#BlogTour: The Nesting by C. J. Cooke @CJessCooke @HarperFiction @fictionpubteam @RandomTTours #TheNesting #CJCooke #RandomThingsTours #5Stars #Mustread

Book Synopsis:

It was like something out of a fairytale…

The grieving widower.

The motherless daughters.

A beautiful house in the woods.

Deep in a remote Norwegian forest, Lexi has found a new home with architect Tom and his two young daughters. With snow underfoot and the sound of the nearby fjord in her ears, it’s as if Lexi has stepped into a fairy tale

But this family has a history – and this place has a past. Something was destroyed to build their beautiful new house. And those ancient, whispering woods have a long memory.

Lexi begins to hear things, see things that don’t make sense. She used to think this place heavenly, but in the dark, dark woods, a menacing presence lurks.

With darkness creeping in from

But protect them from what?

The Nesting is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below or by visiting your local indie bookstore.

My Review:

The Nesting is a chilling, gothic novel which I found completely absorbing. The synopsis of this book really appealed to me as it involved a creepy house, supernatural goings on and it is based on Norwegian fairytales which I always enjoy.

Firstly the setting of this book was wonderful, with the author’s vivid descriptions allowing me to picture the setting in my mind. The natural landscape sounded so beautiful and has definitely made me want to visit Norway in the future. It had an almost otherworldly feel to it, where the family and the builders were stuck in their own magical bubble where anything could happen. I liked how the landscape changed as the book went on and develops alongside the story from lush green at the beginning, before things start developing, to brown when things start to get unsettling. I thought this was really clever and I helped add to the overall atmosphere of the story.

The characters were fabulous creations that I loved following through the book. They all go on quite a journey and my opinions of each of them kept changing as the story progressed. I often ended up having completely different opinions of them from when I started which I found very interesting. Lexi, for example, I started off finding very annoying but I warmed to as I saw how well she took to the nannying job and how much she obviously loved the kids.

The story starts off slow but soon becomes very gripping as things start happening at the house and we learn more about the characters. The story goes back and forth between what’s happenning now and what happened in the past which is told mainly from Aurelia’s point of view. This helped create a creepy, unsettling atmosphere which kept me on edge as I was never sure what was going to happen next. The tension slowly increases as the book goes on and I found myself suspecting everyone at some point.

The ending was brilliant and I was surprised how everything ended up which I always enjoy. I liked how the author keeps the story going for a bit longer after everything is solved so the reader can see how the family is after everything transpires.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Harper Collins for my copy of this book. I felt this was similar to The Snow Child, so if you liked that book I think you’ll like this one too!

About The Author:

C.J. Cooke is an acclaimed, award-winning poet, novelist and academic with numerous other publications written under the name of Carolyn Jess-Cooke. Her work has been published in twenty-three languages to date. Born in Belfast, C.J. has a PhD in Literature from Queen’s University, Belfast, and is currently Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow, where she researches creative writing interventions for mental health. C.J. Cooke lives in Glasgow with her husband and four children.

#BookReview: Finding Henry Applebee by Celia Reynolds @CeliaRWriter @0neMoreChapter_ @claire_fenby #FindingHenryApplebee #CeliaReynold #OMCReadalong

Book Synopsis:

Here Henry was, once again in a bustling train station, ready to resume where he had left off all those years ago…

Finding Henry Applebee is a charming, tender and uplifting story about unlikely friendships, the power of love – and how it’s never too late to change your life.

Perfect for fans of The Single Ladies of the Jacaranda Retirement Village and The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.

Eighty-five-year-old Henry Arthur Applebee has had a pretty good life. But one regret has haunted him for the last sixty-five years.
 
And so, on an ordinary December morning, he boards a train from London to Edinburgh. His goal is simple: to find the woman who disappeared from his life decades earlier.

But Henry isn’t the only person on a mission. Also bound for Edinburgh is troubled teen, Ariel. And when the two strangers collide, what began as one humble journey will catapult them both into a whole new world…

Finding Henry Applebee is available in ebook and paperback now. The ebook is currently only 99p. You can purchase your copy using the link below or by visiting your local indie bookstore.

