With Dr H having abandoned me (only for the week whilst he’s on an intensive Welsh language course) it was a real treat on Wednesday to head across to the Crown Hotel in nearby Stamford to meet up with four smashing authors, Adrienne Vaughan, Cara Clayton (Ros Rendle), Lizzie Lamb and Lorna Hunting.

We had a super lunch (even I couldn’t eat all my excellent fish and chips) with lots of chat, including celebrating a special anniversary of the day Adrienne and Lizzie became published authors which we toasted with a bottle of fizz –  thanks Adrienne! I was thrilled when each of the ladies gave me a signed copy of one of their books.

As a thank you to the ladies for being so kind, inclusive and generous, I thought I’d share details of the books I was given here, as I’m certain many, many, readers would love them too but may not have discovered them yet.

They included:

Summer of Secrets by Adrienne Vaughan

Mia Flanagan has never been told who her father is and, aged ten, stopped asking. Now she keeps her own secrets.

But when the movie she’s working on ends in disaster, she flies home to discover her fiancé has a secret too; leaving her dreams crushed.

Broken-hearted, a lonely summer in London looms. Until family friend, Archie Fitzgerald, invites her to stay at his fading mansion on Ireland’s ancient east coast.For Archie also has a secret, and the longer Mia stays, the more she wonders if Archie really is her father after all…

Summer of Secrets is a tale of how the ghost of love can blight many lives. And how Mia, realising the past cannot hurt her, must make way for new love and the promise of happiness waiting in the wings.

Summer of Secrets is available for purchase here. 

Mistress of the Manor by Cara Clayton

 

Life is wonderful at the manor … or is it?

1342, Lincolnshire, England

Clémence Masson has always yearned for more than her expected marriage to an apprentice or farmer’s son.

So when an opportunity arises at the nearby Grimsthorpe Manor House to be a companion to a newly-arrived bride-to-be, Clémence is excited by the opportunity.

The young bride is soon to be handfasted to the lord of the manor, Ruadhán Amundeville, who is recently returned from battles with the Scots.

Ruadhán’s uncle Aedric has been overseeing the estates in the young lord’s absence, and it soon becomes clear to Clémence that Aedric does not have Ruadhán’s best interests at heart.

But Clémence does. She has found herself falling for the charming lord of Grimsthorpe.

When Ruadhán leaves for war with the French, Clémence is left with Emma to deter Aedric’s unwanted advances.

And with the Black Death threatening, all of their lives could be at stake…

Will Clémence achieve her dream of rising above her station? Could Grimsthorpe hold the key to her happiness?

Or will the darkness surrounding the manor destroy everything in its grasp…?

Mistress of the Manor is available for purchase here. 

Winter Star in the Scottish Highlands by Lizzie Lamb

This tale weaves together the magic of Scotland’s breathtaking scenery and the complexities of relationships, set against a natural, snowy wonderland.

As the harsh Lochaber winter approaches and with Halley expecting a baby, living in the converted Airstream caravan, Beag air Bheag, becomes impractical. Tor’s family home – Eagles Crag – offers shelter, but his mother’s inevitable meddling is holding them back from moving there. Instead, they find refuge in the Dower House and prepare for the arrival of their baby with optimism and hope, embracing the magic of a Highland Christmas, culminating in the Ghillies’ Ball on Hogmanay.

However, an old flame of Tor’s rents the nearby bothy threatening to disrupt their idyllic life . . .

Is their love strong enough to survive the trials of family, winter and a ghost from the past?

Winter Star in the Scottish Highlands is available for purchase here. 

Farewell Vancouver Island by Lorna Hunting

In May 1858, English collier Sam Gray breaks his contract with the Hudson’s Bay Company on Vancouver Island and deserts to the mainland. He’s haunted by memories of his dead wife and a failed romance, and his dream is to make enough money in the Canadian goldfields to start a new life in San Francisco.

Forced to live under an assumed name to avoid arrest, Sam finds himself inhabiting a hard-hitting world of fellow diggers, gun-toters, card sharps and saloon gals.

Cheerful and resourceful, Kitty Muldoon has adapted to this hard life in Canada, but she has her own troubles looking after her hot-headed father, Frank. When Sam rescues Frank from trouble in a bar, it’s the start of something new for both of them.

A promising future seems to await the couple in San Francisco…

Farewell Vancouver Island is available for purchase here.

****

So, you can see that I’m in for a real reading treat. Thank you very much ladies. 

It’s my very great pleasure to welcome Caroline England to stay in with me today and discuss her latest book. Caroline has appeared many times on Linda’s Book Bag in posts you’ll find here.

Let’s find out more:

Staying in with Caroline England

Welcome back to Linda’s Book Bag, Caroline, and 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 hot-off-the-press new psychological suspense thriller, Behind Her Smile, out today!

Oo! Happy Behind Her Smile publication day. That’s rather a disturbing cover. Am I right to be disturbed?

To give you a taster, here is the prologue:

This isn’t real, she says to herself, as she watches the man’s chins wag, his mouth yawn open. And yet she can smell his fusty breath, so perhaps she’s really there in his sour, tobacco-stained study. Only she’s not in his upright office chair and her small feet don’t come anywhere near the end of this footrest. Molly Dolly is by her side, her sweet lips ugly and swollen, her creamy skin stained with tears, and the light above her is blinding.

Her chest feels heavy, her throat scratchy and sore and … she darts her tongue around her gums. There’s one – no, several – loose teeth and that salty, sickening taste of blood.

