BLOG TOUR: Castles, Crime & Cake: A Policeman's Accidental Guide to History - John Donoghue

From Police Officer to Medieval Castle Guide… via Britain’s Most Curious Crimes

It started with cake—as most good stories do. Then came the discovery that it’s illegal to chat to the postman for too long, and a spark was ignited.

What followed was a mad quest to break Britain’s strangest laws, spiralling out of control until I hit rock bottom: telling the woman from British Gas I got my energy from bananas.

Dejected, I wandered into a castle, was offered a job, and soon found myself learning that the ideal position in the Middle Ages involved doing a jump, a fart, and a whistle every Christmas. Then, amongst other things, came a monkey ghost, two-fingered gestures, and a knight to remember.

Eventually, I was leading unsuspecting visitors on my own irreverent guided tour of a magnificent medieval castle… and now you can come too!

The past was never this much fun—or this illegal.

 

What did I think?

Castles, Crime & Cake is one of the funniest books I have ever read and I say 'one of' on purpose as the last time I read a book this funny it was written by none other than John Donoghue.  

In this book, John has left the police force and moved down south but he's at a bit of a loose end.  After giving a talk to the local WI about what he learned in the police, John decides to see how many archaic laws he can break.  I know we have some bonkers laws still in place and it was fascinating to read a fantastic selection of them.  To be fair, John could have probably written a whole book about them but the best is yet to come in this hilarious book as the reader is taken on a whistlestop British history tour.

Why history? I hear you ask.  Well John has been successful in his application to become a caste guide - it was the unique CV that did it, I'm sure!  I do love history (not so much at school as there's only so many hours you can study the Industrial Revolution and the Spinning Jenny) so I positively gobbled up these chapters, only stopping to wipe my eyes from the tears of laughter running down my face. 

I defy anyone not to chuckle, laugh or guffaw whilst reading Castles, Crime & Cake; I made the mistake of reading in bed and I had the bed shaking as I tried (unsuccessfully, I might add) to contain my laughter so I didn't wake up my other half.  I'm so glad I didn't drink a cuppa whilst reading as I would've been showered in tea.

Hilarious, entertaining and informative, Castles, Crime & Cake is a fantastic memoir that I will be recommending for a very long time (along with John's other books).  The book should come with a warning that it is likely to cause uncontrollable laughter so be careful where and when you read it.  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:

Amazon

About the author:

John Donoghue has served Queen, King, and Country over forty years in the Royal Navy, British Army, and Police. These days, he’s swapped handcuffs for heraldry as a guide at a medieval castle. He also has a dog, Monty, who’s yet to break any known laws, but has taken on the role of farting jester perfectly.

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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

BLOG TOUR: Sassy Godmother’s Pearls of Wisdom: 50 inspiring ways to navigate your life - Susie Hall

Who needs an agony aunt when you can have a Sassy Godmother?

Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed?

Feel like your life could use a little more balance?

Sassy Godmother’s Pearls of Wisdom is a simple and powerful set of guidelines designed to help you step back from your busy life so you can restore some well needed balance and perspective. Whether at home, at work, in love and in life, Sassy’s stories, examples and timeless wisdom will give you an indispensable guide for building your confidence, increasing your happiness and creating equilibrium.

Sassy shares the ups and downs of her 30-year journey of personal, professional and spiritual growth. She has wisdom to reveal and is determined to pass on what she’s learned. By following these simple mantras and engaging in the exercises and tools you’ll begin a journey of self-discovery, reflection and personal growth from which you’ll never look back.

 

What did I think?

As someone who often feels overwhelmed, it feels like Sassy Godmother’s Pearls of Wisdom was written with me in mind and I have certainly got more than I expected out of it.

The chapters, or pearls, are concise and written in a lighthearted way that engages and entertains the reader as well as offering tips to help you improve your own life.  I found it very easy to read and I loved the way that Susie Hall adds a good dose of humour to her writing.  I felt more like I was interacting with the author rather than simply reading a self-help book.

I am a little disappointed that there is no contents page or index.  It's a book I would like to refer to again (and indeed it suggests doing so) but without a guide to which page the pearl is on, it's not that easy to find what you're looking for.

Inspiring, powerful and life-affirming, Sassy Godmother’s Pearls of Wisdom is a superb book to have on your bookshelf as you navigate your way through life.

