Book Blog Tour Stop: Falling in Louvre by Fiona Leitch

Falling in Louvre by Fiona Leitch

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'A heartfelt, funny and romantic caper - a mashup masterpiece!' - Sandy Barker, author of 'That Night in Paris'.

Bertrand is King of the Pigeons…

Unofficially. From his perch atop a gargoyle on Notre Dame cathedral, he surveys his kingdom. He sees Sylvie Cloutier, art lover and ex-antiques dealer, making dinner for her bullying husband Henri, trapped in their loveless marriage like a bird in a gilded cage. He sees security guard, hopeless romantic and bookworm Philippe Moreau cycling through the streets of Paris in his crumpled uniform, late (again) for his night shift at the museum.

When Sylvie begs her husband to let her go to work, he gets her a job as an evening cleaner at the Louvre. He thinks such a menial position will dispel any ideas about independence she might have, but his plan backfires when she falls in love with kind, gentle Philippe. They decide to run away together, but there’s a major problem: neither of them has any money.

One stormy night in the Louvre, the answer to their prayers falls into their lap… But is it really the solution, or just another, even bigger problem?

What follows is a romantic, wistful but madcap adventure through (and under) the city of lights, involving a stolen painting, an art heist in reverse, and Eric Cantona. Will love find a way?

PURCHASE LINK

mybook.to/Louvre

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Fiona Leitch is a writer with a chequered past. She's written for football and motoring magazines, DJ'ed at illegal raves and is a stalwart of the low budget TV commercial, even appearing as the Australasian face of a cleaning product called 'Sod Off'. After living in London and Cornwall she's finally settled in sunny New Zealand, where she enjoys scaring her cats by trying out dialogue on them. She spends her days dreaming of retiring to a crumbling Venetian palazzo, walking on the windswept beaches of West Auckland, and writing funny, flawed but awesome female characters. Her debut novel, ‘Dead in Venice’, was published by Audible as one of their Crime Grant scheme finalists, and her bestselling cosy mystery series, The Nosey Parker Mysteries, is published by One More Chapter/HarperCollins.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

https://www.facebook.com/fionakleitch

https://www.instagram.com/leitchfiona/

https://twitter.com/fkleitch

www.fionaleitch.com

Publication Day Spotlight: A Reckless Match by Kate Bateman

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From #1 bestselling author of historical romances, Kate Bateman, comes a new regency series about two feuding families, and reunited childhood enemies whose hatred turns to love, A RECKLESS MATCH (St. Martin’s Paperbacks, September 28, 2021, $8.99). Kate Bateman brings crackling banter, steamy romance, and a dash of adventure into the first book in the Ruthless Rivals series.

Madeline Montgomery grew up despising––and secretly loving––the roguish Gryffud “Gryff” Davies. Their families have been bitter rivals for hundreds of years, but even if her feelings once crossed the line between love and hate, she’s certain Gryff never felt the same. Now, she’s too busy saving her family from ruin to think about Gryff and the other “devilish” Davies siblings. Since he’s off being scandalous in London, it’s not like she’ll ever see him again...

As the new Earl of Powys, Gryff Davies planned on spending his post-war life enjoying the pleasures of London. But when an illegal duel forces him to retreat to his family’s Welsh castle, he realizes the only exciting thing in the dull countryside will be seeing the fiery Maddie Montgomery. Thoughts of his nemesis sustained Gryff throughout the war; but the girl he loved to tease has grown into a gorgeous, headstrong woman – who loathes him just as much as she ever did. Will secret tunnels, dangerous smugglers, and meddling from their feuding families be enough to make Maddie and Gryff realize that their animosity is really attraction...and maybe even love?

REVIEW

It all started as a dispute over a pig! Now centuries later, a bitter rivalry still exists between the Davies' and the Montgomerys'.

It's The Spring Equinox and Madeline "Maddie" Montgomery is patiently waiting for the new earl to meet up and exchange a promise that both families will remain civil towards each other for the coming year. As the time nears midday, Maddie hopes no one turns up because it would mean the Davies' would cede the common land they share… a place likely to be rich with coal and gold. However, just as she is certain, good fortune will save the day for her family, Gryff appears. Only, instead of shaking her hand to confirm another peaceful year, he steals a kiss from her…

Gryffud "Gryff" Davies, Earl of Powys is at Trellech Court, his ancestral home after fleeing London due to taking part in an illegal duel. As someone who has recently inherited the earldom, it's a chance for him to learn more about the responsibilities he's reluctantly shouldered with. On 21st March, as part of his duty, he has to meet with a Montgomery and shake their hand as a sign to continue their agreement; to remain tolerant towards each other. However, as he approaches the meeting place, he's surprised to see Maddie Montgomery, the girl he used to tease. Only, she's now a grown woman… a very beautiful one!