My Review:

This was a beautiful, charming story that managed to be both poignant and uplifting at the same time. I read this book after a run of quite gritty reads, so this was a nice refreshing change which I thoroughly enjoyed.

The story follows the three main characters Henry, Ariel and Travis as they travel from Edinburgh to London for different reasons. The descriptions of the journey were beautifully vivid and made me feel that I was right there in the carriage with them. I felt each part of their journey personally as if I was living it too, with all the setbacks they encounter making me feel very nervous that they wouldn’t be able to finish their journey.

The characters were wonderful creations and memorable ones that I’ll remember for a long time to come. I loved how the author gradually lets us learn more about the characters and their past lives so that we get to see why they are like they are. They started to feel like old friends and I enjoyed following them on their journey as I willed them to succeed in their mission. I especially liked Henry’s past with the wonderful descriptions of the years after the war and the dance halls that I’d loved to have seen!

Overall I absolutely loved this charming story that made me laugh and cry as I read. There’s a wonderful message behind the story about unlikely friendships and how it’s never too late to change things. The ending was brilliant and I finished the book feeling sad that it was finished, while wishing that I could find out what happens next for them. This book was similar in style to Harold Fry so if you liked that book I think you’ll like this one too.

Huge thanks to Claire Debby for inviting me onto the read along and One More Chapter for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

About The Author:

Celia Reynolds was born and raised in Wales and worked for almost twenty-five years in the film industry in London, and briefly Rome. In 2012, she left her job as European Marketing Director at Twentieth Century Fox to enrol in the Complete Creative Writing Course held at the Groucho Club in London’s West End. Later that year, she was awarded Runner Up prize in the London Writers’ Club/Hush Short Story Competition with a story featuring one of the characters in her debut novel, Finding Henry Applebee. She is now based on the Gower coast in South Wales.

#BlogTour: Once And Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow @AlixEHarrow @LittleBrownUK @orbitbooks @Tr4cyF3nt0n #OnceAndFutureWitches #AlixEHarrow

Book Synopsis:

In 1893, there’s no such thing as witches. There used to be, in the wild, dark days before the burnings began, but now witching is nothing but tidy charms and nursery rhymes. If the modern woman wants any measure of power, she must find it at the ballot box.

But when the three Eastwood sisters join the suffragists of New Salem, they begin to pursue the forgotten ways that might turn the women’s movement into the witch’s movement. Stalked by shadows and sickness, hunted by forces who will not suffer a witch to vote – and perhaps not even to live – the sisters must delve into the oldest magics, draw new alliances, and heal the bond between them if they want to survive.

There’s no such thing as witches. But there will be.

Once and Future Witches is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below or by ordering from your local bookshop!

My Review:

I really enjoyed this absorbing, believable magical story which I thought was part fantasy story and part alternate history. I’ve always hoped that magic does exist somewhere in the world so I loved that the author suggested some areas where it might exist. The idea that it had been hidden by women for generations in stereotypical female hobbies amused me and I enjoyed exploring this idea.

The world the author has created was utterly compelling and I really enjoyed learning more about it throughout the book. The author’s vivid descriptions helped me imagine what it looked like and what it would be like to live there. It’s a world of inequality, like our own history in real life, with the woman as the weaker sex so I loved that they hid such a great secret that could change everything.

One of the things that really stood out about this book was the way the author describes and developed the characters relationships with each other. This was particularly true of the three sisters who had an interesting history together. There is definitely a lot of resentment there which I found interesting to learn more about as the story continued. It was interesting to see how different things were at the end of the book

Overall I really enjoyed this beautifully written and absorbing read which made me cry at times. The plot develops at a good pace which helped the plot and relationships to develop naturally so they never felt forced. I felt there was a lovely hidden message in this book too about how it’s not to late to find your voice and fight for what you want – though I might be thinking too deeply into things!

Huge thanks to Tracy Fenton for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Orbit for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

A former academic and adjunct, Alix E. Harrow is now a full-time writer living in Kentucky with her husband and their semi-feral kids. She is the author of Hugo Award-winning short fiction and her debut novel, The Ten Thousand Doors of January was shortlisted for the Hugo, Nebula and Locus awards. Find her on Twitter at @AlixEHarrow.

