Μurder in Verona

 

Murder in Verona

A tragic accident?

When Italy’s greatest opera singer, Rodolfo Argento, is killed in a terrible car accident, the police initially rule his death a tragic accident or suicide. But his elderly mother, Violetta, believes this to be poppycock! Her son was a brilliant driver and had too much to live for. She suspects foul play and turns to Private Investigator, Dan Armstrong to discover the truth.

A cheating spouse?

So Dan and Oscar travel to Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet, to find out what really happened. There Dan discovers Rodolfo’s private life could have come straight out of a Shakespeare play. Although now happily married, Rodolfo was a man with a reputation to rival Casanova, his past strewn with heartbroken women. Could his death have been a star-crossed lover determined to get revenge?

A family feud?

Or does the truth lie much closer to home? With his large inheritance still to be settled, the motive for Rodolfo’s murder could simply be greed. As Dan searches for suspects while staying at the Argento Opera Academy (where people randomly launch into operatic arias.) life for Dan is complicated by the fact that Oscar has a habit of joining in with the singing…

Can Dan solve the case before he and his tone-deaf dog get thrown out?

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/murderinverona

 

Author Bio –

I've written all sorts: thrillers, historical novels, short stories and now I'm enjoying myself hugely writing romance and whodunnits. Romantic comedies are what we all need from time to time. Life isn’t always very fair. It isn’t always a lot of fun, but when it is, we need to embrace it. Murder mystery is all very well, but it needs to put a smile on your face, so that's why I like to inject some humour.

Social Media Links –  

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

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Bookbub profile: @trevorwilliams3

My Review

Another enjoyable case for Dan and as the story is set in Verona, it is quite  fitting that it should be in the world of opera. I love this type of Agatha Christiesque scenario with multiple suspects, all of whom could have a good reason to kill the victim.

TA Williams manages to lift the gloom on a rainy day with his easy to read style and sense of humour. His descriptions of Italy, especially the delicious food, make the reader want to visit. For now, it will be vicariously but Tuscany is already on my 'to visit' list. unfortunately, with each new book, comes a new location, so my list is ever growing.

An Island Promise

 

An Island Promise

Three friends, a Balearic promise and a summer that could change their lives forever…

For twenty-one-year-old Belle Madden her first holiday to Ibiza with best friends Gem and Laurie was memorable for all the right reasons: partying the night away, planning a future filled with big dreams and making a promise to return in ten years to celebrate living their best lives – hopefully…

Fast forward a decade and Belle is desperate for a change. Eager to escape her relationship troubles, she jumps at a job opportunity that takes her back to the White Isle.

Despite loving island life and her new job, Belle realises something is missing. With their busy lives the three friends have drifted apart, their friendship fractured. Remembering their promise to return, Belle seizes the opportunity to organise a reunion holiday.

After the initial excitement of being back together in Ibiza, cracks start to appear. A lot can change in ten years. Dreams can be shattered, love lost and hope destroyed. And when secrets are revealed, long suppressed emotions begin to unravel…

Will Belle repeat her past mistakes or can a second chance summer be the beginning of a happy-ever-after for friendship as well as love?

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/islandpromisesocial

Author Bio – 

Kate Frost is the author of several bestselling romantic escape novels including The Greek Heart, and The Love Island Bookshop. She lives in Bristol and is the Director of Storytale Festival, a book festival for children and teens she co-founded in 2019.

My Review

Any book set in a foreign location is a win as far as I’m concerned. When it happens to be sun drenched Ibiza that’s an added plus. The three friends Belle, Gem and Laurie are each dealing with their own problems so a return to the place where they spent a drunken holiday ten years ago is the catalyst to make them each confront the past. However, it risks putting their friendship on the line. A delightful story and I loved how it all worked out in the end.

Murder in Portofino

 

Murder in Portofino

A much-needed holiday…

Dan Armstrong hasn’t done much retiring since moving to Tuscany, and with his new career as a successful private investigator taking off, it seems murder seems to follow him. He’s hoping a much-needed trip to beautiful Portofino will give him the break he needs and quality time with girlfriend Anna.

A gathering of celebrities…

Portofino is a celebrity paradise, and holidaying on a nearby superyacht is a group of British media stars, all famous for being infamous. Dan isn't impressed by their status or wealth, but when he overhears an argument between two of the group, he suspects something fishy could be going on…

A cold-blooded killer?

