It’s two years since I last featured lovely Lesley Pearse here on Linda’s Book Bag when I reviewed Liar. Today I’m delighted to share my review of Lesley’s latest book Deception. My thanks to Courtney at edpr for inviting me to participate in this blog tour.

Published by Penguin imprint Michael Joseph on 7th July 2022, Deception is available for purchase through the links here.

Deception

What happens when the person closest to you has led a life of deception?

After the funeral of her mother, Sally, Alice Kent is approached by a man named Angus Tweedy. He claims to be her father and tells her that he served time in prison for marrying Sally bigamously.

What does he hope to gain by telling her this now, thirty years on?
How can her adored dad Ralph not be her true father?
And why did her mother betray her so badly?

She had accepted Sally’s many faults, and her reluctance to ever speak of the past. But faced with this staggering deception, Alice knows she must uncover the whole truth about her mother.

Whatever the cost.

As Alice journeys into the past she discovers her mother may never have been the woman she claimed to be . . .

My Review of Deception

Alice’s mother may not have been who she thought.

Deception has a seemingly simple plot as Alice tries to find out about her mother’s past, but told through Alice’s modern 2015 perspective interspersed by her mother’s decades of life, there’s a gradual uncovering that draws in the reader and makes them experience the truth in the same way as Alice uncovers it in a very satisfying narrative.

Raunchier than I’m used to from Lesley Pearse, Deception conveys the eras, particularly of Fleur’s experience, to perfection. Touches of realism such as the musical Hair add a sense of authenticity and the sexist, male dominated world feels so convincing.

I loathed Sally at the start of Deception, but as she transmogrified into her different personas and Alice found out more about her, I felt I had come to know a real woman. Her life choices may have been forced upon her, unwisely chosen or even criminal, but what Lesley Pearse does so well is to show the reader why Sally behaved as she did so that there’s a reality to her actions and an understanding In the reader.

Whilst being entertaining and engaging, Deception tackles some very weighty issues. It’s tricky to allude to them without spoiling the story, but I thoroughly appreciated the harsh reality Lesley Pearse depicts of life for women throughout the middle decades of the last century. At the same time, Deception doesn’t feel dated so that the modern reader can relate to what happens completely.

I found Deception more thought provoking and deeper than other Lesley Pearse books, although her central themes of identity and self-resilience endure. As a result, Deception feels substantial and rewarding to read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

About Lesley Pearse

Lesley Pearse was told as a child that she had too much imagination for her own good. When she grew up she worked her way through many jobs – from corsetry sales in Cooks of St. Pauls (featured in Dead to Me), to bunny girl to nanny; from gift shop owner to dressmaker – finally finding her true vocation when she became a published author age 49. Since then Lesley has become an internationally bestselling author, with over 10 million copies of her books sold worldwide.

A true storyteller and a master of gripping storylines, there is no set formula for a Lesley Pearse novel although strong heroines and difficult circumstances are pervasive. Whether historical adventures such as Gypsy or Never Look Back or the passionately emotive Trust Me, Lesley is inspired by stories of courage and adversity and often gives voice to women lost in history. She is passionate about her research and her stories have taken her far and wide; from Alaska to the Crimea. Lesley now lives just outside Torquay in Devon where she loves to spend time walking on the beach with her grandchildren and dogs.

A fantastic speaker and committed and passionate fundraiser for the NSPCC, Lesley is a much sought after guest at literary lunches, library events and festivals up and down the country. Lesley was also selected as the first Ambassador for National Libraries Day in 2014.

You can follow Lesley on Twitter @LesleyPearse, and find her on Facebook.

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I love receiving surprise book post and as a cat lover I was delighted to receive children’s book Cats in Chaos by Peter Bently and illustrated by John Bond. My huge thanks to Tina Mories for sending it to me.

Cats in Chaos is a companion book to Dogs in Disguise that I reviewed here.

Published by Harper Collins Childrens’ Books on 7th July, Cats in Chaos is available for purchase through the links here.

Cats in Chaos

A hilarious new picture book from Roald Dahl Funny Prize-winning author Peter Bently and the incredibly talented illustrator John Bond, creators of Dogs in Disguise.

A fun-filled look into the chaotic world of cats and all the crazy things they get up to when their owners aren’t looking!

In the dark of night, as their owners sleep, the cats of the city are all headed to one place: Catsby’s Great Circus! Step this way and see conjuring cats, felines that fly, Siamese that swing from above, and don’t miss the mighty PURRCULES CLAW. But with so much activity, it only takes one little mouse in the wrong place to put the whole circus in chaos…

This jaunty rhyming text from hugely popular, award-winning author, Peter Bently, with brilliantly witty illustrations from John Bond, creator of the Mini Rabbit books, will have children laughing out loud!

