I’ve been lucky to feature several children’s books recently and am delighted to be reviewing The Dog Ate My Homework: and other poems for children by Aaron James today. Getting children engaged in reading is so important in my view.

The Dog Ate My Homework: and other poems for children is available for purchase here.

The Dog Ate My Homework: and other poems for children

The Dog Ate My Homework by Aaron James is a collection of short poems that will capture your imagination. Filled with fun stories that make you think, laugh and tell your friends. Do you remember your first day at school? Or when you tried to convince your teacher you actually done your homework? Or the excitement you felt when you bought your new pair of trainers? In The Dog Ate My Homework you will get a chance to read all these stories and many more!

My Review of The Dog Ate My Homework:

and other poems for children

The Dog Ate My Homework contains five school themed poems for children.

I enjoyed this collection of school based poems because I think it covers themes that many children might feel anxious about in a reassuring and entertaining manner. The poems are about the first day at school (and I’d have liked that one first in the anthology as it marks the beginning of school life), having new trainers, school dinners, sports day and homework so that familiar aspects of school life can be discussed with children in a safe and positive way. Similarly, a range of emotions is presented from excitement to fear, affording a discussion with children without threat.

I also really liked the fact that the persona behind the poems is a boy as it can be difficult to engage boys in reading and with poetry in particular.

The language and rhyme schemes are simple enough for children to read the poems independently and because the poems are so well illustrated I think this would be a smashing collection to promote the enjoyment of reading. There’s enough substance for each poem to act as a story without a reluctant reader becoming bogged down.

The Dog Ate My Homework is a collection I really recommend.

About Aaron James

Born and raised in Tottenham, North London and today living in Bromley, South London with his wife, Aaron James works as a poet and spoken word artist. The Dog Ate My Homework is his first children’s poetry book.

There’s more with these other bloggers too:

Lovely Rachel Amphlett, author of Call to Arms, has been on Linda’s Book Bag a couple of times, revealing 5 things about herself here when Assassins Hunted was released and writing about living locations here to celebrate Scared to Death, so this time I thought I’d set her a challenge and ask how her music has influenced her writing. Luckily she accepted the challenge!

Call to Arms is part of Rachel Amphlett’s Kay Hunter series and is available for purchase here.

Call to Arms

Loyalty has a price.

Kay Hunter has survived a vicious attack at the hands of one of the country’s most evil serial killers.

Returning to work after an enforced absence to recover, she discovers she wasn’t the only victim of that investigation. DI Devon Sharp remains suspended from duties, and the team is in turmoil.

Determined to prove herself once more and clear his name, Kay undertakes to solve a cold case that links Sharp to his accuser.

But as she gets closer to the truth, she realises her enquiries could do more harm than good.

Torn between protecting her mentor and finding out the truth, the consequences of Kay’s enquiries will reach far beyond her new role…

On Writing – And Music

A Guest Post by Rachel Amphlett

One of the hardest things I’ve had to accept as a writer is that I can no longer listen to my favourite music while I’m working.

My love for music developed hand in hand with my love for writing – after nagging my parents for a good 18 months about wanting to learn how to play the guitar, my grandfather gave in and bought me a little acoustic guitar for my eighth birthday and I was packed off to lessons. Unfortunately, my parents had me learning classical guitar, when all I wanted to do was be like Chrissie Hynde!

At the same time, I was inhaling books at the rate of knots and starting to write my own stories – not that any of them from that time will ever see the light of day.

I left school at 16, determined to give it a shot at playing guitar in bands after teachers and careers advisors alike scoffed at my ideas of wanting to work in a recording studio, and so that’s what my focus became for the next 10 years.

I worked hard, grabbing any job I could to save up the money for a guitar, amplifier and then proper lessons, often working double shifts in hotel kitchens washing up or getting up at five o’clock in the morning to walk to an industrial estate a couple of miles from where I lived to make sandwiches for construction workers all morning – I’d do anything I could to make my creative dreams come true.

It paid off – by the time I was 23, I beat 450 other female lead guitarists to an audition at Air Studios in London for a new all-girl rock/pop band that was being put together by a record label.

I’m a shade under six feet tall though, and when I turned up at the audition they took one look at me and told me I wouldn’t suit the photo line-up they had in mind.

Me and the music industry had a falling out shortly afterwards 😉

Fast-forward a decade or so, and I’m living in Australia and desperate for something creative to do. I tried putting together a couple of covers bands here, but honestly – it’s like herding cats, and I got frustrated very quickly.

In the meantime, I was starting to jot down story ideas again and once I started, I couldn’t stop. A short creative writing course soon followed, and then I began to write my debut novel, White Gold.

And that’s how my writing career began.

The thing is, if I’m exercising or driving I LOVE to have music to listen to – I have very eclectic tastes, although I do tend to hark back to rock, metal and blues given half a chance, but I just can’t write with that sort of music playing. I find it too distracting. Having that background in music, I’d spend all my time trying to work out riffs and chords instead of putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard!) or playing air guitar J

However, sometimes music CAN work well.

Sometimes a particular piece of music will inspire a scene – I’ll have to stop, switch off the music and start writing the scene before I lose the ‘feeling’ that the music inspires.

I also find that certain playlists on Spotify can help me get into a “writing zone” these days – tracks that are relaxing, with no words or definitive beat are the best ones for me, because again I’m not distracted by what the musician is doing.

Of course, once the word count is achieved for the day and my mind turns to the business and marketing side of things, the volume gets cranked up and I can rock along to all my favourite tracks once more!

