The Hope (The Forcing Trilogy Book 3) - Paul E Hardisty

In a ravaged future ruled by the descendants of those who caused the climate collapse, a teenager with a remarkable gift must flee for her life – and fight to save the last hope for humanity. The searing, unforgettable conclusion to the internationally acclaimed The Forcing trilogy.

The year is 2082. Climate collapse, famine and war have left the world in ruins. In the shadow of the Alpha-Omega regime – descendants of the super-rich architects of disaster – sixteen-year-old Boo Ashworth and her uncle risk everything to save what’s left of human knowledge, hiding the last surviving books in a secret library beneath the streets of Hobart.

But Boo has a secret of her own: an astonishing ability to memorise entire texts with perfect recall. When the library is discovered and destroyed, she’s forced to flee – armed with nothing but the stories she carries in her mind, and a growing understanding of her family’s true past. 

Hunted and alone, and with the help of some unlikely allies, she must fight to save her loved ones – and bring hope to a broken world.

Spanning three generations before, during and after the fall, The Hope is the shattering conclusion to Paul E. Hardisty’s critically acclaimed climate-emergency trilogy – a devastating, visionary thriller that dares to imagine the possibility of redemption in the face of near-total collapse. In a dying world, it asks the most urgent question of all: what if there’s still time? 

What did I think?

The Hope is the third and final book in The Forcing Trilogy and it is the perfect ending to a magnificent and hugely thought-provoking series.

Each book focuses on three generations of one family and The Hope is Boo's story.  I remember Boo from the previous book The Descent so it was good to catch up with her and other members of the family to see what happened next.  Although it is still a very dark and devastating story, the book is called The Hope after all so there is a more hopeful and uplifting end to this poignant tale.

It's almost like a book within a book as Boo's amazing memory recalls every word from her Uncle Kweku's book, The Descent.  I just love how all of the books link together to create one memorable and relevant story but you could read each one independently and still enjoy each book.

The world that Paul E Hardisty has built is disturbingly easy to imagine and although this is a fantastic dystopian novel, I don't want to pick it up in 40 years time (if I'm still alive) and see how much has come true.  Novels like this have the power to change the world and I just hope that people take notice.

Unmissable, unforgettable and powerful, The Hope is a thrilling conclusion to an outstanding trilogy that every reader should read.  Very highly recommended.

I received a gifted copy for the readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: The Nowhere Girls - Carmel Harrington

On a cold afternoon in December 1995, two young girls are found abandoned on a platform at Pearse Station in Dublin.

Thirty years later, investigative journalist Vega is determined to find out what happened to the so-called 'Nowhere Girls'. Where did their mother go? Why did no one come forward to claim them? And where are they now?

Searching for answers takes her on a journey with twists she never could have imagined. And one that could put everything else she knows at risk; including her new relationship, her career, and her life as she knows it.

 

What did I think?

Oh my goodness, I could not put this gripping and compelling book down!  It's definitely a 'just one more chapter' kind of a book and then 'whoops I've read it all in a day'.

It is such an intriguing storyline with two young girls being left at a railway station.  What made their mother leave them and why didn't she come back?  This is the story that journalist Vega wants to investigate despite being told to leave it alone by her boss.  Vega can't leave it alone though and she won't stop digging until she finds out the truth.

This is such an addictive book with twists and turns that shocked, surprised and delighted me.  I couldn't turn the pages fast enough and I would recommend setting aside a couple of hours when you pick up this book as you won't be able to put it down.

Unputdownable and completely engrossing, The Nowhere Girls is an unmissable book that kept me riveted from start to finish.  An easy five stars and a very highly recommended read.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: Color of Fire (The Strange Eden Series Book 3) - Gina Giordano

“And I thought you were my savior in my darkest hour. How very wrong I was.”

1794: Devastated by the violent disappearance of her husband, Charles Sharpe, Eliza struggles to save Pleasant Hall from the hands of crooked creditors and the governor’s greed. In the aftermath of the attack, her husband’s enemies have branded him a traitor and declare him dead. 

But an unlikely source carries knowledge that he still lives, and he alone knows who has taken Charles. Eliza’s desperation drives her to form an alliance with the king of the underworld himself: Captain Hiram Bruin, a notorious man who is more pirate than privateer. 

