BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: Mrs. Papadakis - Florence Wetzel

After five years of married life in a Cretan fishing village—milking goats, sidestepping village gossip, and contending with octopus in her refrigerator—American Carolyn Papadakis starts to wonder if she should return to the US.

An unexpected visitor deepens her doubts, and a new friendship with a pair of traveling hippies draws Carolyn into risky choices. As her marriage teeters on the edge, Carolyn must decide between the life she created and the one she left behind.

Full of humor and heart, Mrs. Papadakis paints a vibrant portrait of village life while exploring identity, belonging, and the challenge of building a life far from home. Perfect for readers drawn to literary fiction, cross-cultural life, and stories of identity and belonging.

 

What did I think?

Having read and enjoyed Aspasia by Florence Wetzel, I was very excited to return to Crete with Mrs. Papadakis and I was not disappointed.  The two books aren't linked (I don't think), other than both being set in Crete, but I did sometimes feel like I recognised some of the characters.

Carolyn feels like she gave up a lot when she moved to Crete to marry Vasilis Papadakis, in fact she has even given up her forename as she is now known as Karolina.  It's no surprise that she wonders whether she did the right thing in leaving her career and life behind in America.  Through Carolyn's feelings of 'The Plunge' and 'The Pang', the reader gets to know Carolyn so well that I felt as if she was an acquaintance of mine.

Florence Wetzel perfectly portrays the culture and people of Crete through her descriptive and evocative writing.  The characters are incredibly well developed, whether they are humans or goats.  It's quite a short book at 240 pages so it's easy to read in one sitting and there's a surprising amount of depth to the storyline to keep the reader invested and entertained.  

Heartfelt, humorous and entertaining, Mrs. Papadakis is a beautifully written and thought-provoking book.  I really enjoyed it and would highly recommend it.

I received a gifted paperback for the Love Books Tours bookstagram tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BLOG TOUR: The Nile Cruise - Caroline James

Sail down The Nile this summer on a voyage of discovery…and just a little bit of mystery!

Will an adventure sailing The River Nile turn the tide for Hattie?

Hattie Mulberry is exhausted. Worn out from the demands of everyone around her, she’s long overdue a break. So, she decides to take a holiday – the adventure of a lifetime, following in the footsteps of her literary hero, Agatha Christie.

Before Hattie knows it, she’s embarking on a glamorous Nile cruise. Not only a voyage steeped in history and world-famous sights, but one where the passengers are almost as fascinating as the views from her luxurious cabin…

As the eclectic band of travellers journey between ancient temples and legendary tombs, guided by handsome Egyptologist Sam, secrets surface, desires awaken, and tensions simmer beneath the Egyptian sun.

Will the magic of moonlit nights on the Nile bring romance and renewal? Or will the infamous curse of Tutankhamun cast a shadow when least expected?

A gloriously escapist read full of sun, secrets and romance, perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Judy Leigh.

 

What did I think?

The Nile Cruise is the second virtual cruise I have taken with Caroline James and I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Egypt.

It's a very character driven novel but it's also incredibly atmospheric and it's very easy to visualise the scenes on the banks of the River Nile.  The characters are wonderfully drawn and I love reading books with older protagonists as they are so colourful and amusing.

Hattie meets a lot of different people on her cruise to Egypt and I really got to know them over the course of the voyage.  There's the wannabe James Bond, an influencer and a very hands-on guide, to name but a few.  Hattie makes some firm friendships and finds some unexpected romance among the guests too.

Once again, Caroline James has swept me away on an unforgettable literary journey.  I loved everything about it: the location, the characters, the evocative writing and the fabulous multi-layered plot.  This wonderfully atmospheric and hugely entertaining novel is what pure escapism is all about.  Very highly recommended.

I received a digital ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy link: https://geni.us/TNCK

About the author:

Caroline James is the celebrated author of later-life fiction, including THE CRUISE, the #1 best-seller that has captivated cruise ship passengers worldwide, earning its reputation as Girl Power for the Over-Sixties! Her eagerly anticipated follow-up cruise novels, include THE CRUISE CLUB, and THE ARCTIC CRUISE both hitting the Amazon Top 100 Kindle charts.

