Today I am very pleased to welcome Laura Briggs to my blog.

For those who don’t know already, could you tell us about yourself and your book(s) please?

Well, I live in the country, on a sort-of farm—that is, we have chickens, goats, dogs, and cats, etc. I love to work outside with various plants and landscaping projects and have dreams of learning to bake really elaborate cakes (my favorite way to spend a Saturday morning is binge watching episodes of The Great British Bake Off). My first published work was Only in Novels, a romantic short story about a bookstore owner who teams up with a handsome author to rescue her struggling business. I’ve written several Jane Austen-themed works and several wedding-themed romances, including my latest novella, A Wedding in Cornwall.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

Oh, everywhere. A lot of them come from talking with family and friends. Some of the best ideas are born from conversations on long car ride trips, I’ve found.

Are any of your characters based (however loosely) on anyone you know?

Not really. I tend to draw inspiration for certain characters by thinking what actor would play them best in a movie adaptation. It really helps me picture all the little quirks and characteristics that would help them come alive on the page.

How do you pick your characters names?

A lot of them come from the baby name book my parents used. Others come from favorite characters in TV shows and books.

Can you share your writing process with us, in a nutshell?

A laptop and a playlist of favorite songs for inspiration.

Do you have a favourite author?

A lot of them, yes. Jane Austen is one I tend to read again and again. I like several of Anne Tyler’s books and some by Amy Tan. I’m also a big fan of mystery and historical suspense authors. Agatha Christie, Mary Roberts Rinehart, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Lynn Shepherd, Alex Grecian, and too many more to name.

If you could meet any author, who would it be? And what would you ask them?

That is such a tough question! But, you know, I think it would probably be Jane Austen. She was so talented and perceptive, but she didn’t really get to see the impact her novels would have on readers all over the world. I think I would ask her what she thinks about all the modern continuations and variations on her novels. Hopefully, she would see them as a compliment!

Were you a big reader as a child?

Not at all. I read a few books a month from the library, but I far and away preferred watching TV. I really didn’t appreciate reading until I was thirteen or fourteen. Then, I started reading some of the classic books like Jane Eyre and Sense and Sensibility. I’m still a big fan of classic books, especially those by Charles Dickens. It does take a little more patience and effort to read them, though.

When did you start to write?

I didn’t seriously start to write until I had graduated from college. I sent off my first manuscript, the short story Only in Novels, not really expecting anything to come of it. I was completely surprised when they sent a contract a few weeks later.

What are you working on right now?

The sequel to my romantic novella, A Wedding in Cornwall. Called A Christmas in Cornwall, it continues the story of American event planner Julianne, as she adjusts to her new job at the beautiful Cornish country house—and grapples with her romantic feelings for the handsome gardener, Matt.

When can we look forward to a new release?

A Christmas in Cornwall will be available on October 18^th and can now be purchased as a pre-order from Amazon.

How can readers keep in touch with you?

They can catch up with me on Twitter via @PaperDollWrites, or on Facebook, here: http://on.fb.me/1JjeMoI

Thanks to Laura for answering my questions 🙂

Laura’s latest release…..

It’s the career move of a lifetime, and Julianne can’t believe it’s hers: a position as an event planner at a country house in Cornwall, England, beginning with the wedding of a celebrity! If her old firm’s senior planner back in the States hadn’t fallen suddenly sick with the chicken pox, Julianne would never have found herself chosen for a life in one of England’s most beautiful coastal counties, surrounded by rugged shores, quaint cottages, elegant gardens and a house to die for.

But life in Cornwall isn’t exactly as Julianne imagined it. Her first bride-to-be is a resentful, petted snob, the groom is immature and bored, and the Cornish staff of Cliffs House has a difficult time believing that an event planner from a mid-level position can handle a wedding this big. And then there’s a personal matter — the handsome, sometimes charming, sometimes standoffish gardener Matthew Rose. He and Julianne have a strangely complicated relationship somewhere between friendship and attraction. But with a secret in his past, and a scheming bridesmaid plotting to have Matthew all to herself, will Julianne find a way to untangle her feelings and the problems of planning a perfect Cornish wedding?

Buy your copy HERE

Check out all of Laura’s books, on her Amazon author page, HERE

Watch this space for my review!

Hi all!

Thanks so much to all of you who have shown an interest in my new blog feature, #AskMeAnything 🙂 I hope you have your questions ready!!

In case you missed it  – An idea…..

First in the hot seat is fellow book blogger, Christina Huber. Thanks so much for joining in Christina 🙂

Christina blogs at http://www.tomesandtequila.com/

A little introduction from Christina…..

My name is Christina, and the Tomes and Tequila blog is my little empty-nester hobby after reviewing books elsewhere for quite a few years. I don’t enjoy talking about myself, I would much rather talk about books, Michael Fassbender or my dog…so this will be a short and awkward bio! I am a married mother of two whose day job is cataloging books at a military installation library. This means I get to touch everything that comes into my library…first! I have lived all over the world, so I enjoy reading about different backgrounds and cultures. I love birds, margaritas and hard cider, makeup (VIB Rouge card holder!) the Bee Gee’s, snapchat and anything French!

