Second Chances at the Log Fire Cabin by Catherine Ferguson - Blog Tour & Extract

Today, I am delighted to be part of Catherine Ferguson's blog tour for her new book Second Chances at the Log Fire Cabin, thanks to Sabah at Avon Books ......

It’s time to cosy up this winter…

When Roxy proposes to her boyfriend Mac in a moment of madness on live TV, she’s mortified when he rejects her. To escape the embarrassment, she takes a job working as cookery assistant at a Christmas house party at the idyllic Log Fire Cabin. Roxy hopes the new job will take her mind off Mac, because to her eternal annoyance, she hasn’t been able to stop thinking about him…

But when Mac turns up at the cabin in unexpected circumstances, things begin to go awry. Can Roxy heal her own heart this Christmas? Or is someone waiting in the wings to help her…?

EXCLUSIVE EXTRACT

I open my eyes and Jackson’s face is right there, frowning. I take in a huge gulp of air and start coughing, as if the action will clear the blockage in my nose and throat. I’m still trying to shake off the last remnants of the horrifying dream.

‘What on earth happened?’ asks Jackson when I’ve calmed down a bit.

I swallow and turn away from his scrutiny. ‘It was nothing.’

‘Christ, that must have been some nightmare.’ Jackson looks appalled. ‘Look, you’re still shaking.’ He takes hold of my hand. ‘Can I do anything? You’re not going to be sick, are you?’ He recoils slightly, in alarm.

I shake my head, wanting to put his mind at rest. Jackson’s not great with people throwing up. Or any kind of mess, really.

‘Don’t worry, I’ll be fine in a moment,’ I manage to croak. ‘I just need to do some deep breathing.’

‘Do these nightmares happen often, then?’

I try to shrug it off. ‘I’ve had a few.’

To be honest, I thought these terrifying dreams would start to fade over the years, but if anything, they seem to be happening with greater frequency. And they’re just as scary as they were at the beginning.

But I don’t want Jackson to know any of this.

‘Roxy, you’re white as a ghost. Are you sure you don’t need to – erm – go to the bathroom?’

I shake my head.

‘Have you any idea what’s causing these bad dreams?’

I stare at him. If ever there was a time to tell him everything, it’s now. But I’m not prepared to risk losing Jackson, the way I lost Billy. So, instead of telling him the truth, I take a deep breath and say the first thing that comes into my head. ‘It’s money. I’m stone broke and I’m going to have to move out of here and go back to live with my parents.’ I give a rueful smile. ‘Nightmare.’

*****************************

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Murder at Archly Manor by Sara Rosett - Blog Tour, Book Review & Giveaway (US only)

Murder at Archly Manor (High Society Lady Detective Series) by Sara Rosett

About the Book

 

  

Murder at Archly Manor (High Society Lady Detective Series) 

  Historical Cozy Mystery 

  1st in Series Self Published (October 15, 2018) 

  Paperback: 252 pages 

  ISBN-10: 0998843164   

ISBN-13: 978-0998843162 

  Digital ASIN: B07H2P8J3H

A high-society murder. A spirited lady detective. Can she out-class the killer before an innocent person takes the fall? 

London, 1923. Olive Belgrave needs a job. Despite her aristocratic upbringing, she’s penniless. Determined to support herself, she jumps at an unconventional job—looking into the background of her cousin’s fiancé, Alfred. He burst into the upper crust world of London’s high society, but his answers to questions about his past are decidedly vague.

Before Olive can gather more than the basics, a murder occurs at a posh party. Suddenly, every Bright Young Person in attendance is a suspect, and Olive must race to find the culprit because a sly murderer is determined to make sure Olive’s first case is her last.

Murder at Archly Manor is the first in the High Society Lady Detective series of charming historical cozy mysteries. 

If you like witty banter, glamorous settings, and delightful plot twists, you’ll love USA Today bestselling author Sara Rosett’s series for Anglophiles and mystery lovers alike. Travel back to the Golden Age of detective fiction with Murder at Archly Manor.

