F0RKKyEWJtCZ9NYXLiG6DIQitNos1TRsVwX1LwAorDkMo08s8wQxVK2SQqu3pFmR41Zs/w158-h199/image004-1.jpg" width="158" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Debbie Macomber is a No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of over 100 books, and one of today’s most popular writers. In addition to fiction, Debbie has also published two bestselling cookbooks; numerous inspirational and nonfiction works; and two acclaimed children’s books. The beloved and bestselling Cedar Cove series became Hallmark Channel’s first dramatic scripted television series, and was ranked as the top program on US cable TV when it debuted in summer 2013. Debbie also owns her own tearoom and a yarn store, A Good Yarn, named after the shop featured in her popular Blossom Street novels. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and her husband Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington (the town on which her Cedar Cove novels are based) and winter in Florida.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Jess Bickertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690456484271388695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865348310088692112.post-1001270942068207592020-06-11T16:31:00.002+01:002020-06-11T16:35:36.575+01:00Blog Tour: Review of How to Save a Life by S.D.Robertson<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mhzyi2yTonfBrOMGNCFXS-1kvvB86ArqCQkCEOzt4CpPGk14v_UtE3Yt8K9xw-SD6NkrETzgHbf5KzQ2ofPsBmmlHwowN0CfjvSb5R4ykI1pVw32YJTgkDCJaf-qrwcD83UHzcW6YEHJ/s1242/WhatsApp+Image+2020-06-11+at+16.21.51.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1242" data-original-width="1242" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mhzyi2yTonfBrOMGNCFXS-1kvvB86ArqCQkCEOzt4CpPGk14v_UtE3Yt8K9xw-SD6NkrETzgHbf5KzQ2ofPsBmmlHwowN0CfjvSb5R4ykI1pVw32YJTgkDCJaf-qrwcD83UHzcW6YEHJ/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2020-06-11+at+16.21.51.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Published by Avon, (Harper Collins Publishers Ltd), Thursday 11th June 2020</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Get your hands on a copy;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Save-Life-S-D-Robertson/dp/0008374767/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1591886167&sr=8-4" target="_blank"><font color="#e67c73">Amazon UK</font></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pre-order here;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Blue-Sky-S-D-Robertson/dp/0008374767/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=how+to+save+a+life+s.d.+robertson&qid=1591886215&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><font color="#e67c73">Amazon US</font></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><font color="#e67c73">My thoughts:</font></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When I think of all the books I've read from S.D. Robertson the thoughts that come to mind are evocative, thought-provoking and insightful. He's become one of the authors that I eagerly await their next publication. <i>How to Save a Life</i>, Robertson's newest publication (released today!) is no exception!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A story of a 40 year-old man, Luke, who has become disengaged with life and mostly comes across to others as being irritable, grumpy and unfriendly. A typical glass-half-empty outlook on life. When I first encountered Luke I thought he would be a character that is difficult to relate to, but as the story unfolds you start to learn more about Luke and his struggle with depression after a tragic event in his life. I think this is such an important topic to cover, especially at a time when as a society we are fighting for the stigma around mental health, especially for men, to be removed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">After a freak accident, Luke is given a second chance at life and with this he feels a sense of duty to prove that he deserves it. This book provokes many questions within yourself, about how we see value in people compared with our own value and how our outlook on life can affect the quality of the life we lead. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As Luke starts to appreciate the life he has and tries to live each day to the full, he starts to see amazing changes begin to happen. It's not without little bumps along the way, but it clearly demonstrates the power of a positive mental attitude and the importance of nurturing your mental health. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As always, Robertson's writing draws you in so deeply that you form a real bond with the characters as you follow along their journey. The connection Robertson is able to create between the reader and his characters through his writing style is beautiful one. You can really feel this as you find yourself connecting to Luke, when initially I thought I'd never be able to relate to him. This raises the issue of judging people before you know their story. You never know what someone else has been through until they trust you enough to let you in. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>How to Save a Life</i> is provocative and inspiring - a heart-wrenching story that will stay with you for a long time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbnWcMmSyrf0Upa_dCw_o2b6bn530gmeZ0B58ZN_UWENOWACQd4W1zTAJSEKfLuH0GPFdria80CzKUjXEWI9AezkLrRQYdqUP7Q3gyhYXcByRx-dQ-Y74sUVM635iTctne0h1Ep8RZLr3Y/s689/5+Stars.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="139" data-original-width="689" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbnWcMmSyrf0Upa_dCw_o2b6bn530gmeZ0B58ZN_UWENOWACQd4W1zTAJSEKfLuH0GPFdria80CzKUjXEWI9AezkLrRQYdqUP7Q3gyhYXcByRx-dQ-Y74sUVM635iTctne0h1Ep8RZLr3Y/s320/5+Stars.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><i>Thank you to Avon (Harper Collins Publishing Ltd) for sending me a gifted ARC of this book via Netgalley!</i><div><i><br /></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div><b><font color="#e67c73">About the book:</font></b></div><div><b><font color="#e67c73"><br /></font></b></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2S0wnV2JGsDPKgjDDZPswyWbEwkW1AhFhDMV3q71moBx-CbTFXygBu4XNYoxyou9KH5-T2E-JZuLU3aE2daUxi92UwQcv4VVbVruM-Jd_3GhFbcDN-QE-ka-sEKNoMUkFi1r_O9Dazz3/s499/41UGFippbhL._SX324_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="326" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2S0wnV2JGsDPKgjDDZPswyWbEwkW1AhFhDMV3q71moBx-CbTFXygBu4XNYoxyou9KH5-T2E-JZuLU3aE2daUxi92UwQcv4VVbVruM-Jd_3GhFbcDN-QE-ka-sEKNoMUkFi1r_O9Dazz3/w131-h200/41UGFippbhL._SX324_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><font color="#e67c73"><br /></font></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>You can’t have a rainbow, without a little rain…<br /><br />When a stranger saves Luke’s life, he knows he’s been given a second chance. He’s going to make it count – and, determined to live each day to its fullest, he starts by saying yes to everything life has to offer.<br /><br />Slowly but surely, Luke learns that a little bit of blue-sky thinking can go a long way, and things start to look up.<br /><br />But when Luke’s new resolve is tested, will he return to his old ways? Or can one fateful moment truly save a life?<br /><br />A life-affirming story about a man who is given a second chance, perfect for fans of Mike Gayle and Imogen Clark.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><font color="#e67c73">About the author:</font></b></div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="S.D. Robertson" id="B00X9VUDBI" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A1GWaRmfVgL._SY200_.jpg" /></div><br />USA Today bestseller S.D. Robertson quit his role as a local newspaper editor to pursue a lifelong ambition of becoming a novelist. <br /><br />An English graduate from the University of Manchester, he’s also worked as a holiday rep, door-to-door salesman, train cleaner, kitchen porter and mobile phone network engineer. <br /><br />Stuart lives in a village in North West England with his wife and daughter. There’s also his cat, Bernard, who likes to distract him from writing – usually by breaking things.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>Connect with the author:</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://twitter.com/SDRauthor" target="_blank"><font color="#e67c73">Twitter</font></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/sdrobertsonauthor/?hl=en" target="_blank"><font color="#e67c73">Instgram</font></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div>Jess Bickertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690456484271388695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865348310088692112.post-14106755867678158502020-06-05T18:35:00.002+01:002020-06-05T18:35:37.638+01:00Blog Tour: Review of The Sight of You by Holly Miller<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JR6mgTt1A5QAFLhczPVh3Za0e5JG-_20zZiEEpJ7-DqPPtKAAMZZOz50khiR9eUw7ceGVQULgmkEeQ_vpnUBJvRSKzKz6ttm2jSnRRLa-wk4WY5WcoqqVDjZD3QO5B8E6MUHQ1_7rcqR/s500/41FJ0FWIN%252BL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="325" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JR6mgTt1A5QAFLhczPVh3Za0e5JG-_20zZiEEpJ7-DqPPtKAAMZZOz50khiR9eUw7ceGVQULgmkEeQ_vpnUBJvRSKzKz6ttm2jSnRRLa-wk4WY5WcoqqVDjZD3QO5B8E6MUHQ1_7rcqR/w260-h400/41FJ0FWIN%252BL.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Published by Hodder & Stoughton, 11th June 2020</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pre-order your copy here:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sight-You-story-break-heart/dp/1529324343/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1591375303&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><font color="#e67c73">UK</font></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sight-You-Holly-Miller/dp/0593085582/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1591375373&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><font color="#e67c73">US</font></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><font color="#e67c73">About the book:</font></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Joel is afraid of <span class="il">the</span> future.</i></b><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />Since he was a child he's been haunted by dreams about <span class="il">the</span> people he loves. Visions of what's going to happen - <span class="il">the</span> good and <span class="il">the</span> bad. And <span class="il">the</span> only way to prevent them is to never let anyone close to him again.<br /><br /><b>Callie can't let go of <span class="il">the</span> past.</b><br />Since her best friend died, Callie's been lost. She knows she needs to be more spontaneous and live a bigger life. She just doesn't know how to find a way back to <span class="il">the</span> person who used to have those dreams.<br /><br /><b>Joel and Callie both need a reason to start living for today.</b><br />And though they're not looking for each other, from <span class="il">the</span> moment they meet it feels like <span class="il">the</span> start of something life-changing.<br /><br /><b>Until Joel has a vision of how it's going to end . . .</b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></i></div><br /><b><br /></b><div><b><font color="#e67c73">My thoughts:</font></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><i>The Sight of You </i>is a beautiful story that will stay with you long after you turn the last page. It follows the story of Joel and Callie, whose paths cross one fateful day and an undeniable bond begins to form. </div><div><br /></div><div>Joel is haunted by dreams about people he loves and therefore he has become determined not to let anybody get close to him. But there's something about Callie that means he just can't stay away, it's like a magnetic force is drawing them together. As you watch the relationship between Joel and Callie unfold, Miller takes you on an emotional journey. </div><div><br /></div><div>The narrative jumps each chapter from Joel's point of view to Callie's. I love that you get to read the story from both sides as it unfolds. Miller really allows the reader to get to know and understand the characters and you can't help but become invested in them. Once or twice I found myself having to check who's chapter it was as I'd be following some dialogue and would be unsure who it was speaking - but this is likely because I stayed up till the early hours reading while my eyes were trying to shut! I just didn't want to put it down.</div><div><br /></div><div>Callie tells Joel that she sees his dreams as a gift, that he could use them to try and prevent bad things happening. Joel struggles to see it this way, which after getting to the end of the book I have to say that I'm with Joel! As the reader, you know what vision Joel would do anything to change. The entire way through the book I found myself willing for him to find a way to stop it. As it draws closer to the fateful, Miller jumps across time a lot faster, which creates a tense and anxious pace to the story. </div><div><br /></div><div>The moment you find out how the story ends, I burst into tears. I was reading so fast and I literally froze and tears started to roll down my face. The last few pages I just couldn't stop them.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>The Sight of You</i> is beautiful and intimate and will break your heart, all the while filling it with love and hope.</div><div><br /></div><div>Just. Wow. </div><div><br /></div><div>----------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><font color="#e67c73">About the Author:</font></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2LLasV8SFaJOE20BzHz5dPwnPr2RecN9c5kv5BHUx-L4EIXplxkR2qQZTkghLGcuIKeQ_CUy3eb6yle0A_4ZnpPzEr2VhRkLY81NPGcIg6BIxlXpff_p-dL-U8lG6ex2363q_AylKE4CH/s193/Asset+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="193" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2LLasV8SFaJOE20BzHz5dPwnPr2RecN9c5kv5BHUx-L4EIXplxkR2qQZTkghLGcuIKeQ_CUy3eb6yle0A_4ZnpPzEr2VhRkLY81NPGcIg6BIxlXpff_p-dL-U8lG6ex2363q_AylKE4CH/w200-h169/Asset+1.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Holly Miller lives in Norfolk. She has previously worked as a marketer, editor and copywriter. </div><div><br /></div><div>----------</div><div><br /></div><div>Make sure you pick up a copy and read this one... and once you have leave a comment below to let me know what you thought of Joel & Callie's story. </div><div><br /></div><div>Chat soon beautifuls,</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ftdnL_zm13RO8jSmgAm4Fwu2yvvxEOtMnTBGwyqACbmqhZvjXw2q-kNQ5jm5hV0H5GDWtZnNHP-cMfQXxIM0pQpl7cpBUGYoSD1Qv-cVMlLSZeDLdFVwxORNBCUTQP8OE5KzGUW09vqJ/s1236/Jessy+B+Sig.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1236" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ftdnL_zm13RO8jSmgAm4Fwu2yvvxEOtMnTBGwyqACbmqhZvjXw2q-kNQ5jm5hV0H5GDWtZnNHP-cMfQXxIM0pQpl7cpBUGYoSD1Qv-cVMlLSZeDLdFVwxORNBCUTQP8OE5KzGUW09vqJ/w200-h182/Jessy+B+Sig.png" width="200" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Jess Bickertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690456484271388695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865348310088692112.post-70884344062615661092020-05-27T23:26:00.000+01:002020-05-28T02:00:33.345+01:00Blog Tour: Review of Time Off by John Fitch and Max Frenzel <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4Yi21LTMSsdl5d0VRyFpsHQIX8TANIWvqMhZVXL3mOSna6kW96OTdU767y5dyEeO8ZRj5Z4QcujL5BytE-OdW1xLcpaJ4m1cbnff9KCon9GXUm57zZ5R_0dxWS_e6g_W3qLvI5RbR30r/s1600/Book+Cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4Yi21LTMSsdl5d0VRyFpsHQIX8TANIWvqMhZVXL3mOSna6kW96OTdU767y5dyEeO8ZRj5Z4QcujL5BytE-OdW1xLcpaJ4m1cbnff9KCon9GXUm57zZ5R_0dxWS_e6g_W3qLvI5RbR30r/s640/Book+Cover.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Published May 2020</div>
