You all know I’m supposed to be writing a novel but life (or actually death) keeps getting in the way? Well today I’m delighted to welcome Sondra Sykes Meek to stay in with me on Linda’s Book Bag and tell me about a book she has written despite life getting in the way!

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

Staying in with Sondra Sykes Meek

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag, Sondra. 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 a coming of age story called Model Marine. I have chosen it because it is my only published novel. I have several (unpublished) short stories that will eventually become novels, but this one I finished first because the topic is nearest to my heart. I spent twenty years in the Marine Corps, and anyone who knows a Marine will tell you it is more than a job. It is not what Marines “do.” It is what we become and remain, for the rest of our lives.

It is also a family—sometimes a dysfunctional family—but the kind that will sacrifice everything for each other. I wanted to create a story that would reveal through its characters that environment. The kind of environment that infuses young adults with teamwork and comradarie, courage and discipline, hardship and sacrifice.

But the Corps is not perfect and neither are the Marines in this story. However, they demonstrate characteristics and endure hardships that turn women and men into heroes.

(Sounds really interesting – and fancy being a marine!)

What can we expect from an evening in with Model Marine?

You will meet Molly Monroe and several other people from her past and present. The civilians and Marines in Molly’s life intersect, and the story unfolds from their varied perspectives. Some of the same events are seen from multiple angles. Image and point of view are heavy undercurrents within this story of love, friendship, sacrifice, and redemption.

You can expect NOT to be told the story in chronological order. Molly has experienced head trauma, so there are a lot of flashbacks and trauma-induced dreams mingled in with the forward moving storyline.

This story takes place primarily at (or near) Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan; and the military hospital in Bethesda, Maryland. However, there are snippets of past events in other locations scattered throughout the narration.

You can expect a mother who tries to control her daughter’s destiny, a brother who is the self-appointed protector, a family full of secrets, and an estranged best friend.

You can expect a protagonist who loves the Bard! So you shouldn’t be surprised to encounter forbidden love and a love triangle.

And of course, there are A.Few.Good.Men. and Women!

(I think this sounds a smashing read Sondra. I know a mother or two who try to control others’ lives myself!)

What else have you brought along and why?

A personal note about the cover: I snapped that picture with my smartphone one Sunday afternoon. That is my 17 year old daughter dressed in my uniform. She humored me with a thirty minute photo shoot before she ran off to work (at the book store).

I share this because nearly every aspect of developing and delivering this book has been squeezed into the spare moments of my life. I have a full time job, (using the other side of my brain!) a full time family, and a passion for writing that sometimes won’t let me sleep at night. Those of us who have that passion shouldn’t ignore it. I did for too long, and I won’t anymore.

(What excellent advice – go for it everyone (including me)!)

Thanks so much for staying in with me to tell me all about Model Marine.

Thank you to Linda and others like her who give authors like me a chance to be heard!

Model Marine

Molly Monroe was a teenage beauty queen who had her future planned out for her. When she makes an impulsive decision to join the Marine Corps the summer after high school graduation, her boyfriend breaks up with her, her brother bears the burden of guilt, and her mother feels betrayed.

The people in Molly’s life have always tried to protect her. But she wants to protect herself.

As a Combat Camera Marine, Molly observes and records her environment from behind the lens, where image shapes day-to-day life. After she is wounded during a combat deployment, her dreams are frightening, and her memories are a kaleidoscope of scattered and chaotic scenes; a collision of past and present, real and unreal. Snapshots in time. Glimpses of war. Fragments of love: lost and found.

This story unfolds through multiple perspectives, and as the negatives and positives develop, an image of the Model Marine is sharpened into focus.

Model Marine is available for purchase here.

About Sondra Sykes Meek

Sondra Sykes Meek was born and raised in Lakeland, Florida. However, she have spent most of her adult life away from her roots. She joined the Marine Corps after high school and has lived in several locations since. After Sondra retired from the Marine Corps in 2010, she earned an MFA in Creative Writing and had hoped to spend the rest of her days writing fiction and delivering it to her world-wide audience.

Alas, life gets in the way!

Currently, Sondra is a wife and mother of two living in beautiful Beaufort, South Carolina. She holds a full-time job as a Cyber Security Project Manager in the Defense Industry. As intellectually challenging and fulfilling as her life is, she woke up one day last year and realized she wasn’t living the literary life she had dreamed. She decided to finish the book she started in her master’s program, and that is how she spent many weekends and early mornings last year. Hopefully, her hobby will eventually become her next career.

I’m delighted to be supporting Brook Cottage Books in bringing you a smashing extract from The Single Girl’s Calendar by Erin Green today. Having read the extract I am now extremely keen to read all of The Single Girl’s Calendar!

I’m also really pleased to be able to offer UK readers the chance to win one of three Erin Green mugs (and I’m very tempted to enter myself!)

The Single Girl’s Calendar is available for purchase from Amazon UK and Amazon US.

The Single Girl’s Calendar

A task a day to cure a broken heart.

Esmé Peel is approaching thirty with some trepidation, but hope in her heart. If she can just get her long-term boyfriend Andrew to propose, she will have ticked everything off her ‘things to do by the time you’re 30’ list. She didn’t reckon on finding another woman’s earring in her bed however, and soon she finds herself single, homeless and in need of a new plan. Her best friend Carys gives her the perfect present – The Single Girl’s Calendar – which has a different cure for heartbreak every day:

Day 1: Look and feel fabulous with a new hair style.

Day 2: Step out of your comfort zone and try something new.

Day 3: Reconnect with friends and enjoy!

Despite thinking it’s a bit of a gimmick, Esmé hasn’t got any better ideas, so she puts the plan into action. By the end of week one she has four new male housemates, and despite a broken heart she is determined to show Andrew she can do more than survive, she can thrive.

An Extract from The Single Girl’s Calendar

Carys reached for Esmé’s hand and gently squeezed it.

‘So, what have you done all morning?’

‘Apart from visit cafes, I’ve walked around the city, stared in shop windows and had a meltdown when I found myself in the crime section at Waterstones…’ Esmé coughed as a wave of nausea lifted to her throat. ‘I felt fine until then. How many times has that store saved my skin with his birthday presents or stocking fillers? Not anymore. Those days are gone.’

