It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #imwayr

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly post to share what you recently finished reading, what you’re currently reading, and what you plan on reading this week. It’s hosted by Kathryn at Bookdate.

What I Read Last Week:

I’m obsessed with The Wife Between Us I loved it!

A Season to Lie was another solid book in a series I’m enjoying.

Bridges is the second in a series about female friendships and life, really good!

Written in Blood was a really cool read, old school vibe with a unique killer.

I listened to Let’s Just Be Friends and I always enjoy a Camilla Isley book.

Beneath the Skin was a different type of psychological thriller.

Currently Reading:

Up Next:

How was your week? Any amazing books I need to check out?

Review: Left to Chance by Amy Sue Nathan

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Release date: November 21, 2017

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Blurb:

From the author of The Good Neighbor and The Glass Wives comes an enchanting story of returning home and discovering what truly matters after loss.

No one knows why Teddi Lerner left her hometown, but everyone knows why she’s back.

Twelve-year-old Shayna— talented, persistent, and adorable—persuaded “Aunt Tee” to return to Chance, Ohio, to photograph her father’s wedding. Even though it’s been six years since Shay’s mother, Celia, died, Teddi can hardly bear the thought of her best friend’s husband marrying someone else. But Teddi’s bond with Shay is stronger than the hurt.

Teddi knows it’s time to face the consequences of her hasty retreat from family, friends, and, her old flame, but when she looks through her viewfinder, nothing in her small town looks the same. That’s when she truly sees the hurt she’s caused and—maybe—how to fix it.

After the man she once loved accuses Teddi of forgetting Celia, Teddi finally admits why she ran away, and the guilt she’s carried with her. As Teddi relinquishes the distance that kept her safe, she’ll discover surprising truths about the people she left behind, and herself. And she’ll finally see what she overlooked all along.

Review:

This was my first book by Nathan but I enjoyed it so much that I’ll be adding her earlier work to my TBR. There was something so natural and authentic about her writing, I was almost immediately invested in Teddi’s life and that of the residents of Chance, Ohio. This was full of poignant moments and plenty of life lessons that stick with you long after you turn the final page.

Teddi doesn’t want to go back home but there’s no way she can say no to Shay. When I say she left six years ago I actually mean she fled, leaving everyone she knew and loved because she was in so much pain and had no idea how to face it. Running away was easier. Her homecoming is awkward to say the least, the only person who seems truly happy to see her is Shay. I loved that Teddi’s life was far from perfect, it was totally messy but she was finally willing to face her issues head on. She was brave, honest and she had a terrific sense of humor.

This book had it all, a fantastic small town setting, characters that felt like friends or people that you would want as friends, and wonderful, touching lessons about friendship, loss, love and life. It all had so much warmth, tenderness and heart behind it and I throughly enjoyed every second I spent getting to know these lovely characters.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Review: Beneath the Skin by Caroline England @CazEngland

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Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK

Release date: October 5, 2017

Publisher: Avon Books

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Blurb:

No-one remembers your past. But you do.

‘Antonia, Antonia. My name is Antonia.’

It’s been her name for many years. But sometimes, like tonight, she forgets.

Antonia has a secret. A secret so dark and so deep that she can barely admit it to herself. Instead, she treats herself to Friday night sessions of self-harm while her husband David is at the pub, and her best friend Sophie is drinking too much wine a few doors down.

Nobody close to her knows the truth about what the teenage Antonia saw all those years ago. No-one, that is, except her mother. But Candy is in a care home now, her mind too addled to remember the truth. Antonia is safe. Isn’t she?

The lies start small. They always do. But when the tightly woven story you’ve told yourself begins to unravel, the truth threatens to come to the surface. And then what’s going to happen?

Review:

I want to start by saying that I think this book was slightly misleading only because I don’t believe it was marketed correctly, which is unfortunate. It’s billed as a psychological thriller and while I can definitely agree with the psychological aspect it’s not a true thriller by any means. It’s more of a character driven psychological drama with some unexpected developments. Despite having to adjust my expectations once I really got started with this one, I did enjoy it but I just wanted to clear that up for any future readers!

