Five Ladies Go Skiing by Karen Aldous @KarenAldeous_ @rararesources #bookreview #giveaway

Happy Wednesday bibliophiles!

Excited to share with you today my review for this lovely story with a winter vibe! Many thanks to Rachel for my invitation to the tour and to Karen Aldeous for her wonderful words!⛷❄️✨

Ginny is alone now after losing her husband, so her friends (her F.L.O.W.E.R.S) decide with his first memorial imminent, learning to ski in the Swiss Alps would be a great distraction for her. What Ginny’s friends fail to add into the equation however, is their own distractions! The baggage they carry with them not only threatens their skiing but scales mountainous emotions throughout the trip. The questions then are…can their friendships survive, and can Ginny ever trust enough to love again?

My Thoughts

This was a fun festive story about friendship, love, and moving on….

Just as the title implies this is a story about five ladies that go skiing ⛷ I have read several books lately that were about ladies in the twilight of their lives…. as someone who is knocking on the door of 50 I have enjoyed these stories immensely, it never being too late for adventure or to start over… this was a lovely story of laughter and tears set in beautiful Switzerland….

Ginny and her four friends the “flowers“ plan a skiing trip on the anniversary of Ginny‘s husband’s death… I loved the bond between these ladies, even though they all had some secrets they were hiding… I enjoyed them all learning to ski, it was kind of a metaphor for life… it really made me want to take a girls trip, it also made me wonder what secrets my friends are hiding?

The pace of the story was that of a skier going down the bunny slope rather than a black diamonds run… it was a bit slow especially in the beginning… but just like a novice skier at the end of the day, by the end of the book it picked up some steam…. I really enjoyed watching these ladies grow as individuals and as friends throughout the story…

Recommend as the perfect winter Reid especially when you’re all snug and warm….

*** many thanks to HQ Digital for my copy of this book ***

Purchase Links

http://mybook.to/FiveLadiesGoSkiing on Amazon worldwide

Five Ladies Go Skiing on ibooks

Five Ladies Go Skiing on Kobo

Five Ladies Go Skiing on NOOK

Author Bio –

Karen Aldous enjoys village life on the edge of the north-downs in Kent with easy access to the buzz of London. Not only does she love the passive pleasures of reading and writing, she also craves the more active pursuits with her family and friends such as walking, cycling and skiing especially when they involve food and wine!

Much of Karen’s inspiration comes from her travels and meeting people. The UK, France, Greece, Switzerland, Italy and parts of the USA and Asia are just some you will experience in her books to date. However, wherever she goes, new characters emerge in ‘Karen’s World’ screaming at her to tell their stories; past or present. She loves to write about strong independent women who can direct their own lives – but struggle to control them! And, of course there’s always a gorgeous hunk or two!

See more… http://www.karenaldous.co.uk/about-me/

Social Media Links –

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarenAldous_

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

Giveaway – Win 5 x Paperback copies of Five Ladies Go Skiing (UK Only)

*Terms and Conditions –Please note prize will be distributed once the paperback is available (published 13th December).  UK 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.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494163/?

Be sure to check out the giveaway! Berit☀️✨

Mavis and Dot by Angela Petch @Angela_Petch @rararesources #bookreview

Happy Black Friday! Anybody go shopping today? Not me!😌😌😌

Excited to share with you today my review for this delightful story! A huge thank you to Rachel for my invitation to the tour and Angela Petch for her wonderful words!💛🛍

Mavis and Dot

A warm slice of life, funny, feel-good, yet poignant. Introducing two eccentric ladies who form an unlikely friendship.Meet Mavis and Dot – two colourful, retired ladies who live in Worthington-on-Sea, where there are charity shops galore. Apart from bargain hunting, they manage to tangle themselves in escapades involving illegal immigrants, night clubs, nude modelling, errant toupees and more. And then there’s Mal, the lovable dog who nobody else wants. A gently humorous, often side-splitting, heart-warming snapshot of two memorable characters with past secrets and passions. Escape for a couple of hours into this snapshot of a faded, British seaside town. You’ll laugh and cry but probably laugh more.”This book is quirky and individual, and has great pathos…[it] will resonate with a lot of readers.” Gill Kaye – Editor of Ingenu(e). Written with a light touch in memory of a dear friend who passed away from ovarian cancer, Angela Petch’s seaside tale is a departure from her successful Tuscan novels.