I really enjoyed the writing style of Murder at Archly Manor right from the opening as Olive tries to secure herself a job.  She wanted to be one of that fascinating breed - the working girl.  

I thought the era of the 1920's really came to life as I got to know Olive, her background, her unlikeable stepmother, there were hints of her father's unwise investments, and the reason why she was penniless.

Invited to a party at the splendid Archly Manor, she and her cousins are surrounded by the high society of the time, but a murder is committed and, rather than see someone innocent take the blame, Olive, being the independent lady that she is, decides to try and discover who the actual culprit is.

The story is perfectly paced, I did not guess the killer's identity, there is jealousy, snobbish behaviour, blackmail and even a suggestion of drugs, all very plausible for the times.

A brilliant start to a brand new historical cosy mystery series and one which I would highly recommend.

About the Author

USA Today bestselling author Sara Rosett writes light-hearted escapes for readers who enjoy puzzling mysteries, interesting settings, and quirky characters.

She is the author of the Murder on Location series, the Ellie Avery series, the On the Run series, and the High Society Lady Detective series. Sara also teaches an online course, How to Outline A Cozy Mystery.

Publishers Weekly called Sara's books, “satisfying,” “well-executed,” and “sparkling.” Sara loves to get new stamps in her passport and considers dark chocolate a daily requirement. Find out more at SaraRosett.com.

  Author Links: 
 ▪ Website: https://www.SaraRosett.com 
 ▪ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SaraRosett 
 ▪ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sararosett/ 
 ▪ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSaraRosett 
 ▪ Twitter: @SaraRosett http://www.twitter.com/sararosett 
  ▪ Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/srosett/ 
 ▪ Litsy profile name: SaraRosett (no profile links available at this time, home page: http://litsy.com/) 
 ▪ GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/256977.Sara_Rosett 
▪ LibraryThing: http://www.librarything.com/profile/SaraRosett 
 ▪ Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Sara-Rosett/e/B001IXRPSS 
 ▪ Bookbub Author Page: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sara-rosett 
 ▪ Newsletter sign-up: https://www.SaraRosett.com/signup 
  Purchase Links Amazon Barnes & Noble iBooks Kobo Google Play 
  a Rafflecopter giveaway   

TOUR PARTICIPANTS 

October 11 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW 
October 11 – My Reading Journeys – SPOTLIGHT 
October 12 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW 
October 12 – Cozy Up With Kathy - REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
October 13 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT October 13 – T's Stuff – CHARACTER INTERVIEW 
October 13 – Cassidy's Bookshelves – REVIEW 
October 14 – Readeropolis – CHARACTER INTERVIEW 
October 14 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW 
October 15 – Bibliophile Reviews - REVIEW 
October 15 – The Book Diva's Reads – SPOTLIGHT 
October 16 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
October 16 – Handcrafted Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
October 17 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW 
October 17 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW 
October 18 – Mysteries with Character – GUEST POST 
October 18 – MJB Reviewers – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
October 19 – Island Confidential - REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW 
October 19 – Fantastic feathers – SPOTLIGHT 
October 20 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST 
October 21 - A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
October 21 - Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
October 22 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – REVIEW 
October 22 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT 
October 23 – Jane Reads – REVIEW 
October 23 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
October 24 – Carole's Book Corner – REVIEW 
October 24 – Here's How It Happened – REVIEW

  

Oh! What a Pavlova by Isabella May - Book Birthday Blitz - Book Review & Giveaway

Today, I am delighted to be part of Isabella May's blog tour for her book Oh! What a Pavlova, thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources ......

Genre:  Contemporary Fiction

Publication Date:  13 October 2017

Standalone Novel

Estimated Page Count:  297

Kate Clothier is leading a double life: a successful jet-setting
businesswoman to the outside world, but behind closed doors,
life with Daniel and his volcanic temper is anything but rosy.

Some days – heck, make that EVERY day – cake is her only
salvation. 

Slowly but surely, the cities she visits – and the men she
meets – help her to realise there IS a better future.

