#Review of The Wedding of the Year by Jill Mansell @JillMansell @IsabelleHPG @headlinepg #TheWeddingOfTheYear #JoyWithJill

The Wedding of the Year
By Jill Mansell

You’re invited to The Wedding of the Year!
Jill Mansell’s books are heart-warming and compelling, absorbing reads and The Wedding of the Year is another beautiful read. Find out more in the blurb and my review below.

Blurb

Discover the unputdownable new novel from the queen of the feelgood romcom!

Love, friendship and secrets revealed as the sun beats down on dazzling blue Cornish seas . . .

It’s set to be a perfect day – until the chauffeur is asked to keep driving the bride around the church. This wedding definitely isn’t going as planned.

Lottie is a guest at the wedding when she sees Max. No kiss has ever matched the last one they shared fifteen years ago. They were on the brink of a beautiful love story, until a shocking event tore them apart. Now here he is, still ridiculously good-looking, teasing Lottie in the old way – and that overwhelming electric attraction is back. But Max is way out of bounds.

Freya owes Cameron everything. But she doesn’t love him. Which is a shame, because they’re about to be married.

Ruby has been the perfect wife. When she discovers the truth about her husband, her response is reckless and delicious. But after that, nothing will ever be the same again.

Review

The Wedding of the Year! It sure is, with gorgeous Cornish scenery and warm weather, what’s better than to snuggle down and feel the heat as all around you freezes outside with this book.

In drama, you know when someone expects the perfect day, with all going swimmingly well with not even a sniff of a hitch, it isn’t going to be the case.
Let the drama begin and unfold in The Wedding of the Year!

Cameron and Freya’s wedding was much anticipated and was supposed to be perfect and magical. There’s a massive problem! She doesn’t love him. It’s quite a pre-requisite and crucial thing to getting married, but it just isn’t there.

Elsewhere, there’s loves that didn’t work out at a certain time in their pasts, some that you hope will be re-kindled. There’s even an unexpected affair involving the vicar.

It shows how one event can completely change the course of what seemed like life’s path laid out, but then unexpected cracks, bumps and diversions occur that weren’t planned for, let alone predicted. The characters all have a story to tell in their not so easy-flowing romantic side of their lives.
There are secrets and lies to discover in this page-turner, eventful book of twists and turns.

The Wedding of the Year is sparkling with life and love that is easy to sink into and be with the characters until the very end as they all look for their happy ever afters.

#Review By Lou of Return to Half Moon Farm By Holly Hepburn @HollyH_Author @TeamBATC @BookMinxSJV @simonschusterUK #ReturnToHalfMoonFarm

Return to Half Moon Farm
By Holly Hepburn

Another great book from Holly Hepburn that whisks you off into compelling characters and plot. Find out more in the blurb and in my review below as part of the Simon &Schuster, Books and the City blog tour *

Blurb

When Daisy’s mother falls ill she is forced to return home. With her twin sons in tow, she moves back to Half Moon Farm, her family’s ancient hop farm.

But a new life in the Kent countryside isn’t necessarily as idyllic as it might seem. Daisy’s relationship with her mother is complicated and the tumbledown farm isn’t the only thing that needs rebuilding. Daisy and her sons must adjust to life with estranged family, a leaking roof, and no WiFi.

Luckily for Daisy, she might yet find some distraction in silver fox farmer, Drew, or in the haughty heir to the nearby estate, Kit, who she can’t seem to avoid.

Daisy must learn to juggle her new life, the boys, and the daunting task of updating the farm. But there are secrets lurking in her family’s past that might throw everything into further disarray…

Review

You know when you’re on a journey, especially when you’re younger and you dare to utter those resounding words “Are we there yet?” Well that’s how this book starts, well, almost, it adds makes it a bit more adult-like by adding the word nearly in-between. Still, it evokes memories of long trips of hundreds of miles. It’s a phrase Daisy Moon hears a lot on this trip from Milton Keynes to the farm from her son, Finn, as his brother. Campbell is more matter-of-fact in his advice. The pleasurable humour of it within the first lines is brilliant because we’ve all been there and done that. They’ve also, bravely, uprooted their cat, Atticus to Half Moon Farm as he is also very much part of the family.
Nobly, Daisy has moved her family back to the farm so that she can be with her very unwell, estranged mum. She has Magda to show her the ropes of the village and her mum, since she’s been caring for her up to that point.

Hepburn gets the tone for a cosy book, just right with the banter between the characters, the possibility of romance and the more challenging times that life throws up. Each character she starts with, including the cat, plays a big part throughout the book, so no one is suddenly forgotten about when the move has actually happened. There are layers with the people who Daisy meets along the way and the things she learns, like about the RAF.