This follows four different couples who all have ties to each other and the story goes back and forth between all of them, weaving in and out rather seamlessly. You have Antonia and David, Sami and Sophie, Charlie and Helen and Olivia and Mike and you’ll like some of them and loathe others, which I always think is entertaining. They were all extremely well crafted, the characterization is really the base of this book and what makes it really good. They have tangled pasts and are harboring their own secrets making for a dark, unpredictable tale.

England is a really talented writer, she has a beautiful writing style with prose that flows and holds your attention. This has super slow building tension that gradually builds up, it’s structured into three parts and once the second part starts things get more intense than they were previously. There were some loose threads in the end that did leave me wanting a bit more, but overall I was pretty satisfied. I would recommend picking this up if you need a break from a typical psychological thriller, I’ve heard this described as a domestic noir and I think that is an apt and fitting label.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Q & A with Pankaj Giri, Author of The Fragile Thread of Hope @_PankajGiri

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Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK

Release date: October 29, 2017

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Blurb:

In the autumn of 2012, destiny wreaks havoc on two unsuspecting people–Soham and Fiona.

 

Although his devastating past involving his brother still haunted him, Soham had established a promising career for himself in Bangalore.

 

After a difficult childhood, Fiona’s fortunes had finally taken a turn for the better. She had married her beloved, and her life was as perfect as she had ever imagined it to be.

 

But when tragedy strikes them yet again, their fundamentally fragile lives threaten to fall apart.

 

Can Fiona and Soham overcome their grief?

 

Will the overwhelming pain destroy their lives?

 

Seasoned with the flavours of exotic Nepalese traditions and set in the picturesque Indian hill station, Gangtok, The Fragile Thread of Hope explores the themes of spirituality, faith, alcoholism, love, and guilt while navigating the complex maze of familial relationships.

 

Inspirational and heart-wrenchingly intimate, it urges you to wonder–does hope stand a chance in this travesty called life?

Happy Saturday everyone!! This book first caught my eye after I read Jules review and while unfortunately I do not have room in my schedule  to read this anytime soon, I was pleased to be able to interview the author! Enjoy.

Q & A:

1. What’s a typical writing day for you look like? Describe your perfect writing environment.

 

I write whenever I get time, at home or at the office, especially if I am in the process of writing a book. Else, I take a break and enjoy my life.

 

My perfect writing environment would be a silent room with my laptop, a cup of black tea, a box of chocolates, and a good internet connection. Contrary to traditional belief that internet distracts a writer, I need the internet to find perfect synonyms, check if a sentence is grammatically correct, and research facts necessary for my book.

 

 

2. How did you get started writing? Was it something that you’ve always loved?

 

Frankly speaking, I never even dreamt ofbecoming a writer. In fact, I didn’t even use to read (except for Harry Potter, which I read in my late teens). But after my father passed away four years back, some of my friends suggested me to start reading to divert my mind from the pain. I followed their suggestion, and slowly I fell in love with reading. I also began writing, starting with book reviews. Over the years, having read many books and developed my writing skills by writing several blog posts, I thought of trying my hand at writing a novel. A plot slowly developed in my mind, and soon I started writing. The rest is history.

 

 

3. Who are your favorite writers/inspirations?

 

My favorite writers are Khaled Hosseini (The Kite Runner is arguably my favorite book), Renita D’Silva (a UK-based, award-nominated, critically acclaimed writer of six bestselling books), Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni (award-winning bestselling US-based writer), and J.K.Rowling (can never forget the magical experience which has become a part of my life).

 

 

4. Anything you can tell us about upcoming projects?

 

I have not thought about it yet as I am busy promoting The Fragile Thread of Hope. Once I settle down, I will reflect on my next book.

 

 

5. Normally how do you develop plots/characters? Brief us on your process.

 

More than two years ago, the plot of The Fragile Thread of Hope took birth in my mind. Probably the story was influenced by the books I was reading at that time–the complex brotherly love between Hassan and Amir in The Kite Runner and the beautiful love between Noah and Allie in The Notebook. Those themes stuck with me, so I felt like weaving a story based on love, loss, and family relationships. Gradually, the characters developed in my mind, and scenes began taking shape and haunting me. After a few weeks, the characters began putting pressure on me, as if prodding me to bring them to life on the canvas of my novel. Then, as I finally obliged, The Fragile Thread of Hope was born.