And the guitar playing? Yes, I still miss it and would love to be part of a rock covers band again one day.

Watch this space 😉

Oh we will, Rachel, we will! And I think we ALL wanted to be like Chrissie Hynde!

About Rachel Amphlett

Rachel Amphlett is the bestselling author of the Dan Taylor espionage novels and the new Detective Kay Hunter crime thriller series, as well as a number of standalone crime thrillers.

Originally from the UK and currently based in Brisbane, Australia, Rachel’s novels appeal to a worldwide audience, and have been compared to Robert Ludlum, Lee Child and Michael Crichton.

She is a member of International Thriller Writers and the Crime Writers Association, with the Italian foreign rights for her debut novel, White Gold, being sold to Fanucci Editore’s TIMECrime imprint in 2014.

An advocate for knowledge within the publishing industry, Rachel is always happy to share her experiences to a wider audience through her blogging and speaking engagements.

You can visit Rachel’s website, find her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter @RachelAmphlett.

I’ve been lucky to host an eclectic array of authors in this Linda’s Book Bag ‘Staying in with…’ feature and I never know what they are going to bring along, especially if they write in more than one genre. Today I’m excited to know which of her books T Stedman has brought to share with me.

If you’re an author who’d also like to stay in with me to tell me about one of your books, please click here for more details.

Staying in with T Stedman

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag. Thank you for agreeing to stay in with me. Tell me, which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it?

I have brought along My Migraine Story because it is my first Non-Fiction project which grew out of my blog www.migrainewise.com I’m a chronic migraineur myself and It’s the place where I record my own clinical trials; what worked and what didn’t.

(My goodness. I think there will be many blog readers who could do with My Migraine Story, me included!)

What can we expect from an evening in with My Migraine Story?

An evening with My Migraine Story will tell you everything you need to know to battle your migraines and the anxiety and depression that accompanies it. It will help you understand more about your incredible excitable brain, and how to work with it to free the hidden creative you.

(Sounds perfect!)

Writing it has enabled me to make some wonderful friends with fellow sufferers, some have given me some wonderful feedback  –

One said: “This book also gives recipe tips and tells of how even supplements, household cleaning products and toiletries can be triggers, and gives examples of safe alternatives… Most of all, she gives even the most extreme sufferer hope that there is light at the end of tunnel – & NOT the flashing zigzag kind!”

Another: “There is definitely an important lesson to be learned here about taking matters into one’s own hands in order to enjoy better health and a more fulfilling life. Highly recommended to any migraineur who wants to take back control of their life.”

And lastly: “I highly recommend this book to the chronic migraine and episodic migraine patient. It has given me hope and it reiterates a lot of the ways I am already approaching my healing. Tracy has such a loving and caring and down-to-earth tone that it really feels like I am listening to an old trusted friend. I commend her for taking her health into her own hands because that isn’t always the easiest thing to do. She is the definition of advocating for yourself when it comes to migraine, mental health, and overall well-being.”

I usually write in the Dark Romance genre: www.tstedman.com but writing this book and giving something back has been extremely rewarding.

(I imagine it has. I have never forgotten the first migraine I ever had when I really thought I was going blind because all I could see was a waterfall of zig-zag black and white lines. I’m sure sufferers will be clamouring to read My Migraine Story.)

What else have you brought along and why?

For our evening in I’ve brought along a reminder “Each migraineur is an individual and should be treated as a whole person—that is for pain, as well as the healing of the mind and the body.”

We have to start living and for that we have to come out of the dark and into the light …

What a smashing sentiment. Thanks so much for staying in with me and bringing along a book that I’m sure will be useful to so many.

My Migraine Story

More than a list of common triggers and remedies, My Migraine Story, is an emotionally candid personal account, learned through trial and error and bitter experience.

***
Tracy is a life-long migraine sufferer. By the time she was forty-five years old she was out of action for half of every month. She’d been made redundant, her marriage had broken down and she’d become suicidal.

Something needed to be done.

With only her love of the outdoors, health and wellbeing, she set out on a journey to chase her dream of being a writer.

But first she must fight her curse.

She started by examining herself closely – what she did, what she ate and how she felt, and recorded it all.

Looking closely at diet, supplements, hormones, cosmetics and mental wellbeing, no stone is left unturned. Tracy developed a positive mental attitude to migraine and really started to live.

This is a concise and detailed log of how she did it.

“The great thing is, I’m no longer in a prison. I’m only limited by my imagination …”

My Migraine Story is available for purchase here.

About T Stedman

T Stedman was born and brought up in Kent with her two younger brothers. She loved to dance, ride ponies and have her head stuck in a good book.

From a wild youth, she had many different jobs, from bar work to working for the NHS. And during that time spent long spells in Malta (the birth place of her paternal Grandmother) in a whirlwind of parties, clubs and music.

Writing from an early age was always a private thing; mainly poetry and short stories. Until the idea for the Atlantean race came to her and wouldn’t go away.

A strong thread throughout her writing is music, art and youth culture. Her stories are dark with flawed characters and are always sizzling hot.

T Stedman is author of the 21st Century Sirens Series, Diablo, and her blog – migrainewise. She still lives in Kent with her two grown kids, dogs and horse.

You can follow T Stedman on Twitter @AuthorTStedman and visit her website. You’ll also find her on Facebook.

It gives me very great pleasure to be part of the launch celebrations for The Zero and the One by Ryan Ruby. I have a brilliant extract to share with you that has made me even more excited to read the book.

Published by Legend Press, The Zero and the One is available for purchase here.