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Get your copy here:</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Time-Off-Practical-Building-Finding/dp/1734794402/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=time+off&qid=1590618225&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e06666;">Amazon UK</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Time-Off-Practical-Building-Finding/dp/1734794402/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1590618255&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e06666;">Amazon US</span></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #e06666;">About the book:</span></b><br />
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What do Aristotle, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Lebron James all have in common? Time off in the most creative and nourishing way! Amidst a culture that worships “busyness”, millennials John Fitch and Max Frenzel want us to unlearn workaholism by learning “noble leisure” of the past and developing a quality #RestEthic. The AI researcher (Max) and entrepreneur (John) have collaborated to share the history of how we value time and work, show us that a little time off will go a lot further than we may think, and that it doesn’t have to be a vacation or even a full day. Science supports that time off (whether that be walking on your lunch break or saying no to drinks with friends to work on a passion project) is a critical factor for anyone who wants to achieve a fulfilling life, both personally and professionally. Time Off is intended for knowledge workers, creatives, entrepreneurs and business leaders who feel overwhelmed, giving them the knowledge and tools to hone the essential skill of taking time off work before it’s too late.<br />
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<li>Work ethic and rest ethic are like inhale and exhale. We require a good balance of both to stay productive and healthy over the long run.</li>
<li>Creativity is about connecting the dots, and to really see the interesting connections, we need to get a new perspective and gain some distance. Coming up with big and impactful ideas requires mind wandering, solitude, and ample time for incubation.</li>
<li>The World Health Organization recognizes burnout as an “occupational phenomenon”, and in 2021, workplace burnout will hit epidemic proportions. What does that mean for business in general; how can leaders combat this now, and how can we start to change this “busyness” mindset?</li>
<li>Solid tips to improve your Rest Ethic that can be small actions you implement into your daily routine. How to start prioritizing and celebrating noble leisure as they did in the days of Aristotle</li>
<li>The productivity paradox is that even though we have huge advances in technology, we don’t see the same advances in productivity.</li>
<li>We give into a culture of hustle and constant connectivity. We perform visible busyness to feel productive and experience a quick sense of accomplishment without getting much done at all.</li>
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<b><span style="color: #e06666;">My thoughts:</span></b></div>
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When I received the offer to read <i>Time Off </i>I knew right away that I had to do it! Even when I told one of my best friends what the book was about she just looked at me and said "uh huh... that's a very apt book for you to be reading!" So I guess my friends know that I'm one for pushing myself and sometimes getting very close to burning out. They've seen enough tears and cans of Redbull to know! Luckily they drilled a lot of the work-life balance talk into me last year, and so far this year I have found myself already progressing in a lot of the creative paths I've been wanting to take outside of work. So reading <i>Time Off </i>not only gave me a deeper understanding of the important of the type of time off we take, but I could also feel a sense of it already having a positive affect for the amount of it I'd already been doing this year - in affect, showing that the lessons Frenzel & Fitch are trying to teach do really work! </div>
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I love the historical references to some of the greatest successful people and how adopting this lifestyle helped to influence them and their legacies. It's fascinating and at the same time scary to see how the perception of work being noble has changed over the years to a point where we feel like failures if we are not busy all of the time. This book definitely encourages you to start asking questions about the way you are spending your times and not only recommends the right kind of time off, but actively encourages you to do so even whilst reading the book!</div>
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You definitely get a strong sense of the passion the Frenzel and Fitch have for this way of life and how positively it has impacted theirs and the lives of so many others. I feel like the take a very realistic approach to trying to adopt this lifestyle of time off being noble, as they don't expect that you can instantly change completely, but guide you into how to take small steps at a time to getting closer to it. </div>
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The only thing I would say is at times it does feel like you're reading from a text book, which I don't mind at all, but if you aren't keen on that then you may struggle with some parts. </div>
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I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who finds they struggle to progress with their projects and dreams, and also to those who don't. Sometimes you don't realise what it is you need in your life until someone offers the opportunity to you. </div>
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<b><span style="color: #e06666;">About the authors:</span></b><br />
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Max Frenzel (Tokyo) and John Fitch (Austin) have both spent time working in software startups where many are worshiping the mantras that are so pervasive in our current working culture. Max got his Ph.D. in Quantum Physics and has been an AI researcher. John is an entrepreneur and business coach. At breaking points in both of their work experiences, they realized that many of the commonly held beliefs aren't useful, but destructive. As a result, they decided to be more intentional and deliberate with their approaches to work and time off. Their quality of work and life have improved ever since, and they now want to share that transformation with others.</div>
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If you've read <i>Time Off</i> then drop a comment below and let me know what you thought!<br />
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Chat soon beautifuls,<br />
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Jess Bickertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690456484271388695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865348310088692112.post-87131871428991022152020-04-16T23:50:00.000+01:002020-04-16T23:50:20.028+01:00Blog Tour: Review of The Prisoner's Wife by Maggie BrookesI recently re-organised my book cases at home, categorising them by genre and then alphabetically and then chronologically by author - yes, there's a little geek in all of us! And this is where mine lies. I'm telling you this because it was here that I really discovered how much I love a bit of historical fiction (or non-fiction), with a large proportion of my shelves now dedicated to this genre. This is why when I was offered the chance to review The Prisoner's Wife I just couldn't resist.<br /><br /><b>About the book:</b><div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Prisoners-Wife-based-inspiring-story-ebook/dp/B082NLXZRR/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+prisoner%27s+wife&qid=1587075340&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Prisoners-Wife-Maggie-Brookes/dp/0593197755/ref=sr_1_2?crid=24U5DNJ5ZXNRW&dchild=1&keywords=the+prisoner%27s+wife&qid=1587075799&sprefix=the+prisoner%27s+%2Caps%2C232&sr=8-2" target="_blank">Amazon US</a></div>
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<b><br /></b><br />1944, Czechoslovakia. In the dead of night a farm girl and a British soldier creep through abandoned villages.<br /><br />They were never meant to meet, let alone fall in love. But when Prisoner of War Bill is brought to work on Izabela’s family farm, their chemistry is inescapable. Before they can be torn apart forever, they marry in secret and go on the run. Their only hope for safety is to reach Izabela’s father and brother who are fighting deep in the countryside as partisans. But when their luck runs out, they are delivered straight into the hands of the enemy: the Nazis.</div>
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<br />Still refusing to separate, they have prepared for this moment. Izabela’s hair has been shorn and she wears men’s clothing, posing as an escaped and mute British soldier.<br /><br />The secret lovers are transported to a Nazi POW camp deep in German territory, and if Izabela is discovered, a fate far worse than death awaits both her and Bill. It will require the help of their fellow POWs to maintain their deception, and all their love, devotion and strength to withstand the trials to come. Because should they fail, Izabella and Bill will have put far more than just themselves in danger…<br /><br /><b>Based on a true story, and researched extensively by the author on location in Eastern Europe, this is a story that takes the reader deep into a rarely-explored side of the Second World War.</b><br /><br /><b>About the author:</b></div>
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Maggie Brookes is a former journalist and BBC TV historical documentary producer, turned poet and novelist. She’s also an associate professor at Middlesex University, and an advisory fellow of the Royal Literary Fund. <br /><br />Maggie has written several poetry collections in the past, but has pursued her dream of being a published novelist since the age of eighteen. Almost forty years later, her dream became a reality when she discovered the story of the real life Bill and Izabella. Maggie lives in Southgate, North London, only a few miles from the family home her father bought after surviving the war and returning to England.<br /><div>
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<b><br /></b>What a story! Based on a true story, The Prisoner's Wife delves into the dark and horrifying past of war time Czechoslovakia, but erupts with moments of passion, devotion and pure determination that somehow quiet the devastation for a moment. </div>
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The narrative is so beautifully and delicately written and it captures every feeling throughout the Izabela and Bill's story. You cannot help but fall in love with the characters as you watch them grow individually and together. <b>The risks they are willing to take to be together are enough to leave you reading on the edge of your seat with your heart in your throat.</b> This is only intensified as you remind yourself that it is based on a true story, </div>
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I very quickly found myself lost in Bill and Izabela's story, finding it hard to put the book down. I don't want to talk too much about the actual story as I want you to be able to experience the story for yourself. What I will say, is that if you love historical fiction like I do then what are you waiting for? This is definitely one to read. </div>
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We may not be in war zone, but during a time where our world is a very strange and unfamiliar one, I found this book to be a little reminder of sacrifices people have made for us to live in a better world. The sacrifice we are making now by 'staying home' instantly is made to appear but a small one in comparison, and this story therefore reminds us what we are all capable of when we are faced with adversity. </div>
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If you've read <i>The Prisoner's Wife</i>, leave a comment below to let me know what you thought. </div>
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Chat soon beautifuls,</div>
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Jess Bickertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690456484271388695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865348310088692112.post-76622874854567421322019-11-02T22:59:00.001+00:002019-11-02T22:59:38.557+00:00Blog Tour: Review of Christmas with the Shipyard Girls by Nancy Revell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Published by Arrow & Century, Penguin Random House</div>
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Get your copy here;</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Christmas-Shipyard-Girls/dp/1787460851/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3K2WR6138JGVW&keywords=christmas+with+the+shipyard+girls+by+nancy+revell&qid=1572567084&sprefix=christmas+with+the+%2Caps%2C162&sr=8-2" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a></div>
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<br /><b>About the book:</b><br /><br /><b>Sunderland, 1942</b><br /><br />Christmas is fast approaching and with it comes a flurry of snow and surprises… Against all odds, Polly’s fiancé has finally returned home from the front line. If they can keep things on an even keel, she might get the winter wedding she’s always dreamed of. <br /><br />Meanwhile shipyard manager Helen is determined to move on after a turbulent year. Her sights are set on breaking the yard’s production record and no one, not even the handsome Dr Parker, is going to get in her way.<br /><br />And head welder Rosie’s little sister Charlotte has turned up unannounced. Why is she back and so set on staying? Join the shipyard girls as they navigate through life, love and war this Christmas.<br /><br /><br /><b>About the author:</b><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Nancy Revellis the pen name of writer and journalist Amanda Revell Walton, who has worked for the national press for the past 25 years, providing them with hard-hitting news stories and in-depth features. She has also worked for just about every woman’s magazine, writing amazing and inspirational true life stories.<br /><br /><br /><b>My thoughts:</b><br /><br />A good series makes you feel like you are reuniting with old friends with every new book and that's exactly what Revell has created through her characters in The Shipyard Girlsseries. <br /><br />I love that the series focuses on women in war time. So often it is forgotten how much they had to do in the absence of the men that went to fight in the war. Following Polly's story and her relationship with Tommy, we really get a strong feel for how the war affected people. The experiences they have in the war are so horrific that if they are lucky enough to return they are often changed and unrecognisable to their loved ones as the person who first left them. Polly has been through so much already and you really will there to be a happy ending for her and Tommy. <br /><br />The story also addresses controversial activities at that time. The story following Rosie and her sister Charlotte delves into the dark world of prostitution. We are opened to the difficulties some families faced and the sacrifices people were willing to make in order to help their families. There is a lot secrecy surrounding Rosie's activities and Charlotte starts to become incredibly suspicious. It keeps you hooked seeing how their story will develop and a lot of tension waiting for Charlotte to discover Rosie's secret. <br /><br />The beautiful thing about reading a series is watching the characters develop. There is an incredible transformation with Helen, who is a character that has till now been disliked. But in this story you start to learn a lot more about her story and you find yourself really understanding her as a character. It's a reminder that we never truly know about the difficulties others have faced and that we cannot always judged them for coming across as hard. <br /><br />As always, I loved reading the stories of the Shipyard Girls... and with the added touch of Christmas in there it made for another beautiful story. <br /><br />If you've read Christmas with the Shipyard Girls, or any of the previous books in the series, leave a comment to let me know who your favourite character is and which is your favourite book in the series! <br /><br />Chat soon beautifuls,</div>
