War related fiction has a special place in my reader’s heart so I am thrilled to welcome Caroline Beecham to stay in with me today to tell me about one of her historical novels.

I am also thrilled to be able to offer a paperback copy of the book we are discussing to a lucky winner in a giveaway at the bottom of this blog post.

Staying in with Caroline Beecham

I’m delighted to welcome you to Linda’s Book Bag, Caroline. Which of your books have you brought along to share with me and why have you chosen it?

 

I’ve brought my second novel, Eleanor’s Secret, which was published in the UK in May by Ebury Press. It’s an engrossing wartime mystery of past deceptions, family secrets and long-lasting love, so it’s got broad appeal and isn’t just for lovers of historical and romantic fiction.

(Eleanor’s Secret sounds like the perfect read for me!)

Australian Cover for Eleanor’s Secret

It was published in Australia and New Zealand at the same time as the UK.

(How exciting to be out right round the world. I love that Australian cover Caroline.)

One Australian reviewer said, “Fans of Natasha Lester and Kate Morton will very much enjoy this new release and the dual time-zones mean the books will also appeal to a broader audience.” Debbish.com

That’s a great recommendation and I was also lucky that it was chosen as fiction ‘Pick of the Week’ by the Sydney Morning Herald. I really liked that a male reviewer chose it and commented, ‘Historical romance isn’t really my bag, but Beecham’s easy-flowing prose and astute structure make the pages fly.’

(Brilliant. It’s quite hard, I think, to appeal to both sexes so you must be thrilled with that response.)

The novel is inspired by the real work of the War Artists’ Advisory Committee War and a generation of courageous war artists during the Second World. It was a real privilege to research and write because like my first novel, Maggie’s Kitchen, it focuses on a lesser known part of the Second World War.

The idea came about when I discovered that of the thirty-seven artists given full time contracts, thirty-six were men and there was only one woman. This really sparked something for me because in wartime Britain women were taking on the majority of roles, yet that wasn’t reflected in the WAAC or the art world. I imagined there would have been female artists who had an issue with this, and Eleanor was one of them!

(Now I HAVE to read Eleanor’s Secret to find out more. I’ve never even considered women in the role of war artists before.)

What can we expect from an evening in with Eleanor’s Secret?

The book has dual timelines, the historical storyline focusing on Eleanor trying to achieve her ambition of becoming one of the few female war artists, and the contemporary storyline that sees Eleanor’s granddaughter, Kathryn, help to solve the wartime mystery:

London, 1942

When art school graduate, Eleanor Roy is recruited by the War Artists’ Advisory Committee, she comes one step closer to realising her dream of becoming one of the few female war artists. But breaking into the art establishment proves difficult until Eleanor meets painter, Jack Valante, only to be separated by his sudden posting overseas.

Melbourne, 2010

Although reluctant to leave her family at home, Kathryn can’t refuse her grandmother Eleanor’s request to travel to London to help her return a precious painting to its artist. But when the search uncovers a long-held family secret, Kathryn has to make a choice to return home or risk her family’s future, as Eleanor shows her that safeguarding the future is sometimes worth more than protecting the past.

(I am loving the sound of Eleanor’s Secret more and more – especially as Melbourne is my favourite Australian city!)

There is a lot to think about in the novel such as Kathryn’s interest in how war was depicted then and now; it couldn’t be more different recording conflict with drones now and the instant feeds compared to producing thumbnail sketches and then watercolours that took weeks to be sent home during the Second World War. Jack also has secrets that unfold as the storyline evolves that help explain his disappearances and gives a greater understanding of the cost to his family. I was interested in the sacrifices we make for the ones we love and this is a recurring theme in the book; how far our characters are prepared to go…

(That’s it! I don’t need to hear any more! Hang on a minute whilst I head off to grab my copy of Eleanor’s Secret. I’ll be back in a minute…)

Sorry about the delay! What else have you brought along and why?

 

I’ve brought along some of the research images as people seem to be very interested in these and the lives of the war artists, so I hope your readers will be too.

(I’m certain they will Caroline.)

These booklets were produced as part of a first series by British war artists in 1942 and a second series came out in 1944. The WAAC played an important role in recording the war, and for morale and propaganda in Britain and overseas, and these booklets were very popular. I really like this quote in Women, a booklet in the Second Series, in which artist Laura Knight wrote:

‘After what she has done in this titanic struggle, will she not guard what she has gained, and to Man’s effort add her own? If she can do what she has done in war, what may she not do in peace?’

The booklets were important for research but they also play a role in the story as one of the clues that helps Kathryn find out what happened to Jack. There are other clues that provide plenty of intrigue throughout the novel for those who want a mystery, but for those who want a night in with an engrossing love story, Eleanor’s Secret is also a romantic tale of long-lasting love.