The Zero and the One

A bookish scholarship student, Owen Whiting has high hopes of Oxford, only to find himself immediately out of place. Then he meets Zachary Foedern from New York. Rich and charismatic, Zach takes Owen under his wing, introducing him to a world Owen has only ever read about.

An Extract from The Zero and the One

REPETITION.— If something happens once, it may as well have never happened at all. Unfortunately, nothing ever happens only once. Everything is repeated, even nothing.

A British Airways jet, high above the coast of New England. The captain has turned off the fasten seatbelt sign, but mine remains strapped tightly across my waist. My fingers clutch the armrests, knuckles white. The air hostess evens her trolley with our row and bestows a sympathetic elevation of her eyebrows on me as she clears minibottles, plastic cups, crumpled napkins off my tray table. The other passengers regard me with caution. When I stumbled back from the toilet, I found that the young mother in my row had exchanged places with her tow-headed, round-faced toddler, who now stares obliviously at the white fields outside the window, in order to provide him with a buffer zone in case I were to do something erratic. Perhaps I’d been mumbling to myself again: a dangerous perhaps.

I tried to apologise to her, to explain that I rarely drink so much, it’s only on planes that… but no luck. She doesn’t speak English.

It’s true, flying terrifies me. I can count the number of times I’ve done it on one hand. Twice with my parents. Once with school. Most recently, to Berlin with Zach during the Easter holiday. None of which has remotely prepared me to endure this seven-hour trans-Atlantic torture. Nothing — not a book or an inflight movie or even three minibottles of whisky — helps me to relax. The least bit of turbulence, every unexpected dip in altitude, signals The Beginning of a Crash.

On the flight to Berlin, Zach noticed my anxiety and argued that this was precisely what was so interesting about air travel. It was to be regarded, he said, as an exercise in amor fati. As soon as you stepped through the doors, you were forced to resign yourself to the possibility that your conveyance will turn into your coffin. Your fate was no longer in your hands, no longer under your control. In fact life was always like this, but only in special circumstances were we made aware of it. If to philosophize was to prepare for death he could think of no better place to practice philosophy than on an airplane.

His words were no comfort to me then. They’re even less of one now. The last thing I want to think about are preparations for death. And coffins. How does one transport a body across the ocean? On a ship? Down in the hold with the rest of the luggage? Maybe on every flight there’s a coffin going somewhere. At this very moment my t shirts and toiletries could be nestling up with the dead.

When it is time, the air hostess helps me firmly lock my tray table and return my seat to its upright position.

We’re beginning our final descent into New York, she explains.

No Miss, I am tempted to reply. Not our final descent.

The customs officer is a candle stub of a man with a damp, fleshy face that seems to have melted from the dark hairline of his crew cut into the wide, unbuttoned collar of his uniform. He flips through every page of my mostly blank passport, looks from me to my photo and back again. The photo, I remember, was taken at a booth in the Galleries, three or four years ago, in the thick of my rather dubious battle with puberty, right after one of those visits to the hairdresser, which, because I no longer live with my parents, I am no longer obliged to make. I neutralise my expression and re- move my glasses, as I had been instructed to do then, but it is only when my left eye, which has astigmatism, wanders toward my nose that the resemblance finally becomes clear to him. He asks me to confirm the information I had written on my declaration form.

Student. One week. 232 West 113th Street. Business or pleasure?

Funeral.

The stamp falls with a dull, bureaucratic thump: Welcome to the United States.

I know what New York looks like from the establishing shots of countless films and television shows. But there the city is only as large as the screen you watch it on. A safe size. Contained. Manageable. Odourless. Two-dimensional. With clearly marked exit signs, if you’re watching at the cinema. With a volume dial and an off button, if you’re watching from the comfort of your living room.

These taxi windows offer no such protection. On the motorway, my driver slices through traffic, steering with one hand on the indicator and the other on the horn. When a removal van tries to pass us, he closes the distance at the last moment. The driver leans out the window of the van, his face red, spit flying from his mouth as he tries to shout over the siren of the ambulance behind us. Not one to allow an insult to go unanswered, my driver rolls down the passenger-side window, letting in the foul breath of late afternoon. I probably shouldn’t have pushed my luck by getting off the plane.

About Ryan Ruby

Ryan Ruby was born in Los Angeles in 1983. He has written for The Baffler, Conjunctions, Lapham’s Quarterly, n+1, and the Paris Review Daily among other publications, and has translated two novellas from the French for Readux Books. He lives in Berlin.

You can visit Ryan’s website for more information.

There’s also more with these other bloggers:

It gives me great pleasure to belong to Legend 100 team of bloggers for Legend Press. Today I’m delighted to be part of their celebrations of The Teacher’s Secret by Suzanne Leal. Suzanne has kindly agrees to stay in with me and tell me about The Teacher’s Secret.

The Teacher’s Secret is available for purchase here.

The Teacher’s Secret

A small town can be a refuge, but while its secrets are held, it’s hard to know who to trust and what to believe.

The Teacher’s Secret is a tender and compelling story of scandal, rumour and dislocation, and the search for grace and dignity in the midst of dishonour and humiliation.

Only one person knows the truth…

Staying in with Suzanne Leal

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag Suzanne. Which of your books have you brought along to share with me and why have you chosen it?

I’ve brought along my novel, The Teacher’s Secret, which explores the web of relationships in and around a small school, its dramas, crises and victories.  Readers will, I hope, find themselves immersed in the world of the small coastal community of Brindle and the people who live there.

Having been a teacher in a previous life, The Teacher’s Secret sounds just my kind of read. Tell me, what can we expect from an evening in with The Teacher’s Secret?

