BLOG TOUR: Eerie Exhibits - Victorial Williamson

Five unnerving tales of the weird and uncanny from award-winning author Victoria Williamson.

A room full of screaming butterflies.

An unsettling smile on the face of a carved sarcophagus.

A painting that draws its viewer into the disturbing past.

A stuffed bear that growls in the dead of night.

And a shell that whispers more sinister sounds than the sigh of the sea…

Dare you cross the threshold of the old Museum and view its eerie exhibits?

 

What did I think?

I do like to read spooky tales now and again so I thoroughly enjoyed Eerie Exhibits by Victoria Williamson.  

There are five stories in the book based on museum exhibits and although they are separate stories, some of the characters reappear.  They are very creepy tales and it reminded me a little of early Stephen King books where anything out of the ordinary could happen.  So prepare for the unexpected when you pick up this book but you will still be surprised by these eerie exhibits.

It's quite a short book at 225 pages and it's very easy to read so you could dip in and out of it or read it cover to cover.  It's almost like a virtual museum visit to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow as Victoria Williamson guides the reader through each gallery and tells her imagined story behind some very interesting exhibits.

Chilling, weird and entertaining, Eerie Exhibits is a creepy collection of spine-tingling short stories that will chill you to the bone.  A recommended read, especially for a dark and chilly night.

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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Amazon USA

Amazon Canada

About the author:

A lifelong storyteller and daydreamer, Victoria Williamson is an author and teacher who has lived and worked in Africa, China, America and the UK.

Victoria grew up in Kirkintilloch, north Glasgow, surrounded by hills on the edge of a forest estate where many of her early ghost stories and fantasy tales were born amid the magical trees and spooky old ruined buildings.

After studying Physics at the University of Glasgow, she set out on her own real life adventures, which included teaching Maths and Science in Cameroon, training teachers in Malawi, teaching English in China and working with children with special needs in the UK.

A qualified primary school teacher with a degree in Mandarin Chinese from Yunnan University and a Master’s degree in Special Needs Education, Victoria is passionate about creating inclusive worlds in her novels where all children can see a reflection of themselves in a heroic role.

Victoria’s experiences of teaching young children in a deprived area of Glasgow, many of whom were asylum seekers, inspired her debut novel, The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, an uplifting tale of friendship between Glasgow girl Caylin and Syrian refugee Reema.

Victoria writes fantasy, adventure, science fiction and contemporary issue novels for Middle Grade (9-12), Teen, and Young Adult readers. Many of her books have been inspired by children she has met on her travels, both abroad and in the UK. She is currently working on a Middle Grade novel exploring the issues faced by a boy with ADHD who is struggling to fit in with his new step-family, and a spooky adventure novel for Teens, centred around a cast of characters with special needs including deafness, Down Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy.

Twenty percent of her author royalties for The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle are donated to the Scottish Refugee Council.

You can find out more about Victoria's books, school visits and upcoming events on her website: www.strangelymagical.com 

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Loom in the Loft - Jay Black

Pubescent short story writer Drew has two dreams: to become a New York Times bestselling novelist, and to convince his single, 30-something neighbour Sasha to tutor him in the intimate arts. When an aged, terminally ill neighbour offers Drew the cash fortune stashed in the walls of her house, he enlists Sasha to assist with its post-mortem extraction. Pressed by the looming arrival of the deceased's estranged adult children, both eager to inherit her estate, Drew and Sasha bank on their promise to keep secrets neither can afford to have exposed.

 

What did I think?

Loom in the Loft is a quick read at just 86 pages long but there is a lot going on in the book to keep the reader entertained.

Set in Canada in the 1970s, Drew is 13 years old but he works hard both inside and outside of school to make his single mother proud of him.  Drew mows lawns for his neighbours and he's so highly regarded that one of his elderly neighbours leaves him a life-changing inheritance.  It's one of the younger neighbours who catches his eye though...

Sasha works from home making blankets in her loft and she sees an opportunity to get Drew working for her, keeping her house clean and her bed warm.  It is clear to everyone but Drew that he is being groomed and manipulated by Sasha, but Drew doesn't really care as his wet dreams are becoming a reality.