Caroline’s vibrant storytelling stems from her colourful career. Before becoming a full-time writer, she carved out a fascinating path in the hospitality industry, owning a charming country house hotel and a lively pub. As a media agent, she worked closely with celebrity chefs, giving her an insider’s perspective on the glitz, glamour, and grit of the culinary world. When she finally turned her focus to writing, she discovered her true calling, penning best-selling novels that have garnered her legions of fans.

When she’s not writing, Caroline enjoys tranquil walks with Fred, her Westie, and writing and plotting her next novels in her Scottish retreat. As a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the SoA, ARRA, and the Society of Women’s Writers & Journalists, Caroline is a passionate advocate for the written word and a champion of life-long creativity

Books by Caroline James:

The Nile Cruise

The Arctic Cruise

Atticus Arnott’s Great Adventure

The Cruise Club

The French Cookery School

The Cruise

The Spa Break

Hattie Goes to Hollywood

Boomerville at Ballymegille

The Best Boomerville Hotel

Coffee Tea the Gypsy & Me

Coffee Tea the Chef & Me

Coffee Tea the Caribbean & Me

Jungle Rock

Social Media Links – 

Website: www.carolinejamesauthor.co.uk

Twitter: @CarolineJames12

Facebook: Caroline James Author

Insta: Caroline James Author 

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REVIEW TOUR: The House on Blood Street - Josh Hanson

A psychedelic horror novel reminiscent of Burnt Offerings by Robert Marasco, T. Kingfisher’s A House with Good Bones, and Dario Argento’s surreal horror film Suspiria. 

Jack and Avery’s new home on Calliope Street is a fixer-upper’s dream. The lurid collage of pornographic clippings on the basement wall seems like a quirky (and campy) feature. But once the house awakens, what seemed harmless becomes as horrifying as the blood seeping from the carpet. 

The house is alive. It is intelligent. And it demands homage. 

Inspired by the surreal and graphic films of the Italian maestros as well as a meditation on obsession and the relationship between tragedy and art, The House on Blood Street evokes the myth of Orpheus and Euridice, mixing art, love, and death into a modern take on the haunted house.

 

What did I think?

The House on Blood Street is a twisty and twisted novel that has the feel of a cult horror movie and I certainly couldn't tear my eyes away from it.  I freaking loved it!

Told in three parts: The House on Calliope Street, In the Locust Tree and Camera Obscura, this is one heck of a binge-worthy novel as we follow Jack and Avery when they move into their new home.  The weird naked women collage with a hole at its centre in the basement would have had me running for the hills but Jack and Avery find it amusing.  

It's very tense and suspenseful as the story plays out and the collage becomes more and more sinister.  If this had been a movie, I would have definitely been watching it from behind the sofa but my eyes were glued to the page and I couldn't read fast enough.

Josh Hanson's writing is sublime and it lured me into this vivid, surreal and highly imaginative tale.  I love that it has echoes of the myth of Orpheus and Euridice as it considers the lengths we are prepared to go to in order to bring our loved one back home.

The House on Blood Street has all of the hallmarks of an instant classic and, much like a favourite film, I wanted to read it again as soon as I finished it.  What a fantastic book!  It grabs the reader from the very first page and refuses to let go - very highly recommended.

I received a gifted hardback copy to read and review for the Black Crow PR review tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: The Way Home - Amanda Prowse

What if a stranger threatened to take away a lifetime of cherished memories?

Lilly-Bob loves her home by the River Thames in the heart of London. Throughout her childhood, it echoed with music and her father’s love, and for seventy years it’s been her sanctuary through a life well lived. These days, the familiar walls and treasured memories keep loneliness at bay.

But for months she’s been ignoring letters from a building developer, and now a compulsory purchase scheme threatens to take her home by force. Seventeen-year-old Lilly-Bob didn’t fear change, but present-day Lilly refuses to let go.

As the pressure builds, Lilly feels increasingly alone. But as her neighbours rally together, she finds herself drawn into the fold―making new friends, finding purpose, and glimpsing the possibility of something new.