As I've come to expect, the author has written another fabulous novel, brimming with detail and romance. Both the protagonists are extraordinary characters in their own way, as we learn more about them. It's always satisfying when a heroine has substance, as Maddie's feisty character shines and proves she is so much more than just an earl's daughter. Equally, Gryff is a swoon-worthy hero and deserving of the woman he teased relentlessly as a child. The dialogue is fun and flirty and the historical references are insightful and combine into an all-round entertaining novel.

A Reckless Match is the first novel in Ms Bateman's new series; Ruthless Rivals and I can't wait to pick up and read more from one of my favourite historical novelists.

***arc generously received courtesy of St Martin's Paperbacks via NetGalley***

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon US               Amazon UK

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kate Bateman, (also writing as K. C. Bateman), is the #1 bestselling author of historical romances, including her RITA® nominated Renaissance romp, The Devil To Pay, and the novels in the Secrets & Spies series To Steal a Heart, A Raven’s Heart, and A Counterfeit Heart. When not writing novels that feature feisty, intelligent heroines and sexy, snarky heroes you want to both strangle and kiss, Kate works as a fine art appraiser and on-screen antiques expert for several popular TV shows in the UK. She splits her time between Illinois and her native England. Follow her on Twitter to learn more.

Publication Day Spotlight: Kissing Under The Mistletoe by Suzanne Enoch, Amelia Grey and Anna Bennett

From the Scottish highlands, to the bustle and tussle of London, to a hotel on the outskirts of town, Suzanne Enoch, Amelia Grey, and Anna Bennett bring the joy of Christmas romance in...

KISSING UNDER THE MISTLETOE 

(St. Martin’s Paperbacks, September 28, 2021, $8.99).

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Great Scot! by Suzanne Enoch

Miss Jane Bansil knows she will never have a fairy-tale moment. Well past the marriageable age, she’s taken a position as a companion and is now stuck in Scotland for Christmas, alone even in the middle of the boisterous MacTaggert family. But when Brennan Andrews, an architect and cousin to the MacTaggerts, arrives to draw up plans for a new family home, Jane must decide if she will take a chance at a happily-ever-after, or settle into her small, safe life for good.

Christmas at Dewberry Hollow by Amelia Grey

Miss Isabelle Reed has no plans to ever fall in love. She has a perfectly acceptable life with her mother at the Dewberry Hollow Inn, thank you very much. But when Gate, the Duke of Notsgrave’s grandson, appears at Dewberry Hollow searching for a carving on a tree, Isabelle cannot help but get involved. But Gate’s charm and their instant attraction makes Isabelle question if she’s willing to take her chance at love once again.

My Mistletoe Beau by Anna Bennett

Miss Eva Tiding is determined to cheer her widowed father with the perfect Christmas gift. Even if it means breaking into the home of the rakish Earl of Frostbough who swindled Papa out of his pocket watch. But when the earl, Jack Hardwick, catches her in the act, they strike a deal: she’ll pose as his fiancée in exchange for the watch. Falling in love is not part of the plan—but with a little Christmas magic, anything is possible…

 REVIEW

'Tis the time of year to begin preparing for the oncoming festivities, therefore there's no better time to snuggle up with this Christmas historical anthology and read three delightful romances full of seasonal cheer, promises and kisses!

Great Scot! by Suzanne Enoch – Those who have read any of the Wicked Highlanders novels, will rejoice at a reunion with the McTaggarts as they prepare to spend Hogmanay at their ancestral home at Aldriss Park. Great Scot is a delightful romance between Lady Aldriss's companion, Jane Bansil and architect, Brennan Andrews.

It's a heart-warming story about a spinster, who believes she's too old to find love, and a widower, who never expected to meet someone special again after the premature death of his wife. Set against the wild Highland landscape, the author delights us with cameo appearances of familiar characters, snowy landscapes and celebrations befitting wild men in kilts!

Christmas at Dewberry Hollow by Amelia Grey – Heartfelt, a wonderful story full of promise as Isabelle and Gate try and fulfil a frail old man's dying wish. It's an emotional story, full of compassion and highlights the vulnerability and struggles for senior people. However, against a task that appears to be fruitless, love finds a way.

My Mistletoe Beau by Anna Bennett – Bold and beautiful, Miss Eva Tidings meets her match after breaking into Jack Hardwick, Lord Frostbough home. It's a fun and frivolous enemies to lovers tale where feelings begin to take over, as their fake relationship and lies become more tricky to navigate.

Overall, all the novellas are brimming with seasonal festivities, love, friendship and snow! Prepare to indulge in a feast of Christmas' past in this marvellous collection of Christmassy love.

***arc generously received courtesy of St Martin's Paperbacks via NetGalley***

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon US               Amazon UK

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

A native and current resident of Southern California, SUZANNE ENOCH loves movies almost as much as she loves books, with a special place in her heart for anything Star Wars. She has written more than forty Regency novels and historical romances, which are regularly found on the New York Times bestseller list. When she is not busily working on her next book, Suzanne likes to contemplate interesting phenomena, like how the three guppies in her aquarium became 161 guppies in five months.