It's no surprise which direction the story goes in and I was prepared to feel really angry on Drew's behalf but he is so mellow that I ended up having no ill-feelings towards Sasha as both characters got what they wanted in the end.

I really enjoyed the story and felt it was perfectly paced from start to finish.  The only slight criticism I have is that my reading rhythm was slowed somewhat by the conversion to today's money whenever a monetary figure was mentioned.  It didn't slow me down much though!

Nostalgic and captivating, Loom in the Loft is a very entertaining coming of age story and I think it's well worth reading.

I chose to read a digital ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Cooking the Books: A Killer Collection of Recipes to Die For - The Hobeck Team

If an army marches on its stomach, what do crime fiction authors do? Here’s your answer, an exclusive collection of recipes from the Hobeck Books authors team served with a dash of brilliant flash fiction too…

If you love a dribble of ketchup or a drizzle of raspberry jus with your fiction, then this is the cookery book for you.

Discover the delights of mouth-watering Maltese rabbit pasta and luscious lamb in coffee. Or dare to sample chicken wings more deadly than a game of chilli roulette.

Then there’s the story of how a midnight cheese, cucumber and salad cream sandwich helped launch Hobeck itself.

This collection guarantees stomach rumbles and belly roils, and all proceeds help others through the Trussell Trust and their network of foodbanks across the UK.

 

What did I think?

This is a wonderful charity anthology with an unusual twist: there aren't just fabulous short stories to discover when you open the book, there are also some mouthwatering recipes to try.

Hobeck publish outstanding books so it's no surprise that this anthology is of the highest quality as the authors I have come to know and love have contributed to it.  Even Adrian and Rebecca, Hobeck itself, have written stories and it was lovely of Rebecca to share the personal story about the sandwich that helped to launch Hobeck.

I was entertained from start to finish and I loved the format of the book with each part headed up by an imaginative recipe that describes the different genres that Hobeck publish.  It's perfectly balanced with stories and recipes; I loved every single story and there are so many recipes I want to try.

Proceeds from the sale of the book are being donated to The Trussell Trust and with cost of living rising so rapidly, supporting food banks is even more important now.  It really is a fabulous anthology - definitely put this one on your Christmas list.   Not to be missed and 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

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Three Pint Problems (The Accidental Detective Book 3) - Melvyn Small

Doctor John Watson has reached into his archives to treat us to three feature-length adventures. In The Darlington Substitution, The Devil’s Advocate and Murder on the Teesside Princess we see Boro’s greatest detective at the height of his wisecracking, foulmouthed, law disregarding and deductive brilliance.

If the devil is in the detail, he has nowhere to hide.

 

What did I think?

I absolutely love Melvyn Small's Sherlock Holmes stories and Three Pint Problems has a hat trick of stories that delighted and entertained me.  This Sherlock Holmes may have the same deductive reasoning as the original but he's been brought completely up-to-date by adding razor sharp wit and a Teesside postcode.

The three stories are all brilliant and I couldn't pick a favourite out from among them as I loved them all.  They read perfectly as standalones but with the same characters throughout, it's good to follow their lives too.  It's definitely a book I would read again as this is actually the second time I've read The Darlington Substitution, as it was previously published as a novella, and I enjoyed it just as much the second time round.

The stories are told from the perspective of Doctor John Watson and they're sharp, clever and incredibly entertaining.  I love how the spirit of the original Sherlock Holmes has been perfectly encapsulated and reinvented as a witty, sweary Boro lad.  Melvyn Small's writing is fantastic, creating imaginative problems that only the brilliant mind of Sherlock Holmes can solve.

I'm not usually a fan of short stories but I'm a huge fan of Boro's Sherlock Holmes and I could (and will) read these over and over again.  Melvyn Small also pays homage to Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes with several references to the original stories, for example Boro Holmes drinks pints of Engineer's Thumb in The Twisted Lip which are nods to two of Conan Doyle's short stories.  There are probably loads more references hidden in the stories like Easter Eggs for Sherlock Holmes fans to discover.

I really can't recommend Three Pint Problems highly enough; it's funny, entertaining and absolutely brilliant.  It's a book not to be missed and worthy of every single one of the five stars I have rated it.