#BlogTour: Dead Perfect by Noelle Holten @nholten40 @0neMoreChapter_ @BOTBSPublicity @sarahhardy681 #DeadPerfect #NoelleHolten #DCMaggieJamieson

Book Synopsis:

‘Hugely confident … harrowing, visceral … recommended’ Ian Rankin

‘Kept me hooked’ Angela Marsons

‘An excellent read’ Martina Cole

‘Gritty, dark and chilling’ Mel Sherratt

A murdered woman…

When the body of a young woman is found in a local park, DC Maggie Jamieson knows she’s dealing with no ordinary killer.  The murder victim has been disfigured; her outfit changed to resemble someone else.  Someone Maggie knows all too well…her close friend Dr Kate Moloney.

A determined detective…

Maggie is determined to keep her friend safe, but with Kate already struggling with a threatening stalker, Maggie now fears Kate’s life is in real danger.  Who else would want to harm Kate and why else would the killer be turning his victims into exact replicas – his living dolls? 

Can Maggie find the depraved killer?  Or will Kate become his next living doll?

Dead Perfect is available in ebook and paperback now. The ebook is currently only £1.99. You can purchase your copy using the link below or by visiting your local indie bookstore!

My Review:

Dead Perfect was another fast paced, gripping read from one of my go to crime writers. I’m a huge fan of this series and have really enjoyed following Maggie throughout the books as she’s an incredibly strong, competent lady who is always great to read about. This time, however, the focus is on Kate and it was great to get to know another character from the team a little better. I think it’s fair to say Kate goes through the mill in this book as she tries to keep Maggie from harm whilst also trying to find the person responsible. It was quite poignant at times to see what she was going through and it made me warm to her quickly to see how much she obviously cared about Maggie. The wonderful relationship the team enjoy with each other was lovely to see and often helped bring some light relief to the story.

The story unfolds at a great pace with plenty of twists that kept me guessing until the end. Just when I thought I had figured it out, something would happen that sent the story off in a completely new direction! This is quite a dark story in places with some quite cruel and shocking moments which might not be to everyone’s taste but didn’t feel forced so were in keeping with the type of book this is.

The book ends on a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to read the next installment in this fabulous series which just keeps getting better and better. This is the third book in the series and while it could probably be read as a standalone it is probably best to read the books on order.

Huge thanks to Sarah from BOTBS publicity for inviting me onto the blog tour and to One More Chapter for my copy of this book via Netgalley. This series is a must read for all crime fiction fans!

About The Author:

Noelle Holten is an award-winning blogger at http://www.crimebookjunkie.co.uk. She is the PR & Social Media Manager for Bookouture, a leading digital publisher in the UK, and a regular reviewer on the Two Crime Writers and a Microphone podcast. Noelle worked as a Senior Probation Officer for eighteen years, covering cases of domestic violence and abuse. She has three Hons BA’s – Philosophy, Sociology (Crime & Deviance) and Community Justice – and a Masters in Criminology. Dead Inside is her debut novel and the start of a new series featuring DC Maggie Jamieson.

#BlogTour: The Good Samaritan by C. J. Parsons @charlopar @headlinepg @HeadlineFiction @RandomTTours #TheGoodSamaritan #CJParson #RandomThingsTours #5stars #mustread

Book Synopsis:

HE FOUND YOUR MISSING CHILD. YOU CAN TRUST HIM. . . CAN’T YOU?

‘Compulsive, scary and breathtakingly original’ Dreda Say Mitchell

Perfect for fans of FOUND by Erin Kinsley, I LOOKED AWAY by Jane Corry and NOW YOU SEE HER by Heidi Perks, this gripping emotional thriller will keep you hooked from the very first page.

When her five-year-old daughter disappears from the park, Carrie’s world shatters. She is tortured with worry and she blames herself. What if her inability to read facial expressions has put her child in danger?

But just days later, a stranger finds Sofia and brings her home.

Carrie should be relieved, but the abductor is still out there, still unknown. Still after her child.