 

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: The Starling Dance - Lucy Elena

 

In a sweltering Roman summer, Laure is trying to start a new life. But can she manage in a city where walls have ears, trees have eyes and even the birds are acting strangely?

It’s been exactly one year since the shit hit the fan and Laure's anxiety exploded into a full-blown burn out. In search of a new start she’s moved to Rome – pasta, Aperol and sunshine should make everything better, right?

But with her 30s around the corner, la bella vita isn’t going to plan.

1. Her boyfriend, the dreamy Davide, has disappeared (Either Laure’s been ghosted or he’s accidentally fallen off a cliff – hopefully)
2. She wants to murder her neighbours: their arguments are keeping her up all night.

In her local café, Laure meets a handsome stranger and the sparks fly, that is until she finds herself caught in a big lie.

‘Hmmm, it’s not ideal,’ says her best friend Eva, as she puffs on a spliff in the bathtub.

Just as things are heating up, a talking tree enters the fray (as if this Roman summer wasn’t weird enough, just ask the birds).

That tree is Viviano, a dynamic and adventurous street performer who poses around the Eternal City dressed as a tree, well, sometimes a cat too and sometimes a ripe tomato. He could be thriving in life but something is holding him back. One thing is certain though: he wants to meet Laure.

Will Laure find her path? Will she accidentally put pineapple on a pizza? And is there a real love story to be found in the surreal swirls of the Italian capital?

The Starling Dance is a love story full of quirk, humour and heart-warming characters, each trying to overcome their personal obstacles and demons to give themselves a chance at life and love.

What did I think?

The Starling Dance is a fantastic debut novel from Lucy Elena.  It may be quite a short book with 184 pages but it is packed with drama, fun and romance.  

I empathised with Laure right from the start as both the work burnout and the noisy neighbours are something I have experienced myself.  Laure is such a strong character though; it takes real courage to leave your home and start again in a new country.  If only her boyfriend hadn't gone radio silent and her neighbours would give the arguing a break for once.

It is very funny when Laure meets a new man in a café and what starts off as a small lie suddenly spirals out of control.  The lies just keep on growing and with Laure being so sleep deprived, it's almost certainly going to trip her up at some point.

Interspersed with Laure's story, we are introduced to Viviano who is very observant human statue.  Viviano has been watching Laure, not in a creepy way but in a love at first sight kind of way, but he has never had the opportunity to speak to her...until now.  Oh I loved Viviano and I was rooting for him to get his girl.

As well as the heartwarming and unusual love story, there are lots of laughs in the book and just thinking of a particular scene in Laure's office is making me laugh out loud now.  I'm not going to spoil it but the attempt to get a photo is hilarious.

Beautifully written, incredibly entertaining and completely mesmerising, The Starling Dance is a stunning first novel that makes me very excited to see what Lucy Elena writes next.  A very highly recommended read and one that I would like to read again.

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

My rating:

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the author:

Lucy Elena is a Londoner with a love of languages and exploring new different cultures. For most of her career she has been a journalist reporting across Europe and Latin America. But she has also experimented with career forays into pasta making (yes, like an Italian nonna) and teaching. Lucy has always loved dreaming up and telling stories and The Starling Dance is her debut novel. When not writing or working, Lucy enjoys spending time with friends and family, trying out new foods and pretending she can play the ukulele.

Social Media Links – 

Instagram: lucyelenabooks

Facebook: Lucy Elena

Tiktok: @lucyelenabooks

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BLOG TOUR: Brain Fruit - Stephen Oram

Can empathy survive the next stage of evolution?

Nurtured by the neural networks of a bee, a brain fruit is born. To become a symbiotic trioid and continue the evolutionary crawl upwards they need to combine with an insect bug. And they need to deal with those that would destroy the givers of life. 

Stephen Oram’s zoefuturist story explores the fragility of emerging relationships - how we welcome, how we trust and how we keep becoming.

A mind-bending, bio-digital fable that pulses with poetic strangeness. Oram’s Brain Fruit is daring, disorienting, and deeply human.

 

What did I think?

I'm maybe not sure what I've read or even that I picked up the main message, but I can't stop thinking about Brain Fruit since I turned the final page.

It's a short novella at just 44 pages long but it is definitely mind-bending as the synopsis states and it's incredibly thought-provoking.  The writing is extremely lyrical as Stephen Oram draws the reader into the story and I had amazing visualisations of the scenes in my head as I was reading.