There is much for readers to learn about the characters, her family and the type of relationship wrangles that happen every so often between Daisy and her mum.

This is another great read from Holly Hepburn. This is a standalone book and if you haven’t read any of her books before, I recommend her back catalogue books too.

*Thanks to Sara Jade for inviting me and for the book, in exchange for an honest review.

#Review By Lou of War of the Wind @NeemTreePress #TheWriteReads #BlogTour #YoungAdult #MiddleGrade #EcoThriller

War of the Wind
By Victoria Williamson

Eco-Thriller with neuro-diverse characters, War of the Wind has energy to it that sweeps you away into its locale to find out what’s mysteriously happening on the Scottish island. Crossing Middle Grade and YA, War of the Wind is good for 11 to 15 year olds, although ages above this will also get something from the characterisation and vibe.

Find out more in the blurb and my thoughts in my review below.
Discover more about the author who also works for widely known and used, education company Twinkl, her other books. For schools, there is also a link to free education resources and to request a school visit.
Thanks to The Write Reads for the blog tour invite and book.

Blurb

AN ADVENTUROUS ECO-THRILLER FROM AWARD-WINNING CHILDREN’S AUTHOR VICTORIA WILLIAMSON

On a remote Scottish island, fourteen-year-old Max’s life changes forever when he loses his hearing in a boating accident. Struggling to make sense of his new life and finding it hard to adapt in school, he begins to notice other — even stranger — changes taking place when a new wind farm appears off the island’s coast.

With the help of three school friends with additional support needs, Max discovers that a sinister scientist, Doctor Ashwood, is using wind turbines to experiment on the islanders. They must find a way to shut down the government’s secret test before it spins out of control…

Review

Set on a remote Scottish Island that is surprisingly inhabited by humans as its a tough terrain and is so cut off from the rest of the world, it doesn’t even have internet. No one has even installed anything like that for their own use, like I saw someone miraculously get onto the net in factual programme: Ben Fogle’s programme, New Lives In The Wild.

Life is precious and not to be taken for granted. 14 year old, Max, had it all ie a normal, healthy life, until he was involved in a boat accident and lost his hearing. He has 3 friends who also have additional support needs. Each are portrayed fairly accurately for the higher functioning end of spectrums. For Max’s character, it is good that struggles are portrayed in adapting to a different type of life as opposed to gone deaf and gets on with things. Readers will gain a sense of either themselves or empathy and understanding as well as it being more realistic.

As other senses sharpen and Max gets more curious about what’s going on about him, he notices a new company has moved in and is erecting wind turbines just off the island’s coast and there are scientists too. Science, of course has many advantages, but some scientists and some science is not all good as Max and his friends are about to find out. This is where the mystery really begins and the book becomes more captivating as weird experiments are carried out on the islanders, using the wind turbines to see how they react and what happens and you discover what Doctor Ashford’s motives are and what he hopes to achieve…
It has a sinister vibe to it that keeps you wanting to know how it will all end.

About the Author

Victoria Williamson is an award-winning author who grew up in Scotland surrounded by hills, books, and an historical farm estate which inspired many of her early adventure stories and spooky tales. 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 additional support needs in the UK. Victoria currently works part time writing KS2 books for the education company Twinkl and spends the rest of her time writing novels, and visiting schools, libraries and literary festivals to give author talks and run creative writing workshops.

Victoria’s previous novels include The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, The Boy with the Butterfly Mind, Hag Storm, and War of the Wind. She has won the Bolton Children’s Fiction Award 2020/2021, The YA-aldi Glasgow Secondary School Libraries Book Award 2023, and has been shortlisted for the Week Junior Book Awards 2023, The Leeds Book Awards 2023, the Red Book Award 2023, the James Reckitt Hull Book Awards 2021, The Trinity School Book Awards 2021, and longlisted for the ABA South Coast Book Awards 2023, the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2020, and the Branford Boase Award 2019.

Her latest novel, The Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams, is a middle grade fantasy inspired by classic folklore. Twenty percent of the author royalties for this book are donated to CharChar Literacy, an organisation working to improve children’s literacy levels in Malawi.

