Stacy McWilliams is the mum of two boys, a wife and a writer. She loves reading a variety of genres and enjoy a diverse range of movies.

She writes paranormal romance and loves to meet new people.

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Luminosity

Jasmine Johnstone’s life was relatively normal until she was forced to live with the Stevenson family. As she stayed she found she had no choice but to battle mythical creatures. Strengths she never knew she possessed began to surface, surprising those around her. Her only chance of surviving the rising tide of evil was Nathan Stevenson. Could she really trust him as he fought against his love for her? With the world against them and time running out, would their love be enough to defeat demons? (204 pages)

 

Ignition

Life has never been easy for Jasmine Johnstone, but failing for Nathan Stevenson brings a whole new level of difficulty. Since she arrived at his home he’s blown hot and cold with her, turned against her and revealed a deadly threat. He is sworn to kill her, and fights against his love for her more than ever, but he knows he can’t live without her.

As they run from monsters, and each other, can their love survive?

Time begins to run out and with new friends and enemies in the strangest places, will they learn who to trust in time?

With their love stronger than ever, but forces pulling them apart, is love enough to keep them together or will Nathan’s parents succeed in pulling them apart? (214 pages)

Candlelight

***This novella is the prequel to Luminosity****

Life was full of nothing but darkness for Nathan Stevenson until Jasmine appeared in his life. She brought his innermost desires to the surface. She burned her way through to his heart to become embedded in his soul. He knew she was dangerous but would she break down his wall as he dreamed of her touch and fought against the impulse to protect her? Would their love be enough to defeat his demons? Was he strong enough to resist her or would her light burn irrevocably? (95 pages)

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Here is an excerpt taken from Candlelight

School passed in a blur and that night, I spent my time catching up on all the work I had missed. The following day, an opportunity presented itself to me and I couldn’t resist getting my message across to that fucker.

James walked a little ahead of me during class time. It looked as if he headed to the library. He didn’t notice me as I looped around the corridor and caught him before he entered, pushing him into a disused office. I slammed him full force up against the wall and put my arm over his throat. I allowed my hands to morph into claws, holding them at a vein in his throat as fury pulsed through me.

I froze him with my powers. I could feel his powers trying to find a way around mine. I brushed them aside, as though they were no more than a fly in my face. Demon power raced through me and I stood tall before spitting out, “I know what you did and I know what you are trying to do. You won’t succeed. For every single time you try, I will ruin something you care about. You are not getting away with this; I will make sure of it…”

I broke off and turned my hand back to normal before I punched him full force in the nose. I relished the sound of the bone breaking. He would heal it in seconds, though he wouldn’t be able to get rid of the blood from Demon sight. Strolling towards the door, I called over my shoulder,

“Mop yourself up, you disgusting piece of filth.”

To request review copies, please stop by here.

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Quotes from readers:

Never have I wanted to ugly cry for someone then on the next page want to punch them before.

Anger at the Stevensons makes you love Jasmine even more.

by Lindsay Crook

Wildly addictive and uniquely captivating…a fantastic series

Katie Taylor

All the feels an author could possibly fit into a book, anger, angst, love, confusion……..if you can feel it, you will in Luminosity……addictive series

Alicia Huxtable

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GIVEAWAY

2x 1 e-book copy of Candlelight
2x 1 e-book copy of Candlelight & Luminosity
1x 1 e-book copy of Candlelight, Luminosity & Ignition

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I’m delighted to be part of the launch celebrations for Dylan The Doctor by Guy Parker-Rees. Dylan the Doctor was published by Scholastic on 4th August 2016 and is available for purchase from all good bookshops, supermarkets like Sainsbury’s and online retailers like Amazon.

Dylan The Doctor

Dylan’s on his way – are you ready to play? Dylan The Doctor is the first picture book in a series featuring an exuberant stripy dog, who just loves to play. Created by bestselling illustrator Guy Parker-Rees, Dylan is a joyous new character who uses playing and fun to help toddlers explore and understand their world. Today Dylan is playing at being a doctor. He dashes about looking after all of his friends: Purple Puss, Jolly Otter and Titchy Chick. But who will look after poor, tired Doctor Dylan? All his friends, of course! Look out for Dylan’s friend, Dotty Bug, on every page, as she encourages readers to join in with the story.

My Review of Dylan The Doctor

Dylan the dog is playing at doctors and his friends are his patients.

