I loved Over A Spitfire so I was extremely thankful to already have a copy of the sequel to dive into. Over A Spitfire is one of those books with characters who stay in your mind and who you might wonder about. So, this sequel is a perfect follow on. It is novella length and must only be read if you have already read Over A Spitfire first, otherwise it will completely spoil the story for you. It is a catch up with the characters, like meeting up with old friends and finding out what they have been up to since you last met. I loved it.
I can’t say much else really without giving anything away, but I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting Ava and seeing how her story progressed. It is full of fascinating discoveries, emotion, and heart-warming moments. The last four lines brought a tear to my eye.
If you haven’t read Over A Spitfire yet, you will find my review (including purchase details) here….
I’m over the moon to be sharing the cover for The Stars Will Shine Again. This is the second anthology I’ve complied to raise money for Help for Heroes and it’s an honour to be working for this wonderful charity again. The first book, When Stars Will Shine, is on offer now, so pop over […]
The power of the Dark Ones is growing once more. Watching from their rooftop perches, the gargoyles and dragons have all the gossip they could ever want. Deadly night eels slither through the city streets. The thief taker is on the prowl. And Jebediah Hill is arrested for a crime he did not commit. Letty discovers that Jeb, her oldest friend, has been keeping secrets, yet refuses to reveal them even though he knows he will pay a terrible price. Letty Parker and Associates set out on a race to save Jeb from The Hanging Tree. And time is running out…
AVAILABLE NOW!
Previous books in the series….
City of Secrets (Adventures of Letty Parker Book 1)
Bridge of Lies (Adventures of Letty Parker Book 2)
Island of Fear (Adventures of Letty Parker Book 3)
Over A Spitfire has been waiting patiently on my bookshelf for far too long but you know what they say about good things coming to those who wait. This book has most definitely been worth the wait, although I am now sorry that I didn’t get to it sooner.
When we meet Ava, during World War Two, she is a ferry pilot in the Air Transport Auxiliary. It sounds like an exhilarating but dangerous job. Not one I would have liked as I like my feet firmly on the ground. Ava loved it though and was sad to have to give it up when the war ended, although obviously overjoyed at the same time. It must have been quite a shock to the system to go from fulfilling such an important role in the war to looking towards her future as a housewife and mother. This is especially daunting for Ava having shared a fiercely passionate relationship with her colleague Wilhelmina (Will) who is sadly killed. They connected in a way neither of them had with anyone before. How do you move on from that?
Ava has no choice but to move on though and is soon married to Henry. They have two children and are happy for the most part. They make it work anyway, despite struggles and an infidelity, but Ava has never forgotten Will. Will has never forgotten Ava either and her spirit is determined that they will be together again one day, one way or another. Their souls are connected and will find a way, she is sure of it.
Do you believe in reincarnation? I most definitely believe that some of us have been here before. I loved how this book explores this idea. I was completely captivated.
The way the afterlife is portrayed through Will’s passing to the other side is quite beautiful. It’s lovely to think there is someone waiting for you to help with your transition and that we can always be there for those we leave behind whenever we are needed. It is also comforting to think that our soul might get another chance at life, in a different body ready to live a different life. And those souls who are meant for each other will always find a way back to one another.
I could talk about this book for hours, but I don’t want to spoil it for anyone. I loved how the story progressed though. My heart broke for Ava. I had goosebumps on more than one occasion and it did leave a smile on my face at the end.
Beautiful, beautiful writing.
Buy it now
About Sherrie Lowe
I am a divorced Mum and Nana living in Staffordshire UK. I began writing seriously when I contracted M.E. in ’95 after having to resign from my job as learning support assistant in a mainstream high school because I was too ill to continue. M.E. also called chronic fatigue syndrome is a debilitating, little understood illness, which destroys lives. Writing has kept me sane through the loneliness and isolation which are one of the results of this illness.
I have written eleven novels, two memoirs and two short story/poetry collections and have tried the traditional route to publication, then came the opportunity to publish with http://www.feedaread.com/ an Arts Council funded site so I went ahead and published everything I’ve written with them. All are available in paperback from Feedaread and most from Amazon too, also in ebook format from Amazon.
OH. MY. GOODNESS! What a cliff-hanger to end a book on!! I’m so glad I have book 5 ready to dive into! It has been published today!
Happy Publication Day, Noelle! 🙂
Dead Secret is book 4 in Noelle Holten’s Maggie Jamieson thriller series. It is an awesome series! I have loved all four books so far and I’m very much looking forward to getting stuck into Dead Mercy.
In this book Maggie, and the team, are faced with the murder of a young man with mysterious black dots on his cheek. At the same time her colleague, Lucy, is dealing with a domestic violence survivor with familiar, but worrying, behaviour. As if that isn’t enough to deal with, they discover one of their own is missing. Each case seemingly unconnected until evidence begins to suggest otherwise. It’s a race against time and I certainly felt the urgency throughout the police procedural aspects of this story. It must be so frustrating for police officers when nothing makes any sense. I wouldn’t be able to do their job for all the money in the world!