I chose to read a digital ARC received from the author and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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The Stars Will Shine Again: Helping Our Heroes One Page at A Time - Various Authors, edited by Emma Mitchell

The Stars Will Shine Again is a collection of short stories from your favourite authors who have come together to deliver you a Christmas read with a twist.

With true war tales that will break your heart, gritty crimes that will shake you to your core, magic and mystery, and heart-warming tales of love lost and found, this anthology has something for everyone. And, with every penny made being sent to support our troops you’re helping our heroes, one page at a time.

From authors such as Malcolm Hollingdrake, Tony Forder, Val Portelli, and Andrew Barrett, and several debut authors, including Sarah Hardy and Yvonne Bastian, you are in for one heck of a ride.

The Stars Will Shine Again is the perfect Christmas gift for the bookworms in your life.

A Note from Emma Mitchell:

As the blurb tells us, The Stars Will Shine Again is a multi-genre collection of short stories compiled to raise money for our armed forces and every penny made from the sales of both the digital and paperback copies will be donated to the charity Help for Heroes. Covid has made fundraising a difficult job for everyone, so it’s an honour to able to do something like this and I’m thankful to everyone involved. With huge thanks going once again to Amanda Horan for her support and fabulous cover design. You can find her at Let’s Get Booked.

I’ve picked the best of the submissions to bring you a thrilling book which is perfect for dipping into at lunchtime or snuggling up with on a cold winter’s night. I have been completely blown away by the support from the writing and blogging community, especially the authors who submitted stories and bloggers who have been so generous with their time to help advertise and spread the word.

There isn’t a person in the country who hasn’t benefited from the sacrifices our troops, past and present, have made for us and they all deserve our thanks.

It has been an honour working on these stories, and I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I have.

 

What did I think?

What a cracking little anthology!  There are lots of charity anthologies around at the moment and there's no easier or better way to support charities than by buying a book.  Help for Heroes is already a charity I support so it was my absolute pleasure to read and review this wonderful collection.

This book is filled with superb short stories, written by authors you may know and some names you may recognise from the book blogging community.  Each and every story is of amazingly high quality and I couldn't pick a favourite out from among them, although I have picked out a few authors to add to my watch list.

It's quite a quick read at only 261 pages, and you can dip in and out of it as the mood takes you or read it cover to cover in one sitting.  However you choose to read it, I can guarantee that you will enjoy every minute of it.  

I really must applaud Emma Mitchell for giving up some of her valuable time to organise and edit this fabulous collection.  With every penny made from the sale of each book being donated to such a worthy cause as Help for Heroes, I really can't recommend this book highly enough.

Many thanks to Emma Mitchell for sending me a digital ARC to read and review; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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Everyday Kindness: A collection of uplifting tales to brighten your day - Various Authors

 

Everyday Kindness is a charity anthology of short, fictional stories of kindness, edited by LJ Ross. These uplifting tales of hope and of small, everyday kindnesses are intended to support wider, positive mental health goals and foster wellbeing through the act of reading tales of goodwill inspired by others. Featuring authors across the spectrum of literature, some international bestsellers and award-winning writers amongst them, this is a unique collection of words.

All proceeds from the book will be donated to Shelter, a charity that helps millions of people a year struggling with bad housing or homelessness.

Authors include: LJ Ross, Adam Hamdy, Alex Smith, Alexander Gordon Smith, Alison Stockham, Anne O’Leary, Barbara Copperthwaite, J.D. Kirk, C.L. Taylor, Caroline Mitchell, Chris McDonald, C.K. McDonnell, Claire Sheehy, Clare Flynn, Darren O’Sullivan, David Leadbeater, Debbie Young, Deborah Carr, Emma Robinson, Graham Brack, Hannah Lynn, Heather Martin, Holly Martin, Ian Sainsbury, Imogen Clark, James Gilbert, Jane Corry, Jean Gill, J.J. Marsh, Judith O’Reilly, Kelly Clayton, Kim Nash, Leah Mercer, Liz Fenwick, Louise Beech, Louise Jensen, Louise Mumford, Malcolm Hollingdrake, Marcia Woolf, Mark Stay, Marcie Steele, Natasha Bache, Nick Jackson, Nick Quantrill, Nicky Black, Patricia Gibney, Rachel Sargeant, Rob Parker, Rob Scragg, S.E. Lynes, Shelley Day, Casey Kelleher, Sophie Hannah, Victoria Connelly, Victoria Cooke, Will Dean.