 

(The Notebook is one of my favorite books!!)

6. Preferred method for readers to contact you?

 

Readers can either contact me via mail (pankajgiri.ps@gmail.com) or via social media.

 

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_pankajgiri

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pankajgiri.ps/

 

 

7. On average, how long does it take you to write a book?

 

Generally, it takes me around a year to write a book, but editing takes a lot of time thereafter. Overall, I can produce a decently edited book in two years.

 

 

8. Which one of your characters do you relate to the most?

 

That has to be Soham. He is my alter ego. Not only do we share pains, but we share many characteristics as well. However, I made him a bit more mentally stronger than me because eventually, it’s the writer’s choice. 🙂

 

 

9. If writing wasn’t your career what would you be doing?

 

I used to work in the software industry in Bangalore, but after my father’s death, I had to relocate to Gangtok, my native place. Now, I work in a government job. But my passion lies in writing, and I devote a majority of my time on it.

 

 

10. What’s the best compliment that you’ve received about your work?

 

When Renita D’Silva–a marvellous writer and my literary idol–read my book and said that it is one of her favorite books. Whenever I remember that, I always get a very special feeling.

(Renita is a brilliant writer, what an amazing compliment!)

About the Author:


Pankaj Giri was born and brought up in Gangtok, Sikkim–a picturesque hill station in India. He began his writing career with a book review blog, and now, after several years of honing his writing skills, he has written a novel–The Fragile Thread of Hope, a literary inspirational fiction dealing with love, loss, and family relationships. He is currently working in the government sector in Sikkim. He likes to kill time by listening to progressive metal music and watching cricket.

Audiobook Review: Let’s Just Be Friends by Camilla Isley @camillaisley

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Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: October 13, 2017 (Audible version)

Narrator: Heidi Baker

Publisher: Pink Bloom Press

Genre: NA Romance

Blurb:

What if the man you’ve always loved isn’t the right one for you?

Rose Atwood has been in love with her best friend for years, and she’s tired of keeping her feelings under wraps for fear of getting hurt. Being Tyler’s best friend is becoming more difficult with every passing year and every new woman in his life—especially Georgiana Smithson, a snotty, beautiful girl who’s in Law School with them.

When Rose, dumped by her long-term boyfriend, moves temporarily into Tyler’s apartment, tension spikes. Georgiana wants Rose out of the house. Rose wants Georgiana out of Tyler’s life. And Tyler … well, he doesn’t really know what he wants.

As an unexpected argument brings Rose and Tyler closer than they’ve ever been, they must decide if there’s more to their relationship than being just friends. And they must do it quickly, as Georgiana is determined to do everything in her power to keep Tyler and Rose apart. After all, all is fair in love and war.

Will Rose make a leap of faith and trust Tyler with her heart? Will Tyler make the right choice, or will he be too late?

Let’s Be Just Friends is a fast paced, captivating novel that will keep you glued to the pages with humor, heartbreak, and romance. It’s a story about friendship, love, and the choices we make.

Review:

This is the first in a series that follows a group of college aged kids as they navigate adulthood, school and love. I actually read the second book, Friend Zone first but reading them out of order wasn’t an issue for me, but naturally if you’re new to the series I would recommend starting with book one.

This is told via multiple perspectives but you mainly hear from Rose and Tyler with a handful of chapters from Georgiana and her brother Ethan. Rose and Tyler swear they’re “just friends” but the only people who truly believe that are them, it’s so blatantly obvious they have feelings for each other to everyone else, they’re in total denial. Rose is single but Tyler has a girlfriend named Georgiana and she’s bound and determined to keep her man away from Rose. There is a whole lotta drama going on between these three and then when Rose meets Ethan things get even more sticky.

I love Isley’s style, she writes the type of books that you can get lost in and finish in a few hours, there’s nothing complicated, well besides the characters relationships haha! They’re not too heavy and the drama makes for some great entertainment which is just what I need from time to time. Heidi Baker was a really great narrator, she had a super warm voice that was engaging and made me feel like I was listening to a friend talk to me about her crazy group of friends. Cute, uncomplicated and flirty would be the perfect description!