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Jess Bickertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690456484271388695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865348310088692112.post-6669029708586627512019-08-16T13:54:00.000+01:002019-08-22T13:56:58.929+01:00Blog Tour: Book Review of A Beggar's Kingdom by Paullina Simons<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobsOl7jjTiKBb4w_41EsX399WIHrNPmzOzQeYMyfH0g_H3k8pAOXKbDx2cG4-iEaXjNwbRhLR95zjxiH0QxS14vSh4AOmVRNclTZJglTNZlM6P7usW9TY6hxWBSZGEdXpmr-N8X4sFHgc/s1600/x293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="293" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobsOl7jjTiKBb4w_41EsX399WIHrNPmzOzQeYMyfH0g_H3k8pAOXKbDx2cG4-iEaXjNwbRhLR95zjxiH0QxS14vSh4AOmVRNclTZJglTNZlM6P7usW9TY6hxWBSZGEdXpmr-N8X4sFHgc/s320/x293.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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Published by Midas PR</div>
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Get you hands on a copy now;</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beggars-Kingdom-End-Forever-Saga/dp/0062098179/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1C1MYII8YPD86&keywords=a+beggars+kingdom&qid=1565902109&s=gateway&sprefix=a+beggars+kin%2Caps%2C151&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Beggars-Kingdom-Novel-Forever-Saga/dp/0062098179/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=a+beggars+kingdom&qid=1565905218&s=gateway&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Amazon US</a></div>
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<b>About the book:</b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #e06666;">The second novel in Paullina Simons's stunning End of Forever saga continues the heartbreaking story of Julian and Josephine, and a love that spans lifetimes.</span></b><br />
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Is there a fate beyond the fates?<br />
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Julian has failed Josephine once. Despite grave danger and impossible odds, he is determined to do the unimaginable and try again to save the woman he loves.<br />
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What follows is a love story like no other as the doomed lovers embark on an incredible adventure across time and space. Racing through history and against the merciless clock, they face countless dangers and deadly enemies.<br />
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Living amid beauty and ecstasy, bloodshed and betrayal, each time they court and cheat death brings Julian and Josephine closer to an unthinkable sacrifice and a confrontation with the harshest master of all...destiny.<br />
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<b>My thoughts:</b><br />
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The second instalment in the 'End of Forever Saga' and Paullina Simons has once again produced a story full of adventure, thrill and endless love.<br />
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Simons very cleverly guides the reader through history as Julian's quest to find his one true love continues. I've always loved reading stories that connect a modern day storyline with events that happened in the past, but this series is the first I've read where it actually involves time travel. The descriptions fo the different periods in time really help bring the story to life as Simons has clearly captured the essence of the time in her writing.<br />
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I love that Julian's time travel is not without it's difficulties... he often finds himself struggling to place exactly where he is in history and this can get him into trouble if he reveals information that he shouldn't know yet.<br />
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The love Julian has for Josephine is completely unfaltering. It is a heartbreaking tale of a man who never gives up on the search for his love, no matter how much it might cost him. Although there are some occasions where his hope starts to fade, he always finds the strength to try one more time.<br />
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Paullina Simons continues to draw the reader in through this second book, and just as you feel settled in a period Julian is thrown back out and having to start all over again.<br />
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It's a devastating tale that has the reader on the edge of their seat every time Julian comes close to saving their love... I can't wait for the final book 3 to see how this saga will end.<br />
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Will Julian be united with his one true love, or will it be a love that is lost forever?<br />
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I would give <i>The Beggar's Kingdom</i>;<br />
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<b>About the author:</b><br />
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Paullina Simons is the author of Tully and The Bronze Horseman, as well as ten other beloved novels, a memoir, a cookbook, and two children's books. Born in Leningrad, Russia, Paullina immigrated to the United States when she was ten, and now lives in New York with her husband and an alarming number of her once-independent children.<br />
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If you've read <i>The Beggar's Kingdom</i> then don't forget to leave a comment below and let me know what you thought!</div>
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Chat soon beautifuls,</div>
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Jess Bickertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690456484271388695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865348310088692112.post-38542820019611570122019-07-23T00:05:00.000+01:002019-07-24T00:07:11.647+01:00Blog Tour: Review of Truth or Die by Katerina Diamond<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Published by Avon UK, 11th July 2019</div>
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Get your copy here:</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Come-Out-Play-thriller-bestseller/dp/0008282927/ref=sr_1_1?crid=O58JU5ATNLQH&keywords=truth+or+die+katerina+diamond&qid=1563920892&s=gateway&sprefix=truth+or+die%2Caps%2C137&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e06666;">Amazon UK</span></a></div>
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Or Pre-order here:</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Come-Out-Play-thriller-bestseller/dp/0008282927/ref=sr_1_1?crid=25XRAR2AJZTK9&keywords=truth+or+die+katerina+diamond&qid=1563920882&s=gateway&sprefix=truth+or+die+k%2Caps%2C217&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e06666;">Amazon US</span></a></div>
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<b>About the book:</b><br />
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Let the games begin…<br />
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When Professor Hugh Norris is found brutally murdered at Exeter university, DS Imogen Grey and DS Adrian Miles turn to the students for answers. Who would target a seemingly innocent man – and why? Someone knows more than they’re letting on – and they’re playing a very sinister game.<br />
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A game so dark, it will shake the university to its core…<br />
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As another professor is found butchered and the death toll begins to rise, the police have to examine their own pasts to uncover the person behind the killings – before it’s too late.<br />
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But are they brave enough to face up to the truth?<br />
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<b>My thoughts:</b></div>
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I was really excited when I received Katerina Diamond's newest novel. I couldn't wait to see what Diamond had in store for DS Grey and DS Miles again. </div>
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Never one to disappoint, Diamond has written another great thriller. I found myself getting so caught up in trying to solve the mystery alongside DS Grey and DS Miles that I couldn't put this book down. It is definitely one that will have you turning pages late into the night. </div>
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The investigation proved as gripping as ever with Diamond's novels... drawing the reader in and building the suspense throughout the chapters. There was a slight drop in the pace of the story in the middle, but it soon picked back up and finished on a massive high. If you love a thriller filled with shocking twists then this is definitely for you. </div>
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Katerina doesn't shy away from a bit of gore in her novels, and <i>Truth or Die</i> is no exception. It is not for the faint-hearted - so if you're not keen on reading about any gore I wouldn't recommend you put down the thriller and head for the pastels section.</div>
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I also love the developments between DS Grey and DS Miles. We have been watching their relationship closely as it's developed over the last 4 books, and I felt book 5 took a big step for them. Diamond cleverly weaves the two storylines together to allow the reader to easily flow between the investigation and the personal relationship of the detectives. </div>
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Once again, Katerina Diamond had me hook, line and sinker, delving into the gorey depths of her criminal world. </div>
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I am already eagerly awaiting the next instalment!! </div>
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I give <i>Truth or Die</i>;</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0oqsL1Rh3M_K6LwJvkX7r2wNERc78sCiouMQ3ejucZgP8K7gHlVM03EqSvmLKvwfdKFDYM68FP0Aeh1sGAGEAwfV0tvZ6ibm-9-osE7DS_TRWGBvlE-o_F-kNXgTkWHaNwCOzS6WXjZTg/s1600/5+Stars.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="139" data-original-width="689" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0oqsL1Rh3M_K6LwJvkX7r2wNERc78sCiouMQ3ejucZgP8K7gHlVM03EqSvmLKvwfdKFDYM68FP0Aeh1sGAGEAwfV0tvZ6ibm-9-osE7DS_TRWGBvlE-o_F-kNXgTkWHaNwCOzS6WXjZTg/s320/5+Stars.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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If you've read <i>Truth or Die </i>yet then drop a comment below to let me know what you thought of it. What has been your favourite book in the DS Grey/DS Miles series so far?</div>
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Chat soon beautifuls,</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvA5oEDg8s_TsxxB-H5qZJWUDurCTOJBE4ErDAUJq0oRbCCejhAKGfOl5N5yuUrOrOb8x8C9RG0nA0VLU1KSXuooiqe9diuI52JBISHQpjwytUrv6Lot22cPJUyQ2ON0yAXV2TL0q8rqIZ/s1600/sign+love+jess+x+pink.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="119" data-original-width="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvA5oEDg8s_TsxxB-H5qZJWUDurCTOJBE4ErDAUJq0oRbCCejhAKGfOl5N5yuUrOrOb8x8C9RG0nA0VLU1KSXuooiqe9diuI52JBISHQpjwytUrv6Lot22cPJUyQ2ON0yAXV2TL0q8rqIZ/s1600/sign+love+jess+x+pink.png" /></a></div>
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Jess Bickertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690456484271388695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865348310088692112.post-18893120962212791952019-07-14T18:16:00.001+01:002019-07-14T21:06:38.756+01:00Blog Tour: Guest Post from Bella Osborne, Author of A Walk in Wildflower Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxm8t6EO6FhAgyuS9Kw6t1Kffbm0X415QO8eeWfPYkdBmAoaaLvjjn6R4qkiqQg6Vflngl5Ua99t0TkF-zKdux1ltdA6m6IlcjV6CDB1ZC1bsWn4zTm0ie0-xNafEs1bfdkzgO2RpHKUIK/s1600/51nLuzjaqsL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="326" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxm8t6EO6FhAgyuS9Kw6t1Kffbm0X415QO8eeWfPYkdBmAoaaLvjjn6R4qkiqQg6Vflngl5Ua99t0TkF-zKdux1ltdA6m6IlcjV6CDB1ZC1bsWn4zTm0ie0-xNafEs1bfdkzgO2RpHKUIK/s320/51nLuzjaqsL.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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<i>Published by Avon</i>, 27th June 2019</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Walk-Wildflower-Park/dp/0008258228/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Walk-Wildflower-Park/dp/0008258228/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=a+walk+in+wildflower+park&qid=1563124043&s=gateway&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Amazon US</a></div>
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<b>About the book:</b></div>
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A Walk in Wildflower Park was originally published as a four-part serial. This is the complete story in one package.<br />
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Life’s not always a walk in the park…<br />
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When Anna is dumped by her fiancé, she moves in to her own place on the edge of the gorgeous Wildflower Park and pledges to stay off men and focus on her career, but a handsome new colleague seems to thwart her attempts at every turn. And when she receives an accidental text from a mystery man, could it be the new start she needs? Or someone she really shouldn't be falling for?<br />
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Anna’s neighbour Sophie is a stressed-out mum-of-two with a third on the way. Her husband is a constant frustration, and their children are a regular source of newly-invented swear words and unidentifiable sticky surfaces.<br />
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Luckily, Anna and Sophie have each other – and Wildflower Park proves to be a sanctuary as they map out a path to find the happiness they both deserve…<br />
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Fantastically funny, this irresistibly heart-warming novel will charm fans of Milly Johnsonand Jill Mansell.<br />
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<b>About the Author:</b><br />
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I've been jotting down my stories as far back as I can remember. Somehow life took over, I got a sensible job in project management and the writing has remained a passion. I live in The Midlands with my lovely husband and our wonderful daughter, who thankfully, both accept me as I am (with my mad morning hair and a penchant for skipping). You can follow me on Twitter @osborne_bella.</div>