And are those who have offered their help really the good Samaritans they seem… or has Carrie missed the warning signs?

The Good Samaritan is available in ebook now paperback now. The ebook is currently only 99p. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

The Good Samaritan is one of the most gripping, original thrillers I have read for a long time. I was immediately drawn into the story and was unable to put the book down, staying up far too late in order to read a little more of it.

The two main characters Carrie and Sophia were both very engaging ones that I found easy to care about. Carrie suffers from an unusual condition which I didn’t know much about before reading this book. This makes her more vulnerable and it makes the book quite emotional in places as we watch her struggle. She definitely goes through a heart wrenching journey which as a parent myself deeply affected me and my kids all got lots of extra hugs while I was reading.

There were lots of twists in the story which kept me guessing as to which way the story was going. There is a real unsettling atmosphere throughout the book along with some quite scary, though powerful, moments which were very hard hitting. I found myself reading faster and faster as I read as I really wanted to solve the puzzle as well as ensure the characters were ok.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Headline for my copy of this book via Netgalley. If you’re a thriller fan then you need to read this book!

About The Author:

C J Parsons was born in Britain and grew up in Canada. She graduated from Montreal’s McGill University with a degree in psychology and went on to earn a graduate degree in journalism.

She worked as a newspaper reporter at Canada’s Globe and Mail before moving to Hong Kong, where she became a columnist at The South China Morning Post.

She also spent two years covering crime, seeing first-hand the disturbing forces that drive people to kill, something that has informed her writing to this day.

After returning to Britain, she moved into television news, working as a broadcast journalist for both the BBC and CNN International. CJ is now a senior producer at CGTN. She lives in north London with her twelve-year-old daughter.

#BlogBlast: The Haunted Shore by Neil Spring @NeilSpring @QuercusBooks @Millsreid11 #TheHauntedShore #NeilShore

Book Synopsis:

A CHILLING GHOST STORY SET IN THE HAUNTING WILDERNESS OF SUFFOLK

When Lizzy moves to a desolate shore to escape her past, she hopes to find sanctuary. But a mysterious stranger is waiting for her, her father’s carer, and when darkness falls, something roams this wild stretch of beach, urging Lizzy to investigate its past. The longer she stays, the more the shore’s secrets begin to stir. Secrets of a sea that burned, of bodies washed ashore — and a family’s buried past reaching into the present.

And when Lizzy begins to suspect that her father’s carer is a dangerous imposter with sinister motives, a new darkness rises. What happens next is everyone’s living nightmare . . .

From the bestselling author of The Ghost Hunters and The Lost Village, The Haunted Shore is a terrifying tale of suspense that does not let up until the last page is turned.

The Haunted Shore is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

The Haunted Shore is an eerie, atmospheric read which is part psychological thriller and part ghost story.

Firstly this book had some of my favourite ingredients in it with the old tower seeming deliciously creepy from the start and with the added enjoyment of a creepy, rather sinister housekeeper as well as some unexplained supernatural activity which just added to my enjoyment. I soon realised I would enjoy this book and was able to just relax (well as much as you can with this book anyway) and get absorbed into the story.

Unsurprisingly this book has a very tense and creepy atmosphere to it which slowly increased throughout the book until it becomes almost unbearable. I didn’t know much about the supernatural reputation of Shingle Street so enjoyed learning a bit more about the stories. I thought the author did a fantastic job of blending fact with fiction to make a very gripping, entertaining read.

The main character Lizzy was an interesting main character who I took a while to warm towards. I found her a bit whiney and annoying at the beginning of the book but after her arrival at her childhood home, with everything that happens there, I actually started to feel quite sorry for her. Despite being quite scared at times I found I had to keep reading to find out what happens and make sure she is ok.

Overall I would definitely recommend this scary, atmospheric book which would make a great Halloween read. It’s a story that gets into your head and I often found myself jumping at noises in real life whilst reading. It is perhaps not a book to read just before bed as you might find it too scary to turn off the light!