You can find out more about Victoria’s books, school visits and free resources for schools on her website: www.strangelymagical.com

#Excerpt #Extract of Hunter’s Christmas And Other Stories By Val Penny @valeriepenny @SpellBoundBks @reading_pr #HuntersChristmasAndOtherStories #CrimeFiction #ShortStories #Thriller #BlogTour

Today I am on the Reading Between The Lines Blog Tour for Hunter’s Christmas And Other Stories. I have kindly been given, by the author and publisher, the blurb, an excerpt and some beautiful pictures to whisk readers away to sunnier climes. With winter biting, crimes are committed and not the usual type nor by who you might expect. Probably the least likely candidate to strike anyone, sending DI Hunter on a quest to save Christmas. I know, it’s past Christmas now, but it still would be a great wintry read that takes you to different locations with sunny skies, with enthralling mysteries that weave revenge, power, family and more into them. Discover more in the blurb and then be transported to Venice as you read a bit from the book to whet your reading appetite for a bedtime read or for a moment of quiet downtime. It’s great for dipping in and out of.

BLURB

DI Hunter Wilson is looking forward to spending a holiday in India with his girlfriend Dr Meera Sharma, away from the cold, wet winter of Edinburgh. He looks to share his happiness with others when he is attacked by Santa Claus, he says.

His team swing into action to catch his attackers but then receive information about an elf found dead in a car park and a car stolen by Mrs Claus.

Are the crimes by these Christmas characters connected?

Can Hunter’s team restore peace and good will to Christmas?

Hunter’s Christmas and Other Stories includes tales about DI Hunter Wilson and DS Jane Renwick along with those about new and different characters in this gripping collection of short stories especially for crime fiction readers.

So, sit back and relax into picturesque Venice of canals, historic bridges as you read a bit from the book itself as you meet old friends and make some new who have a crime to solve.

Extract/Excerpt

Hunter’s Christmas – from Visit to Venice

When he noticed her looking at him there was a glimmer of recognition, but he clearly couldn’t place her.

She said, “I think we’re staying at the same hotel.”

“Ah yes. Wondered where I remembered you from. Do you have a nice room?”

“It’s fine. It suits my needs. I just sleep there. I want to see as much of the city as I can, while I can.”

“I know what you mean, there’ s so much to see. And so little time.” He added. “Holidays are always too short, aren’t they? I’m Ted, Ted Davies, by the way.” He smiled at her. The smile shone from his eyes, and she couldn’t help reciprocating.

Just then the waiter brought her breakfast and his coffee. She watched as Ted added more sugar than she thought would dissolve in the cup and stirred it slowly. He should be better eating something, rather than taking in those empty calories. She always said that to Cecil and was about to offer Ted her pearls of wisdom, but he turned his head and looked out of the window. He smiled and waved at a little boy who passed, and the child waved back. This brought their conversation to an end, but she did notice him add yet more sugar to his coffee before he drank it.

Margory sipped her coffee and stared at her wish list of places to revisit; it included nowhere she hadn’t been before. That wasn’t the point of this trip at all. There were many places she and Cecil visited in Venice that they wanted to visit again, so she dug into her bag to get a pen and mark up the list. She didn’t notice the young man leave.

The first highlight of today was to be time at the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, so she settled her bill, left a more than generous tip and patted her bag before leaving the café and walking along the street to join the line to wait for the vaporetto. This would take her towards San Marco. She enjoyed being back among the canals, familiar buildings and hearing Italian spoken again. She was sorry her spoken Italian wasn’t better, but she understood most of what she heard and could read the language well.

At San Toma, she alighted and took a few photographs before realising there was no point. She had nobody to share them with, and she would never look at them again. A tear trickled down her cheek.

Margory brushed it away angrily and turned towards the Basilica. It was just as outstandingly beautiful as she had remembered. This building dated back to the thirteenth century, and that fact alone took her breath away. She bought her entry ticket but shunned joining any of the groups being taken around to have the art works explained to them. Cecil’s medical expertise had allowed them to travel the world as he lectured at conferences. He became a fount of knowledge about art too and explained the intricacies of Venetian art to her often over the years. She didn’t need a twenty-something year old art undergraduate telling her about the polyptych in the sacristy. They would have learned the history of the piece commissioned from the painter Giovanni Bellini by the three sons of Pietro Pesaro, by rote. She and Cecil knew this piece and he admired every inch of it with his soul. She felt the delight build as she stood with him to enjoy it.

Did these thoughts make her sound snobbish? Probably. She didn’t care. Cecil had broken her heart and now nobody else could touch her.

Almost two hours later she left the Basilica and made her way to the Rialto Bridge. It was busy. All the little shops were bustling with tourists and the lines to wait for a ride in a gondola were longer than she had anticipated. She sighed and debated with herself whether to wait or have an early lunch.

On balance she decided the queues in the afternoon would be even longer, so she decided to wait. A gondola ride now cost almost a hundred euros: the first time she and Cecil visited the city it was only a tenth of that, and the currency had been counted in lire, not euros. Everything changed and she didn’t think it had all been for the better.