Now it’s over to you lovely people……. Ask Christina Anything! Please email your question to me – bellaboobos11@outlook.com (Please don’t post questions as a comment on this post as I don’t want anyone else to see the questions until I publish the interview, thanks).

Just one question per person please.

The first 20 questions in my inbox will be forwarded to Christina 🙂

Ready…… set……. go!

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Ralph Webster to my blog.

Ralph is the author of a Smile in One Eye: a Tear in the Other, self-published in June 2016. Ralph very kindly agreed to answer my questions and I’m sure you’ll enjoy his answers…..

For those who don’t know already, could you tell us about yourself and your book please?

I am a first time author. As a 65 year old retired guy I never entertained the notion of writing a book. The vast portion of my working years was spent behind a computer writing software – a different form of writing and composing. I started an accounting software company in 1980 and was fortunate to sell it to my employees in 1997. Since then my wife and I have become active volunteers in our community. We both became Emergency Medical Technicians and drove the ambulance and fire trucks for a number of years. We have been involved in historic preservation projects, local fundraising activities and the like. We travel a great deal. Hiking is a passion. We make it a priority to spend quality time with our grandchildren. My wife Ginger is a strong advocate for coastal protection. Since we live in a coastal area we have driven ATV’s in search of turtle nests. We live on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where the Wright brothers flew their airplanes. No, writing a book was never part of the plan. My aptitude was always numbers – never words.

A Smile in One Eye: a Tear in the Other is the story of my father’s family. They lived in the German state of East Prussia. They were proud, prosperous, patriotic, flag waving Germans. Baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran church, their ancestry was Jewish. They never denied this heritage but they were never taught to embrace it. They did not consider themselves Jews. When Hitler came into power, suddenly they were told they were Jewish. It was a distinction that made a life-and-death difference. This wasn’t about religion. It was about race.

Where did you get the idea from?

Obviously, there have been many written accounts of the holocaust. The world is replete with tragic stories and writing a holocaust story is certainly not a new idea. Writing the book using my father’s voice allowed me to present the story through a different lens. How can an entire family be Lutheran one day and told they were Jewish the next? Their entire world changed overnight. A lifetime of dreams and accomplishments was taken and there was nothing they could do. They were helpless.

Last year my wife and I took an extended hiking trip across Europe. Our trip took us from Croatia to Sweden travelling by train to all parts in between. At the time the international news was flooded with images of the refugee crisis. Thousands of people were fleeing Syria and Afghanistan. Most were headed to Germany in search of employment and opportunity. We saw this firsthand. Much like World War II, the world continues to be confronted with issues of ethnic cleansing, immigration and how to cope with the influx of refugees. Seeing this prompted me to write this story.

We saw history repeating itself. There is no end to the story of people forced to leave the homes of their mothers and fathers through no fault of their own. I wanted to make the reader feel that sense of helplessness – what it is like to have to run for your life – what it is like to leave the country where your family has always lived – what it is like to leave family behind – what it is like to be totally disconnected and not know who has survived and who has not – what it is like to try to survive in a place with a different language and culture. In today’s error of terror and violence, I believe we too often forget that the refugees of the world are not the enemy. They are the innocent victims. They are the bystanders. They are people like you and me.

Tell me about your characters. How did you create them? What was your writing process?

The people, the places, and the timeline are all real. None of the names have been changed. To create the story I had to connect many dots and imagine the reality. Think of it this way. I had all the reminders and visuals – old pictures, old letters, various documents like military records and passports. I had the broad outlines. What I had to do was bring the personality to paper – to convey the feelings. My father never shared his story. He was too busy living his circumstance.

To write the book, I needed to get into my father’s head, to see the world as he saw it. The process required a lot of digging and figuring out how to connect the pieces. The actual story was real. The written story had to be genuine and believable. I have been told that the final result reads more like a historical novel than a memoir or biography.

Do you have a favourite author?

There are so many past and present. Carlos Ruiz Zafrόn always jumps out. I thought the Shadow of the Wind was an absolutely wonderful book.

If you could meet any author, who would it be? And, what would you ask?

Tough question. Certainly Carlos Ruiz Zafrόn would be high on the list as would be Leon Uris and John Le Carre. I would ask how they could start with a blank canvas and create what they created. And, with all that imagination rolling around in their heads how could they ever sleep?

Were you a big reader as a child? What about writing?

My mother loved to read and always encouraged me to learn about the world through books. I never saw my father read a book. I suppose I was somewhere in the middle. As for writing??? Most would tell you that I excelled at talking and never writing. Like I said at the beginning, numbers were more my style.

Are you working on a new book at the moment?

No. I think I am a one and done kind of author. I am not sure what I will do next. It may be time buy a van and spend time driving across America. When my head swells, Ginger tells me we could put a sign on the side of the van that says Author Inside – Please honk for a signed copy.

How can readers keep in touch with you?

They can email me anytime at ralphwebsterobx@gmail.com or go to my website http://www.smileinoneeye.com. I always enjoy the conversation.