‘In that case, I have just the thing,’ announced Carys, releasing Esmé’s hand before rummaging in the plastic bag beneath her chair. ‘Don’t laugh, but this actually helped me through the break-up with Myles.’

‘I thought I helped you get through that.’

Carys raised her head mid-rummage, her corkscrew curls bouncing as she disagreed.

‘Nope! You know nothing about break-ups, Esmé. Seriously, your relationship has been so long-term you haven’t a clue. But this…’ Carys lifted a pink boxed object onto the table top. ‘This might help.’

‘What the hell?’ said Esmé, staring at the advent calendar styled object with its tiny perforated doors.

‘It’s 100 per cent tack and it only cost a fiver but—’

‘Carys?’

‘Hear me out, Esmé… it’s worth a laugh if nothing else.’

‘Yeah, sure,’ said Esmé, lifting the calendar to read the blurb on the reverse.

Want a sassy new way to overcome a break-up? Or simply an opportunity to focus on your life? The Single Girl’s Calendar is made for you! Behind every door is a task that will help you focus on you, and you only! A whole month of pampering, mindfulness activities, caring and sharing ideas which in just four short weeks will have you feeling on top of the world! An insightful way to put a spring back into your step as a strong, independent woman!

‘Are you serious?’

Carys nodded.

About Erin Green

Erin was born and raised in Warwickshire, where she resides with her husband. An avid reader since childhood, her imagination was instinctively drawn to creative writing as she grew older. Erin has two Hons degrees: BA English literature and another BSc Psychology – her previous careers have ranged from part-time waitress, the retail industry, fitness industry and education. She has an obsession about time, owns several tortoises and an infectious laugh!

Erin’s writes contemporary novels focusing on love, life and laughter. Erin is an active member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and was delighted to be awarded The Katie Fforde Bursary in 2017. An ideal day for Erin involves writing, people watching and drinking copious amounts of tea.

You will find Erin on Facebook, Instagram and Goodreads. You can follow her on Twitter @ErinGreenAuthor. You can also visit Erin’s website.

Giveaway

For your change to win one of three Erin Green ceramic mugs click here. UK ONLY.

Please note this giveaway is run independently of Linda’s Book Bag.

I have met Tony J Forder, author of The Scent of Guilt, in person and he’s such a charming, lovely man that I am thrilled to welcome him back to Linda’s Book Bag again today. Previously Tony has supplied two fabulous guest posts; one about becoming a writer that you can read here, and another about his comfort zone when writing available to read here. Today, with The Scent of Guilt set in my nearest home town, Peterborough, Tony brings us his protagonists to introduce one another.

Tony’s latest novel, The Scent of Guilt, was published by Bloodhound on 17th February and is available for purchase here.

The Scent of Guilt

Twelve years after he left Peterborough under a cloud, DI Bliss returns to the city and the major crimes team. Having spent years policing organised crime, Bliss is plunged straight into the heart of a serial murder investigation.

Meanwhile, Penny Chandler has been promoted to DS and has been working in

London on the Met’s sexual crimes team. But when two rapes are reported on her old patch in Peterborough, Chandler volunteers to interview the victims.

Chandler joins the hunt for the attacker and soon notices a possible link between the rapes and Bliss’s murder investigation. Could the same man be responsible?

Just as both cases seem to stall, a call comes in from an ex-policeman who knows of unsolved cases in the USA with a similar MO. Bliss finds himself travelling to California to hunt for a killer whose reach may have stretched further than anyone could possibly imagine.

But in order to catch the murderer, Bliss must discover the killer’s motive. A motive which should have remained buried in the past…

Bliss and Chandler

A Guest Post by Tony J Forder

Bliss on Chandler

Penny is one tough cookie. Coming out of the Fens in East Anglia, she has that rural British stoicism that so typified the pre-snowflake generation. She sees life and all that it holds for what it is, not for how she would like it to be. Unlike me, Pen is not a deep thinker outside work. On the job she’s a dog with a bone, fiercely determined and smart as a whip. Outside of that, she seldom dwells on things beyond her control. I love that about her.

With little education behind her, the moment she realised she was pregnant whilst still in her mid-teens, Pen took a long, hard look at her life and decided it was simply not good enough for the child she was about to bring into the world. She could have wilted, could have allowed herself to be swept up by her family and settled. But that’s just not in her nature. Instead, she did what she had to do to join the police service, and has not looked back since.

Don’t tell her this, but I admire her so much for coping with the pressure of having her daughter abducted by the kid’s father when Hannah was only two. She fought so hard, but when you’re dealing with a foreign country, trying to find your way through the political and legal fog must have been an absolute nightmare for her. But does she complain? Never. If you ask she’ll tell you the latest, but she is so rarely in the doldrums, avoids the happy pills, and gets up each morning to get on with her life. So yes, what’s not to admire.

As a detective she could go as far as DCI – no problem whatsoever. Not so sure about beyond that, because then they look at things like education and background, etc. All that bullshit that has no bearing on solving crimes. But lately, Pen has shown signs of not wanting to progress much further. Certainly not up to DCI, because the last thing she wants is to become desk-bound. To be honest, I wish I was a better role model for her. As a DI I really ought not to be out on the streets so much, but I suppose I’m a control freak. I want to be right on top of my investigations, and the only way I know how is to get out there and crack heads and knock on doors. You can edit out that ‘crack heads’ comment, right?

Penny hasn’t had a great deal of luck with the blokes in her life, but it’ll happen for her. It has to. She’s way too nice, way too smart, way too loving not to find someone to settle down with. She deserves the very best life has to offer. I wish I could do more about getting her little girl back for her, but hopefully she will find someone with whom she can be happy, someone who will support her. She must have dark days, but like I say, she keeps them to herself. Maybe one day – soon, I hope – she will have someone to go home to who can take a share of that burden.