(War Pictures by British Artists, Second Series, WOMEN, Oxford University Press)

Browsing through the catalogues of the Imperial War Museum enabled me to see works by war artists and there were some that were very evocative; I found the work of Edward Ardizzone really moving as he often captured civilians and troops in their day-to-day lives, which in some ways makes it harder to look at as you know what may be in store for them. I became so inspired by the artists and their works that I was thrilled to find this print by Edward Ardizzone in an online art sale. I would love to own a picture by a female war artist but since they are rarer, I might need to write a few more novels before I can do that!

Author, Caroline Beecham, with print by war artists and WAAC member, Edward Ardizzone

(I’m ashamed to say I didn’t know about Edward Ardizzone Caroline. You’ve not only introduced Eleanor’s Secret, but you’ve opened up a whole new area of interest. Thank you.)

As well as having these artworks for inspiration, I also interviewed a number of artists including Wendy Sharpe, who was official artist in East Timor, the first female war artist since the WWII. She was able to give a female perspective on working in difficult conditions and helped speculate on what life might have been like for Eleanor. She talked about the materials that would have been used and the processes but also of the feelings of volatility–of everyone on edge–and how this makes you aware of how things happen by chance.  British military artist, David Rowlands, was extremely valuable in helping colour Jack’s character and understanding the emotions and feelings of being on the frontline. And as someone who grew up watching BBCs Kate Adie, reporting from battle-zones, I was really grateful for a deeper understanding of what these artists and journalists went through; different time period and artistic tools but still the same emotions, sense of fear and unpredictability.

(Your research must have been utterly fascinating Caroline. What amazing people to have come into contact with.)

And if anyone is interested in finding out more about the research or the book there is more detail on my website.

(I’m sure there will be Linda’s Book Bag readers heading there right now.)

It has been genuinely wonderful spending an evening with you Caroline, and finding out all about Eleanor’s Secret. I feel honoured to have heard how you conducted your research and have found your information fascinating. Thanks so much for staying in with me.

Thank you so much for having me as your guest Linda and enjoy the rest of your evening. Warmest wishes, Caroline.

Eleanor’s Secret

Can Eleanor follow her heart in troubled times?

Eleanor Roy is determined to do her bit for the war effort after being recruited by the War Artist Advisory Committee. When she meets handsome artist Jack Valante, her dreams seem to be finally coming true when Jack promises to help her pursue her ambition of becoming an artist. But after a whirlwind romance, Eleanor is devastated when Jack is posted overseas.

When Eleanor receives some unexpected news she desperately tries to find Jack. But with the young couple torn apart by war, will they be reunited and find happiness at last?

Eleanor’s Secret is available for purchase through these links.

About Caroline Beecham

Caroline Beecham grew up at the English seaside and relocated to Australia to continue her career as a writer and producer in film and television. She has worked on a documentary about Princess Diana lookalikes, a series about journeys to the ends of the earth, as well as a feature film about finding the end of the rainbow. Caroline decided on a new way of storytelling and studied the craft of novel writing at the Faber Academy in 2012. She has an MA in Film & Television and a MA in Creative Writing and lives with her husband and two sons by Sydney harbour.

You can find out more about Caroline on her website or follow her on Facebook and Twitter @CarolineBeecham.

Giveaway: A Paperback Copy of Eleanor’s Secret by Caroline Beecham

 

For your chance to win a paperback copy of Eleanor’s Secret by Caroline Beecham click here.

Open internationally. Please note that once Rafflecopter has chosen the winner, I will not retain your personal details!  Giveaway closes UK midnight on Thursday 16th August.

My enormous thanks to Denise Drew for sending me a copy of her children’s story The Adventures of Jilly and June in India in return for an honest review. Having been to India recently I was delighted to read this one!

Part of Denise’s books inspired by her travels, The Adventures of Jilly and June in India is available for purchase here.

The Adventures of Jilly and June in India

Jilly is a young girl who lives with her mother June and Jimmy the ginger tom cat. Their home is no ordinary house, but a magical flying that takes them on many hilarious adventures. Where do they go? Join them, and read to find out what happens when they arrive at the Taj Mahal and end up Bollywood dancing.

My Review of The Adventures of Jilly and June in India

Jilly and June set sail in their house and head to India.

The Adventures of Jilly and June in India is a smashing way to introduce children to another culture and country.

Firstly children will be captivated by the idea of simply putting in the coordinates and ‘sailing’ away in their own house to have many adventures. I can see this leading to several discussions about where they might like to travel so that The Adventures of Jilly and June in India is educational as well as entertaining.

