The Stepsister

The Stepsister

                                                                                          

When a stranger leaves step-sisters, Victoria and Ness, a half-share in a house in Holland, they think it must be a mistake.

But there's no mistake when Ness goes missing. 

Desperate for the truth, Victoria heads to Holland to find out what happened to her. Has she, as her texts show, embarked on a whirlwind romance? Has someone abducted her or even worse?

But there’s someone watching, and that person wants her dead. 

Can Victoria find out the truth before it’s too late? 

Purchase on Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07H3TH4HT

Author Bio – 

Jenny O'Brien was born in Ireland and, after a brief sojourn in Wales, now resides in Guernsey.
She's an avid reader and book reviewer for NetGalley in addition to being a RoNA judge.
She writes for both children and adults with a new book coming out every six months or so. She's also an avid collector of cats, broken laptops, dust and happy endings - two of which you'll always find in her books.

In her spare time she can be found frowning at her wonky cakes and even wonkier breads. You'll be pleased to note she won't be entering Bake-Off.

Readers can find out more about Jenny from her blog: https://jennyobrienwriter.wordpress.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ScribblerJB

Giveaway  - 1^st Prize Win an e copy of The Stepsister and crystal, tulip slider necklace , 2 x 2^nd Prize – an e-copy of The Stepsister (Open Internationally)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide 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 I reserve 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 I will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494151/?

My Review

The story has a sense of creepiness which is all-pervading and very cleverly told.  There is also a wonderfully evocative portrayal of the merchants' houses typical of parts of Holland - I really could see the story taking place in front of my eyes.  However, from the middle onwards as the plot begins to unfold, I did find myself getting confused and at times the storyline seemed somewhat implausible. It was all neatly unravelled by the end but not in the way I had imagined. There is a lot of sadness and poignancy in the relationships, especially between Victoria, Vanessa and the stepmother. I didn't feel that this is a happy read but felt that there was closure and a sense of hope at the end. It's a book which has stayed with me long after I finished it.

A ration book Christmas

                                                                       

A Ration Book Christmas

With Christmas approaching, the Brogan family of London's East End are braving the horrors of the Blitz. With the men away fighting for King and Country and the ever-present dangers of the German Luftwaffe's nightly reign of death and destruction, the family must do all they can to keep a stiff upper lip.
For Jo, the youngest of the Brogan sisters, the perils of war also offer a new-found freedom. Jo falls in love with Tommy, a man known for his dangerous reputation as much as his charm. But as the falling bombs devastate their neighbourhood and rationing begins to bite, will the Brogans manage to pull together a traditional family Christmas? And will Jo find the love and security she seeks in a time of such grave peril?

Purchase Link: https://goo.gl/eZ4TD5

Author Bio – Jean Fullerton is the author of eleven novels all set in East London where she was born. She also a retired district nurse and university lecturer. She won the Harry Bowling prise in 2006 and after initially signing for two East London historical series with Orion she moved to Corvus, part of Atlantic Publishing and is half way through her WW2 East London series featuring the Brogan family.

Social Media Links – Website: http://jeanfullerton.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jean-Fullerton-202631736433230/?ref=bookmarks Twitter: @JeanFullerton_


My Review

Beautifully crafted, the author takes the reader on a memorable journey to the past; Christmas during wartime Britain. The story catches up with some previous characters and I enjoyed reading Jo and Tommy's story. The atmosphere is well -recreated and you can almost hear the bombs dropping and feel the dust in your lungs. It is an emotional read but one you won't want to put down. If you love historical sagas, especially Christmas ones, then this is the book for you.

                                                                             

An interview with Poppy Blake

                                                                                   

Seasons come and go, but the peppermint green sails of the Windmill Café will keep on turning.

Escaping the bustle and heartbreak of her old life in the city, Rosie Barnes can’t believe that her dream of setting up a café has come true. Whether it’s her chilled homemade lemonade, sticky chocolate brownies or warming mince pies, Rosie’s café draws guests in from far and wide, and the folk of Willerby can enjoy it come rain or shine.

But some mysterious events soon threaten the picturesque town she now calls home, and with the help of ruggedly handsome local Matt Wilson, she must find out what’s going on before the reputation of the town – and her beloved café – are ruined.