Professionally I hope she makes the move up the ranks, but I’d hate to lose her as my oppo. I sometimes think she’s the other half of me – the better half, but again you don’t share that with her. I reckon she’s my conscience, my moral compass. Quite what I’d do without her is anyone’s guess, but my time has come and gone. Penny’s star is on the rise, and I want to see her make the most of it.

Chandler on Bliss

Where do I start? When I first met him it was like working with a jack-in-the-box – he’d get wound up more and more until he just erupted, but you could never tell when it would happen. He’d move from placid to psychotic in an instant. He’s a lot better these days, now he’s found his ‘chi’ or whatever he calls it. So there’s that. But you’d want him on your side if you were going over the top, if you know what I mean. He’s fiercely loyal – with emphasis on the fierce at times – and that sort of thing is rare these days. People are so career-driven that they’ll happily leave you in the mire as they progress, but not Jimmy.

And what’s that all about, anyway? He’s a grown man… an old man… and still answers to ‘Jimmy’? That’s just between you and me, right? Not for publication. Anyway, Jimmy is the boss, and always will be the boss. He’s old-fashioned, sure, he’s never going to be the most politically correct of men, but why should he apologise for that? He’s never offensive unless he intends to be, and then you probably deserve it and better watch out. I have to turn away sometimes when he’s going off on one, because otherwise I’d laugh. We’re very different in that way, but I think that’s fine. I’ve learned more about being a good detective from Jimmy than anyone else in the job, any lecture I’ve attended, any course I’ve been on. I look at it this way: if I was a victim, would I rather have someone who always plays by the rules but doesn’t solve the case, or someone like Jimmy who does what it takes and gets the results?

He’s been through the mill personally, and although it’s not a touchy subject with him, neither is it something he wants to discuss. Thing is, I can see he’s be hard to live with at times, but I reckon once you got beneath that hard shell of his you’d never want to leave. Trouble is, at times I think he pushes people away, so only those who persevere get to see the real Jimmy Bliss. The man who loved his wife, his parents and his two soppy dogs. The man who always has time for you, who may over-react one day, and the next buy you a drink, who would stop whatever he was doing to help you out if you asked.

Jimmy himself would tell you he’s not the perfect person – are any of us? He’s seen and endured things that would break most people. You’d never know he had a debilitating illness, a chronic condition that will never improve. He’s from the ‘if life knocks you down you pick yourself up again’ generation. His biggest weakness is taking on all the guilt, all the grief, all the heartache going around, as if somehow by doing so no one else need be touched by it. It’s not that he wants to wear a hair shirt, or self-flagellate, he simply always thinks he could have done better and that any error is something for him to be burdened with. He’s terribly hard on himself, but you can only admire him for it.

He could easily be a DCI, but works more like a sergeant – in that he’s out there with us, in the middle of it all, not sitting back in his office or taking meetings all day. The team respect and admire him for that, and for almost always coming out on top. Top copper, top man. But a tough nut to crack.

(Doesn’t that make you want to read more about them in Tony’s books?)

About Tony J Forder

Tony J Forder is the author of the critically acclaimed crime thriller Bad to the Bone, the first in a series featuring DI Jimmy Bliss and DC Penny Chandler. The second book in the series, The Scent of Guilt, will be released in March 2018, with a third currently in progress.

On 19 September 2017, Tony’s dark, psychological crime thriller, Degrees of Darkness, featuring ex-detective Frank Rogers, was also published by Bloodhound Books. This was intended to be a stand-alone novel, but Tony is now considering the possibility of a follow-up.

Some years ago, Tony won a short story competition judged by an editor from Pan Books. The story, Gino’s Bar and Grille, went on to be published in Dark Voices 2, part of the celebrated Pan Book of Horror series. Three further short story sales followed: Book End, published in Dark Voices 4, Character Role, in FEAR magazine, and finally A Grim Story, which featured in A Rattler’s Tale. It was the start of Tony’s publishing journey.

Between April 2017 and March 2018, Tony will have had four novels published by Bloodhound Books, but believes there is much more to come.

You can follow Tony on Twitter @TonyJForder, visit his website and find him on Facebook.

It’s another new to me author to feature in my Staying in with… series today and a genre I don’t usually read so it gives me great pleasure to welcome PE Kavanagh to chat books.

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

Staying in with PE Kavanagh

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag Pascale. 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?

Thanks for the invite, Linda! I hope you don’t mind I’ve shown up in my favorite jammies. Oh, and this wonderful Pinot Noir I know you’ll enjoy.

(Er – no, make yourself at home in your jammies!)

I’ve brought a copy of Collecting Secrets, my newest steamy romance. It was released on Valentine’s Day, which is my second favorite holiday. (First is Thanksgiving, in case you’re wondering.)

I’m so excited about this book and completely infatuated with both of the main characters. A young woman, just coming out of a devastating tragedy, meets the man of her dreams. Neither of them are ready, so they form a beautiful friendship instead. After ten years, he’s become a celebrity psychologist, she’s strong and successful, and they are inseparable. As friends.

But then…

He crosses the line and the whole structure of the life she’s built comes tumbling down. The claims and confessions come hard and fast as they navigate all that’s never been said.

This book, at its heart, is about re-evaluating decisions we’ve made, and beliefs we’ve held, when they are no longer valid. What I love most about these characters is that they’re both incredibly smart but also occasionally perceive the world incorrectly. Then they both get to express the human qualities I find most important: courage, forgiveness, and honesty.

(Oh! Sounds interesting. I like the focus on those values.)

What can we expect from an evening in with Collecting Secrets?

Oh, it’s smart, it’s sexy, it’s emotional, it’s uplifting. We watch the evolution of a relationship, with lots of ups and downs. One of the aspects of this book that was the most fun for me is the parallel stories. We follow this couple in their current adult lives at the same time that we see the scenes from their ten-year history that influenced the issues they currently struggle with.

Did I mention it’s sexy? These two have amazing chemistry. When they finally admit it, well… *fanning myself* it gets hot.

(Sounds highly ‘entertaining’!)

My other novels are layered and complex, and I wanted to challenge myself to write a wonderful, sexy story that was easier and quicker to read. Like a risotto instead of an artichoke. This book is my risotto ;).