What did I think?

What a wonderful book!  There is so much warmth and compassion crammed into this superb anthology that it actually moved me to tears.  By buying a copy you'll not only get an awesome book but you'll also be helping the charity Shelter, which helps people who are homeless or are struggling with bad housing.  So although I always include buy links at the end of my review, I think it's worth adding one HERE too.

There's a very high probability that you will find at least one of your favourite authors in this collection, but you're sure to pick up one or two more along the way; I've added a lot of authors to my watch list after reading this fabulous book.  The quality of the writing is exceptional across the board and there's not one story that disappoints.  It's actually really impressive to see a lot of authors writing outside of their usual genre to create such wonderfully uplifting and compassionate stories.

Everyday Kindness is sure to leave a smile on the face of every single reader.  It's a veritable hug in a book and I certainly feel richer for having read it.  5 huge sparkly stars and a big shout out to LJ Ross for leading this magnificent project and making it happen.

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

My rating:

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Love Like Bleeding Out with an Empty Gun in Your Hand: Poems and Stories - Stephen J. Golds

 

An aging hitman is embittered by his career choice at the point of no return. A shell-shocked soldier in World War Two finds hope through death, reflected in the eyes of his enemy. A serial killer confesses in veiled, lurching prose. A mobster unravels at the zero hour of this mortal coil. A man reevaluates existence after discovering a suicide. These are some of the twenty-nine dark, twisted, and gritty stories by Stephen J. Golds collected here for the first time — bound taut with thirty poems of loss, love, and other thoughts that haunt you after last call.

What did I think?

WOW!  This short story and poetry collection from Stephen J. Golds absolutely blew me away.  I have to be honest and say that I'm not a fan of short stories (or indeed poetry) as they always seem incomplete and leave me feeling unsatisfied.  So why did I read this book, I hear you say.  Well simply because I am a huge fan of Stephen J. Golds unique writing; it has such an inimitable vintage noir quality that continually makes my jaw drop.  If all short stories were like these, I'd definitely be a fan!  

With such a varied range of characters and settings, Love Like Bleeding Out with an Empty Gun in Your Hand is an exquisite collection of exceptional short stories.  Stories that are often chilling but filled with emotion and stunning visual depictions.  I found myself comparing Stephen J. Golds' written word to Quentin Tarantino's movies - they are both masters at depicting violence in an artistic way but I have to say that the book is better.  Golds easily kicks Tarantino's ass!

The final 10% of the book is made up of poems but I've never been able to grasp poetry and unfortunately I still don't get it.  As much as it felt completely alien to me, I could still appreciate and marvel at the quality of the writing.  I'm sure Stephen J. Golds could make his shopping list appear dark, sinister and lyrical.

What is amazing about this collection is that the quality of the stories doesn't waiver at all.  The bar is set extremely high from the start and it doesn't dip at all; every single story is outstanding and that's no mean feat as there are 29 stories in the book.  Even with a gun to my head, I wouldn't be able to pick a favourite from among them as I loved them all and I'll definitely be rereading them again.

Dark, chilling, gritty and exquisitely written, Love Like Bleeding Out with an Empty Gun in Your Hand is the best collection of short stories I have ever read.   Incredibly highly recommended and well deserving of nothing less than 5 stars for this magnificent collection.

Many thanks to Stephen J. Golds for sending me a digital ARC to read and review; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

You Could Make a Killing: Short Story Collection Book 2 - Simon Bewick

 

You Could Make a Killing is a collection of 14 twist-in-the-tale mystery tales by Simon Bewick, author of Basement Tales.

Featuring all-new stories that will keep you guessing until the last line, delve into You Could Make a Killing for twisted tales about killers and victims, cops and robbers, the good and the bad and some things in between that might just blur the line…

Read the new collection from Simon Bewick, and find out why readers have called him, ‘reminiscent of M.R. James’, ‘the new voice in horror’ and ‘one of the most exciting new voices in crime fiction’.