What a super and vibrant picture book for young children. Dylan the Doctor has great value as it is the kind of book parents can share with their children several times. Firstly, there is the story itself which is fun and accessible as Dylan bandages, administers plasters and medicine and generally takes care of his friends.

The illustrations are lovely and there’s plenty to look at and discuss with children. Also, I really liked the inclusion of Dotty Bug who not only provides extra commentary but also speaks directly to children enabling them to play an active role in reading and storytelling as they answer her questions.

Another benefit of Dylan The Doctor is that it deals with the subject of doctors and hospitals in a way that is non-threatening and I think the book would make a wonderful gift for small children who are going in to hospital or visiting people there for the first time. Other themes that are positively represented are the importance of friendship and being kind to others which are valuable lessons for children to learn.

I have one small criticism (and this is with my ex-English teacher and inspector hat on) and that is that the Y in Dylan looks lower case in an otherwise uppercase word and I’d like it to be more consistent. That said, however, there are some super touches to promote literacy with the alliterative Purple Puss, the onomatopoeic nee-naw of the ambulance and the creative compound words such as Jolly Otter’s ‘Floppy-Wobble’ fever.

I think Dylan The Doctor is the start of a smashing new series that children will love.

About Guy Parker-Rees

Guy Parker-Rees is one of the UK’s best-loved children’s illustrators. His many successes include Giraffes Can’t Dance (Orchard) and Spookyrumpus (Orchard). Guy lives in Brighton. You can find all Guy’s children’s books here.

You can follow Guy on Twitter and find out more on his website. There’s more with these other bloggers too:

 

I have to begin this blog post with an apology to Jennie Ensor. I was supposed to be part of the launch celebrations of Blind Side which was published by Unbound on 22nd July 2016, but personal circumstances meant my life was turned upside down and I wasn’t able to take part. However, Jennie has agreed to tell me a couple of things about life since Blind Side was published and is sharing them with me today.

Blind Side is available in e-book from Amazon UK and Amazon US.

Blind Side

Can you ever truly know someone? And what if you suspect the unthinkable?

London, five months before 7/7. Georgie, a young woman wary of relationships after previous heartbreak, gives in and agrees to sleep with close friend Julian. She’s shocked when Julian reveals he’s loved her for a long time.

But Georgie can’t resist her attraction to Nikolai, a Russian former soldier she meets in a pub. While Julian struggles to deal with her rejection, Georgie realises how deeply war-time incidents in Chechnya have affected Nikolai. She begins to suspect that the Russian is hiding something terrible from her.

Then London is attacked…

Blind Side explores love and friendship, guilt and betrayal, secrets and obsession. An explosive, debate-provoking thriller that confronts urgent issues of our times and contemplates some of our deepest fears.

Three Stars and a Wish

A Guest post from Jennie Ensor

First fantastic thing:

I can tell people I’m an author, such as my husband when he asks how much longer am I going to be stuck upstairs in my office. While I’ve not yet received any royalties and I may never make living from my writing, soon I’ll be earning enough to buy authentic HP ink cartridges J (I’m looking forward to claiming writing-related expenses on my tax return.) Also I can nip onto Amazon at any time and see my book listed there. Which may sound OTT, but after over a decade of writing novels and wondering when and how my first book would be published, this is a big deal to me!

(Linda:I can fully understand that Jennie)

Second fantastic thing:

I was over the moon that the early reviewers on the Blind Side blog tour had such good things to say about my book. It has also been great to have other people say they enjoyed this or that about the book, or that suspense was such that they had to finish the book in a day. That said, I know that Blind Side (a thriller infused with psychological suspense along with romance, sex, war, terrorism and a dash of politics) can’t possibly please everyone. I will have to learn to deal some bad reviews along with the good ones.

(Linda: The trouble with writers is that they tend to forget all the good reviews and beat themselves up about the odd poorer one!)

Third fantastic thing:

 No more rewriting of Blind Side!

This novel has been a long time in the making. I started it at around the end of 2004 and returned to work on it several times since Unbound accepted it for publication last year. I’ve lost count of how many times it’s been revised over the years (removing a work sub-plot, altering the ending and so on). On top of that I made substantial changes during the developmental edit. Some of these were quite tricky to do, such as moving parts of the plot forwards to quicken the early pace and adding to the terrorism-related aspects of the plot. Though I have to say, I loved writing some extra chapters in the voice of my character Julian. He’s got a rather unwholesome side to him to say the least, and to give vent to it was weirdly satisfying.