Want a taste? Here you go…

“You better focus, twinkle toes. The Senator is not going to enjoy your stepping on his very important feet.”

Camille slumped in Jackson’s arms. “Ughhh. Is anyone really going to care?”

“Yes, fry. People care about things like this.”

Camille’s relationship with a Senator’s son, whom she had met in a philosophy class senior year, had progressed enough that she had been invited to a state function. It was black tie, there would be dignitaries from around the world, and she would be expected to dance. Too embarrassed to tell her date that she didn’t know how to waltz or foxtrot, she was forced to beg Jackson for dance lessons. Of course, he obliged. Without even one disparaging comment about being a twenty-one year old woman with enormous gaps in her social education.

Her date was almost certainly not going to be as good or exacting a dancer as the man leading her around the room, but it didn’t matter. Spending the afternoon in Jackson’s arms was not a chore.

“You’re doing great, fry. Now, try to pretend you’re having fun, okay? Relax your body, smile.”

“Right.” Another thing to remember.

He whisked her around for a dramatic spin, catching  her as she nearly fell into one of his sculptures. Camille held on tight while overcome with giggles.

He righted both their bodies and led her across his living room, in perfect time to the music. “Listen, Cam, there’s one more thing. Have you ever had a man tell you he loves you?”

“Jackson!” That one nearly did knock her off her feet.

He tightened his grip around her waist. “This might be your night, fry. I mean you two have been together for a while and it’s going to be a romantic evening. You might want to be prepared.”

The last man to say those three words to her had been her father, so many years before. “And how does one prepare for such a thing?”

Jackson stopped moving, looked deeply into her eyes, a small smile lifting the corners of his lips. “I love you, Camille.”

He had been right, as usual, because nothing in her two decades of life had adequately prepared her to hear those words from that man. Unable to feign composure, or fabricate a response, Camille could only tell the truth.

“I love you too, Jackson.”

(I think that gives us an excellent flavour!)

What else have you brought along and why?

I love to immerse myself in the world of my books. Don’t you?

For me and my readers, I create images and music to bring the words to life. So I’ve brought a link to my Pinterest board, here, where you can see my version of Jackson, Camille, and their world.

(I’ve been over and had a look at your Pinterest board Pascale and am just off for a hot shower. I’ll be back in a minute!)

I’ve also brought a Spotify playlist for some auditory fun as well so have a listen here.

I encourage you to find your comfiest seat, fuzziest socks, and an excessively large glass of your favorite drink. Happy to share my Pinot, if you like ;).

(You can have your Pinot but I’ll crack open some champagne.) 

As soon as you’re done, I’d love to hear what you think.

I’ll let you know Pascale. Thanks so much for staying in with me and telling me all about Collecting Secrets. It’s been very entertaining!

Collecting Secrets

A grieving heiress.
A celebrity psychologist.
A decade of friendship.
UNDONE BY ONE BOLD MOVE.

When Camille first met Jackson she was too young.
Too innocent.
Too traumatized.

Friendship was less than what she wanted, but all she could handle.

Ten years later and she’s a different woman. Strong, successful, brave.

At exactly the wrong moment, one bold move threatens everything.
The safe harbor of Jackson’s family.
The unconditional commitment of his friendship.
The collection of secrets she never knew existed,

Claims and confessions come hard and fast as Jackson and Camille navigate all that has never been said.

Each step they take, closer to the truth and each other, demands another layer of secrets must fall.

Collecting Secrets is a steamy standalone contemporary romance with no cliffhanger. You will meet characters who will reappear throughout the series.

Collecting Secrets is available for purchase here.

About PE Kavanagh

PE Kavanagh has been a professional dancer, MIT-educated engineer, corporate executive, spiritual teacher, and chef. These days, her favorite titles are author, mother, and hot stuff.

Find out more by visiting PE Kavanagh’s website and Facebook page. You can also join PE Kavanagh’s Facebook reader page and follow her on Twitter @pekavanagh. You can find all her books on Amazon and on Bookbub.

 

I’ve said before that it’s a privilege to be a blogger and share some very personal writing from authors. Lovely Jennifer Gilmour is staying in with me today to tell me more about another of her books and it’s a welcome return to have her on Linda’s Book Bag. Previously, when Isolation Junction was published, Jennifer provided a guest post about writing motivation that you can read here, and another about tackling domestic abuse through fiction which can be found here.

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

Staying in with Jennifer Gilmour

Welcome back to Linda’s Book Bag, Jennifer. It’s lovely to have you here. 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 second book, Clipped Wings, and I have brought it because it is a book that gives a voice to those who have suffered and I think their voices should be heard.

(I quite agree Jennifer.)

What can we expect from an evening in with Clipped Wings?

Clipped Wings is my second publication and non-fiction which is unlike from my first publication.

Clipped Wings is about identity and how those who are oppressed do have courage to survive and thrive so you will have an emotional and uplifting evening.

I feel very proud of this publication and to those who were involved, I felt as if I was helping fixing those wings to be able to soar and their voices to be heard. Others seem to be understanding what I am trying to achieve with my writing and are supporting my journey in writing with a message.

Author Isabella May says:

To pen ‘Isolation Junction’, her first novel, was one thing. But to then go on to compile an anthology, working with domestic violence survivors both female and male, from all walks of life and backgrounds; that was quite another. An emotional roller coaster in every sense of the word.

Jessica Johnson says:

Whilst it is heartbreaking to read some of the accounts and what the people went through in their relationships, it is ultimately an uplifting book. The stories are as much about courage and recovery as they are about violence and abuse.

I would say this book is a must read for anyone who wants to hear first hand how people can survive such terrible abuse and come through the other side.

(What brilliant responses Jennifer. You must be so proud of what you’ve achieved.)

What else have you brought along and why?

I have brought along all the survivors that have written or been interviewed for Clipped Wings as working on this project was very personal and I am in many conversations with them; I feel it has brought a close connection which I am delighted about.

(It’s my pleasure to host them all.)

I have brought along all those who backed my Kickstarter campaign to be able to give a paperback to those who gave their story. They are friends, family, followers and supporters who have seen me flourish since coming out of my own abusive relationship.