Look inside and discover:

•A man who won’t take any more when he’s pushed too far, only to discover that speed really can kill

•A teenage boy living in the aftermath of his best friend’s murder…who may be the next target in the killer’s sights

•A bedtime story that is anything that could just be your worst nightmare

•Two veteran killers who will do whatever it takes to train up their new apprentice

And much, much more…

What did I think?

I don't read many short stories as I find them a bit flat and unfulfilling but Simon Bewick has certainly changed my opinion after reading You Could Make a Killing.  I found his stories gripping, intriguing, intelligent and clever; they are certainly full of surprises.

Just putting the stories aside for a moment, I absolutely loved the section at the end of the book where Simon Bewick includes a note on each story; his inspiration behind the story, his research and his personal thoughts on the piece.  It's like getting into mind of an author and it really made me think how some mundane, everyday things can be turned into a gripping and intriguing story if you have the writing ability.

Now on to the stories and I would say they are quite varied but one thing they have in common is that they are most definitely on the dark side.  The writing has quite an American feel to it and feels heavily influenced by The Sopranos as there is more than one gangster-style tale but there's nothing wrong with that; it all fits the theme of the story perfectly.

I can't possibly review all 14 stories, but I can certainly pick out a few of note.  My absolute hands-down favourite is The Drive In which went in such an unexpected direction that I couldn't contain my gasp of surprise at the end.  Doctor Death could have been an episode in The Sopranos and I bet the writers are kicking themselves that they didn't think of it.  Another one of note is Bedtime Story which simultaneously horrified me and pulled at my heartstrings.  To be honest, there isn't one that I would say I didn't like.

You Could Make a Killing is an excellent collection of short stories that will shock, surprise and horrify the reader.  The quality of writing is excellent and the storytelling is punchy and intriguing; it's a cracking collection of dark and disturbing tales to read by the fireside on a cold, dark night.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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Tales of Mystery Unexplained - Steph Young

Tales of Mystery Unexplained....What happened to Elisa Lam, found dead in a water tower atop a hotel roof? Who were the two men who came to see her & what was in the mystery box they gave her? Why did the location of her gravestone match the zip code of a Bookstore, miles away?  

Why was a man found in the same spot he disappeared, but 4 years later, with a hole in his head that no surgeons could explain? And what did this have to do with a séance, doppelgangers & the assassination of Abraham Lincoln?  Why did a man write the Fibonacci sequence as a clue & tell a stranger he was “Looking for the Beast,” before he disappeared in the barren plains of a desert?  Plus many more Tales of Mystery Unexplained.  

Steph Young has appeared on national radio shows & podcasts including the UK's The Unexplained, and Coast to Coast Am, talking about many of these mysteries.  

You can also hear some of these Unexplained Mysteries on her podcast on iTunes ‘Tales of Mystery Unexplained.’

What did I think?

With having so many books to read, it's rare that I read a newly received book, however, Tales of Mystery Unexplained sounded so unique that it didn't even have time to gather a single speck of dust on my TBR.  When you read so much fiction, there's nothing better than reading some real life mysteries and Steph Young has chosen some amazing true stories to recount that are indeed stranger than fiction.

As I've often said, I love reading books that have me pausing to google things and boy did I hit google when reading this book!  I think I would have read the book a lot faster if I hadn't kept stopping to google, but in doing so it made reading a completely three dimensional experience.  I not only experienced the fantastic descriptions provided by Steph Young, but I got to see some things with my own eyes thanks to CCTV shared on the internet.

I love how some of the stories had me revelling in the unexplained but simultaneously considering scientific explanations.  It really made me appreciate how complex the human brain is and just like a computer, how badly things can go wrong when it fails.  Although I felt that psychotic break could maybe explain part of what happened in some cases, it certainly doesn't apply to all of them.  

As per the title, what you won't find in this book is explanations for these mysteries.  They are very much open and unexplained cases and this wasn't as unsatisfying as I first expected.  I admit that part of me would have liked a nice explanation to finish off each story but the fact that they remain unexplained is definitely part of the charm of this book.  I did find myself asking questions and thinking outside of the box, almost as if I was part of the investigation team myself.