All profits from the sale of the books will go towards research into the cure for cancer.

My Thoughts

This was such a heartwarming delight of a story…

Mavis and dot were two eccentric and engaging characters in the twilight of their lives…. I completely adore both of these ladies and would love to spend the afternoon thrift store shopping with them… when I picked this book up I was expecting a fun fluffy read, but what I got was so much more , there was a lot of unexpected depth to this story… something else definitely worth mentioning is the prophets from the sale of this book go towards cancer research…

Mavis and Dot met each other while playing bridge… this chance encounter led them to discovering their mutual love for thrift shopping… so a beautiful friendship developed… mavis and Dot are so different from one another, but that added to the charm of the story and their friendship…

There really was so much packed in this story: thrift shopping, a trip, A drag queen, illegal immigrants, a baby, a dog and so much more… all the secondary characters were so colorful and so much fun! I truly found every single character in this book endearing…. I definitely hope we will get more adventures with Mavis and Dot…

Absolutely recommend to anyone in the mood for a feel-good story and the end of this book will definitely put you in the holiday mood…

*** A huge thank you to the author and Rachelle for my copy of this book ***

Purchase Links

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mavis-Dot-Frolics-foibles-friendships-ebook/dp/B07JM3KJSB

US – https://www.amazon.com/Mavis-Dot-Frolics-foibles-friendships-ebook/dp/B07JM3KJSB

Author Bio

A prize-winning author, Angela Petch lives half the year in West Sussex and the summer months in a remote valley in the Tuscan Apennines. She recently signed a two-book deal with Bookouture for her Tuscan novels and “Mavis and Dot” is a temporary departure from her usual genre. She has travelled all her life: born in Germany, she spent six years as a child living in Rome, worked in Amsterdam after finishing her degree in Italian, moved to Italy for her job, then to Tanzania for three years. Her head is full of stories and she always carries a pen and note-book to capture more ideas.

In May 2017, Angela Petch won PRIMA’S monthly short story competition and recently had a dozen stories published by The People’s Friend magazine.

“Mavis and Dot” was written in memory of a dear friend who lost her battle with ovarian cancer. All profits from sales of the book will go towards research into a cure for cancer.

LINKS

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

Twitter: @Angela_Petch

Website: https://angelapetchsblogsite.wordpress.com

TUSCAN NOVELS

“Tuscan Roots” (to be reissued by Bookouture in 2019) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tuscan-Roots-tangle-Italian-Apennines-ebook/dp/B01DDQDMDE/

“Now and Then in Tuscany” – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-Then-Tuscany-Italian-journeys-ebook/dp/B06Y8Y17MG

MAVIS AND DOT

https://mybook.to/MDot

Have a fabulous Friday!Berit

The Pirate Princess & The Golden Locket by Suzanne Lowe @Suzanne_Lowe_ @rararesources #bookspotlight #childrens

The Pirate Princess and The Golden Locket

The first thrilling tale of adventure, friendship and discovery in the Pirate Princess series.

Meet Lotty, the brave, young orphan whose life is about to change forever.

When Lotty is cast out from the Sevenoaks home for children, she must use all her courage to navigate her new life. On her travels she meets Mr Jacks, a lovable and very cheeky dog who accompanies her on her adventures.

When they find themselves ship-wrecked, together, they encounter ruthless pirates, secret islands and discover the truth about Lotty’s golden locket and pirate treasure.

A story full of excitement and adventure, filled with friendship, humour and pirates!

“An adventurous tale with surprises that will have you on the edge of your seat. Lotty and her band of friends will inspire the imagination, ignite your sense of adventure and keep you laughing.”