Thanks to Ralph for joining me on my blog today 🙂

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (28 Jun. 2016) 

Near the edge of the Baltic Sea, in a small East Prussian town, lives a happy and prosperous family. The Wobsers are patriotic Germans and faithful Lutherans with four beautiful children: chatty Trude, fearless Lotte, careful Ilse, and precocious Gerhard. The decade-older sisters treat Gerhard as their little prince. He is the apple of his father’s eye. Then, one day in 1933, their world falls apart. They have been identified as Jews, a heritage never denied, but a religion never embraced.

This chilling true story follows the four Wobser siblings as they struggle to survive a Nazi regime intent on their extermination. Even those that manage to flee will find themselves without a home or country to call their own.

From Edinburgh to Shanghai, the Wobsers will travel the world in search of a place they belong. Author and historical chronicler Ralph Webster (a descendent of the Wobsers) deftly connects their story and survival to the struggles modern refugees face every day. In addition to serving as a fascinating piece of history, A Smile in One Eye: A Tear in the Other is a passionate call to arms for organizations and individuals to properly protect and help the world’s refugees.

Buy your copy here – a Smile in One Eye by Ralph Webster

Watch this space for my review!

From the author / publisher…..

 (Advance paperback copy from publisher)

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (13th September 2016)

A gripping psychological thriller from the bestselling author of Follow You Home and The Magpies.

It was the job she had dreamed of since childhood. But on her very first day, when an unnerving encounter drags up memories Sophie Greenwood would rather forget, she wonders if she has made a mistake. A fatal mistake.

What is her ambitious young assistant really up to? And what exactly happened to Sophie’s predecessor? When her husband and daughter are pulled into the nightmare, Sophie is forced to confront the darkest secrets she has carried for years.

As her life begins to fall apart at work and at home, Sophie must race to uncover the truth about her new job…before it kills her.

 (Kindle copy from Leslie Garland)

Publisher: Leslie W P Garland (2 Dec. 2015)

Comprising four intriguing novella length contemporary folk or fairy stories, which contain a hint of the supernatural, together with more than a passing nod towards philosophy and religion:-

The Little Dog.
A story of good and evil, and retribution.
This first tale of The Red Grouse Tales is told by Bill, a retired forester, and takes the form of most of the stories in our lives, namely, that we have no idea that we are living a story until later when previous events suddenly seem to fall into place and make some kind of sense. Bill recounts a week in his early working life when he was paired with an older, unsavoury and unpopular colleague. While driving to their place of work they find a little dog sitting beside the forest haul-road way out in a remote part of the forest. Bill wonders what the little dog is doing there and as the week progresses finds himself becoming emotionally attached to it while also becoming increasingly concerned about just who is his objectionable workmate. His concerns heighten when he notices that the little dog is no longer present at his usual spot and cannot help but feel that his workmate has something to do with the dog’s disappearance. Troubled, Bill has a conversation with his local priest in which they discuss the nature of sin and evil. The next day events suddenly take an unexpected turn and the young naive Bill starts to learn some awful truths.

The Crow.
A poignant tale of misunderstanding, dying, blame and bitterness.
The second story in The Red Grouse Tales series centres on our almost desperate desire to leave something to mark our life upon this earth. It is told as a history recounted by Dave, of the time when he, as a child, was taken by his mother to a hospice where he met a dying and embittered old Irish priest known as Mad Father Patrick, who told him about the school days and subsequent rise of a local councillor, Reginald Monday, and of his (Monday’s) involvement in the construction of a dam which flooded the valley. The tale is told with a blend of fantasy, biblical quotations and philosophical musings, but how does Mad Father Patrick’s fantasy end and just why is he so bitter?

The Golden Tup.
A dreadful tale of paradise being cruelly taken by latent evil.
The third The Red Grouse Tale explores the possibility of evil being in a place. It is told by Verity, a farmer’s wife, who opens her story by recalling how a young couple were arrested a few years previously for killing their new born baby. Through a series of flashbacks we learn how this couple had created their rural idyll, how an enigmatic man had come into their lives and how their idyll and relationship had gradually fallen apart. With references to Milton’s Paradise Lost, though the story is not about the Fall of Man, we learn how their paradise was lost. As the young wife gradually reveals a dreadful past, Verity realises that she is holding something back, but what? What is the terrible truth that caused her and her husband to kill their baby?

The White Hart.
A happy ghost story, if there can be such a thing!
The fourth story in The Red Grouse Tales series is told by a bachelor and keen fell-runner, Pete Montague and takes the form of his recalling three strange incidents which he initially thinks are unconnected. The first is his encounter with a little albino deer which he finds in the forest when he is out for a jog. The second is that of a chance meeting with a beautiful girl at a remote chapel and of their conversation in which she tells him the story of the daughter of the family which built it. And the third incident ……

 (e-book from Simon Maltman)

 (e-book from Rosalie at Blackbird Digital)

 (e-book from Laura Briggs)

It’s the career move of a lifetime, and Julianne can’t believe it’s hers: a position as an event planner at a country house in Cornwall, England, beginning with the wedding of a celebrity! If her old firm’s senior planner back in the States hadn’t fallen suddenly sick with the chicken pox, Julianne would never have found herself chosen for a life in one of England’s most beautiful coastal counties, surrounded by rugged shores, quaint cottages, elegant gardens and a house to die for.