From the scorching summer sun through to the crisp winter frosts, Rosie is in for a year she’ll never forget…

Author bio :

Poppy Blake is an avid scribbler of contemporary romance and romcoms. When not writing she loves indulging in the odd cocktail or two - accompanied by a tower of cupcakes. The Windmill Cafe series follows the life and loves of Rosie and Matt in the glorious countryside of Norfolk and will be opening its doors in March 2018 with Summer Breeze. Why not pop in for a visit? 

Welcome to the blog, Poppy. Why not begin by telling us a bit about yourself?

     

Hi Julie, thanks ever so much for having me as a guest on your lovely blog today. So, I’m Poppy Blake and I write romantic comedies with a twist of mystery and surprise. I’ve been scribbling away since I was a child, illustrating my stories with really dreadful drawings, before moving on to longer pieces, and eventually a full-length novel which is still in a shoe box on the top of my wardrobe. I was absolutely amazed and over-the-moon when the fabulous people at Harper Impulse said they wanted to publish three of my Windmill Café books! It’s a dream come true.

2       Let's talk about your novel! What is it about?

The Windmill Café is a series of three books that can be either read in sequence beginning with Summer Breeze, or as standalones. I would describe them as romantic comedies/cosy mysteries. Autumn Leaves is the second book in the Windmill Café series, where we meet up one again with Rosie Barnes, the manager of the cute little cafe in a windmill in the Norfolk countryside, along with her friend, Mia Williams, who has a penchant for quirky, if not down-right risqué aprons! Having moved on from the ice-cold fizz and strawberry-and-cream scones of summer, they are now getting stuck into pumpkin-spiced lattes and chocolate fudge brownies. However, as always, all is not as it seems at the Windmill Café. After the food-poisoning mystery of Summer Breeze, Rosie and her friends are faced with another mystery to solve, this time when one of their guests gets shot by a stray archery arrow!

3      Tell us a little bit about the characters? What are they like and how did you come up with them?

I think some characters are easier to write than others. For me, Rosie Barnes was the easiest to come up with. Before she escaped to the gorgeous countryside of Norfolk to run the Windmill Cafe, she worked in a little florist’s shop in London until she found her partner frolicking amongst the fuchsias with one of their wedding clients. She was devastated, of course, and the break-up caused the resurgence of her obsession with cleanliness and order which for a while she was able to conceal under the guise of the necessary hygiene requirements of the café. I love how she develops over the course of the three books, from someone who arrives in Willerby with a broken heart to someone who, with the support of new friends and the wider community, is able to move on with a smile on her face and a song in her heart. The trickiest character to create was the culprit because I needed to make it as difficult as possible for the reader to guess the person responsible until the end when their identity is revealed.

4      What is the message you are trying to get across in your book?

When I wrote the books, first and foremost I wanted to create an entertaining story. There had to be a great setting, an interesting set of characters, and lots of twist and turns in the plot, as well as plenty delicious recipes that would make the reader’s mouth water – well, it is a café after all and Rosie loves to bake. However, there is a message within Rosie’s story and that was with the support of family and friends, she was able to ditch her mantle of sadness over the ending of her relationship (and loss of her job and her home) and move on to a place where she could be happy again.

5       What is your writing process like?

Apparently, there are two types of writers – plotters and pantsers. If that’s true, then I would have to say that I fall into the category of a plotter. I do however, start with my characters, learn all about them, interview them whilst on long walks in the countryside, ask really deep questions and write down their answers until I know everything about them. They almost become friends that I’m sad to leave when the story is finished. I like to write in a light, sunny room and for me that’s the kitchen where we have a huge table and I can spread all my books, pens, notes and character profiles across its width. However, I like it mainly because it’s near the kettle and the biscuit drawer!

    

 Do you have any writing quirks?

Well, I’m not sure if it’s a quirk, but the way I write my stories is by writing them long-hand first and then typing them up at the end of the day. I also love to have a new writing pad for every story – I adore stationary and my family and friend always know what to get me for my birthday or Christmas! Other than that I have to have lots of cups of tea.