Readers Favourite

Purchase Links

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Barnes and Noble link

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-pirate-princess-and-the-golden-locket-suzanne-lowe/1129581306

Author Profile: Suzanne Lowe

I was born in Perth Western Australia and as a young adult grew up in the small country town of Tom Price situated in the outback of Western Australia. Travelling extensively throughout Australia, I loved seeing the diverse landscapes and animals of the country.  My current home is in Perth with my husband, two daughters and our cat Abby.

I have a Bachelor of Science Degree, majoring in Sports Science. My interests include watching movies, particularly sci- fi, travelling, photography and reading. I also enjoy going to the occasional comic book convention!

Like the young women in my stories, I have had the opportunity to experience many exciting adventures in my life so far including being part of the Australian Army Reserves, climbing to Mt Everest base camp, descending into one of the pyramids at Giza in Egypt, flying in a hot air balloon over the Valley of the Kings, parachuting from a plane at 12000 feet and sitting on the edge of an active volcano on Tanna island in Vanuatu.

My daughters have Dyslexia and I wrote my first book Seventeen as I wanted to encourage them to try things even if they found them difficult, such as writing. I am a member of the Society of children’s book writers and illustrators and the Australian Society of Authors.

The children’s pirate adventure story for middle grade readers, The Pirate Princess and the Golden Locket published by Silvergum Publishing, is the second book I have written. My first novel Seventeen, a YA dystopian adventure story was published in 2016 by Creativia Publishing.

http://www.silvergumpublishing.com

http://www.creativia.org/post-apocalyptic-adventure-suzanne-lowe.html

My author website is http://www.Suzanneloweauthor.com

My facebook page http://www.facebook.com/suzanneloweauthor/

My Instagram Page http://www.instagram.com/seventeentheseries/

Tales From the Pay’s D’Oc byPatricia Feinberg Stoner @rararesources #bookspotlight

Tales from the Pays d’Oc

Twenty-one tales of life, love and laughter in the land of sun and vines.

What is Matthieu doing up an olive tree? Why won’t Joséphine ever eat pizza again? Who went four by fourth? And who rescued two hapless Americans at Armageddon Falls?

Travel to the Languedoc, feel the scorch of the sun on your shoulders, smell the dust and the lavender and the ripening grapes and follow the adventures of the Saturday Club and the regulars at l’Estaminet.

In this collection of stories, Patricia Feinberg Stoner revisits the territory of her memoir, ‘At Home in the Pays d’Oc’ with a whole host of new and familiar characters.

Purchase Links

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tales-Pays-dOc-laughter-vines-ebook/dp/B07JF8RV2N

US – https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Pays-dOc-laughter-vines-ebook/dp/B07JF8RV2N

About Patricia Feinberg Stoner

Patricia Feinberg Stoner is a former journalist, advertising copywriter and publicist. For four years she and her husband were accidental expatriates in the Languedoc, southern France. During that time she wrote a series of magazine articles which eventually became her first book about the Languedoc: ‘At Home in the Pays d’Oc.’

Now back in the UK, she lives with her husband in the pretty West Sussex village of Rustington, where Michael Flanders encountered a gnu and the mobility scooter is king.

She spends much of her time writing short stories and comic verses. Her first book, ‘Paw Prints in the Butter’, is a collection of comic poems for cat lovers, and is sold in aid of a local animal charity.  In 2017 she published her second book of comic verse: ‘The Little Book of Rude Limericks’.

In the autumn of 2018 Patricia returns to the locale of ‘At Home in the Pays d’Oc’ with a new collection of stories: ‘Tales from the Pays d’Oc’.

Patricia welcomes visitors to her Facebook page (Paw Prints in the Butter) and to her blog www.paw-prints-in-the-butter.com.

You may occasionally find her on Twitter @perdisma.

The Spy and the Janitor & The Dragon and the Lumberjack by S W Ellenwood @swellenwood @rararesources #bookspotlight

The Janitor and the Spy

Baby wipes are not the best at cleaning up blood or what happened to Thornhill in Amsterdam.