One thing I wish had been different: 

With hindsight I might have asked for the book to come out a few months later than it did (23 July 2016) so I could have been more prepared. Just before publication everything seemed to be happening at once and there was a fair bit that I had learn on the hoof (blog tours, for example). Also it might have helped to get going earlier on things like Goodreads and Twitter. Goodreads is scarily huge and takes time to explore. Re Twitter, I don’t really know what I’m doing much of the time – and cutting characters from the perfect but slightly long Tweet is so frustrating.

On the other hand, The Big Thing that was looming for ages is out of the way. Now at last I can relax and enjoy the rest of summer!

(Linda: And I hope it’s a happy and successful one for you Jennie!)

About Jennie Ensor

Jennie is a Londoner descended from a long line of Irish folk. For much of her life she’s been a wandering soul, but these days she lives with her husband and their cuddle-loving, sofa-hogging terrier. As well as from reading and writing novels, she loves poetry. Her poems, published under another name, tend to inhabit the darker, sometimes surreal side of life.

While on an extended trip to Australia, Jennie studied journalism and worked as a freelance print journalist, covering topics from forced marriages to the fate of Aboriginal Australians living on land contaminated by the British nuclear tests.

When not chasing the dog, lazing in the garden with a book or dreaming about setting off on a long train journey with a Kindleful of books, Ms E can be found writing or doing Writing Related Stuff. WRS can include singing and playing the piano (vital for de-stress) and watching TV spy/crime/costume dramas (research). Soon she will be hard at work getting her second novel ready for publication, a dark and unsettling novel of psychological suspense.

You can find out more about Jennie on her website and blog, by finding her on Facebook  and following her on Twitter and by using #blindsidebook.

As a result of poor eye sight I didn’t learn to read until relatively late, although ironically I went on to teach and inspect English so I have some sympathy with those who struggle with reading and writing. When I heard that Denise Ersalahi Erguler is a writer who is dyslexic I felt I had to invite her onto Linda’s Book Bag to find out a bit more about her experiences. Denise has just published her first children’s story, The Adventures of Shifting Jack: A New Home on 7th July 2016 and I had intended to feature Denise at the time but personal events overtook me. The Adventures of Shifting Jack: A New Home is available for purchase in e-book on Amazon UK and Amazon US.

The Adventures of Shifting Jack

Jack has always known that he and his little sister, Lily, are different to other children, but he doesn’t know why – until the family moves to North Cyprus.

Jack thinks he’s going to like it here; school is okay, he makes new friends, and Lily is happy too. Then one afternoon, Jack and Lily are involved in an earthquake and their world is turned upside down. Jack not only finds out his dad isn’t exactly his dad, but that none of his family is exactly human either…

The whole family is thrown into danger, and Jack knows it’s his job to protect Lily, whatever that takes. In pursuit of illegal animal hunters, a strange school teacher, and the truth, Jack does his best – but he is only nine years old, will his best be good enough?

Writing with Dyslexia

A Guest Post from Denise Ersalahi Erguler

Firstly, I would like to say a big thank you to you Linda for giving me the opportunity to post on your blog.

Writing for me has always been something of a challenge, as I am dyslexic. I love to read, always have, particularly fantasy and science fiction, I don’t have a problem with reading. My dyslexic affects my writing. When I was working as an interior designer, I sent an email to a client following our meeting. He telephoned me to ask if I meant what I had written, I was taken aback and re-read the email, I still couldn’t see anything wrong and it took my husband to point out that I had sent the email to Dead Dave, not Dear Dave! Of course I called him back and apologised. These days I get everything I write checked before it goes ‘public’.

My dyslexia was never picked up on at school, the teachers thought I was a bit stupid. I get numbers and letter mixed up, for example, I use a 3 instead of an E. It wasn’t until I read an article about dyslexia, that I realised it was something I had.

I have always been creative, more in an arts way, but a few years ago I was struggling to find something I wanted to read, so I started to dream up a story. Each night before I went to sleep I would visualise a scene. Then I started to write it all down.

My first book is an adult novel about aliens and shifters and it was while I was reading some excerpts out to my son, that I thought about writing a children’s book. His eyes lit up when I talked about shape shifters and that’s how The Adventures of Shifting Jack came about.