My Review of Cats in Chaos

The cat circus is in town.

I have one small quibble to get out of the way before my review proper and that is my preference not to have occasional words entirely in upper case letters in children’s books as I prefer them to reflect how we would like emergent writers to write. That said, the target audience for Cats in Chaos would neither notice or care!

Cats in Chaos is fabulous. It’s so funny that I found myself laughing aloud on several occasions and I can envisage young children absolutely loving the antics of the cats and the chaos caused by the mouse. The word play like ‘cat-astrophe’ and the onomatopoeic words like ‘yowling’ add to the smashing educational as well as entertainment value of Cats in Chaos. The story is fast paced with a structure that works beautifully, beginning and ending with cats snoozing and snuggling (or not!).

There’s brilliant rhyming that helps promote children’s own language use and the names of the cat circus acts like Evel Katnevel the motorbike rider are perfect too – or should that be purrfect? All these features add to a huge sense of fun which I think is very much needed after recent times.

Add in the sensational illustrations, the vibrant colours and the perfect balance of text to picture and I think Cats in Chaos is destined to become one of those books children adore and return to time and again. I loved it!

About Peter Bently

Peter studied languages at Oxford University, England, and lives in Devon with his wife Lucy and their two children. After a career as a non-fiction editor, he turned to writing for children soon after the birth of his son Theo. Egmont published his very first children’s book, the bestselling A Lark in the Ark, which was shortlisted for the Red House award and the inaugural BookTrust Book of the Year awards.

Peter also wrote King Jack and the Dragon, which was shortlisted for the Kate Greenway Medal and selected as one of the American Library Association’s Notable Books of the year. Among his other titles, the hilarious The Great Dog Bottom Swap was shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize, which he won in 2011 with Cats Ahoy!

You’ll find more information on Peter’s website and you can follow him on Twitter @PeterBently and Instagram.

About John Bond

John Bond is an illustrator, author and artist. He grew up on a farm in the Cotswolds and went on to study a degree in Illustration at Kingston University, London. He now lives and works in Worthing on the south coast. His studio is based at Colonnade House.

With a background in animation and digital media, he spent 7 years working at an award winning creative agency – designing and directing a multitude of projects for broadcast, digital, and interactive content.

He now works independently as an illustrator and artist, balancing commercial jobs with self initiated projects alongside running his own online store. Bond’s work has been exhibited in galleries worldwide and he has spoken at industry events such as Pictoplasma, Glug and Pecha Kucha.

For more information, visit John’s website, follow him on Twitter @iamjohnbond and Instagram or find him on Facebook.

It’s far, far too long since Holly Seddon appeared here on Linda’s Book Bag when we stayed in together here to chat about Don’t Close Your Eyes, so I’m thrilled to be part of the blog tour for The Woman on the Bridge by sharing my review today. My thanks to Tracy Fenton for inviting me to participate.

Published by Orion, The Woman On The Bridge is available in all formats through the links here.

The Woman on the Bridge

How far would you go to save a perfect stranger?

Maggie is trapped. Dumped on her wedding day, rejected by her family and hounded by a man determined to make her suffer.

Charlotte is desperate. Double-crossed by her only friend and facing total ruin, she will go to any lengths to save what matters.

Two women, one night. A decision that will change everything.

My Review of The Woman on the Bridge

Charlotte and Maggie’s lives are about to change!

Picture a reader staring at page after page without blinking, jaw slack and breath held and you’ll picture how I read The Woman on the Bridge. Initially I was uncertain if I’d engage with the narrative as I didn’t warm to Charlotte but within a few pages Holly Seddon drew me in with her fast paced, devious plotting so that not only was I totally engrossed, but The Woman on the Bridge held me captive and resentful of anyone interrupting my reading.

Intricately plotted, The Woman on the Bridge might need a willing suspension of disbelief at times, but I genuinely had no idea what the outcome might be. I found it a brilliant, twisting story that took me by surprise on several occasions. Reading The Woman on the Bridge is akin to being on the Waltzers at a fairground. Just when you think you know which way you’re headed in, you’re spun round in the opposite direction. This makes for an exciting and compelling read.

The characters in The Woman on the Bridge are all devious, unreliable and duplicitous and the irony is, the one I suspected most transpired to be the most innocent, but I can’t say more without plot spoilers.