For me, Brain Fruit is about how we live and die together, how we destroy the environment through lack of care and knowledge, how we overlook and judge beings on appearance, and (at the risk of sounding like a politician) how we are better and stronger together.

Intelligent, imaginative and peculiar, I enjoyed Brain Fruit and think everyone will get something different out of reading it.  It's strange and unusual but it's so beautifully written and completely unforgettable.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: Atticus Arnott's Great Adventure - Caroline James

When seventy-year-old Atticus Arnott trades the rainy hills of Cumbria for the golden coast of Spain in his beloved vintage campervan, his quiet village is left reeling from the shock. With only his faithful collie, Ness, for company, Atticus sets off in search of sunshine, serenity, and perhaps a glass or two of sangria. But his solo adventure quickly turns into something far more unexpected...

Back in Ireland, Atticus’s daughter Mary is facing a crisis of her own. As her picture-perfect life starts to crumble, she must find the courage to put herself first for once and rediscover the dreams she set aside long ago.

As father and daughter navigate new paths, they learn that starting over isn’t about running from the past—but embracing the unknown with open arms…

Full of laughter, love and second chances, Atticus Arnott’s Great Adventure is a feel-good escape that proves it’s never too late for a new beginning—no matter where life might take you.

 

What did I think?

I can't believe Atticus Arnott's Great Adventure is the first Caroline James book I have read but it's definitely not my last as I absolutely loved  it.  I adored Atticus and he has made a little permanent place in my heart to ensure that I never forget him and I won't let the old (wo)man in.

Atticus lost his wife Clara five years ago but time has not healed his heart.  Atticus' son Mungo has taken over the running of the farm, leaving Atticus to while away his days with his faithful dog Ness and his friend Arthur.  Until Mungo's twin sister Mary arrives at the farm with a cunning plan to breathe life back into Atticus via his old campervan.

It's so refreshing to have an older protagonist and, despite what his son might think, there's plenty of life left in 70 year old Atticus Arnott.  I loved reading about his adventure to Spain and his unintentional rise as a social media influencer.  Although I can understand Mungo's reservations about his dad making a solo journey, you would never leave the house if you dwelled on all the things that might happen.

Although Atticus is the main character, I really enjoyed his daughter Mary's story.  Mary is having a difficult time at home as she struggles to cope with her four children while her husband is busy working.  As events unfold, Mary has to stay strong and work out what is most important to her.

This is such a lovely book that I couldn't put it down and read it almost in one sitting.  I was completely swept away with Atticus' Spanish adventure and I loved every second of it.  It has a surprising festive feel towards the end and I may have shed a happy tear or two as my emotions got the better of me.  A very highly recommended read and an easy five stars.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: The Transcendent Tide (The Enceladons Trilogy) - Doug Johnstone

It’s been eighteen months since the Enceladons escaped the clutches of an American military determined to exterminate the peaceful alien creatures.

Lennox and Vonnie have been lying low in the Scottish Highlands, Ava has been caring for her young daughter Chloe, and Heather is adjusting to her new life with Sandy and the other Enceladons in the Arctic Ocean, off the coast of Greenland. But fate is about to bring them together again for one last battle.

When Lennox and Vonnie are visited by Karl Jensen, a Norwegian billionaire intent on making contact with the Encedalons again, they are wary of subjecting the aliens to further dangers. But when word arrives that Ava’s daughter has suffered an attack and might die without urgent help, they reluctantly make the trip to Greenland, where they enlist the vital help of local woman Niviaq.

It's not long before they’re drawn into a complex web of lies, deceit and death. What is Karl’s company really up to? Why are sea creatures attacking boats? Why is Sandy acting so strangely, and why are polar bears getting involved?

Profound, ambitious and moving, The Transcendent Tide is the epic conclusion to the Encedalons Trilogy, and a final showdown between the best and worst of humanity, the animal kingdom and the Encedalons. The future of life on earth will be changed forever, but not everyone will survive to see it...

 

What did I think?

Oh my goodness, I really didn't want this fantastic book to end so I was torn between gobbling up every word as if I hadn't read for months and savouring every single word so I could make it last longer.  The Transcendent Tide is the perfect ending to an epic and unforgettable trilogy.