And the ley lines of Glastonbury are certainly doing their best
to impart their mystical wisdom…

But will she escape before it’s too late?

Purchase Link: myBook.to/pavlova

Kate loves her job travelling the world and she loves eating the various cake delights she finds along the way, oh and she also loves meeting the sexy men, even though she's not entirely single.  Naughty girl .... but then reading on we find out exactly what her partner Daniel is like .... and he's not a nice man.

Daniel is a dinosaur, he's possessive, a bully and an emotional blackmailer.  So many times I wished Kate would tell him where to go, but it's not so easy for her, as we discover later on.

I enjoyed following Kate's journey as she finds the strength to deal with a demanding job and a demanding partner!

The author deals with a difficult subject but, believe it or not, there are some funny moments among the angst, so I felt the balance was just right.

An enjoyable and thought-provoking read.

About the Author

Isabella May lives in (mostly) sunny Andalucia, Spain with her
husband, daughter and son, creatively inspired by the sea
and the mountains. When she isn’t having her cake and
eating it, sampling a new cocktail on the beach, or ferrying her
children to and from after school activities, she can usually be
found writing. As a co-founder and a former contributing writer
for the popular online women’s magazine, The Glass House
Girls – www.theglasshousegirls.com – she has also been
lucky enough to subject the digital world to her other favourite
pastimes, travel, the Law of Attraction, and Prince (The Purple
One). She has recently become a Book Fairy, and is having
lots of fun with her imaginative ‘drops’! Costa del Churros is
her third novel with Crooked Cat Books, following on from the
hit sensations, Oh! What a Pavlova and The Cocktail Bar.

Social Media Links –

www.isabellamayauthor.com

Twitter - @IsabellaMayBks

Facebook - 
https://www.facebook.com/IsabellaMayAuthor/

Instagram - @isabella_may_author

Giveaway – Win a signed copy of The Cocktail Bar (Open
Internationally)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Promise by Katerina Diamond - Blog Tour & Extract

Today, I am delighted to be part of Katerina Diamond's blog tour for her new book The Promise, thanks to Sabah at Avon Books, and I have an exclusive extract below ......

When troubled teen Connor moves to Exeter from the US to escape his past, he finds himself embroiled in a world of popular kids and easy girls. Everyone wants to be his friend, but they don’t know about what he did…and they don’t know about his father.

As Connor’s life in England begins to unravel, DS Adrian Miles and his partner Imogen Grey are working up against the clock to catch a serial killer who dates his victims before he kills them. Determined to uncover the truth, Imogen is forced to act as bait – but will she take it too far and risk her own life?

Katerina Diamond is back with a bang in this dark, twisted novel, perfect for fans of M.J. Arlidge and Karin Slaughter.

EXCLUSIVE EXTRACT

Connor noticed his father’s voice changing already;

he had always had an accent that was different to him

and the people back in California, but now all traces

of any American at all had virtually disappeared. As if

Connor didn’t feel different enough.

He went into the kitchen, a small and dingy room

with a metre square window facing onto a garden that

looked overgrown and untouched.

‘What’s outside?’ he asked as his father appeared

behind him again.

‘Who knows what the olds did to it. Looks like they

let it go though. Dad used to spend hours in that garden,

in that shed right at the end; he spent more time in

there than in the house.’

Jacob put his hand on Connor’s shoulder, it was a

touch full of force; controlling, making sure his son

stayed close. Maybe he was trying to stop him from

going outside.

‘I wish I could have met them,’ Connor said, knowing

that would unsettle his father. Any suggestion that

growing up with just a single dad wasn’t enough for

him, that somehow he was missing something from his

life, was like poking a raw nerve.

Jacob let go immediately. ‘Well, I left for a reason.

You didn’t miss much.’

********************************

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Available from:-
Amazon UK
Book Depository

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A Christmas Gift by Sue Moorcroft - Blog Tour & Extract

Today, I am delighted to be part of Sue Moorcroft's blog tour for her new book A Christmas Gift, thanks to Sabah at Avon Books, and I have an exclusive extract below ......

