Two Heads Are Better Than One

Simon Scarrow

Publication date: 10/11/22 Hardback

Publisher: Headline

SYNOPSIS

AD 60. Britannia. The Boudica Revolt begins . . .

Macro and Cato – heroes of the Roman Empire – face a ruthless enemy set on revenge

The Roman Empire’s hold on the province of Britannia is fragile. The tribes implacably opposed to Rome have grown cunning in their attacks on the legions. EvenOh un amongst those who have sworn loyalty, dissent simmers. In distant Rome, Nero is blind to the danger.

As hostilities create mayhem in the west, Governor Gaius Suetonius Paulinus gathers a vast army, with Prefect Cato in command. A hero of countless battles, Cato wants his loyal comrade Centurion Macro by his side. But the Governor leaves Macro behind, in charge of the veteran reserves in Camulodunum. Suetonius dismisses concerns that the poorly fortified colony will be vulnerable to attack when only a skeleton force remains.

With the military distracted, slow-burning anger amongst the tribespeople bursts into flames. The king of the Iceni is dead and a proud kingdom is set for plundering and annexation. But the widow is Queen Boudica, a woman with a warrior’s heart. If Boudica calls for death to the emperor, a bloodbath will follow.

Macro and Cato each face deadly battles against enemies who would rather die than succumb to Roman rule. The future of Britannia hangs in the balance.

I am delighted to share an extract from the book on my blog tour stop:

Aegyptus. The province was the main supplier of grain to Rome, and as such was ruled by a man directly appointed by the emperor, lowly enough in rank not to use the position to challenge him. Meanwhile he would have to endure the prospect of watching lesser men secure senior political and military appointments for no better reason than the accident of birth that accorded them greater opportunities to win power and wealth than were afforded to the son of a slave. At least Lucius would be able to do the things he himself was denied, Cato comforted himself.

They walked on in happy anticipation of returning home. The watchman on the colony gate raised a hand in greeting as they approached. Even though the gatehouse was almost all that remained of the original defences of the fortress, there were certain niceties to be observed. People came and went from the colony through the gates just as they would at any other Roman settlement surrounded by a ditch and a wall.

‘Good hunting, Centurion?’ he called out.

Macro stood aside to reveal the meat hanging over his saddle. ‘As good as it gets, friend. Boars don’t come much bigger on this island.’

‘Only in Sardinia, sir.’

‘Bollocks.’

‘It’s true,’ said Cato. ‘I’ve seen them. Some of them are monsters.’

‘Bah!’ Macro made a dismissive gesture as he passed betweenthe posts and entered the colony. Cato shared a glance with the watchman and both men rolled their eyes.

Dusk was gathering over Camulodunum and the smells of the evening meals that were being prepared filled the cold air, sharpening the appetite of the two officers as they made their way along the main street to Macro’s house in the centre of the settlement. Coming the other way, they saw the group of travellers they had spotted earlier. They could see now that they were mounted warriors, large men in thick cloaks with long Celtic swords worn at their sides and shields hanging from their saddles. Behind them rumbled the wagons, crude vehicles with solid wooden wheels. 

Near the head of the mounted party, a woman rode alone with the hood of her emerald cloak drawn over her head. An imposing figure, sitting tall in the saddle even after a day’s travel, when some of her escort were slumped forward wearily. She called out a curt word of command as she drew level with the entrance to Macro’s house, and the party came to a halt. As Macro’s stable hand emerged from the covered gateway, she addressed him in fluent Latin.

‘Boy, fetch your master and tell the magistrate that we need shelter for the night.’

Macro drew up and waited for Cato to come alongside him. ‘Bloody hell, you know who that is?’

‘Unmistakable,’ said Cato. ‘Boudica, queen of the Iceni.’