I liked the fact that there is plenty of story to share so that The Adventures of Jilly and June in India would make a really good bedtime book. It’s a book that can be shared with an adult or read independently so that is has longevity and would reward more than one reading. With Jilly and June appearing to be mother and daughter, status is given to single parent families too which I feel is very worthwhile.

However, what I think works best in The Adventures of Jilly and June in India is the way in which children are presented with new experiences from the Indian culture, from attending an Indian wedding, wearing a sari and riding in a Tuk Tuk, through visiting the Taj Mahal to Bollywood dancing and trying new foods. There’s humour too making the book fun to read.

I think children aged 5-9 will find much to enjoy in The Adventures of Jilly and June in India.

About Denise Drew

Denise Drew was born in Liverpool in 1970. She has raised her daughter, as a single parent, since her daughter was two years old. Never deterred by being a one parent family, Denise worked full time, provided a loving home and continued life in a strong and positive light. As a small family, they were lucky enough to have holidays every year and this led Denise to dream of writing adventure stories about her and her daughter travelling the world.

Denise would say that she would love to pick up her house and take it on holiday with her, so they could have their home comforts. What an idea! A flying house. A magical house, with sails, that flies them to “wherever takes their fancy”.

You can follow Denise on Twitter @DeniseDrew70 and visit her website for more information.

Usually when I spend an evening in with authors here on Linda’s Book Bag I ‘host’ them in my Lincolnshire home that is about as far from the sea as you can get. Today, however, I’m off to the seaside with Cesario Pica as he tells me about one of his books.

Staying in with Cesario Pica

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag, Cesario. Thank you for agreeing to stay in with me.

Tell me, which of your books are you sharing this evening and why have you chosen it?

Hi Linda. First of all thank you very much for inviting me to stay in with you in this fantastic location on the seaside. You must know I was born and bred in a place where the seaside and the countryside were neighbors. So, staying here with the smell and the sound of the sea is for me a sort of madeleine cake as Proust wrote in his In search of the lost time… Also, the context could inspire love, although I’ve not brought a romance, but my thriller Broken Lives. I’ve written five thrillers but only two in English: Broken Lives and Murder in the Tremiti Isles (about a femicide).

What can we expect from an evening in with Broken Lives?

Broken Lives is a psychological thriller set in London, dedicated to victims of abuse and inspired by TV series Criminal Minds. A person abused in his childhood can become an abuser or, worse, a serial killer. The main characters are the Scotland Yard’s detective Sonny D’Amato, the coroner July Pence and the Italian reporter Rosario Saru Santacroce. Sonny D’Amato must stop the serial killer before he kills the fourth person.

(Sounds exciting stuff. I sometimes think truth is stranger than fiction so it would be interesting to read Broken Lives and see how you’ve brought the two together.)

What else have you brought along and why? 

We’re talking about a thriller in this beautiful place without shadows or witches but with mental monsters who kill the soul. So, we need something good to face this argument. And I think, and I’m certain I’m not alone, that with a good book you need a good wine. So, what’s better than a bottle of fresh prosecco? I like it too much. I know, it’s not champagne but as I said before I come from countryside, so I love simple things like wine, cheese, salami, bruschetta and meatballs.

(I agree. Simple foods are sometimes the best and I’m very partial to a glass or two of prosecco.)

You must know that the bread, the olive oil and the prosecco are self produced. Then, after having eaten, we will run to avoid terrifying effects of the book…

(That looks delicious. I’m not sure I’ll be able to run after all that food and prosecco though!)

Broken Lives

The monsters from the past destroy the future…

A monster from the past reemerges in the present destroying the life of three young students and engaging in a fight against time with the promising Scotland Yard detective, Sonny D’Amato, in charge of solving the difficult case.

The suffering of someone who as a child doesn’t know about love but suffers only abuse can turn into the worst nightmare when it triggers that dangerous stress factor that makes anger push a person to cross the hellish threshold of no return.

Thanks to the precious help of the coroner July Pence, the detective digs in the past in search of the logical thread that will allow him to solve the intricate enigma. He will most likely get the promotion that he feels he deserves, but without being able to rejoice. In fact, his soul will be hostage to the pain emanating from this sad inquiry that will make him lose sight of the difference between the victim and the executioner. Because, as Alexandr Solzhenitsyn wrote, “the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being”.

Set in London, Broken lives, the new thriller by Cesario Picca, sees once again the reporter from Salento Rosario Saru Santacroce looking for news to inform the readers about these crimes which are worrying a city already wracked by terrorist attacks.

Broken Lives is available for purchase here.

