BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: Annie Knows Everything - Rachel Wood

After losing her job and learning her sister is engaged to the worst man alive, Annie needs a win. Thanks to her best friend and her own inability to take no for an answer, she manages to talk her way into an opening on another team working on data strategy - whatever that means. So what if she doesn't know how to write code? How hard can it be? Surely Connor - the team's overworked, aggravating, and distractingly hot leader - will soon realise how capable Annie is and be delighted to have her on board.

Annie sets her sights on nailing it at her new job... even if it means ignoring the chemistry building between her and Connor. Also on her to do list is trying to (gently! supportively!) convince her sister to reconsider her engagement, not to mention trying to figure out why her roommate and best friend are acting weird. But with sparks flying at work and at home, she begins to see how complicated taking matters into her own hands can be.

Annie thinks she knows it all, but does she really know everything?

 

What did I think?

What a fantastic debut novel - I absolutely loved Annie Knows Everything because of course Annie doesn't actually know everything.

It's often said that people who think they know everything are dangerous and that is very much the case with Annie.  Her heart might be in the right place but she doesn't always engage her brain, even though she thinks she knows best.  Even though she sometimes made me furious at her thoughtless actions, I really did love her.

There's quite a lot going on in the book so I was entertained from start to finish.  Annie's personal life is as eventful as her work life; her sister isn't speaking to her and she's about to lose her job unless she can transfer to a role for which she has zero knowledge or skill.  It helps when your friend is in charge of HR of course and, wildly inappropriate though it might be for HR to show such a lack of impartiality, it is very funny to see Annie blag her way into the job.

I loved the banter between Annie and her colleagues and her blossoming relationship with Connor is very sweet.  I think the fact that Annie makes so many mistakes (even though she doesn't think she is doing so) makes her so much more relatable, realistic and downright loveable.  

Funny, heartwarming and captivating, Annie Knows Everything is a fabulous romcom that is just begging to made into a film.  I really hope it gets picked up and ends up on the big screen as it would be amazing to see.  A highly recommended read.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: Christmas at the Home Farm Vets (Hartfell Village Book 2) - Suzanne Snow

Ten years ago, Erin had her heart broken by fellow vet student Oli. Now, she's his landlord.

All Erin wants is independence and security. All Oli does is travel the world after locuming at practices for a few months. So when he comes back into Erin's life, she knows it's temporary, no matter the lingering looks he gives her.

With Christmas approaching, the vet practice is busier than ever, and Erin is surprised at how well she and Oli work together to help the animals of Hartfell. From sharing meals in her cramped cottage to meandering the village fayre, the wall Erin has built around her heart begins to crumble.

But Oli's contract is coming to an end and he's shown no sign of wanting to stay. Has she set herself up for another heartbreak from the only man she's ever loved? Or will she realise that being independent sometimes means relying on others, and security comes with taking risks?

Be whisked away this Christmas to the Yorkshire Dales, for fans of Sue Moorcroft, Trisha Ashley and Heidi Swain.

 

What did I think?

Awwww this book is as beautiful inside as out.  Christmas at the Home Farm Vets is the second book in the Hartfell Village series but it can definitely be read as a standalone as I haven't read the first book but I absolutely loved this one.

Erin is a vet in Hartfell and she has volunteered to house a locum vet for a couple of weeks.  After a last minute change of personnel, the locum turns out to be Oli who was on Erin's course at Cambridge and ended up breaking her heart.  Erin can't back out now and it's all water under the bridge now...isn't it?

To say Erin and Oli have unfinished business is an understatement; the chemistry between them almost fizzes off the page and I had everything crossed that one of them would finally take a leap and declare their feelings.  WIth so many misunderstandings and crossed wires both in the past and present, it's no wonder that neither of them know how the other one feels.  The signs are all there and actions really do speak louder than words.

Captivating, romantic and uplifting, Christmas at the Home Farm Vets is the perfect book to warm your heart over the chilly festive period and I really can't recommend it highly enough.  An easy and well-deserved five stars!