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Simon Scarrow is a Sunday Times No. 1 bestselling author. His books – which have sold over 5 million copies – include his Eagles of the Empire novels featuring Roman soldiers Macro and Cato, most recently THE HONOUR OF ROME, THE EMPEROR’S EXILE and TRAITORS OF ROME, as well as BLACKOUT, the bestselling first novel in the Berlin Wartime Thriller series, and many more. He lives in Norfolk with his wife.

http://www.simonscarrow.co.uk and on Facebook /officialsimonscarrow and Twitter @SimonScarrow

Annette Hannah

Publication Date: 23/12/21

Publisher: Orion Dash

SYNOPSIS

A heartwarming read, full of friendship and fun’ Heidi Swain

What would you wish for if you were granted three wishes?

For the first time she can remember, Poppy is dreading Christmas. Unceremoniously dumped by her boyfriend after moving across the country for him, there’s nothing cheers about the festive season this year. 

Dragged to a Christmas ball by best friend Layla, Poppy meets gorgeous actor Gabe, who stars as a genie in a play. 

When he asks her what three wishes she would make, she realises it’s quite simple: 

love, a job she’s happy in and, just once in her life, to do something extraordinary.

Gabe and Poppy make a pact to help each other make their dreams come true. As they tick off their wishes, their friendship blossoms…

But, as they discover, sometimes, what you want for Christmas isnt’t necessarily what you need…

A delicious romance to snuggle up with this festive season 

from the author of Wedding Bells at the

Signal Box Café and The Cosy Little Cupcake Van.

Purchase Links

Amazon UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Poppys-Christmas-Wishes-Annette-Hannah-ebook/dp/B09KXYGM36

Amazon US – https://www.amazon.com/Poppys-Christmas-Wishes-Annette-Hannah-ebook/dp/B09KXYGM36

MY REVIEW

Oh my heart is full! I devoured this gorgeous book in a day.

Poppy is persuaded by her boyfriend Ed to move with him 300 miles from her home and friends in Liverpool to Bramblewood where they have new jobs in the same company. Poppy’s life appears to be sorted as they will be going to New York to get engaged. Unfortunately Ed has decided not to leave Liverpool after all and breaks up with Poppy.

Heartbroken, she decides to stay in Bramblewood anyway. She makes new friends and starts a business. She falls in love with the place and could it be possible has fallen in love with Gabe, her GBF? Gabe is a screenwriter who is acting as a genie in a play he wrote. On the night they meet, Gabe and Poppy agree to help each other make their three wishes come true.

Complicated relationships, close friendships and romance, this book was delight to read. The characters are extremely well developed and in just a short space of time I felt I knew them.

Such a heartwarming read which I highly recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Annette Hannah is a Liver Bird who relocated to leafy Hertfordshire in the 80’s and now lives near a river with her 

husband, two of their three grown up children and a crazy black cocker spaniel.

She writes Romantic comedies in settings inspired by the beautiful countryside around her and always with a nod to her hometown.

She worked in Marketing for many years as a qualified Marketeer which she loved as it tapped into her creative side. 

As an avid reader, she began to review the books she read, became a book blogger and eventually 

plucked up the courage to fulfil her life long dream of writing a book.

For four years she was a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s new writers’ scheme, 

during which time she wrote a book a year.

After signing a two book deal with Orion Dash in 2020 she graduated to full member

of the organisation and is also their Press Officer.

She loves long walks along the river, travelling to far flung places and spending time with her friends and family.

Social Media Links –

Twitter.com/AnnetteHannah

Instagram.com/Annette.hannah

http://www.sincerelybookangels.blogspot.com

http://www.annettehannah.com

Nina Manning

Publication Date: 26/10/22

Publisher: Boldwood Books

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

SYNOPSIS

Three best friends. One late-night lifeline.

Meet Aisha, Sophy and Mel. Three new mums. All absolutely shattered.

For her social media fans, influencer Sophy has the picture-perfect life. But why does she feel so lonely all the time?

Older mum Mel wasn’t planning on being a mum later in life. What does this all mean for the career that she loved? Can she ever go back?