But life in Cornwall isn’t exactly as Julianne imagined it. Her first bride-to-be is a resentful, petted snob, the groom is immature and bored, and the Cornish staff of Cliffs House has a difficult time believing that an event planner from a mid-level position can handle a wedding this big. And then there’s a personal matter — the handsome, sometimes charming, sometimes standoffish gardener Matthew Rose. He and Julianne have a strangely complicated relationship somewhere between friendship and attraction. But with a secret in his past, and a scheming bridesmaid plotting to have Matthew all to herself, will Julianne find a way to untangle her feelings and the problems of planning a perfect Cornish wedding?

 (e-book from Dan Klefstad)

Most people take comfort knowing their family and friends will remember them after they die. For Susan Shepherd, “remembering” is bullshit. She wants an eternal shrine to her sacrifice: a book that never goes out of print.

Shepherd served her country in the Gulf War, got shot while serving her community as a cop, raised an ungrateful daughter by herself — and for what? A diagnosis of terminal cancer and she isn’t even fifty. If you were in her shoes, you might agree that nothing short of national perpetual acknowledgement will do.

She’s glad you feel that way; she just wrote a memoir and sent a flurry of query letters, hoping a publisher will memorialize her with a best-seller. After hitting Send, she waits not-at-all patiently for an editor to decide if her story will sell enough copies — that is, if her life really mattered.

 (e-book from publisher)

Dani, Meg, and Charlotte have bonded over babies, barbeques, and backyards, but when they escape for a girls’ weekend away, they can’t bring themselves to return to lives that don’t seem to fit anymore.

Harried Dani can’t explain why she feels so discontented until she meets a young gallery owner who inspires her to rediscover the art that once made her happy.

Dependable Meg faces up to a grief that threatens to swallow her whole and confronts a marriage built on expectations.

Flamboyant Charlotte, frustrated with her stagnated life and marriage, pursues a playboy Irish singer and beachside business opportunities.

All three of these women thought they would be different. None of them thought they’d be facing down forty and still wondering when life starts. What they do when they realize where they’re headed is both inspiring and wildly entertaining.

GIRLS’ WEEKEND is a fun, yet poignant romp through the universal search of who we are, why we love, and what makes us happy by an author who is quickly emerging as one of our most incisive storytellers.

 (e-book from PA)

***This novella is the prequel to Luminosity****
***Re-edited March 2016, with new scenes and a few surprises***
Life was full of nothing but darkness for Nathan Stevenson until Jasmine appeared in his life. She brought his innermost desires to the surface. She burned her way through to his heart to become embedded in his soul. He knew she was dangerous but would she break down his wall as he dreamed of her touch and fought against the impulse to protect her?Would their love be enough to defeat his demons? Was he strong enough to resist her or would her light burn irrevocably?

 (e-book from PA)

***Re-edited with new scenes****
Jasmine Johnstone’s life was relatively normal until she was forced to live with the Stevenson family. As she stayed she found she had no choice but to battle mythical creatures. Strengths she never knew she possessed began to surface, surprising those around her. Her only chance of surviving the rising tide of evil was Nathan Stevenson. Could she really trust him as he fought against his love for her? With the world against them and time running out, would their love be enough to defeat demons?

 (e-book from PA)

Life has never been easy for Jasmine Johnstone, but failing for Nathan Stevenson brings a whole new level of difficulty. Since she arrived at his home he’s blown hot and cold with her, turned against her and revealed a deadly threat. He is sworn to kill her, and fights against his love for her more than ever, but he knows he can’t live without her.
As they run from monsters, and each other, can their love survive?

 (e-book from Jean Nicole Rivers)

In the remote, eastern European town of Borslav there is St. Sebastian orphanage, a place where people discard their unwanted children. For the American, Blaire Baker, it’s the perfect place to volunteer her services. Paired with a cheerful volunteer nurse, Blaire is enthusiastic about the possibilities, but is quickly discouraged when she encounters the nefarious nature of the staff and the deplorable conditions of the facility and the children.

From Netgalley…..

Pub Date 01 Dec 2016

People don’t need to know you’re a murderer.
They just have to think you could be…

June 1980: 17-year-old Kelly Lund is jailed for killing Hollywood film director, John McFadden

Thirty years later, Kelly is a free woman. Yet speculation still swirls over what really happened that night.

And when her father-in law, and close friend of McFadden is found dead – shot through the head at point-blank range – there can only be one suspect.

But this time Kelly has some high-profile friends who believe she’s innocent of both crimes.

But is she?

‘You’ll stay up late to read this’ Laura Lippmann

‘Full of crackling energy and heartache’ Megan Abbott

‘An exceptional book by an exceptional writer’ Alex Marwood

Pub Date 15 Sep 2016

Callum has a family secret. Yasmine wants to know it. Juliette thinks nobody knows hers. All Ruby wants is to reinvent herself. They are brought together by circumstance, torn apart by misunderstanding. As new relationships are forged and confidences are broken, each person’s version of events is colored by their background, beliefs, and prejudices. And so the ingredients are in place for a year shaped by lust, betrayal, and violence. Sometimes growing up is seeing someone else’s side of the story.