‘Wake up. Darling, please wake up!’

Her ears prick at the urgent tones from afar. She shapes her arms and her legs to kick out, to escape the depths of this dark, sludgy world and swim to the surface. She can’t; she just can’t. She’s paralysed, stuck. Yet she can see the black staring eyes in the timber knots above her, so she must be in her bedroom.

And someone is near, silently watching her.

‘You’re mistaken.’

She rocks her head to the voice. It’s the man. He’s still there, his bushy eyebrows knitted, his fetid muzzle moving. ‘You’re mistaken.’

‘I’m not. I remember it.’

His ruddy features twist and distort. ‘You are mistaken.’ ‘No, I’m not.’

‘Then you are a liar!’

His leery smile moves nearer, and nearer again. Then it opens like a furnace, blasting whisky fumes and loud words in her face.

‘Bad things happen to liars, you know that, don’t you?’

Goodness me. I AM right to feel very unsettled. So, what can we expect from an evening in with Behind Her Smile? 

As the title suggests, you can expect lots of smiling in the story! The question is whose particular smile or smiles we are talking about, why those characters are smiling and what those smiles might mask. Of course the answer could be simple emotional expressions of joy and happiness, genuine pleasure or profound relief, but Laurie’s Dunn’s dark and twisty tale falls in the arena of psychological fiction, so the reasons are likely to be far more complicated — and disturbing — than that! 

I imagine so. Why have you chosen to focus on the concept of a smile?

Psychological thrillers, domestic noir and psychological suspense novels focus on the chasm between inner and outer life, so whilst the smile can function on the superficial level, it is also likely to be a central motif of deception, concealment and psychological tension, the ultimate tool used by authors to blindside their readers. It’s the perfect way to maintain the true façades of the characters or to hide the turbulent realities beneath their calm exteriors, to generate the instability, dark secrets and suspense that readers of this genre crave. Indeed, I hope the title serves as a signal that the primary tension of the novel lies in the deliberate discrepancy between outward appearances and the dark realities concealed beneath it.

I have a horrible feeling that’s pretty much a spot-on assessment of the world in general Caroline. Behind Her Smile sounds fabulous. 

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

 

The story is set in city centre Manchester in the build up to Christmas, so I’ve wrapped myself in my vintage puffa jacket and nipped out to the chilly winter evening. I’ve duly waved to the giant Santa Claus outside Central Library, then I’ve weaved through the glut of pink-faced shoppers until I’ve reached the Christmas Markets where I’ve and ambled around the busy stalls and brightly lit Alpine huts. Singing along to ‘Fairytale of New York’, I’ve smiled at the round-bellied gnomes, the pink-nosed Rudolphs and marching tin soldiers and I’ve carefully scrutinised the plethora of deli goodies, flavoured fudges and other treats, deciding on which we could nibble during our night in. In the end I’ve chosen roast chestnut butter cookies, toffee strawberries and frosted Macadamia nuts from a Norwegian kiosk, a selection of cheese, salami and ham from Made in Italy, and a mug of Manc mulled wine for you and a gluhwein “glögg” for me! Yet even as I arrive and we settle down on your comfy sofa, I can quite shake off the sensation that someone had been watching and even following me… 

I rather think I’m going to need that mulled wine (the only kind I can drink by the way), if you’re going to tell me things like that…

Thank you so much for staying in with me on Behind Her Smile publication day. Help yourself to the food and gluhwein Caroline and I’ll give readers a few more details about Behind Her Smile – if I dare!

Behind Her Smile

Buried secrets are dangerous.
Unearthing them might be deadly …

Laurie Dunn has returned to her childhood attic bedroom and her old nightmares have come rushing back. Terrorised by a client-related mugging, her job as a criminal solicitor causes more problems than solutions.

Finn Ballentine yearns for a fresh start, but even the glossy façade of his new law firm can’t protect him from the past he’s running from.

After a disturbing remark by her confused father, Laurie joins forces with Finn to uncover dark truths. But the long-buried secrets they unearth are laced with danger for them both.

Published in paperback by Bullington press today, 27th November 2025, Behind Her Smile is available for purchase here.

About Caroline England

Known as the ‘Duchess of Dark Domestic Noir’, Caroline England is the author of eight psychological suspense thrillers, Beneath the Skin, the bestseller My Husband’s Lies, Betray Her, The Sinner, The Stranger Beside Me, The Return of Whittle and her new thriller, Behind Her Smile. She also writes gothic-tinged psychological thrillers as CE Rose, namely The House of Hidden Secrets, The House on the Water’s Edge, The Shadows of Rutherford House and The Attic at Wilton Place.

Caroline writes ‘scarily brilliant’, dark twisty stories that delve into complicated relationships, secrets and the moral grey area. Drawing on her career as a criminal and divorce lawyer, she creates characters who get caught up in extraordinary situations, moral dilemmas and crime. She guarantees a jaw-dropping ending!

To find out more about Caroline, visit her website or follow her on X @CazEngland, Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky.

It was my pleasure to stay in with lovely Freya North recently to chat about her new novella Christmas at Flora’s House. You’ll find that conversation here. I was thrilled when Freya sent me a copy of Christmas at Flora’s House and am delighted to share my review today.

Published on 6th November 2025, Christmas at Flora’s House is available for purchase in the usual places, but LIMITED EDITION COPIES – each personally signed at Freya’s kitchen table – are available directly from Freya here.

