BLOG TOUR: The Prodigal Son (The Shadow of the Raven Book 5) - Chris Bishop

THERE IS REJOICING IN THE PRESENCE OF THE ANGELS OF GOD OVER ONE SINNER WHO REPENTS 

WESSEX 893. As the kingdom is once more plagued by Viking attacks, Wareham is obliged to strengthen its defences against the threat posed by huge fleet of Viking longships which are rampaging along the south coast and could strike there at any time.

Meanwhile, having recognised Edward’s true lineage, King Alfred fears that the boy may fall victim to every fraudster in the realm seeking to get their hands on the vast fortune he’s set to inherit. Worse still, given his newly established bloodline, he could well be used by those wishing to usurp Alfred as King.

The most immediate threat to the boy comes from his treacherous uncle, Edmund, who has already tried once to kill him and failed. He is believed to have fled to join a band of desperate thieves in Wareham Forest from where he could strike again at any time.

 

What did I think?

The Prodigal Son is book five in the Shadow of the Raven series, which is one of my favourite historical fiction series.  Although it can be read as a standalone, it is an absolutely brilliant instalment when read as part of the series.

I was completely invested in Edward's life and the threats on his life from his evil Uncle Edmund had my heart racing and my blood boiling.  Edmund wants what he thinks is rightfully his and only his nephew Edward stands in his way.  I loved how Edmund ends up living with a bunch of outlaws in the forest, but there really is no honour among thieves and they all have their eyes on the loot.

The writing is exceptional as Chris Bishop brings Anglo Saxon England to life and I felt fully immersed in this dark and dangerous historical period.  The threat from the Vikings once again hangs over Wessex but for Edward, the danger is much closer to home and he can't trust anyone.  

Impeccably researched with facts and fiction intertwining to create a highly entertaining story, The Prodigal Son is an outstanding conclusion to a phenomenal series.  I really cannot recommend the whole Shadow of the Raven series highly enough and if you just happen to have picked up and enjoyed The Prodigal Son, then you will love the rest of the series.  

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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Speak of the Devil - Rose Wilding

Seven women stand in shock in a seedy hotel room; a man's severed head sits in the centre of the floor. Each of the women - the wife, the teenager, the ex, the journalist, the colleague, the friend, and the woman who raised him - has a very good reason to have done it, yet each swears she didn't. In order to protect each other, they must figure out who did.

Against the ticking clock of a murder investigation, each woman's secret is brought to light as the connections between them converge to reveal a killer.

An addictive feminist thriller about love, loyalty, and manipulation, Speak of the Devil explores the roles in which women are cast in the lives of terrible men . . . and the fallout when they refuse to stay silent for one moment longer.

 

What did I think?

I didn't realise Speak of the Devil was set in Newcastle until I started reading, so I was delighted with the local setting of Rose Wilding's fabulous debut novel.  I love books set in my native North East and this one is an absolute cracker!

The story begins on New Year's Eve 1999 but there's one man who won't see in the new millennium.  Jamie Spellman's severed head greets seven women when they gather in a hotel room but nobody is shedding any tears over his death.  They all had very good reasons to kill him as I think he is the most vile man ever to have been created in a fictional novel.

The story is told from each woman's perspective, as well as from the point of view of the detective who is investigating his murder.  It's a book that has you constantly questioning 'whodunnit?' whilst getting more and more furious at the way Jamie has treated all of the women in his life.  It really could have been any of them and as each one's story is revealed, I really couldn't blame them either.

I absolutely love the way that Rose Wilding incorporates the Geordie accent into speech within the book; it's done brilliantly and really brings the book and the characters to life.  It really is a fantastic debut novel (I had to double check it actually was a debut as the writing is so accomplished).

Dark, twisty and fury-inducing, Speak of the Devil is a powerful feminist thriller from a magnificent debut author who is heading straight onto my watch list.  A highly recommended read and one that would be brilliant to discuss at book groups.  #WeWillSpeakOfTheDevil

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

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: The Ghost Ship (The Joubert Family Chronicles book 3) - Kate Mosse

The Barbary Coast, 1621. A mysterious vessel floats silently on the water. It is known only as the Ghost Ship. For months, its captain - Louise Reydon-Joubert - and her courageous crew has hunted pirates to liberate those enslaved during the course of their merciless raids.

But now the Ghost Ship is under attack – its hull splintered, its sails tattered and burnt, and the crew at risk of capture. But the bravest among them are not who they seem. Louise is fleeing a miscarriage of justice; her lover, Gilles Barenton, is at risk of being exposed - she is forced to masquerade as her brother. The stakes could not be higher: if arrested, they will be hanged for their crimes. Can they survive the journey and escape their fate?

A sweeping and epic queer love story, ranging from France in 1610 to Amsterdam and the Canary Islands in the 1620s, The Ghost Ship is a thrilling novel of adventure and buccaneering, love and revenge, stolen fortunes and hidden secrets on the High Seas. Most of all, it is a tale of defiant women in a man's world. 