They told Thornhill it would be a simple spy mission that he was more than eager to take on, but of course, it wasn’t.

It didn’t take long after meeting the contact for Thornhill to question if he or anyone else connected to him was going to be able to make it out of Amsterdam alive. Passing strangers on the streets became potential hitmen and dinner with criminals became safe heavens as Thornhill seeks to find answers from an old man named Golay.

Purchase Links

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Janitor-Spy-Thornhill-Book-ebook/dp/B013KNYGVC/

US – https://www.amazon.com/janitor-spy-thornhill-book-ebook/dp/B013KNYGVC/

The Dragon and the Lumberjack

Thomas feared he played Jack too well…

The sequel to S. W. Ellenwood’s debut novel, The Janitor and the Spy, picks up six months after Thomas Thornhill’s nightmare mission in Amsterdam. On his own, he now goes under the alias of Jack Montferrand and seeks to gain entry into the oldest and most dangerous triad in Asia to find Them.

On the inside, he found the triad not as stable as he thought, forcing him to prove his trust and worth to them at every turn as new rivals sprout up. He plunges his hands deeper into the filth and the alias of Jack where he starts to wonder where Thomas ends and Jack begins.

Purchase Links

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dragon-Lumberjack-Thornhill-Book-ebook/dp/B07JFCHTD4

US – https://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Lumberjack-Thornhill-Book-ebook/dp/B07JFCHTD4

Author Bio –

S. W. Ellenwood is thankful to have a close-knit family of two parents, a brother, and two sisters. A homeschooler who graduated college from the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith, Ellenwood loves all forms and genres of stories and was inspired by The Lord of the Rings films and his parents to write. You can find Ellenwood writing his next novel at the local coffee shops or playing table top games with his best friends.

Social Media Links –

Twitter: https://twitter.com/swellenwood

Website: http://www.swellenwood.com/

Divided We Stand by Rachel McLean @rachelmcwrites @rararesources #bookspotlight

Divided We Stand

Britain is a country under surveillance. Neighbours spy on neighbours. Schools enforce loyalty to the state. And children are encouraged to inform on their parents.

Disgraced MP Jennifer Sinclair has earned her freedom but returns home to find everything changed.

Rita Gurumurthy has been sent to a high security prison. When a sympathetic guard helps her escape she becomes a fugitive, forced to go into hiding.

To reunite her family and win freedom for her son and her friend, Jennifer must challenge her old colleague and rival, the new Prime Minister Catherine Moore.

Will Catherine listen to reason and remove the country from its yoke of fear and suspicion? Or will Jennifer have to reveal the secret only she knows about Catherine, and risk plunging the country into turmoil?

Purchase Link:

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Divided-We-Stand-chilling-surveillance-ebook/dp/B07GNP3Y53

US – https://www.amazon.com/Divided-We-Stand-chilling-surveillance-ebook/dp/B07GNP3Y53

Author Bio –

I’m Rachel McLean and I write thrillers and speculative fiction.

I’m told that the world wants upbeat, cheerful stories – well, I’m sorry but I can’t help. My stories have an uncanny habit of predicting future events (and not the good ones). They’re inspired by my work at the Environment Agency and the Labour Party and explore issues like climate change, Islamophobia, the refugee crisis and sexism in high places. All with a focus on how these impact individual people and families.

You can find out more about my writing, get access to deals and exclusive stories or become part of my advance reader team by joining my book club at rachelmclean.com/bookclub.

Social Media Links –

Twitter – https://twitter.com/rachelmcwrites

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/rachelmcleanwrites/

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/rachelmcwrites/?hl=en

Mavis and Dot by Angela Petch @Angela_Petch @rararesources #bookspotlight

Happy Saturday bibliophiles!