7       What plans do you have for the future of your writing?

The Windmill Café – Christmas Trees has just been published and is the festive story set at the Windmill Café. At the moment I’m working on a new series. It’s only at the planning stage, but I’m enjoying meeting new friends and creating a new world for them to live in.

It’s been great to be a guest on your blog, I’ve had fun answering your questions. Thanks for having me. Love Poppy.

Dead End

Book Blurb:
When the seventh Earl of Lowesdale is found hanging from the rafters at Wasdale Hall, everyone assumes the aging, hard-partying aristocrat had finally had enough of chasing the glory of his youth. But when the coroner finds signs of foul play, DI Kelly Porter is swept into a luxurious world where secrets and lies dominate.
At the same time, two young hikers go missing and it’s up to Kelly to lead the search. But digging deeper reveals ties to two other unsolved disappearances and Kelly and her team find themselves in a race against time.
Now, as all roads of both investigations and Kelly’s own family secrets lead to Wasdale Hall it becomes more important than ever for Kelly to discover the devious truths hidden behind the walls of the Lake District’s most exclusive estate...
Don't miss this gripping crime thriller featuring an unforgettable detective. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Patricia Gibney and Robert Bryndza.

Links to Book:
Amazon (UK)
Kobo (UK)
Google Books (UK)
Apple Books (UK)


Author Bio:

 

Rachel Lynch grew up in Cumbria and the lakes and fells are never far away from her. London pulled her away to teach History and marry an Army Officer, whom she followed around the globe for thirteen years. A change of career after children led to personal training and sports therapy, but writing was always the overwhelming force driving the future. The human capacity for compassion as well as its descent into the brutal and murky world of crime are fundamental to her work.
Author Photo:

Author Social Media Links
Twitter: ‎@r_lynchcrime


My Review

Rachel has the ability to suck the reader into the story with just the right amount of suspense delivered at exactly the right moment. With plenty of red herrings and three major suspects, it is anyone's guess as to who is killing young women on the fells. This is no cosy murder mystery though as the narrative can be quite graphic in parts. Offsetting this we have the relationship between Kelly and her boyfriend as well as Kelly's relationship with her mother and sister. As she struggles to solve the crimes, she's also struggling with a revelation that will affect her future.

The poppy field

                                                                                                 

                                                                                                  

‘One to Watch’ Good Housekeeping

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

Young nurse, Gemma, is struggling with the traumas she has witnessed through her job in the NHS. Needing to escape from it all, Gemma agrees to help renovate a rundown farmhouse in Doullens, France, a town near the Somme. There, in a boarded-up cupboard, wrapped in old newspapers, is a tin that reveals the secret letters and heartache of Alice Le Breton, a young volunteer nurse who worked in a casualty clearing station near the front line.

Set in the present day and during the horrifying years of the war, both woman discover deep down the strength and courage to carry on in even the most difficult of times. Through Alice’s words and her unfailing love for her sweetheart at the front, Gemma learns to truly live again.

This is a beautifully written epic historical novel that will take your breath away.

 

Deborah Carr recently signed with HarperCollins' romance imprint HarperImpulse to write, The Poppy Field, an historical romance to commemorate 100 years since the end of the First World War. 

She lives on the island of Jersey with her husband and three rescue dogs and is 1/3 of The Blonde Plotters.

My Review

"A beautifully written epic historical novel that will take your breath away" is quite something for a book to live up to. The poppy field deserves every word of praise above and more. I was sucked in from the first when Gemma arrives in France to renovate an old cottage belonging to a distant family member. It was when she discovers a tin of old letters though that the real treat begins. I loved the parallels between the lives of Gemma and Alice and longed to find out the connection between them. The story of the nurses' work in the casualty clearing station during WW1 shows the tremendous research that the author has done to make it seem authentic as well as showing the futility of war and the horrific loss of life. I don't mind admitting that it brought me to tears. The story reminds us that in wartime there isn't always a happy ever after for everyone but there can be a happy right now. We all need to seize happiness when we can. Brilliantly researched, engaging, beautifully told, I can't recommend this book enough.