I loved the manner in which so many women in this narrative are both literally and metaphorically on the bridge. Obviously Charlotte finds Maggie on the  bridge, but both women are on the bridge of a new phase in their lives, as are Anne and Pamela at different points. I loved, too, the intensity of relationship between Charlotte and Maggie because it adds a layer of depth and emotion that is so affecting. Holly Seddon shows us how closely and rapidly it is possible to become embroiled in the life of another person.

Weave in themes of loyalty and betrayal, family and relationships, guilt and innocence to the compelling characters and breath taking pace and The Woman on the Bridge is an outstanding thriller that entertains so wonderfully. I really loved it.

About Holly Seddon

Holly Seddon is the international bestselling author of Try Not to Breathe, Don’t Close Your Eyes, Love Will Tear Us Apart and The Hit List. After growing up in the English countryside obsessed with music and books, Holly worked in London as a journalist and editor. She now lives in Kent with her family and writes full time. Alongside fellow author Gillian McAllister, Holly co-hosts the popular Honest Authors Podcast.

For further information you can follow Holly on Twitter @hollyseddon, Instagram and Facebook or visit visit her website.

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When I began blogging, Mike Gayle was one of the first authors I met in real life and I have never forgotten what a wonderful experience that was. Ironically, although I think I’ve bought them all since then, I’ve read too few of Mike’s books and so I’m delighted to rectify that error by sharing my review of The Museum of Ordinary People today. My huge thanks to the folk at Team Bookends for sending me a copy of The Museum of Ordinary People in return for an honest review and to Jenny Platt at Hodder for including me in this blog tour.

You’ll find my review of Mike’s All the Lonely People here.

Published by Hodder and Stoughton today, 7th July 2022, The Museum of Ordinary People is available for purchase through the links here.

The Museum of Ordinary People

Still reeling from the sudden death of her mother, Jess is about to do the hardest thing she’s ever done: empty her childhood home so that it can be sold.

But when in the process Jess stumbles across the mysterious Alex, together they become custodians of a strange archive of letters, photographs, curios and collections known as The Museum of Ordinary People.

As they begin to delve into the history of the objects in their care, Alex and Jess not only unravel heart-breaking stories that span generations and continents, but also unearth long buried secrets that lie much closer to home.

Inspired by a box of mementos found abandoned in a skip following a house clearance, The Museum of Ordinary People is a thought-provoking and poignant story of memory, grief, loss and the things we leave behind.

My Review of The Museum of Ordinary People

The Museum of Ordinary People is classic Mike Gayle gorgeousness. It’s simultaneously heart-warming and heart breaking, bringing a tear to the eye and an ache in the heart because this author knows exactly how to convey our innermost hopes and fears through his fabulous storytelling and characterisation. What Mike Gayle does so effortlessly is to provide a glimpse into humanity and teach us what really matters in life but in a way that entertains and leaves the reader feeling a sense of love and belonging that might have been missing in our lives. He’s such an evocative writer.

I loved the plot. The discovery of the museum, Jess’s involvement in it, her relationship with Guy, her friendship with Luce, as well as the developments with Alex and the others are situations that are heightened by some twists and discoveries along the way so that The Museum of Ordinary People is really entertaining and interesting as well as moving and engaging.

Jess is quite wonderful. Like so many of us she is filled with self doubt, thinking she has rather lost her way in life so that the reader feels as if she’s a friend we know well. I was desperate for her to be happy. Her Mum is brilliantly depicted despite not being physically present so that we experience her memory every bit as vividly as Jess does.

Indeed, Jess’s self discovery, and finding what is important in her life, is a crucial thread and it is Mike Gayle’s themes that elevate the book into a fabulous read. He imbues his writing with such profound understanding of grief, of how we can find ourselves in places, situations and relationships that we never intended, of guilt, atonement and the need to belong, it is as if he has looked into our hearts and helped us find our place in life and heal. Certainly I expected a positive ending to The Museum of Ordinary People, but there’s no sense of simple contrivance; more a mature and insightful understanding of who we really are that touches and enlightens the reader.

I found The Museum of Ordinary People impossible to tear myself away from. It’s absolutely lovely and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

About Mike Gayle

Mike Gayle was born and raised in Birmingham. After graduating from Salford University with a degree in Sociology, he moved to London to pursue a career in journalism and worked as a features editor and agony uncle. He has written for a variety of publications including The Sunday Times, the Guardian and Cosmopolitan. Mike became a full-time novelist in 1997 following the publication of his Sunday Times top ten bestseller My Legendary Girlfriend, which was hailed by the Independent as ‘full of belly laughs and painfully acute observations’, and by The Times as ‘a funny, frank account of a hopeless romantic’. Since then he has written sixteen novels, including The Man I Think I Know, selected as a World Book Night title, and Half A World Away, selected for the Richard and Judy Book Club. His books have been translated into more than thirty languages. In 2021, Mike was the recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Romantic Novelists’ Association. He lives in Birmingham with his wife, kids and greyhound.