I was surprised to find that a good proportion of the stories were from the UK, in fact 7 out of 12, with the remainder being American mysteries.  There's also a good spread of time periods with the earliest story dating back to 1621 and the latest being the intriguing case of Elisa Lam in 2013.  I had never heard of this case but I bet that everyone who reads the book will end up googling the CCTV footage from a Los Angeles hotel elevator of the last known movements of Elisa Lam.  

The content is fascinating and well written, although I did find the text a little repetitive at times; this would work well in a podcast to stress important facts but wasn't really needed in print.  The cover of the book also disturbed me a little with the title appearing to be 'Tales of Unexplained Mystery' rather than 'Tales of Mystery Unexplained' as per the spine and title page.  They were just minor annoyances though, and didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book.  

Tales of Mystery Unexplained is a fascinating and brilliantly written collection of true stories that are most definitely stranger than fiction.  I thought it would be a 'dip in and out of' kind of book but I simply couldn't put it down.  I am completely hooked now and have looked up many of the cases on google already and have subscribed to Steph Young's podcast of the same name.  I'm sure I'll be regaling my family and friends with some of these stories that I've added to my brain's interesting and unusual facts collection.  It may be a quick read but it's one that I'll be thinking about and discussing for a very long time to come.  

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

BLOG TOUR: When Stars Will Shine - Various Authors

When Stars Will Shine is a collection of short stories from your favourite authors who have come together to deliver you a Christmas read with a twist.

With true war tales that will break your heart, gritty Christmas crimes that will shake you to your core, and heart-warming tales of love lost and found, this anthology has something for everyone. And, with every penny made being sent to support our troops, you can rest assured that you’re helping our heroes, one page at a time.

From authors such as Louise Jensen, Graham Smith, Malcolm Hollingdrake, Lucy Cameron, Val Portelli, and Alex Kane, you are in for one heck of a ride! 

When Stars Will Shine is the perfect Christmas gift for the bookworms in your life!

What did I think?

I'm not usually a fan of short stories, strangely enough because I feel like it takes me too long to read them as an anthology doesn't flow as well as a novel, however, When Stars Will Shine has certainly changed my mind about that.  Without pausing, I effortlessly read one story after another to the point where I was like a child in a sweet shop wondering what festive delight I could devour next.  The best thing about this book is, not only do you get 24 fantastic stories from a vast array of outstanding authors (and what a terrific line up it is), but the sale of every single copy raises funds for the amazing charity Help for Heroes.  I consider many of the authors among my favourites and I was delighted to see that the talented writers of North East England make up a good proportion of this anthology.

Part of me wants to say 'stop reading now and just buy the book' but please do read on and I'll try my best to tell you how awesome When Stars Will Shine really is.  There is definitely something for everyone in this anthology with a good mix of military and Christmas stories, each one making me experience a range of emotions.  I can't possibly mention every single story in my review, and to single out any in particular would be unfair because they are all brilliant, but they range from heartwarming, poignant, thought-provoking, hopeful, spooky, spine-tingling, sobering, scary and as downright chilly as the winter snow.

If you're not tempted yet, have a look at the list of contents below.  Can you spot your favourite author?  Perhaps you'll find a new favourite among them as there are some absolutely brilliant books in their back catalogues.  There are certainly a few new (to me) authors that I intend to check out, having read their outstanding stories in When Stars Will Shine.

Contents
Fredrick Snellgrove, Private 23208 by Rob Ashman

Four Seasons by Robert Scragg

The Close Encounter by Gordon Bickerstaff 

Believe by Mark Brownless 

What Can Possibly Go Wrong? by Lucy Cameron 

Mountain Dew by Paul T. Campbell

The Art of War and Peace by John Carson 

A Gift for Christmas by Kris Egleton 

Free Time by Stewart Giles 

Died of Wounds by Malcolm Hollingdrake 

The Christmas Killer by Louise Jensen 

The Village Hotel by Alex Kane

A Present of Presence by HR Kemp 

The Invitation by Billy McLaughlin

Brothers Forever by Paul Moore

Girl in a Red Shirt by Owen Mullen 

Pivotal Moments by Anna Franklin Osborne

Uncle Christmas by Val Portelli

Time for a Barbeque by Carmen Radtke
Christmas Present by Lexi Rees

Inside Out by KA Richardson

Penance by Jane Risdon

New Year’s Resolution by Robert Scragg

Family Time by Graham Smith

Emma Mitchell has really outdone herself in pulling together this marvellous anthology and she deserves every accolade for arranging publication of this masterpiece.  With more variety than a Christmas selection box, make sure that you ask Santa for a copy of When Stars Will Shine or better still, buy a copy for all of your family and friends.  