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<b>Five bookish facts about Bella Osbourne:</b><br />
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<b>Fact 1:</b> I loved reading as a child and had loads of favourites. The weekly trip to the village library was a highlight. Especially in winter when we would come home, light the fire, make hot chocolate and look at our book haul (long before it was called such a thing).<br />
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Here’s my top five:<br />
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· The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodi Smith<br />
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· The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tyler<br />
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· The Secret Seven series by Enid Blyton<br />
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· The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien<br />
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· The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis<br />
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<b>Fact 2:</b> Confession - I’ve never listened to an audiobook. Of the books I read I’d say half are in paperback and half on Kindle. It’s rare for me to read a hardback – they make my wrist ache. I love my Kindle best on holiday because it’s so much better than the case full of paperbacks my husband and I used to take. I also get very twitchy with regards to sun and water damaged paperbacks (see Fact 5 below).<br />
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<b>Fact 3:</b> I’m a really slow reader. I’m not quite Joey from Friends but not far off. I didn’t realise quite how slow I was until I joined a book club and had to juggle my pleasure reads with book club reads. <br />
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<b>Fact 4:</b> I read every night before I go to sleep. Reading at weekends was a favourite thing but it now gets swallowed up by family time but if I do get the chance to read then it feels very indulgent. I always read on holiday. This is my binging time and I save the latest Jill Mansell novel to take with me.<br />
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<b>Fact 5:</b> I have a bit of a book phobia – I’m not sure how else to describe it. Basically I freak out if someone damages a book. I was taught that books were very precious things. At my grandma’s I had to wash my hands before reading, which was not unreasonable as I spent a lot of my time climbing trees and digging holes. I wasn’t allowed to write my name in books, which also meant I never filled in any of the puzzles in annuals – because how could I? That was writing in a book. I still feel a mild panic if I see someone break the spine of a book, or heaven forbid, turn down a page corner. It took me a long time to accept that as an author it was okay to sign my name in books although I’m still not 100% sure my grandma would approve.<br />
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Use the links at the top of the post to get hold of your copy now - only £2.99 on Kindle! </div>
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Chat soon beautifuls,</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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</style>Jess Bickertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690456484271388695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865348310088692112.post-77468821064062211032019-05-24T23:35:00.000+01:002019-05-24T23:38:03.707+01:00Blog Tour: Review of The Tiger Catcher by Paullina Simons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Published by HarperCollins, 30th May 2019<br />
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Click <b><u><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/End-of-Forever/dp/0007441657/ref=sr_1_1?crid=7NHWBV8AFYB0&keywords=the+tiger+catcher+paullina+simons&qid=1558737383&s=gateway&sprefix=the+tiger+catcher%2Caps%2C137&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e06666;">here</span></a></u></b> to preorder your copy now!</div>
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<b>About the book:</b><br />
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<b><br /></b>True Love Never Dies. The young and handsome Julian lives a charmed life in Los Angeles. That is, until his world is turned upside down by a love affair with Josephine, a mysterious young woman who takes him by storm. But she is not what she seems, carrying secrets that tear them apart—perhaps even forever.<br />
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And so begins Julian and Josephine’s extraordinary adventure of love, loss, and the mystical forces that bind people together across time and space. A journey that will propel Julian toward either love fulfilled…or oblivion.</div>
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<b>My thoughts:</b></div>
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<i>The Tiger Catcher</i> is the first of Paullina Simons's books that I've read. The blurb for this book promised a great romance story. And it did deliver on a certain level. </div>
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It is an epic story of a man who is completely in love with a woman and will travel to the ends of the earth... or time ;) to be with her. Yes - time! This story is centred around time travel. So if you're not into the fantasy element this evokes then this book may not be for you. </div>
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The love between the main characters is a little unbelievable. Josephine is not a character that you warm to easily. She comes across as selfish and inconsiderate and it makes it difficult for the reader to truly believe that Julian would want to fight so hard to be with her. However, love isn't always perfect, and neither are people, so you must try to understand that Julian has his reasons for loving Josephine. </div>
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I loved the inclusion of time travel in the novel. I thought the mystical idea behind time travel and Joshphine's character being reborn in different periods was extremely well thought out and brilliantly written. Paullina's poetic writing is beautiful and incredibly evocative. </div>
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Although I found it difficult at times to fight for Josephine and Julian's love, I was intrigued by the developments through different times and I look forward to reading the next two novels in the series - due out this year! - to find out how their journey is going to continue. </div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>About the Author:</b></div>
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Paullina Simons is the author of thirteen novels, a memoir, a cookbook, and two children’s books. Born and raised in the Soviet Union, she immigrated to the United States in the mid-seventies. She graduated from the University of Kansas and wrote her first novel, Tully, at twenty-nine. She has lived in Rome, London, and Dallas, and now lives in New York with her husband and half of her children.<br />
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Don't forget, if you've read the book then leave a comment below to let me know what you thought.</div>
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Chat soon beautifuls,</div>
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Jess Bickertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690456484271388695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865348310088692112.post-77618788961689443042019-05-21T14:07:00.000+01:002019-05-21T14:18:11.932+01:00Blog Tour: Review of Tick Tock by Mel Sherratt<br />
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Published by Avon, 2nd May 2019</div>
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Get your hands on a copy;</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tick-Tock-gripping-thriller-bestseller/dp/0008271070/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1558441194&sr=8-2-fkmr0" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e06666;">Amazon UK</span></a></div>
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<b>About the book:</b></div>
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<b>TICK…</b><br />
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In the city of Stoke, a teenage girl is murdered in the middle of the day, her lifeless body abandoned in a field behind her school.<br />
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<b> TOCK…</b><br />
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Two days later, a young mother is abducted. She’s discovered strangled and dumped in a local park.<br />
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<b> TIME’S UP…</b><br />
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DS Grace Allendale and her team are brought in to investigate, but with a bold killer, no leads and nothing to connect the victims, the case seems hopeless. It’s only when a third woman is targeted that a sinister pattern emerges. A dangerous mind is behind these attacks, and Grace realises that the clock is ticking…<br />
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Can they catch the killer before another young woman dies?<br />
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<b>My thoughts:</b></div>
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I'm absolutely loving psychological thrillers right now, so when I was offered the chance to read <i>Tick Tock</i> I couldn't wait. The blurb drums up enough tension and mystery already which made me want to read more!</div>
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I haven't read <i>Hush Hush</i>, the first book in the DS Grace Allendale Series, but after reading <i>Tick Tock</i> I am definitely going to go back and read it. You can read this book without having read the first, but if you are new to the series I would recommend starting with <i>Hush Hush </i>so that you can follow the character's development over the stories.<br />
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I loved the dramatic atmosphere that Sherratt created in the story. It has a fast pace to it and you can feel the tension building as time begins to run out to catch the killer. Sherratt impressively brings the emotions of the characters to life, as you can feel the stress and fear that begins to build in them as they start to fear the worst.<br />
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I really loved the dynamics between Grace and her family, who she has tried to keep her distance from but finds herself being dragged back in.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #e06666;">I found <i>Tick Tock </i>highly addictive, hooking you in and taking you along for the fearful ride. </span></b><br />
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If you love a good psychological thriller I would definitely recommend you pick up a copy and get reading! I have definitely become a fan of Mel Sherratt and look forward to reading more!<br />
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Don't forget - if you've read <i>Tick Tock</i>, or any other of Sherratt's books, leave a comment below to let me know what you thought!<br />
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Chat soon beautifuls,<br />
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Jess Bickertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690456484271388695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865348310088692112.post-5026694032565424732019-05-10T20:40:00.002+01:002019-05-10T20:43:09.297+01:00Blog Tour: Review of Picture of Innocence by Tess Stimson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJM6gUFolxR9NNxxFgMlkib91RH06484ORWab9HBaKhFcAWrywLu_ZNDcdOxqk9gGJvaqrPXTisDOEkvjKAtN5KpU0Wc5JHilAREYlCAuksLG2CyzfVgPs4UD6Wsl-1dopExfD3haVdXq7/s1600/image002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="179" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJM6gUFolxR9NNxxFgMlkib91RH06484ORWab9HBaKhFcAWrywLu_ZNDcdOxqk9gGJvaqrPXTisDOEkvjKAtN5KpU0Wc5JHilAREYlCAuksLG2CyzfVgPs4UD6Wsl-1dopExfD3haVdXq7/s320/image002.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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Published by Avon, 18th April 2019</div>
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Get your copy here;</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Picture-Innocence-TJ-Stimson/dp/0008298203/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=picture+of+innocence&qid=1557515310&s=gateway&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e06666;"><b>Amazon UK</b></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Picture-of-Innocence/dp/0008298203/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=picture+of+innocence&qid=1557515369&s=gateway&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e06666;"><b>Amazon US</b></span></a></div>
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<b>About the book:</b></div>
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My name is Lydia. I’m 12 years old. I’m not an evil person, but I did something bad.<br />
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My name is Maddie. I’d never hurt my son. But can I be sure if I don’t remember?<br />
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With three children under ten, Maddie is struggling. On the outside, she’s a happy young mother, running a charity as well as a household. But inside, she’s exhausted. She knows she’s lucky to have to have a support network around her. Not just her loving husband, but her family and friends too.<br />
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But is Maddie putting her trust in the right people? Because when tragedy strikes, she is certain someone has hurt her child – and everyone is a suspect, including Maddie herself…<br />
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THIS IS THE STORY OF EVERY MOTHER’S WORST FEAR. BUT IT’S NOT A STORY YOU KNOW… AND NOTHING IS WHAT IT SEEMS.<br />
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<b>About the author:</b><br />
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Tess Stimson is the British author of ten novels, including top-ten bestseller The Adultery Club, and two non-fiction books, which between them have been translated into dozens of languages. Her first "proper" job after graduating from St Hilda's College, Oxford (where she read English) was as a news trainee with ITN (Independent Television News). She reported and produced regional and world stories, travelling to hotspots and war-zones all over the globe.<br />
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In 2002, she was appointed Professor of Creative Writing at the University of South Florida and moved to the US. She now lives and works in Vermont with her husband, Erik, their three children, and (at the last count) two cats, three fish, one gerbil and a large number of bats in the attic.<br />
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<b>My thoughts:</b><br />
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<i>Picture of Innocence</i> has two stories intertwined, one following Maddie, a mother of 3 children and the other following Lydia, a 12 year old girl who suffered a disturbing childhood.<br />