Christmas at Flora’s House

On the windswept dunes of the Isle of Harris in the wild and beautiful Outer Hebrides of Scotland, is a small white house with a big history. These days, Flora’s House is a holiday home – the perfect base for visitors from far and wide to explore the stunning and often dramatic landscape.

Arriving with one suitcase for clothes and another for their own decorations, retired couple Maggie and Roger have booked Flora’s House for the festive season. It’s their first trip to the island and their first Christmas away from home – but where does Roger disappear to on his long walks? And why is Maggie so taken with one particular member of staff at the local shop?

Christmas is coming: a time for family and togetherness, for joy and forgiveness. Out there, high on the hills and deep in the heather, across the shimmering lochs and hidden in the waves, this Christmas will soon become unlike any Maggie and Roger have had before.

My Review of Christmas at Flora’s House

Maggie and Roger have booked Flora’s House on the Isle of Harris for Christmas.

Christmas at Flora’s House is a wonderful read. Firstly, the Isle of Harris itself is so clearly depicted it is as if the reader has been transported there in the car with Roger and Maggie’s Christmas decorations. I adored descriptions of the landscape and the warm sense of community created through Freya North’s evocative writing. The manner in which the weather changes and alters the landscape is the perfect accompaniment to Maggie’s changing moods. I also fully appreciated the boundary of the Christmas timeframe, because it gave a satisfying structure to events. 

Those events are actually quite ordinary – putting up decorations, some walks, a bit of sightseeing and shopping with a meal or two. And that is the huge success of this story. Maggie’s first person narrative could belong to any one of us, making everything here totally relatable and all the more affecting as a result.

Whilst Roger has an enticing enthusiasm and love of life that is so attractive, initially I was unsure how I felt about Maggie. She is petulant, quick tempered and seems unreasonably angry with Roger. However, as the narrative unfolds, Maggie’s reasons for being as she is become clear. Indeed, I found the impact of those reasons hit me like a physical blow. I was completely undone by Christmas at Flora’s House and frequently found tears slipping down my face. From being uncertain about Maggie, I ended loving her unreservedly.

I also thought Shona was a superb creation. Her physical appearance belies her character and I thought it was very touching to show how often we erroneously judge those by what they wear or how they style their hair. Indeed, Christmas at Flora’s House might be a novella, but its themes are every bit as profound and affecting as any full length book. The story is a beautiful exploration of how we can get out of step with ourselves, but more importantly, how we can also find ourselves again through the enduring power of love.

I adored Christmas at Flora’s House. It reminded me of the importance of kindness towards others, of making memories and of being present enough to make the most of every moment of life. Don’t miss this little gem of a book.

About Freya North

Freya North’s novels explore the emotions and complexities of everyday relationships and families. First published in 1996 with her ground-breaking debut Sally, Freya has written 15 further bestsellers including the highly acclaimed Little Wing and The Unfinished Business of Eadie Browne. Translated into many languages, Freya won the Romantic Novel of the Year award for Pillow Talk and has been short-listed for others. A sense of place is central to Freya’s writing. Never a backdrop, always a leading character, locations featured in her novels include New England, France, British Columbia, North Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Norfolk, Freya’s own county of Hertfordshire and of course the Outer Hebrides.

Freya holds degrees in History of Art from the University of Manchester and the Courtauld Institute, London. She lives on a small farm in Hertfordshire with her dogs, horses and sheep. She enjoys ceramic classes and road cycling and loves to connect with her readers.

For further information, visit Freya’s website, follow her on X @freya_north or find Freya on Instagram and Facebook.

I cannot thank the team at Fairlight enough for sending me a copy of Before the Leaves Fall by Clare O’Dea and again, find myself apologising that it has taken me a while to read and review after a tricky personal time. It is my pleasure to share my review of Before the Leaves Fall today.

Published by Fairlight Books on 23rd October 2025, Before the Leaves Fall is available for purchase here.

Before the Leaves Fall

Seeking a new purpose in life, Swiss widower Ruedi signs up to work with Depart, an assisted dying organisation. His role is to spend time with those who have sought out Depart’s services, acting as a guide and companion in their final weeks.

Margrit, his crotchety first client, wants only to get on with things. Marking time in a care home, with poor health weighing down on her, she has decided it’s time to go. Her family are upset by her choice, but she is determined. By the end of the summer, she’ll have left the world behind – and on her own terms.

Yet when she and Ruedi realise their paths have crossed once before, an unexpected bond forms. One that will illuminate both their lives.

My Review of Before the Leaves Fall

Ruedi has his first assisted dying client, Margrit. 

Before the Leaves Fall is magnificent. It’s one of those quiet books that permeates the reader’s soul and ensures an indelible impact. I adored it. 

A book about a person – Margrit – deciding that they wish to die before the autumn, thereby avoiding yet another winter, perhaps sounds grim and unappealing. Before the Leaves Fall, however, is absolutely not depressing and miserable. Instead, it is a beautifully written insight into humanity, our flaws and the means to atone and come to terms with both ourselves and others. Not a single word is wasted in this exquisite narrative.

I found Before the Leaves Fall intensely moving. There’s no fast paced plot here, but rather a stunning exploration of character through both Ruedi and Margrit that called to me when I wasn’t reading and left me feeling as if I knew these two people intimately. Clare O’Dea’s writing ensured I felt a visceral connection to them. I loved the way in which they both learn from Margrit’s decision to end her life and thoroughly appreciated the gentle message that it is never too late to change, to make amends and to find acceptance. There’s an intensity resulting from the reduced number of characters too that plunges the reader right into the heart of the story.