I bring along some chocolate for everyone as comfort food because its emotional, thought provoking, concerning as well as inspiring and motivating.

I always love chocolate! Thanks so much for staying in with me Jennifer and telling me about Clipped Wings. it sounds a hugely inspirational and moving book.

Clipped Wings

The silent chorus.

Just imagine you thought that you had met the man or woman of your dreams. This person was charming and you thought they were the one or perhaps that this was fate; it was just meant to be.

But as the months go by things start to change. Their behaviour towards you isn’t the same, they are more critical, more particular about your appearance, what you do, how you do it, who you see. Time goes by and you feel isolated from your friends and family because that behaviour has now changed to threats, maybe violence and you feel that your identity is all but gone. But still you stay. Where would you go? Who would help you? You are not worthy.

But you are.

A group of survivors have spoken about their own experiences. In their own words they show that survivors do have a voice and that it needs to be heard. They show that abuse isn’t unique or strange but that it is, unfortunately, a surprisingly common problem in today’s society.

The message of this book is one of courage, as with courage comes awareness and an ability to understand what has happened to you and take the steps needed to become a survivor yourself.

Clipped Wings is available for purchase here.

About Jennifer Gilmour

Born in the North East, Jennifer is a young, married mum with three children. In addition to being an author, she is an entrepreneur, running a family business from her home-base.

Her blog posts have a large readership of other young mums in business.

From an early age, Jennifer has had a passion for writing and started gathering ideas and plot lines from her teenage years.

A passionate advocate for women in abusive relationships, she has drawn on her personal experiences to write her first novel Isolation Junction. It details the journey of a young woman from the despair of an emotionally abusive and unhappy marriage to develop the confidence to challenge and change her life and to love again. Since the publication of her debut novel, Jennifer has continued to be an advocate for those in abusive relationships through her blog posts, radio interviews and Twitter feed. Jennifer also gained a qualification in facilitating a recover programme for those who have been in abusive relationships. Jennifer continues to publicly support those who are isolated and struggle to have a voice. Jennifer hopes that Clipped Wings give’s a voice to survivor’s experiences and raise’s awareness further of the types of unacceptable behaviour which fall into the category of domestic abuse.

You’ll find more about Jennifer on her website, on Facebook and by following her on Twitter @JenLGilmour.

As someone who rarely enjoys a good night’s sleep I am pleased to be part of the launch celebrations for T.K.R’s children’s book Have You Seen The Sleep Fairy? as I could do with seeing the sleep fairy myself!

Published by Clink Street on 30th January 2018, Have You Seen the Sleep Fairy? is available for purchase from Amazon.

Have You Seen The Sleep Fairy?

Have YOU seen the Sleep Fairy? This is the story of a sleep deprived mother and father who are rescued by this shyest of fairies, who only comes out at night when all the children in the home are asleep.

She helps children get into the habit of sleeping through by leaving tiny items of interest under their beds for a few days until she can trust them to sleep through on their own.

This sweet story is simply told by the author and beautifully bought to life in this new illustrated children’s story.

Get your children into the habit of sleeping through by reading The Sleep Fairy to them and applying the idea to your family routine. Here’s to you and a peaceful night’s sleep.

My Review of Have You Seen The Sleep Fairy?

When little man can’t sleep his parents promise to tell him about the sleep fairy.

I know, I know! I always have a quick moan in children’s books when there are upper case words in the middle of sentences because I want children’s fiction to model perfectly how we would like emerging writing to look, so I’m going to get that small grouch out of the way first. Mind you, the children for whom this book is intended won’t be reading it personally so maybe I’m just being a grouch.

Other than that, I thought Have You Seen The Sleep Fairy? was a worthy children’s book. It’s a good way to encourage children to sleep through the night in the hope of a small gift left by the fairy if they do for four nights in a row so that parents can get children into a proper sleep routine.

The illustrations have a childlike naive style that children will relate to and the balance of text to image is good for pre-school children.

I’ve never had to get children to sleep all night, but I think parents struggling to do so could make excellent use of this book and have some fun reading it in the process.

About T.K.R

Living in Chelsea, London with his wife and four children author T.K.R is no stranger to sleepless nights. When not writing children’s books, he runs his own business, Captivate Marketing (Pty) Ltd which focusses on the tools and tactics associated with amplifying his clients’ global brands.

There’s more with these other bloggers too:

 

My grateful thanks to Elaine Egan at Orion Books for a copy of The Year That Changed Everything in return for an honest review.

The Year That Changed Everything is available for purchase through the publisher links here.

The Year That Changed Everything

Three women celebrate their birthdays . . . 30. 40. 50. But their milestone birthdays mark the start of a year that will change everything . . .

Ginger isn’t spending her 30th the way she would have planned. Tonight might be the first night of the rest of her life – or a total disaster.

Sam is finally pregnant after years of trying. When her waters break on the morning of her 40th birthday, she panics: forget labour, how is she going to be a mother?

Callie is celebrating her 50th at a big party in her Dublin home. Then a knock at the door mid-party turns her perfect life upside down . . .

My Review of The Year That Changed Everything

When Ginger, Sam and Callie celebrate their respective birthdays on the same day, they can have little idea what the next year will bring.

I have to confess that I was slightly disappointed in The Year That Changed Everything. It’s a well written, heartwarming and entertaining story with three strong female characters whom I came to know as real people but I felt the men in the story, especially Jason and Zac, were too stereotypical for my taste. That said, I’d rather like to meet Will in a darkened room and I really liked the minor characters like Grace.

I’m the least maternal person I know so perhaps Sam’s story didn’t quite resonate as emotionally with me as it will for other readers. I much preferred Ginger and Callie’s stories. Ginger in particular felt like someone I’d like to meet in real life and I enjoyed the empowerment she discovered. Indeed, all three women find their place in life well as the plot unfolds, even if it isn’t all plain sailing so that there is much to enjoy in the story.

I liked the way in which the three narrative elements were blended so that there’s a satisfying conclusion to The Year That Changed Everything although I’d have liked their stories to come together more rapidly. I thoroughly enjoyed the natural nature of the dialogue that really brought the story to life.