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author AMELIA GREY read her first romance book when she was thirteen and she’s been a devoted reader of love stories ever since. Her awards include the Booksellers Best, Aspen Gold, and the Golden Quill. Writing as Gloria Dale Skinner, she won the coveted Romantic Times Award for Love and Laughter and the prestigious Maggie Award. Her books have sold to many countries in Europe, Indonesia, Turkey, Russia, and most recently to Japan. Several of her books have also been featured in Doubleday and Rhapsody Book Clubs. Amelia is the author of over twenty-five books, including the Heirs' Club trilogy and the Rakes of St. James series. She’s been happily married to her high school sweetheart for over thirty-five years and she lives on the beautiful gulf coast of Northwest Florida.

ANNA BENNETT started swiping romances from her mom’s bookshelf as a teenager and decided that books with balls, dukes, and gowns were the best. So, when she had the chance to spend a semester in London she packed her bags—and promptly fell in love with the city, its history, and its pubs. She dreamed of writing romance, but somehow ended up a software analyst instead. Fortunately, a few years and a few careers later, Anna found her way back to writing the stories she loves and won the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart®. She lives in Maryland with her husband and three children, who try valiantly not to roll their eyes whenever she quotes Jane Austen.

 

Book Cover Reveal: Sherlock Holmes and the Singular Affair

Sherlock Holmes & the Singular Affair

Blurb

Before Baker Street, there was Montague.

Before partnership with a former army doctor recently returned from Afghanistan, Sherlock Holmes had but the quiet company of his own great intellect. Solitary he might be but, living as he did for the thrill of the chase, it was enough.

For a little while, at the least, it was enough.

That is, until a client arrives at his door with a desperate plea and an invitation into a world of societal scandal and stage door dandies. Thrust deep in an all-consuming role and charged with the safe-keeping of another, Holmes must own to his limits or risk danger to others besides himself in this the case of the aluminium crutch.

Pre-order Links

Publication Date: 7th December

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09DXQVT56/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09DXQVT56/

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sherlock-holmes-the-singular-affair-m-k-wiseman/1140115651?ean=9781734464146

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/sherlock-holmes-the-singular-affair

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/sherlock-holmes-amp-the-singular-affair/id1583511548

Author Bio 

M. K. Wiseman has degrees in Interarts & Technology and Library & Information Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her office, therefore, is a curious mix of storyboards and reference materials. Both help immensely in the writing of historical novels. She currently resides in Cedarburg, Wisconsin.

Social Media Links 

http://mkwisemanauthor.com

https://twitter.com/FaublesFables

https://www.facebook.com/FaublesFables/

https://www.instagram.com/faublesfables/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7073540.M_K_Wiseman

One Day Blog Blitz & Author Guest Post: A Cornish Summer at Pear Tree Farm

A Cornish Summer at Pear Tree Farm by Angela Britnell

Author Guest Post

Thanks so much for inviting me to stop by your blog today to chat about my new trans-Atlantic romance ‘A Cornish Summer at Pear Tree Farm’. I see we have something in common as we’re both English girls who’ve ended up a fair distance from home because of marrying our own heroes!

When I finish work for the day one of my guilty pleasures is watching a popular English television series called ‘Escape to the Country’. It features people who are tired of city life and searching for the perfect rural property so they can relocate. Although he doesn’t realise it at first my new book’s hero, Ward Spencer turns out to be seeking his own version of ‘Escape to the Country’ when he arrives in Cornwall. All the ex-country music star knows is that he’s desperate to escape Nashville and the negative fall-out from his former celebrity lifestyle. He selects Cornwall for a much-needed holiday only because one of his distant ancestors was a Cornish miner who emigrated to America. Ward certainly doesn’t expect his visceral reaction to the land Bill Tremayne once called home.

Something about the remoteness, the stunning rugged coastline and the slower pace of life had nibbled at the edges of Ward’s tension until the wild idea of staying on crept in.

In the television programme the presenters would never suggest the sprawling eight-bedroom Tregereth House with its two acres of land as the ideal retreat for a single man but when Ward sees a picture of the large solid stone house with its old-fashioned sash windows and Cornish slate roof in the estate agent’s window it immediately draws him in. He’s not a fanciful man but after he discovers the word Tregereth means mercy in Cornish it clinches the sale for him. It’s the estate agent who suggests the possibility of making money from Ward’s new home and he seizes on it not because the hospitality business is something he’s always wanted to do but more because he’s confused about what new direction to go in and this strikes him as something worth trying. When it also becomes a way to possibly help his sister with her troubled marriage that’s an added bonus.

My other main character, Nessa would roll her eyes at the naïve television programme participants who wax lyrical about their wish for a property which includes holiday lets or land for glamping. She knows the reality of the tourist business in Cornwall only too well because she grew up with parents who relied on the short, weather-dependent summer season for their economic survival. Now that Pear Tree Farm camp site is her sole responsibility she’s aware that if she doesn’t make some drastic changes soon and become more profitable she might be forced to look for her own escape in a completely different direction.