Eliza’s death has been ordered by Lord Dunmore, and Bruin himself tasked with the deed. But Hiram Bruin has never been a man to follow orders. He offers her passage on his ship, the Fortuyne, and his personal protection. In her hour of distress, Eliza accepts—for she has no other choice.

Bruin takes Eliza on a wild and dangerous voyage from the island of New Providence to the wild and untamed Saba, and finally to England, where her journey started three years ago. 

Eliza endures her new sinister reality, one where death creeps ever closer, and quickly learns that the only monsters at sea are men. Ensnared by the salt air and damning secrets, one thing is startlingly clear: Bruin wants to take everything she holds dear. For the roots of revenge lie deep…

Will Eliza be able to save the life of her husband before it’s too late? What price is she willing to pay for his freedom? And can she escape this unimaginable nightmare, fueled by a man of unspeakable cruelty? 

 

What did I think?

Wow!  Consider my breath well and truly taken.  What a stunning conclusion to an outstanding series!  I have loved every single one of the Strange Eden books and it was very fitting to return Eliza to England where the story first started.  Color of Fire is the story of Eliza's dangerous journey across the sea in search of her missing husband.

After the heart-stopping cliffhanger in book two, The Island King, I raced straight on to Color of Fire as I couldn't wait to find out what happened next.  The dastardly governor Lord Dunmore has had enough of the Sharpes and orders the death of Eliza and her husband Charles.  When Eliza is told that Charles has been killed and men turn up at her door to take possession of her home, Eliza fights as much as she can as she is convinced that Charles is still alive.

Eliza joins forces with the man who is sent to kill her and Bruin takes Eliza away from her Caribbean home on his ship.  The high seas are a dangerous place to be though and Eliza finds that out pretty quickly.  I admired her fortitude and conviction that she would find Charles, despite Bruin having his own agenda. 

The storyline is riveting and the character's are so well developed they almost pop out from the page.  Some of the characters are actually based on real people and I found the author's note as fascinating and entertaining as the fictional tale.

Unmissable, unforgettable and unputdownable, Color of Fire is a fantastic historical fiction novel in a magnificent series.   I already want to read it again and really can't recommend it highly enough.

I received a gifted paperback for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Purchase link: https://mybook.to/coloroffire-zbt

About the author:

Gina Giordano always had an insatiable curiosity and a penchant for history. Born in New York City, she is a writer, artist, and a conjurer of the past. She holds a BA in history and a master’s degree in historical fiction from New York University, and has traveled to over sixty-five countries across the globe. When she is not climbing ancient ruins or exploring forgotten palaces, she enjoys swimming with sharks in remote pristine waters. Her debut novel, Strange Eden, was longlisted for the 2023 Bath Novel Award.

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Woman Down - Colleen Hoover

In this twisty thriller from New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, a frustrated author looks for her muse in a remote hideaway, but what she finds defies all expectations…and reality.

Her words used to set the page on fire. But a viral backlash over her latest film adaptation forced Petra Rose to take a hiatus, resulting in missed deadlines and an overdue mortgage. Branded a fraud and fame-hungry opportunist, she learned the hard way what happens when the internet turns on you. And she’s been uninspired to write ever since.

Now, with her next suspense novel outlined and savings nearly gone, she retreats to a secluded lakeside cabin, hoping to find inspiration. It’s Petra’s last-ditch attempt to save her career―and herself.

Then he shows up.

Detective Nathaniel Saint arrives with disturbing news, his presence igniting a creativity in her she thought long since burned out. Petra’s words return in a rush, and her fictional cop character begins to mirror the very real cop who’s becoming her muse.

Their “research” sessions blur the lines between fantasy and reality. Each glance, every touch pulls Petra deeper into a world she thought she’d never lose herself in again. She’s never felt more alive. But inspiration this powerful comes at a cost.

When Saint starts taking his role in her career a little too seriously, Petra’s forced to confront the chaos she created. But doing so could cost her more than the reputation she’s been trying to salvage. The reputation the world wrote for her―the reputation only she can reclaim.

 

What did I think?

Woman Down is my first Colleen Hoover book and whilst I wasn't blown away I still quite enjoyed it.  I would say it's more of a romantic suspense than a thriller but it is very gripping.