Pub Date 06 Oct 2016

The remote Irish village of Duneen has known little drama; and yet its inhabitants are troubled. Sergeant PJ Collins hasn’t always been this overweight; mother-of-twoBrid Riordan hasn’t always been an alcoholic; and elegant Evelyn Ross hasn’t always felt that her life was a total waste.

So when human remains are discovered on an old farm, suspected to be that of Tommy Burke – a former love of both Brid and Evelyn – the village’s dark past begins to unravel. As the frustrated PJ struggles to solve a genuine case for the first time in his life, he unearths a community’s worth of anger and resentments, secrets and regret.

Darkly comic, touching and at times profoundly sad, Holding is a masterful debut. Graham Norton employs his acerbic wit to breathe life into a host of loveable characters, and explore – with searing honesty – the complexities and contradictions that make us human.

Purchased / freebies…..

 (Kindle first, Prime member August freebie)

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (1 Sept. 2016)

The body of a young woman is found on the streets of East London, in the shadow of the City’s gleaming towers. No ID on her, just hard-earned cash. But there is no doubting the ferocity of the attack.

DI Simon Fenchurch takes charge but, as his team tries to identify her and piece together her murder, they’re faced with cruel indifference at every turn—nobody cares about yet another dead prostitute. To Fenchurch, however, she could just as easily be Chloe, his daughter still missing after ten years, whose memory still haunts his days and nights, his burning obsession having killed his marriage.

When a second body is discovered, Fenchurch must peel back the grimy layers shrouding the London sex trade, confronting his own traumatic past while racing to undo a scheme larger, more complex and more evil than anything he could possibly have imagined.

 (Paperback from book sale on holiday)

Publisher: Harper (13 Aug. 2015)

One lied. One died.

When one sister dies, the other must go to desperate lengths to survive

After a tragic accident, still haunted by her twin sister’s death, Abi is making a fresh start in Bath. But when she meets siblings Bea and Ben, she is quickly drawn into their privileged and unsettling circle.

When one sister lies, she must protect her secret at all costs

As Abi tries to keep up with the demands of her fickle friends, strange things start to happen – precious letters go missing and threatening messages are left in her room. Is this the work of the beautiful and capricious Bea? Or is Abi willing to go to any lengths to get attention?

When the truth outs, will either sister survive?

 (Paperback from book sale on holiday)

Publisher: Penguin (23 Oct. 2014)

One abandoned baby. Two sisters with a secret. One chance to rewrite the past.
Over seventy years have passed since sisters Rose and Connie Doughty found an abandoned baby near their home on the island Scribbly Gum. With no one to take care of it, Rose and Connie took the baby in as their own.
Since then the ‘Munro Baby Mystery’ has brought fame and fortune, putting Scribbly Gum on the tourist map, especially for the island’s annual celebration.
But now, with Connie dead and outsider Sophie Honeywell about to move into her home, Rose begins to wonder if they made the right decision all those years ago. How much longer can they cover up the lie that has sustained their community for generations? And what other secrets are about to be revealed?

 (Paperback from book sale on holiday)

Publisher: Penguin (20 Jan. 2014)

In the heart-warming Lost and Found, discover tales from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home that celebrate the power of animals to transform people’s lives.

We hear from the young boy whose Battersea dog helped him to deal with a serious autoimmune disease, and from a woman whose Staffie was the friend who got her through cancer.

We meet the couple who were brought together by a Battersea dog; the man who took on a three-legged kitten which changed his life; and the former Battersea hound who became a search and rescue dog.

Read these and many other powerful stories from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. Lost and Found has something for dog and cat lovers alike, and is perfect reading for fans of A Streetcat Named Bob and Paul O’Grady’s For The Love Of Dogs.

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is the UK’s oldest and most famous home for dogs and cats. The Home aims never to turn away a dog or cat in need of help, reuniting lost dogs and cats with their owners or caring for them until new homes can be found. Battersea also works to educate the public about responsible pet ownership. Every year the Home cares for over 9,000 lost, abandoned and neglected dogs and cats, and in 2010 the home marked its 150th anniversary.

 (Paperback from charity shop)

Publisher: HarperCollins (12 Mar. 2015)

With family like this, who needs enemies…

There are some families that welcome newcomers with open arms, then there are the Butlers. An East End family no good girl wants to marry into…

Jo fell for Vinny Butler’s good looks, but she’s stood at one graveside too many and now she’s buried her heart as well.

Michael Butler was always the nice one, until he started running the family business. Nancy is desperate to leave, and though she would never turn her back on her children, every step they take in their father’s footsteps destroys her a little more.

As the old saying goes – you keep your friends close, and your enemies closer…

But you keep your family right where you can see them.

Book three in the Butler family saga. Read the whole series in order: 1. The Trap 2. Payback 3. The Wronged 4. Tainted Love

I didn’t realise it was book 3 when I bought it. I’ll have to find the first two now! 😉

 (Charity shop)

Publisher: MacLehose Press (1 Jan. 2010)

Lisbeth Salander is a wanted woman. Two Millennium journalists about to expose the truth about sex trafficking in Sweden are murdered, and Salander’s prints are on the weapon. Her history of unpredictable and vengeful behaviour makes her an official danger to society – but no-one can find her.