Georgine loves Christmas. The festive season always brings the little village of Middledip to life. But since her ex-boyfriend walked out, leaving her with crippling debts, Georgine’s struggled to make ends meet.

To keep her mind off her worries, she throws herself into organising the Christmas show at the local school. And when handsome Joe Blackthorn becomes her assistant, Georgine’s grateful for the help. But there’s something about Joe she can’t quite put her finger on. Could there be more to him than meets the eye?

Georgine’s past is going to catch up with her in ways she never expected. But can the help of friends new and old make this a Christmas to remember after all?

Curl up with the gorgeous new book from the Sunday Times bestseller, perfect for fans of Carole Matthews and Trisha Ashley

EXCLUSIVE EXTRACT

Breath forming a white cloud, she loped across the lawn, every grass blade rimed with frost and squeaking beneath her feet. A run and jump onto a garden chair and her gloves found enough purchase on the top of the ice-beaded fence to allow her to swing a leg over the top, then she was up, over and jogging along the footpath.

When she reached the point where Scott Road met Top Farm Road she lengthened her stride. She’d intended to drive to work until her unwanted callers had planted themselves between her and her elderly hatchback, but it was exhilarating to race through the zing of frost on the morning air. Any number of men could bang on her door all day long without bothering her.

Her breath came easily as she found her rhythm, legs carrying her out of the Bankside estate, soon reaching the last houses of Middledip village. The pavement petered out and her comfortably worn running shoes began slapping the road. She tried to concentrate on thinking about props for the Christmas show, but every time a car whooshed past she hopped onto the verge and held her breath in case it was the debt collectors and they’d somehow guess she was the Miss France they’d been trying to speak to.

It was a relief, when she’d covered a mile or so, to swing left beneath an iron arch bearing a white sign with black writing:

ACTING INSTRUMENTAL

Performing Arts College

Sanctuary. A place where she could leave reality behind. Her running feet ate up the final few hundred yards as she wove through students ambling along the drive, chatting or heads down over their phones.

One called, ‘Good mawnin’, Mizz Jaw-Jean,’ in a pretty fair Midwest American accent.

Laughing breathlessly, she raised a gloved hand. The student, Isla, was not only a drama student at Acting Instrumental, but the daughter of Sian from Georgine’s own schooldays. Her schoolmates in the huge comprehensive school in the nearby town of Bettsbrough had loved to rib her with awful parodies of her American father’s soft Georgia drawl. She wished she had a pound for every time her teenaged self had heard it. It might pay off the scary men at her door – if it had been her debt they were trying to collect. Which it wasn’t.

You can buy the book here:
Amazon.co.uk
BookDepository.com

Meet the Author

Award-winning author Sue Moorcroft writes contemporary women’s fiction with occasionally unexpected themes. She’s won a Readers’ Best Romantic Read Award and been nominated for others, including a ‘RoNA’ (Romantic Novel Award). Sue’s a Katie Fforde Bursary Award winner, a past vice chair of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and editor of its two anthologies.

She also writes short stories, serials, articles, writing ‘how to’ and is a creative writing tutor.

The daughter of two soldiers, Sue was born in Germany and went on to spend much of her childhood in Malta and Cyprus. She likes reading, Zumba, FitStep, yoga, and watching Formula 1.

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A Christmas Gift sounds the perfect Christmas read doesn't it!

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Christmas at the Log Fire Cabin by Catherine Ferguson - Blog Tour & Extract

Today, I am excited to be part of Catherine Ferguson's blog tour for her new book Christmas at the Log Fire Cabin, thanks to Sabah at Avon Books and I have an exclusive extract

When Poppy’s boyfriend Harrison proposes the week before Christmas and gives her twelve days to decide, she doesn’t know what to do. With the festive season in full swing, it’s make or break time for the couple and the clock is ticking…

Meanwhile, Poppy’s best friend Erin is desperate for the pair of them to fulfil their dream of setting up a dinner party catering company – and when an opportunity arises at a luxury log fire cabin, the girls take their chance to impress.