Huge thanks to Milly Reid for inviting me onto the blog blast and to Quercus for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

About The Author:

Neil Spring was born in South Wales in 1981. He started writing at the age of twenty-eight. Between 1999 and 2002 he studied philosophy, politics and economics at Somerville College, Oxford. In 2013 he published The Ghost Hunters, a paranormal thriller based on the life of Harry Price. The Ghost Hunters received outstanding reviews and has been adapted into a major television drama under the title Harry Price: Ghost Hunter for ITV. Neil is Welsh and lives in London. The Watchers is his second novel. You can contact him on Twitter @NeilSpring or visit him at http://www.neilspring.com.

#BookReview: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman @richardosman @VikingBooksUK #ThursdayMurderClub #RichardOsman #mustread #5Stars

Book Synopsis:

THE FIRST BOOK IN THE #1 BESTSELLINGTHURSDAY MURDER CLUB SERIES BY TV PRESENTER RICHARD OSMAN

In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet up once a week to investigate unsolved murders.

But when a brutal killing takes place on their very doorstep, the Thursday Murder Club find themselves in the middle of their first live case.

Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron might be pushing eighty but they still have a few tricks up their sleeves.

Can our unorthodox but brilliant gang catch the killer before it’s too late?

The Thursday Murder Club is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

I absolutely loved this hilarious, entertaining read which quickly pulled me into the madness of the story and the characters lives.

Firstly I loved the wonderful characters in this book who were all easy to get behind and quickly started to feel like old friends. I loved the dynamics of the murder club and how they were all very different to each other. They all managed to bring new skills and ways of thinking to the table which was hugely enjoyable to watch in action. I liked that the author often talks about the character’s lives before they came to the retirement village and puts so much spirit into his characters personality. This made a refreshing change to the normal elderly stereotypes you hear about.

The setting of Coppers Chase was absolutely brilliant, even though I kept accidentally misreading it as coppers chase. I loved the wonderful descriptions of the community they had there, with everyone looking out for each other and checking they were ok. The wide variety of activities on offer made me smile, particularly all the funny incidents that had happened during some of the groups. The descriptions of the beautiful grounds surrounding the village were very vivid and helped me to see the place in my mind. I really hope there is a similar village available for me when I’m older!

The murder mystery part of the story developed at a good pace and kept me guessing as to who the murderer was. I think I had suspected everybody by the end of the story as new evidence kept coming to light which sent the story in a new direction. I really enjoyed watching it all develop and I liked that the different threads to the story were given a great, satisfying ending.

A little warning to any potential readers, this isn’t a serious crime book and there are quite a few bits in the story that have to be taken with a pinch of salt. Elizabeth’s dodgy contacts and ability to get any information she wants or the murder clubs ability to meddle in a crime case without getting into trouble for example. I personally found these hilarious and they helped create some of the best, most memorable bits in the book for me. For example the part when the detectives first meet the murder club and manipulate the DI, although perhaps a bit unrealistic, was utterly hilarious and the thought of it still makes me chuckle now.

The ending was very satisfying though surprisingly emotional. I felt myself getting quite teary at some points but ultimately I liked the way everything was tied up. I was quite sad to finish the book and leave the characters, and Cooper’s Chase,behind. I was very excited to hear that the film rights have been bought by Spielberg and that there is a second book coming out next year!

Huge thanks to Penguin Viking for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

About The Author:

Richard Osman is an author, producer and television presenter. The Thursday Murder Club is his first novel. He is well known for TV shows including Pointless and Richard Osman’s House of Games. As the creative director of Endemol UK, Richard has worked as an executive producer on numerous shows including Deal Or No Deal and 8 Out of 10 Cats. He is also a regular on panel and game shows such as Have I Got News For You, Would I Lie To You and Taskmaster.

#BlogTour: The Other Woman by Amanda Brookfield @ABrookfield1 @rararesources @BoldwoodBooks #TheOtherWoman #AmandaBrookfield

Book Synopsis:

On a normal day, in a normal house, on a normal street, wife and mother Fran has had enough. She packs a case, leaves a note for her bullying husband Pete, and one for her beloved twenty-year-old son Harry, and heads to the airport – and freedom.