The themes of the novel are as eternal and profound as the exploration of character. Clare O’Dea considers grief, love, family, acceptance and, essentially, life. The narrative is written with such sensitivity, such understanding and without any judgment so that it provokes intense thought in the reader, genuinely impacting their entire outlook. 

I am aware that I have actually said very little about Before the Leaves Fall, but it is a book to experience for yourself rather than to describe to others. I thought it was utterly wonderful and cannot recommend it highly enough. 

About Clare O’Dea

Clare O’Dea is the author of four books, including Voting Day, a Fairlight Moderns novella published in 2022. In May 2024, Clare O’Dea published All About Switzerland, a selection of 29 articles first published in The Local Switzerland.

Originally from Dublin, Clare O’Dea has lived in Switzerland since 2003. She had a varied media career in Ireland, with a freelance stint in Russia. Clare worked for The Irish Times, the Irish state broadcaster (RTÉ) and the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation. Her first non-fiction book, The Naked Swiss: A Nation Behind 10 Myths, was published in 2016 by Bergli Books. A second updated edition followed in 2018. Clare turned to Ireland as a subject for her second book, The Naked Irish: Portrait of a Nation Beyond the Clichés (Red Stag Books, 2019).

For further information, visit Clare’s website, follow Clare on X @ClareODeaZ and find her on Instagram and Facebook.

Over the years that I’ve been blogging I’ve made several author friends and it’s my absolute pleasure to welcome one of them  – Graeme Cumming – to chat with me about his latest book today. Although I’ve seen him in real life, Graeme last dropped by the blog to discuss Carrion in a post you’ll find here. 

Let’s find out more:

Staying in with Graeme Cumming 

Welcome back to Linda’s Book Bag, Graeme. 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’ve brought Borderline along. In part it’s because it is my latest – and the first in a series – but also because it seemed appropriate after we met up recently at the Chiltern Kills crime festival.  The proceeds from ticket sales there all go to the youth homelessness charity, Centrepoint, and homelessness plays a key role in the novel. 

It was good to see you again. A new series sounds exciting and I know homelessness is a subject very close to your heart, so what can we expect from an evening in with Borderline?

It’s been pitched as pulp fiction with a social conscience, and the link to homelessness is probably the most prominent theme here. That said, homelessness itself is usually a symptom of other social issues, not that I’ll be getting on a soap box about it – either here or in the book. 

I think we’d need more than an evening to chat if we both got going about societal issues!

In practice, this is a gritty thriller (it must be, because gritty seems to be the most used adjective in reviews), whose main character, Rand Scott, seems to be going down well with readers. 

Oo. Can you share any reviews here?

Two of my favourite reviews end with these words:

‘Borderline is still a thriller at its core, but it’s one with heart and conscience. It doesn’t just entertain—it makes you think about the world around you. Gritty, compelling, and painfully relevant.’

and

‘It’s not a story that just entertains; it lingers, leaving you to mull over the choices people make when pushed to the edge.’

If readers feel like that, I’ve done my job. 

You most certainly have. You must be thrilled with those responses. I’m delighted to have a copy of Borderline on my towering TBR!

And what else have you brought along and why have you brought it?

Rand is a vegan, so it would make sense to bring along a vegan recipe to try out – but he also sees food as fuel, so if I was to reflect that, we’d probably end up eating vegan sausage butties (there’s a myth that vegan food is healthier for you, but I’ve found it’s very easy to be a vegan and still eat crap!).

So you won’t want this vegan burger then!

It’d also be useful to bring some music along. Sadly for you, no Bryan Ferry or Roxy Music, because music does feature strongly in Borderline, but it’s mainly classic rock, which is great but not ideal if we wanted a chat. 

Er, no Bryan Ferry? I’m not sure I’m asking you back again Graeme!

Or I could bring along a supporting character from the book. Having said that, Will the Weed didn’t acquire his nickname just because he’s skinny, Hazard isn’t noted for her conversational skills, and Fender’s views are pretty similar to his flatulence: loud and toxic. 

Hmm. I think they might not make for ideal companions. 

So maybe we’ll settle for sharing some chocolate and fudge (because I know what you like, Linda – and there are some pretty good vegan options) and maybe your drink of choice. Then we can carry on the conversation we started at Chiltern Kills, that reflected on how the system isn’t working…

That sounds a plan to me Graeme. I’ll grab a Bailey’s and you choose a drink and open that fudge (though I’m not sure about the sharing you mentioned!) whilst I give readers a few more details about Borderline. We can then have that proper catch up!

Borderline

When the system isn’t working, work outside the system.

A search for a missing man thrusts Rand Scott into the dark realms of homelessness, drug dealing and sex clubs.

Kirsty Moore wants to find her brother Johnny, a one-time rock star.

The police also want him – for murder.

And there are others looking who don’t play nicely.

A simple job turns deadly as Rand uncovers a world where money talks louder than the screams of innocent bystanders.

Published on 29th May 2025, Borderline is available for purchase here.

About Graeme Cumming

Graeme Cumming lives in Robin Hood country. He has wide and varied taste in fiction, but a particular leaning towards the darker side – though he’s very pleasant when you meet him. Borderline, the first book in his new crime series, was released in 2025 and already gained praise from readers.  