Cathy Kelly explores so many themes in The Year That Changed Everything, that appeal to a wide range of readers; including female dependency – on men, on drugs, on friends – and how that dependency might be overcome, but I did feel these issues were slightly too obviously handled at times, so that I was a little bit irritated, especially by Callie’s interactions with Glory.

I have to say that The Year That Changed Everything has all the trademark elements of a Cathy Kelly novel that fans will love. There’s a wonderful Irish warmth to the writing and an uplifting and life affirming approach that many readers will find perfect. Sadly, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

About Cathy Kelly

Cathy Kelly is published around the world, with millions of books in print. Cathy is the bestselling author of The Honey Queen, Once in a Lifetime and Between Sisters, and is a No.1 bestseller in the UK, Ireland and Australia. Her trademark is warm and witty Irish storytelling about modern life, always with an uplifting message, a sense of community and strong female characters at the heart.

She lives with her family and their three dogs in County Wicklow, Ireland. She is also an Ambassador for UNICEF Ireland, raising funds and awareness for children orphaned by or living with HIV/AIDS.

You can find out more about Cathy on her website, by following her on Twitter @cathykellybooks or finding her on Facebook.

I am extremely grateful to Isabelle Kenyon, editor and compiler, for a copy of Please Hear What I’m Not Saying in return for an honest review. Whilst this anthology is composed of poems from a range of poets, I have also been lucky enough to review Isabelle’s own work, This is not a Spectacle, here.

Please Hear What I’m Not Saying is available for purchase in ebook and paperback here and is published to support the mental health charity Mind.

Please Hear What I’m Not Saying

With over 600 submissions, poets from around the world put their pens to paper to create this anthology, enthused by a common goal to raise money for the charity, Mind. With poems focusing on mental health from a wide range of experiences, this book aims to continue the worldwide conversation about mental health.

The profits from this book go to UK Charity, Mind.

Trigger warnings by chapter:

Section One: References include war, depression, grief, alcoholism, bulimia, trauma, suicide

Section Two: Sexual abuse, self harm, suicide threat, Borderline personality disorder, electro shock therapy, razors

Section Three: Postpartum depression, hospital ward

Section Four: Anxiety, pills, Borderline personality disorder, eating disorder

Section Five: Poverty

Section Six: Alzheimer’s

Section Seven: Depression

Section Eight: Therapy

My Review of Please Hear What I’m Not Saying

With a wide range of topics covered, Please Hear What I’m Not Saying has a poem for every reader and every emotion.

As soon as I began reading I realised that Please Hear What I’m Not Saying is no ordinary anthology. There are eight sections and the reader is encouraged to give them titles themselves so that reading the poems is an active process rather than the passive one reading can be.

I love the idea that this collection has come from a wide range of poets in support of the charity Mind as I’m sure we all can appreciate the range of emotions displayed and the anxieties and real illness so many of the poets write about. I’m certain, for example, that there is both a Muriel and Maud (Two Women by Jan McCarthy) in all of us.

The themes explored range from, amongst others, post natal depression through self harm, drug dependency and anorexia, death and – ultimately in the final section, some hope. I felt these were not mere poems, but genuine experiences that illustrate the complex nature of modern life and its challenges. My heart went out to so many of the poets featured, even when they were not writing directly about themselves. There’s such emotion between the pages of Please Hear What I’m Not Saying.

I loved the range of techniques in these poems that help convey their messages. In The Sibilance of Depression by CR Smith, for example, the repetition of the letter s in almost every word echoes that very sibilance and creates a wonderful sense of evil arising from depression. Emotions are personified, repetitions and enjambement, endstopped lines, assonance and alliteration all contribute to the beauty of so many of these poems – and the emotion of them too. I thought the concept that for those struggling with mental health issues the world is like a Rubik’s cube that cannot be properly aligned as in Girl Outside by Alan Savage was inspired. Many of the poems, like Fragile by Kathryn Metcalf, refer to breaking glass, shattering and smashing so that the violence of these feelings is utterly clear to the reader.

However, although so much of the writing is about negative emotions, feelings and action (or, indeed stultifying inaction), that isn’t to say these poems are all miserable and bleak. I found humour and hope too. Rushing by Neil Elder made me smile and On Coming Across Sika Deer by Rachel Burns reminded me of the healing power of nature. Indeed, I agree completely with the sentiments in Catherine Whittaker’s Take Time Out that we all need to embrace the simple things in life, including nature from time to time.

Please Hear What I’m Not Saying is a brilliant anthology. I appreciated the incredible bravery of some of the poets in laying bare their innermost emotions and certainly admired their literary techniques. I felt I had been afforded an intimate glimpse into the minds of those featured so that it felt a privilege to read their words and I feel as if I have been educated as well as entertained. I was delighted to find mini biographies at the end of the anthology too so that I can now investigate further the poets I particularly enjoyed. Reading Please Hear What I’m Not Saying not only entertained and moved me, but it made me grateful for my own mental health and the life I have.

More importantly, however, I feel Please Hear What I’m Not Saying could be a fabulous boon to those with their own mental health problems as perhaps, through reading these poems, they will find kindred spirits and perhaps realise they are not alone.

About Isabelle Kenyon

Isabelle Kenyon is a poet, blogger and book reviewer. Her poems have published online for Bewildering Stories and as a Micro Chapbook for Origami Poetry Press. Isabelle has also featured in poetry anthologies such as Anti Heroin Chic, Literary Yard, the Inkyneedles anthology, Poetry Rivals, and the Great British Write Off. Isabelle has won awards and commendations from The Wirral festival of Music, Speech and Drama,the Festival of Firsts, the Langwith Scott Award for Art and Drama and the Visit Newark Poetry competition.

You can follow Isabelle on Twitter @kenyon_isabelle and visit her website. You’ll also find her on Facebook.

I am loving staying in with such a varied range of authors who transport me all over the world with their books and it gives me enormous pleasure to welcome Jennifer S. Alderson to Linda’s Book Bag today who is taking me to Amsterdam.