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:

UK,Bookshop.org

Amazon

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: The Burning Stones - Antti Tuomainen

Saunas, love and a ladleful of murder… 

A cold-blooded killer strikes at the hottest moment: the new head of a sauna-stove company is murdered … in the sauna. Who has turned up the temperature and burned him to death? 

The evidence points in the direction of Anni Korpinen – top salesperson and the victim’s successor at Steam Devil. 

And as if hitting middle-age, being in a marriage that has lost its purpose, and struggling with work weren’t enough, Anni realizes that she must be quicker than both the police and the murderer to uncover who is behind it all – before it’s too late… 

 

What did I think?

Antti Tuomainen has a very unique sense of humour and it completely shines through in his writing.  Mixing crime with humour in a Scandi setting, it's almost like a genre in its own right as there is nothing else quite like it.

The Burning Stones is set in a sauna-stove company where it would appear that one of the employees will kill to get promoted.  As she is the favourite to get promoted, and the evidence is pointing towards her, Anni is the prime suspect and the police have a grudge against her family so they don't want to listen to her side of the story.  Anni needs to catch the killer before she is arrested for the crime herself.

It's a very race against the clock sort of book as Anni attempts to identify the killer before the police gather enough evidence to arrest her.  Speaking of races...I actually snorted out loud at Anni's husband watching old Formula 1 races and discussing the result with his friends as if the race had just happened.  It's that sort of subtle humour that is sprinkled throughout the book and it made me laugh when I least expected it.

The Burning Stones is a fun crime caper that both gripped and amused me.  You definitely need a good sense of humour to read it and I can totally see this following in the footsteps of Antti Tuomainen's previous novels and being adapted for TV.  If you're looking for something a bit different to read then I would recommend The Burning Stones.

I received a digital ARC 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

About the author:

Finnish Antti Tuomainen was an award-winning copywriter when he made his literary debut in 2007 as a suspense author. In 2011, his third novel, The Healer, was awarded the Clue Award  for Best Finnish Crime Novel and shortlisted for the Glass Key Award. Tuomainen was one of  the first to challenge the Scandinavian crime-genre formula, and his poignant, dark and  hilarious The Man Who Died became an international bestseller, shortlisting for the Petrona and Last Laugh Awards and now a Finnish TV series. Palm Beach, Finland (2018) and Little Siberia (2019) have both been adapted for the screen, airing shortly, and also shortlisted for the  Capital Crime/Amazon Publishing Readers Awards, the Last Laugh Award and the CWA International Dagger, and winning the Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel. The international bestselling Rabbit Factor trilogy is filming now for Amazon Studios, starring Steve  Carell. Antti lives in Helsinki with his wife. 

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: Joe Nuthin’s Guide to Life - Helen Fisher

Joe loves predictability. But his life is about to become a surprising adventure.

Joe-Nathan likes the two parts of his name separate, just like his dinner and dessert. Mean Charlie at work sometimes calls him Joe-Nuthin. But Joe is far from nothing. Joe is a good friend, he’s good at his job, good at making things and good at following the rules, and he’s learning how to do lots of things by himself.

Joe’s mother knows there are a million things in life he isn’t prepared for. While she helps guide him every day, she’s also writing notebooks full of advice about the things she hasn’t told Joe yet, things he might forget and answers to questions he hasn’t yet asked.

Following her wisdom – applying it in his own unique way – this next part of Joe’s life is more of a surprise than he expects. Because he’s about to learn that remarkable things can happen when you leave your comfort zone, and that you can do even the hardest things with a little help from your friends.

 

What did I think?

Having adored Helen Fisher's fabulous debut, Space Hopper, I was so excited to read her second novel, Joe Nuthin’s Guide to Life, and it is just wonderful.  This should be everyone's winter read as it left me with a glow that lasted longer than the Ready Brek one ever did.

Joe-Nathan doesn't have a bad bone in his body; that's what his mother says and everyone knows that mothers are always right.  Joe's mum knows that she won't be there to help him every day of his life, so she has written some advice for Joe to follow when she is no longer there to guide him.  I think we should all have one of Joe's mum's guides to follow - the world would be a much nicer place if we did.