When not writing, Graeme is an enthusiastic sailor (and, by default, swimmer), and enjoys off-road cycling and walking. He is a past President and Education Director at Sheffield Speakers Club. He also reads (a lot) and loves the cinema. 

For further information, visit Graeme’s website. You can also follow Graeme on X @GraemeCumming63 and find him on Instagram, Goodreads and Facebook. 

It’s such a pleasure to have a return visit to Linda’s Book Bag from author CT Sullivan. Chris last stayed in with me some seven years ago in a post you’ll find here.

Today Chris has a change of genre and a new book to tell me about.

Let’s find out more:

Staying in with CT Sullivan

Welcome back to the blog Chris and thank you for staying in with me again. I know you’ve had a change of genre since we last spoke so which book have you brought along this evening?

I’ve brought my second psychological crime thriller, Fractured Web.

Fractured Web was published 29th May 2025. It is now receiving excellent reviews so I’d like to take this opportunity that you have so kindly offered to maintain the momentum in the awareness of my book.

It’s my pleasure. Tell us a bit about Fractured Web. Where did you get the idea?

The idea for this story came initially from a shocking newspaper article I read of a female teacher’s very questionable behaviour in her school. Shortly after, I met an old friend who was a retired female teacher. When I told her of the article she wasn’t at all surprised. After she had informed me of the comings and goings and at times fierce inhouse competition that existed at the various schools at which she worked, I realised I had my next book.

Aha! As I’m an ex-teacher Fractured Web has grabbed my attention immediately. Did you have a real school in mind as you wrote?

Fractured Web is set in Sir Montagu Web Grammar School, a beautiful eighteenth-century building in Battersea High Street. Actually, it was the school, name changed, that I attended for six years that also housed at different times, novelist Martin Amis and actors Melvyn Hayes and Buster Merryweather.

It’s now an independent school at which Prince George and Princess Charlotte were recently educated. So, I do have a vague and distant connection to the Royal Family which, I imagine, they are totally unaware of.

A claim to fame nonetheless! That’s quite an illustrious cast. What about the people in Fractured Web?

At the heart of the story is Wendy Jacks, who experiences scarring early childhood trauma in the shape of her mother’s scandalous affair and her father’s sudden departure. Her sense of frustration and loss is so deep her life is driven by a twisted sense of justice.

Now, her existence is one of manipulation and deceit. It’s when she becomes a teacher at the Web grammar school that her life begins to unravel with devastating consequences for herself and those around her.

Fractured Web sounds quite intense and incredibly intriguing. Am I right in thinking that?      

Fractured Web explores the damaging effects of revenge and obsession. It’s a tale of suspense and moral ambiguity, where every action has a ripple effect that threatens the delicate web of our existence.

Sounds brilliant. How has Fractured Web been received by readers?

I have brought along this review.

Unpaid Book Review: Fractured Web by C.T. Sullivan

By Ralph Surman, published author and educator, after reading the book.

“C.T. Sullivan’s Fractured Web is an unflinchingly bold, utterly compelling psychological thriller that drags the reader deep into the murky waters of power, manipulation, and moral collapse within a seemingly ordinary school environment. What begins as a tale of family dysfunction in a quiet English village unfolds into a complex lattice of obsession, betrayal, and dangerously blurred boundaries.

From the chilling opening scenes of domestic conflict and teenage vengeance to the expertly drawn atmosphere of Sir Montague Web Grammar School, Sullivan creates an unsettling and richly layered world. The novel thrives on tension: personal, professional, and sexual. His characters, particularly Wendy Jacks, are drawn with sharp psychological insight.

Sullivan’s prose is clean and confident, with dialogue that crackles with realism and subtext. His ability to capture both the weary banter of seasoned staffroom regulars and the petty cruelty of teenage boys is impressive. The novel’s strength lies in its shifting perspectives and overlapping storylines.”

Wow! That’s amazing. You must be delighted with that response. What else have you brought along?

 

I have brought along a picture of my old grammar school in which the story was set. It provided me with a tangible location for Fractured Web where my many adventures and blueprint of this charismatic building remain a vivid memory.

That’s quite a building. 

I’ve also brought a picture of The Bookshop, my garden lodge where I write.

Oh I’m so jealous. That looks like a wonderful writing space. Speaking of writing, would you mind sharing a couple of brief passages from Fractured Web?

Of course:

James sat in his car scouring the school car park. It was six-fifteen p.m. The October nights were drawing in. The gloomy square of concrete had just one light. It sat on top of a thin, towering metal pole situated at the far corner. His engine was off. Two blackbirds in a nearby tree were having an aggressive singing competition between them. His subconscious may have heard them. But his mind was focused.

It switched on to full alert when the figure of the headmaster appeared carrying his briefcase, climbed into his car and left the school premises. James followed. The head turned left out of the gates. James knew the area where his boss lived. He wasn’t going home that’s for sure, he thought.

And now, of course, we want to know where he’s off to!

Sir Montague Web Grammar School for Boys, known in-house as the Web, sat in five acres of prime real estate. It was situated on the outskirts of Battersea overlooking the unrelenting murk of the river Thames. It was one of less than two-hundred grammar schools in the UK having survived closure or merger with the country’s numerous comprehensive schools. Founded in the early eighteenth-century the building reeked of an age time was struggling to cling on to.

Inside the hallowed, red-bricked walls hope and expectation ruled. Silent corridors, on the sound of a shrill bell, were clogged in a matter of seconds. A swarm of grey flannels, striped ties and dark blue blazers dominated the scene. It was as if the bodies within were in a competition to see who could make the most noise.