A tale of scandal, rumour and dislocation, The Teacher’s Secret is a gripping read about schoolyard machinations in a small town by the sea.

Terry Pritchard is a much-loved teacher at Brindle Public School – but when the new principal starts to question his motives, it becomes clear that Terry is also a man with something to hide.

The Teacher’s Secret is Terry’s story.  It is also the story of Nina, newly single and struggling to teach a hostile class; of Rebecca, who won’t return home but can’t say why; and of Sid, the school caretaker, who, in his gentle way, takes care after everyone.

Above all, it is a story of community and how, in the midst of dishonour and humiliation, grace and dignity might still be found.

(I love the sound of those characters.) 

What else have you brought along and why? 

I have brought my copy of A Boy in Winter by the UK writer, Rachel Seiffert, who is also my friend.  The story Rachel tells in A Boy in Winter is one of bravery in a time of fear and her writing, as always, is precise, spare and beautiful.  Rachel introduced me to her literary agent, Toby Eady, who represented me for my first novel, Border Street, and who died at the end of last year.  I will always be grateful to Toby for finding me a place in the world of writing and publishing and to his wife, Xinran, for her kindness and generosity.

 What a wonderful tribute to Toby. Thanks so much Suzanne.

It’s always wonderful to discover a new author and a new series to enjoy so I am delighted to welcome K.T.Lee to Linda’s Book Bag today to stay in with me.

If you’re an author who’d also like to stay in with me to tell me about one of your books, please click here for more details.

Staying in with K.T.Lee

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag, K.T. 

Thank you for agreeing to stay in with me.

Thanks so much for having me – it’s great to be here.

My pleasure. So, tell me, which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it? 

I’ve brought along Calculated Deception. I chose Calculated Deception because it is the first full-length novel in The Calculated Series, my new series featuring women in STEM teaming up with government agents to fight crime.

Calculated Deception features Dr. Ree Ryland, an engineering professor who loves her job and plays by the rules. However, when Agent Parker Landon and his FBI team discover that someone at the university has been procuring military-grade hardware by disguising it as test equipment, all evidence points to Ree. After the FBI intercepts a shipment that puts Ree in the clear, Parker is forced to tell her that she’s being used as a pawn by an unseen enemy. And now she’s in that enemy’s crosshairs. Ree turns down the protective detail offered by the FBI and insists on using her inside knowledge to help with the investigation. Parker is leery of bringing a civilian on to the team, but he’s surprised at how much fun he has working with Ree, even as he tries to keep her out of harm’s way. Parker, Ree and the FBI team find increasingly worrying evidence that someone is quietly acquiring everything they need to cause destruction on a massive scale. They must uncover the motive and identity of the killer hiding among Ree’s friends and colleagues before it’s too late.

(This sounds really exciting.)

What can we expect from an evening in with Calculated Deception?

Calculated Deception is a fun, page-turning suspense. You’ll see elements from spy thrillers with the focus on characters and small community feel of a cozy mystery. There is a little sweet romance as well.

My goal as a writer is to create a unputdownable book with a bit of fun and banter between the characters along the way. If I’ve made you laugh or kept you up too late reading, I’ve done my job!

(That sounds like the perfect combination!)

I thought I’d share a few quotes from book reviews on Goodreads and Amazon:

• “The book is well written, keeping the reader interested till the end. A thriller, with a smart scientist protagonist, and a romance makes this an excellent read.” – Goodreads reviewer
• “I loved this book from the beginning just for the title and cover alone. There is something empowering about a female main character that is intelligent, a College Professor, and an Engineer…This story was captivating and kept you interested throughout the book. It was a good mix of thriller, suspense, possible international terrorism, and a little romance. I loved it and will be reading the next one in the series soon!” – Shannon Waugh, Book Reviewer

(You must be thrilled with those responses K.T.)

What else have you brought along and why? 

I’ve brought along coffee and a few pieces of dark chocolate. Ree’s love of chocolate and coffee was particularly easy for me to imagine and put on the page. I share Ree’s habit of keeping “break in case of emergency” chocolate in my kitchen!

(That made me laugh so much as my husband and I always keep a bar of emergency chilli chocolate in the kitchen cupboard too!)

Like many writers (and engineers), I also love coffee. I have a collection of my favorite mugs displayed on a rack on the wall, from those with family photos to souvenir mugs from some of my favorite places. I’m currently drinking coffee out of my Rosie the Riveter mug – this one is also my go-to when I am editing my books. There is something about the iconic image with “We Can Do It!” written across the top that always gives me that extra boost.

(Great tip there for other writers K.T – have an inspirational mug to help those words flow!)

Thanks so much for staying in with me to tell me all about Calculated Deception K.T. I think it must be time to reach for a mug, settle down with the book and crack open the emergency chocolate!

Calculated Deception

Dr. Ree Ryland is an engineering professor who loves her job and plays by the rules. Her life is reassuringly predictable – until an enemy hiding in plain sight decides her squeaky-clean reputation is the perfect cover to commit a crime.

When Agent Parker Landon and his FBI team discover that someone at the university has been procuring military-grade hardware by disguising it as test equipment, all evidence points to Ree. After the FBI intercepts a shipment that puts Ree in the clear, Parker is forced to tell her that she’s being used as a pawn by an unseen enemy. And now she’s in that enemy’s crosshairs. Ree turns down the protective detail offered by the FBI and insists on using her inside knowledge to help with the investigation. Parker is leery of bringing a civilian on to the team, but he’s surprised at how much fun he has working with Ree, even as he tries to keep her out of harm’s way.