Torn between the comfort of the past and the call of progress, Lilly-Bob must decide: is home made of bricks and mortar, or is it a place inside ourselves?

 

What did I think?

Amanda Prowse books are always a guaranteed five star read for me and The Way Home is no exception.  Amanda never fails to make me cry and I thought I had gotten away with it this time as my tears didn't appear until about 80% through.  You got me again, Mrs Prowse!

I had never heard of compulsory purchase orders before and it must be very upsetting to be on the receiving end of one.  That's what happens to Lilly-Bob when she is being forced to leave the only home she has ever known.  All of her memories are in her home and it feels like losing her parents all over again. 

With a past and present timeline, there are flashbacks of heartwarming and heartbreaking events from Lilly-Bob's life in between battles with the developer and her blossoming friendships with her neighbours and a mystery man she meets on the banks of the River Thames.

It really made me think about how much we attach memories to places and things when really the memories are inside ourselves all along.  I completely understood why Lilly-Bob wanted to hang on to her home, but for some people it can be difficult to return to a place after the loss of a loved one as it reminds us that they're not there anymore.  It's also a stark reminder that there are two sides to every story and it was this revelation that made me cry.

Filled with friendship, love and warmth, The Way Home is an incredibly emotional and heartwarming story that lingers long after the final page has been turned.  All the stars once again for Amanda Prowse.

I received a gifted digital copy to read and review for the Love Books Tours bookstagram tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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Hope There's Someone - Lee Stewart

In the decaying streets of Sunderland, twenty-one-year-old Chris Paige is barely holding on as guardian to his volatile, grieving thirteen-year-old-sister, Jess. When Jess vanishes one day, Chris's desperate hunt for answers unearths a devastating family truth - one that could destroy them both.

Raw, unflinching, and impossible to put down, Hope There's Someone is a gripping story of sibling loyalty, buried trauma, and how far one man will go to protect what little family he has left.

For fans of Shuggie Bain, Trainspotting, and This Is England. This is a raw and darkly funny portrait of grief, poverty, and lost potential in Modern Britain.

What did I think?

I always get a thrill out of seeing my local area in books and Lee Stewart’s fiction debut is set in Sunderland.  I wasn't really sure what to expect from the cover and the description but this is an absolutely cracking novel that's full of drama and it hooked me from the start.

I really felt for Chris who has given up has place at university to look after his sister when their mam dies.  Chris and Jess are both grieving but Chris is struggling to make ends meet and Jess, with her teenage mood swings, doesn't make life any easier for him.  Money has to come from somewhere and Chris inevitably gets tangled up with some dodgy characters.

The story took so many twists and turns as the past and present played out and I was completely riveted.  I have to admit that I made an assumption about their mam's cause of death but I couldn't have been more wrong.  Now that's what I call sharply plotted.  Well played, Mr Stewart!  Well played indeed.

Hope There's Someone is a dark and gritty novel that is filled with shocks and surprises.  It has a young protagonist that you instantly root for and I loved every minute of it.  Lee Stewart is one to watch and I'm going to be shouting about this book for a very long time.  An easy five stars for this unmissable and unforgettable crime thriller.

Many thanks to the author for sending me a digital ARC; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: Some Rise By Sin - Siôn Scott-Wilson

1829 is a tough year to be a body snatcher. Burke and Hare have just been convicted of killing people to sell their bodies, to widespread outrage—but despite the bad press, doctors still need fresh corpses for medical research.

Sammy and Facey are a couple of so-called ‘resurrection men’, making a living among society's fringe-dwellers by hoisting the newly departed from the churchyards of London whilst masquerading as late-night bakers. Operating on tip-offs and rumours in the capital’s drinking dens and fighting pits, the pair find themselves in receipt of some valuable intelligence: an unusual cadaver has popped up on the market, that of a hermaphrodite.

For any medic worth his salt it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—a medical curiosity and rara avis—and famous anatomist Joshua Brookes commissions the two men to obtain the body, at any cost. But some corpses hold secrets, and before long the enterprise becomes a deadlier and more complex undertaking than either man could ever have imagined.