Excited to share with you today a glimpse of this fabulous book! My review will be on the blog on November 23! The day after Thanksgiving, can anyone explain to me how it is already going to be Thanksgiving on Thursday??? 🦃

Mavis and Dot

A warm slice of life, funny, feel-good, yet poignant. Introducing two eccentric ladies who form an unlikely friendship.Meet Mavis and Dot – two colourful, retired ladies who live in Worthington-on-Sea, where there are charity shops galore. Apart from bargain hunting, they manage to tangle themselves in escapades involving illegal immigrants, night clubs, nude modelling, errant toupees and more. And then there’s Mal, the lovable dog who nobody else wants. A gently humorous, often side-splitting, heart-warming snapshot of two memorable characters with past secrets and passions. Escape for a couple of hours into this snapshot of a faded, British seaside town. You’ll laugh and cry but probably laugh more.”This book is quirky and individual, and has great pathos…[it] will resonate with a lot of readers.” Gill Kaye – Editor of Ingenu(e). Written with a light touch in memory of a dear friend who passed away from ovarian cancer, Angela Petch’s seaside tale is a departure from her successful Tuscan novels.

All profits from the sale of the books will go towards research into the cure for cancer.

Purchase Links

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mavis-Dot-Frolics-foibles-friendships-ebook/dp/B07JM3KJSB

US – https://www.amazon.com/Mavis-Dot-Frolics-foibles-friendships-ebook/dp/B07JM3KJSB

Author Bio

A prize-winning author, Angela Petch lives half the year in West Sussex and the summer months in a remote valley in the Tuscan Apennines. She recently signed a two-book deal with Bookouture for her Tuscan novels and “Mavis and Dot” is a temporary departure from her usual genre. She has travelled all her life: born in Germany, she spent six years as a child living in Rome, worked in Amsterdam after finishing her degree in Italian, moved to Italy for her job, then to Tanzania for three years. Her head is full of stories and she always carries a pen and note-book to capture more ideas.

In May 2017, Angela Petch won PRIMA’S monthly short story competition and recently had a dozen stories published by The People’s Friend magazine.

“Mavis and Dot” was written in memory of a dear friend who lost her battle with ovarian cancer. All profits from sales of the book will go towards research into a cure for cancer.

LINKS

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

Twitter: @Angela_Petch

Website: https://angelapetchsblogsite.wordpress.com

TUSCAN NOVELS

“Tuscan Roots” (to be reissued by Bookouture in 2019) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tuscan-Roots-tangle-Italian-Apennines-ebook/dp/B01DDQDMDE/

“Now and Then in Tuscany” – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-Then-Tuscany-Italian-journeys-ebook/dp/B06Y8Y17MG

MAVIS AND DOT

https://mybook.to/MDot

Have a fabulous Saturday! Berit

Murder Served Cold by Paula Williams @PaulaWilliams44 @rararesources #bookreview

Happy Thursday bibliophiles!

Excited to share with you today my review for this charming cozy mystery! Huge thanks to Rachel for my invitation to the tour and to Paula Williams for her wonderful words💕

A quiet English village where nothing ever happens.   Until…..

After her boyfriend runs out on her with the contents of their joint bank account, Kat Latcham has no choice but to return to the tiny Somerset village of Much Winchmoor where she grew up.  A place, she reckons, that is not so much sleepy as comatose and she longs for something to happen to lessen the boredom of living with her parents.

But when she and her childhood friend, Will Manning, discover a body and Will’s father, John, is arrested for the murder, Kat suddenly realises that she should have heeded the saying “Be careful what you wish for”.

Much Winchmoor is a hotbed of gossip and everyone is convinced John Manning is guilty.  Only Kat and Will believe he’s innocent. When there’s a second murder Kat is sure she knows the identity of the murderer – and set out to prove it.  But in doing so she almost becomes the murderer’s third victim.

Readers of Sue Grafton might enjoy the Much Winchmoor series of cosy murder mysteries spiked with humour and sprinkled with romance.

My Thoughts

This was a charming cozy mystery with a speppering of romance… I really love these books about small English villages, and I cannot figure out why everyone wants to leave… perhaps it is the fact that everybody knows everybody, or that everybody knows everybody else’s business? Or maybe it is the fact that people are constantly getting murdered??? This is the first book in what looks like is going to be a fabulous series!