And Aisha, whose much loved twin boys bring her so much joy, but have caused a rift in her own family that she isn’t sure she can ever fix.

Navigating this new world of motherhood is hard. And the only sanity these three friends have is their 3am mums’ club, where they can chat and support each other in the dark of the night as their babies, finally, finally sleep.

But in the still of the night, secrets are revealed that could turn all their lives upside down…. more than they already are!

Bestselling author Nina Manning is back with a brand-new story of mum guilt, parenting pitfalls and friendship around the clock.

Purchase Link – https://amzn.to/3AMIZCA

MY REVIEW

This was an enjoyable read about three new mums, each outwardly appearing to have the perfect life, but each hiding their own struggles as we all do. 

Sophy is living with her boyfriend, but he appears to be losing interest in her, as she is with him. 

Mel has a traumatic secret from her past, which she has tried to bury, but which has raised its head.

Aisha has found hidden letters sent from her father to her mother, although her mother had always said she lost contact with him when he left 20 years ago. Also, who is the person who appears to be watching her house?

The mums meet at a new baby group which has been cancelled at the last minute and bond over a coffee, discussing how difficult and lonely that 3am feed is, and promise to be there for each other. The 3am Shattered Mums’ Club begins.

I really enjoyed getting to know the three mums and experiencing the bond between them deepen. They have only known each other a short time but by shared experiences they feel they have been friends forever. The support of other first time mums is priceless when you have just had a baby. 

I am sure anyone who has given birth will find shared experiences in this book, and perhaps it just might help some new mums to reach out and set up their own support group.

Thank you Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on the blog tour and to the publisher for my E-copy of the book.

Author Bio

Nina Manning studied psychology and was a restaurant-owner and private chef (including to members of the royal family). She is the founder and co-host of Sniffing The Pages, a book review podcast. Her debut psychological thriller, The Daughter in Law, was a bestseller in the UK, US, Australia and Canada. She lives in Dorset.

Social Media Links –

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ninamanningauthor1

Twitter https://twitter.com/ninamanninguk

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ninamanning_author/

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/NinaManningNews

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/nina-manning

Stuart James

Publication Date: 26/10/22

Publisher: independently published

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

SYNOPSIS

The App…

Once you’re in, they’ll never let you leave.

Whatever happens, don’t download The App.

* It will come in the form of a link. Maybe in your DM’s on a social media account, the junk folder of your emails or a WhatsApp message from a friend.

* You’ll be enticed by the chance of winning one hundred thousand pounds on offer every Friday, wired straight into the winner’s bank account.

* It’s not a joke.

* This part is genuine.

* Someone can and will win the money.

* But at what cost?

Marty Benson gets the link sent to him by a friend. So what is the harm in looking?
He clicks it, downloads the app and enters a few basic details.
A message prompts him to wait while he’s loaded onto the system.
An hour later, another message.

• Do not delete the app.

• Do not tell anyone outside of your family about the app.

• Send the link to one person who is close to you.

* Do not throw your phone away.

* Always narrate while streaming.

• If you break any of the rules, we’ll kill a member of your family. Then we’ll kill you.

Marty is sent a picture of his wife, who is shopping with her mother in Oxford Street.

As Marty struggles to breathe, he clicks the links and watches the most recent streams, realising what happens within the
app.

Every Friday morning, a person is randomly picked from social media.

They now have a bounty on their head—a death warrant. But they don’t know it.

Their profile appears on the app’s main page; all their details are displayed.

Every app member must play the game at least once a month or face the consequences.

Kill the person randomly selected from social media.

Win one hundred thousand pounds.

As Marty watches the terror unfold and everyone streaming the hunt within the app, he realises he has to do something.

But how do you stop a murder, when everyone could be the killer?

MY REVIEW

We begin by learning about 16 year old Jonathan Rushmore. He adores his mother. Hates his father, who puts Jonathan down every time he speaks to him.