There's something so endearing about Joe-Nathan and it's not just one or two things, it's his whole essence.  The way that Joe tries to help Mean Charlie, even though Charlie is horrible to Joe, just shows what a lovely character he is.  Just as well my heart is not made of ice as Joe would have totally melted it.

Incredibly captivating and completely unforgettable, Joe Nuthin’s Guide to Life is easily one of my favourite books of the year.  It's an unmissable read and 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 it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

About the author:

Helen Fisher is the author of Space Hopper, her debut novel of 2021. Joe Nuthin’s Guide to Life is her second novel. Helen has degrees in psychology and ergonomics and was the senior evaluator at RNIB for a few years. This background informs much of her writing as she is fascinated by the psychology of everyday life, especially in terms of relationships. Inspiration for Helen’s protagonists and other characters are often drawn directly from herself, her friends and family. She explains that her creation of the character of Joe Nuthin is partly to examine ‘the importance of what some might think of as a small and ordinary life’.

Helen was born on a US military base and spent the first five years of her life in the US, before returning to the UK with her family settling in Suffolk. She returned to Suffolk as an adult and now lives in a village with her two children and a cat called Bear, who thinks he’s a dog. When she isn’t working on her third novel, she walks a lot, talks a lot, likes a jigsaw and the occasional Mojito. @helenfisher_author.

Follow the tour:

Sepultura (The Necropolis Series Book 2) - Guy Portman

This sociopath is a ticking time bomb.

Dyson Devereux is a busy man with a new job and a young son. The cultured council worker would be coping just fine were he not a violent and compulsive murderer. His child’s mother’s hostile partner and an antagonising work colleague are becoming a serious nuisance. They better change their attitude, or it could be the end of them.

As his personal and professional lives threaten to spiral out of control, it is only a matter of time until the suave and sophisticated public sector employee explodes.

Sepultura is a darkly humorous crime novel featuring an unforgettable sociopath.

 

What did I think?

My favourite sociopath is back!  Sepultura is the second book in the Necropolis series and although it could be read as a standalone, I do think it is better to have read book 1, Necropolis as it gives you more insight into Dyson's character (and because it's absolutely brilliant and unmissable).

Dyson Devereux is such a fantastic character that I could read about his exploits for so many more pages than the 181 in the book.  If someone disagrees with Dyson, either verbally or just by their very existence, he simply gets rid of them.  Dyson's dark thoughts and actions are simultaneously shocking and hilarious, making Sepultura an incredibly entertaining novel.

I loved reading about Dyson's relationship with his son and his attempt to teach young Horatio Latin is very amusing.  I'm really looking forward to seeing how this unconventional father/son relationship progresses.

Dyson's personal life is entertaining, but his work life is even more so.  It feels really bad to say, but I totally get what he means about a lot of his colleagues and I've had similar thoughts myself (apart from actually wanting to kill them, of course!).  The work trip to Italy is a fantastic addition to the storyline and turns out to be the perfect place for Dyson to deal with a troublesome colleague.

I absolutely loved Sepultura; I am completely hooked on this marvellous series and can't get enough of it. Sepultura is like nothing else I've read before; it's dark, funny, entertaining and I'd love to see Dyson brought to life on screen - please pick this one up, Netflix!  I'll definitely be reading it again after I have devoured the rest of the series.  

If you're looking for something different to read, then look no further.  Very highly recommended.

Many thanks to Guy Portman for sending me an ARC to read and review; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

BLOG TOUR: Local Girl Missing - J. A. Baker

Missing without trace...

When local woman Deborah goes missing, her colleagues Adrian, Yvonne and Merriel are all left in shock. Gossip around the office begins to swirl – what could have happened to Deborah? Is she dead or alive? And who could be responsible for her disappearance?

Everyone is terrified that they could be next…except the one person who has all the answers. The last person people expect.

Because Deborah is being held captive by a monster, a psychopath. But not a stranger… it’s someone she knows all too well…

What did I think?

I love J.A. Baker's books and Local Girl Missing is no exception.  It's so tense it's as taut as a bow string and I couldn't read it fast enough to discover who was behind Deborah's disappearance.