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy.

Review: Written in Blood by Layton Green

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Release date: November 7, 2017

Publisher: Seventh Street Books

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

Detective Joe “Preach” Everson, a prison chaplain turned police officer, is coming home. After a decade tracking down killers in Atlanta, and with a reputation as one of the finest homicide detectives in the city, his career derailed when he suffered a mental breakdown during the investigation of a serial killer who was targeting children.

No sooner does Preach arrive at home in Creekville, North Carolina–a bohemian community near Chapel Hill–than a local bookstore owner is brutally killed, the first murder in a decade. The only officer with homicide experience, Preach is assigned to the case and makes a shocking discovery: the bookstore owner has been murdered in exactly the same manner as the pawnbroker in Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment.

With the help of Ariana Hale, a law student and bibliophile who knew the victim, Preach investigates the local writer’s community. As their questions increase, a second body is found, this time eerily resembling the crime scene in a famous Edgar Allan Poe novella. Preach and Ariana realize that their adversary is an intelligent, literate killer with a mind as devious as it is disturbed–and one or both of them may be his next target.

Review:

What is it about flawed detectives that speaks to my soul? There is something about damaged protagonists with complex and dark pasts that always gets under my skin and Preach wiggled his way into my cold, black heart. Oftentimes a brooding, handsome, complicated cop is a total cliche but for some reason, it didn’t feel that way here. I immediately connected with Preach and was dying to know more about his motivations, his history and what made him the person he is today. Throw in a clever killer and what more can a girl want?!

I absolutely loved the creativity behind the premise for this one, the idea of a killer referencing famous literary works was so intriguing to me. While the case Preach is working has a heavy literary vibe the author didn’t weigh down the text with too many dense, hard to decipher quotes but rather there were a handful of them that enhanced the story and brought a really intelligent aspect to the plot.

This was a good old fashioned police procedural with a subtle sophistication to the authors writing style. The characterization was incredibly strong both in Preach and his fellow officer Kirby and witness Ari. The plotting was super involved and there were a ton of head spinning misdirections that left me reeling. Highly recommended for a cosmopolitan type of reader that wants a classic murder mystery with a literary bent.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy.

Throwback Thursday: Bridges by Maria Murnane @mariamurnane #TBT

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Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: April 4, 2017

Publisher: Kindle Press

Genre: Women’s Fiction

It’s a piece of news Daphne never expected to hear: Her globe-trotting friend Skylar, who vowed never to get married, is engaged! Time to celebrate in Manhattan—Skylar’s treat, of course. After years scaling the corporate ladder, she can more than afford it.

Daphne arrives in NYC with news of her own—the novel she’s finally finished appears to be going nowhere but the trash bin of every publishing house around. She’s devastated but plans to keep her disappointment under wraps, something that becomes trickier when she sees Skylar’s spectacular apartment. Could her life have been like this if she’d chosen a different path?

What Daphne doesn’t know is she’s not the only one with a secret. Skylar and their friend KC are also holding something back, but what? As the trip unfolds, the truth about each woman emerges, along with tears.

And laughter. And love.

The fun-loving trio readers fell for in Wait for the Rain is together once more. Here’s to the power of friendship!

Review:

I’m joining in again with Throwback Thursday which was created by my good friend Renee at It’s Book Talk . She started this weekly feature as a way to highlight old favorites and read books that have already been published. I have so many older books on my TBR that get ignored in favor of review copies and I figure participating in Throwback Thursday will help me to read at a least one older title a week!

This is the second book in a series that follows three college friends, now in their forties but still with strong ties to each other. I fell in love with Daphne, Skylar and KC when I read Wait for the Rain, I just loved their unique bond and how authentic their friendship came through thanks to Murnane’s realistic writing style. It was awesome catching up with these ladies and seeing what they’ve been up to since the last book.

This follows them during one weekend in NYC to celebrate the fact that Skylar is engaged. Much as in the first book there was plenty of humor and heart. There’s a lot of inspiration to be found here, tons of female empowerment and as much as Daphne has grown since Wait for the Rain she’s still figuring out how to navigate through life as a single woman who’s daughter is about to head off to college. This was another light, breezy read that’s perfect to settle down with for an afternoon. I hope Murnane has plans for another book because I’m really enjoying seeing these characters learn and grow!

