Author: bookmarksandstages

Real name is Louise. Books and Theatres are passions of mine, as is supporting people in any way I can. Since starting my blog in 2019 I’ve reviewed books and theatre. Publishers, authors, blog tour organisers kindly entrust me with books, in-exchange of an honest review. I’ve been invited to and attend book events and write them up and review. I review theatre - plays, musicals, stand up comedy. I’ve been invited to review plays and comedians. I also do interviews/Q&As, primarily with authors and actors. I love connecting with the reading, writing, publishing, acting communities. On my blog, I also have a Contact Me, if you’d like anything reviewed etc. I generally get back to people within 48hrs. I hope you enjoy my blog as I take you through my book and theatre reviews as well as book events and festivals as I attend them.

#Review of Life Begins at the Cornish Cottage by Kim Nash review by Lou @KimTheBookworm @Tr4cyF3nt0n @RandomTTours @Rararesources #ZoolooBookTours #CompulsiveReaders #FeelGoodRomance #Christmas #LifeBeginsAtTheCornishCottage

Life Begins at the Cornish Cottage
By Kim Nash

review by Louise Cannon

Life Begins at the Cornish Cottage with this first love, revisited book with a gorgeous scenic look at Cornwall. It is also special in that some of you may recognise the location of Standpiper Shore from previous books, but this particular story is Stand-Alone. It’s a beauty for this Christmas. See the blurb and my full review below
Thanks to Compulsive Readers, Random T. Tours, Rachel’s Random Resources, Zooloo Book Tours, I am on what is an exceptional digital blog tour, which all those aforementioned top blog tour organisers have teamed up with a host of us reviewers, which I am proud to have a space on. Check out my blurb and review below and then follow the rest of the tour…

Blurb

Set against the sparkling shores of Cornwall☀️, this BRAND NEW heartwarming, uplifting and gorgeously romantic tale of second chances is perfect for fans of Veronica Henry, Trisha Ashley and Cathy Bramley. ✨
When life gives you heartbreak 💔, sometimes it also gives you a second chance… 💕

When Tom Sullivan returns to the quiet village of Sandpiper Shore, Emma can hardly believe her eyes. She hasn’t seen him since they played Romeo and Juliet in their school play – a lifetime ago, before real heartbreak, and long before she ever imagined life as a widow.

The last thing she wants is to relive the past, especially with someone who once made her teenage heart flutter. But when Emma agrees to put on a charity pantomime to raise money for the air ambulance service that helped her late husband, she’s thrown firmly back into Tom’s path.

As rehearsals begin and the local community rallies around her, Emma finds unexpected joy in bringing people together – and a surprising connection with Tom that feels far too real to ignore. Maybe it’s time for Emma to become the leading lady in her own life, not just for the show, but for herself.

Full of warmth, humour and heart, this is a story about letting go and discovering that it’s never too late to take a chance on love.

While this novel is set in the same village as the other books in the Sandpiper Shore series, it can be read as a STANDALONE

Review

On first entering the gorgeous Cornish scenery, it becomes apparent it’s going to be a slow-burn, but in a luxurious reading way. The way that immerses you and really get to know the characters and the place.

Tom Sullivan was Emma’s first love who has returned to Sandpiper Shore. It’s a fascinating angle on the romance story and poses the question of will they still like each other and how will both of these characters react? They haven’t seen each other since school and now they’re both rather grown-up. It makes for a rather interesting plot shape.

Like Iris in the film, The Holiday, Emma decides it’s high time she was the leading lady of her own life and develops some gumption as opportunities are presented and memories of her younger days come flooding back, not all are those she wanted to come to the forefront of her mind…

The opportunity she grasps, however is to put on a Pantomime with her friends to raise money for charity, specifically, the Air Ambulance. This is when Tom enters the scene, but what will she do with the feelings she still seems to hold for him, even though he broke her heart many years ago?

Life Begins at the Cornish Cottage has all the warmth of a cosy fleece, heart that lightens whatever is going on around in real life, just for a moment, beautiful scenery to fall for and a joyous community you want to be part of.

Life Begins at the Cornish Cottage is one for cosying up on a dark Christmas night with hot chocolate or any other warming beverage, or doing an act of kindness and gifting it to someone.

#Review of Inside No9 Stage Fright #InsideNo9StageFright #InsideNo9 #StevePemberton #ReeceShearsmith #Theatre #TheatrePlay #Stage #UKTour

Inside No9
By Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith

Review by Louise Cannon

Inside No.9 hits all the right notes from start to finish.

It starts with one of the best and surprising ways to capture an audience’s attention. It has the best short play before the main show about theatre etiquette. It’s one that could be replicated in every theatre before shows. It’s jaw-droppingly amazing with tensions rising, reaching an incredible crescendo. Then the main event begins.