You do need to read the books in order to get the most out of the incredibly powerful storyline and to fully understand the characters, which is why I felt so many different emotions whilst reading.  I was shocked, angered and upset as I lived and breathed every moment of this magnificent journey with Sandy, the Enceladons and their friends.

The writing is flawless and the plotting sublime as Doug Johnstone takes the reader on a memorable journey through the Arctic.  I felt like I needed my thermals on as I kept getting goosebumps as the vivid scenes were described.

Haunting, poignant and powerful, The Transcendent Tide is a highly original book and an outstanding finale to an epic trilogy.  It has a tentacle in so many genres that it will appeal to all readers and leave a lasting impression.  I can award nothing less than five stars for this amazing novel.

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:

Orenda Books

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

About the author:

Doug Johnstone is the author of 18 previous novels, most recently Living Is a Problem (2024) and The Collapsing Wave (2024). The Big Chill (2020) was longlisted for Theakston Crime Novel of the Year, and Black Hearts was shortlisted for the same award. Three of his books, A Dark Matter (2020), Breakers (2019) and The Jump (2015), have been shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year.  

He’s taught creative writing and been writer in residence at various institutions over the last decade, and has been an arts journalist for over twenty years. Doug is a songwriter and musician with six albums and three EPs released, and he plays drums for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers. He’s also co-founder of the Scotland Writers Football Club, and has a PhD in nuclear physics. He lives in Edinburgh. 

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The Pod Couple: A Love Story in Episodes - Adam Leigh

When Chloe Adams embarked on the publicity tour for her new book, she didn't expect to appear on a live radio interview alongside Joe Harris promoting his memoir on the same subject.

Relationships.

They had last met years ago when Chloe abruptly ended theirs. Now a successful journalist, she is married to an equally ambitious film director, while Joe, still single, has struggled to move on.

The spiky reunion leads to an offer they can't refuse - hosting a podcast about failed relationships - and three months later they launch Ex-Communicate, exploring other people's heartbreak while tiptoeing around their own complicated history. Their on-air chemistry makes the podcast a rapid hit, but as their professional success grows, they're forced to confront the feelings they've buried for over a decade. Soon they realise there is a price to pay for discussing their emotions so openly in the pursuit of downloads.

The Pod Couple is a witty examination of our cultural obsession with failed relationships, exploring the uncomfortable truth that time rarely heals. It just makes things more complicated.

 

What did I think?

The Pod Couple is a fresh and modern love story with a podcast setting.  It's not a traditional love story but it's probably more realistic as their failed relationship is put under the microscope.

The book starts with a break-up and whilst Chloe didn't think of Joe until they meet again years later, Joe has never got over it.  Joe's life has been a string of failures from his relationships to his career and it can all be traced back to that break-up with Chloe.  Chloe meanwhile, is married with two children but she's not exactly happy.

Oh Chloe, I bet she wishes she could go back in time and have a word with her younger self but then she wouldn't have her two lovely children.  I'm not sure that would bother her though as she is quite selfish, which I thought would annoy me but it actually made me laugh.

Joe on the other hand, really tried his hardest to make me laugh but, as you might have guessed from his failed career as a stand-up comedian, he's just not that funny.  Put him in the same room as Chloe though, as they discuss their failed relationship on a podcast, and the chemistry between them results in lots of laughs (usually at Joe's expense).  

The Pod Couple is a very entertaining and thought-provoking book that does make you wonder "what if?".  Not just what if Chloe had never broken Joe's heart, but also what if you had made different choices in your own life.  

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon

BLOG TOUR: Happy is the One - Katie Allen

What if halfway through your life was just the beginning?

Robin Edmund Blake is halfway through his life.

 

Born in 1986, when Halley’s Comet crossed the sky, he is destined to go out with it, when it returns in 2061. Until that day, he can’t die. He has proof.

 

With his future mapped out in minute detail, a lucrative but increasingly dull job in the City of London, and Gemma to share his life with, Robin has a plan to be remembered forever.

 

But when Robin’s sick father has one accident too many, the plan starts to unravel. Robin must return home to the tiny seaside town of Eastgate, learn to care for the man who never really cared for him, and face the childhood ghosts he fled decades ago.

 

Desperate to get his life back on schedule, he connects with fellow outsider Astrid. Brutally direct, sharp-witted and a professor at a nearby university, she’s unlike anyone he’s ever met. But Astrid is hiding something and someone from Robin.

And he’s hiding even more from her…

 

What did I think?