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When tragedy strikes for Maddie's family, she is left questioning everything she knows. Who can she trust... can she even trust herself? As the reader you are pulled into this cycle of doubt and suspicion as Stimson takes you on a thrilling rollercoaster, with unexpected twists and turns throughout the story. Even when you think you've work out who not to trust, the final gruelling story that is revealed at the end is still shocking.<br />
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Alongside Maddie's devastating story, we learn about Lydia, a girl who has suffered terribly as a child. Lydia's story is a heart-breaking and emotionally dark one. Her story raises the age old question about nature vs nurture. How much of Lydia's current behaviour is down to the horrors she suffered as a child?<br />
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<i>Picture of Innocence </i>is a great read. It keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout, finding it incredibly hard to put it down as you get caught up in the thrilling chase to find the truth.<br />
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One warning would be that some of the subject matter is very dark and disturbing. If you find it difficult to read about child abuse then this book may not be for you. The story does go into some gruesome detail, particularly at start, although it does then refer to it in lesser detail throughout the book.<br />
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If you're okay to read about the subject matter, then it is a brilliant story that keeps you guessing.<br />
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<i>Picture of Innocence</i> is a haunting story that stays with you long after reading it.<br />
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I would give <i>Picture of Innocence</i><br />
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If you've read <i>Picture of Innocence, </i>leave a comment below to let me know what you thought of it!<br />
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Chat soon beautifuls,<br />
<br />
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<br />Jess Bickertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690456484271388695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865348310088692112.post-85243521097094985822019-05-01T00:20:00.000+01:002019-05-01T00:20:02.695+01:00Blog Tour: Review of Perfect Crime by Helen Fields<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Published by Avon, 18th April 2019</i></div>
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<b>Get your hands on a copy from</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Perfect-Crime-Callanach-Thriller-Book/dp/0008275203/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2JP4V2IXUKNN2&keywords=perfect+crime+helen+fields&qid=1556664576&s=gateway&sprefix=perfect+crime+%2Caps%2C139&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e06666;"><b>Amazon UK</b></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Crime-Callanach-Thriller/dp/0008275203/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1264CHBMJB1S2&keywords=perfect+crime+helen+fields&qid=1556664658&s=gateway&sprefix=perfect+crime+%2Caps%2C219&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e06666;"><b>Amazon US</b></span></a></div>
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<b>About the book:</b><br /><br />Your darkest moment is your most vulnerable…<br /><br />Stephen Berry is about to jump off a bridge until a suicide prevention counsellor stops him. A week later, Stephen is dead. Found at the bottom of a cliff, DI Luc Callanach and DCI Ava Turner are drafted in to investigate whether he jumped or whether he was pushed…<br /><br />As they dig deeper, more would-be suicides roll in: a woman found dead in a bath; a man violently electrocuted. But these are carefully curated deaths – nothing like the impulsive suicide attempts they’ve been made out to be.<br /><br />Little do Callanach and Turner know how close their perpetrator is as, across Edinburgh, a violent and psychopathic killer gains more confidence with every life he takes…<br /><br /><br /> <b>My thoughts:</b><br /><br /><i>Perfect Crime</i> is book 5 in the DI Callanach series from Helen Fields. I came into the series at book 3, <i>Perfect Death. </i>Although I always prefer to start a series from book 1, Fields has written the series so that you can read the stories as stand alone novels - so don't be put off! The great part of starting from the beginning is watching the main characters (who we see throughout the series) develop - how they, as individuals, change and adapt to the events they've been through in the stories, as well as the relationships and bonds you see built between characters - some who you'd really like to bash their heads together and tell them to kiss already! ;)<div>
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Fields has a great talent for drawing the reader in to the tension of the investigations. The story has a great pace to it, and although you sometimes feel you have your suspicions about who is behind the murders, Fields has a tendency to lure you into a false sense of security as you realise there are a number of misleading clues and twists along the way to keep you on your toes. </div>
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I love the mix of the criminal investigation alongside the conflict within the characters' personal lives. This helps create real depth within the characters and brings another dimension to the story to keep the reader invested in the development of the character relationships within the novel. </div>
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<b><span style="color: #e06666;">I would definitely recommend <i>Perfect Crime</i>, along with the rest of the DI Callanach series, to anyone who enjoys a good thriller with lots of tension and drama. </span></b></div>
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<br /><b>About the author:</b><br /><br />Helen Fields is the crime name that EVERYONE needs to know about. <br /><br />Helen Fields studied law at the University of East Anglia, then went on to the Inns of Court School of Law in London. After completing her pupillage, she joined chambers in Middle Temple where she practised criminal and family law for thirteen years. <br /><br />After her second child was born, Helen left the Bar. Together with her husband David, she runs a film production company, acting as script writer and producer. Perfect Remains is set in Scotland, where Helen feels most at one with the world. Helen and her husband now commute between Hampshire and California with their three children and two dogs.</div>
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If you decide to take the plunge into the criminal worlds that Helen Fields has created within her series, please let me know in the comments below what you think of the books. Were you able to work out 'who done it' from the beginning or did you find yourself getting lead astray from time to time?</div>
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Look forward to hearing your thoughts...</div>
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Chat soon beautifuls,</div>
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Jess Bickertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690456484271388695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865348310088692112.post-69952824958324173862019-03-23T15:44:00.000+00:002019-03-23T15:46:04.059+00:00Blog Tour: My Sister's Lies by S.D. Robertson<br />
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<a href="about:invalid#zClosurez" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqBx8Q7wmk38e3Cp_qDgY1Zknl4EIV15eiUNra4h5W06NZ-sxDyNNyi85T3eBNb7UxhCyG7zRhMN2K18rnNIGGWsVuKbXVJSmIyahW1vguu6UwyzB8p2EhZWw-4Cxszg62t6iMFxQyHop/s1600/x298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="298" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqBx8Q7wmk38e3Cp_qDgY1Zknl4EIV15eiUNra4h5W06NZ-sxDyNNyi85T3eBNb7UxhCyG7zRhMN2K18rnNIGGWsVuKbXVJSmIyahW1vguu6UwyzB8p2EhZWw-4Cxszg62t6iMFxQyHop/s320/x298.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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<i>Published by Avon, 21 March 2019</i></div>
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<b>Get a copy of me from: </b></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/My-Sisters-Lies-gripping-secrets/dp/0008223483/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1553352622&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e06666;">Amazon UK</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/My-Sisters-Lies-gripping-secrets/dp/0008223483/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1553352683&sr=8-1-fkmrnull" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e06666;">Amazon US</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;"><b>About the book:</b></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #e06666;">A gripping novel of love, loss and dark family secrets</span></b><br />
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For a decade, Hannah’s life has been pretty close to perfect – she has a great job, she’s married to Mark, and her child-free existence means she’s free as a bird. The only sadness in her life is a fall-out with her sister Diane, who hasn’t spoken to her in over ten years. But now Diane is on her doorstep – and this time, she’s got her teenage daughter Mia in tow.<br />
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When Diane asks if Mia can stay with Hannah and Mark for a few days, Hannah is glad of the chance to get to know her niece. But as the days turn into weeks and Diane doesn’t return, Hannah begins to worry. Why hasn’t her sister been in touch?<br />
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Diane is carrying a devastating secret that will destroy Hannah’s carefully constructed life. But how much is she willing to reveal – and when will she pick her moment?<br />
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<b>About the author:</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqyvt2hgPC6RRK4RjdwrpLe_fpWDDsXPLdZOcgVWZC3fZUEKKMizHxvM1ygUcrKJvsGhmf20ERoJpFK5EOjiCYxrW4wGHObJxwt9BAl0zL91mje63KB7X3eX7TomxpspyLFjBOcPQ-bBT/s1600/A1GWaRmfVgL._SY200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqyvt2hgPC6RRK4RjdwrpLe_fpWDDsXPLdZOcgVWZC3fZUEKKMizHxvM1ygUcrKJvsGhmf20ERoJpFK5EOjiCYxrW4wGHObJxwt9BAl0zL91mje63KB7X3eX7TomxpspyLFjBOcPQ-bBT/s1600/A1GWaRmfVgL._SY200_.jpg" /></a></div>
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Former journalist S.D. Robertson quit his role as a local newspaper editor to pursue a lifelong ambition of becoming a novelist. <br />
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An English graduate from the University of Manchester, he’s also worked as a holiday rep, door-to-door salesman, train cleaner, kitchen porter and mobile phone network engineer. <br />
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Stuart lives in a village in North West England with his wife and daughter. There’s also his cat, Bernard, who likes to distract him from writing – usually by breaking things.<br />
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<b>My thoughts:</b></div>
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There are certain authors who's writing grips me so much that I can't wait for their next book to come out and S.D. Robertson is one of them. I was first introduced to Robertson's work with his novel <i>If Ever I fall (read my review <a href="http://anovelthoughtwithjess.blogspot.com/2017/02/blog-tour-if-ever-i-fall-by-s-d.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e06666;">here</span></a>) </i>and I fell in love with his writing. <i>My Sister's Lies </i>was no exception<i>. </i></div>
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It follows the relationship between two sisters who had become estranged from one another. One day their lives are brought back together, but that is when a world of secrets starts to unfold. </div>
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Robertson is a master of creating suspense and mystery in his writing. It is so easy to get caught up in this story, you never want to put it down. You're given little clues throughout the story but they are so subtle that you don't realise until the secrets are unveiled that Robertson had given them to you. Robertson has an incredible talent for creating diverse and authentic characters which aid to make the story more intense and heart-felt as they are relatable. </div>
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<i>My Sister'e Lies </i>is a dark story at times, full of heartache, focusing on the dynamic of family relationships. </div>
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I would give <i>My Sister's Lies;</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBhAAk4uPeNlxm1iD-S82JjGGb0T76LC2CgTaOfN1psWSQE5kExP_ptoXsnRvF9t1KDe6jsjV497gPyH10c4FspCl0491Dq3MxqfJPaN1YcBQTnBvmsotFdKTnr9NJH71tHfUaVINCBwZH/s1600/4+Stars.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="135" data-original-width="537" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBhAAk4uPeNlxm1iD-S82JjGGb0T76LC2CgTaOfN1psWSQE5kExP_ptoXsnRvF9t1KDe6jsjV497gPyH10c4FspCl0491Dq3MxqfJPaN1YcBQTnBvmsotFdKTnr9NJH71tHfUaVINCBwZH/s320/4+Stars.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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If you've read <i>My Sister's Lies</i>, let me know what you thought of it in the comments below. </div>
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Chat soon beautifuls,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBC3geDaDXSKTEcrgXnWXJrXGhQKvl5ClDaNeXwtdSarKky4pKpq3RQ1xv0AY7XaEqN4x-UlaqxBYYkyMaryWpZ1kr0sOVfmNbyibaY2cclWG9g3jWr3rfR2zan4omOrmI3bI30b8gVOjT/s1600/sign+love+jess+x+pink.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="119" data-original-width="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBC3geDaDXSKTEcrgXnWXJrXGhQKvl5ClDaNeXwtdSarKky4pKpq3RQ1xv0AY7XaEqN4x-UlaqxBYYkyMaryWpZ1kr0sOVfmNbyibaY2cclWG9g3jWr3rfR2zan4omOrmI3bI30b8gVOjT/s1600/sign+love+jess+x+pink.png" /></a></div>
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Jess Bickertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690456484271388695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865348310088692112.post-16063345637083592442019-02-21T22:23:00.000+00:002019-02-21T22:23:02.761+00:00Blog Tour: Extract from Courage of the Shipyard Girls by Nancy Revell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I love it when I get the opportunity to review the new book in a series - especially one that I loved! If you haven't already, check out my review of book 5 in the Shipyard Girls series <a href="http://anovelthoughtwithjess.blogspot.com/2018/09/blog-tour-victory-for-shipyard-girls-by.html" target="_blank">here</a>! Courage of the Shipyard Girls is book 6, the next instalment Nancy Revell's brilliant series.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidK9ymL5mxnqWMnemu5GArT0KMRYP6236RnhlWAz-SAvbiZA_87KwrdfMJVqFkTXqGAXUQLI24F6wkaQQdZo_KyHTORFhkWVsx8o3ofaDYOx8BIBaoeiSl4lRuxcjSdKErtigJFRfncGHF/s1600/Courage+of+the+Shipyard+Girls+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1039" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidK9ymL5mxnqWMnemu5GArT0KMRYP6236RnhlWAz-SAvbiZA_87KwrdfMJVqFkTXqGAXUQLI24F6wkaQQdZo_KyHTORFhkWVsx8o3ofaDYOx8BIBaoeiSl4lRuxcjSdKErtigJFRfncGHF/s320/Courage+of+the+Shipyard+Girls+Cover.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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Published: 21st February 2019 by Arrow</div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Courage-Shipyard-Girls/dp/1787460843/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1550787216&sr=8-1&keywords=nancy+revell+courage+of+the+shipyard+girls" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e06666;">Amazon UK</span></a> </span>- Buy Now!</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Courage-Shipyard-Girls-ebook/dp/B07DXKWGHB/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1550787170&sr=8-1&keywords=nancy+revell+courage+of+the+shipyard+girls" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e06666;">Amazon US</span></a> - Preorder Now!</div>