Parker, Ree and the FBI team find increasingly worrying evidence that someone is quietly acquiring everything they need to cause destruction on a massive scale. Now, they must uncover the motive and identity of the killer hiding among Ree’s friends and colleagues before it’s too late.

Calculated Deception is Book 1 in The Calculated Series. All books in The Calculated Series may be enjoyed as standalone novels or as a series.

Published by Vertical Line, Calculated Deception is available for purchase here.

About K.T.Lee

K.T. Lee is a writer, mom and engineer who grew up on a steady diet of books from a wide variety of genres. When K.T. began to write the kind of books she wanted to read, she mixed clever women and the sciences with elements from thrillers (and a dash of romance) to create The Calculated Series.

You can find out more about K.T.’s books at her website or find her talking about writing, science, and cute animals on Instagram and Facebook. You can follow K.T.Lee on Twitter @KTLeeWrites.

I’m absolutely thrilled to be starting off the launch celebrations for Last Letter Home by Rachel Hore as it is a book I’m just itching to read. I have a wonderful guest post from Rachel Hore today, explaining why Italy is such an important setting for Last Letter Home.

Last Letter Home is available for purchase through the links here.

Last Letter Home

On holiday with friends, young historian Briony Andrews becomes fascinated with a wartime story of a ruined villa in the hills behind Naples. There is a family connection: her grandfather had been a British soldier during the Italian campaign of 1943 in that very area. Handed a bundle of letters that were found after the war, Briony sets off to trace the fate of their sender, Sarah Bailey.

In 1939, Sarah returns with her mother and sister from India, in mourning, to take up residence in the Norfolk village of Westbury. There she forms a firm friendship with Paul Hartmann, a young German who has found sanctuary in the local manor house, Westbury Hall. With the outbreak of war, conflicts of loyalty in Westbury deepen.

When, 70 years later, Briony begins to uncover Sarah and Paul’s story, she encounters resentments and secrets still tightly guarded. What happened long ago in the villa in the shadow of Vesuvius, she suspects, still has the power to give terrible pain …

Why Italy?

A Guest Post by Rachel Hore

Last Letter Home begins in a hillside holiday villa some miles inland of Naples, where Briony Wood is staying with a group of friends one hot summer and where a chance meeting leads to the discovery of a cache of old letters.  Briony is a historian, her speciality Second World War Italy, but she also learns of a personal link to the area – her grandfather Harry was stationed here with the British Army in 1943.  Whilst trying to find what happened to the correspondents of the letters, back in Norfolk, she becomes enmeshed in secrets from the wartime past.

For many of us Italy is a romantic place, glorious for holidays, for food and wine, stunning countryside and its rich culture, but many are alive still who remember a darker side. In 1943 it became the theatre of one of the most gruelling military operations of World War II, when the Allied armies pushed the Nazis northwards inch by painful inch, wading through mud in the winter rains and crossing unforgiving mountainous terrain.  No other military operation in the West in that war led to so many dead or wounded infantry as the Italian Campaign, and many of the wounds inflicted were invisible ones, for the conditions were so extreme they drove men beyond mental endurance.  This was the setting into which I sent Briony’s grandfather Harry and his fellow soldiers Paul and Ivor, where they took part in events whose consequences echoed down generations of all their families.

Italy’s part in the war was initially an opportunistic one.  Her fascist leader, Benito Mussolini, had only weighed in on the side of Germany in June 1940 as France fell; he saw the chance to pursue old imperial ambitions in the Mediterranean and North Africa.  At first he was successful, but after years of fighting and the Allies’ victory at the third battle of El Alamein, Italian troops were forced to withdraw from the African continent.  The Allies followed them.  In July 1943 a huge fleet gathered off the coast of Malta, waiting for a calm moonlit night.  In the early hours of the 10^th they invaded Sicily.  Weeks of fierce battle ensued. Many Italian soldiers were killed or gave themselves up. The stronger German forces finally fled to the mainland.  On 8^th September, Italy surrendered, but the Nazis persisted, digging themselves into the north of the country, determined to defend the route to their homeland.

It’s hard now to imagine the devastation the war brought to Italy.  Perhaps these photographs will help.  What it’s even more difficult to discover is the stories of individuals who suffered and, in the case of Paul, what it was like for a German exile fighting for the British against his fellow countrymen.  In Last Letter Home this is the gap where the fiction comes in.

(Thank you so much Rachel. I’m even more desperate for Last Letter Home to reach the top of my TBR now!)

About Rachel Hore

Rachel Hore worked in London publishing for many years before moving with her family to Norwich, where she teaches publishing and creative writing at the University of East Anglia. She is married to the writer D. J. Taylor and they have three sons.

Her previous novels are The Dream House, The Memory Garden, The Glass Painter’s Daughter, which was shortlisted for the 2010 Romantic Novel of the Year award, A Place of Secrets, which was picked by Richard and Judy for their book club, A Gathering Storm, which was shortlisted for the RONA Historical Novel of the Year 2012 and the latest bestseller, The Silent Tide.

You can find out more about Rachel on her website, or by following her Twitter @Rachelhore. You’ll also find her on Facebook.

There’s more with these other bloggers too:

I’m so excited to welcome Adrienne Vaughan to Linda’s Book Bag today. Adrienne has been an author whose books have been on my radar for some time so I’m thrilled she has agreed to stay in and tell me about one of them.

I’m also really excited that Adrienne has offered blog readers a very special giveaway and you’ll find details at the bottom of this blog post.

