Blog Tour - Poetic Justice - Mark Tilbury

 

If you're a regular reader on my little blog then you'll know just how much I love Mark Tilbury's books so I was excited to get my hands on his latest release Poetic Justice. 

As well as writing novels, Mark also enjoys writing poetry and Poetic Justice is a delightfully twisted collection of five short stories and novella's which all begin with a poem which inspired the story - an idea that I thought was very original as it's not something that I've seen before.

Although not as dark as Mark's other books, don't be fooled into thinking that because these are 'short' stories there won't be enough to get your teeth into as these five little gems are packed to the rafters with great characters, grittiness and a hint of supernatural along with everything else that you'd expect from this talented author.

Each story has a female protagonist, a seemingly average individual who finds themself in extenuating circumstances and details the lengths that they will go to to get their lives back on track be it fair means or foul. There are definitely some cautionary tales here! 

If I had to choose a favourite it would be a tough decision but I think it would be Lucy's Return. The clever way that the story is narrated, almost as if by a friend, made me really connect with the character. Lucy has waited a long time to reconnect with a particular lad from her school days and boy does she have a surprise planned for him. She's brought along a dish of revenge - and it's VERY cold!

I was immediately drawn into each story and found myself lurching from one emotion to another. One minute I was full of empathy and the next I was totally dumbfounded - did that character really just do that? OMG! Sometimes short stories and even novella's can leave me yearning for more but not these ones - they may be small but they are all mighty. 

If you're of the mindset that short stories aren't for you then I seriously urge you to reconsider - after all these are not just any short stories . . . . .  these are Twisted Tilbury short stories! 

 

                                                    About the author

Photo courtesy of Mark Tilbury

Mark lives in a small village in the lovely county of Cumbria, although his books are set in Oxfordshire where he was born and raised.

He’s always had a keen interest in writing and after being widowed and raising his two daughters, Mark finally took the plunge and began self-publishing. Mark’s writing has earned him the name #TwistedTilbury due to the dark and twisted nature of his books.

When he’s not writing, Mark can be found playing guitar, reading and walking.

 

You can find out more about Mark, his books and connect with him using the links below:

Website
Twitter
Facebook
Amazon

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With kind thanks to author Mark Tilbury for my review copy.

Blog Tour - The Halfpenny Girls at Christmas - Maggie Mason

 

 

I couldn't wait to rejoin Alice, Marg and Edith to find out how their stories would progress. Best friends since they were little and affectionately known as The Halfpenny Girls, these three girls, now young women, they have been there for each other through good times and bad.

Life is still full of ups and down for the trio, Alice is expecting her first child with husband Gerald and Edith is making plans for her wedding to Philip but life is still a struggle for Marg despite her good friends looking out for her. With Christmas fast approaching and the potential prospect of another war on the horizon will the girls and their families be able to pull together and stay strong?

I love reading at any time of the year, but now with the night's drawing in, I can't wait until the time comes to pull the curtains and shut out the real world to curl up and lose myself in another world and what better place to escape to than Blackpool with old friends?

The Halfpenny Girls at Christmas is another enthralling novel which centres on family and friendship with characters that are so captivating I almost wish I could be a Halfpenny Girl! I really enjoyed seeing how the girls are maturing and dealing with whatever life throws at them. Every character is written so vividly it's easy to feel compassion for them and also making them difficult to forget.

Maggie Mason is an exceptional wordsmith who has truly mastered her craft of story telling. Each book is an absolute delight to read and would make a wonderful addition to any saga loving bookworm's library. 

You can follow the rest of the blog tour with these lovely blogs:

With kinds thanks to Francesca Banks at Sphere Books for my review copy.

Blog Tour - Hollywood Bilker - Leopold Borstinski

 

Time is ticking by and it's now the 1960's and having made a dramatic escape from Cuba, Alex Cohen is back in America.

Alex has moved into a different world - one where he is rubbing shoulders with Hollywood legends like Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra at glitzy parties. He is the 'go-to' guy for those extra special items that will ensure all the guests have a good time and they know that Alex will always be discreet. Moving in these circles gives him the opportunity to be a part of, or influence several pivotal moments in American history but he's not always a willing participant.

Alex knows that he's not getting any younger, and while he has fleetingly thought about retirement in the past, he knows that now is the time to start putting things into place to ensure that he and his family have enough money to live comfortably and in the style that they've become accustomed to. Spending quality time with his family is something that hasn't always been a priority in Alex's life and he needs to change that before it's too late.

Hollywood Bilker is another fabulous addition to this exceptional series from Leopold Borstinski. Once again we're given a glimpse into the underground world of crime cleverly combined with real life historical events which makes for exhilarating reading. The story flows seamlessly and the writing is, as always, insightful and captivating. This would be perfect for fans of  historical fiction and crime as well as anyone with an interest in American history and gangsters. 