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<b>About the book:</b><br />
<br /><b>Sunderland, 1942</b><br />Polly's heart and her future are hanging in the balance… Polly’s sweetheart Tommy has been declared missing while serving overseas, and although there is no certainty that he is dead, there is no guarantee that he will return home. Now Polly needs her friends more than ever, and the other women welders are ready to rally around her while she waits for news.<br /><br />The only one not showing support is shipyard manager, Helen. But looks can be deceiving, and beneath her cold exterior, Helen is wrestling with demons of her own, including one life-changing decision that could lead to potential ruin. As the war continues, the shipyard girls must support one another as they bravely soldier on.<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #e06666;">As the war rages on, their friendship must be stronger than ever.</span></b><br /><div>
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<b>About the author:</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfQ9uNG02w07GzIOjtIrZACWrcbr2BjJ89GRrW6Rxw_8iZaiBgVRhiS5IgL1W3uCzmvCiqa8f494B4Blh2xIGPj-8W26qfhZYWtAN2DxD5qIsVhtY5Wr2iGtC8xH_wsWvUnLsODU14xJu/s1600/Nancy+Revell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1515" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfQ9uNG02w07GzIOjtIrZACWrcbr2BjJ89GRrW6Rxw_8iZaiBgVRhiS5IgL1W3uCzmvCiqa8f494B4Blh2xIGPj-8W26qfhZYWtAN2DxD5qIsVhtY5Wr2iGtC8xH_wsWvUnLsODU14xJu/s320/Nancy+Revell.jpg" width="302" /></a></div>
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<b>Nancy Revell</b> is the pen name of writer and journalist <b>Amanda Revell Walton</b>, who has worked for the national press for the past 25 years, providing them with hard-hitting news stories and in-depth features. She has also worked for just about every woman’s magazine, writing amazing and inspirational true life stories.<div>
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<b>A little look inside:</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino-Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino-Roman;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino-Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino-Roman;">Chapter
One<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino-Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino-Roman;">The letter
floated to the ground before a gentle breeze lifted it up again at the exact
time a tram was trundling down the length of Tatham Street.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino-Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino-Roman;">Like
the first draw of a fire as it catches, the letter was sucked under the metal
belly of the carriage and disappeared
from view.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino-Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino-Roman;">By
the time the tram had screeched its way past number 34, the letter had been
unceremoniously spat out again into the still morning air, and after another
brief flutter it landed by the side of the road.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino-Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino-Roman;">The
letter’s near demise did not go unnoticed, though. For two minutes earlier, at
the exact time Polly had been leaving for work and had bumped into the
postwoman, Maud Goode had been having her usual early-morning tussle with the heavy
blackout curtains that adorned her bedroom window.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino-Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino-Roman;">‘Mavis!’
Maud kept her sight focused on the letter now languishing in the gutter across
the road from where she and her sister lived above the sweet shop they jointly
owned. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino-Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino-Roman;">‘Mavis!’
Her tone was different to the one she normally adopted to wake her sister. This
morning her voice was serious. Urgent. Lacking its usual annoyance that she
was, as always, the first to rise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino-Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino-Roman;">‘What’s
the matter?’ Mavis’s voice was croaky with sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino-Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino-Roman;">‘Something’s
wrong.’ Maud tightened the cord of her dressing gown around her ample waist and
hurried out of the bedroom. In a matter of seconds, she had made it down the
narrow staircase and out the front door. Bumping into a couple of shipyard
workers, Maud ignored their apologies as well as their look of surprise at
seeing her cross the road in just her nightclothes and slippers, her pink plastic curlers still in her hair.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino-Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino-Roman;">Having
made it to the other side, Maud was forced to wait until a double-decker bus
had crunched through its gears and passed before she could bend down and pick
up the letter, now smudged with dirt. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino-Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino-Roman;">Shoving it straight into the pocket of her
robe, Maud looked left, then right, before making her way back to the house. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino-Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino-Roman;">‘I’m
in the kitchen,’ Mavis shouted out, hearing the front door clash.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino-Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino-Roman;">Walking
into the scullery, Maud saw that her sister was making a big pot of tea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino-Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino-Roman;">‘What’s
wrong?’ Mavis asked again as her sister pulled out a chair and sat down at the
kitchen table.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino-Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino-Roman;">Maud
didn’t reply but reached into her pocket and retrieved the letter, her plump
hands straightening the thick sheet of crumpled paper out on the wooden
tabletop. The kettle started to whistle and Mavis poured steaming hot water
into the ceramic teapot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino-Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino-Roman;">‘Young
Polly . . . ’ Maud looked up at her sister. ‘She just got this.’ Her eyes
dropped to the letter now spread out in front of her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino-Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino-Roman;">‘Poor
bairn went white as a ghost. I thought she was going to go back inside, but she
didn’t. She got something out of her pocket and then just walked off down the
street. Looked like she was in a trance.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino-Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino-Roman;">Mavis
brought the teapot over and placed it on the table. She stirred before pouring
out two cups, adding milk and half a teaspoon of sugar to each. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino-Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino-Roman;">‘Go
on then,’ she said, nodding across to the letter.‘What’s it say?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino-Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino-Roman;"><br />
<br /><i>
Extracted from </i></span><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Courage-Shipyard-Girls/dp/1787460843/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1550763599&sr=8-1"><i><b><span style="font-family: "Palatino-Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino-Roman;">Courage
of the Shipyard Girls </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Palatino-Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino-Roman;">by
Nancy</span></b><span style="font-family: "Palatino-Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino-Roman;"> <b>Revell</b></span></i></a><span style="font-family: "Palatino-Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino-Roman;"><i>,
the sixth book in the Shipyard Girls series (out today, Arrow, paperback,
£7.99)</i></span><br /><br /><br />So... what are you waiting for! Order this next book in the series and don't forget to leave a comment below once you've read it to let me know what you thought! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Chat soon beautifuls,</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBC3geDaDXSKTEcrgXnWXJrXGhQKvl5ClDaNeXwtdSarKky4pKpq3RQ1xv0AY7XaEqN4x-UlaqxBYYkyMaryWpZ1kr0sOVfmNbyibaY2cclWG9g3jWr3rfR2zan4omOrmI3bI30b8gVOjT/s1600/sign+love+jess+x+pink.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="119" data-original-width="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBC3geDaDXSKTEcrgXnWXJrXGhQKvl5ClDaNeXwtdSarKky4pKpq3RQ1xv0AY7XaEqN4x-UlaqxBYYkyMaryWpZ1kr0sOVfmNbyibaY2cclWG9g3jWr3rfR2zan4omOrmI3bI30b8gVOjT/s1600/sign+love+jess+x+pink.png" /></a></div>
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Jess Bickertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690456484271388695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865348310088692112.post-18500547389864899112019-02-04T06:00:00.000+00:002019-02-04T06:00:10.360+00:00Book Review: In Safe Hands by J.P. Carter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nb9W_S9Cva4TdzgfdjUktTAgHN4VmfXv0ACCGrA3J8vNB6RM7imH6gdVPoEK-uD5k8YMQEo_tNUqh1n-b7g2Q8NigNvJYxj-UhlJuvd1insmT8tTVc7GZ5nnNEa3q_5fMRlGRTMGRZzu/s1600/insafehands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="314" data-original-width="204" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nb9W_S9Cva4TdzgfdjUktTAgHN4VmfXv0ACCGrA3J8vNB6RM7imH6gdVPoEK-uD5k8YMQEo_tNUqh1n-b7g2Q8NigNvJYxj-UhlJuvd1insmT8tTVc7GZ5nnNEa3q_5fMRlGRTMGRZzu/s400/insafehands.jpg" width="259" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Published by Avon, 24th January 2019</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Safe-Hands-D-C-I-Anna-thriller-ebook/dp/B07DFMK9PL" target="_blank">Amazon (UK)</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Safe-Hands-DCI-Anna-Tate/dp/000831327X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1549232605&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Amazon (US)</a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>About the book:</b><br />
<br />
How far would you go to save the ones you love? <br /><br />The first book in a gripping new crime series featuring DCI Anna Tate.<br /><br />When nine children are snatched from a nursery school in South London, their distressed parents have no idea if they will ever see them again. The community in the surrounding area in shock. How could this happen right under their noses? No one in the quiet suburban street saw anything – or at least that's what they're saying.<br /><br />But DCI Anna Tate knows that nothing is impossible, and she also knows that time is quickly running out. It’s unclear if the kidnappers are desperate for money or set on revenge, but the ransom is going up by £1million daily. And they know that one little boy in particular is fighting for his life.<br /><br />It’s one of the most disturbing cases DCI Anna Tate has ever worked on – not only because nine children are being held hostage, but because she’s pretty sure that someone close to them is lying…<br /><br /><br /><b>My thoughts:</b><div>
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<i>In Safe Hands</i> is the first book in a new series which follows DCI Anna Tate as she tries to solve distressing cases. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The story begins with the horrifying kidnapping of 9 children from a nursery. From the moment the children are kidnapped, Carter instils the sense of terror and urgency in the reader as you can feel the tension building within the story. Carter's writing completely hooks you and draws you in to the story as you follow Tate's chase to find the 9 missing children. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Although it was easy to work out who the kidnappers were early on, Carter continues to hold the suspense as the outcome of the investigation remains difficult to predict. As the story unfolds I could feel the tension building, and I found myself in a struggle... wanting to keep reading vs. needing to put the book down to escape the tension for a moment! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Carter creates further depth in the story when you discover that DCI Tate has herself lost a child through abduction. This makes the case to find these children even more personal to Tate, who finds her emotions getting mixed up when difficult choices need to be made. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>In Safe Hands</i> is a story full of tension, that hooks the reader in right from the first page. With certain mysteries not being solved in the first novel, it definitely begs for the next book in the series to hurry up so we can continue to follow DCI Tate's story. I, for one, already have it added to my TBR list! #amwaiting</div>
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I would give this book;</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCSe_JTD0x4EdcEBslBXmOXoD_1jIsO3CXNDRhp75eEj2_2UsFDjSR5EgTrCfM5Xi2Wd7lw9bXSMlPtr5vGJEdSQbgBNSxmtjWG5SKIA1Tn7ZojoMcrPXQudrHeZ1xPJRtqG_a07ZwEld/s1600/4+Stars.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="135" data-original-width="537" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCSe_JTD0x4EdcEBslBXmOXoD_1jIsO3CXNDRhp75eEj2_2UsFDjSR5EgTrCfM5Xi2Wd7lw9bXSMlPtr5vGJEdSQbgBNSxmtjWG5SKIA1Tn7ZojoMcrPXQudrHeZ1xPJRtqG_a07ZwEld/s320/4+Stars.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /><br /><b>About the author:</b><br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGijjsgbJPGVQ-INIJVuabQ98TPjI27g1nFlYrbZULE-agfnriYAy5JOX_FO4zilB8fiUxb9u9IeFsfSCY5U3xjN9cg6nF5qFKwouzQ0u0AFuStekgBr2ejwzKcD20bbEOOYs9345uUFWj/s1600/91YeKJYWiVL._UX250_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="347" data-original-width="250" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGijjsgbJPGVQ-INIJVuabQ98TPjI27g1nFlYrbZULE-agfnriYAy5JOX_FO4zilB8fiUxb9u9IeFsfSCY5U3xjN9cg6nF5qFKwouzQ0u0AFuStekgBr2ejwzKcD20bbEOOYs9345uUFWj/s200/91YeKJYWiVL._UX250_.jpg" width="142" /></a><br /><br />J. P. Carter is the pseudonym of a bestselling author who has also written sixteen books under the names Jaime and James Raven. Before becoming a full time writer he spent a career in journalism as a newspaper reporter and television producer. He was for a number of years director of a major UK news division and until recently co-owned a TV production company. For a while he was also a part-time professional magician. He’s married and divides his time now between homes in Hampshire and Spain.</div>