Inside No9 is cleverly quirky, witty and at times scary. It’s a genius stage version of the tv series Inside No9.

Starring the original creators Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton with a scene of a different unexpected guest star for each performance, who are not told in advance what they’re going to have to do. The ad-lib and how they get around it is funny and all good fun natured. Apparently the list of people wanting to be part of this extraordinary play was exceedingly long.

From screen to stage, this play translates very well onto the stage. The premise is putting on a show, the theatre is haunted and there’s a superstition that you will learn about pertaining to your theatre, so far from the usual and more well-known theatre superstition.

There are many references to past, present actors and comedians and a future show and theatre in general. Some songs also bring levity in a quirky sort of way.
There are some dark, strange goings on occur too in a hammerhead horror type of way.

If you haven’t seen the tv series before, it’s a bit like The Tales of the Unexpected but with darker twists. The series can be caught on IPlayer.

Inside No9 translates very well from screen to stage with the fast-paced, darkly humorous writing. The premise is putting on a show, the theatre is haunted, many references to past, present actors and comedians and a future show and theatre in general. There are some songs that bring levity in a quirky sort of way. Some dark, strange goings on occur too. I may have jumped a couple of times lol.
It’s all strangely enjoyable. Inside No.9 hits all the right notes and leaves you on a high as you leave the theatre.

It is on tour now around the UK and returning soon to London.
Inside No.9 Tour Dates and Tickets

*Please note I am not affiliated to any theatre nor company.

#Review By Lou of The Last Train Home by Sherry Hostler A Psychological Thriller of a Train Ride You Would Want To Book. @SherryHostler @adropofshery @RandomTTours #Christmas #Trains #PsychologicalThriller #TheLastTrainHome

The Last Train Home
By Sherry Hostler

review by Louise Cannon

Trains are great to travel on, but what happens on this last train home is not anywhere near what you’d expect or normally experience in this high octane, breath-taking psychological Christmas thriller. It’s a train you wouldn’t want to miss, but goes to places you wouldn’t expect. This is no ordinary train…
Check out my full review for the Random T. Tours blog tour below, after the blurb.

Blurb

Where am I?

How did I get here?

These are the questions that Molly asks when she wakes up in unfamiliar clothes on a dark, empty train docked in the middle of nowhere. She has no memory of how she got there, no means of escape, and worst of all, she isn’t sure if she’s alone.

Molly must confront the ghosts of her past, and find her voice, to make sure she has a future.

Christmas. A time for peace and goodwill. Well, that depends if you’ve been naughty or nice.

Review

The Last Train that should get you home is a clever premise. This isn’t like Murder on The Orient Express or any other train based stories I’ve come across. The protagonist, Molly doesn’t know how she got onto the train when she wakes up, so the panic and tension gives an immediate hit to the psyche. Instantly, there are more questions than answers, until you delve deeper in and fully join the ride.
The train also comes to life, or rather someone does as a message comes across the tannoy…
The train isn’t just the physical vehicle, but also cleverly represents the train of life. There is the present predicament she is in. playing with her mind a bit, but also her past that, a bit like Scrooge, she has to confront, although they are rather different from that Dickens’ character.
There are some rather deep, dark themes within the book that are thought-provoking as well as making this a terrific psychological thriller that twists and turns, with some side stories interweaving throughout. It’s very much about joining the dots, uncovering clues and piecing together the carriages of her life train to find out more about her present and if she has a future. The characters met along the way are fascinating. Some are good, others are definitely not. All are written in a way that you want to know every one of them and how they link to Molly.
The ending is breathtakingly unpredictable!

For not your average last train home after a Christmas party, this psychological thriller is for you.

Scottish Book Trust Starts New Book Subscription Service and Review of By Denise Mina @scottishbktrust @MinaDenise20861 @LoveBooksTours #BlogTour

Review and short intro written by
Louise Cannon,
Info in bold written by Book Trust Scotland Please note, I am not affiliated to any organisation or subscription service.

Scottish Book Trust starts book subscription service offering books in many genres and more…

It is the end of Bookweek Scotland and I have something special to present you from Scottish Book Trust on the Love Books Tours blog tour.
A new service from them as well as book review of what arrived as a surprise.

I was fortunate to receive one of these coveted books as a surprise from Scottish Book Trust. It was beautifully wrapped and inside was a top Scottish author’s book. In my parcel, it was by Denise Mina. Check out more about the subscription service and then my review of the book.

Get your next great read delivered to your door, chosen by one of Scotland’s best-loved authors.

Scottish Book Trust’s new monthly book subscriptions are the perfect gift for avid readers, getting out of a reading slump, or to kick start your reading journey. Your subscription also supports our vital work changing lives with reading and writing.

Have you ever wondered what your favourite authors read? To create our book subscriptions, we asked experts and best-selling authors to curate a selection of books they love around a theme. Every month, your beautifully wrapped mystery book will be delivered to you, along with exclusive postcards from the curator, book recommendations from our expert team and more. Join us today!