Deborah's colleagues are shocked and distressed when she disappears, but as worried as they are about Deborah, what shocks them just as much is that it could quite easily have been one of them instead.  J.A. Baker puts each of the characters under the microscope as the reader delves beneath their skin to see who they really are. 

Workplace rivalries and gossiping colleagues help to build up the tension as we get to know the characters and discover what each of them is hiding.  If you work full-time, you spend more of your awake time with your colleagues than your family but you never really get to know them.  We all have a work persona and it's only when you inadvertently let your guard down that your colleagues might catch a glimpse of the real you.

I can safely say that I did guess who the kidnapper was in Local Girl Missing but only because I suspected every single character at one time or another, so I would've been right at some point.  Without giving anything away, I really enjoyed discovering the motivation behind Deborah's abduction; even though it's pretty creepy to think that someone you know could be hiding a very dark secret behind their friendly face.

J.A. Baker's writing is exceptional as she builds up suspense and creates so much suspicion about every character.  The tension builds as the reader slowly peels away layer after layer of every character to see what's really underneath.

Tense, suspenseful and compelling, Local Girl Missing is another cracking J.A. Baker novel.  I really enjoyed the workplace setting and think J.A. Baker totally nailed it.  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 it from Amazon

About the author:

J. A. Baker is a successful psychological thriller writer of numerous books, previously published by Bloodhound. Born and brought up in Middlesbrough, she still lives in the North East, which inspires the settings for her books. Her first title for Boldwood will be published in December 2022.

Social Media Links –

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thewriterjude

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

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-a-baker

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: A Lobster Tale - Erica Manwaring

Laura Robinson can’t be doing with people. She understands the theory but seems to have failed the practical. One day she receives the gift of a lobster. The fact that no one else can see it is less astonishing than what it allows her to see – visions of people’s inner motivations and torments. Laura goes from knowing nothing about people, to knowing everything. Using her new superpower Laura finally gets the life her mother always wanted. But is she happy? To distract herself from that question, she sets out to pay her gift forward, with Lobster’s help. It's tough saving the world but it’s simpler than dealing with the things Lobster is showing her about her own life. Must she really face why her father left and what happened to her as a child? She has been living underwater and it’s time to come up for air.

 

What did I think?

Oh I loved this fabulous little book.  It may only be 238 pages long but it's definitely quality over quantity in this case.

The premise of the book is very intriguing: imagine if you could see things about people that would explain their actions.  A little magical lobster shows main character Laura why people behave the way they do but you have to wonder whether this is a gift or a curse.  I loved that Laura tried to help people with her gift, despite dealing with people being so far outside of her comfort zone, and it was quite eye-opening to consider the emotional baggage that a lot of people carry around with them.

I could be Laura; I can't be doing with people either so I totally empathised with her.  The things she does and says had me exclaiming, 'that's me!' on many occasions throughout the book.  I absolutely adored little lobster and I think everyone who reads this book would want one for themselves.

Erica Manwaring's vivid and evocative writing really brings the characters to life and the lobster felt so real that I wouldn't have been surprised to find her doing a little dance on my coffee table when I finally looked up from the book.  I feel like I have been on quite an emotional journey with Laura and her lobster and I'm missing them already, so this book is definitely going on my 'to read again' shelf. 

Delightful, entertaining and incredibly thought-provoking, A Lobster Tale is a fantastic book that helps you to understand people a little more while embracing the fact that we are all different and we don't always have to fit in.  Very highly recommended.

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

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

About the author:

I learn for a living and write for fun. An extrovert by nature, for some reason I very much enjoy closeting myself in a room with imaginary people and letting them surprise me with what they say and do. Having worked in mental health improvement for many years I write about the struggles that people face and the strength they show in living with and overcoming them. 

I’m a single mum to the best thing I have ever done and a grateful resident of Scotland for over 25 years. I’m surrounded by a community of writers who have helped me achieve my dreams of seeing my work in print. This is my second book.

Website: http://www.dean-park.com/ericamanwaring 

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ejsj 

Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/ericamanwaring 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ericamanwaring 

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: Sometimes People Die - Simon Stephenson

The year is 1999. Returning to practice after a suspension for stealing opioids, a young Scottish doctor takes the only job he can find: a post as a senior house officer in the struggling east London hospital of St Luke’s.