With stories that will make you laugh, smile and cry but best of all support our troops while you're reading, When Stars Will Shine is the must read book of the year.  It is my absolute pleasure to give a rating of 5 shiny stars. 

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from: 
Amazon UK
Amazon US

Follow the authors on Twitter:

Robert Scragg: @robert_scragg

Paul Moore: @mooros69

Graham Smith: @grahamsmith1972

Malcolm Hollingdrake: @MHollingdrake

Alex Kane: @AlexKaneWriter

Owen Mullen: @OwenMullen6

Gordon Bickerstaff: @GFBickerstaff

Lexi Rees: @Lexi_Rees

Megan Steer: @tjsarcat15

Anna Franklin Osborne: @HomeOsborne

Stewart Giles: @stewartGiles

Jane Risdon: @Jane_Risdon

Louise Jensen: @fabricating_fiction

Rob Ashman: @RobAshmanAuthor

Carmen Radtke: @carmenradtke1

Val Portelli: @ValPortelli

Mark Brownless: @MarkBrownless

John Carson: @JohnCarsonBooks

Kris Egleton: @Mouse6420

Paul T. Campbell: @PtcCampbell

Lucy Cameron: @lucycomeron22

KA Richardson: @KerryAnn77

Billy McLaughlin: @bilbob20

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COVER REVEAL: When Stars Will Shine - compiled by Emma Mitchell

I have a very exciting cover reveal for you today and one that is very close to my heart.  With several family members currently and previously serving in the forces, I am a keen supporter of Help for Heroes, so it is my absolute pleasure to reveal the cover of When Stars Will Shine, an anthology of Christmas stories being published in December to raise funds for this amazing charity.

I was completely speechless when I saw the cover; I think it's absolutely perfect.  Scroll down to see it for yourself.

Here is the amazing cover, in Help for Heroes colours of course, along with the synopsis and pre-order link.  You don't want to miss this one so make sure you click now to ensure this arrives on your Kindle on 9th December 2019. 

Synopsis:

When Stars Will Shine is a collection of short stories from your favourite authors who have come together to deliver you a Christmas read with a twist.

With true war tales that will break your heart, gritty Christmas crimes that will shake you to your core, and heart warming tales of love lost and found, this anthology has something for everyone. And, with every penny made being sent to support our troops, you can rest assured that you’re helping our heroes, one page at a time.

From authors such as Louise Jensen, Graham Smith, Malcolm Hollingdrake, Lucy Cameron, Val Portelli, and Alex Kane, you are in for one heck of a ride!

A Note From Emma Mitchell:

As the blurb tells us, When Stars Will Shine is a multi-genre collection of Christmas themed short stories complied to raise money for our armed forces and every penny made from the sales of both the digital and paperback copies will be donated to the charity.

Working closely with Kate Noble at Noble Owl Proofreading and Amanda Ni Odhrain from Let’s Get Booked, I’ve been able to pick the best of the submissions to bring you a thrilling book which is perfect for dipping into at lunchtime or snuggling up with on a cold winter’s night. I have been completely blown away by the support we’ve received from the writing and blogging community, especially the authors who submitted stories and Shell Baker from Baker’s Not So Secret Blog, who has organised the cover reveal and blog tour.

When Stars Will Shine is available for pre-order now and will be published on 9 December 2019.

There isn’t anyone in the country who hasn’t benefited from the sacrifices our troops, past and present, have made for us and they all deserve our thanks.

It has been an honour to work on these stories and to create this anthology and I hope you enjoy reading the stories as much as I have.

Pre-order links:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

BLOG TOUR: The Art of Sherlock Holmes - Phil Growick

The Art of Sherlock Holmes sounded like such an interesting book that I was thrilled to hear that I had secured a spot on the blog tour.  You can read a bit about the book followed by my review below, but first many thanks to Caroline at Bits About Books for inviting me to take part in the tour.