Oh my goodness, Katie Allen's new book, Happy is the One, is simply stunning.  I loved it from the very first page and my feelings continued to grow the more I read.

Robin knows when he's going to die as he was born during the appearance of Halley's Comet and he is destined to die when the comet returns, just like Mark Twain correctly predicted for his own death.  Now you would think that Robin would be able to live a full and happy life, knowing that his number is not coming up until he's 75, but instead he seems to be obsessed with planning every minute of his life until his death....whilst life passes him by.

It's a bit of a culture shock when Robin returns to his home town to live with his elderly dad and it is heartbreaking that his dad can't communicate verbally any more.  Robin's mum died when he was young and it seems that he was never close to his dad so it's a difficult time for both of them.  As they get to know each other again, things that Robin thought he knew are brought into question, including his inability to die until 2061.

The story is incredibly poignant and my heart ached at certain points as Katie Allen put me through the emotional wringer.  I love being so invested in a book that events make me gasp out loud and struggle to hold back my tears.  The writing is so warm and witty that there's sure to be something to smile or laugh about on the next page whilst my tears are drying.

Breathtaking, stunning and memorable, Happy is the One is a book with the biggest heart; it made me laugh, cry and everything in between and I simply can't recommend it highly enough.

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:

Katie Allen was a journalist and columnist at Guardian and Observer, starting her career as a Reuters correspondent in Berlin and London. Her warmly funny, immensely moving literary debut novel, Everything Happens for a Reason, was based on her own devastating experience of stillbirth and was a number-one digital bestseller, with wide critical acclaim. Katie grew up in Warwickshire and now lives in South London with her family.

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The Hero Virus - Russell Dumper

‘The Hero Virus’ tells the thrilling story of Chris Taylor, who is hanging on to life by a thread.

Recently widowed, his only reason to carry on is his faithful Labrador, but even that doesn’t stop his willingness to gamble with death every day. When his companion suffers a violent demise, Taylor thinks he has nothing left to live for, until he discovers he has chanced upon a precious gift… he has become very ill.

The illness gives him special powers and, fairly soon, the authorities are swooping on to the ever-increasing list of cases. The Hero Virus might be different to other illnesses, but it’s no less dangerous. The effect it has on the world, though, is wildly different to any other virus that has come before. The unique reaction of the human body to infection means that everyone wants it. And some will do anything to get it.

How do you stop a pandemic when there are people who will kill for the virus? How do you stop people getting infected when they’re willing to die for it? How do you stop the infected when they have abilities nobody has ever seen before?

What did I think?

I was drawn to The Hero Virus as I do like my superhero films and this is like X-Men on steroids with mutations resulting from a viral infection.  It's a really interesting premise and you can't help but draw comparisons with the coronavirus pandemic with one huge difference: the hero virus is something that everyone wants to be infected with.

Widower Chris Taylor has suicidal thoughts every day as he puts a gun loaded with a single bullet to his mouth and presses the trigger.  The resulting click means he's not dying today and must get on with his empty life with just his dog for company.  When his dog dies from a mystery infection, Chris also becomes ill but rather than wake up weaker, he wakes up a LOT stronger.

As the virus spreads, the authorities try to contain the infection but the population want to get superpowers too and they will do anything to get infected.  It's gorey at times and the writing is very vivid so I did find my stomach clenching at some of the scenes.  It would be a fantastic film and it was almost like a film was playing in my head whilst I was reading the book.

Vividly written with an imaginative and original plot, The Hero Virus is a high-octane thriller that is packed with action.  It's a real page-turner with a jaw-dropping ending that made me actually gasp out loud.  I can't imagine anyone not enjoying this book, even if you think it's not your usual genre - give it a go!  Very highly recommended.

Many thanks to Russell Dumper for sending me a gifted paperback to read and review; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

Damaged Beauty: Joey Superstar - Margaret Gardiner

Welcome to the world of model Joey Superstar - a whirlwind of cocaine, sex, and money.

Josaphina Brinkley seems to have it all: she’s a superstar model in 1980s America, a cover girl plastered naked on fashion billboards above Sunset Blvd. Women want to be her. Men simply want her.

But underneath the glossy veneer she hides a traumatic past. The end of her marriage to Italian Aristocracy led to a stint in rehab. As she returns to parties, premiers and modeling, she’s hoping a life of designer clothes and beautiful people won’t take her back to blow. If only she could be truly seen, heard and understood, perhaps she wouldn't self-destruct again?