Mikael Blomkvist, editor-in-chief of Millennium, does not believe the police. Using all his magazine staff and resources to prove Salander’s innocence, Blomkvist also uncovers her terrible past, spent in criminally corrupt institutions. Yet Salander is more avenging angel than helpless victim. She may be an expert at staying out of sight – but she has ways of tracking down her most elusive enemies.

 (Charity shop)

Salander is plotting her revenge – against the man who tried to kill her, and against the government institutions that very nearly destroyed her life. But it is not going to be a straightforward campaign. After taking a bullet to the head, Salander is under close supervision in Intensive Care, and is set to face trial for three murders and one attempted murder on her eventual release.

With the help of journalist Mikael Blomkvist and his researchers at Millennium magazine, Salander must not only prove her innocence, but identify and denounce the corrupt politicians that have allowed the vulnerable to become victims of abuse and violence. Once a victim herself, Salander is now ready to fight back.

 (Charity shop)

Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that takes over the minds of their human hosts while leaving their bodies intact, and most of humanity has succumbed.

Wanderer, the invading ‘soul’ who has been given Melanie’s body, knew about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the too-vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn’t expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

Melanie fills Wanderer’s thoughts with visions of the man Melanie loves – Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body’s desires, Wanderer yearns for a man she’s never met. As outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off to search for the man they both love.

 (Charity stall at Sandown Regatta, Isle Of Wight)

WINNER OF THE SHAMUS AWARD FOR BEST FIRST PI NOVEL

“I defy anyone to guess the identity of the killer or to put this book down.”

Five years ago, the serial killer known as the Night Hunter vanished without trace after murdering five women. Now another killer claiming to be the notorious Ed Fagan is back prowling the streets of Dublin in search of new victims – but Saxon, former FBI agent turned true crime author, knows that it can’t really be him. Joining forces with Detective Superintendent Grace Fitzgerald of the Dublin Metropolitan Police, Saxon soon finds herself in danger as the body count starts to rise and old secrets come to light. The Dead won the Shamus Award for Best First PI Novel and was long listed for the Sunday Independent/Hughes & Hughes Irish Novel of the Year award.

 (Charity shop)

Bee Bearhorn had a number-one hit single in 1985 – and was never heard of again. Fifteen years later she is found dead in her flat and nobody seems to care …

But Ana Wills always day-dreamed about the exotic half-sister she hasn’t seen in years. And when she comes to London to clear Bee’s flat, she uncovers a life more exotic than she imagined: a secret country cottage, mysterious weekends away, and even a missing cat.

With Bee’s closest friends – mad Lol and strong, silent Flint – Ana sets out to discover exactly what did happen to Bee Bearhorn, the one-hit wonder …

 (Charity shop)

The magical new novel from Sunday Times top ten bestseller, Milly Johnson

Life is full of second chances…if only you keep your heart open for them.

Spring Hill Square is a pretty sanctuary away from the bustle of everyday life. And at its centre is Leni Merryman’s Teashop on the Corner, specialising in cake, bookish stationery and compassion. And for three people, all in need of a little TLC, it is somewhere to find a friend to lean on.

Carla Pride has just discovered that her late husband Martin was not who she thought he was. And now she must learn to put her marriage behind her and move forward.

Molly Jones’s ex-husband Harvey has reappeared in her life after many years, wanting to put right the wrongs of the past before it is too late.

And Will Linton’s business has gone bust and his wife has left him to pick up the pieces. Now he needs to gather the strength to start again.

Can all three find the comfort they are looking for in The Teashop on the Corner? And as their hearts are slowly mended by Leni, can they return the favour when she needs it most…?

A story of love, friendship and second chances that will warm your heart and rekindle your hope.

 (Charity shop)

Love isn’t an exact science – but no one told Don Tillman. A thirty-nine-year-old geneticist, Don’s never had a second date. So he devises the Wife Project, a scientific test to find the perfect partner. Enter Rosie – ‘the world’s most incompatible woman’ – throwing Don’s safe, ordered life into chaos. But what is this unsettling, alien emotion he’s feeling?

 (Charity stall at Sandown Regatta, Isle Of Wight)

A second collection of incredible and heart-warming canine stories from around the world, from the bestselling author of The Dog That Saved My Life.

Animals have accompanied man into battle since war first waged. Since those times, many stories have been told of the bears, camels, cats, dolphins, monkeys, mules, rats and other creatures that have served with the Armed Forces during both world wars and beyond. The four stories in this book represent the devotion and unquestioning loyalty of the canine companion in the darkest days of war.

From the stub-tailed Bull Terrier that became a hero of the First World War, and the most decorated dog in history, after his bravery in the trenches of Flanders, to the remarkable loyalty of an Iraqi stray dog who attached himself to British troops in North Port and then patrolled their camp every night, protecting them from being attacked by the vicious packs of dogs living in the desert, each is an incredible tale of wartime bravery as well as an example of inspiring commitment and courage.

 (Charity shop)

THE SENSATIONAL SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER and winner of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2016

A tragic accident. It all happened so quickly. She couldn’t have prevented it. Could she?