I have learned that if I read what I’ve written out loud I can pick up many of my mistakes, but I also have a very good editor and proof reader in Anne Hamilton of Write Right to help with all the spelling and grammar. I think it’s really important not to let something like dyslexia hold you back; there are ways around it.

About Denise Ersalahi Erguler

Denise Ersalahi Erguler moved to North Cyprus 10 years ago from London where she lives with her husband and two children. In her past life, Denise was an interior designer concentrating on open office space. Now, she helps runs the family business, a successful fabric and home furniture store. Denise writes for children and adults, and The Adventures of Shifting Jack is her first children’s novel.

You can follow Denise on Twitter and catch up with her on Facebook.

I am so grateful to Frances Gough at Headline for a copy of Late Summer in the Vineyard by Jo Thomas, in return for an honest review. Late Summer in the Vineyard was published by Headline on 11th August 2016 and is available for purchase in e-book and paperback from Amazon UK, Amazon US, W H Smith, Waterstones, from all good book sellers and directly from the publisher.

Late Summer in the Vineyard

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Emmy Bridges has always looked out for others. Now it’s time to put down roots of her own.

Working for a wine-maker in France is the opportunity of a lifetime for Emmy. Even if she doesn’t know a thing about wine – beyond what’s on offer at the local supermarket.

There’s plenty to get to grips with in the rustic town of Petit Frère. Emmy’s new work friends need more than a little winning over. Then there’s her infuriatingly brash tutor, Isaac, and the enigmatic Madame Beaumont, tucked away in her vineyard of secrets.

But Emmy will soon realise that in life – just as in wine-making – the best things happen when you let go and trust your instincts. Particularly when there’s romance in the air…

My Review of Late Summer in the Vineyard

With her depressed Dad relying on her to cover the arrears on the mortgage and the bailiffs at the door, Emmy needs to earn some money fast so when fate sends her to France this could be the boost she needs – or just another disaster.

Having read and thoroughly enjoyed The Olive Branch by Jo Thomas (you can read my review here) I wondered whether this latest book would match such an enjoyable reading experience but she has done it again. Late Summer in the Vineyard has all the elements required for a perfect read be it on the beach or on a cold winter’s afternoon, but with a quality to the writing that lifts it far beyond generic women’s fiction.

What Jo Thomas does so evocatively is to set the scene. I was transported to France through the brilliant use of the senses so that I could see the early autumn mists swirling, smell the heady aroma of fermenting grapes and, frequently agonisingly, taste the brie, the crusty bread and the stews. In fact, I think Late Summer in the Vineyard should come with a warning – you’ll want to eat more as you read!

The characters are so realistic that I found myself wondering what they were doing when I wasn’t reading about them. I have a new role model to aspire to in Madame Beaumont whose feisty attitude and compelling background make her so much more than a minor character. Jo Thomas always seems to balance major and minor roles so that each person feels real and vibrant. What I think works so well is that the characters are not idealised and perfect, but Emmy, Isaac et al are rounded and believable.

I loved the plot of Late Summer in the Vineyard too. Real life is complicated and Emmy’s is no different. Whilst this is a romantic read and I expect there to be positive resolutions (you’ll have to read it for yourself to see if those expectations are met), there is such a wealth of really interesting authoritative detail woven into the story so that I have a much better understanding of the wine making process than before I started reading. However, the skill is that Jo Thomas provides the authenticity in a way that is utterly natural and integral to the story making the story a delight to read. This is brilliant writing.

I don’t know the extent to which Jo Thomas plans the themes and how much they arise naturally out of the realistic characters, but they give a depth and credibility to the narrative. We too frequently judge others by appearances or rely on others for our own happiness. Late Summer in the Vineyard teaches us to grasp life with both hands and make our own lives and luck. It also shows the importance of family and belonging.

I thought Late Summer in the Vineyard was very much like the wine that is described. It is smooth, velvety and satisfying – with a je ne sais quoi that adds that little bit extra making it a wonderful read.

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 Jo Thomas on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.

Having been to Guernsey 70 times en route to Jersey for work and never having got off the plane I am delighted to be interviewing Anne Allen as her latest story in The Guernsey Novels series, Echoes of Time, is published today 15th August 2016 by Sarnia Press in e-book. At least I can travel vicariously to Guernsey! Echoes of Time is available for purchase here and although it is book five in the series all Anne’s books can be read as stand alone stories. All of Anne’s lovely stories are available here.