Amid the maelstrom of sick patients, over-worked staff and underfunded wards a darker secret soon declares itself: too many patients are dying.

Which of the medical professionals our protagonist has encountered is behind the murders?

 

What did I think?

Oh my goodness what a heartbreaking, emotional and completely addictive read this is.   I wasn't sure whether I was reading a memoir or a thriller at first as it feels so true to life, and perhaps some of the stories are true as the author trained as a doctor, but it's a cracking whodunnit thriller.  

The protagonist is unnamed and their story of working in the NHS is mirrored by thousands of trainee medical staff in real life.  It's almost like all NHS hospitals should have a sign on the staffroom: leave your life at the door.  The stress, the long hours, the lack of sleep and the pressure is so difficult for a layperson to imagine but I was definitely aware of it whilst I was reading this brilliant book. 

It does read like a memoir at first but a serial killer in their midst and a police investigation add an extra dimension to the story.  The prose is also interspersed with true stories of medical serial killers (some I had heard of, others I hadn't) which are not only fascinating but also make you feel as if you're reading a true story.

I didn't realise how emotionally invested I was in the book until I found myself crying at a particularly upsetting and shocking scene.  It made me think of a moment in Grey's Anatomy that also brought on the tears (and it has nothing to do with McDreamy).  I can't say any more as it will spoil the story but it is heartbreaking.

Drug addiction is a large part of the story and instead of being shocked and appalled, I could almost understand why people turn to drugs, if only to turn their brain off and seek an escape.  

I haven't even mentioned the serial killer plot, which is absolutely brilliant in its own right.  How everything fits together like the pieces of a jigsaw is simply breathtaking.  Now that's what i call 'plotted to perfection'.  

I really loved Sometimes People Die; it's highly original, completely addictive, perfectly plotted and utterly heartbreaking.  A very highly recommended read.

I received an ARC 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

About the author:

Simon Stephenson originally trained as a doctor and worked in Scotland and London. He previously wrote Let Not the Waves of the Sea, a memoir about the loss of his brother in the Indian ocean tsunami. It won Best First Book at the Scottish Book Awards, was a Book of the Week on BBC Radio 4, and a Daily Telegraph Book of the Year.

His first novel, Set My Heart to Five was a Bookseller Book of the Month and was described by the Daily Mail as ‘Funny, original and thought-provoking.’ It has been optioned by Working Title Films to be directed by Edgar Wright from Stephenson’s screenplay.

He currently lives in Los Angeles, in a house where a famous murder took place. As a screenwriter, he originated and wrote the Benedict Cumberbatch starrer The Electrical Life of Louis Wain and wrote the story for Pixar’s Luca. He also contributed to everybody’s favourite film, Paddington 2.

Follow the tour:

Necropolis (The Necropolis Series Book 1) - Guy Portman

Danger and deceit come naturally to a sociopath.

Public sector worker Dyson Devereux has just discovered there is a large reward on offer for the capture of a genocidal fugitive. Dyson thinks he knows exactly where to find him. All the scheming sociopath needs now is a plan. It has to be good, otherwise he will be in big trouble.

But the obstacles to his mission are mounting. To compound matters, work colleagues are becoming ever more aggravating, and his girlfriend has gone off the rails.

Will Dyson get the reward he feels he so richly deserves, or is his destiny to be a life of toil in the Burials and Cemeteries department at Newton Council?

 

What did I think?

What a great start to a new series!  It feels wrong to say I loved sociopath Dyson Devereux but I really did love him.  His witty thoughts and observations had me laughing out loud and I often found myself agreeing with him.  Uh-oh!  Am I a sociopath?  No, I'm just not a great fan of people.

Dyson works for the local council in Burials and Cemeteries but behind his professional persona is a dark and dangerous killer.  Cross him and you'll find a part of you in his keepsake tin.  He reminisces about past kills, fantasises about new ones and the only personal pronoun in his dictionary is 'it".