In a split second, Jenna Gray’s world descends into a nightmare. Her only hope of moving on is to walk away from everything she knows to start afresh. Desperate to escape, Jenna moves to a remote cottage on the Welsh coast, but she is haunted by her fears, her grief and her memories of a cruel November night that changed her life forever.

Slowly, Jenna begins to glimpse the potential for happiness in her future. But her past is about to catch up with her, and the consequences will be devastating . . .

 (Charity stall at Sandown Regatta, Isle Of Wight)

John Green’s witty yet heart-breaking tour de force. The multi-million #1 bestseller, now a major motion picture starring Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort.

“I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, then all at once.”

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

Added to my wishlist…..

Publisher:

Kindle – Penguin (18th July 2016)

Paperback – Penguin (11th August 2016)

Set in the seaside town of Oldcliffe, Local Girl Missing centres around Frankie and Sophie. They were best friends as kids/teenagers, but Sophie disappeared when she was 21. It was assumed that she had fallen off the old pier, drunk, so death by misadventure was declared even though her body was never found.

Frankie could no longer face living in Oldcliffe and has since moved to London, managing her father’s hotels. She’s always kept herself busy, trying not to think too much about Sophie. She has a successful career, nice home, nice car, but she’s never been so lucky in love. Now she’s 39 years old and is suddenly contacted by Daniel (Sophie’s brother). Remains have been found and he needs her help and support in identifying them as it’s believed they may be Sophie’s. So, Frankie returns to Oldcliffe for the first time in years and all sorts of secrets are revealed. I won’t say more than that as I don’t want to give anything away, but this was a fab read. Very cleverly written! I finished it quite late last night. I was going to save the last couple of chapters for this morning, but I just couldn’t! My heart was literally racing towards the end! Loved it!

Many thanks to the author and publisher for approving my request on Netgalley. I am more than happy to recommend!

Buy your copy here – Local Girl Missing by Claire Douglas

Description:

Twenty years ago
21-year-old Sophie Collier vanishes one night.
She leaves nothing behind but a trainer on the old pier –
and a hole in the heart of her best friend Francesca.

Now
A body’s been found.
And Francesca’s drawn back to the seaside town she’s tried to forget.
Perhaps the truth of what happened to Sophie will finally come out.
Yet Francesca is beginning to wish she hadn’t returned.

Everywhere she turns are ghosts from her past.
The same old faces and familiar haunts of her youth.
But if someone knows what really happened to Sophie that night then now’s the time to find out – isn’t it?

Except sometimes discovering the truth can cost you everything you hold dear – your family, your sanity and even your life . . .

About the Author

Claire Douglas has worked as a journalist for fifteen years writing features for women’s magazines and national newspapers, but she’s dreamed of being a novelist since the age of seven. She finally got her wish after winning the Marie Claire Debut Novel Award, with her first novel, The Sisters. She lives in Bath with her husband and two children.

Publisher: Penguin (28th July 2016)

This is the first book I’ve read by Liane Moriarty, but it certainly won’t be my last!

Truly Madly Guilty had me gripped from the start. I found the characters interesting, although not all necessarily likeable all of the time. I was itching to find out more about them.

Erika’s and Clementine’s friendship is an odd one. They’ve been friends since they were little, but Clementine seems to resent the fact that her mother included Erika in pretty much everything as she was growing up, almost as though she feels like she’s been forced to be her best friend and it has just become a habit. They are polar opposites! I did feel quite sorry for Erika at times, but I could also see how she might grate on someone. Anyway, they stayed in close contact as adults and Erika is Clementine’s daughter’s God Mother. So, when Erika needs help, she feels like Clementine is the obvious person to go to, but Clementine isn’t so sure she can offer the help needed when first approached.

The story centres around a barbecue, which they are all invited to, at Erika’s neighbours house. They are hopeful that the afternoon will provide some much needed relaxation and give them time to think about what is being asked of them. None of them could have imagined how that day would end.

I loved the build up to this life changing event. Throughout the book we flit back between that day and since. As the story progresses we learn more and more about the characters and their relationships with each other. The whole thing flows really well, creating suspense. I had to keep reading to find out what was so awful about that day at the barbecue. I have to say that I was imagining all sorts of scenarios, but as usual I got it wrong!

Overall an excellent read.

I’ll be off now to add Liane Moriarty’s other books to my TBR list 🙂

Many thanks to the author and publisher for approving my request on Netgalley. I will happily recommend!

Buy your copy here – Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty

Description (via AmazonUK):

Despite their differences, Erika and Clementine have been best friends since they were children. So when Erika needs help, Clementine should be the obvious person to turn to. Or so you’d think.

For Clementine, as a mother of a two desperately trying to practise for the audition of a lifetime, the last thing she needs is Erika asking for something, again.

But the barbecue should be the perfect way to forget their problems for a while. Especially when their hosts, Vid and Tiffany, are only too happy to distract them.

Which is how it all spirals out of control….

I attended the 6×6 Reading Café, with my friend Gayle, on 14th June and really enjoyed it. We will be going again 🙂 I highly recommend if you’re local enough to attend, or happy to travel. Tickets are free!