If you’re intrigued enough now to want to explore your own type of escape between the pages of “A Cornish Summer at Pear Tree Farm’ it’s available now in eBook, paperback and on audio. Later on if you’re curious to see what happens to some of the characters you’ll only have to wait until early December when ‘A Cornish Christmas at Pear Tree Farm’ will be released.

Blurb

Cornish charm and a Tennessee twist – the perfect pair?
Nessa Vivian is determined to keep her parents’ business afloat, but Pear Tree Farm near the backwater Cornish village of Polgarth didn’t do well as farm, and it’s not faring much better as a camp site. Maybe it’s due to Nessa’s habit of taking in troubled runaways, like ex-soldier Crispin, for next to nothing. Or perhaps her highly-strung sister Lowena is right – caravans named after Beatles’ songs and homegrown pears are not enough to turn the farm into a tourist haven.
Then another troubled runaway turns up, posing the greatest threat yet. Ex-musician Ward Spencer from Tennessee is certainly intriguing, but could his plans to put nearby Tregereth House on the map mean Pear Tree Farm is finished – or does his arrival signal a second lease of life, and not just for Nessa’s business?

Purchase Link

mybook.to/SummerAtPearTreeFarm

 

Author Bio 

Angela grew up in Cornwall, England and returns frequently from her new home in Nashville, Tennessee to visit family and friends, drink tea and eat far too many Cornish pasties!

A lifelong love of reading turned into a passion for writing contemporary romance and her novels are usually set in the many places she's visited or lived on her extensive travels. Thanks to over three decades of marriage to her wonderful American husband she's a huge fan of transatlantic romance and always makes sure her characters get their own happy-ever-after.

She is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association. Her first novel ‘Truth and Consequence’ was published in 2006 and she’s now had over 30 novels published internationally and several short stories in women’s magazines.

If you'd like to find out more of what Angela gets up to (Advance warning: this may include references to wine, dark chocolate, Poldark and the hunky Aidan Turner) check out www.angelabritnellromance.com or follow her on www.facebook.com/angelabritnell , www.twitter.com/angelabritnell and on Instagram as Angela Golley Britnell.

New Publication Spotlight with an Author Guest Post: A Lethal Arrogance by D.S. Lang

GUEST POST

My Arabella Stewart Historical Mystery series is set shortly after the end of the Great War, which claimed the lives of approximately 8.5 million soldiers. Along with those deaths came terrible destruction in the French countryside. Yet, poppies were still growing in places throughout the conflict.

John McCrae, a Canadian officer and surgeon, was moved to write the now famous poem “In Flanders Fields” after the death of a friend. Moina Michael, an American college professor, read his work in a magazine shortly before the armistice and wrote “We Shall Keep Faith.” Michael committed to always wearing a red poppy to remember the dead. She was instrumental in getting the American Legion to make the flower their symbol. In the United States, the Legion still sells poppies every year around Memorial Day, the last Monday in May. Proceeds go to help veterans.

The poppy remains a symbol to honor the fallen in the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. However, in those countries, it is sold and worn around November 11 which was Armistice Day, the end of hostilities in the Great War.

A “Poppy Appeal” began in England in 1921, by the Royal British Legion, and continues today. The Poppy Factory was opened in 1922 and employed wounded war veterans. It is still in business and continues to employ disabled veterans and dependents. Another Poppy Factory opened later in Scotland and is also still in operation.

France and Belgium commemorate November 11 with Remembrance Day. In France, the blue cornflower is the bloom of choice, instead of the poppy. Artificial cornflowers, known as the Bleuet de France, are sold. Funds go to victims of war. Sales date back to the 1920s when veterans of the Great War produced the artificial flowers.

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A Lethal Arrogance-An Arabella Stewart Historical Mystery Book 3

After returning home from her service as a United States Army Signal Corps operator in the Great War, Arabella Stewart’s goal, to save her family’s resort, seems within reach as the summer season progresses. She and her business partner, Mac MacLendon, look forward to re-establishing a successful championship golf tournament, once the signature event of the resort’s year. Problems arise when one of the contestants, an overbearing snob who has created problems at other competitions, clashes with more than one person. When he is found dead, the victim of a suspicious automobile crash, Bella once again helps Jax Hastings, the town constable and her childhood friend, investigate. As they pursue answers, Bella and Jax find several suspects who might have wanted to make the victim suffer for his lethal arrogance.

PURCHASE LINKS

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lethal-Arrogance-Historical-Mystery-Book-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B09DHND6JZ/

https://www.amazon.com/Lethal-Arrogance-Historical-Mystery-Book-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B09DHND6JZ/

AUTHOR BIO

D.S. Lang, a native Ohioan, has been making up stories since she was a little girl, and she still is! Along the way, she studied English and social studies as an undergrad. After graduate school, she went on to teach government and American history in high school. She also taught English at the junior high, high school, and college levels. In addition, she has worked as a program coordinator, golf shop manager, and online tutor.