If you’re an author who’d also like to stay in with me to tell me about one of your books, please click here for more details.

Staying in with Adrienne Vaughan

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag, Adrienne. I’m delighted you’re here. Thank you for agreeing to stay in with me.

Delighted to be staying in with you Linda, especially as the weather in early March had me housebound and rifling through my bookshelves searching for something to warm me up and dream of sunnier climes.

(I’m with you there Adrienne. What a start to the month. Still I’m off to India soon and it’ll be a bit warmer!)

Tell me, which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it?

With those blue skies in mind I’ve chosen my latest romantic suspense, That Summer at the Seahorse Hotel.

(I want to pack my bags straight away and you’ve only mentioned the title.)

What can we expect from an evening in with That Summer at the Seahorse Hotel?

Well, if any of your readers would like to visit Ireland, this is certainly an opportunity to ‘spend’ summer on the sunny east coast. Here’s the blurb, Linda … see what you think …

Mia Flanagan has never been told who her father is and aged ten, stopped asking. Haunted by this, she remains a dutiful daughter who would never do anything to bring scandal or shame on her beautiful and famously single mother.

So when Archie Fitzgerald, one of Hollywood’s favourite actors, decides to leave Mia his Irish estate, she asks herself – is he her father after all?

That Summer at the Seahorse Hotel is a tale of passion, jealousy and betrayal – and the ghost of a secret love that binds this colourful cast of characters yet still threatens, after all these years, to tear each one of them apart.

(Woo – I REALLY need to read this as soon as possible. I think it sounds fabulous and I’ve never been to Ireland.)

I particularly like the way one of my reviewers has linked the cover to the story. Sharon Booth says:

The cover sets the tone for this book. A young woman, her back to us, drifts along a beautiful beach, evoking the image of a dream, or perhaps a memory … memories play a huge part in this story. Something happened at The Seahorse Hotel. Something that no one involved in the event will talk about, even to each other, and certainly not to Mia.

And so the story unravels as Mia begins to discover who she really is and why those who love her have kept her father’s identity a secret.

(This is such an enticing introduction. You must be thrilled with Sharon’s appraisal of the cover.)

What else have you brought along and why have you brought it?

I have brought the makings of a classic Buck’s Fizz to drink. A good bottle of champagne – Veuve Clicquot is my favourite – and freshly squeezed orange juice, preferably Sicilian oranges as the flavour is rich but not sharp so only a little is needed. I mean, we don’t want to dilute this delicious champagne too much do we? I’ve chosen this because at a low point in Mia’s life, she’s told a girl needs three things for heartache … champagne, vitamin C and good friends!

(Actually, I’ll take my champagne without the oranges if you don’t mind…)

To eat, I’ve brought fish and chips of course – don’t they smell delicious? I hope the oven’s on just to keep them warm while I make drinks, because even though they’re freshly cooked and double-wrapped I do think chips have to be eaten piping hot and straight out of the paper don’t you? Which is precisely how they’re eaten at Galty House, the Georgian mansion codenamed The Seahorse Hotel during the Second World War.

(Yep. The oven is on and my stomach is rumbling so hurry up with those drinks, Adrienne. I haven’t had fish and chips for ages…)

And finally, here in a velvet pouch are my Tarot Cards. Leela, the housekeeper at Galty House, always turns to the cards when she needs a bit of guidance, she’s been with the Fitzgerald family for many years and has seen them through much turbulence and many dramas. And the cards have certainly helped.

I was fascinated to learn a little about the Tarot when I was writing the book, and although I’m a complete novice and it’s just for fun, let’s deal out a hand and see what it throws up? Who knows we might be in for a lottery win or a mystery inheritance? Even better, it might predict a decent summer … now that’s something we could all look forward to!

(My goodness yes. A lottery win would be lovely but I’ll take a decent summer instead any time.)

Thanks so much for staying in with me and telling me all about That Summer at the Seahorse Hotel. I’ve really enjoyed this evening Adrienne. Now, get dealing those Tarot cards.

Thanks for inviting me over Linda, it’s been a lovely evening and an absolute pleasure to share it with you – I’ll definitely need the SatNav to take me home though, not that good at the Tarot just yet!

That Summer at the Seahorse Hotel

Mia Flanagan has never been told who her father is and aged ten, stopped asking.

Haunted by this, she remains a dutiful daughter who would never do anything to bring scandal or shame on her beautiful and famously single mother.

So when Archie Fitzgerald, one of Hollywood’s favourite actors, decides to leave Mia his Irish estate, she asks herself – is he her father after all?

That Summer at the Seahorse Hotel is a tale of passion, jealousy and betrayal – and the ghost of a secret love that binds this colourful cast yet still threatens, after all these years, to tear each of them apart.

That Summer at the Seahorse Hotel is available for purchase here.

About Adrienne Vaughan

Adrienne Vaughan has been making up stories since she could speak; primarily to entertain her sister Reta, who from a very early age never allowed a plot or character to be repeated – tough gig!

As soon as she could pick up a pen, she started writing them down. No surprise she wanted to be a journalist; ideally the editor of a glossy music and fashion magazine, so she could meet and marry a rock star – some of that came true! And in common with so many, she still holds the burning ambition to be a ‘Bond Girl’.

You can follow Adrienne on Twitter @adrienneauthor and find her on Facebook. Adrienne also has a fabulous website.

Lovely Adrienne has generously offered a very special giveaway too so check the details below.

Giveaway

I’m devastated that is isn’t ethical to enter a giveaway on your own blog because Adrienne is offering the chance for three lucky readers to win a signed paperback copy of That Summer at the Seahorse Hotel. For your chance to win, click here.