Jonathan has a sick fascination with watching people being murdered, and is delighted when he witnesses one of his neighbours stabbing her husband. If only he had recorded it to watch again and again.

Forward a few years and Jonathan is now a wealthy and talented techie. He has found a way of satisfying his craving of watching murders as they happen.

Welcome to The App. 

Marty receives a message on his phone from his best mate and clicks on the link to download The App. His mate sent it so it must be safe. Right? Wrong. As Marty enters his name into The App, he unwittingly enters a living nightmare.

I thoroughly enjoyed this fast paced psychological thriller. I read it in just two sittings as I just had to know how it ended! 

It is a scary storyline, but there is some light relief in the form of Marty’s mother-in-law, Ethel. She had some amazingly hilarious stories and one liners. The banter between Marty and Ethel had me laughing out loud a fair few times. She was absolutely my favourite character and she kept everyone else grounded during what appeared an impossible situation.

When I thought I knew how it would end, there was a huge bombshell.

Moral of the story NEVER click on links in messages!

Thank you Zoe at Zooloos Book Tours for my spot on the tour and thank you to the author for my e-copy of the book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I have always loved scary stories, especially ones that shocked me, left me terrified, looking under my bed or in the wardrobe before going to sleep.

There was just a fantastic buzz whenever I watched or read something that took my breath away.

I remember going to my nan’s house in Ireland as a youngster with my mother and sister, on the West Coast, staying in a cottage, surrounded by miles of fields and my family sitting around the table in the kitchen at night telling ghost stories. Going out and exploring derelict farmhouses in the middle of nowhere. I remember clearly the field at the end of the road was supposed to be haunted by headless nuns. My cousins often remind me of the great times we had, frightening each other and running for our lives whenever we’d see something that didn’t look right.

This is why I love nothing more than to tell a story.

I’m so grateful when people not only read my thrillers but also take the time to get in touch and leave a review. To me, that is the greatest feeling, hearing from people that have enjoyed my work. I know then that I’m doing something right.

I’m 49, married and have two beautiful children. Currently, I’m a full-time plumber but would love nothing more than to make a living from my writing. I hope I write stories and people continue to enjoy them for years to come. That would be completely amazing and a dream come true.

Follow Stuart at:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/StuartJames73

Website: https://www.stuartjamesthrillers.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stuartjamesauthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stuartjamesauthor

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stuartjamesauthor

Buy Links – https://geni.us/ECGl2m

Evie Hunter

Publication date: 3/11/22

Publisher: Boldwood books

SYNOPSIS

No one can be trusted….
Amongst the wealth and glitter of St Tropez, Sky Kennedy is living her best life, with the perfect man by her side. Rich and gorgeous, Karim has shown her a world she could have barely imagined, and she doesn’t want it to end.
So when Karim suddenly sends her packing back to the UK, Sky is shocked – what could she have done to upset Karim? And will she ever see him again?
Ryan Callahan has been tracking Karim for years and will do anything to bring the man down. He knows Karim is using Sky for his own ends and can’t believe another young woman has fallen for Karim’s lies. But maybe Sky could be the perfect bait to snare Karim once and for all…
But Sky’s no fool and she won’t be played by either man. Because maybe there is a twist in this tale that no one saw coming….

Purchase Link – https://amzn.to/3QItwIu

MY REVIEW

Sky is the quiet plain girl who fades into the background, especially next to her glamorous flat mate, Nancy.
So when the rich and handsome Karim appears to fall head over heels for her, whisking her off for a weekend in Saint Tropez, perhaps she should be wondering why her? After all, if something seems too good ….
But Sky is not the innocent, desperate girl she appears to be.

Karim is trying to escape the clutches of his crazy father, a terrorist who is planning to assassinate an important figure which will guarantee his place in history. Karim no longer believes in his father’s ideals.
Karim sees Sky as his escape route and begins a relationship with her.
Unfortunately for Karim, he is being watched by Ryan, an investigator who works for a firm of private contractors who do not officially exist. They undertake top secret work for various government agencies.
Ryan gets Sky on board with his plan to take Karim down.