About Cesario Picca

Cesario Picca, was born and bred in Salento (South Italy seaside) thanks to his parents Francesco and Antonia. For 25 years he worked as a crime and judicial reporter so it was a very simple move to starting write thrillers. In his books, like Broken Lives and Murder in the Tremiti Isles, there are many real stories crossed with fantasy.

The main character of his thrillers is a rough and rational man, talkative, charismatic, ready to savor every moment of life as if it was the last. Nicknamed Saru (the nickname that is given in Salento to those named like him), the reporter Rosario Santacroce covers the city’s crime beat. As often happens, occasionally work also follows him on holidays because a real reporter is destined (almost) never to unplug. And that is probably why he gets entangled in murders.

Maybe, between Saru Santacroce and Cesario Picca there are many points in common; they love life and they think life is a gift, so they have to taste this present even if sometimes it can be difficult. They both love running and until now they have run 20 marathons. A good way, in their opinion, to relax and feel good, especially after having enjoyed eating.

In 2002 Cesario Picca was awarded the Piero Passetti prize for Chronicler of the year. He’s a speaker or moderator at numerous conferences and participates in many radio and television broadcasts.

You can find out more by following Cesario on Twitter @cesariopicca, visiting his website and finding him on Facebook. Cesario is also on Goodreads, YouTube and Pinterest.

I would like to thank Blake Brooks at Head of Zeus for sending me a copy of The Psychology of Time Travel by Kate Mascarenhas in return for an honest review. I’ll be sharing my review later in this blog post but first I am genuinely thrilled and delighted to welcome Kate Mascarenhas to Linda’s Book Bag to tell me all about the book.

Published by Head of Zeus today, 9th August 2018, The Psychology of Time Travel is available for purchase through these links.

The Psychology of Time Travel

1967

: Four female scientists invent a time travel machine. They are on the cusp of fame: the pioneers who opened the world to new possibilities. But then one of them suffers a breakdown and puts the whole project in peril…

2017

: Ruby knows her beloved Granny Bee was a pioneer, but they never talk about the past. Though time travel is now big business, Bee has never been part of it. Then they receive a message from the future – a newspaper clipping reporting the mysterious death of an elderly lady…

2018

: When Odette discovered the body she went into shock. Blood everywhere, bullet wounds, that strong reek of sulpher. But when the inquest fails to find any answers, she is frustrated. Who is this dead woman that haunts her dreams? And why is everyone determined to cover up her murder?

Staying in with Kate Mascarenhas

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag, Kate. Thank you for agreeing to stay in with me and tell me about The Psychology of Time Travel.

It’s lovely to be here Linda.

Firstly, can you tell me a little bit about The Psychology of Time Travel please? 

The Psychology of Time Travel is my first book deal and I’m so looking forward to it being out in the world. It’s on sale from 9 August.

(That’s today. Happy publication day Kate and huge congratulations.)

It took around two years to write and stemmed from me wondering what kind of emotional adjustments time travel might involve. My professional background is in psychology and, like Barbara in the book, I have a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

(I can see that your own background has impacted enormously on the book. I found it fascinating and will share my review in a few minutes.)

What can blog readers expect from an evening in with The Psychology of Time Travel?

It’s a time travel murder mystery that spans the nineteen sixties to the present day. You’ll be in the company of pioneering female scientists and time-hopping sleuths, in a layered, Inception-like plot.

(We certainly will!)

What else have you brought along and why? 

Grace, one of the time travellers in the book, enjoys a shot of Genever – which is the Dutch variety of gin. And to eat, maybe freeze dried ice-cream, as that’s available to buy in the time travellers’ headquarters.

For added atmosphere some sixties music might be appropriate. Grace has The Velvet Underground & Nico on vinyl, so we could give that a spin

That sounds like a plan to me Kate. Whilst I get the music on, you might like to read my review of The Psychology of Time Travel. Thanks so much for staying in with me and telling me more about it. Enjoy your publication day!

My Review of The Psychology of Time Travel

Time travel will be at the centre of a mystery death that spans decades.

Goodness me. The Psychology of Time Travel is a remarkable book. It wasn’t always an easy read because of the time frames and number of characters who might be within those time frames and I think it’s so much the better for challenging the reader. Kate Mascarenhas made me question my own morals and questioned my intelligence and thinking so that I was utterly absorbed in, and occasionally disturbed by, reading The Psychology of Time Travel.

This is such an intelligent and compelling read. It felt akin to being part of an orrery where aspects are forever shifting but are all interconnected. I was constantly having to shift my position and assessments about the narrative. I loved the way The Psychology of Time Travel totally ensnares the reader. Kate Mascarenhas weaves thought provoking philosophical questions throughout the story so that I had to consider how I might feel and behave if I were able to travel through time.