And then a body is washed up on shore and Dan’s hopes for a holiday go overboard. Could this simply be a tragic accident or is there a killer amidst the assembled celebrity cast? Dan and Oscar have their work cut out before the tide turns…

It's another gripping case for Dan and Oscar - it's murder in paradise!

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/murderportofinosocial

Author Bio – 

T. A. Williams is the author of over twenty bestselling romances. Trevor studied languages at University and lived and worked in Italy for eight years, returning to England with his wife in 1972. Trevor and his wife now live in Devon.

Social Media Links –  

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

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Bookbub profile: @trevorwilliams3

My Review

Set in beautiful Portofino, we get a glimpse of how the rich and famous live. For Dan Armstrong, however, simply enjoying  holiday with his girlfriend is not on the cards after he overhears a disturbing conversation and then a body is found. His instincts mean he can't just walk away but in offering is assistance, he is putting his new relationship at risk since he has promised his girlfriend quality time away. Will Dan be able to solve the case and will he and Anna still be together if he does?

Another great read which I devoured in two sittings.

The Lost Queen

 

The Lost Queen

1191 and the Third Crusade is underway . . .

It is 1191 and King Richard the Lionheart is on crusade to pitch battle against Saladin and liberate the city of Jerusalem and her lands. His mother, the formidable Eleanor of Aquitaine and his promised bride, Princess Berengaria of Navarre, make a perilous journey over the Alps in midwinter. They are to rendezvous with Richard in the Sicilian port of Messina.

There are hazards along the way - vicious assassins, marauding pirates, violent storms and a shipwreck. Berengaria is as feisty as her foes and, surviving it all, she and Richard marry in Cyprus. England needs an heir. But first, Richard and his Queen must return home . . .

The Lost Queen is a thrilling medieval story of high adventure, survival, friendship and the enduring love of a Queen for her King.

Acclaim for Carol McGrath's ROSE trilogy:
'Powerful, gripping and beautifully told' KATE FURNIVALL on The Silken Rose
'A tour de force of gripping writing, rich historical detail and complex, fascinating characters' NICOLA CORNICK on The Stone Rose
'A beautifully narrated novel' K J MAITLAND on The Damask Rose

Purchase Link - https://tinyurl.com/5n8ab2xv

Author Bio – Following a first degree in English and History, Carol McGrath completed an MA in Creative Writing from The Seamus Heaney Centre, Queens University Belfast, followed by an MPhil in English from University of London. The Handfasted Wife, first in a trilogy about the royal women of 1066 was shortlisted for the RoNAS in 2014. The Swan-Daughter and The Betrothed Sister complete this highly acclaimed trilogy. Mistress Cromwell, a best-selling historical novel about Elizabeth Cromwell, wife of Henry VIII’s statesman, Thomas Cromwell, was republished by Headline in 2020. The Silken Rose, first in a medieval She-Wolf Queens Trilogy, featuring Ailenor of Provence, saw publication in April 2020. This was followed by The Damask Rose. The Stone Rose was published April 2022. Carol is writing Historical non-fiction as well as fiction. Sex and Sexuality in Tudor England was published in February 2022. The Stolen Crown 2023 and The Lost Queen will be published 18^th July 2024. Carol lives in Oxfordshire, England and in Greece. 

Find Carol on her website:

www.carolcmcgrath.co.uk.

Follow her on amazon @CarolMcGrath

https://twitter.com/carolmcgrath

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/carol0275/the-handfasted-wife/

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My Review

I was aware of Berengaria although I knew very little about her. Carol Mcgrath brings her to life in such a way that by the end of the novel, the reader feels as if they are part of her entourage. I am in awe of the amount of research it must have taken to make the characters truly jump off the page and to recreate the perilous journey as she goes to meet her betrothed.

It's interesting that so many strong women have been overlooked, so I am delighted to see Berengaria receive the recognition she deserves in her own right and not just as the wife of a famous king.

I found the book absorbing and loved going on the journey with her. Can thoroughly recommend.

Bring me sunshine

 

Bring Me Sunshine

Mamma Mia meets Shirley Valentine in the brand-new holiday romance for 2024 from the International No.1 bestseller.