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy.

Blog Tour: The Puppet Master by Abigail Osborne @Abigail_Author @Bloodhoundbook

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Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: November 13, 2017

Publisher: Bloodhound Books

Genre: Psychological Thriller 

Blurb: 

Billie is hiding from the world in fear of a man who nearly destroyed her. But a chance meeting with budding journalist, Adam, sparks a relationship that could free her from her life of isolation and fear.


Unbeknown to Billie, Adam knows exactly who Billie is and is determined to expose her and get justice for the lives he believes she has ruined. But first, he needs to convince her to open up to him. As an unwanted attraction blossoms between them, Adam comes to realise that all is not as it seems.


Who is really pulling the strings? And are Adam and Billie both being played?


One thing is for sure, The Master wants his puppets back – and he’ll do anything to keep them.

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for The Puppet Master! I have a guest post from the author to share today. 


Guest Post:

Why I used Scrivener to Write ‘The Puppet Master’

 

There is no doubt that you can use the good old-fashioned pen and paper or even just a blank word document to write a novel. But my full-time job is centred upon using technology to make lives easier for people with disabilities. So, I feel drawn to using software and apps in my writing process. Scrivener is the most important of these when writing my book.

 

I tried to use just MS Word to write my book but I don’t like to write in order. I write the scene that is in my head at the time. This was causing me to feel chaotic as I would either have 20 word documents with different scenes or I would have to spend time navigating an excessively long document where nothing was in order and I kept losing sections or repeating myself. This was too stressful and after some research, the answer to my prayers came in the form of Scrivener. I’m not going to go into too much depth as you can find all you need to know about Scrivener on YouTube and lots of writing blogs. But for me, Scrivener is great because it allows me to break my work down into sections, even chapters or sub chapters. Whatever way you want to break your ideas down it gives you a visual and easy way to do it. These sections are then represented by a post-it note on a virtual cork board. Which means I can move sections around and reorder them any way I want, without having to copy and paste anything and I don’t lose anything or repeat anything because work is organised and accessible very easily. I can easily flick between sections and add things here and there.

 

The other way it works for me is that I can set word targets and it will let me know when I have reached my goal. This helps with productivity as I can feel like I’ve accomplished something when I meet my target and I am less likely to write until I burn out which will then stop me writing for days. I break up writing periods so that I can write little and often. It also allows me to analyse my own work and make notes of things I need to add or change without having to do this in the manuscript. Goodbye yellow highlights and caps locks in the document and the worry I hadn’t deleted them all!

 

Scrivener also has the capacity to hold your research. You can easily add word documents and pictures to your research sections. By using this, I was able to have a section for each character and the locations. This was beneficial because it means when writing a section about a particular character, I can have the picture I selected as my influence on how they would look on the screen as well as my manuscript. This is great for helping write detailed descriptions and saved me time printing everything out or flicking between the picture and my writing. It kept me in the zone and help with my visualisation of what I was writing about.

 

These are the main things I love about Scrivener but it has a lot more to offer than what I’ve described. It even has a handy little name generator which is fascinating and fun to play with. I would definitely give this software a try even just for your first draft. It’s not too expensive and if it works for you it can be the key to unlocking that novel hiding within you.

 About the Author:


Abigail is originally from the Lake District but moved to the West Midlands for University where she completed an English Literature & History degree and also met her husband. She is a passionate reader and has an unsustainable collection of books. This obsession with books has led to her creating her own Dewey decimal system and she has been known to issue fines to family and friends if her book is not returned on time. ‘The Puppet Master’ is Abigail’s debut novel and has unleashed a passion for writing. When not writing or reading Abigail is usually playing her violin or hiding from her much too energetic cats. She also works as a Needs Assessor for disabled university students in the West Midlands.

https://www.facebook.com/abigailosborneauthor/

https://twitter.com/Abigail_Author?lang=en-gb

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Blog Tour: The Forgotten Child by Anita Davison @AnitaSDavison @Aria_Fiction

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Goodreads|Amazon
Release date: November 1, 2017

Publisher: Aria Fiction 

Genre: Historical Fiction 

Blurb: 

The forgotten children of London are going missing, apparently being sold by their own families. Can she save them before it’s too late…


Flora Maguire’s life is perfect – a beautiful home in Belgravia teeming with servants, a loving husband, and new baby Arthur to enjoy. But when she is invited to tour St Philomena’s Children’s Hospital in deprived Southwark, she gets a harsh insight into the darker side of Edwardian London.


Shocked by the conditions people are living in, she soon uncovers a scandal with a dark heart – children are going missing from the hospital, apparently sold by their own families, and their fate is too awful to imagine. With the police seemingly unable or unwilling to investigate, Flora teams up with the matron of the hospital, Alice Finch, to try to get to the bottom of it.


Soon Flora is immersed in the seedy, dangerous underbelly of criminal London, and time is running out to save the children. Will they get to them in time, or was their fate decided the day they were born poor…

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for The Forgotten Children! I have an extract to share today. 


Extract: 

Chapter 1

London, September 1904


Flora tilted her hat over her left eye and pouted at her reflection in the mirror above the mantelpiece. Bunny appeared at her shoulder and plucked a sheet of pasteboard propped against the clock.

‘That’s the third time you’ve scrutinized that card in the last hour.’ She frowned as she returned the grey velvet confection to its original position.

‘Don’t you find it strange that we’ve been invited to tour a hospital neither of us has ever heard of?’ He tapped the card against his thumbnail. ‘Incidentally, I like that hat the other way.’

‘St Philomena’s Hospital is a charity founded by a wealthy philanthropist to provide medical care for children of the poor.’ Sighing, she adjusted the hat again.

‘An admirable endeavour, no doubt, but why have we been invited?’ He pushed his spectacles further up his nose with a middle finger and tucked the card into his inside pocket. ‘If Arthur became ill, we’re unlikely to take him to a hospital in Southwark.’

Flora suppressed a shiver at the mention of illness in respect of their infant son, who currently enjoyed chubby good health. ‘Charities are always looking for funds; maybe they regard Mr Ptolemy Harrington, Solicitor at Law, as a viable proposition?’

‘Trust you to get to the bottom of the thing.’ Bunny joined her by the front door being held open by their butler. ‘Are you sure you wouldn’t rather go in the motor car?’

‘No, and it’s too late to change your mind, the taxi is already here.’ She smiled at his downcast expression that was so like Arthur’s. ‘And Southwark is hardly a suitable place to leave your beloved Aster, no matter how many street urchins you pay to watch it.’

‘Taxi it is, then.’ Bunny handed her inside the motor taxi that idled at the kerb whilst giving the house a slow appraising glance through the window.

The façade of Portland stone that rose four floors from the street always sent a possessive thrill up Flora’s spine. A pair of Ionic columns flanked a shiny black-painted front door with a set of railed stone steps that descended into basement kitchens equipped with the latest innovations Flora had insisted upon. Aware of what life was like in the servants’ hall at her childhood home, Cleeve Abbey in Gloucestershire, with its outdated facilities, she had been determined to make her own servants’ lives a little easier. She had unwisely expressed this sentiment in the presence of her mother-in-law, the memory of whose contempt still made Flora’s cheeks burn.

The taxi headed east along Victoria Street, past the Catholic cathedral and around Parliament Square, past monumental buildings that represented the might of the British Empire.

On the far side of Westminster Bridge, Portland stone and red brick gave way to wood and steel of the industrial area of the city, deteriorating more with each mile. The taxi’s route took them in a wide circle and back to the river where the sparkling new structure of Tower Bridge reached into a darkening sky.

‘It’s hard to believe we’re only three miles from Belgravia.’ Flora wiped a gloved hand to clear the mist on the rain-streaked taxi window as they entered Quilp Street and passed beneath a wrought-iron archway that displayed the words St Philomena’s Hospital for Sick Children.

The hospital was a solid, rectangular building with a mansard roof that squatted amongst its less imposing neighbours like an elegant woman who had known better days; the red brick having faded to a dirty russet colour by forty years of coal smoke from the surrounding factories and tanneries.

‘Is that baking I can smell?’ She sniffed appreciatively at an enticing aroma of burned sugar that seeped into the cab.