The characters are varied and wide ranging as they explore different versions of themselves in time, different sexualities and moralities. I thought Margaret was truly awful and they way she underpins the action is a stroke of genius. She’s a true example of absolute power corrupting absolutely and in many ways The Psychology of Time Travel is a perfect analogy of much of today’s world. I felt I wanted to join the Conclave myself to challenge Margaret face to face.

The magnificent plot is a stunning creation. Kate Mascarenhas uses popular culture, like music, to anchor each time frame really clearly so that each era is very realistic. I usually find novels with multiple time frames quite irritating but this story held my attention without wavering so that I wanted to know what would happen next, particularly to Ruby and Odette.

The most fascinating aspect of The Psychology of Time Travel for me, however, is the exquisite way in which themes are handled. It is perfectly possible to read the book on one level as an exciting murder whodunit across time, but there is so much more to it than that. Kate Mascarenhas mirrors society’s prejudices about lesbianism, mental health, race, science and politics in frequently disturbing ways. Even with the allowances of the 1960s and 1970s some of the views and attitudes felt uncomfortably only too familiar – and wrong, so that the author exposes the appalling attitudes those outside the rules and conventions often face. Barbara’s treatment by the Conclave and Margaret in particular is only one example.

The Psychology of Time Travel is a book that I think might just polarise readers. I found it complex, exciting and intriguing and I really enjoyed it.

About Kate Mascarenhas

Kate Mascarenhas is a part-Irish, part-Seychellois midlander. Since 2017, Kate has been a chartered psychologist. Before that she worked as a copywriter, a dolls’ house maker, and a bookbinder. She lives with her husband in a small terraced house which she is slowly filling with Sindy dolls. This is her first novel.

You can follow Kate on Twitter @KateMascarenhas and visit her website.

There’s more with these other bloggers too:

As a lover of historical fiction with strong female characters, I’m absolutely delighted to be featuring All My Mother’s Secrets by Beezy Marsh on publication day.

When best-selling author Beezy Marsh looked into her family history, she unearthed the shocking truth about London’s slum laundries of the early twentieth century, as well as a long-buried family secret, which inspired her to write a book. I’m thrilled that Beezy has agreed to tell us all a little bit about that story behind All My Mother’s Secrets in a smashing guest post today.

Out today, 9th August 2018, from Pan MacMillan, All My Mother’s Secrets is available for purchase through the links here.

All My Mother’s Secrets

A vivid, heart-warming story of survival…

Annie Austin’s childhood ends at the age of twelve, when she joins her mother in one of the slum laundries of Acton, working long hours for little pay. What spare time she has is spent looking after her younger brother George and her two stepsisters, under the glowering eye of her stepfather Bill. In London between the wars, a girl like Annie has few choices in life – but a powerful secret will change her destiny.

All Annie knows about her real father is that he died in the Great War, and as the years pass she is haunted by the pain of losing him. Her downtrodden mother won’t tell her more and Annie’s attempts to uncover the truth threaten to destroy her family. Distraught, she runs away to Covent Garden, but can she survive on her own and find the love which has eluded her so far?

From the grimy streets of Acton and Notting Hill to the bright lights of the West End, All My Mother’s Secrets is a powerful, uplifting story of a young woman’s struggle to come to terms with her family’s tragic past.

Family Secrets

A Guest Post by Beezy Marsh

I grew up in a house full of secrets, where conversations would end suddenly as I walked into the room and grown-ups would change the subject to things deemed more suitable for young ears.

Children know when adults are hiding things, even if they are too young to understand the complexities of relationships, so I developed a thirst for the “truth” of the matter.

That led me to my first career, as a national newspaper journalist, but I always had it in the back of my mind, that there was a story to be told about my own family’s secrets.

My earliest years were spent in the care of my maternal grandmother, Annie, who lived with her half-sister, my Great Aunt Elsie. They would tell me about the old days back in London, showing me pictures of my great gran Emma Chick and even my great-great gran, who worked as laundresses in the slums of Notting Hill and Acton, which was known as Soapsud Island, at the turn of the last century and the years between two world wars.

Researching All My Mother’s Secrets, I was horrified to learn about the squalor the laundresses worked in. Diseases such as TB and scarlet fever were a rife, hours were long for little pay and the conditions were squalid and dangerous, with floors awash with filthy water and scalds from searing hot irons just a part of everyday life. And the worst thing was, some of the laundry maids were just children – as young as 12; and that had included my Nan.

As I grew up, certain things were Just Not Talked About – such as what happened to my Nan’s father, Henry Austin, who she had been told, had “gone away to the First World War and never came back.”