Petra Rose was at the top of her game when her book was made into a film but, as we all know, the book is usually always better than the movie and her fans were not happy with the adaptation.  Being the chief income earner in her household adds an extra strain when Petra has writers block so she books a lakeside retreat to concentrate on her writing.  Inspiration is about to hit Petra right in the solar plexus and this bestseller could cost her more than it makes.

I really didn't know who Petra could trust in this riveting storyline.  It felt like she was a mouse in a trap being played with by several cats and I wasn't even sure if some of it was her own vivid imagination.  It gets very dark and disturbing as the story goes on and whilst I couldn't understand Petra's actions, I did feel for her.  I think she has lost so much of her confidence and it's a downward spiral that is difficult to escape from.

Dark, gripping and a bit steamy, Woman Down is an interesting glimpse into the life of an author and a sobering reminder of how much words can often hurt.  

I received a gifted paperback for the Tandem Collective readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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UK.Bookshop.org

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The Ten Year Affair - Erin Somers

Two parents. Happily married. Just not to each other.

When Cora meets Sam at a baby group in their small town, the chemistry between them is instant and undeniable. But both are happily married, and neither is the type to cheat. So as their lives intertwine and the romantic tension between them heightens, Cora turns to her imagination: in her head, she and Sam pursue their feelings; in reality, they resist.

Yet as the fantasy affair grows ever more intoxicating, it can't help but cast Cora's everyday life - the mushroom problem in the bathroom, her daughter's new fascination with the afterlife, her husband's obsession with podcasts about the history of rope - in a new light. And when the boundaries grow increasingly blurred, she must decide what truly matters.

Razor-sharp, exhilaratingly honest and salted with an irresistible acerbic wit, The Ten Year Affair explores family life, fidelity and the roads not taken, and ultimately asks: do we really want our fantasies to come true?

 

What did I think?

The Ten Year Affair isn't perhaps the type of book I would usually pick up but I rather enjoyed it.  It's brutally honest and surprisingly witty so I found myself laughing out loud on a number of occasions but it has a serious subject at its heart: infidelity.

Although I didn't particularly like any of the characters I think I could understand them.  Cora escapes her mundane life as a wife and mother to a fantasy world where she's having an affair with Sam, a father she met at baby group.  It really made me think about what cheating is.  Are thoughts as bad as actions?

As the story progresses the affair doesn't just continue in Cora's head, it happens in real life but Cora finds that reality isn't a patch on fantasy.  You have to apportion some of the blame to Cora's husband Eliot, who pays very little attention to Cora, and Sam's wife Jules, who is having an affair of her own.  Both couples seem to conveniently forget that they have children though.

I did struggle at times with the 'in the fantasy world' and 'in reality' storyline as I couldn't remember what was happening in each one and it seemed to flick back and forth frequently.  I enjoyed the chapters set during the Covid-19 pandemic as it really highlighted the challenges people faced while forced to spend time with each other.  It is funny reading about people getting used to working from home and I'm sure a lot of people have many funny Zoom stories.

Witty, honest and thought-provoking, The Ten Year Affair is an interesting and entertaining read that is well worth picking up, even if it's just to feel smug about your own relationship.

 

I received a gifted hardback for the Adventures With Words readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

The Descent (The Forcing Trilogy Book 2) - Paul E Hardisty

A young man and his young family set out on a perilous voyage across a devastated planet to uncover the origin of the events that set the world on its course to disaster … The prescient, deeply shocking prequel to the bestselling, critically acclaimed Climate Emergency thriller, The Forcing.

Kweku Ashworth is a child of the cataclysm, born on a sailboat to parents fleeing the devastation in search for a refuge in the Southern Ocean. Growing up in a world forever changed, his only connection to the events that set the planet on its course to disaster were the stories his step-father, long-dead, recorded in his manuscript, The Forcing.

But there are huge gaps in his stepfather's account, and when Kweku stumbles across a clandestine broadcast by someone close to the men who forced the globe into a climate catastrophe, he knows that it is time to find out for himself.

Kweku and his young family set out on a perilous voyage across a devastated planet. What they find will challenge not only their faith in humanity, but their ability to stay alive.

The devastating, nerve-shattering prequel to the critically acclaimed thriller The Forcing, a story of survival, hope, and the power of the human spirit in a world torn apart by climate change.