Echoes of Time

Betrayal, injustice and revenge echo down the years…

1940. Olive marries farmer Bill Falla. The Germans occupy Guernsey.
All too soon Olive realises she’s made a mistake.
Her life changes when she meets Wolfgang, a German officer-
but there’s a price to pay. . .

2010. Natalie Ogier returns to Guernsey to escape an abusive relationship – only to be plagued by odd happenings in her beautiful cottage on the site of a derelict and secluded farm. Disturbing dreams, disembodied voices and uncanny visions from the past. She becomes increasingly ill at ease as someone else’s past catches up with her own…
Her only immediate neighbour, Stuart, is the grandson of the original owners, Bill and Olive.

Thrown together in a bid to find out what really happened to Olive, can they each survive the repercussions of the past and move on?

An Interview with Anne Allen

Hello Anne. Congratulations of today’s publication of Echoes of Time. Thank you so much for agreeing to answer some questions on my blog about your writing.

Firstly, please could you tell readers a little about yourself?

I live in Devon, by my beloved sea. I have three grown-up children and my daughter and two grandchildren live nearby. I was born in Rugby, to an English mother and Welsh father. As a result I spent many summers with my Welsh grandparents in Anglesey and learnt to love the sea.  My restless spirit has meant a number of moves which included Spain for a couple of years. The longest stay was in Guernsey for nearly fourteen years after falling in love with the island and the people. I contrived to leave one son behind to ensure a valid reason for frequent returns. My other son lives in London which is great for city breaks.

By profession I was a psychotherapist but have now retired to write full-time. At the back of my mind the itch to write was always present but seemed too time-consuming for a single mum with a need to earn a living. I’ve now published five books in The Guernsey Novels series and mapped out the story for the sixth, due out in 2017.

When did you first realise you were going to be a writer?

Ten years ago I finally decided to pick up my pen after being ‘pushed’ by my mother to enter a true-life story contest run by Prima magazine. To my delight and surprise I won! The prize was £500 of M&S vouchers and a boost to my confidence as a writer. I started my first novel, Dangerous Waters, at that time but it wasn’t until 2012 that it was published.

If you hadn’t become an author, what would you have done instead as a creative outlet?

Over the years I’d had many creative ‘itches’, learning to mosaic, paint furniture, interior design and sculpt. So there’s never been a shortage of creative outlets!

How do you carry out the research for your novels?

Anything to do with contemporary Guernsey has been quite easy as I lived there for so long. I also make frequent trips over to refresh my memory and catch up with my son and friends and do a spot of research. My work as a therapist has helped with the issues raised in my stories, such as tragedy or adoption. All the books reference the German Occupation in some way and I’ve completed a large amount of research on that period. Fortunately there’s a mass of documents and books available and I’ve been lucky to talk to islanders who lived through it.

Which aspects of your writing do you find easiest and most difficult?

The easiest is writing the outline of the story and the hardest is filling in the gaps.

(Oh, I know that feeling Anne!)

What are your writing routines and where do you do most of your writing?

I’m a bit of a procrastinator so don’t start writing until I’ve completed essential tasks such as checking on Facebook, twitter and anything else that doesn’t require too much effort. Then the all-important coffee has to be made and drunk…By late morning I’m ready to work and will continue, if the Muse is willing, until early evening with a break for lunch.

I write in my study as I use my PC. I used to write by hand and then type it up, but after a problem with my right hand which involved an operation, I only write the brief outlines of each chapter before typing. And I can’t cope with noise and distractions so would never be able to write in a café or on a train.

(I think it’s the lot of many writers to procrastinate and social media is a great way to do so, so you’re in great company Anne.)

When you’re not writing, what do you like to read?

My choice is quite eclectic. I enjoy historical fiction such as the books by CJ Sansom and a mix of contemporary fiction including the works of Erica James and Robert Goddard. I like stories with depth and plots which make me think. But I’m happy to try new authors!

Do you have other interests that give you ideas for writing?

Well, I love dramas on television and visiting the theatre and museums and probably, unconsciously, pick up ideas from these.

Which of your characters would you most like to be and why?

Jeanne, from Dangerous Waters, as I fell in love with her man, Nick.

If one of your books became a film, which would you choose and why?

Readers have told me they think Dangerous Waters would make a great film as it’s particularly visual and even includes a police car chase. I’m just waiting for the film rights offers…

(Fingers crossed!)

How important do you think social media is to authors in today’s society?

It’s invaluable. Authors now have the opportunity to interact directly with their readers and vice versa, unheard of in the past. The worldwide reach of Facebook and twitter, for example, brings authors closer to their readers who can buy their books in any country in today’s digital society. I tend to use it for promotion, particularly if I have a new book launching or a price discount.

If you had 15 words to persuade a reader that a Guernsey Novels book should be their next read, what would you say?

If you love beautiful settings, a mix of love, mystery and drama then you’ll be hooked!

Is there anything else you would have liked to be asked?

I’d like to point out that although my books form a series, each story is a standalone and could be read out of sequence. However, they are linked by characters who keep popping up, meaning if you don’t want to know what happened to them too soon, it’s better to read them in order. Just saying! Oh, and book 5, Echoes of Time, is out on 15^th August.

Thank you so much, Anne, for your time in answering my questions.

About Anne Allen

Anne was born in Rugby to a Welsh father and an English mother. As a result she spent many summers with her Welsh grandparents in Anglesey and learnt to love the sea. Now she is based in Devon to be near her daughter and 2 small grandchildren. Her restless spirit has meant a number of moves, the longest stay being in Guernsey for nearly fourteen years after falling in love with the island and the people. She contrived to leave one son behind to ensure a valid reason for frequent returns. Her younger son is based in London – ideal for city breaks.

You can visit Anne’s website, her Amazon Author Page and find her on Facebook. You can also follow Anne on Twitter.

As the summer rolls on, what better way to enjoy it than with a brand new e-book, Wicked Summer, by Roma Brooks out today 15th August 2016. Wicked Summer is available for purchase on Amazon UK and Amazon US.

To celebrate Wicked Summer’s release. Roma Brooks has kindly agreed to a guest post on Linda’s Book Bag, all about two things we really need – food and families.

Wicked Summer

Wicked Summer follows the Bloom family as they spend a once in a lifetime vacation at Cape Harriet, a charming seaside town on Virginia’s scenic Eastern Shore.

All Mary Bloom ever wanted was to celebrate her 60th birthday at the beach. The extended Bloom family converges at the Rising Tides Inn, where their slightest whim is catered to.

Forty something Iris is the perfect suburban mom, holding her four kids and husband on a tight leash. 36 year old Hyacinth is single, successful and the self-proclaimed brains of the family. At 26, Poppy is a top travel blogger, wandering across countries most people only dream of visiting.

The rivalry among the sisters is as strong as ever, and each sister is dealing with it in her own way. So while Iris taunts and needles, Hyacinth takes the high road and shows disdain. Poppy suffers silently, lost in her own inner turmoil. None of them has an inkling of the storm that is about to break loose in their lives.

Soft shell crabs and salt marshes will be forgotten as shocking secrets are revealed. Everyone seems to be guilty of hiding something.

Set in idyllic Cape Harriet, Wicked Summer takes the reader on a thrilling roller coaster ride with plenty of laughs, tears and intrigue with heart warming moments, scrumptious food and never a dull moment.

Of Scrumptious Food, Sparring Families and Cape Harriet

A Guest Post by Roma Brooks

Family is something I hold very dear to my heart. I am convinced that the love within families is what makes the world go round. This is the one thing that is a constant no matter where you are in the world, no matter what your ethnic background. We may aspire for great things in life, from the material to the very sublime, but none of our achievements have any meaning without family.

I created Cape Harriet to be a very positive, feel good type of place. With a former chef and inn keeper as a main character, food was bound to play a big part in the series. That doesn’t mean bad things don’t happen there. In Clipper Beach, Book 1 in the series, we read about the tragic history of the eponymous Harriet. We also read about the grief the Strathmores are living with every day of their lives.

Wicked Summer is the story of yet another family, the Blooms. The Blooms come to Cape Harriet for Mary Bloom’s 60^th birthday. Some come willingly, some grudgingly. They all have varying expectations. 40 something Iris and 36 year old Hyacinth are both dreading having to stay in some shady hovel. Little Danny is excited to see the ocean for the first time. 19 year old Amber’s counting days until she heads off to college. And at 26, Poppy’s training for something big. But they all seem to agree on one thing. The food! The delicious, fresh and seasonal food at the Rising Tides Inn, lovingly dished by Pete and Zadie Strathmore, the inn owners, brings the Blooms together.