I think I might have inspected a school like that in the past! Thanks so much for returning to the blog Chris. I love the sound of Fractured Web. I’ll give readers a few more details too:

Fractured Web

Fractured Web by C.T. Sullivan is a gripping tale that begins in the quiet village of Much ‎Hadham, where rumors spread like wildfire, exposing the fragile lives of its inhabitants. At the ‎heart of this story is Wendy Jacks, a seemingly ordinary girl whose childhood is marred by her ‎mother’s scandalous affair and her father’s sudden departure. Growing up with a hardened ‎heart, Wendy navigates life with a twisted sense of justice, setting her on a dark path of ‎manipulation and deceit.‎

Twenty-six years later, as a science teacher, Wendy’s bottled-up rage manifests in sinister ways, ‎leading to devastating consequences for herself and those around her.

Set against the backdrop ‎of an elite grammar school, Fractured Web explores the themes of revenge, obsession and the ‎lingering impact of childhood trauma. Sullivan masterfully weaves a tale of suspense and moral ‎ambiguity, where every action has a ripple effect that could unravel the delicate web of life.‎

Fractured Web was published on 29th May 2025 and is available for purchase here. 

About CT Sullivan

C T Sullivan is the author of crime thrillers, Reasonable Force, Fractured Web and travel book, Apple Insider, an Englishman in New York – a humorous and informative account of his three-month stay in Manhattan. During a successful career as a foreign exchange broker, he wrote and performed stand-up musical comedy to sporting and corporate audiences. He lives with his wife Deborah and golden labrador, Splosh, in Midhurst, West Sussex.

For further information visit Chris’s website or find him on Facebook and X @Sullyonair.

It’s my pleasure to welcome a brand new to me author, Albina du Boisrouvray to stay in with me today and tell me all about her latest book. My thanks to Grace Pilkington for putting us in touch with one another.

Let’s find out more: 

Staying in With Albina du Boisrouvray

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag, Albina. 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’ve brought my memoir, Phoenix Rising. It took me three years to write it in French, and I’m delighted that it’s now been translated into English. I actually began writing it in English about ten years ago, but since I was living in France, the language of the book gradually shifted to French.

That sounds quite a task. Do you speak both languages fluently?

My first language is English — I spent two years at an English boarding school when I was young — but I studied and worked in France, so I now have a wider vocabulary in French.

How brilliant. And why the title Phoenix Rising?

Phoenix Rising was the title suggested by my publisher, Nomad Publishing, and I love it — it feels so fitting to my life as a whole. I’ve lived three distinct lives, each very different from the one before.

Fascinating. Tell me more.

My first life was my childhood, which feels like an era that no longer exists — a world apart, marked by my mixed heritage, many obstacles, and several brushes with death. It was far from harmonious, and everything changed when my mother died when I was nineteen.

That must have been tough. What happened next?

My second life began at twenty-one, when I became a housewife in the Alps, married to a rescue pilot and mountain guide. We had a beautiful child, my treasured son François-Xavier, who shared his father’s passion for flying. I later divorced and returned to Paris, where I built a successful career as a film producer in a world dominated by men. But when François-Xavier was killed in a helicopter accident at the age of twenty-our, I was utterly destroyed.

My huge condolences. I can’t imagine how you recovered from that.

My third life tells the story of how I rose from those ashes. Having inherited my father’s fortune a few years earlier, I sold three — quarters of it — along with my film company, my home, and all my possessions — to create a foundation in my son’s name: the François-Xavier Bagnoud Foundation (FXB). Its mission was to carry on his spirit of rescue, in the broadest sense of the word. Through FXB’s work — supporting destitute children, empowering women in extreme poverty, and fighting AIDS around the world when few would even speak of it — I found my way back to life.

What a magnificent way to honour François-Xavier.

More than thirty-five years later, FXB continues to evolve. Today, we focus on engaging young people in addressing the consequences of climate change — teaching them about the dangers threatening our planet and helping them find local solutions that can be shared globally.

That’s just wonderful. What else have you brought along this evening, and why have you brought it?

I’ve brought a photograph of the very first FXB mission, which I undertook alongside Doctors of the World before FXB itself was created.

It was a campaign to lobby the United Nations to adopt the Convention on the Rights of the Child. In August 1989, fifteen children from fifteen countries sailed to New York to present it at the General Assembly. Among them were two boys — one Israeli, one Palestinian — who refused to speak to each other when they boarded the boat in France. Over the three-week journey, they became best friends.

The photograph shows them sitting together on a sidewalk in New York, smiling at each other. It captured, for me, the moment I realised how one could knit small stitches of peace through children

If only the current world leaders could realise that too.

When the Foundation’s funds were nearly gone, I devoted what remained — and later my own resources — to trying to do the same in Israel and Gaza. I continued that work until the summer of 2023.

What a wonderful story. Thank you so much for staying in with me to chat about Phoenix Rising. It sounds like an absorbing read.

Phoenix Rising

From her mixed-race heritage and privileged yet unconventional upbringing amidst historical events, to her early rebellions and forays into the glamorous world of filmmaking, du Boisrouvray’s early life reveals a fiercely independent spirit navigating complex family dynamics and societal norms.