For more information, find Mike on Instagram or Facebook, visit his website or follow him on Twitter @mikegayle.

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I love being part of a book’s journey into the world so when Karl Muntz got in touch about his book, The Pain Eater, coming out today I simply had to invite him onto Linda’s Book Bag to find out more. Let’s see what he told me:

Staying in with Kyle Muntz

Hi Kyle, and welcome to Linda’s Book Bag. I rather think I know the answer, but what book have you brought along today?

I’ve brought along The Pain Eater. It’s a literary horror novel out today from Clash Books about two brothers who discover a creature that eats human pain.

Oo. Happy publication day Kyle. This sounds fascinating. What can we expect from an evening with The Pain Eater?

Anyone who has ever lived in a small town can expect something familiar, yet somehow uncomfortable—especially if you happen to grow up in the 2000s. The Pain Eater definitely has the darkness you’d expect from a horror novel; but beneath that, it’s about a time, and a place, and aspects of life I think anyone who has lived in a small-town will recognize.

I live in a very small town. You’ve got me thinking… What else have you brought with The Pain Eater?

I’ve brought a novel by Stephen King. I grew up loving King, especially the gritty realism of his setting and characters. But as I got older, I found myself disliking how, once you discovered what was going on, beneath the surface the characters always stumbled into some great struggle between good and evil. When I wrote the Pain Eater, I was curious to see what horror would look like if we looked into the darkness, and just saw more of ourselves.

Really, was it just Stephen King who had this effect on you?

Actually, maybe not. I feel the book might appeal to similar audience, probably especially because of the setting. But I haven’t read King much since I was quite young. Recently I’ve been a lot more influenced by writers like Larry McMurtry, Anne Tyler, and Jonathan Franzen, especially the techniques they use to make characters realistic and nuanced. At the same time, I was thinking of Haruki Murakami, who injects a bunch of surprising supernatural elements into realistic settings—but darker. So the book works gradually towards intense, grim moments that were ultimately intense enough the publisher felt it could be released as horror.

So does The Pain Eater reflect your own life?

The Pain Eater isn’t autobiographical, but it does happen to be set in the mid-2000s—right in the years when I was an angry teenager. I was quite surprised during the writing just how different many things were. The characters barely use social media; they don’t have cell-phones. One of the characters is very into Japanese nerd-culture, but they don’t stream anime on the internet—they steal DVDs from the store. The process of recreating the setting was an interesting reminder that it’s not quite “historical”, but still remote enough to feel both close and far away.

What would you drink while you’re reading the book?

Bell’s Oberon. It’s a wheat beer from Michigan that actually appears in the novel; when I was in my early 20s, I remember feeling it wasn’t summer until you could get Oberon in the stores. And these days, since I’ve lived overseas for quite a few years, it’s one of those details from home that has taken on a sort of mythical proportion.

I’d never heard of that beer. Pour me a glass and tell me what readers been saying about the book?

So far, I’ve gotten lucky with some pretty nice buzz! I was especially pumped about this blurb from Eric Larocca, author of the viral hit Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke:

“Absurd, grim, and wonderfully unique, Kyle Muntz’s The Pain Eater is an exceptional read from a new and distinct voice in horror.”

I also got a great blurb from Nick Mamatas, a multi-genre whose most recently book is The Second Shooter. I’ve been following his work for about decade now, so was incredibly excited to get this from him:

“What if the horror boom of the 1980s had instead exploded during the age of emo? Everybody you know would be reading and re-reading The Pain Eater. A dark slow burn of a novel.”

Those are fabulous responses. You must be thrilled.

Also, there have been some very kind pre-release reviews, including this one from Vanessa at Pirate Twinkie which also had some nice period references:.

“As the story spirals ever downward, it gets darker, angrier, and at times, pretty gross. There’s a level of melancholy with the characters like the feeling you would get if you listened to an entire Bright Eyes album. Maybe Bright Eyes mixed with screamo.”

And thanks to Christina, a very generous Goodreads reviewer who had this to say about the novel:

“Original, disturbing, and imaginative—all things that make for a great horror story, of which Muntz is not in short supply…Fans of horror will love this. It was graphic, it was unsettling, and it was a wildly dark take on trauma and family.”