What did I think?

I have been adding Kate Mosse novels to my book collection for a number of years but shockingly, The Ghost Ship is the first of her novels that I have read.  The Ghost Ship is the third book in The Joubert Family Chronicles and it can totally be read as a standalone as I absolutely loved it and didn't feel at all disadvantaged that I hadn't read the earlier books in the series.  

I love historical fiction and particularly enjoy seeing a cast of characters and maps in a book.  The Ghost Ship has both...and more; there's not just one map, there are three and that's without counting the maps on the beautiful endpapers.  The maps add an extra dimension to the fully immersive experience already created by Kate Mosse's vivid and evocative writing.   

Set in the early 17th century, Louise Reydon-Joubert is breaking down the barriers that hold women in their place.  Louise doesn't just own a ship, she's the captain of it and she is respected and loved by her crew.  Of course, there are some that would see Louise put back in her place and there's some delightful skulduggery afoot.

I was completely riveted by the whole story and the blossoming romance between Louise and Gilles is beautifully portrayed.  I am even more eager to read the earlier books in the series now and I will be returning to The Ghost Ship when I read the whole series.

Filled with adventure, passion and danger, The Ghost Ship is an outstanding historical fiction novel with a feminist slant.  It's an instant classic and very highly recommended.

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

My rating:

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PUBLICATION DAY PROMO: Queuing for the Queen - Swéta Rana

I am delighted to help share the paperback publication day love for Swéta Rana's novel Queuing for the Queen.  This book sounds absolutely delightful and I will be adding to my wish list.  Scroll down to find out more.

One queue. 250,000 people. Twenty-four life-changing hours.

A young boy wearing a cereal box crown, impatiently dragging his mother behind him.

A friendly man in a khaki raincoat, talking about his beloved Leeds United to anyone who will listen.

An elderly woman who has lived her life alongside the Queen, and is just hoping she’ll make it to the end of the queue to say goodbye.

And among them, a British Indian mother and daughter, driven apart by their differences, embarking on a pilgrimage which neither of them yet know will change their lives forever.

Full of secrets and surprises, this uplifting novel celebrates not only the remarkable woman who defined an era and a country, but also the diverse and unique people she served for so long.

Purchase Links 

Amazon UK 

Amazon.com

Kobo – the ebook is currently only 99p!!!

About the author:

Swéta Rana was born into a Gujarati family in Birmingham, and now lives in south London. She studied Philosophy and Theology at Oxford before doing a Master’s in Publishing at UCL. After working briefly in editorial at Orion, she moved into designing and managing commercial websites.

Swéta has enjoyed writing ever since she was a child, always taking any opportunity she can to write fiction pieces, film reviews, or articles on Indian culture. Queuing for the Queen is her first novel.

In her spare time, Swéta takes Hindi language classes, sings soprano in a chamber choir, and volunteers for a mental health charity.

Social Media Links:

Twitter: @s_rana_

Website: https://swetarana.com/ 

BLOG TOUR: The Wedding Dress Repair Shop - Trisha Ashley

Can her heart be mended too?

Garland Fairford has her dream job as a historical Costumier in London and is engaged to a handsome and successful playwright, Marco.

Whilst working on an exhibition of dresses owned by a Victorian actress, Garland meets a long-lost relative - Honey Fairford. Having no family, Garland is delighted, and intrigued to discover Honey is planning to open a wedding dress museum in Lancashire.

When Garland loses her fiancée and her job in the same week, she is excited to accept Honey's offer to work at the museum. Escaping London, and her old life, Garland is then shocked to be confronted with a ghost from her past - Thom.

As Garland starts to repair the beautiful vintage wedding dresses for the museum, as well as her relationship with Thom, could this finally be the chance for her own happy-ever-after?

 

What did I think?

I am absolutely astonished that The Wedding Dress Repair Shop appears to be the first Trisha Ashley book I have read and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  It's incredibly heartwarming and very intriguing with a family mystery to uncover as well as the story of each wedding dress that has been donated to the museum.

Everything is going right for Garland Fairford and she must feel very lucky to have both a job and a fiancé that she loves, but it quickly becomes clear that not everything in Garland's garden is rosy.  Garland's fiancé Marco is a self-centred swearword of a man and I absolutely detested him and his treatment of Garland.  

Luckily for Garland, a distant relative (Honey Fairford) provides her with the perfect escape when her life in London goes pear-shaped.  You might expect from the book title that Garland opens a wedding dress repair shop but she doesn't, she ends up repairing wedding dresses for Honey's new museum.   Garland doesn't have a shop open to the general public so I have to say that I was a little perplexed about the choice of book title, however, it is a wonderful story and the Wedding Dress museum sounds amazing.