I liked Sky. She appeared desperate at the beginning, unable to believe someone like Karim could be interested in her. But she is misunderstood, and nothing will stop her getting her revenge.

When Ryan came into the picture, he became obsessed with protecting Sky and very quickly and unprofessionally fell for her.

A fast paced thriller with a satisfactory conclusion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Evie Hunter has written a great many successful regency romances as Wendy Soliman and is now redirecting her talents to produce dark gritty thrillers for Boldwood.

For the past twenty years she
has lived the life of a nomad, roaming the world on interesting forms of transport, but has now settled back in the UK.

Social Media Links –
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wendy.soliman.author
Twitter https://twitter.com/Wendyswriter
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wendy_soliman/
Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/EvieHunter
Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/evie-hunter-572c1816-05f2-47c2-9c13-
6d10a229670b

By Nicola Cornick

Publication date: 27/10/22

publisher: HQ

SYNOPSIS

1605: Anne Catesby fears for her family. Her son, the darkly charismatic Robert, is secretly plotting to kill the King, placing his wife and child in grave danger. Anne must make a terrible choice: betray her only child, or risk her family’s future.

Present day: When her dreams of becoming a musician are shattered, Lucy takes refuge in her family’s ancestral home in Oxfordshire. Everyone knows it was originally home to Robert Catesby, the gunpowder plotter. As Lucy spends more time in the beautiful winter garden that Robert had made, she starts to have strange visions of a woman in Tudor dress, terrified and facing a heartbreaking dilemma.

As Lucy and Anne’s stories converge, a shared secret that has echoed through the centuries separating them, will change Lucy’s life forever…

Sweeping generations from the 1600s to the present day, with the enthralling Gunpowder Plot at its heart, Nicola Cornick’s utterly enchanting new timeslip novel will sweep you off your feet. Perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley, Barbara Erskine and Kate Morton.

MY REVIEW

Nicola’s novels are always a delight to read. Amazingly descriptive and I jump right into the story.

I was lucky to be able to read an advance copy of this, Nicola’s most recent novel. The historical part is a retelling of the life of Robert Catesby leading up to his part in The Gunpowder Plot.

The year is 1592. Anne Catesby and her husband are hoping to find a suitable woman for their son, Robert, to marry and they find the lovely Catherine Leigh who’s parents agree to the marriage. She has a grandmother who is very outspoken and made me giggle.

Their marriage is successful and they have two sons. Catherine puts her heart and soul into building a summerhouse in their garden, and making the garden beautiful.

When disaster strikes, Robert is unable to cope and disappears to London where he joins the plot to kill the king.

In the present day, Lucy is staying at her Aunt’s barn conversion, built on the land which had been occupied by the Catesby’s. She has recently had pneumonia, and is now living with the life changing after effects. She needs to come to terms with the fact her life as she knew it has changed completely. Her life as a professional violinist is at an end. She is devastated.

At the property, there is an archeological dig, organised by Lucy’s auntie, to try to restore the gardens and perhaps find the treasure which is rumoured to have been hidden at the property.

Lucy begins to have strange dreams, and to see things as if through someone else’s eyes. She begins to feel the property may be haunted by the ghost ofCatherine Catesby, and Catherine needs her help.

An absolutely addictive read and I loved both timelines. The ending was unexpected!

Nicola is a talented storyteller and this is the perfect book to read at this time of year!

Highly recommended.

Thank you to HQ for my spot on the blog tour.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nicola Cornick is a historian and author who works as a researcher and guide for the National Trust in one of the most beautiful 17th century houses in England. She writes dual time novels that illustrate her love of history, mystery and the supernatural, and focus on women from the footnotes of history. Her books have appeared in over twenty five languages, sold over half a million copies worldwide and been described as “perfect for Outlander fans.” Nicola also gives writing and history talks, works as a consultant for TV and radio, and is a trustee of the Wantage Literary Festival and the Friends of Lydiard Park.