Now, she spends much of her time reading, researching, and writing. Most recently, she has delved into the Great War era and the years immediately after it. Her Arabella Stewart Historical Mystery Series was inspired by her Great Uncle Brice who served in the American Expeditionary Force during World War One, and by her love of historical mysteries. In her spare time, she loves to spend time with family and friends, including her dog Izzy.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINK

https://www.facebook.com/Author-DS-Lang-106722091331345

Book Blog Tour Stop with an Extract: Heavy Duty People by Iain Parke

Heavy Duty People by Iain Parke

Blurb 

“…a fantastic anti-hero…positively Shakespearian in his moral complexity...If I could only recommend one book this year, it would be Heavy Duty People” – Vulpes Libris

Damage’s club has had an offer it can’t refuse, to patch over to join The Brethren MC.

But as the bikes rumble and roar across the wild Northern fells, what does this mean for Damage and his brothers? What choices will they have to make as they ride through the wind? What bloody oil stained history might it reawaken? And why are The Brethren making this offer?

Loyalty to his club and his brothers has been Damage’s life and route to wealth, but what happens when business becomes serious and brother starts killing brother?

From being in a gang to becoming a gangster, Heavy Duty People is the book that invented Biker Noir.

Get Carter meets Sons of Anarchy in this gritty British crime thriller, now in development for TV.

Extract 

Damage and his mate Billy are a Gyppo’s wingmen, they’re a team dealing this and that. Gyppo brought them in, they owe everything to him. They owe him loyalty. And Sharon is Gyppo’s girl…

Sharon didn’t always come on club runs. Sometimes she preferred to stay at home and paint. But she was here for this one, a vision in a long floating hippy cotton dress that she had matched with a set of jeans underneath for the ride up.

By six or seven I was already very drunk. I didn’t know where Gyppo had got to. Out of it somewhere I guessed.

Then I spotted Sharon. She was on her own, sat on a groundsheet to keep dry. She looked pensive, curled over, her knees clutched in her arms and drawn up to her chest, her head resting on her knees as her dress tented around her as she watched the crowd circulating around the gleaming chrome and glinting paintwork of the bikes on display.

She smiled as, ever the clown, I collapsed onto the ground next to her, beer bottle in hand. And then she made the mistake of asking me how I was.

I don’t know why I did it. Even now, I don’t know why after all that time I actually said something.

Was it just the drink talking? Or was it just that I was drunk enough for it to be able to sound like a joke if needs be? I don’t know.

I told her I loved her.

She told me that of course she knew that.

‘You’re very sweet.’ She smiled at me, shaking her head. ‘You know I like you a lot. But you know I have to look after Gyppo.’

And so she stood up, turned and walked away across the field to find Gyppo, imprinting another image of her in my mind, as she delicately stepped across the sodden ground, her skirt lifted slightly to keep it clear of the glutinous mud, her hair outlined in flaming gold by the long rays of the setting sun.

I crashed out dead drunk and stoned in the field that night where I fell beside the bonfire. I’d pitched a tent somewhere but was too wrecked to find it. I have a vague memory of someone spreading a blanket over me in the dark. I assumed it was Sharon. It seemed the sort of thing she would do.

Purchase Links

Amazon = http://mybook.to/HeavyDutyPeople

Etsy – signed trilogy = https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1021164428/the-brethren-mc-the-heavy-duty-trilogy

Author Bio 

Iain Parke imports industrial quantities of Class A drugs, kills people and lies (a lot) for a living, being a British based crime fiction writer.

Iain became obsessed with motorcycles at an early age, taking a six hundred mile cross-country tour to Cornwall as soon as he bought a moped at the tender age of sixteen. After working at a London dispatch job delivering parcels on a motorcycle, he built his first chopper in his bedroom at university, undeterred by the fact that the workshop was upstairs.

Iain worked in insolvency and business restructuring in the UK and Africa, where he wrote his first thriller The Liquidator. The success of that propelled him to write a ‘biker lit’ trilogy about the Brethren Motorcycle Club, a ‘cult’ hit which has recently been optioned for television. Today Iain lives off the grid, high up on the North Pennines in Northumberland with his wife, dogs, and a garage full of motorcycle restoration projects.

Social Media Links 

Website: http://bad-press.co.uk/

Goodreads page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4400967.Iain_Parke

Amazon.co.uk page: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Iain-Parke/e/B005BLA8T6/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iain.parke

Twitter: https://twitter.com/IainParke

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/iainparke/

Linkedin: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/iainparke

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/iainparkebadpress

Giveaway

Giveaway to Win Signed Heavy Duty trilogy bundle + sweatshirt (Open INT)

1st Prize
1 x signed copy of the Heavy Duty Trilogy
1 x Heavy Duty bookmark
1 x DILLIGAF hoodie

9 x Runners up prize.
Heavy Duty bookmark

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

Cover Reveal: Red Roses by Katie Ward

Trailer

 Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzZ4ugmOBww

Red Roses by Katie Ward

Blurb

Autumn is stuck in a rut and desperate to escape the fears that bind her to the life she’s grown to hate. Back home and living with her parents after university with a degree that seems to count for nothing, she knows something has to change. After a chance meeting with a stranger at the beach, she makes the spontaneous decision to move to Dublin and chase her dreams. However, what Autumn doesn’t realise is that she has just made the decision that will lead to her death. But does a short life have to mean an unsuccessful life? Will she be able to make it count?