The Art of Sherlock Holmes is a totally unique experience. Imagine a dozen or more of the finest artists in the U.S. creating art for some the best new short stories written by some of the finest Holmes authors in the world. Each artist has envisioned their version of one story specifically selected for them. All stories and art in one large, hardcover, coffee table presentation volume. This first edition features artists from West Palm Beach, Florida. Future editions will be global, with participating artists contributing from all over the world. The Art of Sherlock Holmes was conceived and curated by Phil Growick, himself a renowned Holmes author.

What did I think?

I'm not usually a fan of short stories but these stories were so easy to read that I actually had to check a few times that the stories in this book were written by different authors.  I've only read a few Sherlock Holmes books in my youth but I wouldn't have been surprised to find that these stories were actually written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; the authors are all clearly massive fans of Sherlock Holmes to be able to bring the world's greatest detective back to life for fans new and old.

At the beginning of each story there is a piece of artwork inspired by the story that follows it and although I have absolutely no idea about art, I found myself looking forward to seeing the different styles and interpretations in each piece.  Even better and absolutely perfect for Sherlock Holmes stories is that some pieces of art have little puzzles hidden within them.  I wish I could have spent more time solving the puzzles but it's definitely a good excuse for me to pick it up and read the book again.

I absolutely loved the little biographies of the author and artist that preceded each story.  For a total art ignoramus like me, this really piqued my interest and made me look at the art for far longer than I would usually be inclined to do.

Whilst I couldn't pick a favourite story among all the fabulous tales in the book, I have to give particular mention to The Stolen Relic by David Marcum.  This story stands out for me because it raised my eyebrows in surprise as I read the origins of hanging stockings on the fireplace at Christmas and of how Scotland adopted St Andrew's Saltire Cross.  I love books that send me running off to check things on google and teach me things that I didn't know

The Art of Sherlock Holmes is a very unusual book to review, mainly because seeing the art on kindle doesn't have the same effect as it would in a beautiful hardback coffee table book, which is the medium that would do it the most justice.  It is an absolute must-read for fans of Sherlock Holmes, but for kindle loving Holmes fans it is well worth upgrading to the physical copy of the book to fully experience The Art of Sherlock Holmes.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon



About the curator and publisher:

Phil Growick

The project was conceived by and is curated by Phil Growick. Phil ran one of the world’s leading executive search firms in the advertising industry. Phil’s network in the creative world is unparalleled which is perfect for artist acquisition. Now living in West Palm, Phil is heavily involved in the local art community and as a two-time Sherlock Holmes novelist came up with the concept of combining two of his passions – art and Holmes.

"You’re presented with murder, theft, treason, betrayal, love, loss and greed. All the ingredients to make a delicious Holmes meal of mystery: inimitable interpretations of truly unique Holmes stories."

You can find Phil Growick here:

Blog: https://holmesandwatsonandi.blogspot.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PhilGrowick  

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/thesecretjournalofdrwatson

Instagram: www.instagram.com/philgrowick/

MX Publishing MX is the world’s largest Sherlock Holmes publisher. The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories is the world’s largest new Sherlock stories collection with twelve bestselling volumes in the last four years – with three more volumes due in May 2019. Over 100 authors have taken part in the anthology including NY Times best sellers Lee Child, Jonathan Kellerman, Lyndsay Faye and Bonnie MacBird.

The collection raises money for the Stepping Stones School ( a school for children with learning disabilities) at Undershaw, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s former home which carries the Estate’s Conan Doyle Seal. The collection has overwhelming support from leading Sherlockians worldwide. MX are in a perfect position to bring the best in Holmes fiction and the Sherlock fan base to the project.

MX’ other project is the Happy Life Children’s Home in Nairobi, Kenya. Twinned with Stepping Stones, Happy Life has saved the lives of over 600 abandoned babies in the last two decades. The project has expanded to include a school and paediatric hospital.

MX Publishing on Social Media:
Website:  http://mxpublishing.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mxpublishing
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MXPublishing/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/mxpublishing/
Instagram – The Art of Sherlock Holmes: www.instagram.com/artofsherlock/

Follow the tour: