The Around The World Book Trip is a partnership between TripFiction and #BookConnectors ~ bloggers and authors, travelling the world, through fiction.

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We are starting in the UK in Scotland.

My guest on the blog is Elisabeth Gifford whose books are set in the Scottish islands.

Elisabeth Gifford grew up in a vicarage in the industrial Midlands. She has an MA in Creative Writing from Royal Holloway College. She has published the biography of a couple who rescue abandoned orphans in China. She has two novels out with Corvus Atlantic, ‘Secrets of the Sea House’ and ‘Return to Fourwinds’ and is writing a third which will be a novelisation of true events in Warsaw during WW2. She and her husband, a Scot and a cartoonist and illustrator, live in Kingston upon Thames.

Here Elisabeth tells us how she feels about Harris, its people and culture and the inspiration for ‘Secrets of the Sea House’.

‘Secrets of the Sea House’ is set in the Hebrides on Harris, one of the most remote parts of Scotland. Even when you have crossed the long bridge from the mainland over to Skye and then made the long drive to the far side of the island to Uig harbour, you still have a good hour and a half at sea on a CalMac Ferry before you get to Harris. For me, Harris begins on the ferry, the smudge of purple across the sea turning to land, fish and chips in the café and hearing snatches of Gaelic from nearby tables, hoping to spot dolphins or basking sharks as you pass tiny volcanic islands. The ferry docks in Tarbert, a town that would be called a village anywhere else, the boat standing as tall as the buildings.

We always feel a mounting excitement driving across Harris towards the first view of Luskentyre estuary, white and turquoise in the sun. Beyond are agate mountains, the wild and isolated bays of Huishinish and some serious hiking out into otherwise inaccessible hills and coastline. Today, we head down the west coast to Borve and a string of breath-taking white beaches, windswept and empty for most of the year except for gangs of bandit sheep. The unique Machair soil along the west coast is incredibly fertile, peat mixed with Atlantic shell sand, giving a thick pelt of wildflowers in summer, or barley and potato rigs if the land is still cultivated. After the clearances, the villages were left to sheep, but in a low light you can still see the lines of raised potato beds that corrugate the once populated grassy sweeps. It was while reading about the clearances that the voice of Moira began to speak up. She had a lot to say.

You pass through Scarista village with manse and church where spine tingling Gaelic psalming is still sung at Gaelic services. The Manse is now a bijou hotel where we have had some magical meals overlooking the sea. Reverend Alexander came from trips to the Huntley museum with its glass jar specimens in Glasgow and from visits to Edinburgh where Darwin first explored his theories of evolution. I saw Alexander living in the Manse, facing out to the Atlantic, and far too handsome for his own good.

Down in Northton village at the end of Scarista bay, Bill and Christine Lawson run Seallam, a genealogy tracing service for the many descendants of the clearance diaspora. Bill and Christine also stage fascinating exhibitions about Harris and St Kilda and run a far too tempting bookshop.

At the foot of the island Strond has ethereal views across to the Uists. Gaelic folk singer Julie Fowlis is from Uist and she sang some of the old Uist songs about sea people for the launch of ‘Secrets of the Sea House’ in Glasgow.

Facing towards Skye, on a peninsula of the greenest of hills, is the tiny Rodel Cathedral. Inside are carvings of medieval knights and ancient birlinn boats built according to the island’s Viking heritage. Most high points on the island still carry a Viking name, from a time when they were used by incoming invaders as navigation points.

Turning northwards along the east coat you join the narrow and twisting golden road, named for the colour of the peat moors in winter, and because it cost the council so much to build back in the thirties. Here the landscape is very different.  Gneiss rock – the oldest in Britain – lies exposed by weather in sheets of silver grey. To your right, the Minch glints silver and blue according to the weather. The bays are often filled with sleeping seals and you’ll find several cafes and artists’ studios tucked away.

Minch Light by Willie Fulton

We head for a very special place, the Drinishader gallery of William and Moira Fulton who paint the ever- changing moods and colours of Harris and St Kilda. The Fulton’s art gallery was once a cottage for holiday lets. We were so lucky to stay there on our first visit to Harris and returned there several times for a family holiday that was part adventure and part spiritual restoration as we sailed on the Minch, drank peaty whisky overlooking the sea, read by the fire or surfed over on the west side beaches. Willie and Moira told us wonderful stories about their life in a Hebridean village over the past few decades, and gave permission to use some of those village stories as an inspiration for the book. I wanted to try and capture that moment in the island’s history when crofting was still a mainstay of island life.

Time, of course, never stands still. Willie knew we would cry a bit when he told us he was going to convert the cottage to an art gallery. Of course there are other wonderful cottages for holiday lets on Harris, we’ve stayed in so many, but none will ever have the magic of that walk ‘home’ along to Willie’s gallery in Drinishader. If you are in Harris, do the walk from the gate by the sea to the gallery and you’ll understand.

Because Harris and Lewis are so remote they remain one of the UK’s last strongholds of Scots Gaelic. They welcome incomers who want to make a life in the islands, but retain their Gaelic culture of deep crofting and fishing roots, of rugged self-sufficiency, of spirituality and kindness. We loved hearing some great Gaelic and Celtic bands and singers at the Hebridean Celtic Festival in Lewis, and loved almost as much its designated porridge van, and the fried Haggis and chips.

The best compliment I can get is when people who know Harris tell me that the book reflects the islands, or that reading it feels as if they were really there. It’s my attempt to hold on to a very special place and its history, so it can be passed on – and treasured. The Hebrides’ unique culture is vibrant but fragile. The islands face pressure from from overseas, automated fish farm corporations that employ no locals, and who risk spoiling the pristine water in the bays with effluent. There’s inevitably pressure from wealthy retirees who want to plonk a loud holiday house in the middle of a very special landscape, sometimes contributing little to the island economy and its Gaelic speaking families. Tweed weaving is coming back, a new whisky distillery is planned, but the islands need a louder voice to protect livelihoods and prevent the slipping away of a unique heritage.

Mill race stones, ancient dwellings, rusting tractors, all get left where they fell for years, for decades and for centuries in Harris, giving a feeling of continuity and active history. In Lewis, the atmospheric Callanish standing stones are as old as Stonehenge.

There’s a rich heritage of island literature also. After finding his book on Selkie myths and mermaid sightings in a Harris gift shop, I met with Gaelic historian and seaman John MacAulay. He gave permission for me to base the novel on his research into the history that lies behind the mysterious sea people legends that are so prevalent in Scotland and the Isles. A few years later, it was the most tremendous pleasure to visit the arts centre in Stornoway for the Hebridean book festival and give a joint talk with John MacAulay about The Sea House and the true history behind the selkies.

I would like to thank Elisabeth for such an inspiring guest post. I now want to visit Harris for myself.

However, even if I haven’t been to Harris, I have read ‘Secrets of the Sea House’ which was shortlisted for the Historical Writers’ Association’s Debut Crown For Best First Historical Novel. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Here are my thoughts:

On the Scottish island of Harris, Ruth and Michael have bought the dilapidated Sea House in the hope of creating a bed and breakfast they can run with the help of Michael’s brother Jamie and Jamie’s girlfriend Leaf. However, both the Sea House and Ruth have secrets to uncover leading them back into the past and the life of Reverend Alexander Ferguson over a century before in the 1860s.

I thought ‘Secrets of the Sea House’ was a wonderful narrative. Based around the legends of the sea folk, Elisabeth Gifford leads the reader back and forth in time like the waves of the sea itself. The writing is hypnotic.

With several narrators, including Ruth, Alexander and his servant Moira, each has a distinct voice adding layer upon layer of understanding and depth to the story. Articles from newspapers, stories within stories and letters give detail and colour to make for a hugely satisfying read.

All the characters are complex and real and the reader learns to uncover and accept the past in tune with Ruth’s own discoveries. The echoes of the past reverberate through the decades so all the way through I wondered whether history would repeat itself as Ruth’s depression seems to mirror that of her mother.

One of the most beautiful elements for me is the way in which Elisabeth Gifford creates a sense of place. Her descriptions are beautiful and it is so easy to get an image of Scotland and its islands from her writing.

‘Secrets of the Sea House’ is meticulously researched and raises several philosophical questions about how we deal with our past, with mental illness, our beliefs and our roles in life. However, above all else it is a mesmerising and thoroughly entertaining read. I loved it.

‘Secrets of the Sea House’ is published by Corvus, an imprint of Atlantic Books and can be bought here along with Elisabeth’s other books.

I’m reading ‘Return to Fourwinds’ next.

You can follow Elisabeth on Facebook on her website and on Twitter

I am grateful to Laura Stevens at Ago Publishing for providing a copy of ‘the Morning After Memoirs’ by Kate Michaels in return for an honest review. It was published on 14th July 2015.

When Jess wakes up on New Year’s Day not knowing quite where she is and lying next to a man she realises is Not-Ben, her world is about to implode. Her boyfriend Ben leaves her, her friends can’t fix her and her parents don’t seem to care, although they do offer a studio in their garage as a place to live. It’s up to 29 year old Jess to get her own life back in order. The trouble is, Jess is her own worst enemy and as she approaches her 30th birthday, finding an appropriate man seems ever more impossible.

‘The Morning After Memoirs’ is a quick, fun and enjoyable read. It will appeal to those who enjoy a sassy protagonist who tries (usually unsuccessfully) to find a sexual partner. It reminded me of the original Bridget Jones book in lots of ways.

I found the pace fast and the writing witty and entertaining, but after a while it became rather repetitive. There was an established cycle of Jess getting drunk, trying to find someone to have sex with and then realising that they were not the right man after all so that I found myself wanting more variety in the action and more development of character.

It might be the formatting of an e-book, or for effect in injecting pace, but I prefer direct speech set out with new lines for new speakers so that it is easier to follow conversations, rather than in continuous prose within paragraphs.

I did enjoy the read as it is fun and entertaining, but think ‘The Morning After Memoirs’ would be better suited for those who love reality television programmes like TOWIE and who perhaps are a younger demographic than me!

I am enormously grateful to Emma Knight at Hodder for my advanced reader copy of ‘My Everything’ by Katie Marsh in return for an honest review. ‘My Everything’ is published by Hodder in paperback on 27th August 2015.

Trapped in a marriage that is no longer working, Hannah is about to tell Tom she is leaving him to teach in Tanzania, but just as she is to do so, 32 year old Tom suffers a life changing stroke and their lives immediately take a course they could not have imagined.

I’m always somewhat sceptical when books are described as ‘heartwarming’, but ‘My Everything’ fits that epithet perfectly. I thought it was a gorgeous read, packing an emotional punch without being contrived or sugary. It had me in floods of tears by the end. I found it a realistic portrayal of how life can turn suddenly and I totally empathised with the characters of Tom and Hannah as my own husband had a mini-stroke at a relatively young age too – though I wasn’t planning on leaving him at the time!

Katie Marsh translates the frustrations and feelings of guilt, anger, bitterness and hope of stroke victims and their families so well whilst at the same time creating a narrative that flows and develops perfectly, drawing in the reader to experience those feelings too. I think the reduced number of characters helps this intimacy, giving readers a chance to know them fully. It took me a long time to feel positively towards Tom’s sister Julie, for example, but as her character was revealed and expanded so too were my sympathies. At times I was so immersed in the emotion of the text that I forgot I was reading a work of fiction.

‘My Everything’ is a lovely story, but it also reminds us to make the most of our lives, to live our dreams and remind ourselves frequently of who we really are. I’d recommend it as a read for anyone who loves someone, and, more importantly, to anyone who thinks perhaps they no longer love someone. Reading ‘My Everything’ might just change your perception of what you really want in life. I can’t praise it highly enough.

It was lovely to be able to attend the first ever Roof Top Book Club (@RoofTopBookclub) on Wednesday 19th August with support from Team Bookends (@TeamBookends) and James Villa Holidays (@jamesvillasuk).

Many of the hard working publicists were there making sure we all had a really good evening. The audience comprised fans, other authors (like @LaurieEllingham) and bloggers so there was plenty of talk about books!

The stars of the show were three wonderful authors Tasmina Perry, Stella Newman and Jo Thomas who entertained us with some very revealing stories concerning food, mime artists and three legged cats.

We heard about their writing routines, their holiday packing tips, which of their characters they might like to murder and what we can see coming up in the future. They graciously chatted to us all individually too, signing books for us.

Their latest books are brilliant:

With nibbles, goody bags and cocktails it was a perfect evening.

Meet Jo Thomas on Facebook

Follow Stella Newman’s blog

See Tasmina’s website

Published on 13th August 2015 in paperback, Ava Marsh’s novel ‘Untouchable’ is one of the best books I’ve read this year. Set in the sex trade with a high class call girl as a protagonist ‘Untouchable’ raises some important questions and I was delighted to be able to ask Ava about how she came to write a story based on what can be a socially taboo subject. I think you’ll agree, there are some interesting answers:

This is a socially difficult topic. Why did you choose to write about the sex trade?

I’m intrigued by people who live outside the normal parameters of society, I suppose; people whose perspective on the world differs from most of ours. I was curious, too, about what insights they would have, as high-class escorts, into the hidden worlds of the rich and powerful.

I’m also interested in society’s attitude to sex work – why are we so judgemental about it? I think a lot of it is still largely to do with the taboo around female promiscuity. In many ways Untouchable explores whether someone can be a ‘bad girl’ in the eyes of wider society, but fundamentally a very good, moral person. That’s the paradox we live with: we can have very corrupt people in positions of great power – just look at all the recent accusations of sexual abuse by celebrities and politicians – and very decent, kind people who are written off as debauched and immoral because they work in a profession we don’t approve of.

How did you carry out your research for the book?

I’m an ex-journalist, so very used to digging up info on all sorts of things. There’s plenty out there – escorts can be quite a loquacious bunch. Many are actually proud of what they do, and pleased to talk about it, online or otherwise. And yes, I have known people in the business and they’ve been very open with me about their experiences.

Was there a particular message you hope readers would get from reading ‘Untouchable?’

Absolutely. I hope they would see that most of the women – and indeed the male clients – are just ordinary people. They’re not necessarily bad or depraved. A lot of women who go into sex work have come to the eminently practical decision that they enjoy sex and need money, so why not combine the two?

Grace/Stella is a highly educated woman. How important was it to you to show the variety of women within the sex trade?

Very important. The escorts I’ve met are all intelligent, university-educated women who’ve taken it up for sound reasons. I was chatting about this once to a male psychotherapist, who said, ‘yeah, I know another therapist who escorts on the side.’ It’s more common than people realise because, quite understandably, women tend to keep it quiet.

I also wanted to combat the idea that all women involved in escorting are drug-dependent, trafficked, have a history of sexual abuse, or are controlled by pimps. Yes, that might well be more true at the lower end, but it is only one perspective on sex work. Happy hookers are not entirely a myth.

This is very much a book from a female perspective. Do you think a male writer would have taken a different approach and how might they have written Grace’s story? 

Very difficult for me to say. Men tend to be consumers in the sex trade equation, though of course there are male escorts as well. (Actually a story from that perspective could be very interesting too *makes notes*) I guess male writers might be more tempted to portray prostitutes simply as desperate victims, rather than intelligent women with agency over their own lives, but I’m wary of generalising.

The story is multilayered. How did you go about plotting it? Did you have everything organised before you wrote, or did some of the narrative evolve naturally?

Half and half. I planned the main plot elements, then set about writing, which inevitably threw up different ideas or problems, so I had to go back to the drawing board every now and then and rethink things.

I was always clear on Grace’s perspective on the world, but it took me a while to dig down to her backstory. I remember the idea for her former career – forensic psychologist –popping into my head from nowhere. I had to Google it to make sure there was such a thing, and if so, what exactly they did. It’s very odd when things happen like that; I can’t even begin to explain it rationally.

You don’t flinch from sexual detail. What was it like to write those scenes?

I know a lot of writers struggle with sex scenes, but I don’t mind them. Sex is like anything else, as far as I’m concerned – just something people do and you can describe. But I guess it helps to be in the mindset of a character who sees sex as completely ordinary and everyday – it takes away the embarrassment factor.

I suppose the most difficult thing is judging where to stop. You don’t want to go too far. The sex in Untouchable isn’t meant to be erotic, so I don’t want it to feel gratuitous.

Do you have other challenging themes that you will be writing about in the future?

Yes! My next book, Exposure, focuses on the porn industry – another closed, taboo, and in many ways much darker world. I’ve been reading a lot of ‘porn memoirs’, getting a feel for what it must be like working in adult films. As a writer, inhabiting the head of a porn star is much more challenging, because most of the girls working in porn are very young and in many respects have a far more naïve world view than Grace in Untouchable.

Huge thanks to Ava for providing such detailed responses.

I can’t wait to read Ava’s next novel, ‘Exposure’.

If you would like to read my review of ‘Untouchable’ you can find it here.

You can follow Ava on Twitter or her website and there is more about Ava’s brilliant book here:

Shelia O’Flanagan is one of my favourite novelists so having loved Sheila’s ‘My Mother’s Secret’ I am delighted to help celebrate her 20th novel by bringing you a guest post from Sheila about the inspiration behind the story.

Inspiration for My Mother’s Secret

As my regular readers already know, I’m very interested in families and the dynamics of family relationships. ‘My Mother’s Secret’ deals with how well we think we know the people close to us. Children especially tend not to think of their parents’ lives before they were born and forget that they too were young and foolish.

I also wondered about how keeping a secret from those closest to you can influence your life and everyone else’s and what happens when eventually it comes to light.

I wanted to write about all of these things in an extended family setting and that’s how I came up with the idea of a surprise party where the surprise is bigger than anyone expected. And I loved delving into the past to show the impact that the decisions made had on family members over the years, and especially on the day of the party. My Mother’s Secret has more characters than most of my books and it was fun to have to many different voices and personalities to deal with – just like at a real party!

You can read my review of ‘My Mother’s Secret’  here:

My Mother’s Secret by Sheila O’Flanagan

You can follow the rest of the anniversary celebrations here:

Sheila is on Facebook and on Twitter 

I was delighted to receive a copy of ‘Untouchable’ for review from Sophie Christopher at Penguin Random House. It is published today in paperback by Corgi.

Stella, whose real name is Grace, is a high class call girl with wealthy clients and a seemingly good life. But Grace has a past and when a fellow prostitute is murdered she finds the past has a nasty habit of creeping up and mingling with a dangerous present.

I found ‘Untouchable’ completely compelling reading. At times my heart was genuinely racing as I didn’t know what the outcome would be in several of the situations. The plot is so skilfully constructed that it surprises and wriggles away from the reader just as you think you have an understanding of what exactly is happening. References to Grace’s past build throughout the text in a subplot of intrigue that adds layers of interest to what is, already, a gripping read.

Highly explicit at times, the sexual nature of the writing never feels gratuitous, but rather essential to comprehending Stella’s world. It is highly erotic and effective.

I thought all the characters, even the most minor ones, had depth and detail so that they became real people and not mere tools to progress a plot. Grace/Stella made me question my own attitudes and expectations of those working within the sex trade. Her first person voice is so strong and compelling and yet she has a vulnerability that is not entirely uncovered and explained until the very end of the book, making for an amazingly good read.

I thought ‘Untouchable’ could be enjoyed on many levels. It is an excellent erotic crime thriller but there are philosophical themes to ponder too. Reading Ava Marsh’s work made me wonder about the nature of guilt and blame, about what really happens in the corridors of power and who actually holds the key to our own happiness. ‘Untouchable’ may be totally entertaining, but it is also thought provoking.

For me, ‘Untouchable’ is one of the best thrillers I have read and, indeed, one of the best books I have come across in a long time.

Having read ‘Untouchable’ I am thrilled to be bringing an interview with Ava Marsh here on the blog on 20th August.

 

It is my very great pleasure to bring you Sharon Struth’s book ‘Share the Moon’. You can find out about the book, about Sharon, read two excerpts and enter to win a $10 Amazon voucher here:

“Heart-tugging small town romance with real emotion. Struth is an author to watch!” — Laura Drake, author of RITA-award winning The Sweet Spot

Sometimes trust is the toughest lesson to learn.

Sophie Shaw is days away from signing a contract that will fulfill her dream of owning a vineyard. For her, it’s a chance to restart her life and put past tragedies to rest. But Duncan Jamieson’s counter offer blows hers out to sea.

Duncan still finds Sophie as appealing as he had during boyhood vacations to the lake. Older and wiser now, he has his own reasons for wanting the land. His offer, however, hinges on a zoning change approval.

Bribery rumors threaten the deal and make Sophie wary of Duncan, yet she cannot deny his appeal. When her journalistic research uncovers a Jamieson family secret, trust becomes the hardest lesson for them both.

About the Author:

“Sharon Struth has woven a tale of suspicion, mystery and the complete emotional breakdown of two people searching for love and restoration of their past lives. The plot is refreshing and will definitely keep the reader turning page after page. SHARE THE MOON is a book that restores faith in human nature and the ability to again find love.” –Fresh Fiction

Sharon Struth is an award-winning author who believes it’s never too late for a second chance in love or life. When she’s not writing, she and her husband happily sip their way through the scenic towns of the Connecticut Wine Trail. Sharon writes from the small town of Bethel, Connecticut, the friendliest place she’s ever lived.

I’m delighted to be able to share two excerpts from Sharon with you:

Excerpt Number 1:

“Now, gently swirl the wine.” A slight twist of Sophie’s wrist rotated the glass.

Duncan copied her moves, realizing she made the gesture fluid, easier than his attempts.

“This gives the molecules a little nudge to entertain us. I mean, who doesn’t like to be entertained.” She waved a playful brow. “Once you get them moving, stick your nose up close and take a whiff.”

Sophie brought her straight nose close to the rim. Her lids dropped, as if prepared to receive a scent from heaven. She inhaled. Passion-filled concentration dominated her expression, leaving him mesmerized, unable to stop watching even as he lifted his own glass. He copied her movements, contemplating the aroma in a way he’d never done before.

When he opened his eyes, she’d been watching. “Anything stand out?”

He took a second, shorter whiff. “Pepper, I think.”

Her mouth turned into a half-surprised, half-pleased smile. “Very good.”

A sensation fluttered in his gut, her approval an unexpected joy.

 ”I smelled some kind of berry too. Now take a decent taste. Let the liquid coat your entire mouth. It’ll feel different on your tongue versus the roof of your mouth or the inside of your cheeks. There are all kinds of hidden flavors. Some bold, others more subtle.”

She brought the glass to her lips then stopped, leaned across the counter, and placed her soft palm over the hand where he held the glass. A sweet floral scent drifted from her hair. She dropped her voice, now low and sexy. “A ready guy like you should take your time with this one.” She cocked a loaded brow. “Really work hard and you’ll detect the wine’s secrets.”

Heat crept up his neck again.

The microwave buzzer sounded but she kept her gaze on him as she tipped back her goblet. Her full lips brushed the rim with the delicate touch of a first kiss.

 Excerpt Number 2:

“I treat reporting the old-fashioned way. I only got your story in the first place because—”

He raised his palm. “My accusation wasn’t fair. Listen, I’m sorry to have outbid you on the land so close to the closing date. A pure business decision and not personal.”

“I never thought it was. Besides, the land isn’t yours yet.” Her brows arched.

“Point taken.”

“For the record, though, I write news. Not opinion pieces. I want to clear up any misconceptions since Mr. Steiner requested we put together a favorable piece.”

“I didn’t request special treatment.” He squirmed in his seat. “Write the story as you see fit.”

“Trust me. I will.”

Once again, she’d left him as winded as if he’d hit the bottom of a huge crest on a roller coaster. Her stare burned through him.

“May I switch gears?” Duncan ached to reclaim control.

“Sure.” She crossed her shapely legs.

“The other night, in the parking lot, you told me I’d never understand why you wanted the area to remain unchanged. It’s understandable you’d be unhappy about my bid. Is there something else I need to know?”

Her dark gaze averted to the tip of her jiggling foot and she blinked, making her long lashes flutter. He wanted to look, too, but didn’t want to appear as if he were checking her out again. His earlier trip past her pleasing calves and nicely rounded bottom had given him the urge to unpin her knotted hair and do something that would earn him a slap across the face. Instead, he watched her expression, now more sad than angry.

Her hand lifted to her slender neck, where her fingers slowly massaged beneath her chin. “No. Just the vineyards.” She met his gaze, but a story rested in the pain behind her empty stare.

Sophie switched topics, but the need to understand her overwhelmed him in the most unsettling way.