Red Roses is a compelling and uplifting story that shows the true beauty of life, love and friendship.

Pre-order Links

Amazon UK               Amazon US

Publication Date: 31st October

Author Bio

Katie Ward always knew she wanted to write for a living. However, she was told by her careers advisor that “it might be more appropriate for you to work in a shop”. When Katie didn’t get the grades she needed to get into college, she negotiated a three month trial. After successfully completing the course she secured a place at her first choice university to study Journalism.

After realising she wanted to be an author, Katie moved to Dublin where she worked her way up from receptionist to Executive Assistant at Merrill Lynch. Katie continued to write in her spare time, submitting her short story into the “Do the Write Thing” competition being run by Irish TV show ‘Seoige and O’Shea’. This story was originally written when Katie was 14 after she was inspired by an article in her favourite teen magazine. Katie was the only non-Irish author selected to have her story published in an anthology of the same name which reached 19 in the Irish Best sellers List. Katie was also shortlisted for a competition judged by MAN Booker Prize winning author Roddy Doyle which was run by Metro Eireann newspaper.

Katie currently lives in Devon with her cat (aka ‘Her Royal Fluffiness’) where she sings in a community choir and has recently taken up Archery. Katie’s favourite author has been Roald Dahl since she was a child as she loves the dark edge he brings to his books. On the flip side though, Katie loves Disney, magic, unicorns and a good rom com film at the cinema with her friends.

Author Social Media Links

Twitter - https://twitter.com/KatieWWriter

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/KatieWWriter

Website - https://katiewardwriter.com/

New Publication Spotlight with an Extract: A Kingswater Summer by Jo Lambert

A Kingswater Summer by Jo Lambert

Blurb

KIERA
Newly returned from backpacking around Europe, Kiera Merrick has landed a dream job - working for actress Stella Wynter, helping set up a memory room at Penmarra, her beautiful riverside home just outside Kingswater.

JAKE
Jake Paterson is currently staying with Stella after filming the final series of his popular TV drama. He is trying to work out how to get his co-star and long-term girlfriend Rachel Tyler back after she walked out on him. But Jake soon finds himself drawn to Kiera, developing feelings for her that have no place in his life. He realises painful choices will eventually have to be made. And someone is going to get hurt.

TOM
Stella’s godson, hapless Tom Armytage is also staying at Penmarra along with girlfriend Chantal. He dreams of becoming a successful property developer and hopes Chantal’s dynamic presence will boost his ambitions. To impress her he boasts that he is heir to all of Stella’s wealth.

CHANTAL
Chantal Porter is a woman used to getting her own way. Tom is her ideal partner; weak and easily manipulated. Listening to him talk about his inheritance, she likes the idea of being Penmarra’s next mistress. But Stella and Jake’s close relationship gives her cause for concern. Who is he? And could he be a threat to her future ambitions?

As Jake comes to a difficult decision and sets off for London to sort things out with Rachel, a heart broken Kiera is left to watch helplessly as Chantal puts in place a plan to secure Tom’s inheritance. One that will change Stella’s life for ever.

Set on the south coast of Cornwall, A Kingswater Summer is a story of love, deception, and family secrets…

Extract

Central character Kiera Merrick is now working at Penmarra, the home of retired actress Stella Wynter. She is helping put together a memory room to house all her memorabilia. A mystery bug has confined Stella to bed and Kiera has offered to take her dog, Erik, for a walk in the grounds.


It was the squirrel that ruined what should have been a peaceful walk. One small grey furry animal in the wrong place at the wrong time. Afterwards Kiera was convinced the animal had deliberately taunted Erik, high in the foliage, constantly chattering as it looked down at him. Erik had been watching it, moving easily like a seasoned circus performer in the trees above them. If only it had stayed there. Instead, when it thought it was far enough ahead, it shimmied down the tree trunk and landed on the ground. From there it danced back and forth, with lots of erratic tail twitching, immediately drawing attention to itself. Erik froze. Kiera knew she had to get the lead back on him otherwise there would be trouble. Unfortunately, just as she stepped forward to clip it onto his collar, he bolted.

‘Erik,’ she called after him. ‘Come back at once.’

But Erik wasn’t listening. The squirrel took refuge in a nearby tree, ran along the branch and sat, looking down at Erik, who peered up at him, growling.

Kiera slowed, sure one small rodent would soon tire of baiting its canine pursuer. She was right. Erik lost interest. He padded back to Kiera, but as she reached down to secure his lead, she heard a rustling above her head. She looked up. The squirrel was back, jumping effortlessly from branch to branch before it took off again. Erik growled again and set off in pursuit.