I also learned that there had been a Great Uncle George, my gran’s brother, born in 1915, who died young, of tuberculosis. Great Aunty Elsie’s dad was a laundry hand, who Emma Chick had married as the First World War was drawing to a close but no-one spoke much about him either, other than to say he was a bit of a bad tempered bloke at times.

My Nan died when I was 12 and that sparked my mother’s interest in family history. This was in the 1980s, before the internet, and through her, I learned how to research births, marriages and deaths, on microfilm and from dusty old registers held in libraries and at the National Archives in Kew.

But try as we might, Henry Austin, who we knew had worked as a cabbie, driving a horse-drawn hansom cab around London’s bustling streets before the war, simply seemed to have disappeared into thin air.

It was after my mother’s untimely death from cancer that my Great Aunt Elsie let slip something which made me even more determined to put the pieces of the puzzle together. She believed that Great Uncle George’s father might not have been the mysterious Henry Austin but someone else, within the Austin family, who had lived with my great gran for a time, after he was widowed.

It inspired me to look again, with fresh eyes, and this time, I found Henry Austin had died, not in the Great War, but in 1906, when my gran was still a baby. So, Emma Chick had lied all along, but the question was: Why?

I won’t spoil the plot by revealing all the secrets just now, but I was able to find out who George’s father was and what had happened to him, after he went away to fight in the Great War. And in a sense, sadly, he never came back because he was such a changed man, so the story my Nan was told was partly true.

It’s easy to judge someone for lying to cover up a scandal but I believe Emma Chick did what she had to do to try to hold her family together, to avoid public shame, during the upheaval of the Great War. I am proud of her, and all the other laundresses, who toiled for such little reward, with the wellbeing of their children uppermost in their minds.

(That’s so fascinating Beezy. I’m sure so many families have stories to tell too and I can’t wait to read All My Mother’s Secrets and am delighted it’s very firmly on my TBR.)

About Beezy Marsh

Beezy Marsh is an award-winning journalist, who has spent more than 20 years making the headlines in newspapers including Daily Mail and The Sunday Times. This was never going to be enough for a girl from Hartlepool, whose primary school teacher told her to give up her dream of becoming a poet and concentrate on being a nurse instead. Thirty years later, give or take, she became an author.

Family and relationships are at the heart of her writing and she is a firm believer that sisters, mothers and wives are the glue which binds everything together. She writes romantic fiction, as well as memoir and biography, including her book Keeping My Sisters Secrets, and somehow finds time to write a blog about her life as an imperfect mother to two young boys, in between tackling a never-ending pile of laundry and doing the school run. She is the author of Mad Frank and Sons, alongside the two sons of gangland crime boss Frank Fraser.

You can find out more by following Beezy on Twitter @beezymarsh, and by visiting her website. You’ll also find Beezy on Facebook and Instagram.

I’ve not really been accepting new blog tours for months, but when fellow blogger Anne Cater got in touch to say when was organising a tour for Jo Thomas’s latest book Sunset Over the Cherry Orchard I had to be on it. I love Jo’s writing and she was one of the first authors I met when I began blogging.

You can read my reviews of Jo’s The Olive Branch here and of Late Summer in the Vineyard here. I also have a smashing post about Jo’s top 5 holiday destinations that you can read here.

Sunset Over the Cherry Orchard is available for purchase through the links here.

Sunset Over the Cherry Orchard

It’s time for Beti Winter to dance to her own beat.

After three failed engagements Beti is in desperate need of a fresh start. What better place than the sun-drenched hills of southern Spain?

But it’s not all sangria and siestas. Beti finds work on an old Andalusian cherry farm where there are cherries to be picked, trees to be watered and her fiery boss, Antonio, to win over.

As the sun toasts her skin, Beti finds herself warming to the Spanish way of life. Embracing the art of flamenco, she discovers there is much to learn from the dance of passion. She just has to let loose and listen to the rhythm of her heart.

My Review of Sunset Over the Cherry Orchard

Beti’s Spanish plans are not panning out quite as she expected.

I always think reading Jo Thomas is like sinking into a warm, luxurious bath after a stressful day; it’s relaxing, comforting and just what you need for a totally pleasurable experience. Sunset Over the Cherry Orchard was exactly that and more and I closed the final page with a contented sigh of delight.

I just loved this book. Sunset Over the Cherry Orchard has all the elements I’ve come to expect from Jo Thomas’s writing. Firstly, there’s the glorious sense of place. Jo Thomas appeals to the senses so wonderfully, transporting her readers through the descriptions so that they feel they are there with the characters. I could almost sense myself putting on weight just reading about the food! The added touch of the Tapas at the end of the book is sheer genius. But it’s more than just fabulous descriptions. Jo Thomas has a knack of getting right to the heart of an area so that the cultures, people and places are respected and brought to life magnificently.