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                                                  About the author

Photo courtesy of Leopold Borstinski

Leopold Borstinski is an independent author whose past careers have included financial journalism, business management of financial software companies, consulting and product sales and marketing, as well as teaching.

There is nothing he likes better so he does as much nothing as he possibly can. He has travelled extensively in Europe and the US and has visited Asia on several occasions. Leopold holds a Philosophy degree and tries not to drop it too often.

He lives near London and is married with one wife, one child and no pets.

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Follow the rest of the tour with these great blogs:

 

You can find out more about Leopold, his books and connect with him using the links below:

Website
Twitter
Facebook
Amazon

With kind thanks to Zoe at Zooloo's Book Tours for my stop on the tour and author Leopold Borstinksi for my review copy.

Blog Tour - The Lies I Tell - Joel Hames

Polly, Belinda and Emily are all fake online profiles created by Lisa. The aim of each of these profiles is to befriend and eventually defraud unsuspecting people and so far things have been going well for her. Lisa's motivation for her scams is her son, Simon, she wants to give him the secure childhood that she herself never had. When she notices something odd on one of her fake profiles and it looks like someone is turning the tables paranoia starts to set in and she finds herself juggling her ongoing scams with trying to identify the person who is trying to play her at her own game.

I enjoyed the way to story was narrated in dual time format, one with Lisa as she tries to work out who is trying to expose her for the scammer that she is and the other where we slowly discover her traumatic childhood. It was this latter story that helped me warm to Lisa's character as initially I wasn't keen on her. Getting an insight into her formative years made her current life choices more comprehensible. She wanted to provide security for her son in a way that her parents never did which was admirable if not ethical.

The Lies I Tell is a slow burning, tense, complex psychological thriller packed full of twists and turns that will have you guessing right up to the very end. It will have you questioning how safe you are online as well as how well you know your online friends. I will definitely be looking out for the other books from this polished author in the future.

 

                                                 About the author

Photo courtsey of Joel Hames

A Londoner in exile, Joel Hames lives in rural Lancashire with his wife and two daughters.

His works of fiction include the bestselling Sam Williams trilogy Dead North, No One Will Hear and The Cold Years, and the standalone psychological thriller The Lies I Tell.

When not writing or spending time with his family, Joel likes to eat, cook, play the piano, and make up excuses to avoid walking the dog. There’s the MMA thing, too, but he doesn’t like to show off.

You can find out more about Joel, his books and connect with him using the links below:

Website
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Twitter
Facebook 

With kind thanks to Zoe at Zooloo's Book Tours for my stop on the tour and author Joel Hames for my review copy.

Blog Tour - Let Sleeping Murder Lie - Carmen Radtke

 

I loved Carmen Radtke's historical fiction novels so I was excited to hear that she was writing a contemporary cozy mystery and couldn't wait to dive in. 

In Let Sleeping Murder Lie we meet Eve Holdsworth, a translator, who grew up in Seattle but has spent several years in England. Her latest rental property is Ivy Cottage, in a quaint countryside village, which is perfect for her requirements and when she runs into local man Ben things look even better.

What she doesn't know is that five years previous, Ben was accused of brutally murdering his wife Donna in their home and is somewhat of an outcast to the community. Having met and chatted to Ben she is reluctant to believe that he's capable of such an horrific crime she sets out to prove his innocence with the help of her new friend Hayley.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book with it's wonderful cast of characters, it was an absolute joy to read. The depiction of village life was exactly as I've always imagined it to be, with it's close knit community, local pub along with it's fair share of gossips who aren't afraid to voice their opinions! I was instantly drawn in and wanted to have a drink in The Green Dragon and be friends with Eve to help her solve the mystery.

Carmen Radtke has perfectly balanced mystery and romance without being too heavy handed with either, making Let Sleeping Murder Lie an absorbing read. It reminded me a little of M. C. Beaton's novels, Agatha Raisin, and I think that this would be a perfect beginning for a whole series of books. I, for one, would definitely read them!

 

 

                                           About the author

Photo courtesy of Carmen Radtke

Carmen Radtke has spent most of her life with ink on her fingers and a dangerously high pile of books and newspapers by her side.

She has worked as a newspaper reporter on two continents and always dreamt of becoming a novelist and screenwriter.

When she found herself crouched under her dining table, typing away on a novel between two earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand, she realised she was hooked for life.

When Carmen is not writing cozy mysteries, reading or dreaming of travel, she is busy acting as resident cat servant or tap-dancing (badly, but enthusiastic).

She is currently working on her next Jack and Frances mystery.

You can find out more about Carmen, her books and connect with her using the links below:

Website

Twitter

Facebook
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Bookbub
Instagram

 

With kind thanks to Zoe at Zooloo's Book Tours for my stop on the tour and Carmen Radtke for my review copy.