Autumn Antics

Autumn Antics (The Boardwalk by the Sea Book 2)

Being a part-time hand model can be tricky, especially when you have to deal with prima donnas like Megan Knight, a reality star whose meteoric rise has surprised everyone. Bella is happiest running her tiny antique business from the front room of her cottage on the boardwalk. To ensure she has enough income coming in, she also rents out two of her bedrooms and is hiding a secret crush on one of her lodgers. His name is Jack and he also happens to be her best friend Sacha’s brother.
If life wasn’t complicated enough, her world-travelling mother appears on her doorstep on the same evening that Jack’s ex-fiancée arrives on the boardwalk determined to win him back. Bella has a lot of thinking to do and soon discovers that not all gems sparkle.

Purchase Links
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Autumn-Antics-Boardwalk-Sea-Book-ebook/dp/B07DHWRZG9/ (Amazon.co.uk)
 https://www.amazon.com/Autumn-Antics-Boardwalk-Sea-Book-ebook/dp/B07DHWRZG9/ (Amazon.com)

Author Bio –

Georgina Troy is a pseudonym of author Deborah Carr. She recently signed with HarperCollins' romance imprint HarperImpulse to write an historical romance to commemorate 100 years since the end of the First World War. The Poppy Field by Deborah Carr will be published in e-book format on 12 October 2018 and in paperback on 27 December 2018.
Georgina was a finalist in the Contemporary Romance Category of the Romantic Novel of the Year Awards 2016 (RoNAs) with A Jersey Kiss and a finalist in the Joan Hessayon Award for new writers 2015. Her first four-book series, The Jersey Scene and books 1 and 2 of her second series, The Boardwalk by the Sea are available.
She also writes thrillers as Ella Drummond and lives on the island of Jersey with her husband and three rescue dogs and is 1/3 of The Blonde Plotters.

Sign up to Georgina's Newsletter at: deborahcarr.org/contact
Social Media Links – Website: https://www.deborahcarr.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GeorginaTroyAuthor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/GeorginaTroy Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/georginatroy/


Giveaway – Win an Autumn Antics Locket and Tote Bag (Open Internationally)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide 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 I reserve 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 I will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.


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My Review

Autumn generally isn't my favourite season but this book will wrap you up like a snuggle blanket as you devour the contents. It actually makes me look forward to hot chocolate in front of the fire. Once again Georgina Troy has created some memorable characters who are far from being one-dimensional, especially Jack's ex-girlfriend and of course, Miss diva herself, Megan Knight. The real pull in the book however, is the relationship between Bella and Jack. It was fun too to catch up with Bella's friends on the Boardwalk. Perfect for those chilly evenings now that the nights are drawing in.

By Virtue Fall

A heartwarming Shakespeare Sisters romance from the bestselling author of Fix You.

The fourth, and final, book in the Shakespeare Sisters series.

With a broken marriage behind her, Juliet is just about ready to give up on love. Living in a ramshackle bungalow in Shaw Haven and working as a florist, she is desperately trying to build a new life with her daughter, Poppy. But try as she might, the one thing she can't ignore is the man next door . . .

 

Carrie Elks is an international bestselling author of seven traditionally-published and self-published novels. Her books are sweet yet sexy contemporary romance stories. Her next book, By Virtue Fall, releases in October!

Amazon: http://author.to/CarrieElksAuthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarrieElksAu...
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carri...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carrie.elks/

My Review

This is the final book in the story of the four Shakespeare sisters and I think that this one perhaps resonated the most. Juliet is recently separated from her husband and the portrayal of the relationship between the two is in sharp contrast to that of Juliet and her new neighbour. The show stealers though are Juliet's young daughter and the neighbour's young son. It was wonderful to see Juliet's character go from strength to strength and a useful reminder that taking the easy option isn't always the route to happiness. Thoroughly enjoyable and a fabulous end to the series. It was with a twinge of sadness that I closed the final page. 

Who cares if they die

                                                                                                   

                                                                                                

Did she jump or was she pushed?

It starts with the hanging woman in the Maple Valley woods; the woman with no shoes, no car, and no name. On paper, it’s an obvious case of suicide – but to Officer Dean Matheson, something doesn’t add up.

Then there are the other deaths, deaths that also look like suicides – but are they? The victims are all women living on the fringes of society, addicts, and criminals. Who will miss them? Does anyone really care if they die?