Once more Kiera found herself chasing the wayward dog, dodging fallen logs and tree roots and wrestling with bracken which grew waist high in large clusters. By now she was totally lost, having no idea where they were. Emerging from yet another patch of green undergrowth she heard a yelp up ahead and then everything went quiet.

‘Erik,’ she called out, moving cautiously forward into yet another thick patch of vegetation. ‘Erik.’

She heard a whine followed by a sharp bark, and then another. When he barked for a third time, she began to move quickly towards the sound, and then without warning the ground simply disappeared under her feet. She screamed as she dropped into a dank, dark world. She felt like Alice in Wonderland falling down the rabbit hole. With nothing to hold onto, she had an awful thought she might have found the entrance to some smugglers’ tunnel, and she would end up in the bowels of the earth with no way to get out. No sooner had the thought entered her mind than she was spewed out into the light again. She landed on her backside on a mixture of damp sand and gravel, Erik beside her, his back, doggy beard and eyebrows coated in a dusting of soot.

Purchase Links

Amazon UK                Amazon US 

Author Bio 

Jo Lambert lives on the eastern edge of the city of Bath. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and the Society of Authors. She has been writing since 2008. Her first five books, a set of linked romantic sagas following the lives of several families in rural West Somerset, were followed in 2015 by Summer Moved On, a contemporary romance set in South Devon. A sequel, Watercolours in the Rain was published 2017,

In June 2018 Jo signed to Choc Lit and her debut A Cornish Affair, set in North Cornwall was published in 2019 under their Ruby Fiction imprint.

Her latest novel A Kingswater Summer is the second of a three-book series. The first, Shadows on the Water, was published in 2020. Both books can be read as standalone stories.
When she isn't writing she reads and reviews. She also has an active blog. Jo loves travel, red wine and music and long as it has a great melody and lyrics. Oh, and she often takes the odd photograph or two…

Social Media Links 

Website: https://jolambertauthor.website

Blog: http://jolambertwriter.blog

Twitter: @jolambertwriter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jolambert185

Linkedin: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/jo-lambert-6 4644530

https://www.instagram.com/jolambertauthor/

New Publication Spotlight: A Beautiful Spy by Rachel Hore

A Beautiful Spy by Rachel Hore

Minnie Gray is an ordinary young woman. She is also a spy for the British government.

It all began in the summer of 1928...

Minnie is supposed to find a nice man, get married and have children. The problem is it doesn’t appeal to her at all. She is working as a secretary, but longs to make a difference.

Then, one day, she gets her chance. She is recruited by the British government as a spy. Under strict instructions not to tell anyone, not even her family, she moves to London and begins her mission – to infiltrate the Communist movement.

Amazon UK                Amazon US 

A compelling historical novel about how a suburban typist from Edgbaston become a spy for MI5!

A Typist for the Automobile Association, Minnie Gray isn't like other young women her age. In a world where getting married and having children is the norm, she wants more from her life. So, when she meets Dolly Pyle at an event, the slightly older woman's mysterious description of her job intrigues her.

'It's not always exciting what I do, but it is useful and important.'

To Minnie's astonishment, when the two acquaintances meet again, Dolly suggests she should also work for the government. So with a promise, her details will pass on to the relevant contact, Minnie continues with her day to day life. As the weeks pass with no news, she accepts the opportunity has slipped, that's until an unexpected letter arrives, asking her to attend an interview – the beginnings of a double life.

'You'd be marvellous, I can tell. I've been watching you for a while. There's something about you they'd like, Minnie Gray.'

The author is new to me, so I jumped in feet first not knowing what to expect. As I turned the pages and details of Minnie covert work are exposed, Ms Hore's narrative highlights the intensity of the role the heroine undertook as well as her feelings for the people with whom she became associated. Specifically, the relationships she had with Percy Gladings, Max and Raymond. It emphasises Minnie's conflicting emotions and the mental pressures she endured whilst leading a double life...and the personal sacrifices she made.

Based on a true story, it's a point I was unaware of when I began A Beautiful Spy and therefore appreciate how the author has drawn our attention to the work Minnie (Olga) Gray did in the years before the breakout of WWII.

Overall, this is a thrilling and enlightening novel, which highlights the emotions of the times, not only from society but for the characters enveloped within it.

***Review copy received courtesy of Simon and Schuster UK via NetGalley***

Rachel Hore worked in London publishing for many years before moving with her family to Norwich, where she taught publishing and creative writing at the University of East Anglia until deciding to become a full-time writer. She is the Sunday Times (London) bestselling author of ten novels, including The Love Child. She is married to the writer D.J. Taylor and they have three sons. Visit her at RachelHore.co.uk and connect with her on Twitter @RachelHore.