Giveaway open internationally and closes at UK midnight on Thursday 22nd March 2018.

I’d like to thank fellow blogger and friend Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to take part in celebrating the launch of the latest novel from Caroline James; The Best Boomerville Hotel. I’m delighted that Caroline is sharing her Fantasy Hotel ideas today.

Caroline is a regular visitor to Linda’s Book Bag.  She kindly provided her top ten writing tips here, when Coffee, Tea, the Caribbean and Me was published and allowed me to interview her here.  Caroline also told me about writer’s block and I reviewed her novel Jungle Rock here.

The Best Boomerville Hotel was published by Ruby Fiction, the brand new imprint from Choc Lit, on 13th March 2018 and is available for pre-order from Amazon, Kobo, Ibooks/Google and Itunes.

The Best Boomerville Hotel

Jo Docherty and Hattie Contaldo have a vision – a holiday retreat in the heart of the Lake District exclusively for guests of ‘a certain age’ wishing to stimulate both mind and body with new creative experiences. One hotel refurbishment later and the Best Boomerville Hotel is open for business!

Perhaps not surprisingly Boomerville attracts more than it’s fair share of eccentric clientele: there’s fun loving Sir Henry Mulberry and his brother Hugo; Lucinda Brown, an impoverished artist with more ego than talent; Andy Mack, a charming Porsche-driving James Bond lookalike, as well as Kate Simmons, a woman who made her fortune from an internet dating agency but still hasn’t found ‘the One’ herself.

With such an array of colourful individuals there’s bound to be laughs aplenty, but could there be tears and heartbreak too and will the residents get more than they bargained for at Boomerville?

My Fantasy Hotel

A Guest Post by Caroline James

Linda, I am delighted to be on your lovely blog today and it is no surprise to me that you came up with a brilliant topic to discuss. You ask the following questions:

What is Caroline’s fantasy hotel?

Where would you like to stay?

What facilities would your hotel have?

Why do you want to stay there?

(Ha! Thanks Caroline. I think I’m somewhat nosy…)

In this fantasy, I am going to jump in my car and head north and take a leisurely drive to beautiful Cumbria. I’ll turn off the M6 motorway and meander along the A66 following the River Bevan until I come to the fictitious village of Kirkton Sowerby. The location of my fantasy Hotel.

My fantasy hotel is of course, Boomerville. A hotel that I dreamt up a few years ago and after refurbishment, is now the place where mid-lifers wanting a fresh start, leap into action as they learn new skills, take a whole host of courses both whacky and conventional and mingle and meet others who want to embrace life in their later years.

Boomerville is luxurious. A comfortable Georgian pile that has gracious reception rooms to relax in, a comfortable cocktail bar and fabulous food on a menu designed by a Michelin starred chef. As I wander into the lovely walled garden and stroll past guests enjoying a game of croquet on a neatly manicured lawn, I’ll walk past a fountain and climb a set of stone steps that lead to a meadow where wild flowers bow their pretty heads and sway in the Cumbrian breeze.

A brightly coloured tepee stands tall and invites me in. Several hours later I drift out, smiling sublimely after a Session with the Shaman and wave at a group of guests who are returning from Clairvoyance in Midlife, a course run in an old gypsy caravan hosted by Queenie, the resident medium.

In the evening, whilst enjoying a glass of wine in the conservatory, I sit with fellow residents and discuss Clay Creations with Potter Paul and we dream of appearing on TV’s The Great British Pottery Throw Down. Many are confident that they can pen a novel following tuition in Creative Writing, while the resident artist, encourages us to join Lucinda’s Life Drawing later that week. Aphrodisiac Cooking was popular this afternoon and several guests have already called it a day and are heading off to bed, hand-in-hand.

I’ve heard that Boomerville is building a pool, with swimming both in and out of doors. A hot tub has been installed in the garden, complete with cocktail bar. Hattie, the vivacious and barking mad manager, is planning a season of themed dinner events to include Tripping Out on Thai and Go Global in Ghoa. She assures me that they will be a sell-out.

So, Linda, that’s my fantasy hotel that becomes reality in my writing and I truly wish such a place existed for I would book in immediately and recharge my life-batteries and run happily out of my comfort zone. Are you coming with me?

(You bet Caroline. I’m in dire need of my batteries being recharged! I wonder if we’ll encounter a particular chef there too…?)

As always, huge thanks for hosting me on your brilliant blog.

(My pleasure.)

Love and happy reading to all,

Caroline xx

About Caroline James

Caroline James has owned and run businesses encompassing all aspects of the hospitality industry, a subject that features in her novels. She is based in the UK but has a great fondness for travel and escapes whenever she can. A public speaker, consultant and food writer, Caroline is a member of the Romantic Novelist’s Association and writes articles and short stories and contributes to many publications. In her spare time, Caroline can be found trekking up a mountain or relaxing with her head in a book and hand in a box of chocolates.

You can find all of Caroline’s books on Amazon UK and Amazon US.

You can find out more about Caroline on her website and by following her on Twitter. You’ll also find her on Facebook.

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Among the Branded by Linda Smolkin is a book I’ve been wanting to read for ages, especially after I was able to conduct an interview with Linda about Among the Branded here. Consequently, I’m delighted to have an extract to share today thanks to fellow blogger and Random Things organiser Anne Cater as I still haven’t had chance to read the whole book.

Among the Branded is available for purchase here.

Among the Branded

What if a 70-year-old letter from World War II changed the course of your life?