Some Rise by Sin is a rich, authentic and absorbing historical narrative with a darker edge, a story of surviving on the outskirts of respectability. With echoes of Michel Faber’s The Crimson Petal and the White, it is meticulously researched and suffused with the dark and grimy atmosphere of Regency London, and explores what ambition can mean for poor people in a society that conspires to grind them down at every turn.

What did I think?

I didn't expect a book about body snatchers to be so funny and I absolutely loved reading Some Rise by Sin by Siôn Scott-Wilson.  I couldn't put it down once I started reading and read it in two sittings.

You've heard of Burke and Hare, now meet Sammy and Facey who provide the medical profession of Victorian London with fresh corpses to dissect.  It's always interesting to read how fascinated the Victorians were with bodies so it's no wonder that dodgy gangs of body snatchers saw a gap in the black market; it's all about supply and demand.

The story is entertaining and action-packed as Sammy and Facey track down the body of a hermaphrodite which several parties are interested in acquiring.  I sometimes couldn't hold in my laughter at their hilarious escapades that are vividly described by Siôn Scott-Wilson.  The pair are a cracking double act who reminded me of Blackadder and Baldrick; Sammy is the thinker who comes up with his cunning plans whereas Facey dives straight in with his fists flying.

It is written colloquially that really adds colour and depth to the story, although I did have to keep stopping to look up some of the unfamiliar Victorian words.  I didn't always know what they meant at first but I still found it incredibly funny.  I think the book would have benefitted from a glossary of terms at the back as I really didn't want to put the book down to look them up.

Incredibly atmospheric and wonderfully entertaining, Some Rise By Sin is a gripping and amusing novel.  I am delighted to see that it is the first book in a series and I can't wait to see what Sammy and Facey get up to next.  A very highly recommended read.

I received a gifted paperback to read and review for the Novel Tours bookstagram tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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REVIEW TOUR: Ride - Or Die Trying - Paul Drayton

 

A brutally honest and hilarious memoir about addiction recovery, fame-adjacent life and learning how to start again.

When Paul Drayton briefly finds himself in prison in 2022 after a dangerous driving conviction, he is forced to confront the truth about the life he has been living. What follows is a candid and deeply personal journey through addiction, relationships, identity and recovery.

From growing up in Sunderland to navigating London’s nightlife scene, falling in love with Alan Carr to discovering what it feels like to live beside fame without sharing the spotlight, Paul reflects on the highs, the chaos and the mistakes that shaped his life.

A late ADHD diagnosis at fifty and determined to rebuild his future, he begins the difficult process of understanding himself and creating a new chapter.

Honest, self-aware and funny, this is a memoir about accountability, resilience and the courage to start again.

What did I think?

I didn't realise that Paul Drayton is Alan Carr's ex-husband when I first heard about Ride - Or Die Trying; I wanted to read it as Paul is a local lad from Sunderland and I'm so pleased that he's a Mackem otherwise I might have missed this fabulous book.

Paul Drayton is very brave to put his story out there, especially after all of the negative press he experienced when he was struggling with his addictions.  In his raw and brutally honest memoir, he gives the reader a glimpse into the showbiz lifestyle and the effects of living in the shadow of a famous other half. 

Paul has an amazing sense of humour and that shines through every page.  It's not a laugh on every page kind of book as Paul touches on some tough and poignant subjects but each chapter is filled with honesty, emotion and a lot of inner strength.  I don't know Paul but I feel very proud of him for sharing his story with the world.

As you would expect from someone who was married to the Chatty Man, it's a very chatty book and Paul's natural dry north-eastern wit adds a very entertaining and funny slant to the stories.  There are several personal photographs included that accompany the prose and give the reader further insight into Paul's life.  It's not an exposé on Alan Carr, it's very much Paul's own story and I loved it.

Honest, poignant and entertaining, Ride - Or Die Trying is a cracking memoir that had me laughing one minute and crying the next.  It's bold, inspirational and well worth a read.

I received a gifted paperback for the Literally PR Online Book Review Tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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