The characters are so well depicted. I fell in love with Beti and Antonio especially, but even the minor characters like Bonita are vivid and real. I developed an intense dislike of Olivia so that I could quite cheerfully have slapped her and as for her father, Paul – it’s lucky I wasn’t able to climb in through the pages as I so wanted to give him a piece of my mind. What I love about Jo Thomas’s writing here is she makes the reader care about the people in her books and to respond to them almost against the reader’s will. I’ll be thinking about them and their lives for ages.

The plot of Sunset Over the Cherry Orchard is perfect. We expect a happy ending from Jo Thomas, as her writing has an enormous feel good factor, but throughout the story it isn’t always clear who might get their happy ending, or how, so that this is such a satisfying read. Themes of love and loyalty, friendship and rivalry weave throughout the story adding depth and fulfilment for the reader.

It’s always a risk reading the latest book from a favourite author as there’s a chance that expectations may not be met. In Sunset Over the Cherry Orchard Jo Thomas didn’t meet my expectations – she exceeded them and I adored every word of this book.

About Jo Thomas

Jo Thomas worked for many years as a reporter and producer, first for BBC Radio 5, before moving on to Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and Radio 2’s The Steve Wright Show. In 2013 Jo won the RNA Katie Fforde Bursary. Her debut novel, The Oyster Catcher, was a runaway bestseller in ebook and was awarded the 2014 RNA Joan Hessayon Award and the 2014 Festival of Romance Best Ebook Award. Jo lives in the Vale of Glamorgan with her husband and three children.

Find out more about Jo Thomas through her website, on Facebook and follow her on Twitter @jo_thomas01.

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Regular readers of Linda’s Book Bag know life has thrown a few challenges my way in the last few years and so it gives me great pleasure to be featuring a book today that I think might just help me out. Paul McGee is staying in with me to tell me more!

Staying in with Paul McGee

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag, Paul and thank you for agreeing to stay in with me.

Hi Linda, thanks for hosting me.

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

 I’ve brought along my latest book How to Have a Great Life: 35 Surprisingly Simple Ways to Achieve Success, Fulfilment and Happiness (HTHAGL). I’ve brought this book along because of my eleven books, this is the one I’m most excited about and proud of! Its also the one that’s dedicated to my kids, and the first one of my books I’d like my (future) grandkids to read.

Gosh! That’s a lot of books! I’m intrigued. So, what can we expect from an evening in with How to Have a Great Life: 35 Surprisingly Simple Ways to Achieve Success, Fulfilment and Happiness?

HTHAGL aims to enhance your life, and bring increased success, fulfilment and happiness through bite-sized tips and tools. Its about learning through reflection, expressing gratitude to others and taking responsibility for yourself.

With HTHAGL I ask what it is that we want from life. I believe that when we are faced with challenges and overcome them that we feel most fulfilled. People are like elastic bands, we’re designed to be stretched and thrive in the face of resistance. Seeking fresh challenges—even those seem like a struggle—can be the antidote to a boring and unfulfilling life. Of course, periods of rest and recovery are crucial to feeling rejuvenated but just like that elastic band, we were never designed to have too much slack in our lives.

(Great analogy! I sometimes feel as if my elastic has perished through too much stretching so I’d love to hear more.)

I also want to promote self-acceptance. I want people to recognise and remember that we are enough. That we are OK. We live in a world that fuels our insecurities. We are told we need fixing. That we are falling short. We aren’t perfect. I want my reader to understand that they are okay, that they are enough, and that when it comes to improving ourselves, we should start from a position of self-acceptance rather than self-loathing. I want people to learn, grow and improve, rather than strive for perfection.

(Oh, I absolutely agree Paul. I’m one of those people who sets a goal, achieves it and then makes it harder just to make life difficult for myself. I think as soon as our evening is over I’m going to settle down with HTHAGL as it could be perfect for me.)

What else have you brought along and why? 

A lot of this book was inspired by my local surroundings. I’m lucky to live close to countryside, and I’ve found that taking time out for myself, to go walking, whatever the weather, really helped the writing process. One of the chapters in my book is called ‘Don’t take miracles for granted’ and I literally marvel at how amazing Mother Nature is. It’s easy to take it all for granted and live life on auto pilot but I take time to notice what’s under my nose and literally marvel at what I consider to be the miracles around us.

(Oh yes. I couldn’t agree more. I’m sure I feel so much better if I get out for a walk in nature.)

It’s been an absolute delight hearing about HTHAGL Paul so thank you for staying in to tell me all about it.

How to Have a Great Life

35 ways to success, fulfillment, and happiness.