I loved the excerpts from Honey and Garland's ancestor's journal that are sprinkled throughout the book.  Rosa-May's story is set in 1815 as her new husband prepares to fight in the Battle of Waterloo and it ties in nicely with the wedding dress museum storyline.  The stories about each wedding dress are so poignant and one particular wedding dress story brought a tear to my eye, I feel emotional now just thinking about it.

Beautifully written and a joy to read, The Wedding Dress Repair Shop is a heartwarming and alluring novel that delighted me from start to finish (even the bits with nasty Marco in).  It may be my first Trisha Ashley book, but it certainly won't be my last - I loved it.

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:

Trisha Ashley's Sunday Times bestselling novels have sold over one million copies in the UK and have twice been shortlisted for the Melissa Nathan award for Romantic Comedy. Every Woman for Herself was nominated by magazine readers as one of the top three romantic novels in the last fifty years.

Trisha lives in North Wales. For more information about her please visit www.Facebook.com/TrishaAshleyBooks or follow her on Twitter @trishaashley.

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BLOG TOUR: The Bride - John Nicholl

She’s on trial for murder… Now it’s her turn to tell her story…

The truth is that I loved James with my whole heart. We were soulmates: meant to be together forever. On the morning of our wedding, I had just found out I was carrying his child.

But it’s time to tell my side of the story. It’s time everyone knew what happened on that wedding day, on our honeymoon, and on that fateful last drive together. It’s time everyone found out about the secrets and about the threat that loomed over our marriage. It’s time everyone found out who really killed James.

And I need everyone to believe me. To believe I’m not a killer. Because if they don’t, then my baby won’t just have no father… she’ll have no mother.

 

What did I think?

John Nicholl's books always hook me from the start with a wonderfully tense and gripping storyline and The Bride is no exception.  I absolutely loved it and couldn't wait to discover Daisy's story and find out what had happened to her new husband, James.

The tension is palpable throughout as Daisy tells her story about how she so quickly went from being a bride to a widow.  We meet Daisy, widowed and pregnant, when she is remanded in prison and writing her story for her unborn child.  As if that wasn't enough of a hook, the mysterious circumstances surrounding her new husband's disappearance and subsequent death had me doubly hooked.

I loved how the book is written in Daisy's voice and it really felt as if she was speaking out loud to me as I was reading.  You can't help but feel sorry for her when her happy days as a newlywed are cut so devastatingly short.  I couldn't read fast enough to find out what had happened to James and how Daisy has ended up on trial for murder.   I had many theories and I'm delighted to say that all of them were wrong!

Addictive, twisty and tense, The Bride is an incredibly gripping psychological thriller that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

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

My rating:

Purchase link: https://mybook.to/thebridesocial

About the author:

John Nicholl is the bestselling author of numerous psychological thrillers and detective series, previously published by Bloodhound, and inspired by his real-life experience as an ex-police officer and child protection social worker. Boldwood will be publishing the next title in his Galbraith series and a new psychological thriller in autumn 2022, and will be reissuing his bestselling backlist from May 2022.

Social Media Links –  

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

Twitter https://twitter.com/nicholl06 

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

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/JohnNichollNews   

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/john-nicholl 

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Conviction - Jack Jordan

TO STEAL A MAN'S FREEDOM ALL IT TAKES IS . . . CONVICTION

Wade Darling stands accused of killing his wife and teenage children as they slept before burning the family home to the ground. 

 

When the case lands on barrister Neve Harper’s desk, she knows it could be the career making case she’s been waiting for. But only if she can prove Wade’s innocence. 

A matter of days before the case, as Neve is travelling home for the night, she is approached by a man. He tells her she must lose this case or the secret about her own husband’s disappearance will be revealed.

 

Failing that, he will kill everyone she cares about until she follows orders.

 

Neve must make a choice – betray every principle she has ever had by putting a potentially innocent man in prison, or risk putting those she loves in mortal danger.

 

What did I think?

Conviction is the book that everyone is talking about and rightly so as it's another corker from The Master of the Moral Dilemma, Jack Jordan.  Miss this one at your peril; it's an absolute must read.

I love a good courtroom drama and this is a cracker as you actually feel as if you're judge and jury, sifting through evidence and deciding 'Guilty' or 'Not Guilty'.  I must have changed my mind a hundred times as the twists and turns of the trial played out.  Of course, this is a Jack Jordan book so there can't just be one hook...the defence barrister is being blackmailed into throwing the trial, which is a moral dilemma and a half.  

The plotting is razor sharp, the writing is flawless and the author continues to showcase his limitless talent, so I don't have to be Mystic Meg to predict that this book is going to be HUGE.  I am completely in awe of Jack Jordan's amazing writing and his imagination knows no bounds.  So, is Wade Darling guilty or not guilty?  You'll just need to read the book to find out!

Gripping, fast-paced and super-twisty, Conviction is absolutely brilliant and it's easily going to be one of my books of the year.  Once you pick it up, you won't be able to put it down.  Very highly recommended.

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

My rating:

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UK.Bookshop.org

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