New Publication Spotlight: Jane's Away by Clare Hawken

Jane’s Away by Clare Hawken

Roger Kurmudge is rather smug about his affluent life and happy marriage. It’s just as well his wife, Jane, is totally in the dark about what he got up to in the past. But on his retirement day, Jane disappears. Roger’s about to panic. Will he have to sell some shares or – heaven forbid! – the house in Bordeaux to pay a ransom demand? Worse – has Jane discovered his guilty secret? Then Jane’s emails start arriving. Take the dog to the vet. Look after grandson Alfie for the day. Do the washing, shopping and cooking. Host Christmas for the family. Roger doesn’t know why Jane’s gone but he’s sure he can manage her ‘women’s work’ without any trouble. Although it’s harder than it looks.

As the weeks go by and Jane stays away, Roger is forced to re-examine everything he thought he knew about his family, his life and himself. But even if Roger can change for the better, will Jane ever come back? Or has she, too, been keeping secrets of her own?

Amazon UK                Amazon US 

Jane’s Away is my debut novel, although I have a couple of other manuscripts in a drawer. I live in Wiltshire with my family, three guinea pigs and a very stubborn springer spaniel, and when I’m not writing, I’m avoiding housework by hiding in a room, reading one of the many books on my TBR pile.

https://twitter.com/clarehawken

New Publication Spotlight & Author Guest Post: Second Chance To Wear His Ring by Hana Sheik

A Fancast for My First Novel

Thank you for having me on Ellesea Loves Reading!

Today I’m talking the exciting pastime of fan-casting, sometimes called dream-casting.

I’m not a huge fan of fan-casting for my books while I’m writing the manuscripts. Even after I struggle to create mood/aesthetic boards that feature models (or actors) who I think represent my characters the best. However, I’m going to make an exception for this guest post because now that I’ve given it thought, I can’t see why this won’t be fun!

So before I start, I’ll introduce myself. Hi, my name is Hana Sheik, and my Harlequin Romance/Mills & Boon True Love, Second Chance to Wear His Ring is now out to the world! Yay!

I will be doing a fancast for my characters, starting with my heroine, Amal, and hero, Mansur “Manny”.

Amal

For my heroine, Amal, I would choose actress Anna Diop. Besides that she’s beautiful, I think Anna would portray the softer and tougher parts of Amal’s personality really well! In Second Chance to Wear His Ring, Amal is struggling to embrace her life after she’s been diagnosed with amnesia. A big question in the novel for her is whether she can learn to live with her amnesia if she can’t find a cure for it. Her memory-loss troubles aside, she’s warm-hearted, clever, and just the companion Mansur needs when the two of them travel to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from Hargeisa, Somaliland.

Mansur “Manny”

I might have gotten distracted looking for a perfect fancast for Mansur…teehee! :D

But huzzah, I found my man. Let me present to you, actor Jocko Sims. He’s tall, dark, handsome, bearded—checking all my boxes for my hero. I think he’d capture Mansur’s brooding wonderfully. Manny has a lot of shields up at the beginning of the book. He doesn’t want to let anyone get close, least of all Amal. It takes him a while to be more open emotionally, though when he does it’s a magical thing. What is it about grumpy characters letting down their guards that makes my heart race? Anyways, I loved writing him, and I hope readers love Manny too!

Other cast:

Mama Halima

Mansur’s mother is all about that tough love. She’s the reason Manny and Amal are heading off to Addis Ababa together. I picked Alfre Woodard to portray her:

Hakeem

Even though he’s a minor player, Hakeem is one of my favorite characters. He’s remained a constant support as Mansur’s friend throughout several revisions of the manuscript; I’m glad he made it to the end with everyone. That steadfast loyalty to his friend is why I had to dreamcast him as O’Shea Jackson Jr. (loved him in Den of Thieves!).

As I said, I don’t fancast often, mostly as I like having an image of my characters in my head looking one way. Although after this, I might start to play around with fancasts more. This has been a blast!

Thank you for having me on your blog, Lynn. It was lovely to be here. :)

* * *

A forgotten past…

Could pave the way to forever!

When millionaire Mansur Ali is called urgently home to Somaliland, he’s shocked to find that the woman who broke his heart needs his help. After an accident, Amal has lost many memories…including Manny’s marriage proposal and her rejection! Manny will help her seek treatment in Addis Ababa, but he’s resolved to keep his heart firmly off-limits. A promise that is tested when their journey brings them closer than ever before…

Amazon UK | Amazon (US) | Harlequin

Amazon (Canada)

Goodreads

Harlequin 

Mills & Boon

Hana Sheik falls in love every day reading her favourite romances and writing her own happy-ever-afters. She's worked as a data entry operator, customer service rep, telemarketer, and ghostwriter—but being a romance author is without a doubt the best job ever! Born in Somalia, she moved to the beautiful capital of Canada as a toddler, and still lives there happily with her family.

Twitter (@HanaSoChic), Facebook (@HanaSheikAuthor)

Giveaway to Win 2 x PB copies of Second Chance to Wear His Ring (Open INT)

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

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