Gina Bennett has had enough after her husband of twenty-seven years lets her down one time too many. Deciding to choose herself, she embarks on a transformative solo journey to break free from the monotony of her life.

She escapes to the gorgeous Greek island of Kalosiros, where she holidayed in her youth, and where she had her first romance with the handsome Nico. Encountering two kindred spirits in Rosie and Deedee, the women bond over art classes and cocktails, renewing their lust for life and a shared quest to find Gina's lost love.

Together, they navigate the challenges of middle-age, self-discovery, and the liberating power of skinny-dipping. Will Gina find love again with her teenage sweetheart Nico, her husband, or with someone new? 

Bring Me Sunshine is a wonderfully uplifting, coming-of-middle-age story about female friendship, romance and starting over, set on a gorgeous Greek island in the sun. The perfect summer read!

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/bringmesunsocial

Author Bio – 

Alex Brown is an international #1 bestselling women’s fiction author. Her novels have been published in twenty-one countries and have sold over a million copies. Previously published by HarperCollins, her first title for Boldwood, Bring Me Sunshine, will be published in June 2024.

Social Media Links –  

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexbrownbooks 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexbrownbooks/ 

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/alex-brown-c8d2fb3e-3852-4496-8c6f-6921a85f83c8 

My Review

First of all, I have to say how much I loved the energy and vivaciousness of the three main characters. Going on a journey of self-discovery with the three new friends was a joy, even if this meant at times they behaved like teenagers. There is definitely a Shirley Valentine vibe as Gina leaves her husband behind to go in search of new adventures. Whether this is with her first holiday crush from years ago, with someone new or with her husband is for you the reader to find out. All I will say is that all is skilfully resolved in the end.

You won't regret going on Gina's journey with her and having a bundle of laughs along the way - all set on a beautiful Greek island. The perfect armchair journey.

The Greek Villa

 

Is this villa in Greece a disastrous fixer-upper… or a dream come true for Claudia?

After receiving a life-changing inheritance from a beloved, quirky older relative, thirty-two-year-old Claudia has done something wild they would approve of – she’s bought a run-down villa in Greece! Though she’s never seen it in person, she’s sure that with a lick of paint, it will be everything she’s ever dreamed of…

But, arriving at her new home on the gorgeous Greek island of Corfu, Claudia is met with a shock. The cracks look more like chasms, plants are growing through the tiled floor, and the view of the sparkling blue sea would be perfect – if there was a window instead of a hole in the wall.

With the local villagers thinking she’s mad to take on the villa, Claudia panics she’s made the biggest mistake of her life. Until local builder Dimitri comes to her rescue… Between his caring nature, his rippling muscles and deep brown eyes, Claudia can’t believe she’s found her knight in shining armour. And they grow close over glasses of Greek wine beneath the stars, after long, hot days working on the villa.

But just when Claudia begins to see a future with Dimitri, his ex-girlfriend throws a spanner in the works. Though he reassures her that it’s over between them, Claudia starts to feel like he’s keeping secrets. Then a pipe bursts, flooding the villa, and all Claudia’s hopes are dashed at once…

Should Claudia call it quits and head back to her old life? Or is Dimitri hiding the perfect surprise, one that could help Claudia finally build her dream life in Greece?

Fans of Sarah Morgan, Jenny Colgan and My Mamma Mia Summer will love this gorgeous holiday read, which will sweep you away to the stunning beaches of Greece.

Author Bio:

Sue Roberts lives in Lancashire with her long term partner Derek and has had a lifelong love of writing, encouraged by winning a school writing competition at the age of 11.

She always assumed that ‘one day’ she would write a book, always having a busy household and a job, the idea remained firmly on the back burner but never forgotten.

The inspiration for her first novel came to her on a holiday to a Greek village. Her daughters had left home and suddenly the time had come to write that book!
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Buy Link:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0CW1GJMC9social

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My review

Many of us have no doubt dreamt of buying a Greek villa, renovating it and escaping to Greece. As such we can identify with Claudia who spends her uncle's inheritance on a whim and buys a house she's never seen that needs doing-up. The premise sounds great and had me hooked at the start.