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

Staying in with Jennifer S. Alderson

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag, Jennifer. Thank you for agreeing to stay in with me and tell me about your writing. Which of your books have you brought along to share with me and why have you chosen it?

Hello, Linda! Thanks for inviting me to stay in with you tonight.

(My pleasure.)

I’ve brought my art mystery set in World War II and present-day Amsterdam, The Lover’s Portrait. American art history student Zelda Richardson finds clues to the whereabouts of a collection of masterpieces, secreted away in 1942 by a Dutch art dealer who’d rather die than turn his collection over to his Nazi blackmailer. Her discoveries make her a target of someone willing to steal – and even kill – to find the lost paintings. As the list of suspects grows, Zelda realizes she has to track down the lost collection and unmask a killer if she wants to survive.

(This sounds extremely interesting!)

I choose to bring The Lover’s Portrait because I am immensely proud that I finished it! In 2004, I moved to Amsterdam to study art history and worked for several Dutch museums before my son was born in 2011. I’d been batting this idea for an art mystery around in my head for years, but didn’t work out the plot’s structure until I decided to stay home and raise him. I wrote primarily while he napped. Three years later, it was ready for publication. Writing about art, history and museums was also a wonderful way to stay in touch with my ‘adult life’ while raising a toddler.

(A brilliant way of defeating baby brain I think!)

It is so gratifying to see readers and reviewers responding so well to it. It recently won a Chill With A Book Readers’ Award, the Silver Cup in Rosie’s Book Review Team 2017 Awards in the Mystery category, was one of The Displaced Nation’s Top 36 Expat Fiction Picks of 2016, and came in at 14 in BookLife’s 2016 Prize for Fiction in the Mystery category. When I was writing away in a milk-splattered t-shirt, gazing at the screen through bloodshot eyes, I never could have imagined the warm reception it would receive and am quite grateful for it!

(How exciting. Congratulations on all your success Jennifer.)

What can we expect from an evening in with The Lover’s Portrait?

Expect to learn about modern and degenerate art, European artists, Dutch history, the plight of homosexuals and Jewish artists in Europe during World War II, daily life in occupied Amsterdam, and the complexities inherent to the restitution of artwork stolen by the Nazis. As one reviewer noted, The Lover’s Portrait is not just about stolen paintings, but also the lives that were stolen. My characters spend a lot of time in my favorite parks, museums and cafes, as well. I hope my descriptions of Amsterdam inspire you to visit this wonderful city I now call home!

(I haven’t been to Amsterdam for 25 years since my 10th wedding anniversary! The Lover’s Portrait could be a smashing way to travel there vicariously.)

Reviews are always a great way to decide if a book is for you. I am delighted to see more than 50 glowing reviews on Goodreads, Amazon worldwide, Kobo, Barnes and Noble and iBooks.

BookLife Prize for Fiction called it a “gripping mystery…the suspense is intensely magnetic and the characters equally captivating.”

According to IndieReader, it is “well worth reading for what the main character discovers—not just about the portrait mentioned in the title, but also the sobering dangers of Amsterdam during World War II.”

And Readers’ Favorite awarded it a 5 star medal, writing, “The Lover’s Portrait is a well-written mystery with engaging characters and a lot of heart. The perfect novel for those who love art and mysteries!”

(How brilliant!) 

I hope you sit back, relax and savor the art, history and setting. I would love to know if you solved the mystery before Zelda did!

(I’m really intrigued by The Lover’s Portrait.)

What else have you brought along and why?

For those who haven’t yet been, I wanted to share two photographs of Amsterdam. The first shot is of the Prinsengracht, one of my favorite canals. The tiny streets, many bridges, and stately homes make it so photogenic! I couldn’t resist including a photo of the Speigelgracht, a small canal close to where my fictitious art dealer’s gallery is located. You can also see the Rijksmuseum looming in the background. Several reviewers mentioned they loved ‘traveling’ to Amsterdam via The Lover’s Portrait. Those kinds of remarks really make me smile because I worked so hard to make the descriptions of my adopted hometown as accurate and inviting as possible.

 

(Those photos make me want to go straight back to Amsterdam.)

Here’s a pair of headphones, in case readers would rather listen to The Lover’s Portrait audiobook (available here).

A box of chocolate-covered cherries for the host is also in order. I can’t get enough of these little balls of chocolatey goodness – especially when editing!

Last but not least, I also have with me an early review copy of Rituals of the Dead, the third mystery in the Adventures of Zelda Richardson series. Art, religion, and anthropology collide in this thrilling artifact mystery set in Papua New Guinea and the Netherlands. I am SO excited about its upcoming release on April 6th; I’m sharing it with everyone I meet!

(How exciting! I’d love to go to Papua New Guinea so I’ll sneak in details about both books below.)

Thanks so much for staying in with me to tell me all about The Lover’s Portrait Jennifer. It sounds a fascinating read.

Thank you so much for this opportunity, Linda. It’s been fun chatting about Amsterdam, writing and chocolate with you. I’ve enjoyed reading about your previous guests’ books and am honored to now be among those ‘Staying In With’ you! All the best, Jennifer

(My pleasure!)

The Lover’s Portrait: An Art Mystery

When a Dutch art dealer hides the stock from his gallery – rather than turn it over to his Nazi blackmailer – he pays with his life, leaving a treasure trove of modern masterpieces buried somewhere in Amsterdam, presumably lost forever. That is, until American art history student Zelda Richardson sticks her nose in.

After studying for a year in the Netherlands, Zelda scores an internship at the prestigious Amsterdam Historical Museum, where she works on an exhibition of paintings and sculptures once stolen by the Nazis, lying unclaimed in Dutch museum depots almost seventy years later. When two women claim the same painting, the portrait of a young girl entitled Irises, Zelda is tasked with investigating the painting’s history and soon finds evidence that one of the two women must be lying about her past. Before she can figure out which one and why, Zelda learns about the Dutch art dealer’s concealed collection – and that Irises is the key to finding it.

Her discoveries make her a target of someone willing to steal – and even kill – to find the missing paintings. As the list of suspects grows, Zelda realizes she has to track down the lost collection and unmask a killer if she wants to survive.