Jess Bickertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690456484271388695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865348310088692112.post-57445486081070583762018-10-29T06:00:00.000+00:002018-10-29T06:00:01.414+00:00Blog Tour: Extract from Catherine Ferguson's Second Chances at the Log Fire Cabin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglePzSv7OXXmz1wOEvyBlIUNMBJEPWZhIdxydLco0gFLjclvDX5kLNNXeulwpyH546-5hho7tRHsTN1Nrsn5ViWtEKTv71XIG-U7MBFB7idULvUh-Sg2HulDe8yUP2-o4w2hy1ejjRiD8/s1600/image005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="223" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglePzSv7OXXmz1wOEvyBlIUNMBJEPWZhIdxydLco0gFLjclvDX5kLNNXeulwpyH546-5hho7tRHsTN1Nrsn5ViWtEKTv71XIG-U7MBFB7idULvUh-Sg2HulDe8yUP2-o4w2hy1ejjRiD8/s320/image005.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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Published by Avon, 1 November 2018</div>
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Pre-order now from <a href="https://amzn.to/2OUoFsi" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e06666;">Amazon UK</span></a></div>
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<b>About the book:</b></div>
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It’s time to cosy up this winter…<br /><br />When Roxy proposes to her boyfriend Mac in a moment of madness on live TV, she’s mortified when he rejects her. To escape the embarrassment, she takes a job working as cookery assistant at a Christmas house party at the idyllic Log Fire Cabin. Roxy hopes the new job will take her mind off Mac, because to her eternal annoyance, she hasn’t been able to stop thinking about him…<br /><br />But when Mac turns up at the cabin in unexpected circumstances, things begin to go awry. Can Roxy heal her own heart this Christmas? Or is someone waiting in the wings to help her…?<div>
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<b>A little sneaky look inside:</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘So move in
with me,’ he says with a shrug.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">There’s a
brief silence as I stare at him, completely befuddled. Did he just say: </span><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Birka; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So move in with me</span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Birka; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Birka; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My heart starts to thump. I must have misheard him, surely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Birka; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">He chuckles. ‘Well? Say something, Roxy.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Birka; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I sit up straight so I can properly read his expression and he’s smiling
down at me with this cute, slightly vulnerable look on his face. He might even
be blushing, </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">although it
could be the Christmas tree lights casting a rosy glow.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Birka; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Birka; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Oh my God, he actually means it! He wants me to move in with him!</span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Birka; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Birka; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My mind is racing at this quite surreal turn of events. It’s all so
sudden. But I’m crazy about Jackson, no doubt about that, so . . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Birka; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘I’d love to.’ I gulp. ‘Move in with you.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Birka; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">And in the blink of an eye, I go from the aftermath of a painful
recurring nightmare to dancing a Highland fling in my head with happiness . . .</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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So... what do you think? It definitely sounds intriguing to me and would love to know what happens next!</div>
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If you've read <i>Second Chances at the Log Fire Cabin</i> why not leave a comment below to let me know what you thought?</div>
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Chat soon beautifuls,</div>
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Jess Bickertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690456484271388695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865348310088692112.post-63879883699499944962018-10-15T00:42:00.000+01:002018-10-15T00:42:31.734+01:00Blog Tour: Review of Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2s8HTCrKAWNG6D1bG6I9pgcmuCfpfpD0XH4mWQ-Sd89RASF_Cc3kRadIGXHYGTsPj0t-Vp-dnvR1M7mxj2u0SSS3XsmsQMOtGfOp3YwSsE39T7phkzAPQBHah_l0ucOXRhtmLSysSjO_/s1600/every-breath-e1532525836296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1047" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2s8HTCrKAWNG6D1bG6I9pgcmuCfpfpD0XH4mWQ-Sd89RASF_Cc3kRadIGXHYGTsPj0t-Vp-dnvR1M7mxj2u0SSS3XsmsQMOtGfOp3YwSsE39T7phkzAPQBHah_l0ucOXRhtmLSysSjO_/s320/every-breath-e1532525836296.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
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<b>Published by Sphere (UK), 16th October 2018</b></div>
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<b><a href="https://amzn.to/2Ot7wWb" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e06666;">Amazon UK</span></a> </b></div>
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<b>(</b><i>Pre-order, delivery 16th October</i><b>)</b></div>
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<b>About the book:</b></div>
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Hope Anderson is at a crossroads. At thirty-six, she’s been dating her boyfriend, an orthopaedic surgeon, for six years. With no wedding plans in sight, and her father recently diagnosed with ALS, she decides to use a week at her family’s cottage in Sunset Beach, North Carolina, to ready the house for sale and mull over some difficult decisions about her future. Tru Walls has never visited North Carolina but is summoned to Sunset Beach by a letter from a man claiming to be his father. A safari guide, born and raised in Zimbabwe, Tru hopes to unravel some of the mysteries surrounding his mother’s early life and recapture memories lost with her death. When the two strangers cross paths, their connection is as electric as it is unfathomable… but in the immersive days that follow, their feelings for each other will give way to choices that pit family duty and personal happiness against each other in devastating ways.<br />
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<b>About the author:</b></div>
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With over 105 million copies of his books sold, Nicholas Sparks is one of the world's most beloved storytellers. His novels include thirteen number one New York Times bestsellers. All Nicholas Sparks' books have been international bestsellers and have been translated into more than fifty languages. Eleven of his novels have been adapted into major films - The Longest Ride, The Best of Me, Safe Haven, The Lucky One, The Last Song, Dear John, Nights in Rodanthe, Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember, The Notebook and The Choice. <br />
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For all the latest news from Nicholas Sparks, sign up for the e-Newsletter at: <a href="http://www.uk.nicholassparks.com/"><span style="color: #e06666;">www.uk.nicholassparks.com</span></a> and follow him on Facebook and Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/NicholasSparks" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e06666;">@NicholasSparks</span></a><br />
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<b>My thoughts:</b></div>
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Wow... where do I even begin. The 3rd September 2018 marked an incredibly special day for me - the day I received an email asking me if I'd like to take part in reviewing Nicholas Spark's new novel <i>Every Breath</i> as part of the UK blog tour. I mean... permission to squeal!?!? And is that even really a question? I couldn't even imagine a world where I might have said no thanks. </div>
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Nicholas Sparks, undoubtedly, has written some of the most beautiful and heart-wrenching love stories of all time. <i>Every Breath</i> is just another of his masterpieces. </div>
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The story follows the love story of Hope Anderson and Tru Walls - both from completely different worlds, but brought together in unusual circumstances. Nicholas Sparks has such a beautiful way of bringing his characters to life. I found myself relating so much to Hope; her character, her dreams. </div>
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I also felt a strong connection to Tru. Having been born and grown up in South Africa, I related so strongly to his love of the bush and the magic of wildlife in Africa. I fell in love with Tru as quickly as Hope did and with their love. The instant connection, not necessarily of electric sparks, but the ease which they felt in each other's company, the desire to know and understand one another.</div>
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As a reader, you feel as though you live every emotion along with them. Like you are really seeing what each of the characters are feeling inside, not just reading about it on a page.</div>
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There were a number of occasions in the book where I felt like my heart actually skipped a beat, or paused with anxiety with the worry of Tru and Hope being kept apart. And I'm not going to lie... there was a pivotal moment in the book - you'll know it when you read it - that I felt a tear running down my face and my throat all choked up. As always, Nicholas Spark's words moved me to tears. </div>
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As in every true love story, <i>Every Breath</i> is filled with passion, romance and devastating heartbreak. It's not a cliche love story, it's a true, honest account, where life and commitments get in the way. Through every chapter your heart is on tender hooks, hoping the true love will prevail. </div>
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Nicholas Sparks, remains one of the most profound authors of love stories. </div>
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I save these for only the really special ones, and I would give <i>Every Breath</i>,</div>
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If you've enjoyed the beautiful work of <i>Every Breath</i> yet I would love to hear what you thought of it in the comments below.</div>
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What is your favourite Nicholas Sparks novel?</div>
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Chat soon beautifuls,</div>
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Jess Bickertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690456484271388695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865348310088692112.post-79454907501222214352018-09-25T14:22:00.000+01:002018-09-25T14:22:48.555+01:00Blog Tour: Review of The Promise by Katerina Diamond<div align="”left”">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdujtlunL-Il4PVF7Sewi9NyEAMckqQXS27x4B86x-KorjP5TVVECZKgiZ40ABm_htV0CCkZKkUIv2FwstDQfX91DSEk1CM4nhJQ-LxEMROJGB2PHKkfvEzjoP6YofPu6kIXO7ezK-4qBF/s1600/promise+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdujtlunL-Il4PVF7Sewi9NyEAMckqQXS27x4B86x-KorjP5TVVECZKgiZ40ABm_htV0CCkZKkUIv2FwstDQfX91DSEk1CM4nhJQ-LxEMROJGB2PHKkfvEzjoP6YofPu6kIXO7ezK-4qBF/s1600/promise+cover.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Published 20th September 2018</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Avon (Harper Collins Publishing)</i></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Promise-Katerina-Diamond/dp/0008209219" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ea9999;">Amazon UK</span></a></div>
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<b>About the book:</b><br />
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When troubled teen Connor moves to Exeter from the US to escape his past, he finds himself embroiled in a world of popular kids and easy girls. Everyone wants to be his friend, but they don’t know about what he did…and they don’t know about his father.<br /> <br /> As Connor’s life in England begins to unravel, DS Adrian Miles and his partner Imogen Grey are working up against the clock to catch a serial killer who dates his victims before he kills them. Determined to uncover the truth, Imogen is forced to act as bait – but will she take it too far and risk her own life?<br /> <br /> Katerina Diamond is back with a bang in this dark, twisted novel, perfect for fans of M.J. Arlidge and Karin Slaughter.</div>
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<b>My thoughts:</b></div>
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I was really excited when I was given the change to review Katerina Diamond's new novel, <i>The Promise</i>. Diamond's series follows Detectives Grey and Miles as they try to solve the latest crime. </div>
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Throughout the series Diamond has really established strong character profiles, and this makes it even more exciting when you jump back into the series with a new release. </div>
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<i>The Promise</i> brings all the suspense and tension that Katerina Diamond is known for delivering in her novels. I found myself getting completely drawn in and not wanting to put the book down until I had solved the crime with Miles and Grey. </div>
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This story weaves between three separate parts, so you need to make sure you keep track. But Diamond's writing makes it really easy to follow the interlinking story lines. </div>
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<i>The Promise </i>focuses on a killer who is luring their victims in through online dating - which having recently been dipping my toes in the online dating world, made this story all the more nerve-wracking for me!! </div>
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By the time I finished reading <i>The Promise</i> I needed to book a nail appointment!! </div>
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I would give <i>The Promise;</i></div>
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If you've read <i>The Promise</i> already, or any of Katerina Diamond's other books, let me know in the comments below what you thought of them? How long did it take you to solve the mystery?</div>
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Chat soon beautifuls,</div>
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Jess Bickertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690456484271388695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865348310088692112.post-2381469965249878282018-09-05T19:53:00.003+01:002018-09-05T19:54:13.547+01:00Blog Tour: Victory for the Shipyard Girls by Nancy Revell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxh82_de9WsZ1rPKWnZilqRAIMvPM_2yoPLb6f1ASYpj9BrMdQ8wRygbNA1Xk6dNXp98b5gEtET8gRwBdhVuGahNNifBZyuOLnmPOFY4VHBT_E_IT9yAwY5Qip_0EjoRft_VBz0YYLkCSr/s1600/Victory+For+Shipyard+Girls+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1043" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxh82_de9WsZ1rPKWnZilqRAIMvPM_2yoPLb6f1ASYpj9BrMdQ8wRygbNA1Xk6dNXp98b5gEtET8gRwBdhVuGahNNifBZyuOLnmPOFY4VHBT_E_IT9yAwY5Qip_0EjoRft_VBz0YYLkCSr/s400/Victory+For+Shipyard+Girls+cover.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