I think The Pain Eater sounds brilliant Kyle. Thank you for staying in with me to chat about it. Happy publication day once again. Let’s raise a glass of Bell’s Oberon in celebration and I’ll tell Linda’s Book Bag readers a little more:

The Pain Eater

The Pain Eater is the story of two brothers from Michigan reunited after the death of their father. They’ve never been close, but now they have to live together―and it gets more difficult when one discovers a strange creature, vomited from the body of a dead cat. A creature that eats human pain. It feels good: too good. Soon he wants to hurt himself more, just so the pain can be taken away. But the more the creature becomes a part of his life, the more he damages everything around him. Some wounds are too deep to ever heal.

Published by Clash Books today, 5th July 2022, The Pain Eater is available here and here.

About Kyle Muntz

Kyle Muntz is an American novelist and author of Voices [2010, Enigmatic Ink], Sunshine in the Valley [2011, Civil Coping Mechanisms], VII (or) The Life, Times and Tragedy of Sir Edward William Locke the Third: Gentleman [2012, Enigmatic Ink], Green Lights [2014, CCM], and Scary People [2015, Eraserhead Press].

Excerpts and other pieces of his have also been published in Gone Lawn, Step Chamber, The Journal of Experimental Fiction and Fiction International.

You can follow Kyle on Twitter @kylemuntz and Instagram.

It’s amazing how long it seems since we were in the thick of Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee celebrations and I’m delighted today to share my review of the children’s book Queen Elizabeth: A Platinum Celebration. My enormous thanks to Josh at DK for sending me a copy of Queen Elizabeth: A Platinum Celebration in return for an honest review.

Published by DK Children’s Books on 16th June 2022, Queen Elizabeth: A Platinum Celebration is available for purchase here.

Queen Elizabeth: A Platinum Celebration

An official Platinum Jubilee souvenir that explores the incredible life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth and how her historic reign has shaped the world.

In honour of Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee 2022, this once in a lifetime history book for kids tells the story of a young princess who grew up to become our longest reigning monarch, and celebrates the achievements, people and places that have become part of her remarkable legacy.

There is a treasure box hidden away in Great Granny Joyce’s home, bursting with all kinds of things… A photo of a young woman wearing a crown, a map of the world, newspaper clippings, and so much more that reveal the great wonders of the last 70 years. There is so much to look at that little Isabella doesn’t even know where to begin! Did you know that Princess Elizabeth was only 27 when she became Queen? Or that she made an appearance at the opening ceremony of the 2010 London Olympics alongside James Bond? And that the most astonishing inventions like the World Wide Web, as well as historic milestones like the first female Prime Minister of the UK happened under our Queen’s watch?

Delightfully playful illustrations, exciting facts, and information sidebars fill every page to tell the full story of the world’s most beloved and inspiring monarch. Embark on this royal journey and show what you know with a surprise quiz at the end!

Inside this beautifully illustrated history book for children, you will find everything from the Crown to the Corgis detailed here, including:

– An exclusive quiz poster
– An illustration mapping out the Royal Family tree
– A timeline of the histories of the four UK nations
– The story of the Queen’s dedication to her country from wartime service during World War II to fundraising and commitments to the Commonwealth and wider world
– A timeline of the extraordinary events in history, as well as the incredible achievements of people from the UK and Commonwealth countries that have taken place during The Queen’s lifetime
– Details of the 14 British Prime Ministers who have served alongside The Queen
– A celebration of the amazing people The Queen has recognised

My Review of Queen Elizabeth: A Platinum Celebration

A celebration of the reign of Queen Elizabeth 11.

What a fantastic souvenir of an important moment in history Queen Elizabeth: A Platinum Celebration is. Equally relevant to homes or classrooms there’s so much to explore, with history, geography, stories, facts, places to visit, a glossary, sport, music, charities, the Queen’s own words and so much more. I must confess I didn’t know the National Anthem beyond the first verse until I read this book!

Although Queen Elizabeth: A Platinum Celebration is a book to relish and treasure in its own right, because it’s such an interesting read, it really is a wonderful catalyst to inspire and engage young people. I think using it in a KS2 school setting it would be perfect. I can imagine the map of the Commonwealth Countries being used for classes to create a map of the world including their own cultural heritages, or the section on innovation inspiring research and science based projects. Even the snippet about succession could lead to discussion about the role of girls and females in society. However, what I think is most important about Queen Elizabeth: A Platinum Celebration is that, through Great Granny Joyce sharing her treasure box with Isabella, there is a sense of belonging and community that the world needs. I think it says something about the intention behind the book that no one person is singled out as author or illustrator but that the book has been complied by a team.

Before finishing my review, I have to comment on the super physical qualities of Queen Elizabeth: A Platinum Celebration. It’s beautifully presented with illustrations that appeal to readers of all ages and that illustrate diversity from the young to the elderly, from the able bodied to those with disabilities and with people of all colours so that it feels inclusive and respectful of all.