As we read Wicked Summer, we come across a lot of surprises. The book begins with Poppy’s big announcement, and it seems like the tone is set after that. Every day of the week brings new shocks, some more severe than the other. At such a time, the fresh seafood – oysters, crabs, trout, flounder, and fresh garden produce – berries, vegetables and so on, bring a smile to everyone’s face. Zadie seems to think her food can solve all problems, because she turns up with a new gourmet creation at every meal.

Linguine with fresh clams, chocolate chip pancakes with caramel sauce, cobblers, tacos and of course, pimento cheese, are just the tip of the iceberg. If that sounds run of the mill, foodie readers are in for another treat with the Cape Harriet Summer Festival.

So if the thought of hand churned ice cream and creamy chowder makes you smile, if barbecues on the beach alongside crashing waves make you nostalgic, come to Cape Harriet for a Wicked Summer.

To find out more about Cape Harriet, Wicked Summer and Roma Brooks, follow the author on Twitter.

My enormous thanks to Elizabeth Preston at Simon and Schuster UK for a copy of Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley in return for an honest review. Lily and the Octopus was published on 14th July 2016 and is available for purchase from Amazon UK, Amazon US, W H Smith, Waterstones, Barnes and Noble and all good book sellers.

Lily and the Octopus

Companions come in all shapes and sizes.
Companionship lasts forever.

Lily and the Octopus is a novel about finding that special someone to share your life with.
For Ted Flask, that someone is Lily, and she happens to be a dog.
This novel reminds us how to love fiercely, how difficult it can be to let go and how the fight for those we love is the greatest fight of all.

Reminiscent of The Life of Pi and The Art of Racing in the Rain, with spins into magic realism and beautifully evoked universal truths of love, loyalty and loss, a hilariously sardonic and not altogether reliable narrator, and one unforgettable hound who simple wisdom will break your heart and put it back together again, Lily and the Octopus captures the search for meaning in death and introduces a dazzling new voice in fiction.

My review of Lily and the Octopus

Lily and the Octopus is just a story about a man, Ted Flask, who loves his dog, Lily. There are really only a few characters explored, the Dachshund Lily, the narrator Ted and the ‘octopus’. It ought to have a high ‘So what?’ factor and yet it is so much more in a beautifully poignant, heart wrenching tale of love, loss and grief that I could relate to completely. Substitute my Dad for Lily as we deal with his own octopus, a recent devastating stroke, and every word felt like an echo of my very soul.

Steven Rowley writes with such passion in an allegorical, mystical and compelling manner. The narrator, Ted, is not altogether truthful and reliable at times and there are passages of surprising violence, but this only serves to underline the gut wrenching emotion he is feeling. There is rage, sorrow, anger and the deepest of love that is so all encompassing that towards the end I read with tears (or eye rain) streaming down my face. As well as Ted’s connection with Lily, we get to see a real man; one who struggles with a range of relationships with family, friends and potential boyfriends so that it is impossible not to want the best for him, to want to hold and comfort him too.

Alongside this emotion is also lightness of touch and humour. Self effacing and aware of his own ridiculousness the first person narrator is not above a wry and sarcastic turn of phrase. I found the writing really effective. The variety of sentence length, the vibrancy of the present tense, the naturalness of the dialogue, the touches of description all combine in a vibrant new voice that I think will be a huge success. Comparisons have been made with other writers and books but I think this is erroneous. Steven Rowley has a unique style of his own that is almost impossible to define. I cannot recommend Lily and the Octopus highly enough. To quote Lily I! LOVE! IT!

You can find out more about Steven Rowley on his website, on Facebook and by following him on Twitter.

Once again I’m thrilled to be supporting Brook Cottage Books in spotlighting a smashing book. This time it is Before You by Kathryn Freeman and I have my review below. A contemporary romance, Before You was published by Choc Lit on 7th June 2016 and is available for purchase on Amazon UK and Amazon US.

Kathryn recently featured on Linda’s Book Bag with a guest post all about how writing what you know isn’t always easy and you can read that post here.

Before You

When life in the fast lane threatens to implode …

Melanie Hunt’s job working for the Delta racing team means she is constantly rubbing shoulders with Formula One superstars in glamorous locations like Monte Carlo. But she has already learned that keeping a professional distance is crucial if she doesn’t want to get hurt.