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Published 6 September 2018</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Victory-Shipyard-Girls/dp/1787460223" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e06666;">Amazon UK</span></a></div>
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Arrow Paperback Original, £6.99</div>
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Also available as an eBook</div>
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<b>About the book:</b></div>
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The fifth book in the compelling saga series The Shipyard Girls by Sunday Times bestselling author Nancy Revell, The Shipyard Girls series follows an eclectic group of women who go to work in the Sunderland shipyards during the Second World War and their daily trials with love, loss and living through war. Inspired by her own close family links to the Sunderland shipyards and her campaign to get the brave women who worked there during WWII recognised for their service.<br />
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The war rages on, but their friendship is stronger than ever.<br />
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Sunderland, 1942<br />
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With the war showing no sign of abating, Helen is thriving in her role as shipyard manager. But at home the return of her father brings a shocking discovery that tears her family apart. <br />
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Gloria is shouldering the burden of a terrible secret. If the truth comes out there could be dire consequences, and it will take all her resolve to resist the pressure around her.<br />
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Rosie is throwing herself into her work, taking on as many shifts as she can. Anything to keep her mind off the fact that she hasn’t heard from her sweetheart in months…<br />
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With life in the shipyards tougher than ever, will the strength of their friendship see them through to victory?<br />
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<b>About the author:</b><br />
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Nancy Revell is the pen name of writer and journalistAmanda Revell Walton, who has worked for the national press for the past 25 years, providing them with hard-hitting news stories and in-depth features. She has also worked for just about every woman’s magazine, writing amazing and inspirational true life stories.</div>
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<b>My thoughts:</b></div>
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Victory for the Shipyards Girls is the first novel of Nancy Revels that I have read. I love historical fiction and especially love when it is focused around the lives of the women during the war. </div>
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I loved the setting of the Shipyard - a completely different environment to other stories I have read before. It really gave it that sense of women picking up jobs in what would've been seen as a man's world. </div>
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Nancy Revell has created some really wonderful characters. Reading this book made me really want to start the series from the beginning so I can follow their life stories from the start and watch how the characters grow. </div>
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The style of the book is written in a way that really creates intrigue and it has a good pace, so you get hooked into the story and wanting to know what happens. It definitely keeps you gripped!</div>
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The story ends on a cliffhanger, which is always gripping and makes you want to read the next book straight away! I can't wait to find out more about these incredible women and will definitely going back to the start to read their stories! </div>
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I would give this book;</div>
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I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves reading historical fiction, especially that which is focused on the lives of the women of the time. </div>
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If you've read the book drop me a comment below to let me know what you thought. </div>
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Chat soon beautifuls,</div>
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Jess Bickertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690456484271388695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865348310088692112.post-12095394794931030142018-08-01T23:28:00.000+01:002018-08-03T11:56:34.311+01:00Blog Tour: Interview with Sam Carrington, author of One Little Lie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Published by Avon</div>
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Amazon UK</div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2n6VSA7" target="_blank">Kindle Edition (Out Now)</a></span><span id="goog_947675186"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_947675187"></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/One-Little-Lie-unputdownable-gripping/dp/000830081X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e06666;">Paperback (Out in September)</span></a></div>
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<b>About the book:</b></div>
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<b>‘My name is Alice. And my son is a murderer.’</b><br />
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Deborah’s son was killed four years ago. Alice’s son is in prison for committing that crime.<br />
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Deborah would give anything to have her boy back, and Alice would do anything to right her son’s wrongs.<br />
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Driven by guilt and the need for redemption, Alice has started a support group for parents with troubled children. But as the network begins to grow, she soon finds out just how easy it is for one little lie to spiral out of control…<br />
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They call it mother’s intuition, but can you ever really know your own child?<br />
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A twisty and unnerving story about the price of motherhood and the unthinkable things we do to protect our children. Perfect for fans of Cara Hunter and Laura Marshall.<br />
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‘Sam Carrington has done it again. One Little Lie is a twisty, gripping read that deserves to fly. I loved it.’ Cass Green, <i>bestselling author of In a Cottage In a Wood</i><br />
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<b>Let's have a chat:</b></div>
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I always love it when I get the chance to have a little Q&A with authors; to pick their brains on how they get from the first words on the page to the final novel. I have developed a real passion for psychological thrillers in the last couple of years, so when I got the chance to ask Sam Carrington a few questions I think I literally squealed... out loud! </div>
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Ok, enough of me, let's chat with Sam.</div>
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<b><span style="color: #e06666;">1. Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?</span></b> <br />
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I’d long had the desire to write – I’d been buying ‘how-to’ books for years, but was just reading about writing, rather than actually writing! When my second child was born in 1997, I began a writing course but didn’t really get going with it. It wasn’t until the end of 2010 when I was ‘in-between’ jobs that I sat down and thought ‘come on – you can do this’ and began to write a short story. I then had some ups and downs for a few years and eventually began taking writing seriously at the end of 2013. <br />
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<b><span style="color: #e06666;">2. Did you find it hard to start writing your first book? </span></b><br />
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It took a while to get used to the change in form because I’d been writing short stories (which requires a different set of skills to those used in novel writing) prior to attempting my first novel. The change in pace – the fact that the plot had to stretch over about eighty-five thousand words, not just a few thousand – and having many more characters to develop than in a short story, were all challenges to begin with. But the enjoyment of working on something longer outweighed those challenges and I completed my first draft in 2014, about eight months after starting it. <br />
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<b><span style="color: #e06666;">3. How did you decide what genre you wanted to write in - did you just know or did you have to think about it? </span></b><br />
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I wrote about ten thousand words of a chick-lit novel when I first attempted writing. It was for the Richard and Judy Search for a Bestseller competition. It stalled at those ten thousand words, though, and I turned my attention to crime/psychological thriller for my first full-length novel as this was more in keeping with my interests. I had worked with offenders in a male prison, so this seemed the best fit for me. <br />
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<b><span style="color: #e06666;">4. Where did you get the inspiration for ‘One Little Lie’? </span></b><br />
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I’m not sure whether I could call it ‘inspiration’ as such, but the idea came about after watching a documentary on BBC1 called Murder Games: The Life and Death of Breck Bednar. It was about a 14-year-old boy who’d been groomed through online gaming by an 18-year-old and was subsequently lured to his death. I found it quite shocking, particularly as I had two boys who spent a lot of time online gaming and it opened up a lot of questions and discussions with my boys! I found the documentary to be so harrowing and the victim’s mother’s story stayed with me. I thought that I’d explore the impact of such a crime in my writing. But I wanted to go further than exploring how the mother of the victim might feel by focussing on the effects of the crime on the mother of the murderer. So, Alice was created! <br />
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<b><span style="color: #e06666;">5. Did you do a lot of prep work on the plot and characters before you started writing ‘One Little Lie’? </span></b><br />
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I generally write the beginning fairly soon into the process – just the opening page or so, because it starts off the creative process for me. For One Little Lie my main characters had been floating about in my head for a few months prior to putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). I also did a character bio of each character and wrote out what their goals and motivations were before I started work properly. I had the bare bones of the plot sorted before I began writing, but there were parts that changed as I went along. <br />
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<b><span style="color: #e06666;">6. What was the hardest thing about writing ‘One Little Lie’? </span></b><br />
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There were some dark and emotional scenes within this book – and to get it right, I had to really get into the mind of my characters. This turned out to be very emotional – and I felt very low during the writing of those scenes! I think for me, and a lot of parents, the death of your child is one of the worst things imaginable, ever. Full stop. I found it harrowing to watch the documentary – witnessing the mother’s pain – and I found it equally harrowing writing about that loss. The novel’s twist was also a challenge – but I can’t say anything about that! <br />
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<b><span style="color: #e06666;">7. What did you enjoy most about writing ‘One Little Lie’? </span></b><br />
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I enjoyed writing from the perspective of Alice, the mother of the murderer, as I had to use my imagination a lot more for that (thankfully!) and as a character she was multi-layered. I found her story fascinating to write about. <br />
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<b><span style="color: #e06666;">8. Did you get inspiration for your characters from anyone you know in real life?</span></b> <br />
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I don’t think so, not consciously, anyway. Maybe it’s inevitable that sometimes certain aspects of a person’s personality – a trait – shows up in one of my characters, but I don’t believe I do it intentionally. I might use elements of physical description from those I know though. <br />
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<b><span style="color: #e06666;">9. Of all the books you’ve written, do you have a favourite? </span></b><br />
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They are like my children (and I have three children, the same as books at the moment!), so I can’t possibly favour one over the other! As with my children, each one has their own unique qualities. When my children used to ask who my favourite was, I’d say: I like Danika the best because she was my first child, and my only girl; I like Louis the best because he was the easiest birth and he was my first son; and I like Nathaniel the best because he will always be my ‘baby’ and he came as a shock in that he weighed in at an impressive 12lbs 10oz! So, in the same vein – each of my books has a special place: Saving Sophie is the best because that was my first and got me an agent and a publisher, Bad Sister is the best because that was the easiest to write, and One Little Lie is the best because I think it’s my most impressive one – haha! <br />
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<b><span style="color: #e06666;">10. Have you already got your next book idea in mind? </span></b><br />
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My next book is written and currently with my editor. It’s due out as an ebook in March 2019 – so not that long really! My fifth book is in the very early stages – the characters are in my head, floating about waiting for me to write out their characters bios – and the first few pages are written. I will now take some time writing notes and thinking about the plot before the hard work commences!</div>
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Thank you so much to Sam Carrington for taking the time to answer my questions. I for one cannot wait to read <i>One Little Lie</i>, so I'm off to buy the kindle version now! I suggest you do the same and then drop me a comment below about what you thought of it! </div>
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If you could ask one author, one question - who and what would it be? Let me know in the comments below!</div>
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Chat soon beautifuls,</div>
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Jess Bickertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690456484271388695noreply@blogger.com0