Return of the Christmas Spirit

RETURN OF THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

 BY SUSAN BUCHANAN

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Release Date: 29^th Nov 2015

Christmas is just around the corner when Star begins working at Butterburn library, but not everyone is embracing the spirit of the season.

Sixteen-year-old Arianna’s mock exams are looming and she’s feeling under pressure. With her father living abroad and her mother working three jobs, she doesn’t have much support at home.

The bank is threatening to repossess Evan’s house, and he has no idea how he’s going to get through Christmas with two children who are used to getting everything they want.

Patricia’s cliché of a husband, after 23 years of marriage, has announced he’s moving out of the family home, and moving in with his secretary.

Daniel is doing the work of three people in his sales job, as well as looking after his kids and his wife. Pulled in too many different directions, he’s feeling stressed out.

Can Star, the library’s Good Samaritan, help set them on the path to happiness this Christmas?

BUY LINKS

AMAZON UK

AMAZON.COM

ABOUT SUSAN BUCHANAN

Susan Buchanan lives in Central Scotland with her partner, Tony, and their two children. She is the author of three other novels: The Christmas Spirit, The Dating Game, and Sign of the Times. Return of the Christmas Spirit is her fourth book. She is currently working on her fifth book, What If.

Susan is also a proofreader, editor, and translator, and when not working, writing, or caring for her two delightful cherubs, loves reading, the theatre, quiz shows, and eating out - not necessarily in that order!

Facebook: www.facebook.com/susan.buchanan.author

Twitter: susan_buchanan

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4216164.Susan_Buchanan

Website: www.susancbuchanan.blogspot.co.uk

GIVEAWAY

There are 2 giveaways associated with this tour

Visit Susan’s blog at www.susancbuchanan.blogspot.co.uk, where there will be a Rafflecopter giveaway for a £10/$15 Amazon voucher for the duration of the tour and the launch day itself.

Plus

Enter the tour giveaway to win an ecopy (x2) of Susan’s book THE DATING GAME

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Review

I loved Susan Buchanan's first Christmas novel so was eagerly anticipating this one, hoping that it would deliver the same Christmas magic. It does - and more! Clear the decks, stock up on choccie because once you start, you won't want to stop reading. In fact I got very annoyed when my reading was interrupted! This is another story of what Christmas should be all about and is full of good cheer. A nice touch was the mention of all the different Christmas traditions around the world and the various characters are a delight. There's a clever touch with just the right reference to Susan's first book that is nicely incorporated. I was sorry when this ended and hope that there'll be a third book next year. This is becoming a Christmas ritual which I love.

5/5

Out of Control

OUT OF CONTROL

BY T.A. BELSHAW

Genre: Noir-Suspense

Release Date: Aug 25^th 2015

It began with a trivial moment of carelessness, but the shockwaves that reverberate from this seemingly insignificant incident, spread far and wide.
Ed and his heavily pregnant wife Mary are on an errand for Ed’s ailing father before the pair depart for warmer climes. But the winter of 1962 comes early and one innocuous event and a hastily taken decision will have devastating consequences for the family of young Rose Gorton. Mary’s already fragile mental state is put under further stress while Ed tries to make sense of events that are spiralling massively, Out of Control.

BUY LINKS

AMAZON UK

AMAZON.COM

ABOUT TREVOR BELSHAW

Trevor Belshaw, aka, Trevor Forest, is a writer of both adult and children's fiction. He lives in Nottingham, UK with his mad Springer Spaniel, Maisie. Trevor is the creator of Tracy’s Hot Mail (Crooked Cat Publishing,) and has recently released a noir novella, Out of Control.

Writing under the name, Trevor Forest, he has published fourteen children’s books including the Magic Molly series, The Stanley Stickle series, and Peggy Larkin's War.

Trevor’s short stories and articles have appeared in various magazines including The Best of British, Ireland’s Own and First Edition. His poem My Mistake was awarded a highly commended status and included in the Farringdon Poetry competition best entries anthology. His children’s poem Clicking Gran, was longlisted in the Plough Poetry competition 2009.

Trevor’s short stories have been published in many anthologies including the charity anthologies. 100 Stories for Haiti, 50 Stories for Pakistan, 100 Stories for Queensland, The Best of Café Lit, (2011 2012 and 2013) The Best of Friday Flash Volume 2, Another Haircut, Shambelurkling and other stories and 24 Stories for Advent.

Twitter @tbelshaw

Facebook Trevor Belshaw and Trevor Forest

Email trevor(AT)trevorbelshaw.com

GIVEAWAY

5 Ecopies and 2 signed Paperback copies of the book.

Open Internationally

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4be03017122/?

My Review

This novella may be short enough to read in one hit but wow did it pack a punch! I’m still thinking about it now, a couple of weeks after finishing it. The writing is pure quality but it’s the story that will come back to play on your mind. It’s not frightening so much as chilling and I promise you the characters, especially Mary, will stay with you long after you put the book down. I found the book sad, haunting, tragic even yet from this comes the message about doing the right thing and how our actions have repercussions. I felt that I should hate or at least dislike Mary. She certainly doesn’t come across as very pleasant and it’s true that I didn’t like her. Thanks to Trevor’s skill as a storyteller though, I did empathise with her to a certain extent as it’s clear that she needed help. I won’t say any more as I don’t want to spoil it but if you fancy a short chilling read this Christmas as an antidote to all the usual fare, then this is the book to read.

5/5