New Delta team driver Aiden Foster lives his life like he drives his cars – fast and hard. But, no matter how successful he is, it seems he always falls short of his championship-winning father’s legacy. If he could just stay focused, he could finally make that win.

Resolve begins to slip as Melanie and Aiden find themselves drawn to each other –with nowhere to hide as racing season begins. But when a troubled young boy goes missing, everything is thrown into turmoil, including Aiden’s championship dream.

My Review of Before You

Having previously had her heart broken by one racing driver, press officer Mel has no intention of getting involved with playboy Aiden as he joins the Delta team.

Before You is a smashing romantic read. The glamorous world of F1 motor racing makes for an interesting and engaging backdrop for the romance and I have a much greater understanding of how that world works as a result of reading this story.

The characters of Mel and Aiden in particular are really well drawn and even the more minor participants like Frank are realistic and lifelike. The backstories have been well thought out so that readers get a real sense of who they are and how they have become the people presented in the story. Kathryn Freeman has a lovely touch when describing sexual moments so that there is an eroticism and sensuality without the language being overly explicit or saccharine. She also writes completely natural and engaging dialogue.

I found the plot raced along as the love interest between Mel and Aiden developed and was challenged by others and circumstances. I was never entirely certain what the outcome might be, which led to a greater satisfaction in the reading.

The only minor complaint I have is that I would have liked a little more detail about the exotic locations of the races as, even though they are not essential to the narrative, they do add to the picture of the F1 world and I love travel and finding out about new locations.

Before You is an ideal read to escape the mundanity of life into the glamorous arena of motor racing where drivers are flawed, handsome and sexy. I really enjoyed it.

About Kathryn Freeman

Kathryn was born in Wallingford, England but has spent most of her life living in a village near Windsor. After studying pharmacy in Brighton she began her working life as a retail pharmacist. She quickly realised that trying to decipher doctor’s handwriting wasn’t for her and left to join the pharmaceutical industry where she spent twenty happy years working in medical communications. In 2011, backed by her family, she left the world of pharmaceutical science to begin life as a self-employed writer, juggling the two disciplines of medical writing and romance. Some days a racing heart is a medical condition, others it’s the reaction to a hunky hero…

With two teenage boys and a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to bother buying a card again this year (yes, he does) the romance in her life is all in her head. Then again, her husband’s unstinting support of her career change goes to prove that love isn’t always about hearts and flowers – and heroes can come in many disguises.

 You can follow Kathryn on Facebook, on Twitter and visit her website.

Click here to enter to win a paperback copy of Search for the Truth, another of Kathryn’s lovely books.

I’m delighted to be bringing you one of the first glimpses of A.J Waines’ latest novel Inside the Whispers, the first in a new series featuring Dr Samantha Willerby. I read A.J Waines’ wonderful No Longer Safe a while ago and you can see my review here. Inside the Whispers will be released in e-book and paperback on October 20th 2016 and the e-book is available for pre-order on Amazon UK and Amazon US or your local Amazon site.

I’m also ridiculously excited to find myself quoted on the back cover!

Inside the Whispers

Where the most Dangerous place – is inside your own head…

Following a London Tube disaster, three traumatised survivors turn to clinical psychologist, Dr Samantha Willerby, for help – but she’s mystified when their stories don’t add up. Her confusion turns to horror when one by one, instead of recovering, they start committing suicide.

When her partner, Conrad, begins to suffer the same terrifying flashbacks, Sam is desperate to find out what is causing them and a mysterious and chilling crime begins to unravel.

Then the flashbacks begin for Sam…

The first book in the Dr Samantha Willerby Series, INSIDE THE WHISPERS is a tense, haunting Psychological Thriller that will leave your nerves in shreds.

Inside the Whispers is available for pre-order here.

 About A. J. Waines

AJ Waines topped the UK and Australian Kindle Charts in 2015 with her number one bestseller, Girl on a Train. Following fifteen years as a psychotherapist, she is now a full-time novelist with publishing deals in France, Germany (Penguin Random House) and USA (audiobook).

Her first novel, The Evil Beneath, went to Number One in ‘Murder’ and ‘Psychological Thrillers’ in the UK Kindle Charts and Dark Place to Hide stayed for several weeks at Number One in ‘Vigilante Justice’. In 2015, she was featured in The Wall Street Journal and The Times and was ranked in the Top 20 UK authors on Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing).

You can follow A J Waines on Twitter, on Facebook, on her blog and by newsletter.