The narrative takes a poignant turn with personal tragedy, which ignites a profound commitment to humanitarian action. Driven by a mother’s love and a desire to honour her son’s memory, du Boisrouvray founded the Francois -Xavier Bagnoud Foundation – FXB – and its NGOs, pioneering innovative approaches to combatting AIDS, putting AIDS orphans on the map and exposing extreme poverty globally

Phoenix Rising will be published by Nomad on 27th November 2025 and is available for pre-order from Waterstones and here .

About Albina du Boisrouvray

Albina du Boisrouvray is a philanthropist, humanitarian, and former film producer who founded the François-Xavier Bagnoud Foundation (FXB) in honour of her late son. For over three decades, she has dedicated her life to supporting vulnerable children, empowering women in poverty, and advancing global health and human rights initiatives. Her memoir, Phoenix Rising, traces her extraordinary personal and professional journey across three lives of transformation, loss, and purpose.

For further information, visit the FBX website or find more on Instagram and X @FXBGlobal.

There’s more with these other bloggers too:

I was most surprised when Abi Herbert from Lush got in touch to ask if I would be interested in reviewing a copy of Cosmetics to Go: The Story of the Company that came before LUSH by Mira Manga. I was intrigued so gratefully accepted and it’s my pleasure to share my review today.

Imagine my further surprise when Cosmetics to Go: The Story of the Company that came before LUSH arrived with an array of gorgeous smelling products too. 

Cosmetics to Go: The Story of the Company that came before LUSH was published by Harper Collins on 12th September 2025 and is available for purchase through the publisher links here. 

Cosmetics to Go: The Story of the Company that came before LUSH

Here in lies the story of the meteoric rise, and devastating fall, of Cosmetics To Go, the dynamic cosmetics brand that revolutionised bathing and enchanted customers with their innovative offerings, all well ahead of their time.

This book is a journey of invention, following the fortunes of this young company as they create new, ground breaking products – set to revolutionise the cosmetics industry. Read all about the invention of the original bath bomb, shampoo bars and fresh facemasks that have since gone on to become some of LUSH’s most iconic and best-selling products.

Featuring artwork and photography from the original Cosmetics to Go catalogue, this new book is an essential read for Cosmetics to Go customers and fans and anyone who wants to know more about the origins of LUSH.

My review of Cosmetics to Go: The Story of the Company that came before LUSH

The rise (and demise) of Cosmetics to Go.

Now, anyone who knows me will understand that I am not a huge user of cosmetics, so I was amazed at how compelling, interesting and fascinating I found Cosmetics to Go: The Story of the Company that came before LUSH. 

I think the initial attraction was the physical format of the book, because it held such a nostalgic feel, reminding me of those much desired and anticipated Christmas annuals of my youth. The vibrant cover, the brilliant end papers, originating from the cover of the mail order catalogue of 1993, and the eclectic mix of images, including drawings, photographs, newspaper cuttings, and so on, truly draw in the reader.

I loved the size and quality of the hardback cover too as it felt like a real gift book. There’s a fabulous balance of text to image in the 140+ pages so that there’s plenty for avid Lush or Cosmetics to Go fans to delve into, whilst the more casual reader like me can dip in and out and discover all manner of things.

Cosmetics to Go covers so much besides the establishment, life and ending of Cosmetics to Go. Packed with a sense of creative chaos and a blend of considerable enthusiasm and not a little naivety, readers get a true sense of the people behind the brand. As a result, it made me consider those working in similar industries like LUSH today and I found I cared about the people involved in Cosmetics to Go every bit as much as I do fictional characters in novels. There’s a moment with Helen’s bath bomb that actually brough a lump to my throat. Cosmetics to Go is certainly a comprehensive insight into the cosmetic world, but it also contains social history, geography, economics, media, science, ethical considerations and an eclectic range of other topics. I most certainly didn’t expect a reference to Buddhism in a book about cosmetic products for example! 

As someone not a great user of cosmetics, I found Cosmetics to Go a really interesting and engaging book that has left me with the overwhelming desire for a Mistress Lipstick (and possibly a bowl of tomato soup, but you need to read the book to find out why)! It has also made me want to investigate LUSH products far more too.

As effervescent in style as the famous bath bombs, Cosmetics to Go would make a super gift for any lover of LUSH and Cosmetics to Go products, but I also think those interested in art, design, marketing and business would find it riveting reading. I was both surprised and entertained by the book and thoroughly enjoyed it. 

About Mira Manga

Mira Manga is a London-based writer, editor, and songwriter. She has worked at LUSH since 2000 and was formerly the editor and lead writer of The Lush Times, the brand’s much-loved customer newspaper. In her spare time, Mira has written and edited for a range of gaming publications and websites. She is also the author of the first edition of Cosmetics to Go, now refreshed, revitalised, and expanded with new content.

For further information, follow Mira on X @miramanga or find her on Instagram. 

You all know that I’m a huge fan of Milly Johnson – and I’m delighted that she’s become a true personal friend over the years. 

To celebrate Milly’s latest book, Let The Bells Ring Out which I reviewed here, I’m thrilled to have a signed hardback copy to give away today. It was my pleasure to take a copy of Let The Bells Ring Out to Molecey Mill Frost Fair on Saturday where Milly signed the book for me.

As soon as she knew I was going to run a giveaway for it, Milly immediately included a Let The Bells Ring Out bookmark, planner and pen for me to pass on too – just showing what a lovely lady she is!