Dean Matheson is making it his business to care, even if it means he becomes a target... 

Purchase Links

Amazon US - https://www.amazon.com/Who-Cares-They-Die-psychological-ebook/dp/B07G38PPKP/

Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Who-Cares-They-Die-psychological-ebook/dp/B07G38PPKP/

Author Bio –

Wendy is a British crime thriller writer who lives in Nottinghamshire with her husband and 3 rescue cats.

She started writing as a young girl, thanks to her love of reading, and still has some of the ghost and crime stories she wrote back then. She occasionally reads them when she needs a good laugh.

After completing a degree in Creative Writing & Philosophy, Wendy is now both an indie author (of a dark YA novel which was longlisted for the Mslexia Novel Competition) and a traditionally published author, with several short stories published in UK and US anthologies. 

‘Who Cares if they Die’ is her debut novel, published by Ruby Fiction, and Wendy is currently writing the next in the series. They are set in the US and follow Officer Dean Matheson and his mission to become a homicide detective.

Wendy is a member of the Crime Writers’ Association and the Society of Authors.

When not writing, she wastes her time on Twitter, complaining about not having enough time to write.

Social Media Links –

Twitter: @WendyDranfield

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WendyDranfield1/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13513643.Wendy_Dranfield 

My Review

I really enjoyed the suspense in this story. For the first half the reader wonders, like Officer Dean Matheson, if the victims were murdered or committed suicide. There are a few suspects but little motive until all is revealed. Unlike other books though it then becomes a race to catch the murderer before Dean becomes the next victim. This means we have the psychological suspense of who did it and why but also the suspense of being up against the clock even though we know the identity of the murderer. It's a deadly game of cat and mouse that will keep you turning the pages. Very well done!

The Paris Secret

                                                                                           
                                                                                             

On the brink of the second world war, a beautiful Parisian bookshop hides a heartbreaking secret that will tear one family apart forever …

The last time Valerie was in Paris, she was three-years-old, running from the Nazis, away from the only home she had ever known.
Now as a young woman, Valerie must return to Paris, to the bookshop and her only surviving relative, her grandfather Vincent, to find out what really happened to those she loved. As she gets to know Vincent again, she hears a tragic story of Nazi occupied Paris, a doomed love affair and a mother willing to sacrifice everything for her beloved daughter.
Can Valerie and Vincent help each other to mend the wounds of the past? Valerie isn’t after a fairy-tale ending, she only wants the truth. But what is the one devastating secret that Vincent is determined to keep from his granddaughter. 

Amazon:http://geni.us/B07GFQMHC5Social

iBooks: http://ow.ly/R7qs30m3XRz

Kobo: http://ow.ly/Sjqv30m3WLm

Googleplay: http://ow.ly/Ltd730m3XLc

About the author

 

Former journalist, Lily Graham grew up in South Africa, and spent much of her childhood buried inside the covers of a book. Her adulthood has passed no differently. Except that now she occasionally gets to make up some of the stories for a living. She is happy to report that most of her neighbours think of her as a cheerful layabout and no amount of protesting that lazing about in her pyjamas is actually 'work' she is never taken seriously. She lives in West Sussex with her husband and her beloved bulldog, Fudge.

Lily is the author of five novels, including THE ISLAND VILLA. All her books have entered the Amazon Top 100 bestseller list.

https://www.facebook.com/LilyRoseGrahamAuthor/

https://twitter.com/lilygrahambooks

My Review

I knew I wanted to read this book as soon as I saw the cover. If you add in the fact that it's set in France, a country for which I have a deep affection, and that it's set against the build-up to WW2, then I must admit to opening it with a soupcon of anticipation. Would it be as good as I hoped?
From the start, I was intrigued by Valerie and even more so as we heard her story as a child. Her grandfather, Vincent, is a brilliant character and I loved their relationship, wondering all the time what would happen when Valerie reveals who she really is. The story is incredibly moving and as you might imagine in Nazi-occupied France, quite chilling in parts. Nevertheless, it is the emotional pull on the reader that really sets this book aside.
The ending, whilst it does bring the story full circle and provides a sense of completion, might feel rather contrived to some. Overall though, I have to say this is a beautiful story that will stay with you.

K