Dyson's thoughts about his work colleagues are absolutely hilarious and one particular colleague has caught his eye.  Could a member of Dyson's team be a missing war criminal?  Dyson has a new target but it's one he must deliver alive in order to collect the huge reward.  

Aside from the escapade with the wanted fugitive, Dyson has a rather surprising personal life.  His girlfriend (I was surprised he had one) is mixed up with some shady characters and there's a pretty graphic drug-fuelled sex scene that some readers of a sensitive disposition may find uncomfortable to read.  

Hilarious, disturbing and completely entertaining, Necropolis is a highly original dark comedy.  It's like Dexter, The Office, American Psycho and The Benny Hill Show all rolled into one and I absolutely loved it.  My only disappointment was coming to the end of the book, and the ending is a little abrupt to ensure that everyone who reads Necropolis will be eager to read the next book, Sepultura. 

Many thanks to Guy Portman for sending me a digital ARC to read and review.  I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

BLOG TOUR: Love & Other Human Errors - Bethany Clift

An unforgettable story about love in all its chaotic glory from the author of Last One At The Party

A book synopsis is fundamentally ridiculous. How can I possibly convey, in only 100 words, the events of the past year and their impact on my perfectly ordered existence?

It is insufficient space to accurately detail how I was blackmailed into demonstrating my flawless algorithm to find a soulmate, despite having no desire for one.

In my former life I avoided trivial human connections. I was alone, accomplished and brilliant.

Unfortunately, that solitary and driven woman no longer exists.

My name is Indiana Dylan and this is the extraordinary account of how I fell in love.

There: 100 words exactly.

 

What did I think?

Having absolutely loved Bethany Clift's debut, Last One at the Party, I was very excited to read what she would write next, although I had no idea how she would manage to follow such an outstanding book.  She didn't just follow it, she SMASHED it as Love & Other Human Errors completely blew me away.  I apologise in advance for my long review but to say 'I loved this book' is an understatement.

Set in the near future, Indiana Dylan has created an algorithm that cuts out the chaos and confusion of searching for your soulmate.  Unfortunately for Indiana, if she wants to sell her algorithm she has to demonstrate it but Indiana is not looking for love...or any kind of human interaction at all.  

For fans of The Big Bang Theory, think of Sheldon Cooper with fewer interpersonal skills and you might be close to imagining Indiana Dylan.  Indiana is a truly unique character; I love how literal, awkward and naive she is.  I loved all of the characters though, even those I loved to hate (like Cameron and Emily), but I have to give a particular mention to a few of the other characters.  Indiana's assistant Peggy (we all need a Peggy in our lives), workaholic Lina (who's work/life balance is totally skewed), everyone's favourite colleague Jack (who brightens everyone's day but nobody ever asks how he is) and not forgetting Frank (with his sharp observations and wise words) and his stinky dog Alan.

As for love and the search for a soulmate, it would be wonderful if our perfect match could be found for us as it gets tedious kissing so many frogs and it took me such a long time to find my prince.  I've actually had a conversation about this recently, as it's surely not in the best interests of a dating company to present you with your perfect match immediately as you'll cancel your subscription and ride off into the sunset.  They certainly wouldn't make much money if your perfect match was revealed during a free trial.

I could talk about this book for hours as it's not only an amazing story, there is so much to take away from it.  I've been like Lina in the past and I hope that anyone who reads this book and recognises themselves in Lina will take steps to address their work/life balance.  Life is too short and it's so important to make the most of what little time we have on this earth.  It's also a reminder to look behind the smiles of our friends, relatives and colleagues; they may be smiling to make us feel better but look into their eyes to see how they really feel.  

This is a book (and an author) that I shall continue to recommend for a long time to come; Bethany Clift isn't just one to watch, she's one to read so make sure that you do!  So very highly recommended, Love & Other Human Errors is a very strong contender for my book of the year.  Just buy it, you won't regret it!

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: On Hampstead Heath - Marika Cobbold

 

On Hampstead Heath by Marika Cobbold is a sparkling little gem of a book.  I had already posted my review when an invitation for the blog tour arrived in my inbox and I loved the book so much that I was keen to jump on board the tour bus.  I am delighted to share an extract from the book for my stop on the blog tour and you can also click here to read my review.