SHARE THE MOON, book one in the Blue Moon Lake Romances, is a finalist for a RONE Award and a Chatelaine Award for Romantic Fiction!

For more information, including where to find buy links to her novels and published essays, please visit her at the following places:

Amazon   /   Barnes & Noble   /   Kobo   /   GoogleBooks   /   iBooks​   / Amazon UK

Website

Musings from the Middle Ages

Facebook

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Enter to win a $10 Amazon voucher

“http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b0c1a5ad53/“

I was delighted to be offered a copy of ‘Anything For Her’ by the author, via Book Connectors on Facebook, in return for an honest review .

The Leighton family is in melt down. After ‘that night’ which is at the core of this book, Louise and her daughter Brooke have a secret they cannot share with anyone. Michael Leighton has problems of his own as his shady behaviour is rapidly catching up with him and when Louise discovers he’s been having an affair they think this is the end of their world. They’re wrong, there is much worse to come.

Firstly, let me say that this novel isn’t quite perfect – but it comes close. It is an absolutely brilliant first novel by a young writer who deserves to be a writing star.

From the attention grabbing opening ‘Louise has never wanted her husband to die. Until now.’ to the very end, this is a fast paced, twisting and exciting story. In fact I had something else I was supposed to be reviewing next, read the first page of ‘Anything For Her’ and had to continue because Jack Jordan’s writng was so good. Each short chapter adds to that feeling of speed and breathlessness with super hooks at the end of every one so that it is impossible not to want to read on.

The characters are well defined, humanly flawed and make the reader care about them so that the plot shocks and surprises throughout as they find themselves at the centre of a taut thriller. Descriptions make use of all the senses creating genuine scene painting. I could easily see this book as a film or television series.

The whole narrative is cleverly constructed so that what actually happened ‘that night’ between Louise and Brooke is gradually revealed as their own danger increases. Jack Jordan builds their fear so skilfully that I was desperate to know what happened next and truly shocked in places.

‘Anything For Her’ is a stunning debut novel – a fabulous book. I can’t recommend it highly enough and am desperate to read more from this writer.

You can find out more about Jack Jordan here:

Website: http://www.jackjordanofficial.co.uk

Twitter: @_JackJordan_

My sincere thanks to Kim Nash at Bookouture Publishers for sending me a review copy of Sue Watson’s ‘Summer Flings and Dancing Dreams’ which was published in paperback on 3rd July 2015 and is also available as an e-book.

At 44, Laura’s life has passed her by so that she spends it watching ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ on television whilst consuming her own body weight in chocolates and cakes. When her daughter is jilted at the church and takes off around the world, Laura realises that it’s time she stopped living through Sophie and started her own life.

I have to be honest and say that had I not received a review copy of this I would not have read it as the title simply did not appeal to me and I thought it sounded lightweight and insubstantial. It just goes to show how wrong you can be.

‘Summer Flings and Dancing Dreams’ is a delight of a story that I think any woman (and plenty of men) would read and enjoy because there is an Everywoman quality to Laura. She has self doubts, she lives through her daughter about whom she is over protective and she feels constrained by needing her mother’s approval. A single mum who is reduced to working on a checkout in a job she hates, her life is simply on hold. I honestly thought Sue Watson had got inside the head of so many women perfectly to epitomise their thoughts through Laura.

It is Laura’s progression and development through the narrative that works so well. There are not cliched resolutions for her, but she has to learn how to take responsibility for her own happiness. Tony, another well defined character, helps her, but you’ll have to read the book to find out how.

In this romp of a plot I found a real poignancy and underlying sadness belied by the quirky and occasionally bizarre chapter titles. All of the story is extremely well written, but some passages are just a triumph. I literally laughed until I cried at the description of Laura in the Zumba class, but similarly I cried in sympathy with her later in the story. It takes a real skill to be able to evoke such extreme emotions in a reader.

The iterative theme of dancing is masterful. I’d defy anyone reading Sue Watson’s ‘Summer Flings and Dancing Dreams’ not to want to ‘dance like no-one is watching’ at the end of reading this book. I hate epithets like ‘uplifting’ and ‘hilarious’ as I rarely agree with them, but in this case any praise of that nature is totally deserved.

I loved it.