Well, of course it wasn’t, or they would be in that gondola or at home in Devon watching A Move to the Country. Oh Cecil. She began to cry soft tears again and patted her bag. The littlest child from the young family in front of her noticed. He could have been no more than four. The boy took her hand and gave it a slobbery wet kiss and said something too softly for her to hear. Still, she understood the sentiment and it helped. His mother pulled him away to keep up with those in the queue ahead of them, but he caught her eye again and smiled.

#Review By Lou of The Dirty Dozen By Lynda La Plante @LaPlanteLynda @simonschusterUK @Tr4cyF3nt0n #TeamTennison #CrimeFiction #TheDirtyDozen

The Dirty Dozen
By Lynda La Plante

Another great book from Lynda La Plante as we go on the journey of how her most famous creation, Jane Tennison progresses in her career, from where it all began. This is book 5 and followers of these reviews will know I have the privilege of reading and reviewing the entire series. Find out more in the blurb and my review below.

Blurb

Jane Tennison has worked hard to become the first female detective ever post to the infamous Flying Squad, or ‘the Sweeney’. But the Dirty Dozen is a notorious boys’ club, and Jane’s new colleagues make it clear that they don’t think a woman is up to the dangers of the job. Dealing with some of London’s most ruthless armed criminals, who think the only good cop is a dead cop, is no joke. Determined to prove she’s as good as the men, Jane discovers from a reliable witness that a gang is going to carry out a massive robbery. Tennison doesn’t know who they are or where they will strike. And with time fast running out, she must put everything on the line to stop them – including her own life . . .

Review

The intensity of the times with certain attitudes and ways of working and mystery is woven well together. Jane Tennison has a lot to prove and is closely observed by her work team in The Flying Squad/ The Sweeney. They’ve not had a woman being posted to such a position before and the male testosterone is out in force. Alright, I can hear women scream at the attitudes, but that’s how it was back then and women had to work even harder than now to get into different sectors and areas of work. The fact of the matter is, it all feels authentic. You see how she tries to win her colleagues round, but the question is whether they’ll respect her in the end or not?
I will say it’s an interesting career journey she is on as is her personal one, how you see her grow in confidence in situations and growing up and maturing in general.

The streets of London are becoming more dangerous and trying to predict where the next crime is going to happen is hard, even for the reader, which makes it an intriguing read. The tension is there with the criminal gangs being armed and ready to fire at any police officer. They’re ruthless and with everything laid on the line for the police, you’ll have to read the book to find out what happens…

#Review By Lou of The Christmas Appeal By Janice Hallett @JaniceHallett @ViperBooks

The Christmas Appeal
By Janice Hallett

Janice Hallett has had great success with The Appeal, The Twyford Files and The Alperton Angels. Now there is The Christmas Appeal. Perfect for spending those Christmas book vouchers on. “Oh yes it is!” This has pantomime with the twistiest of twists. Shimmying up the beanstalk is more hazardous than you’d think and that’s only part of it…

Blurb

One dead Santa. A town full of suspects. Will you discover the truth? Christmas in Lower Lockwood, and the Fairway Players are busy rehearsing their festive pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk, to raise money for the church roof appeal. But despite the season, goodwill is distinctly lacking amongst the amateur dramatics enthusiasts. Sarah-Jane is fending off threats to her new position as Chair, the fibreglass beanstalk might be full of asbestos, and a someone is intent on ruining the panto even before the curtain goes up. Of course there’s also the matter of the dead body. Who could possibly have had the victim on their naughty list? Join lawyers Femi and Charlotte as they read the round robins, examine the emails and pore over the police transcripts.

Review

Christmas is over, but its still holiday time, with that festive feel all around and pantos go on with the show, bringing their unique entertainment, but how can Santa be Dead? There’s a sinister edge to the backdrop of the fun and frolics of Christmas. Enter and allow theatrics to consume you until the last page.
Amateur dramatics is cut-throat and no more so when Panto season is around. The Fairways are putting on Jack and the Beanstalk in 2022 as it would have been performed in the 1970’s. Along the way, there are major power struggles and rivalries, even though the production is supposed to be raising money for a good cause. The spirit of good will and good nature doesn’t always flow easily through everyone to get a project done for the greater good of a community. A certain mood is captured rather well.
There’s a mystery that ensues and some twists and turns along the way of this book that has everything from WhatsApp messages to emails and more, to follow through to search for the clues and learn what’s really been going on during what should have been a pleasurable, successful time.

It’s quite a different book with a Christmas theme to keep readers guessing what’s going to happen next in what is a darker side to the festive season.