Extract

1

I grew up in a house of whispers, of meaningful glances and half-finished sentences.

‘Tell me.’

‘Tell you what?’

‘What you’re not telling me.’

‘Don’t be silly.’

‘Tell me!’ I shouted.

‘Rudeness will get you nowhere,’ they said. Then they sent me to my room.

‘My room is somewhere,’ I said.

These conversations never ended well.

People asked, as people do, ‘So, little girl, what do you want to be when you grow up?’

‘I’d like to be God.’

I blame the vicar. He was the one who told us, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God.”’

All I wanted was to know.

Unsurprisingly, I did not grow up to be God. Instead, I became a journalist. A journalist is a seeker of Truth, its upholder and defender. Or so I thought.

Where lies go unopposed, democracy dies. A long time ago, when I first started out, I embroidered the words, badly, in cross stitch and hung the framed canvas above my bed, as a reminder, should I need one, of why I became a journalist. Now it hides, face to the wall, at the back of my wardrobe; a reminder, should I need one, that I’m a liar and a hypocrite.

I flicked through my clothes. What does a liar and a hypocrite wear on judgement day? It sounds like the start of a joke.

What does she wear?

Something light and loose, but not voluminous.

That won’t have them rolling in the aisles.

I’d asked him to meet me on Viaduct Bridge. It was where it all began; the place where, by some strange alchemy, I might yet turn fiction into reality.

It was early still, and overcast, but by the time I got to the Heath the sun was shining. I thought, it’s a bad omen, the sun always shines when something truly shitty happens in my life. It’s why I believe in a higher power. Chance does not do irony.

I stood on the bridge, looking down at the still water. What was it like, I wondered, down in that mirror-world of bridge and trees?

The minutes ticked by and turned into half an hour. I checked my phone but there were no messages. He wasn’t coming. I don’t know why I had imagined he would. Hope, I suppose; that prankster makes fools of us all.

Five more minutes, I told myself, no more.

I looked out across the pond. The mandarin duck was there, with his grey-feathered friends. It seemed their tranquil morning swim would not be disturbed after all.

But here he was, crossing the bridge towards me, his hair copper in the morning sun. But no halo – the halo would have been too much; he was splendid all the same.

I raised my hand in a wave. He didn’t wave back. I stuffed my hand in my trouser pocket.

‘Rose.’ He gave me a curt nod.

‘Thank you for coming.’

‘Sure.’

And there we were, two little people whose lives did not amount to a hill of beans in this vast, indifferent universe. Only there is a different universe, there always is: a tiny, selfimportant one, built by us, for us. A fool’s universe, if you like, but that’s OK, because in that universe, he and I, standing there on Viaduct Bridge, mattered a great deal.

‘What did you want to see me about?’

‘I was hoping to explain.’

He shrugged. ‘Fine, explain away.’

I opened my mouth but nothing came out. He glanced at his watch, shifted from foot to foot, like someone cornered by a talkative stranger. I lost my nerve.

‘I was drunk and on a deadline.’

‘You’re a journalist. That’s not an explanation, it’s an ordinary day at the office.’

Unfair, but this was not the time to argue.

‘I’d never planned for things to go as far as they did.’

His tone was brisk. ‘People never do.’

‘The story, it took on a life of its own, like Frankenstein’s monster. I was powerless to stop it.’

‘No, you weren’t.’

I took a step towards him and my hand, being just a limb, incapable of understanding, reached out for his. ‘Rufus, please.’

He took a step back.

I said, ‘You really can’t forgive me?’

He looked down at my hand, then back up at me.

‘No. No I don’t think I can.’ With that, he began to walk away.

The sun just kept on shining, bathing the bridge in golden light, turning the duckweed emerald.

‘But what will I do without you?’

He turned to look at me. ‘Work,’ he said. ‘Isn’t that what you do?’

I took the phone out of my pocket and put it down on the ground. I scrambled over the railings and onto the ledge, closed my eyes and jumped.

Doesn't it sound great?  You can buy a copy from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

Follow the tour: