Blog Tour: Extract from The Final Reckoning by Chris Bishop

I am very excited to be part of the blog tour today for The Final Reckoning by Chris Bishop. I have an extract to share with you today and if you like the sound of that, you can click here to order your copy now. Don't forget to check out the other blogs on the tour for more exclusive content and reviews!

Here's what it's all about...

Despite Alfred's great victory at Edington, Wessex is far from secure.

With the threat of an imminent Viking attack, Matthew, now a warrior, is sent to fortify and defend the ford at Leatherhead. There, hopelessly outnumbered, he faces his sternest test as he and a small band of barely trained Saxon warriors strive to hold out long enough for help to arrive or resolve to die trying.

In a time ravaged by political uncertainty, Matthew is placed in intense personal danger as he is also ordered to investigate the tyranny of the Ealdorman's stepson and dispense justice as he sees fit.

With his life still threatened by the wound to his chest, what is asked of him seems more than any man should endure as he faces . . . The Final Reckoning  

FROM CHAPTER 14

Godric seemed much more at ease than most of the others. There were already thirty or forty men within the stockade and he was positioning them behind the fence in pairs, each with a basket of arrows set between them. Others were being stationed at various strategic points and on the island.

‘How goes it?’ I asked.

He grinned broadly, clearly enjoying his role. ‘I wouldn’t want to be one of the Vikings when this lot show themselves,’ he joked.

‘How will you use them?’

‘I’ve ordered them to keep out of sight. As soon as the Vikings come within range we’ll show ourselves and, on my command, will loose a volley of arrows directly into their ranks. That should slow them down a bit. My men will then continue to shoot at will as rapidly as they can. Not all are excellent shots but it won’t much matter; the barrage should suffice to hit them hard. Those that do get past us will still have my men on the island to deal with when they try to

cross the river.’

Thanks so much to Chris for stopping by the blog today-don't forget to check out the other blogs on the tour for more exclusive content and reviews!

@CBishop_author ‏ 

@RedDoorBooks   

Summerathon Reading Wrap Up 2019

So the Summerathon happened and I feel like I literally had no time to read that week. I will have vlog footage of the readathon on my channel very very soon so you can see how much I didn't read. However I did manage to claw away at the challenges so here's how I did...arranged by challenge!

1) Read a “beachy” book: This can be any book you’d want to take with you to the beach/poolside! Or it can take place on a beach (however you want to interpret it!)

I listened to this one on audiobook and I already have a review up on the blog! 400 pages.

2) Read a book with sunrise colours on the cover: The book can have ANY of the colours in a sunrise, such as orange, yellow, blue, pink, purple, etc.

I had 2 possible options with this one but I ended up reading Crossing Over-I still haven't formed a full opinion on this one yet but a review will be coming soon. This is an audible original so it doesn't have a page lenth, it is just over nine and a half hours.

 

3) Read a book that has a road trip, travelling, or vacation: The book doesn’t have to take place only on a vacation or roadtrip; it can include any scenes that involve travelling, going on a trip, etc.

I had already started this one but I enjoyed listening to the rest of it on audiobook.I listened to the last 146 pages.

4) Read a book set in the summer: The book doesn’t have to only be in the summer, but at least have a portion of it take place in summer.

I read this on my kindle it is 368 pages

5) Read a book with food on the cover: We love summer time grilling! Any kind of food/beverage on the cover will do!

I read this and loved it-it comes in at 320 pages.

6) Read a book while drinking your favourite summery beverage: This is more of a freebie but thought it would be fun! Choose any drink of your choice to sip while enjoying your book!

This was mostly iced coffee and you'll have to watch my vlog footage to see evidence of this!

Guest Post: Author Event: Girls Night In, Birmingham, June 20th 2019

What a lovely evening we were treated to by Waterstones, Birmingham. Phillipa Ashley, Sue Moorcroft, Bella Osborne and Christie Barlow entertained us royally, speaking about their new books and kindly answering questions from the audience. 

They covered a broad spectrum of topics from their personal writing styles to whether they, like their readers, fall in love with the heroes in their books or imagine friendships with their heroines. Thank you ladies for an engaging evening.

Blog Tour: Review of A Random Act of Kindness by Sophie Jenkins

I am very excited to be part of the blog tour today for A Random Act of Kindness by Sophie Jenkins. I have a review on blog today which I have shared below. If you like the sound of that, you can click here to order A Random Act of Kindness now. Don't forget to check out the other stops on the blog tour for more exclusive content and reviews! Here's what it's all about...

It only takes a moment, to change a life for ever…

Fern is too busy making sure other people feel good about themselves to give much thought to her own happiness. But somehow, without her noticing, life has run away from her.

Suddenly, Fern realises her vintage clothes business is struggling, and the casual relationship she’d always thought she was happy in doesn’t look so appealing.

But sometimes, karma really does come through. And when Fern goes out of her way to help 85-year-old Dinah, little does she realise their new friendship will change her life.

Dinah may have troubles in her past, but she’s lived and loved to the full. Can Dinah show Fern that even the smallest acts of kindness can make the world a better place?

Review: I enjoyed this book. I didn't realise it was dual narrative and that;s one of my favourite features of a novel so that was a really pleasant surprise. This book also has some LGBTQ+ representation (which is spoilery so I won't mention what) but that was also great to find out and it was great that I read this during pride month. The final feature that I really enjoyed in this book that is NOT mentioned in the synopsis is that it has a real passion for fashion and we see that through the eyes of Fern. 

fern is a great character to spend the book with because she isn't perfect. She is an optimist and she has flaws. Her random acts of kindness though do lead to friendships and certain events that drive the book forwards. She has a interesting relationship with some of the other characters in the book which is sometimes a little difficult to work out but I like the fact that she is a very positive person and someone who is a fan of being part of a community. 

I also really liked the setting of this novel. Most of it takes place in and around Camden market, a great setting for a book because literally anything could happen there. There are all sorts of people an personalities that come through Camden market and just so much going on that it makes for an 'anything is possible' kind of atmosphere. 

There is some romance in this book but it blew a little bit hot and cold for me in terms of the actual relationships and potential relationship formed. But the love affair with fashion and vintage fashion in particular reigns strong and if you have any interest in beautiful clothing, you will love this aspect of the storyline. Sometimes the pacing felt a little bit too fast or too slow, it would have been a slightly easier read if the pacing was more consistent but I don't feel like it harmed the general plot and so this was a good read for me. 

Thanks so much to Sophie for stopping by the blog today and remember to check out all the other wonderful blogs on the tour!

Review: Those People by Louise Candlish

You don't like them.

They're not like you.

Are you one of those people?

Until Darren and Jodie move in, Lowland Way is a suburban paradise. Beautiful homes. Friendly neighbours. Kids playing out in the street. But Darren and Jodie don't follow the rules and soon disputes over loud music and parking rights escalate all too quickly to public rows and threats of violence.

Then, early one Saturday, a horrific crime shocks the street. As the police go house-to-house, the residents close ranks and everyone’s story is the same: They did it.

But there’s a problem. The police don't agree.

And the door they're knocking on next is yours.

Review: Well this book just had me gripped from the moment I read the first page until the moment I reached the end. I had no idea what was going to happen and I absolutely had to find out. It is definitely one of those books that will stick with you long after you finish it!

This book is told in such a clever way that reminded me a little of Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. You know that something bad has happened but you only discover what, why and how as you turn each page. This is an achingly slow reveal but that makes for an incredibly quick read since you won't be able to stop turning the pages. The structure is made up up police interviews and then a chapter told from one characters point of view. I love books with multiple points of view and it really made me feel immersed in the story. Half of the book takes place before an incident has occurred and the other half after that incident has occurred and I really think this helped keep the pace snappy and keep my wanting to read on...and on and on!

This book is somewhat different for me because i really didn't like any of the characters involved. I really began to hate most of them but boy did that make me want to find out what happened to all of them. These characters are so intriguing though-I found myself thinking about them when I wasn't reading the book and trying to work out how their stories would play out and what exactly was going on in their head. 

This book is definitely and thriller and I spent my time worrying what was going to happen next and to whom and I didn't really realise how it was going to end until the very end of the book. Whilst there are some violent moments in the book there is nothing too gory or too scary and so for me it was just the perfect balance of action and plot. 

In case you can't tell I really enjoyed this book. I don't want to go into anymore details because I don't want to give any spoilers away-you have to see for yourself. Order this one now-you won't be able to put it down!

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Guest Review: Wildflower Bay by Rachael Lucas

Wildflower Bay is a stunning, romantic summer read by Rachael Lucas.

This little island has some big secrets...

Isla's got her dream job as head stylist at the most exclusive salon in Edinburgh. The fact that she's been so single-minded in her career that she's forgotten to have a life has completely passed her by - until disaster strikes.

Out of options, she heads to the remote island of Auchenmor to help out her aunt who is in desperate need of an extra pair of scissors at her salon.

A native to the island, Finn is thirty-five and reality has just hit him hard. His best friends are about to have a baby and everything is changing. When into his life walks Isla . . .

Review: I have not read anything by Rachael Lucas before, but the bright, colourful cover of this book drew my attention right away. Added to that the setting, a small island off the west coast of Scotland, and I was sold. Eventually, I chose the audiobook version of the book and, fittingly, listened to it on a road trip to Scotland. It was certainly a good listen. 

The story revolves around Isla Brown, a top stylist in a chic Edinburgh hair salon. When an unfortunate incident leads to her losing her job, she is devastated as her work is everything to her. However, the timing coincides with her aunt requiring help with her salon on the small, but lovely, Scottish island of Auchenmor. Things are very different from what she is used to in this salon and she doesn't get the best of welcomes from its small staff, but she soon warms to the place and the people, and they to her. She finds herself drawn especially to one elderly lady in particular, Ruth and they fast become friends. However, she keeps bumping into local heartthrob Finn; could there be romance in the air? There are, of course, a host of other characters in the book, all well described and believable. One particularly worth a mention is Lily, who has come to the island to establish a retreat; she is well meaning, but I found her a source of great amusement. 

This is a lovely story, filled with humour as well as drama. I loved watching the at first unlikely relationship between Isla and Ruth develop. Equally, it was great to see Isla change into a very different person by the end of the book. The setting is marvellous, and the characters and situations so typical of those found in a small community like this. I would love to be jumping on the ferry to Auchenmor. I think this would make a perfect summer read. 

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Cover Reveal: Coming Home to Glendale Hall by Victoria Walters

I'm very excited to be revealing the cover for Victoria Walters's new book today-Coming Home to Glendale Hall. The book comes out on 25th September in the UK and you can click here to pre-order your copy now.

Here's what it's all about...

No matter how far you go, home is where the heart is

Beth Williams hasn’t been home for ten years. After falling pregnant at sixteen, she ran away from the imposing Scottish estate where she grew up rather than risk her family’s disapproval, working hard to build a life for herself and daughter Isabelle - but now she’s finally returning to Glendale Hall.

As Beth tries to mend her broken family ties, and fights to bring the community of Glendale back together, she realises that the story she has told herself for a decade might well be a very different one from the truth. Even though she ran from Glendale it has never left her heart. And, she soon realises, neither has Drew – Beth’s first love.

Will Beth be able to forgive her mother and grandmother (and herself) for what happened ten years ago? What will Drew say when he discovers the secret she’s been keeping from him for so long? Can a festive trail bring the village back together?

Will Christmas work its magic on Glendale - or will Beth be forced to run away from it all over again?

And are you ready to see that cover?

Isn't it beautiful? I can't wait to read it!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books on my Summer TBR 25/6/19

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Well you already know what is on my Summerathon TBR and so what I'm going to be reading this week, and last week I shared books that I am excited to see come out during the second half of the year but there are also other books I definitely want to get to at some point this summer-maybe during another readathon or two...

These are just a few that are on my radar right now-look out for reviews of them coming up soon (hopefully!)

Blog Tour: Guest Post from One Last Greek Summer Author Mandy Baggot

I am very excited to be part of the blog tour today for One Last Greek Summer by Mandy Baggot. Mandy has written a guest post for the blog today which I have shared below. If you like the sound of that, you can click here to order One Last Greek Summer now. Don't forget to check out the other stops on the blog tour for more exclusive content and reviews! Here's what it's all about...

Beth Martin is 31, newly divorced and wondering just what life holds for her…

Best-friend, Heidi, is adamant that all the answers lie in Corfu – the island where the girls’ partied away their youth.

So cue a trip to a sun-drenched Greek island, ouzo cocktails, a trip down memory lane…and Alex Hallas, the man Beth has never quite forgotten.

As they dance under the stars, the sand beneath their toes, old feelings begin to resurface and Beth might just have a chance to take back her life. If they can learn to love the people they’ve become…

And now its over to Mandy...

On location! Know your setting inside out? Or You Tube it?

It is absolutely impossible for a writer to travel the world researching area after area in order to write a book. Most of us don’t have the budget, or the time, as nice as it might be to luxuriate in every corner of the globe. However, that doesn’t mean we don’t do our research.

I’m lucky enough to write summer books set in Corfu, Greece and there is a reason for this. Corfu is a Greek island very close to my heart as I have a holiday home there. I fell in love with the island back in 2003 and this love affair is forever! I combine holidays with my family with research for books and it’s an absolute delight every single time. And, saying that you don’t need to research in situ every time, doesn’t mean that when you do physically go to a place that that personal experience doesn’t shine through over and above any internet searching. Being in locations, seeing the sights, eating the food, drinking the ouzo, definitely adds something uniquely special to my Greek books. I get so many compliments from readers telling me how authentic my stories are, how you can tell I have spent a lot of time in Greece etc. What can I say? It’s an absolute joy to write about my favourite island...

But don’t be put off writing about a location even if you’ve never been there. For my first book set in New York, I had never visited, so had to rely on You Tube for street sounds and ambiance, the internet for images and websites to tell me more about tourist attractions and the rest was imagination. The same was true of my book set in Paris, although I had visited many, many years ago, I had to update my knowledge using the worldwide web.

So, the most important thing is do do your research, be it physical or in the comfort of your own home. Because the details matter!  

About the author

Mandy Baggot is an international bestselling and award-winning romance writer. The winner of the Innovation in Romantic Fiction award at the UK's Festival of Romance, her romantic comedy novel, One Wish in Manhattan, was also shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Comedy Novel of the Year award in 2016. Mandy's books have so far been translated into German, Italian, Czech and Hungarian. Mandy loves the Greek island of Corfu, white wine, country music and handbags. Also a singer, she has taken part in ITV1's Who Dares Sings and The X-Factor. Mandy is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and the Society of Authors and lives near Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK with her husband and two daughters.

Follow Mandy:   

Facebook: @mandybaggotauthor

Twitter: @mandybaggot

Follow Aria

Website: www.ariafiction.com

Twitter: @aria_fiction

Facebook: @ariafiction

Instagram: @ariafiction

Thanks so much to Mandy for stopping by today and don't forget to check out the other blogs listed above to follow the rest of the tour!

Movie Reviews: June 16th-22nd 2019

Another Sunday, another lot of movie reviews. As always, I go into more detailed thoughts on my movie reviews video over on my BookTube channel which I will leave at the bottom of this post once it is live so if you want a little more detail, give that a watch please and thank you!

I have to admit I was disappointed in this one. I loved Emma Thompson in it and Kumail Nanjiani but I really thought that Tessa Thompson and Chris Hemsworth would bring the same kind of chemistry that they had in Thor Ragnarok. Plus Tessa Thompson's accent really annoyed me-it was not consistent. There were a few laughs but overall I was expecting more. 

This one was exactly what I was looking for, it made me laugh, it addressed male dominated workplaces and the fight for women's rights especially in the media and Emma Thompson and Mindy Kaling were both excellent. They also had great on screen chemistry. I love a New York setting too-what can I say? Highly recommend!

Summerathon TBR

It's another readathon-yey! And I believe that it is coming at just the right time because my June reading has been somewhat lacking and my TBR is still there calling my name. 

Here's where you can find the official announcement of the summerathon including the wonderful hosts and where you can follow along on social maid. 

What you really need to know though is that I am taking part and what I will be reading so here is my TBR...

There are 6 challenges during this readathon and I will be trying to fit the remaining books on my TBR and my library books into these challenges-wish me luck!

1) Read a “beachy” book: This can be any book you’d want to take with you to the beach/poolside! Or it can take place on a beach (however you want to interpret it!)

I think this definitely seems like the kind of book that would appear on a 'beach reads' stand in Waterstones or Barnes and Noble!

2) Read a book with sunrise colours on the cover: The book can have ANY of the colours in a sunrise, such as orange, yellow, blue, pink, purple, etc.

I'm giving myself a couple of options for this one because these are both currently sitting ready to go on my audible app and I want to read both of them so....

 

3) Read a book that has a road trip, travelling, or vacation: The book doesn’t have to take place only on a vacation or roadtrip; it can include any scenes that involve travelling, going on a trip, etc.

Ok full disclosure, I have already started this book but I don't want to leave it unfinished just because I'm starting a readathon so hopefully this will be one I finish on day one! There are several trips taken and roads travelled in this book as well a many journeys of discovery...

4) Read a book set in the summer: The book doesn’t have to only be in the summer, but at least have a portion of it take place in summer.

I absolutely have to read this book this weekend because I know I want to immerse myself completely in it and I checked and the book begins in August!

5) Read a book with food on the cover: We love summer time grilling! Any kind of food/beverage on the cover will do!

I've also seen this book on several lists and displays for pride month so that is wicked!

6) Read a book while drinking your favourite summery beverage: This is more of a freebie but thought it would be fun! Choose any drink of your choice to sip while enjoying your book!

I will be vlogging the readathon and probably updating on my insta stories as much as possible so we'll have to wait and see what we'll be drinking as a favourite summery beverage this week (I'd put money on it being iced coffee but I like to keep an illusion of mystery you know?) I will include my video in my wrap up post when all is said and done!

Are you participating? Which books are on your summer TBR?