Queen Elizabeth: A Platinum Celebration would be a fantastic keepsake for children born during the jubilee year as well as those already old enough to enjoy it. I thought it was excellent.

About the Authors and Illustrators

Usually at this point I give details about individuals, but as I said in my review, Queen Elizabeth: A Platinum Celebration has been complied by a team and that concept of teamwork or community is something from which the world could benefit right now.

Having been a recipient of a Romantic Novelists Association Media Star award in the past, I’m delighted to feature contenders for this year’s Joan Hessayon Award here on Linda’s Book Bag. Today I’m delighted to welcome Jennifer Bibby to stay in with me to chat about The Cornish Hideaway which has been shortlisted for the award.

First, let’s find out more about The Joan Hessayon Award:

The Joan Hessayon Award

Sponsored by Dr. David Hessayon OBE in honour of his late wife, Joan, who was a novelist, RNA member and supporter of its New Writers’ Scheme, the award showcases a variety of debut novels within the romantic fiction genre. The novels are judged by a panel of published authors from the RNA and publishing industry professionals. Previous winners include Jo Thomas, Charlotte Betts, Lorna Cook and Caroline Day.

The New Writers’ Scheme provides support to unpublished writers of romantic fiction. Manuscripts can be submitted for assessment and are critiqued by published authors. In addition, the members of the scheme can attend RNA events and participate in members-only activities and networking opportunities.

The ceremony to announce the winner will be held at 6.30pm on Saturday 16th July 2022 at Harper Adams University, Newport, Shropshire, as part of the RNA’s annual conference.

****

Luton author, Jennifer Bibby, is a contender for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s (RNA) annual Joan Hessayon Award for 2022 with her novel, The Cornish Hideaway. The award is for authors whose debut novels have gone through the RNA’s New Writers’ Scheme and are subsequently accepted for publication.

Staying in with Jennifer Bibby

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

It’s been a real treat to be invited along, so thank you.

You’re very welcome. Tell me, which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it?

I’ve bought along my debut novel The Cornish Hideaway because it’s the perfect summer escape. With all the predicted travel chaos, it means you can while away an evening in Cornwall without leaving your sofa / garden. With these light evenings its certainly reading outside weather.

That sounds just perfect. I think we could all do with an easy escape!

What can we expect from an evening in with The Cornish Hideaway?

Well, as it’s about Freya fleeing from the collapse of her life in London following failing her Masters degree and her boyfriend dumping her you can expect the usual sort of commiserations over heartbreak – wine, cake and good company with her friend and café owner Lola. By the end of the night your spirits will definitely be lifted and if Lola gets out her tarot cards then you may have a glimpse of what is waiting for you in your future.

So is The Cornish Hideaway all girls?

No, don’t expect it to just be a night in with the girls, you’ll probably find local retired fisherman Alf and his dog Scruff coming along to dish out some advice. But watch out – Scruff will definitely be after your cake!

Scruff sounds like a ‘person’ after my own heart!

Everyone has loved their journey to The Cornish Hideaway and hanging out with the Polcarrow crew so I’m sure you’ll also have a wonderful time. I’m over the moon with how well the novel has been received.

I’m delighted to hear that Jen. What else have you brought along and why have you brought it?

You couldn’t have a night in with The Cornish Hideaway without having a cream tea, Lola wouldn’t hear of it! Freshly baked scones, clotted cream and sticky strawberry jam, the works!  Since we’re also celebrating being a contender for the Joan Hessayon award I also think it’s only fitting that we crack open a bottle of fizz, don’t you?

I do indeed! Fizz and a cream tea – you’re talking my language! Thank you so much for staying in to chat about The Cornish Hideaway and all the very best with the RNA Joan Hessayon Award. Whatever happens, you’ve done brilliantly to get this far. I look forward to reading The Cornish Hideaway Escape for myself and I’ll just give readers a few more details: 

The Cornish Hideaway

All Freya has ever wanted to do is paint. So when she fails her Master’s Degree in Art, on the same day that her boyfriend decides he needs a ‘more serious’ partner, to Freya it feels like the end of the world.

Luckily, she has a saviour in the shape of best friend Lola, who invites her to the sleepy Cornish village of Polcarrow, to work in her café. With nothing keeping her in London, Freya jumps at the chance of a summer by the sea.

Freya needs time to focus on herself. But then dark and mysterious biker Angelo blows into town on a stormy afternoon, with his own artistic dreams and a secretive past, and Freya’s plans of a romance-free summer fly straight out of the window…

Heart-warming, heartfelt and romantic, The Cornish Hideaway is a novel of community, friendship and learning to love again, for fans of Jenny Colgan, Cathy Bramley and Heidi Swain.