What did I think?

Wow!  The Descent is very cleverly both a prequel and a sequel to The Forcing with a dual timeline set both before and after events in book 1.  Whilst it does read well as a standalone, I think it's worth reading the books in order to appreciate the sheer devastation of the future world that Paul E Hardisty has imagined.

The Descent is Kweku's story and to understand Kweku's world we need to go back to the past via diary entries from a mysterious woman called 'Sparkplug'.  Sparkplug is part of business man Derek Argent's team and I didn't think he could be more odious than he was in The Forcing but I was wrong.  He's a character that you love to hate and boy did I detest him!

With so much going on in both timelines, the novel has a blisteringly fast pace and I couldn't read it fast enough.  It's bleak, earth-shattering and mind-blowing in its brilliance as it forces us to consider our actions today to make a better world for tomorrow.

Devastating, shocking and thought-provoking, The Descent is a book I can't stop thinking about long after turning the final page.  A highly recommended read and I can't wait to read the final book in the trilogy.

I received a digital copy for the readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Orenda Books

Amazon

BLOG TOUR: The Missing Wife (Mary Shelley Investigations book 1) - Donna Gowland

A young aspiring writer finds romance and mystery in Paris! For fans of Mary Shelley, Daphne du Maurier, Diane Setterfield and Laura Purcell.

A daring adventure or a foolhardy affair…?

1814, London

It isn’t easy being the daughter of the great Mary Wollstonecraft, harder still to navigate life without her. Sixteen-year-old Mary Godwin is desperate for excitement and trapped in a family she feels stifled in, under the watchful, disapproving glare of her stepmother, she is constantly battling for her father’s attention and approval.

So when the young Romantic poet, Percy Shelley, comes blazing into her life, she falls quickly and deeply in love with him. But Percy has plenty of demons. He is already married with a second child on the way, and he turns up to the Godwin family home with a bottle of laudanum, declaring he will end his life if he cannot be with Mary.

William Godwin forbids contact between them, but Mary’s heart aches for the man she believes to be her soulmate. And so she agrees to elope to Paris.

The excitement of the journey soon wears off and they arrive in the city weary, travel-sick and penniless, though luck finally seems to be on their side when they meet a man who offers them money to find his missing wife.

But with Mary becoming increasingly homesick and concerned for her future, will her love affair with Percy be all she had hoped for? Could the search for the missing wife set her on a new course of self-discovery?

Or will her first daring adventure prove to be her downfall…?

THE MISSING WIFE is the first book in the Mary Shelley Investigation series: thrilling Gothic murder mysteries with a tenacious literary heroine working as a female sleuth.

THE MARY SHELLEY INVESTIGATIONS SERIES:

Book One: The Missing Wife

Book Two: The Lost Girls

Book Three: Death at the Altar

 

What did I think?

WOW!!!  Donna Gowland has completely taken my breath away with her stunning first novel in the Mary Shelley Investigation series, The Missing Wife.  This book is UNMISSABLE!!! 

I didn't know a lot about Mary Shelley, other than that she wrote Frankenstein and was married to Percy Bysshe Shelley so I loved this fabulous reimagining of her life that is based on actual events.  

Mary Godwin is a teenager when she meets and falls in love with poet Percy Shelley.  The pair elope to Paris with Mary's stepsister in tow, leaving a lot of scandal and Percy's pregnant wife and young daughter behind.  Percy is such a dreamer and Mary is besotted with him, so when his money runs out they agree to look for a missing woman.

The mystery of the missing wife Claudine Lamont is completely gripping and it is mesmerising to follow in Percy and Mary's virtual footsteps where you can almost see the inspiration for Frankenstein appearing before your eyes, 

Completely breathtaking and absolutely brilliant, The Missing Wife is an outstanding novel that will appeal to readers of all genres: mystery, history, literary and romance.  I loved the real life characters and can't wait to read more in the series.  A very highly recommended read and a well-deserved five stars.  C'est magnifique!

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Waterstones

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: Dream Walker - Bruce Martin

 

This gothic retelling of Alice in Wonderland paints a dark yet touching tale of magic and unknown realities, with an eclectic mix of characters, including a host of fantastical creatures alongside the author's own re-imaginings of the Mad Hatter, Rabbit, and the Queen of Hearts.