In another house, on another street, Helena is desperately baiting her husband Jack into a fight. These days it feels like the only way to get Jack to take notice of her. Passionate, volatile, increasingly fragile, Helena is fast running out of hope.

What Helena and Fran don’t know, is that soon their lives are going to collide in ways neither expect nor understand. And if Fran and Helena are going to change their own futures, then first they will have to change each other’s.

Amanda Brookfield is back with a triumphant, crackling story about love, marriage, lies and fate, and how our destinies can be changed by the smallest decisions. Perfect for fans of Sheila O’Flanagan, Jane Fallon and Jane Green.

The Other Woman is available in ebook and paperback now. The ebook is currently only 99p. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

Tbe Other Woman was a wonderfully compelling read of hope and friendship which I really enjoyed.

The author’s writing just drew me into the story and I was soon lost in the character’s world. The characters are all fabulous creations who were great fun to follow throughout the book. There were some characters that I loved and some that I loved to hate which I always think it’s a sign of great writing, when an author can make you feel so strongly about the characters. My favourite character was definitely Fran who I felt that I would get on with in real life. I warmed to her instantly and found I wanted to keep reading to find out what happens to her.

The mystery side of the story was well developed and unfolded at a very satisfying pace. There were quite a few twists to the story which surprised me and I liked that the story kept developing as it was really interesting to follow it.

Overall I thought this was a suspenseful, tense and emotional read which made me think about things that I might be taking for granted in my own life. I’d definitely be interested in reading more from this author in the future.

Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Boldwood for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

About The Author:

http://bit.ly/AmandaBrookfieldNewsletter NEW NOVEL, “The Other Woman”, COMING:13th October 2020 Available to pre-order now: https://amzn.to/2ZZVojA My most recent book, GOOD GIRLS, is a story of love and falling-out between two sisters growing up in a troubled family. It was shortlisted for the People’s Book Prize 2020 and is published by Boldwood Books. From The Cat in The Hat onwards I was mad about reading. I studied English at uni and then got a job in advertising. Seeking adventure, I went to Argentina to work as a freelance journalist and that’s when I wrote my first book, ALICE ALONE. Since then I have produced sixteen more novels, a memoir about a period when my life fell apart, loads of short stories, as well as two beautiful sons. Writing is like a life-long disease – you can’t ever shake it off even if some days you might want to. Life can be chaotic and painful as well as wonderful. Making sense of that is such a comfort and the reason I am a storyteller. http://www.amandabrookfield.co.uk

#BlogTour: This Green and Pleasant Land by Ayisha Malik @Ayisha_Malik @ZaffreBooks @Tr4cyF3nt0n #ThisGreenAndPleasantLand #AyishaMalik

Book Synopsis:

Everyone has a place they call home. But who gets to decide where you belong?

For years Bilal Hasham and his wife Mariam have lived contented, quiet lives in the sleepy rural village of Babbel’s End. Now all that is about to change. On her deathbed, Bilal’s mother reaches for his hand. Instead of whispering her final prayers, she gives him a task: build a mosque in his country village. Mariam is horrified by Bilal’s plan. As outrage sweeps Babbel’s End, battle lines are drawn. Soon Bilal is forced to choose between community and identity, between faith and friendship, between honouring his beloved mother’s last wish and preserving what is held dear in the place that he calls home.

This Green and Pleasant Land is available in ebook and hardback now. The ebook is currently only 99p. You can purchase your copy of both using the link below.

My Review:

This was an easy engaging read that I’m sure will help open the discussion about cultural differences, discrimination and the impact both of these can have on our lives.

Firstly i found it very interesting to follow the discussions/ arguements surrounding the building of a mosque and people views in general about religion. I felt the arguements were well rounded and covered the different opinions held by people. It seemed very realistic as I have sadly heard similar arguements in real life. It was interesting to see how the village was so affected by the discussions, though ultimately lovely to see how all the differences actually brought them closer in the end.

The book isn’t just about the mosque however and there were lots of other subplots to the story involving the other people in the village. I thought these were very interesting as it helped give the reader more of an understanding of the dynamics in the village and let’s the reader learn more about the individual villagers too.