Published by Simon and Schuster on 22nd March 2022, The Cornish Hideaway is available for purchase through the links here.

About Jennifer Bibby

As a lifelong lover of stories, Jennifer Bibby spent her teenage years wowing various teachers with her historical epics before finding her feet exploring the everyday lives of modern women through literature. In addition to being a bibliophile she loves classy cocktails, cake and medieval history. She’s happiest by the sea and loves to travel, and firmly believes that dinosaurs improve everything. The Cornish Hideaway is her debut novel.

For more information, follow Jennifer on Twitter @jennyfromthewr1 and Instagram.

Having recently interviewed John Marrs in his one and only in person interview at the Deepings Literary Festival, how could I resist taking part in the blog tour for The Vacation? My thanks to Anne Cater and Tracy Fenton for inviting me to participate.

I’ve been a fan of John’s writing for years and he’s appeared on Linda’s Book Bag several times. Most recently I interviewed John about The Minders, here.

You’ll find John on the blog when I reviewed What Lies Between Us here. I reviewed John’s The One here, and interviewed him about The One here. When John’s The Good Samaritan was published he provided a superb guest post that you can read here too.

Published by Pan Macmillan on 23rd June 2022, The Vacation is available for purchase through the links here.

The Vacation

Longlisted for the 2022 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize, The Vacation is a compulsive, holiday-set thriller from John Marrs, the author of The One, now a Netflix Original Series.

How far would you run to escape your past?

Venice Beach, Los Angeles. A paradise on earth.

Tourists flock to the golden coast and the promise of Hollywood.

But for eight strangers at a beach front hostel, there is far more on their mind than an extended vacation.

All of them are running from something. And they all have secrets they’d kill to keep . . .

Originally published as Welcome to Wherever You Are, this is a re-edited release perfect for fans of T. M. Logan.

My Review of The Vacation

Life in a backpacker’s hostel isn’t quite what it seems.

Having been used to John Marrs’ intense, claustrophobic, psychological thrillers, I was taken by surprise by The Vacation as it roams across time frames and settings and is very different to other of his books. What works so well is the way the different time frames are woven like a tapestry so that there’s an almost visual uncovering of the action in this fast paced, absolutely gripping narrative.

The Vacation is a cracker of a summer read. I loved the way the plot ebbed and flowed like the tide on Venice Beach and the manner with which John Marrs gradually fed information to both the characters and the reader makes it so engaging. Something about the episodic quality took me back to the days of watching television series like Dallas where there’s intrigue, deception, crime and manipulation all rolled into a breathless, engaging story. It’s not possible to say too much about the plot of The Vacation as it is intricate and so full of brilliant surprises that anything more would spoil the read.

I loved meeting all the characters and the way John Marrs explored and gradually uncovered who they were and why they found themselves at the hostel. I usually struggle to keep multiple characters clear in my head but here the cast of The Vacation is so cleverly presented that every single person feels distinct. The themes of identity and trust build these people into totally convincing characters to the extent that reading The Vacation has made me question how well I know anyone in my life.

Themes of love, family, life, death, race, sexuality, greed, estrangement, guilt, blame, trust, revenge, loyalty and so on are so inextricably linked in the story that it really is a fabulous read.

I thought The Vacation was brilliant. It’s quite bonkers at times with so many twists and turns that it leaves the reader’s head in a total spin. However, that insight into the human psyche I’ve come to expect from John Marrs’ writing is absolutely present alongside the hugely entertaining story so that The Vacation is a total corker of a read. It’s great fun, filled with drama and surprisingly emotional. I loved it and if you’re looking for a read with everything from murder to mothers, broken hearts to broken noses, duplicitous characters and a fabulous plot, you will too.

About John Marrs

John Marrs is an author and former journalist based in London and Northamptonshire. After spending his career interviewing celebrities from the worlds of television, film and music for numerous national newspapers and magazines, he is now a full-time author. He is the bestselling author of: The One, The Passengers, The Minders, What Lies Between and When You Disappeared.

You can visit John’s website for more information, or you can find him on Facebook and Instagram.  Follow him on Twitter @johnmarrs1,

There’s more with these other bloggers too:

Having been a recipient of a Romantic Novelists Association Media Star award in the past, I’m delighted to feature contenders for this year’s Joan Hessayon Award here on Linda’s Book Bag. Today it’s my pleasure to welcome Lissa Morgan to stay in with me to chat about The Welsh Lord’s Convenient Bride which has been shortlisted for the award.