Her new novel, ‘The Winter Garden ‘ is a re-telling of the story of the 1605 Gunpowder Plot from the point of view of the women closest to the ringleader, Robert Catesby – His wife Katherine and mother Anne. It is out in October 2022 and is available for pre- order in paperback and e-book.

Nicola loves to chat to readers about history, reading and writing. 

Join the conversation on Twitter @NicolaCornick, 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicola.cornick/ 

and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolacornick/

You can find Nicola’s website at http://www.nicolacornick.com where you can sign up for her newsletter to be first in line for events, news and exclusive chapters.

Liz Hyder

Publication Date: HB 17/2/22; PB 1/9/22

Publisher: Manilla Press – an imprint of Bonnier Books/ Zaffre Books

SYNOPSIS

A young woman staggers through the woods. Something is happening deep inside and as she’s thrown to her knees in agony, the world around her stops. When she comes to, she is astonished at the sight of her shadow – it has wings.
Meanwhile when rumours of ‘fallen angels’ cause a frenzy across London, a surgeon desperate for fame and fortune will find himself in the grip of a dangerous obsession, and the women he seeks in
the most terrible danger . . .

THE GIFTS is the astonishing debut adult novel from the lauded author of BEARMOUTH. A gripping and ambitious book told through several female voices and set against the luminous backdrop of
nineteenth century London, it explores science, nature and religion, enlightenment, the knife-edge roles of women in society and the dark danger of ambition.

Purchase Link – https://loom.ly/HMM25ks

MY REVIEW

I was completely swept away by this original, mysterious, captivating story. The author has woven so much into this amazing book from loss, daily struggles of life in 19th century London, the strength of women, friendship and the promise of a better future. Also the darker side of humanity. The greed and the ambition for recognition at any cost.

The opening chapter had me hooked straight away. Etta is devastated after her beloved dog is poisoned and is walking through the forest she loves. She feels a searing pain on her back and falls to her knees. She gets up to find she has grown wings. A young poacher sees her and wounds her with a crossbow, and his greedy parents capture her with plans to sell her.

We then go back 8 days to London. Rumours abound of a fallen angel found dead in the Thames. A surgeon, full of his own importance and ambition, is offered her body by the man who found her. Astounded, he jumps at the chance and believes God himself has sent this angel to him.

There are a few different storylines at the beginning as we get to know the characters and wonder how their paths will cross. All are so interesting and it was easy to keep track of the different narrators.

Etta the botanist, and loner who was cheated out of her inheritance and now lives in a small cottage on her late father’s estate.

Natalya the storyteller who has been travelling alone, from an island off Scotland, heading to stay with her cousin in London. She is the next girl to sprout wings.

Annie the artist, and wife of Edward.

Edward the surgeon with such ambition to be known and recognised amongst his peers he will stop at nothing to reach his target.

Mary, an talented and aspiring reporter in times when females were not employed in such roles. She decides to investigate the story of the fallen angel.

I loved the gorgeous illustrations throughout the book, especially the angel wing, plus the addition of letters, newspaper articles and autopsy notes.

I won’t go further into the plot, but this is one you really don’t want to miss!

Thank you to Rachel Gibney for my spot on the blog tour, and to the publisher for my copy of the book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Liz Hyder has been making up stories for as long she can remember. She has a BA
in drama from the University of Bristol and, in early 2018, won the Bridge Award/Moniack Mhor Emerging Writer Award. Bearmouth, her debut young adult novel, won a Waterstones Children’s
Book Prize, the Branford Boase Award and was chosen as the Children’s Book of the Year by The Times. Originally from London, she now lives in South Shropshire. The Gifts is her debut adult novel.
Social Media Links –

Twitter: @LondonBessie (https://twitter.com/LondonBessie )

Website:
https://www.lizhyder.co.uk/

Rob Gittins

Publication date: 25/10/22

Publisher: Hobeck Books

SYNOPSIS

Devil’s Bridge, Mid Wales

A thousand years ago, the devil built the town a bridge.