For your chance to win this smashing bundle of Milly Johnson Let The Bells Ring Out goodies either for yourself or a wonderful gift for someone else, all you need to do is comment on this blog post saying why you’d like to win. Sadly this has to be UK only because of postage costs. 

So drop me a comment below – or if that doesn’t work for you (I know I sometimes have a problem leaving comments) just comment on one of my socials posts about the giveaway and I’ll add you in.

The giveaway closes at 11.59 PM on Friday 14th November 2025 and the winner will be selected at random on Saturday 15th November 2025. I will need a UK postal address to send your prize. Please be aware that at no point would I ask for any kind of payment as there are always scammers who try to dupe people. Good luck!

In case you’ve been living under a rock, here’s what Let The Bells Ring Out is all about:

Let The Bells Ring Out

Seven people, four days and a snowy Christmas on board a luxury sleeper train. This festive season getting away from it all takes on a new meaning…

The Yorkshire Belle is a glamorous steam train all decked out for an escapist festive getaway. It is not supposed to be where a group of people, all trying to get to their destinations for the holidays, will spend their Christmas.

Seven people, each with their own hopes and dreams, secrets and sorrows, board the train as strangers, but as the snow keeps falling and they realise they are going nowhere fast, they are forced to slow down and embrace the present.

This Christmas on board the Yorkshire Belle, will the friendships they make change their lives forever?

Let The Bells Ring Out was published by Simon and Schuster on 23rd October 2025 and is available for purchase through the links here.

About Milly Johnson

Milly Johnson was born, raised and still lives in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. She is the author of 23 novels, 4 short story ebooks, a book of poetry and a Quick Reads Novella (The Little Dreams of Lara Cliffe) and was an erstwhile leading copywriter for the greetings card industry. She is also a poet, a professional joke-writer, a newspaper columnist and a seasoned after dinner speaker.

She won the RoNA for Best Romantic Comedy Novel of 2014 and 2016, the Yorkshire Society award for Arts and Culture 2015, the Romantic Novelist Association Outstanding Achievement award in 2020, the Goldsboro Books Contemporary Romantic Novel Award in 2021 and the Richard Whiteley Award for Inspiration to the County of Yorkshire in 2022.

She writes about love, life, friendships and the importance of community spirit. Her books champion women, their strength and resilience and celebrate her beloved Yorkshire.

Her 23rd novel Let the Bells Ring Out is available now.

You can follow Milly on Twitter/X @millyjohnson and Facebook, or you can visit her website for more information. You’ll also find Milly on Instagram.

My enormous thanks to Peter Wiholm for sending me a copy of his children’s book Grumpy Gnome all the way from Canada. Grumpy Gnome is illustrated by Alejandro Segura Baron and it’s my pleasure to share my review today. 

Grumpy Gnome was published on 15th October 2025 and is available for purchase here. 

Grumpy Gnome

The old gnome was angry with the ducks next door. They had dragged him out of his hundred-year retirement to help a father and daughter in trouble. Why would the gnome care about silly humans, especially ones who had made a big mess at the beloved farm where he used to work? Surely there was nothing about these well-meaning but clumsy people that could soften his prickly mood?

Grumpy Gnome is a humorous, exciting and cozy story about rediscovering joy thought to be long gone, parental love, and the ways of the old world clashing with the new.

My Review of Grumpy Gnome

The gnome is feeling bad tempered. 

Grumpy Gnome is brilliant. It’s so luxuriously presented with a robust, glossy cover and equally attractive slip cover that it would make an ideal gift book. 

The book size is perfect for sharing with an individual child or in a group situation. The illustrations are wonderful, with a smashing balance between modernity and nostalgia in style. I loved the subdued colour palette that represented the emotions of the story really effectively. It also appealed that there is a single parent and mixed race child so that Grumpy Gnome feels inclusive. In addition, there’s a very good balance of text to image so that young emergent readers are not daunted and more confident ones have enough text to satisfy them. The language is mature so that vocabulary is increased, and it is enhanced by the images that help develop understanding and context. 

The Grumpy Gnome himself is inspired. He has lost touch with his old life and is obviously lonely and there’s a very important message in the story that shows children how being kind and helpful towards others actually brings happiness to the person (or gnome) doing so. Consequently, Grumpy Gnome affords the opportunity for adults and children to discuss emotions in a non-threatening environment. Indeed, it felt quite emotional that the little girl seems wiser than her father and her belief in magical things like the gnome gives a sensation of warmth, happiness and hope to readers of any age. 

I loved the recalcitrant sheep and the insistent ducks too, because they help bring the narrative to life, adding humour that children will love. 

I thought that Grumpy Gnome has all the high quality attributes of traditional tales, containing morals, but within a modern setting so that it slots into the canon of children’s books perfectly without preaching or forcing adult preferences onto children. It’s a lovely story and children will thoroughly enjoy reading it – and what adult doesn’t need a bit of magic in their lives? 

About Peter Wiholm 

Peter has written articles, short stories, screenplays and reviews for a wide variety of publications, and his love of storytelling is also demonstrated in his short films, documentaries, music videos and photos. He lives in Vancouver, Canada with his wife and daughter. Grumpy Gnome is his first children’s picture book.

You can find Peter on Instagram.

About Alejandro Segura Baron

Alejandro has worked as an illustrator and graphic designer for multiple publishing houses and magazines. He has created comics, book illustrations, posters and more. Grumpy Gnome is the second children’s picture book he has illustrated, after El Castillo de los Siete Ojos. He lives in Barcelona, Spain with his wife and son.