While attending Valor of the ’40s, art director Stephanie Britain stumbles upon a flea market selling letters from the war. She buys a handful, hoping they’ll inspire the redesign for a client’s website at her branding and design firm. She’s at first drawn by the lost art of penmanship, but soon discovers a hidden treasure nestled inside declarations of love from homesick soldiers. Stephanie enlists a coworker to translate one and realizes it’s not a love letter after all. When a shocking discovery about a client causes Stephanie to question her principles and dedication to her firm’s business, she’s forced to make a difficult decision—one that could give her peace of mind, yet ruin her career in the process.

Contemporary fiction with a historical touch, Among the Branded explores family life, an unexpected friendship, and moral conflicts that make us wonder what’s more important: our livelihood or our beliefs.

An Extract from Among The Branded

Chapter 1

As I put Ripsie back in the closet, it dawned on me that our little Evan could not be fooled.

A few months earlier, he figured out his dad was the tooth fairy by comparing the fairy’s letter to a grocery list on the fridge.

When Evan was three, he knew Sveta was Santa after recognizing her ring accidentally left next to the glass of milk for hardworking Claus.

And because he couldn’t be fooled, it crossed my mind to borrow Evan, to bring him home with me to see if Greg, the love of my life, was being honest or diplomatic.

First, I’d ask Greg the not-too-serious questions, while Evan stood on the sidelines to give me a sign, a nod for yes, a cough for no.

Does my butt look big in these jeans?

Is my cooking really better than your mother’s?

If that went well, we could move to some more serious questions.

Will you love me the same way in twenty years?

Or, more pressing, Will I be able to hold it together when Jeremy leaves for college?

“Mom, I can’t believe you dressed up,” Jack said as I closed the closet door.

“Did I embarrass you?”

He gave me that what-do-you-think look.

“Who knows, maybe I found my calling,” I said.

He picked up the half-started spaceship and looked through pieces on the floor to add to it, pushing aside rejected colors.

“All the kids keep following me around.”

“That’s because they like hanging out with older kids.

You did, too, when you were that age.”

“Yeah, when I was young.”

I laughed hard.

That was one of Jack’s favorite phrases, as if he were a seventy-year-old man remembering the days of his youth.

The laughter stopped, but my smile remained.

How and when did my twelve-year-old grow up so fast?

Was it the time I blinked to let him win our staring contest over winter break?

My phone pinged, and I grabbed it from my pocket.

These days, I had to put all my reminders in the phone or I’d forget to take care of them. Everything was in there.

Change the sheets.

Take Jack to taekwondo.

Pay the bills.

Water the plants.

This time it was a more interesting reminder about our getaway.

We decided to take a short trip after dropping Jeremy off at college, and Jack would choose the place, within reason.

For the past few months, we’d been so busy finalizing college plans, shopping for supplies, stockpiling food for Jeremy, and now it was Jack’s turn for attention.

I cleared the reminder from my phone and asked if he’d made a decision.

“Let’s go to the Bahamas, to that resort in the commercials.”

“Sweetie, it’s hurricane season, and I can’t take that much time off work.

What if we hit a few theme parks?”

“That’s boring.”

Sveta walked in, overhearing our conversation.

“Since you like costumes so much, why don’t you go to Valor of the ’40s?”

“What do costumes have to do with it?” I asked.

“You were so good as Ripsie.

Maybe you’ll want to reenact a war.”

I rolled my eyes.

“You’re joking, right?”

“Only about dressing up.

Jack would love it.

They have World War II planes, tanks, all that cool stuff.

And it’s near Jeremy’s college.”

“Mom, can we go?”

“Sounds interesting. But maybe something more relaxing?”

“You just said theme parks. How’s that relaxing?”

Jack had a point.

He always had a point.

He was twelve after all, and he was onto me like my expression lines.

“Okay, I’ll talk it over with Dad.

But learn more about it so you can teach me something new.”

I wasn’t much of a history buff but could be convinced.

Besides, the trip had to be Jack’s choice, as we’d promised.

We followed Sveta back into the kitchen.

Evan blew out his candles, and we passed cake around the table.

Some asked for seconds, and I thought, Why the heck not? You’re only four once.

I handed out more slices, scooped out more ice cream, and began to imagine Valor of the ’40s.

Did I really want to go to some World War II event to see a bunch of guys pretend-shoot at each other or planes take off and hope they wouldn’t crash down because of their age?

Hell, I was hoping I wouldn’t crash down because of my age, and I was only forty-three.

Jack sat in front of Sveta’s computer and scanned the event’s website while reading the schedule of activities out loud.

Maybe it would be interesting and at the same time take my mind off Jeremy’s departure.

I took a piece of cake and loaded ice cream on top.

“How come she gets three scoops? I only got two,” whined one of the little girls who loved me for my soft and fluffy exterior a few minutes ago.

I ignored her, giving my ice cream the excessive attention it deserved.

I’m allowed to have three scoops, my cute little friend with blonde pigtails.

I’m sending my first kid off to college in just a few weeks.

About Linda Smolkin

Linda Smolkin always wanted to be a writer—ever since she saw her first TV commercial and wondered how to pen those clever ads. She got her degree in journalism and became a copywriter. Linda landed a job at an ad agency, where she worked for several years before joining the nonprofit world. She’s currently working on her second novel, which will be released in Spring 2018. When not in front of the computer, she’s behind the drums (slightly) annoying her husband, son, and their 70-pound dog.

You can follow Linda on Twitter @lindasmolkin, and visit her website for more information. You’ll also find Linda on Facebook.

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