But they hadn’t bargained on the owner of the cabin being quite so attractive – or having quite such a sexy voice. As the twelve days tick on, will Poppy realise that Harrison is the one for her? Or will it be love in the lodge when the new year comes?

Lose yourself this Christmas in the new novel from the brilliant Catherine Ferguson, perfect for cosying up with by the fire.

EXCLUSIVE EXTRACT

‘Problem customer!’ murmurs my colleague, Maxine, halfway through our Friday-lunchtime shift.

‘Really?’ My heart sinks. I’m so tired. This afternoon, I’ll find out who will be the new restaurant manager, and I’ve been up half the night feeling anxious about it. I’ve been trying to throw myself into my work, as if it’s just another shift, but as my meeting with Mr Hastings at three-thirty creeps nearer, my stomach is growing more and more jittery by the minute.

The last thing I need is a tricky diner using up my last reserves of strength.

Maxine flicks her eyes across the room and I peer over, pretending that I’m checking to make sure everything is looking as it should.

‘She’s complained about everything from the temperature in the room to the flowers on her table not being entirely fresh – and that’s even before she’s started eating!’

As we look on surreptitiously, the woman summons eighteen-year-old Ellie with one imperious finger raised in the air. It’s Ellie’s first week in the job and she’s quite shy and terrified of making mistakes. (I can so empathise with her. I was just like her when I started.)

Ellie darts forward helpfully.

It’s clear that something else is wrong. The woman is frowning and speaking rapidly, and as we watch, Ellie’s face falls.

I catch her in the kitchen and it’s obvious from the tension in her face, she’s desperately trying to hold it together.

‘What’s wrong?’ I ask.

Ellie swallows and looks down. ‘She said I must be stupid because I didn’t bother to find out the soup of the day before I came on shift.’

‘Right. I’ll handle her.’ I walk calmly back into the restaurant, only to be immediately summoned by our difficult diner. Pasting on my best polite and helpful smile, I walk over to her table. ‘Can I help?’

She looks at me frostily. ‘I certainly hope so. This fish is staring at me.’

‘I beg your pardon, madam?’ Feeling slightly wrong-footed, I glance at the contents of her plate.

‘The mackerel. It’s staring at me. I don’t like it. It’s putting me off my lunch.’

‘I’m so sorry.’ Carefully, I turn the plate a half-circle. ‘Is that better?’

‘Are you being funny?’ She peers at me suspiciously.

‘No. Definitely not. I just thought if the fish wasn’t facing you …’

‘Yes, but I’ll still know they’re there, won’t I?’ she snaps. ‘The eyes.’

‘Of course, madam. Would you like me to take it away and remove the head for you?’

‘But then it won’t be a “whole mackerel”. It’ll be a “headless mackerel”, which isn’t quite the same thing, is it?’

‘Um … no, I suppose it isn’t.’ It’s an effort to keep my tone upbeat. What on earth is she talking about?

‘I want a “whole mackerel”, like it states on the menu.’

I clear my throat, stalling for time. I’ve had tricky customers to deal with before, but this one takes the biscuit. I get the sneaky feeling she’s being deliberately awkward just to see how I’ll react. I don’t mind her leading me a dance, but upsetting Ellie by calling her stupid has made me really annoyed. But I persevere with the polite and attentive manner. ‘What would you like me to do, madam?’

‘Sort it out!’ she snaps. ‘Stop that fish staring at me!’

A wave of disbelief and exhaustion washes over me and I almost laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. Nothing I do for this diner will be right. Suddenly, tiredness takes over and I do what I never, ever do with customers as a rule.

I resort to sarcasm.

My smile is bright and cheery. ‘Right, well, if you don’t want me to take the rude little chap away, perhaps we could make him a teeny-tiny little blindfold? Out of a basil leaf? Or maybe two slices of lemon tied together with a sliver of anchovy?’

If looks could kill, there’d be two corpses on her plate. She looks as if steam is about to rush out of her ears as she comes to the boil.