But there was a price – he would return at different times and in different guises and each time there’d be the direst consequences for those living in its shadow.

Darkness descends

To most in the town, it’s just a colourful local legend; a flight of fancy. Dark deeds have happened in Devil’s Bridge from time to time, but dark deeds can happen anywhere – and there’s no such thing as the devil anyway.

A community in conflict

But then a massive scandal, involving a schoolboy and his English teacher, hits the town. It drags to the surface an equally toxic scandal from years before.

And soon, even the most die-hard of sceptics begin to wonder if a devil-like figure is walking in their midst…

MY REVIEW

The legend of how Devil’s bridge was built by the devil himself was chilling. Did he really come back to the village time and time again in disguise?

Very easy to read in short chapters, keeping my interest from beginning to the shocking and unexpected ending. Each chapter is written from alternating POV’s of a handful of people, and reveals their chilling secrets and cover ups over the years.

Nia is separated from her husband and lives with her 15 year old son, Ethan. She suspects he is having problems when his school work begins to go downhill, then he becomes unusually withdrawn and argumentative. When she finds a photo of his married teacher on his phone, he admits to having an affair, but his teacher denies it.

Who is telling the truth?

Reputations are ruined and life becomes unbearable for those affected by the scandal.

I found this one hard to put down, with the last sentence of every chapter meaning I just had to read the next one! Mr Gittins definitely knows how to keep his readers hooked!

Many thanks to Rebecca at Hobeck Books for my advance copy of the book and my spot on the blog tour.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rob Gittins is a British screenwriter and novelist. He is EastEnder’s longest serving writer, with 36 years on the show, and over 300 episodes to his credit.

Then there’s his work on an incredible list of other shows: Vera, Casualty, Heartbeat, The Bill, Emmerdale, The Indian Doctor, The Story of Tracy Beaker, Soldier, Soldier and Stella.

In 2015 he was awarded an Outstanding Achievement Award at the 2015 Soap Awards. He’s also tra radio playwright and novelist. and in 2015 he received an Outstanding Achievement Award at the British Soap Awards.

Leonora Nattrass

Publication date : 20/10/22

Publisher : Viper

336 pages

SYNOPSIS

Death came aboard with the cormorant. It arrived on the seventh day of our voyage…

This is the secret report of disgraced former Foreign Office clerk Laurence Jago, written on the mail ship Tankerville en route to Philadelphia. His mission is to aid the civil servant charged with carrying a vital treaty to Congress that will prevent the Americans from joining with the French in their war against Britain.

When the civil servant meets an unfortunate ‘accidental’ end, Laurence becomes the one person standing between Britain and disaster. It is his great chance to redeem himself at Whitehall – except that his predecessor has taken the secret of the treaty’s hiding place to his watery grave.

As the ship is searched, Laurence quickly discovers that his fellow passengers – among them fugitive French aristocrats, an American plantation owner, an Irish actress and her performing bear – all have their own motives to find the treaty for themselves. And as a second death follows the first, Laurence must turn sleuth in order to find the killer before he has an ‘accident’ of his own.

The new pageturning historical mystery from the author of BLACK DROP, a 2021 TIMES Book of the Year. Perfect for readers of Andrew Taylor, Laura Shepherd-Robinson and S.J. Parris.

MY REVIEW

I hadn’t read Black Drop, the book introducing Laurence Jago, but I didn’t feel I had missed out on any back story.

The majority of the book is set on the Tankerville, following its journey from Falmouth to Philadelphia in 1795. On board is a very important signed treaty, destined for the British Ambassador in Philadelphia. Jago has been tasked with working undercover to help protect the treaty.