I loved the descriptions of Greece and of course the food as Claudia finds builder Dimitri and begins the renovations.I was expecting more conflict and for lots of things to go wrong yet amazingly Dimitri is free and does an amazing job. The only fly in the ointment is when one of the builders falls through the ceiling. Claudia didn't seem very understanding and doesn't seem to have much of an idea about Greek life.

The constant toing and froing between Greece and England wore thin after a while and I would have liked more of a spark between Claudia and Dimitri. That said, I enjoyed the read, loved watching the villa come together and of course the HEA. Lots of great descriptions that will allow the reader their own fantasy escape to Greece.

A farewell to Imperial Istanbul

 

A Farewell To Imperial İstanbul

Set against the majestic backdrop of Imperial Istanbul in the aftermath of the First World War, A Farewell To Imperial Istanbul is a captivating tale of family, duty and the resilience of the human spirit.

İstanbul, 1922: As the Ottoman Empire crumbles in the wake of the Great War, the fate of the Imperial capital and the House of Osman come under threat. Emboldened following their victory in the Turkish War of Independence, the Turkish Nationalist Government in Ankara abolishes the Ottoman Sultanate, marking the end of over six centuries of Ottoman rule. The Ottoman Caliphate endures for now, but Istanbul, stripped of its Imperial mantle, mourns its lost glory. Prince Nihadfears for the nation and the fate of the Imperial family, while his son, Prince Vâsıb, envisions a hopeful future defined by peace following the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne. 

As the new Republic of Türkiye emerges from the ashes of the once-mighty Ottoman Empire, Istanbul and the Ottoman Dynasty confront the crossroads of history, their destinies entwined with the shifting tides of the Bosphorus. Yet, amidst these perilous currents that separate East and West, where the deep waters threaten to engulf the city’s Imperial past and sweep away its soul embodied by the Imperial family, the Ottoman Dynasty must navigate a new and uncertain course.

The history of the Turks and their vast and powerful Empire has been intertwined with the Ottoman Dynasty for over six hundred years. But can the Imperial family survive the tempest of change as the world enters a new era?

 

Purchase Links 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0CZJ7TYC3

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CZJ7TYC3

 

Author Bio – Ayşe Gülnev Osmanoğlu is a member of the Ottoman Imperial family, being descended from Sultan Murad V through her grandfather, and from Sultan Mehmed V (Mehmed Reşad) through her grandmother. After reading History and Politics at the University of Exeter, she obtained an M.A. in Turkish Studies from SOAS, University of London, where she specialised in Ottoman History. Her debut novel, The Gilded Cage on the Bosphorus was published in 2020.

 

Ayşe Osmanoğlu lives between Türkiye, France and the United Kingdom with her husband, five children and two cats. Her research and literary works concentrate on the late Ottoman period, exploring narratives embedded in her imperial heritage.

Social Media Links – https://www.facebook.com/ayseosmanogluauthor

https://www.instagram.com/aysegulnevsultan/

https://twitter.com/AyseGulnev

Author Website: www.ayseosmanoglu.com

 

Giveaway To Win an A Farewell to Imperial İstanbul prize bundle… (Open to UK Only)

The list of prizes is below:

 

• Paperback signed copy of A Farewell to Imperial İstanbul
• Scented Candle from the Imperial İstanbul Collection – Scent: Harem Garden (Jasmine, Rose & Orange Blossom)
• Black matchsticks
• Traditional Rose Turkish Delight
• A Farewell to Imperial İstanbul postcard
• Set of four A Farewell to Imperial İstanbul bookmarks

 

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

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My Review

This is not so much a novel as an, at times, slightly fictionalised account of the last days of the Ottoman Empire. The fact that much of the source material has been gleaned form the author's own family make it an interesting read.

The descriptions of the palaces, the delicious food, the scents and smells of Istanbul really bring the story alive as they are described in such intricate detail. However, at times I felt this was to the detriment of the characters. With a cast list running to several pages it was difficult even so to keep track of the lesser characters let alone identify with any of the major characters. This aside, from a historical point of view, I feel I understand much better the reasons behind the end of the Ottoman Empire and the creation of a new country, Turkey, and it seems incredible to think this all took place around 100 years ago.

I thought the afternote was very poignant about how all the family members were scattered around Europe and the Middle East and I can't help wondering what happened to them all.

This is a perfect book for anyone with an interest in the Ottoman Empire, or who simply enjoys being whisked away to another era.