Between layers of deceit and magic, nothing is as it seems.

Alison Wilde is an ordinary girl in a nearly normal world, until an uncharacteristic turn of events shifts reality, as she knows it, completely upside down.

Plunged into the Netherworld, with little memory of her life back on Earth, she is faced with a host of horrifying fantastical creatures, some more familiar than others.

But as her newfound companions attempt to guide her through their unsettling and tumultuous realm, dark forces are at work which threaten the very fabric of the Universe, and who will stop at nothing to prevent Alison from achieving the potential her destiny holds.

What did I think?

I love Alice in Wonderland so I was very excited to read Bruce Martin's retelling and it is absolutely brilliant.  I didn't want Alison's story to end and it has been left nicely open for a sequel so I can't wait to find out what happens next.

Alison finds herself in the Netherworld where she meets a very colourful cast of characters, some of which are much darker versions of those we know and love from Wonderland.  With so much action and danger, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough and I couldn't put this riveting book down.

I can't say anything about the plot as it would spoil it for others but it is a very well written and accomplished debut novel that entertained and gripped me from start to finish.  It's an outstanding retelling of Alice in Wonderland that's imaginative and captivating.

Addictive, dark and mesmerising, Dream Walker is a breathtaking novel that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.  I can't wait to return to the Netherworld and I am on tenterhooks to get my hands on the sequel.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Waterstones

Amazon

About the author:

Bruce loves to write about other realms, alternate realities, monsters and mayhem. He likes to make people think about their own lives while getting lost in someone else’s. He loves nothing better than to sit down at his computer and play with his imaginary friends. He was obsessed with horror and monsters from a very early age, and always knew he was different to everyone else, but never knew why! He never felt like he fitted in. As a result, Bruce has always strived for perfection in everything he has done, and through working in the leisure industry for many years, he has his own unique take on the human psyche.  

Bruce was born and raised in Leeds, West Yorkshire. He graduated from Humberside University with a degree in Exhibition & Museum Design, but soon fell out of love with design, due to him constantly thinking outside the box. He worked in many fields before finding great success as a multi-award-winning public house manager and brewer. After the infamous Covid lockdowns and personal tragedy in 2022, Bruce turned his attention to writing, crafting his first eagerly anticipated novel Dream Walker – Somewhere Between Realm and Reality. He now lives in Lancashire with his daughter.

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BLOG TOUR: The Colletta Cassettes - Bruno Noble

Liguria, Italy. Summer 1978.

The Kentish family are on holiday in idyllic medieval village of Colletta. Sixteen-year-old Sebastian is smitten with Rosetta, the hotel cleaner and waitress, much to his snobbish mother's dismay, while his younger brother and their fellow hotel guests are obsessed by the World Cup, hosted by the murderous military junta in Argentina.

The boys' father, Peter Kentish, has very different motivations for the trip. An investigative journalist, he spends much of his time interviewing a mysterious American, a disillusioned ex-CIA agent.

As Kentish uncovers the shocking extent of Operation Gladio, he delves into some of Italy's darkest secrets. Darker still is the involvement of the USA. Those complicit will do anything to ensure that the truth is buried. For good.

 

What did I think?

I really enjoyed my virtual trip to 1970s Italy in Bruno Noble's tense and enthralling novel, The Colletta Cassettes.

The Kentish family's visit to Colletta is both business and pleasure.  Peter Kentish has come to interview an ex-CIA agent and he's brought his wife and sons along for a holiday.  The story is set in the summer of 1978 during the World Cup in Argentina.  As a football fan, I loved this layer of the story and I was too young at the time to remember that England had failed to qualify.  The excitement and atmosphere of people gathered round a small TV to watch the match made me feel as if I was actually there with them.

While Peter is interviewing a whistleblower on his trusty cassette recorder, his 16 year old son Sebastian is falling in love with a girl working at the the hotel.  The two strands of the story are dark and light so they balance everything out nicely.  Reading about Operation Gladio is very disturbing and it's even more mind-blowing that it is actually true; it's well worth doing further research if, like me, you've never heard of it.  

It's very clever of Bruno Noble to balance such a heavy storyline with romance, family and sport as I think I would have found the intelligence storyline going a bit over my head.  Even the identity of the ex-agent has another layer to it that is surprisingly poignant.