Join Subscription Here (opens in new tab)

Review of Conviction
By Denise Mina

Anna finds out one normal morning that her husband is upping and leaving her for her best friend and taking their two daughters. She becomes involved in a true crime podcast and realises she recognises the name of one of the victims. She is certain she can throw herself into the case and figure out what truly happened.

Anna is a fascinating character in terms of personality, what she was and who she has become. When past and present collide, this is when her character gets really interesting and you get a real feel and understanding of her.

The case itself takes her (and readers) on quite an adventure, starting in the north east of Scotland and travelling across seas. It is far from plain sailing. Along the way, there are gangsters, betrayals and more that she has to deal with.

If you like a crime looking at social media and a gutsy narrator, excellent writing that turns you into the curious reader who wants to keep turning those pages, it’s the book for you. I certainly highly recommend it.

#Review of The Lines by Matt Brolly @MattBrollyUK #TheLines #CrimeFiction #Thriller #BlogTour

The Lines
By Matt Brolly

A little later than I had planned to publish this review due to a big family health situation, here is my review on the Zooloo blog tour of Matt Brolly’s latest thriller book, The Lines. It’s deep and atmospheric with fascinating character situations. Find out more below…

DS Liam Kilshaw was a former marine who almost died on a mission gone wrong. It’s an interesting and somewhat scary look into when missions do go wrong and the aftermath and how some, like DS Liam Kilshaw try to cope with PTSD. He sits at juxtapositions in personality. He has inner strength and enough within him to keep moving forwards as much as work and trying to solve crimes is concerned, yet there is also a fragility and vulnerability about him. The way he’s portrayed makes him an interesting character to delve into. He’s quite timely when men’s mental health is making waves in conversations.

The more than just highlighting of county lines is powerful and reminds, even though little to nothing is said in the news anymore about what is a very real concern that such activities still go on.

DS Kilshaw has a lot of work on his hands around the brooding Cornish coast. There’s the body of a young man floating in the water, but isn’t merely a tragic drowning, but is murder and the body of a young woman is also found. He reckons there could be a link between them both with county lines drugs gangs.
It soon becomes apparent he doesn’t know who he can trust, not even the water as crime solving and his memories collide.

The book is rather atmospheric, raw in parts and truly hooks you in. It’s a crime fiction book you wouldn’t want to miss out on.

#Review of The Nancys And The Case of the Missing Necklace by R.W.R. McDonald @OrendaBooks @RandomTTours #TheNancys

The Nancys and the Case of the Missing Necklace
By R.W.R McDonald

Review by Louise Cannon

Today I am on the Random T. Tour and Orenda Books blog tour with a review of The Nancys with a review. It’s a book to treat the young adult/teen in your life, perhaps for Christmas.

Nancy Drew, I loved reading about her mysteries when I was a teen. It’s one of the series that got me into liking crime fiction, that’s carried on into adulthood. This sort of brings it back to life, in a sense, but respectfully without re-writing them. This series is with a whole new character who discovers Nancy Drew’s mysteries. It’s a delightful way to introduce one character from the past that can still be read to another in present times. The representation of this merge feels significant and shows teens that they too can read books that perhaps their parents read and enjoy them as well as follow a new character all at once.
This time with 11 year old Tippy Chan who lives in a quiet part of New Zealand. She’s discovered her uncle’s old Nancy Drew books and can’t get enough of them. She’s so taken by her that she wants to be just like her newly discovered idol. The moment arrives when she discovers her teacher, dead beside Riverstone’s only traffic light. This sparks off the detective club, she affectionately calls The Nancys. Her mum isn’t exactly happy about it and between that and a wrongful arrest, all seems as thought lots is conspiring against its formation.

Tippy herself has a lot of imagination and lots of motivation about her, a bit like Nancy Drew. Eleven year olds, perhaps not to form a crime solving group, could find inspiring, that they can do more than just talk about something, but actually follow through with friends. Tippy may be the character to draw out something positive.

The book is charming, humorous and mysterious. Tippy herself is honest, bright, super observant and has a wit about her. She’s also dealing with grief as she’s lost her dad. This is handled sensitively and also, rather heart-warmingly, shows how escaping into books and also drawing some inspiration from them can bring about a bit of healing as well as remembering that bringing friends together can be positive too. It’s quite a meaningful book where its themes are concerned.

The mystery itself is one that teens can delve into and have fun trying to solve alongside Tippy and her crew of Nancys.

Readers also see Uncle Pike. He’s flamboyant and quite quirky. He’s also a hairdresser to the stars. He brings a different side to Tippy’s family, which is both fun and interesting. There’s also the rather cynical Melanie who is a neighbour. It brings Tippy’s outer world together and some fascinating conversations as well as those with The Nancys.