Today I am very pleased to welcome Dan Klefstad to my blog. Dan very kindly agreed to answer my questions. I’m sure you’ll enjoy his answers…..

For those who don’t know already, could you tell us about yourself and your book(s) please?

I want to tell stories that blend a life story with a letter addressed to a specific person. So my novel Shepherd & the Professor is the fictional memoir of Susan Shepherd — Gulf War vet, cop and single mom — but it’s also a query letter to an unnamed editor at an unnamed publishing house. At first I worried about addressing a story to one person (the editor) about whom Shepherd and the reader knows nothing. Then I realized when you (or your protagonist) speak to one person, you’re speaking to everyone who reads it — That is, if you make it an honest revealing of your main character. I hoped this would make it especially easy to identify with my protagonist, or even the addressee. Now I’m ready for the reader to judge.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

I’m going to say something most writers say, and then I’ll put a spin on it: Write what you know; then use your imagination. I started with very basic characteristics belonging to my wife Susan, myself, and the university town we live in. Then my imagination took over and blew up several traits into things that might be, or could’ve been, or could never possibly be. I wasn’t happy with the story until I created an alternate universe that barely resembles the one I live in.

Are any of your characters based (however loosely) on anyone you know?

Continuing with the above, every character is a composite or completely made up. I’m pretty sure no one will accuse me of modeling a character after them. And why would I? If your aim is to write a compelling story, then using everyday people will keep it stuck on the ground. Very few of us are so interesting that we could inspire a page-turner by ourselves. That’s actually a compliment if you think about it: How many friends do you have? Now think about how many friends Sean Penn has, or someone equally fascinating? I’ll bet you’re way ahead on that count.

How do you pick your characters names?

I pick the first name that comes into my head and stay with it awhile. After revisions, after the story evolves, I go back and change some names. In the case of Shepherd, I picked Susan Shepherd right away and it stuck. She’s a protector by nature, so Shepherd made sense all the way to the final edit.

Can you share your writing process with us, in a nutshell?

I have a day job so I write on weekends or vacations. I don’t try to force anything, though. The true words will only come when they’re ready — or when you’re ready for them. A lot of emotionally dishonest prose gets written when writers are on a tight deadline, or have a big contract to fill.

Do you have a favourite author?

I have two who influenced my writing a lot so far. Novelist Robert Hellenga (“Snakewoman of Little Egypt”) often writes from the perspective of female narrators, and he gave me the courage to try that. Poet Amy Newman wrote a book called “Dear Editor” that inspired the query letter aspect of Shepherd. Both are written in the first person, which I find the most compelling way to tell a story.

If you could meet any author, who would it be? And what would you ask them?

Ernest Hemingway: Was there really nothing — nothing — left to say?

Were you a big reader as a child?

If the subject interested me, yes. When I was a pre-teen I was fascinated by horses, so I read all the Black Stallion novels. Then I was into Dungeons & Dragons and read all the fantasy I could get a hold of.

When did you start to write?

I was sixteen when I saw the TV series “Reilly: Ace of Spies” starring Sam Neill (remember that?). I immediately wrote a spy novel based loosely on that character and period. It was terrible but my mother encouraged me to keep writing, so I did.

What are you working on right now?

OK promise not to laugh? I’m writing a short story about a man who’s the guardian for a vampire. He watches the home while the creature sleeps. He pays the bills, and arranges for an uninterrupted supply of blood. Now, after decades of service, the man is about to retire. This is also a fictional memoir which doubles as a letter to one person: the man who will succeed the guardian. In addition to the confessional element, this story is also a guidebook on how to care for a vampire. I’d like to turn this into a novel.

When can we look forward to a new release?

Well, Shepherd took me five years to write. Now that I’m getting the hang of it, I hope to have this one done in half that time.

How can readers keep in touch with you?

I’m the only Dan Klefstad on Facebook and Twitter, to the best of my knowledge, so I’d begin there. I’m pretty quick with a reply. I’m also on YouTube: https://youtu.be/10cnd_tkZlI

Let me share another bit:

Shepherd & the Professor is my first paperback release. But it started out as an e-novella called Dr. Shabbaz which has a similar plot told in third-person. After publishing it, I realized how bored I was with telling a story in “Third P” so I turned it into a fictional memoir. Then I added the query letter aspect. There: Now you know the most important part of my process — Revise, revise, revise!

Many thanks to Dan for joining me on my blog today 🙂

Publisher: Black Rose Writing; 1 edition (22nd April 2016)

Most people take comfort knowing their family and friends will remember them after they die. For Susan Shepherd, “remembering” is bullshit. She wants an eternal shrine to her sacrifice: a book that never goes out of print.

Shepherd served her country in the Gulf War, got shot while serving her community as a cop, raised an ungrateful daughter by herself — and for what? A diagnosis of terminal cancer and she isn’t even fifty. If you were in her shoes, you might agree that nothing short of national perpetual acknowledgement will do.

She’s glad you feel that way; she just wrote a memoir and sent a flurry of query letters, hoping a publisher will memorialize her with a best-seller. After hitting Send, she waits not-at-all patiently for an editor to decide if her story will sell enough copies — that is, if her life really mattered.

Buy your copy HERE