Intelligent, atmospheric and entertaining, The Colletta Cassettes is a riveting and intriguing novel that is both a coming of age romance and a spy thriller inspired by real events.  It's well worth a read.

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

My rating:

Purchase link: https://amzn.to/4oO4JUj

About the author:

Bruno Noble study Philosophy and French literature at Southampton University.  A circuitous route selling advertising space in financial magazines took him to the City where, amongst other things, he wrote markets and investment reports while impatient to write a novel.  His first, ‘A Thing of the Moment’, was published by Unbound in 2018, and his second, ‘The Colletta Cassettes’, was published by Indie Novella in 2022 before being re-published by Inkspot Publishing in 2025.  

Having enjoyed working collaboratively with other writers when he joined the Collier Street Fiction Group in 2021, Bruno started a part-time (two-year) Creative Writing M.A. at Birkbeck University in 2024.

Social Media Links – 

Instagram: @inkspotpub 

Facebook: Inkspotpublishing

Giveaway:

Giveaway to Win 3 x Stacks of 5 Inkspot Publishing books (UK Only)

*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome.  Please enter using the Gleam box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Gleam from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

Win 3 x Stacks of 5 Inkspot Publishing books (UK Only)

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BLOG TOUR: The Arctic Cruise - Caroline James

Pack your bags for the adventure of a lifetime…

From the #1 bestselling author of The Cruise, embark on an unforgettable journey and sail through Norway’s winter wonderlands to see the spectacular Northern Lights.

________

Will the Arctic wonderland work its magic this winter?

Joy never imagined stepping aboard a cruise ship without her husband, Tom. Now widowed, Joy wonders what her voyage on the Emerald Dream will hold – and as it glides through breathtaking Norwegian fjords, she longs to believe in happiness again. However, she carries a secret that could unravel her fragile hopes if it ever came to light…

Elsewhere on deck, as the sun dips below the horizon and the polar night sets in, Henry, a lifelong bachelor, is living his dream of seeing the Northern Lights. Having long since given up on love, he now dedicates himself to his passion for photography. But when he meets Joy, is it more than the aurora borealis that catches his eye?

As they embark on a snow-dusted adventure which takes them from bustling ports to reindeer-drawn sleigh rides, will Joy and Henry find the courage to embrace love again? Or will hidden truths sink the possibility of a new beginning?

A heartwarming, feel-good voyage of self-discovery, romance and second chances, perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Judy Leigh.

 

What did I think?

I've only recently discovered Caroline James' books and I picked up The Arctic Cruise based purely on my love of her previous novel, Atticus Arnott's Great Adventure, and I'm so pleased that I did.  It was a lovely surprise to find the cruise setting sail from my neck of the woods and I think it's the first time that I have seen the Littlehaven weebles (as we locals call them) mentioned in a book.

It's the wonderfully drawn characters that kept me invested in the story from start to finish and they each have their own stories to tell.  I've never been on a cruise but I can totally imagine the variety of characters that Caroline James describes being very true to life.  I absolutely adored Joy, Henry, Leticia and Jim and the Montgomery Joneses provided a bundle of laughs through their snobbery and entitlement.

The scenery is breathtaking, especially the Northern Lights, as the beautiful writing painted such a vivid description in my mind and I really felt as if I was standing on the deck wrapped up in my big winter coat and being mesmerised by the wonder of the night sky.  

Incredibly heartwarming and filled with unforgettable characters, The Arctic Cruise is an uplifting, poignant and humorous novel.  So, pack your virtual bags and let Caroline James whisk you away to the beautiful Norwegian fjords.

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

My rating:

Purchase link: https://geni.us/TACK1

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, and her eagerly anticipated follow-up novel, THE CRUISE CLUB, and now: THE ARCTIC CRUISE. 

Her best-selling novel ATTICUS ARNOTT’S GREAT ADVENTURE is described as “A heartwarming and uplifting read where the characters shine from the page.” 

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 in her cosy writing retreat, Caroline enjoys tranquil walks with Fred, her Westie, and refreshing swims in a local lake. As a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the SoA, ARRA, and the Society of Women’s Writers & Journalists, Caroline is a champion of lifelong creativity.