Joey sets out to confront the roots of her wildness – but must admit to a youthful act that haunts her. As Joey fights from addiction to redemption, can she change the course of her life, deal with her dark past and become the superstar she was always destined to be? 

Former Miss Universe Margaret Gardiner gives readers the key to a secret world of supermodels, sex, style and scandal in her deliciously intoxicating debut, Joey Superstar, the first in an exciting Damaged Beauty series.

 

What did I think?

The world of fashion and modelling is not a subject I would usually read about but one of the great things about book blogging is that my attention is drawn to fabulous books that I might have otherwise missed.  Although it's often dark and disturbing, I really enjoyed my glimpse into the world of a supermodel in Damaged Beauty: Joey Superstar. 

Joey is not a character I instantly warmed to as she seems to care little about other people's feelings (including her own), but there is a very good reason for that.  I have to admit that I actually disliked her at first but that soon changed as her story progressed and I could see that Joey has been shaped, and continues to be haunted, by past events that understandably dulled her emotions and taught her that it's better to feel nothing at all than hurt and pain.

There are a lot of dark and disturbing elements to the story but Margaret Gardiner portrays these delicately and sensitively.  I think it goes a long way to describe character development when my dislike for Joey at the start turned into admiration and respect at the end.  It also reminded me to never judge a book by its cover as those of us who are aesthetically challenged may envy beautiful people but what is perceived as a blessing may actually be a curse.

Honest, raw and powerful, Damaged Beauty: Joey Superstar is an eyeopening glimpse into the world of beauty and it's an important and courageous book in the #MeToo movement.

Many thanks to Hannah Hargrave for the gifted ARC.  I chose to read Damaged Beauty: Joey Superstar and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

About the author:

Margaret Gardiner became an international cover girl at 16, Miss Universe at 18, and ultimately, the fashion editor at GoldenGlobes.com. She’s worked with A-list stars from Angelina Jolie to Zendaya. She knows what it is like to be on the red carpet, in the spotlight - and what goes on behind the scenes. With a degree in psychology, and a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, her debut novel is for every woman who has ever been made to feel less.

Social Media Links

Website: https://www.margaretgardiner.com/

Instagram: @margaret_gardiner

Facebook: @MargaretGardinerOfficial

BLOG TOUR: Same Time Next Week - Milly Johnson

Welcome to Spring Hill, home to a square of independent shops and cafes, a thriving local community and nearby the newest venture, Ray’s Diner. Here a group of women meet once a week over a cup of something warming.

 

Amanda is primary carer to her elderly mother and one of the only women in a male-dominated company. Used to being second-best all her life, is this her time to finally break ranks and shine?

 

Sky works at the repair shop, patching up old teddy bears, and their owners’ hearts. But her heart beats for the one man who is strictly off-limits.

 

Mel has been a loyal and loving wife to Steve for thirty years. Then when he goes to his old school reunion, life as she knows it will never be the same again.

 

Erin is trying to get over a traumatic loss where her guilt weighs more than her grief. Can she find the first step to healing lies in sharing an hour with strangers once a week? 

 

Astrid is feeling in need of a change and a challenge. But when a fantastic opportunity presents itself, who is around to convince her she is worthy enough to take the risk?

 

Can these women find the answers to their worries, acceptance, courage, support here? Join them at the same time next week to find out…

 

What did I think?

Milly Johnson is one of my favourite authors and her new book, Same Time Next Week, is a fabulous as the author herself.  I could never pick a favourite Milly Johnson book as I love them all but Same Time Next Week would be a definite contender.

There are a lot of characters to get to know and you certainly do get to know them throughout the book.  I loved them all as I laughed, cried and fist-bumped the air with them.  I was totally invested in their lives and I am missing them so much I want to read the book all over again right now.

It's so good to have older protagonists who are coping with changes in their bodies and their lives.  Milly tells it like it is and she is so right about the whatdoyoucallit...the menowhatsit thingy.  I thought it was just me who forgot words and left sentences unfinished.  I really must thank Milly for making me feel not quite so abnormal.

This book has everything: lots of drama, bucketfuls of emotion and a huge heart.  It's like a soap opera in a book and I didn't want it to end.  An easy five stars for another outstanding Milly Johnson book and 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:

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UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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