I love the characters throughout this book. Maggie is such a likeable character. I enjoy getting to know her a little bit more with each book. I don’t really understand what she sees in that reporter, if I’m honest, other than the obvious physical attraction. It would be nice to see her find happiness, or at least a bit of fun, with someone though.
The professional relationships the team share feel so genuine. I do always feel like I’m reading about real people. This is one of the many things I love about a series.
One character in this story is particularly terrifying. Wow! Hats off to Noelle Holten for this creation. It felt like my blood ran cold on more than one occasion. It also raises the question again of nature versus nurture.
I can’t recommend this book highly enough. It is fast-paced, full of suspense, and horrifying at times. I loved it!
Last Orders – Jeff Tully’s wife has left him. Trying to run his pub single-handedly, he increasingly turns to his barmaid, Alyson, for help. But when Alyson tells him of her own troubles, they hatch a plan to get rid of Alyson’s violent, abusive husband. But will Jeff live to regret he ever got involved with his barmaid?
Lucy’s return – No one remembers Lucy at the school reunion, but she remembers them. Especially one boy who made her life hell, and now she’s going to do the same to him.
Private Museum – Retired nurse Mandy Rostron never thought she’d find love again after her husband died, but in Anthony Mallard she’s found the perfect gentleman. Or so she thinks. Mallard has some very dark secrets in his basement, or his Private Museum as he calls it, and Mandy is about to discover the truth about the man of her dreams.
Ballad of the Unsung Hero – Retired shopkeeper Jennifer Price is at her wits end. Her husband Kenneth thinks more of his fishing than he does of her. But when she meets the man of her dreams at a spiritual church, Jennifer is hell-bent on getting her man – whatever it takes.
The Tallyman – Donna is in debt, and the loan shark is making her life unbearable, with increasingly vile demands when she can’t make her payments. But her elderly neighbour, Elsie, has the perfect solution to get rid of the tallyman once and for all.
My review
Anyone who knows me well will know that I am a big fan of Mark Tilbury’s. I have read and loved everything he has published! I know I’m in for a treat when he has a new book out.
Poetic Justice is his first short story collection and a bit different to the novels we are used to from him, but just as brilliant! These stories aren’t quite as dark as some of his other books, but they’re hardly light-hearted either! I absolutely loved all five of them.
In each of these stories you will meet a character who is pretty much at their wits end. Their situations are desperate, and desperate times often call for desperate measures. You can’t help but feel for these people and I asked myself what I would do in their situations. There is literally no way of knowing unless you have faced the same problems. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t go as far as some of them, but who knows!
There are many unsavoury (to put it mildly!) characters throughout these stories. Some who made my skin crawl. I wouldn’t like to get on the wrong side of some of them.
Each one of these stories hooked me in immediately and all of them shocked and surprised me. Very clever writing!
I thought ‘Last Orders’ was particularly clever, and I found ‘Private Museum’ to be extremely chilling. All are equally compelling.
The poems at the start of each story are excellent also. There is no end to Mark Tilbury’s talent.
All the stars from me! I very much recommend!
**Many thanks to Mark Tilbury for my review copy**
Available now!
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This time last week I attended Heather Bourne’s book launch event, at Westport Lake Visitor Centre, for Tales of Marrduck. A children’s book with an important message for us all!
It was a very well attended, extremely busy event which was lovely to see.
I thought I’d share some photo’s with you.
Author, Heather Bourne (fourth from the left), along with illustrator, Beverley Cooper (third from the left), and supporters!
There were lots of activities for children, and adults alike, to join in with. I had a go of higher or lower and won myself a keyring 🙂
On the first Friday of each month I like to have a little look back at the books I was reading during the same month in previous years, since starting my blog. November 2020 seems to have been a quiet month for me, although it does include the reviews I re-shared as part of an epic re-launch by Mark Tilbury.
Please do join in if you have the time. I’d love to see your posts 🙂
All are welcome to attend the launch event forTales of Marrduck
Sunday 7th november 2021
10am-4pm
Westport Lake Visitor Centre
Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST6 4RZ
Welcome to Marrduck, an ordinary looking garden pond where magic happens. Find out who and what live in and around the pond and the fantastic adventures they have. Travel through their journey with them and discover fabulous interesting facts about things that live above and below the water. Who is Taddy and what does he do? What do the children do to help the wee beasties and the environment? As you travel on the journey with the children, you will learn fascinating aspects of pond life and the role of each wee beastie. Tales of Marrduck will inspire children’s imagination and creativity as they read the story and colour in the lovely illustrations. It provides opportunities for initiating conversation around conservation issues both at home and at school. What can you do to help Taddy and his friends on their quest to save the local environment? Oh, and which way does your watch go?
From 10am till 4pm on Sunday 7th November. Heather Bourne (author) and Beverley Cooper (illustrator) will be at Westport Lake to sign books.
The Lord Mayor of Stoke is attending also.
There will be readings throughout the day and games for children. There are also 2 competitions – a colouring one just on the day, and a design a poster one running until the 17th December.
The winner of the colouring competition will win a signed book with Tales of Marrduck goodies. The (2) winners of the poster competition will be characters in the next book.
crime fiction blog featuring reviews, author guest posts and other fabulous booky things (with the odd psychological thriller and horror novel making an appearance!)
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