Social Media Links – 

Website: www.carolinejamesauthor.co.uk 

Twitter: @carolinejames12 

Facebook: Caroline James Author 

Instagram: carolinejamesauthor

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BLOG TOUR: Scorched Planet Policy - Bob Fairbrother

 

Captain Zail Jent has crashed her malfunctioning craft on Earth.

She gets out in time before it slips into a river, marooning her in a climate-ravaged, hostile part of the planet. And her smart suit that mind controls and protects her through a meds feed has failed, causing drug withdrawal amnesia and sickness. If she doesn’t get help soon, she is going to die.

With Zail’s memory gone, she puzzles over who she is, where she comes from, and what she is meant to do here. And how is she going to get home?

As her memory returns, Zail begins to question whether home is what she thought it was, forcing her to cast doubt on everyone.

But what if she is the one who should be feared?

What did I think?

Wow!  What an incredibly thought-provoking and entertaining read.  I don't read a lot of science fiction but I do like dystopian novels so I am so pleased that Scorched Planet Policy straddles both genres as it's an absolutely cracking book.

When Captain Zail Jent crashes her craft on Earth, she is shocked to see the damage humans have caused on their own planet.  Seeing Earth through alien eyes is incredibly powerful and it's actually heartbreaking to see what it looks like from space in Bob Fairbrother's imagined not too distant future of 2054.

It's quite a short book at 194 pages but it's worth taking your time over it to appreciate the intelligent plot and to consider the powerful and very realistic issues that face the planet.  To lighten the somewhat heavy storyline, it is written with a sprinkling of humour that did actually make me laugh out loud on numerous occasions.

Intelligent, thought-provoking and scarily realistic,  Scorched Planet Policy is an unforgettable and unmissable novel that will appeal to readers of all genres.  Even if you don't normally read science fiction or dystopian, you will not regret picking up this important and timely novel that entertains from start to finish.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Waterstones

Amazon

About the author:

Mentor and coach, trail runner, hiker, skier, French language mangler, book reader, junior football league volunteer, Brighton and Hove Albion FC supporter, player of the occasional game of table football, creator of the South Devon Book Festival and writing.

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The Forcing (The Forcing Trilogy Book 1) - Paul E Hardisty

Civilisation is collapsing…

Frustrated and angry after years of denial and inaction, in a last-ditch attempt to stave off disaster, a government of youth has taken power in North America, and a policy of institutionalised ageism has been introduced. All those older than the prescribed age are deemed responsible for the current state of the world, and are to be 'relocated', their property and assets confiscated.

David Ashworth, known by his friends and students as Teacher, and his wife May, find themselves among the thousands being moved to 'new accommodation' in the abandoned southern deserts – thrown together with a wealthy industrialist and his wife, a high court lawyer, two recent immigrants to America, and a hospital worker. Together, they must come to terms with their new lives in a land rendered unrecognisable.

As the terrible truth of their situation is revealed, lured by rumours of a tropical sanctuary where they can live in peace, they plan a perilous escape. But the world outside is more dangerous than they could ever have imagined. And for those who survive, nothing will ever be the same again… 

What did I think?

Oh my goodness, this book chilled me to the bone.  It's not a murder mystery (unless you consider what we're doing to the planet as murder) but it is so scarily realistic that it gives me goose bumps just thinking of it now.

The Forcing is a cli-fi dystopian thriller that acts as a timely reminder of what we could be facing as we overpopulate and destroy our planet.  The government have put a relocation programme in place, not unlike the 'relocation' of the Jewish population in World War II but this programme relocates older people to make room for the young.

There is a dual timeline as David aka Teach tells his story many years later so spoiler alert he clearly survives the relocation.  I really felt for Teach when he got his relocation letter and his only comfort is that his wife is going with him...although it's no comfort to his wife as she was happy to think that Teach would be going on his own!  Married life, eh?

I couldn't help but compare the plight of the people to the concentration camps of WWII and what is more scary is that I could imagine it actually happening now.  The Forcing is a powerful and timely reminder of how fragile and precious life is.

Compelling, thought-provoking and relevant, The Forcing is a chilling dystopian thriller that feels so incredibly possible.  A highly recommended read.

I received a digital copy for the readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Orenda Books

Amazon