Kat has returned home after a bit of a bump in her love life… not thrilled to be living with her parents again and finding it quite dull, Kat is ready for some excitement! And boy does she find it when her longtime friend Will and she run across a dead body… Will’s dad is the number one suspect, but Kat and Will do not believe that…. so Kat decides to put on her detective Hat and figure out who the real murderer is… but she better be careful because she is making dangerous people angry….

This book truly has everything you want from a cozy mystery; a charming setting and a cast of wonderful characters… The character development in this book was absolutely stellar, I felt as though I would no Kat if she were walking down the street… I also really love the fact that there were so many potential suspects, it really kept me guessing throughout… I also like the potential for romance, can’t wait to see where the next book in the series takes us!

Absolutely recommend to anybody who is a fan of cozy mysteries, this is A good one!

*** many thanks to the author and Rachelle for my copy of this book ***

Purchase Link – mybook.to/murderservedcold

Author Bio –

Paula Williams is living her dream.  She has written all her life – her earliest efforts involved blackmailing her unfortunate younger brothers into appearing in her plays and pageants. But it is only in recent years, when she turned her attention to writing short stories and serials for women’s magazines that she discovered, to her surprise, that people with better judgement than her brothers actually liked what she wrote and were prepared to pay her for it.

Now, she writes every day in a lovely, book-lined study in her home in Somerset, where she lives with her husband and a handsome but not always obedient rescue Dalmatian called Duke.  She still writes for magazines but also now writes novels. A member of both the Romantic Novelists’ Association and the Crime Writers’ Association, her novels often feature a murder or two, and are always sprinkled with humour and spiced with a touch of romance.

She also writes a monthly column, Ideas Store, for the writers’ magazine, Writers’ Forum and has a blog at paulawilliamswriter.wordpress.com.  Her facebook author page is https://www.facebook.com/paula.williams.author . And she tweets at @paulawilliams44.

Not only that, but when she’s not writing, she’s either tutoring, leading writing workshops or giving talks on writing at writing festivals and conferences and to organised groups.  She’s appeared several times on local radio – in fact, she’ll talk about writing to anyone who’ll stand still long enough to listen.

But, as with the best of dreams, she worries that one day she’s going to wake up and find she still has to bully her brothers into reading ‘the play what she wrote’.

Social Media Links –

Facebook.   https://www.facebook.com/paula.williams.author

Blog. paulawilliamswriter.wordpress.com

Twitter. @paulawilliams44

Have a lovely lovely day! Berit

Strand of Faith by Rachel J. Bonner@RachelJBonner1 @rararesources #giveaway

When the choice is between love and life, how can anyone decide?

A girl and a monk, both with extraordinary mental powers, have compelling reasons not to fall in love.  But those from whom they expect support are manipulating them both because their choices will have consequences for the rest of the world.

After a stormy youth, Brother Prospero has found comfort and fulfilment in the monastery.  That is, until he discovers something that forces him to reconsider his whole vocation. To follow his heart, he’ll have to face his demons again, outside the security of the monastery. Is it worth the risk?  Can he beat them this time? Or will they finally destroy him?

Orphaned and mistreated, Leonie has found sanctuary and safety at the abbey.  All she wants is to learn how to manage her unusual abilities so that she is not a danger to those around her.  When she comes into contact with Prospero everything threatens to spiral out of her control. Whether she leaves or whether she stays, how can she possibly avoid destroying – yet again – those she has come to care about?  

Abbot Gabriel is faced with an impossible choice.  He can do nothing and watch the world descend into war.  Or he can manipulate events and ensure peace – at the cost of two lives that he is responsible for.  He knows what he has to do but is he strong enough to sacrifice those he loves?

Amazon UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Strand-Faith-Choices-Consequences-Book-ebook/dp/B07GKZT8LF

http://www.books2read.com/strandoffaith

An Introduction to Some Characters

I thought I’d take this opportunity to introduce you to some of the main characters in Strand of Faith.

First there’s Prospero.  

He’s about 6ft 2in tall with short black hair and deep blue eyes, so dark they are almost navy in colour.  He’s been a monk for some years now and he finds that both satisfying and fulfilling. He comes across as confident, sure of himself and strong in his faith. He works as a doctor and enjoys everyday clinic work best, just making other people’s lives that little bit better.  Like all the doctors where he works he has a specialism. In this environment about a quarter of the population have some degree of mental ability such as telepathy or telekinesis. Prospero’s specialism is dealing with what happens when something goes wrong with that ability.

Prospero himself is very Gifted with such mental abilities.  He’s strongest at telekinesis – moving things with his mind – but he’s also skilled in telepathy and teleportation.  He doesn’t have any real ability with pyrokinesis (setting fire to things) and just a very little skill in precognition.

He doesn’t think he has a favourite colour, but if he had to pick, he’d say green.  He sees food as fuel and will eat whatever is on offer although he’d definitely miss bacon if it wasn’t available.  As well as being a doctor, Prospero works in the gardens at the monastery, mainly with the flowers and foliage used for decorating the monastery, hospital and Abbey.  As a result he’d say that one of his hobbies is flower arranging. He’s also interested in social and cultural history – where various customs and traditions come from and what they mean.

Prospero’s closest friend is Andrew.

Andrew is also a monk.  In fact, they’ve been monks for almost exactly the same length of time, although they were already close friends before that.  Andrew is slightly shorter than Prospero and fair where Prospero is dark. He’s quiet and thoughtful, which makes many people think that Prospero is the leader and Andrew just follows him around.  Actually, their relationship is much more complex than that.

Andrew is also a doctor and he specialises in the development of the mental gifts, which makes the two of them a very useful team. Andrew is also very Gifted himself.  He’s not as good at telekinesis or telepathy as Prospero but much better at pyrokinesis.

Andrew helps out in the stables and he’s good with horses – he’s been looking after them all his life.  He’s also skilled with languages, being fluent in most of the common ones in use in the world.

Their world is going to be disrupted by Leonie.

Leonie is a lot of trouble wrapped up in one small package.  She’s about 5ft 4in tall, with flaming red hair which curls and tangles at the slightest opportunity. She has honey coloured skin and dark grey eyes which flash with green when she’s excited, angry or simply using her Gifts. Although she doesn’t realise it, she’s more Gifted than either of the other two.

She’s a very private person and life has taught her that it’s best to keep out of the way and try not to be noticed.  The problem is that she’s inherently noticeable. She hasn’t yet learnt to manage her Gifts under all circumstances and the thought that she might hurt someone by accident really worries her.

Her favourite colour is yellow and she can’t stand scarlet.  She has a very sweet tooth and a particular liking for chocolate chip cookies.  Her favourite breakfast is pancakes and bacon with lots of maple syrup. Leonie loves baking, particularly bread, and experimenting with different recipes.  She’s also skilled in the use of herbs for medicinal purposes. She enjoys swimming but her favourite hobby is reading. Given the opportunity she’ll curl up somewhere comfortable with a good book.

I’ve enjoyed writing about these three and many others in Strand of Faith – I hope you enjoy reading about them just as much. If you do, let me know on Twitter or Facebook, or leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads – or both. Thank you.

Author Bio

Rachel J Bonner is the author of the four book Choices and Consequences series, the first of which, Strand of Faith, is due out in November 2018.

Getting a degree in engineering, followed by a career in accountancy is probably not a conventional path to becoming an author, particularly in paranormal romance.  Rachel says that, although accountancy isn’t anything like as boring as everyone thinks, writing is a lot more fun. When not writing, she can be found walking in the beautiful countryside near where she lives, which has influenced much of the scenery in her books, or shooting things with her local archery club.  Target shooting only, honest. Nothing to worry about.

She also enjoys swimming, eating chocolate chip cookies and growing aromatic herbs, especially thyme and rosemary.  It’s no coincidence that her heroine likes the same things.

You can find out more about her books and sign up for Rachel’s newsletters at www.racheljbonner.co.uk.

https://twitter.com/RachelJBonner1

Giveaway -Win a signed paperback copy of Strand of Faith, a set of bookmarks (3 styles plus a business card) featuring the cover art, and a canvas print (40cm by 30cm) of the original cover art. 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.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494159/?

Homicide in Herne Hill by Alice Castle @DDsDiary @rararesources #bookreview #giveaway

Happy Tuesday bibliophiles!

Thrill to bring you my review for this wonderful cozy mystery series! A huge thank you to Rachel for my invitation to the tour and to Alice Castle for her wonderful words! 🥰

Beth Haldane, SE21’s premier – and only – single mum amateur sleuth, is really pleased to find a new friend at the school gates, in the shape of irrepressibly bouncy Nina. As well as a way with words, Nina has a puzzle she wants Beth to solve, centred on the solicitor’s office where Nina works in Herne Hill.

But as the mystery thickens, threatening to drag in not just Nina and her boss, but the yummy mummies of Dulwich, too, Beth is about to find out just how far some people will go to keep up appearances. 

Join Beth in this fourth instalment in the London Murder Mystery series for her toughest case yet.

My Thoughts

Another fabulous installment in this cozy series, this time with a bit of a holiday vibe…

First of all is there anything more adorable than a children’s Christmas performance This book is seriously worth a read just for the Christmas performance alone, it brought back so many memories…. I was laughing so hard, I can definitely tell Alice Castle has been to her fair share of these wonderful performances…. however this book was so much more than just a Christmas play, it was filled with wonderful characters, and a delicious mystery, everything I have come to expect from this series….

Beth is back and has made a new friend in Nina…. Nina is a bit of a rebel mom, I mean she even gives her children carbonated drinks *gasp* Full disclosure my kids were drinking soda from a very young age, I know! The horror! But it was all part of my master plan because only one of them still drinks soda, LOL! But I digress… Nina works for a lawyer/solicitor and is convinced that there is something unsavory going on… Nina nose Beth’s reputation so she asks Beth to help investigate the mystery…. Beth of course has never met a mystery that she did not want to solve!

The strength of this series is really in these fabulous characters! Beth of course is fabulous, but I’ve loved each and every secondary character that Miss Castle has brought in… although I would like a bit more of Harry in the next book, please and thank you! Having said that it was really nice reading a holiday mystery after reading so many holiday romances!

This is a definite can’t miss if you are a fan of the mystery genre, this book can be read as a standalone, although I’d recommend starting with the first book…

*** huge thanks to Rachel and the author for my copy of this book ***

Purchase Link  – myBook.to/homicideinhernehill

Amazon UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07GPGBSC6

Author Bio – Before turning to crime, Alice Castle had a long career as a feature writer on national newspapers including the Daily Express, The Times and The Daily Telegraph. Alice grew up in south London and, after a brief stint in Brussels (where her first novel, Hot Chocolate, is set) she is back where she belongs, dreaming up adventures for her heroine, amateur detective and single mum Beth Haldane. Alice is married with two children, two stepchildren and two cats. Find out more about her London Murder Mystery series on her website, http://www.alicecastleauthor.com. Death in Dulwich was published in September 2017 by Crooked Cat Books and was #1 in the Amazon Satire/Detective charts in the UK, US, Canada, France, Spain and Germany. The Girl in the Gallery came out in December 2017 and the third in the series, Calamity in Camberwell, was published on 13th August 2018. Revenge on the Rye will follow in 2019, with more books in the pipeline.

Social Media Links – http://www.alicecastleauthor.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DDsDiary?lang=en

Links to buy books: http://www.MyBook.to/GirlintheGallery.

myBook.to/1DeathinDulwich, myBook.to/GirlintheGallery, myBook.to/CiC myBook.to/homicideinhernehill

Giveaway – Win a signed copy of Homicide in Herne Hill (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.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494158/?

Thanks so much for dropping by! Berit☀️✨