There is quite an eclectic group of people on board, and that is before a girl eith a dancing bear boards at one of the stops. As the story progresses, they all appear to have secrets. Who can be trusted?

The journey is hazardous, with bad weather and pirates to avoid, plus a French ship which has been tasked with retrieving the treaty. Not to mention the cormorant which began the voyage on the ship, much to the horror of the crew as it is a bad omen.

When Jenkinson, the carrier of the treaty, dies after an accident involving a spar, it appears the whereabouts of the hidden treaty has died with him. But was his death an accident or is there a murderer on board?

Lots of twists and turns in this page turner. It is based on real ships and real events, which always make historical thrillers more fascinating to me.

Many thanks to Rosie at Viper books for my proof copy of the book and my place on the blog tour.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Leonora Nattrass pursued her enthusiasm for late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth century literature and politics to PhD level, and lectured in English for nearly ten years. She now lives in a seventeenth-century Cornish farmhouse with seventeenth-century draughts, writing historical fiction and spinning the fleeces of her traditional Ryeland sheep into yarn.

Lauren Chater

Publication Date: 20/10/22

Publisher: Allison & Busby

SYNOPSIS

Two women separated by centuries but connected by one beautiful silk dress.

Jo Baaker, a textiles historian is drawn back to the Dutch island where she was born to investigate the provenance of a 17th century silk dress. Retrieved by local divers from a sunken shipwreck, the dress offers tantalising clues about the way people lived and died during Holland’s famous Golden Age.

Jo’s research leads her to Anna Tesseltje, a poor Amsterdam laundress turned ladies companion who served the artist Catharina van Shurman for one season at her property outside the Hague. The two women were said to be close, so why did Anna abandon Catharina at the height of her misfortune? And was the dress a gift or did Anna come by it through less honest means? Jo is determined to find out, but as she delves deeper into Anna’s history, troubling details about her own past begin to emerge, disrupting the personal narrative she has trusted for sixteen years. On the small Dutch island of Texel where fortunes are lost and secrets lie buried for centuries, Jo will finally discover the truth about herself and her connection to the woman who wore the Winter Dress.

MY REVIEW

Im delighted to be taking part in the publication day blog blast for this wonderful book.

A beautiful and evocative story, written along a dual timeline, 1651 and the present set in 2019.

The author has based the book on the real life finding of a dress under similar circumstances, then she has weaved a believable and compelling back story to suggest how the dress could have ended up in a shipwreck. Truly fascinating and I would love to go and see the original dress.

I thoroughly enjoyed both timelines.

The 1651 timeline tells the story of Anna, who’s father had been a wealthy shipping merchant but his wealth and belongings were lost after his death. After the death of her sister, when Anna was only 19, she was left to fend for herself as she had no other relatives. Luckily, she was offered the opportunity of working as a companion to a well known artist who was suffering from depression.

In the current timeline Jo, a textiles historian, also lost her parents at a young age and went to live with her Aunt in Sydney. She is tempted back to her childhood home when her old friend sends her a photo of a beautiful dress which he has found in a shipwreck just off the island of Texel which is not far from the Dutch mainland. She is so excited to see the dress in real life and also to help preserve it as quickly as possible. She takes the first flight out if Sydney and heads to Texel to begin her investigation of the possible origin of the dress.

Beautifully written, amazing descriptions putting the reader at the centre of the action, and I was completely gripped from the author’s note at the beginning right to the last page.

If you are a fan of historical fiction and a good dual timeline, or have an interest in the history of clothes and how they are preserved, this is for you.

About the Author

Lauren Chater is the author of the historical novels The Lace Weaver and Gulliver’s Wife. In 2018 she was awarded a grant by the Neilma Sidney Literary Fund to travel to the Netherlands to research her third novel The Winter Dress. She is currently completing her Masters of Cultural Heritage through Deakin University in Victoria, Australia.