Overall I really liked this absorbing read which kept my interest throughout. There were definitely some memorable moments in the book which I will remember, especially Bilal digging a grave to lie in when thinking. I think it’s an important book for everyone to read as a lot of the issues and opinions discussed are ones that people hold today. For this reason I think it would make a great book club read as there would be lots to discuss.

Huge thanks to Tracy for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Zaffre for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Ayisha Malik is a writer and editor, living in South London. She holds a BA in English Literature and a First Class MA in Creative Writing. Her novels Sofia Khan is Not Obliged and The Other Half of Happiness, starring ‘the Muslim Bridget Jones’, were met with great critical acclaim, and Sofia Khan is Not Obliged was chosen as 2019’s Cityread book. Ayisha was a WHSmith Fresh Talent Pick, shortlisted for the Asian Women of Achievement Award and Marie Claire’s Future Shapers Awards. Ayisha is also the ghost writer for The Great British Bake Off winner, Nadiya Hussain.

#BlogTour: The Lost Children by Shirley Dickerson @ShirleyDWriter @bookouture @sarahhardy681 #TheLostChildren #ShirleyDickerson

Book Synopsis:

England, 1943: Home is no longer safe for eight-year-old twins Molly and Jacob. Night after night wailing bombs and screeching planes skim the rooftops overhead. They cradle each other, shivering in terror, not knowing if they will live to see dawn. Their mother, Martha, has no choice but to evacuate them to the safety of the countryside.

At the train station, Martha bites back tears as she says goodbye to her precious children. Knowing she might never see them again, she gives Jacob a letter, pressing the envelope into his hands and telling him to only read it if they are in danger.

In the country, Molly and Jacob must adjust to life with strangers. Every night they dream of returning home to the arms of their beloved mother. But then the unimaginable happens. Martha is killed in an explosion, leaving the twins all alone in the world.

The war has robbed Molly and Jacob of everything – all they have left is one another. Motherless and destitute, they face the grim reality of life in an orphanage. The time has finally come for Jacob to open the letter. What secret does it hold, and could it change the course of their tragic fate? Because if they are together, they can survive anything – but what if they are torn apart?

From the bestselling author of The Orphan Sisters comes an utterly heartbreaking and unforgettable tale of two children who must lean on each other in a time of tragedy and learn the shocking truth of their past. Fans of Wives of War, Lisa Wingate and Diney Costeloe will be swept away by this sublime World War Two novel.

The Lost Children is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

The Lost Children is a wonderful, though very emotional, piece of historical fiction that will stay with me for a long time.

Firstly it was great to have a book from a children’s point of view for a change and I so enjoyed following the twins on their journey. I loved the vivid descriptions of the northern village the twins find themselves in which made me feel like I was actually there, experiencing everything alongside them. The sense of community was beautiful to read about and I liked that everyone helped each other, often making sacrifices for other people. It was heartwarming to see the villagers include the twins into their lives and how they settled in so quickly.

This is a very emotional books which made me sob at times. The twins go through a lot of heartache throughout the story and I often found myself wishing I could put my arm round them. Having said that the book isn’t bogged down in sadness and the over all feeling I got from this book is actually an uplifting one.

Overall I really enjoyed this fast paced, easy read which was the first book I’ve read from this author. I’ll definitely be recommending this book to others and look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Huge thanks to Sarah Hardy for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Bookouture for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

About The Author:

Shirley says she is a prime example of ‘never give up on your dream.’ Shirley is an international bestseller. She signed with Bookouture in 2018 and has written to date three stirring World War Two historical novels. She lives under the big skies of Northumberland with her husband, family and lucky black cat. She wrote her first short story at the age of ten for a magazine competition. She didn’t win but was hooked on writing for a lifetime. For many years she wrote poetry and short stories and got many rejection slips. Success followed when Shirley decided to get serious about writing novels after she retired. Shirley would like to say a huge thank you to her readers, reviewers and book bloggers for their support. Follow Shirley on her Facebook ‘Shirley Dickson Author’ page.

The blog tour is finished now but do go back and check out these fantastic bloggers reviews!