How to Have a Great Life starts with you–your strengths and amazing potential and how to develop those. It helps you understand how to tap into your ability to grow, while equipping you with insights, inspiration, and practical tools to deal with whatever life throws your way in order to achieve success and live a happy and fulfilled life.

You already have many of the tools you need to succeed–you just need to know which ones to use and how best to use them. With no-frills, funny, and emotionally intelligent advice, Paul McGee will make you think, make you laugh, and make you take action to live your greatest life possible.

• Tap into your ability to grow
• Find insight and practical tools to deal with whatever life throws your way
• Slow down and live a more balanced life
• Re-gain time and brain space
• Improve the quality of your relationships with others

We are living faster and more frantic lives than ever before—and there’s no time like the present to catch your breath and live your best life possible.

How to Have a Great Life is available in all good bookstores and online, including here.

About Paul McGee

Paul McGee is one of the UK’s leading speakers on the subject of change, workplace relationships and motivation. His provocatively titled book SUMO (Shut Up, Move On) became an instant best seller and his book on Self Confidence reached number one in the WHSmith’s business book chart and remained there for a further 24 weeks. He has appeared on BBC Breakfast television and is a regular contributor to Radio 5live.

Building on his background in psychology, Paul’s aim is to deliver a practical, relevant message that can make an immediate impact on people’s professional and personal lives. His approach is considered both inspirational and humorous as he seeks to deliver a memorable experience that equips people with insights and ideas to increase their personal effectiveness and impact. He’s spoken for more than 1,000 organisations in over 40 countries to date, and from Todmorden to Tehran and from Bradford to Brisbane, Paul’s messages have resonated with a global audience.

You can follow Paul on Twitter @TheSumoGuy and visit his website. Paul is on Facebook and there is more with these other bloggers too:

One of the reasons I got in to blogging was because I used to review KS3 fiction for Hodder and write teacher resources to go with the books. Consequently, I always have an eye out for books aimed at middle grade readers, especially if I think they may appeal to boys. With that in mind, I had to invite Bruce Bernstein onto Linda’s Book Bag to tell me about one of his books.

Staying in with Bruce Bernstein

Welcome along to Linda’s Book Bag Bruce. Tell me, which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it?

My book is called You Gotta Have Heart. It’s my first novel. The book is a middle grade novel about an orphaned  kid growing up in New York City. I think kids and adults will enjoy reading the book.

(I like the sound of a book that can be shared by adults and children alike Bruce.)

What can we expect from an evening in with You Gotta Have Heart?

I think reading the book will give readers an appreciation of New York City and hopefully provide them with a look at the benefits of training in the martial arts. But I think the book is a lot more than just that.

(Well, having worked in New York City I’d be quite happy to be transported back there.)

Here’s a brief extract:

“When you get knocked down, you just keep getting back up. …You never give up.” Sensei paused for a moment and spoke louder. “That’s what takes real guts.” He stared at Alan intently. “You know, sometimes failures are your steppingstones to success.”

(This is so appealing Bruce because I worked in New York Schools across areas like The Bronx and I can see how relevant You Gotta Have Heart is.)

Here is one of the reviews of the book:

“…You Gotta Have Heart, has it all. …The plot, which follows a young orphaned boy as he comes of age, is inspiring, moving and unforgettable. …You Gotta Have Heart is most highly recommended.”- Readers’ Favorite

(Smashing praise.)

What else have you brought along and why?

I brought positivity. I wanted to write something that was realistic and inspiring. The book is largely based on my many years of experience studying martial arts and my knowledge of New York City.

I love the sound of You Gotta Have Heart Bruce. Thanks so much for introducing it to readers through staying in with me.

You Gotta Have Heart

Orphaned at a young age, all Alan Michaels wants is a place to belong. But the independent, street–smart kid, who lacks self-confidence, has no clue how to deal with disappointment – or a formidable bully who won’t back down. And New York City is a tough town to grow up in if you are a kid who doesn’t have much. But when he starts training at Sensei Hideki’s School of Karate, he hopes his life will change forever.

Determined to prove he’s got what it takes to become a true warrior, he pushes his body and mind to the limit. But just when the karate school starts to feel like home, tragedy strikes again. Does Alan have the courage and inner strength to overcome the odds stacked against him?

You Gotta Have Heart is available for purchase here.

About Bruce Bernstein

Bruce Bernstein is a fourth degree black belt in karate with extensive training in the martial arts. Before recently retiring, he had a solo law practice dedicated to protecting the rights of employees while working part-time as an administrative law judge in New York City. Bruce is a life long resident of New York City who also happens to be a licensed New York City tour guide. Like Alan Michaels, the hero of You Gotta Have Heart, Bruce also knows a lot about Central Park and New York City.

You can find out more on Bruce’s website.