Rituals of the Dead: An Artifact Mystery

Art, religion, and anthropology collide in Alderson’s latest mystery thriller, Rituals of the Dead, book three of the Adventures of Zelda Richardson series.

Art history student Zelda Richardson is thrilled to be working at the Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam on an exhibition of bis poles from the Asmat region of Papua New Guinea – the same area where a famous American anthropologist disappeared in 1962. When his journals are found inside one of the bis poles, Zelda is tasked with finding out more about the man’s last days and his connection to these ritual objects.

Zelda is pulled into a world of shady anthropologists, headhunters, missionaries, art collectors, and smugglers – where the only certainty is that sins of the past are never fully erased.

Join Zelda as she grapples with the anthropologist’s mysterious disappearance fifty years earlier, and a present-day murderer who will do anything to prevent her from discovering the truth.

Jennifer’s books are available through Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble and Smashwords. You can also visit Jennifer’s website for direct links.

About Jennifer S. Alderson

Jennifer S. Alderson was born in San Francisco, raised in Seattle, and currently lives in Amsterdam. Her love of travel, art, and culture inspires her ongoing mystery series, the Adventures of Zelda Richardson. Her background in journalism, multimedia development, and art history enriches her novels.

In Down and Out in Kathmandu, Zelda gets entangled with a gang of smugglers whose Thai leader believes she’s stolen his diamonds. The Lover’s Portrait is a suspenseful “whodunit?” about Nazi-looted artwork that transports readers to wartime and present-day Amsterdam. Art, religion, and anthropology collide in Rituals of the Dead, a thrilling artifact mystery set in Papua New Guinea and the Netherlands.

You can find out more about Jennifer via her website, on Facebook, and Goodreads or by following her onTwitter @JSAauthor.

Having so enjoyed Felicity at the Cross Hotel by Helena Fairfax (my review of which you can read here) I am thrilled that Helena has agreed to stay in with me today to tell me about another of her books.

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

Staying in with Helena Fairfax

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

Thanks so much for having me, Linda. I’m excited about a night in!

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

I’ve chosen A Year of Light and Shadows. The reason I’ve chosen it is because it’s my dad’s 90th birthday this year, and he told me it was his favourite book of all those I’ve written 🙂 He loves a mystery and so I can see why it appeals to him. The story begins in a fictional country – a tiny place in southern Europe. Montverrier is a beautiful country – I have the opening scene full of sunflowers, like a van Gogh painting – but it’s a place full of treachery where nothing is ever what it seems. My heroine, Lizzie Smith, is asked to stand in for the country’s princess. She finds the only person she can rely on is her bodyguard, Léon…or can she?

There are a few twists in the story, and so I can’t say too much without giving things away…!

(What a wonderful reason for selecting what sounds a fantastic book. I’m sure your Dad is right!)

What can we expect from an evening in with A Year of Light and Shadows?

A Year of Light and Shadows is a suspense novel that you can read in one evening, and as the shadows fall I hope readers can lose themselves in the mystery, as well as the romance at the heart of it. I try to transport readers out of themselves by creating a beautiful and mysterious setting. I love the way Mary Stewart does this in her romantic suspense novels. I find an atmospheric setting adds to the suspense, as well as making the perfect backdrop to the developing romance. If you’re having a night in to read, there’s nothing better than totally losing yourself in a story and imagining yourself in a wonderful place, and I hope I succeeded with this book. One reviewer said: ‘Anyone with a romantic heart should enjoy this one. I found it a terrific surprise.’

(I can’t wait to read A Year of Light and Shadows. It sounds so good.)

What else have you brought along and why?

First – and most important! – I’ve brought some Scottish shortbread and a bottle of red wine. My heroine is Scottish, and my hero is from the Italian coast. I think they’d both appreciate it!

I’ve also brought some photos of the places that inspired the setting. My fictional country of Montverrier was inspired by a trip to Monaco. Léon gives the heroine a lift on his motorbike, and they follow the winding coast route along the Mediterranean. It reminds me of a similar journey I made several years ago.

I have some photos of Edinburgh, too. Edinburgh is one of my favourite cities in the world. It’s beautifully atmospheric, with a long, sometimes bloody history. The perfect place for a romantic suspense!

Thanks so much for staying in with me, Helena, to tell me all about A Year of Light and Shadows. It sounds a wonderful read.

Thanks so much for having me, Linda. I love the idea of staying in with a book. I hope you enjoy the wine and shortbread!

I can’t drink wine as it makes me ill but I’m afraid the shortbread seems to have disappeared!

A Year of Light and Shadows

From a beautiful Mediterranean palace to the atmospheric, winding streets of Edinburgh, A Year of Light and Shadows will take you on a journey of mystery and romance. Perfect for fans of Mary Stewart, Victoria Holt and Daphne du Maurier.

When actress Lizzie Smith is asked to play the role of a genuine princess, her decision to accept thrusts her into a world of intrigue and danger. Alone in a glittering palace by the Mediterranean, isolated from her friends, Lizzie is forced to rely on her quiet bodyguard, Léon, to guide her. But who is Léon really protecting? Lizzie…or the princess?

On her return to Scotland, Lizzie begins rehearsals for Macbeth – and finds danger is still stalking her through the streets of Edinburgh. Lizzie is once again forced to turn to Léon, for help…and discovers a secret he’d do anything not to reveal.

A Year of Light and Shadows is available for purchase here. 

About Helena Fairfax

Helena Fairfax writes engaging contemporary romances with sympathetic heroines and heroes she’s secretly in love with. Her novels have been shortlisted for several awards, including the Exeter Novel Prize, the Global Ebook Awards, the I Heart Indie Awards, and the UK’s Romantic Novelists’ Association New Writers’ Scheme Award.

Helena is a British author who was born in Uganda and came to England as a child. She’s grown used to the cold now, and these days she lives in an old Victorian mill town in the north of England, right next door to the windswept Yorkshire moors. She walks this romantic landscape every day with her rescue dog, finding it the perfect place to dream up her heroes and her happy endings.

You can find out more about Helena by visiting her website, finding her on Facebook, or following her on Twitter @HelenaFairfax.