First, let’s find out more about The Joan Hessayon Award:

The Joan Hessayon Award

Sponsored by Dr. David Hessayon OBE in honour of his late wife, Joan, who was a novelist, RNA member and supporter of its New Writers’ Scheme, the award showcases a variety of debut novels within the romantic fiction genre. The novels are judged by a panel of published authors from the RNA and publishing industry professionals. Previous winners include Jo Thomas, Charlotte Betts, Lorna Cook and Caroline Day.

The New Writers’ Scheme provides support to unpublished writers of romantic fiction. Manuscripts can be submitted for assessment and are critiqued by published authors. In addition, the members of the scheme can attend RNA events and participate in members-only activities and networking opportunities.

The ceremony to announce the winner will be held at 6.30pm on Saturday 16th July 2022 at Harper Adams University, Newport, Shropshire, as part of the RNA’s annual conference.

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Dolgellau author, Lissa Morgan, is a contender for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s (RNA) annual Joan Hessayon Award for 2022 with her novel, The Welsh Lord’s Convenient Bride. The award is for authors whose debut novels have gone through the RNA’s New Writers’ Scheme and are subsequently accepted for publication.

Staying in with Lissa Morgan

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

Thank you for inviting me, Linda, it’s great to be here!

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

I’ve brought along my debut novel for Harlequin Historical-Mills & Boon Historical, The Welsh Lord’s Convenient Bride, which is one of the contenders for the Joan Hessayon Award this year. It’s my first historical novel, after several years of focussing on contemporary romance for HM&B but never quite making it to publication. It is a book very close to my heart for this and many other reasons.

How exciting – especially when switching focus. Congratulations. What can we expect from an evening in with The Welsh Lord’s Convenient Bride?

Well, as the title suggests, it’s a ‘marriage of convenience’ story and is set in my native Wales in the late 13^th century. It’s a dramatic love story played out against a factual and fierce Welsh rebellion against the Crown. This broke out in 1294 and raged for a year before the rebels were finally defeated by the military might of King Edward I.  The external political events are mirrored by the internal conflict of the two main characters, Rhun and Eleanor, who carry deeply rooted scars and inner fears that make their marriage a difficult as well as reluctant one. As I’m a passionately Welsh writer, readers can expect quite a bit of authentic medieval history – and to learn one or two Welsh words and even a piece of poetry! – and an intensely emotional journey to the hard-earned happy ever after.

This sounds fabulous. I’ve just come back from a trip to Wales so next time I visit I may have to take The Welsh Lord’s Convenient Bride with me.

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

I’ve brought along an image of Dolwyddelan Castle in North Wales. This was the inspiration for the home of my hero, Castell y Lleuad, which means Castle of the Moon. My heroine finds it a gloomy, unwelcoming and forbidding place at first but soon discovers that it is totally magical.  Castell y Lleuad almost became a character itself, and it plays a significant part in the bonding of my two characters in an emotional and spiritual as well as physical sense.

Dolwyddelan Castle is a place I’ve visited Lissa! Thank you so much for staying in to chat about The Welsh Lord’s Convenient Bride and all the very best with the RNA Joan Hessayon Award. Whatever happens, you’ve done brilliantly to get this far. I look forward to reading The Welsh Lord’s Convenient Bride for myself and I’ll just give readers a few more details: 

The Welsh Lord’s Convenient Bride

Enjoy the drama that unfolds in this medieval marriage of convenience…

A wedding between enemies

A marriage to heal their scars

Hiding a disfigurement, Eleanor de Vraille is already lacking confidence when she arrives at her future husband’s cheerless Welsh castle. And Rhun ab Owain’s open disapproval of her does nothing to make her feel at ease. Their union is to seal peace between their families, nothing more.

But Eleanor’s heart rebels–is she a fool to hope for any affection from this strong-willed nobleman with the dark glittering eyes?

Published by Mills & Boon/Harlequin on 24th May 2022, The Welsh Lord’s Convenient Bride is available for purchase through the links here.

About Lissa Morgan

After several unsuccessful attempts at contemporary romance set in far flung locations, Lissa’s acquiring editor, Linda Fildew, asked her if she’d ever thought of writing historical romantic fiction. Lissa studied History at Aberystwyth University, and history has always been a passion, so she doesn’t know why she didn’t go down that route sooner!  Because it all suddenly fell into place when she set The Welsh Lord’s Convenient Bride in the Middle Ages – her favourite historical period – and in her own neck of the woods, mid and north Wales. Lissa says she guesses there’s a right time and a right place for everything!

For more information, visit Lissa’s website, find her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter @LissaMorganAuth. Lissa is also on InstagramInstagram.