‘Probably. The Peek Frean’s factory is one of the main employers in this area,’ Bunny said, handing her out of the cab. ‘They call this place “Biscuit Town”.’

Their heads down against a sudden rainstorm, they ran for the entrance, splashing through puddles that soaked their feet, and exploded into the entrance hall laughing delightedly. A group of ladies in wide-brimmed hats and black-suited gentleman gave the newcomers slow, appraising looks, some curious, others of bored disinterest, before going back to their conversations.

Bunny handed the porter who held open the door for them the printed invitation that had so perplexed him earlier.

‘Mr and Mrs Harrington, is it?’ He squinted at the square of pasteboard. ‘As you can see, we have quite a few visitors today, but someone will be here shortly to show you around.’

About the Author:


Born in London, Anita has always had a penchant for all things historical. She now lives in the beautiful Cotswolds, the backdrop for her Flora Maguire mysteries.

 

Anita’s Blog – http:thedisorganisedauthor.blogspot.co.uk

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/anita.davison

Twitter – https://twitter.com/AnitaSDavison

Blog Tour: Blood Rites by David Stuart Davies @Urbanebooks

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Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: November 9, 2017

Publisher: Urbane

Genre: Crime Fiction 

Blurb:

Blood Rites is the latest gripping DI Paul Snow thriller from renowned crime writer David Stiart Davies. 1980s Yorkshire. DI Paul Snow has a personal demon. He is a homosexual but is desperate to keep it secret, knowing it would finish his career in the intolerant police force. As this personal drama unfolds, he is involved in investigating a series of violent murders in the town. All the victims appear to be chosen at random and appear to have no connection with each other. After the fourth murder, he is removed from the case for not finding the killer but continues investigating the matter privately. Gradually, Paul manages to determine a link between the murder victims, but this places his own life in great danger. Can Paul unmask the killer as he wrestles with his own demons? 

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Blood Rites! I have a fantastic guest post from the author to share today. 


Detective Inspector Paul Snow

 

 

Paul Snow is homosexual. He is also a high ranking police officer. In the 1980s when Blood Rites is set, to be gay in the police force was not something one could admit to without the admission having a detrimental effect on career and standing within the force. It was an era when gays kept their sexual preferences under wraps. As Peter Tatchell observed: ‘In the past, LGBT+ police officers were closeted and repressed. They were agents of a homophobic institution and lived in fear of being outed and sacked’. Indeed Snow has the constant worry of being outed. As a result, he lives a celibate life and fuels all his passions into his police work, but the danger of exposure is always present. There is another danger, of course: that of dropping his guard and giving way to his natural impulses. He tries hard to prevent this happening, but sometimes fate intervenes. Paul is only human after all.

In Blood Rites, however, Paul has a girlfriend, Matilda, of whom he is very fond but his emotions go no further than that. She does not interest him sexually. He feels guilty in his relationship with her because he realises it gives him a shield of acceptability behind which to hide. He is aware that a man in his thirties without a wife or a girlfriend may very well raise suspicions within the police as to why this might be the case. Things become even more complicated when Matilda’s brother arrives on the scene. He is also gay and takes a shine to Paul and this stirs our hero’s emotions.

Of course there is more to Paul Snow than his sexuality. He is a bright, dogged and perceptive policeman and he certainly has to be in Blood Rites, which concerns a series of murders in Paul’s patch, the Yorkshire town of Huddersfield. There is no apparent link between the victims which gives him nothing to go on in tracing the killer. After the fourth murder, he is removed from the case, but continues investigating the matter privately. It is a matter of pride with him now to solve this case and bring the murderer to justice. As he comes closer to a solution both his private and professional life spiral into free fall and the climax of the novel is shocking in the extreme.

Snow is a good man and a good police officer but sometimes circumstances force him into behaving badly. He is tall and thin, gaunt even, which reflects his Spartan life style. In general, even in police work, he keeps his own counsel. He dresses simply but smartly in a conventional fashion. While not exactly good looking, he is quite attractive. He a sensitive quiet and a gentle man. Despite his weaknesses and failings, I do believe the reader will side with him during the course of the story.

As a writer, I conjure characters out of my imagination but I believe it is essential that they ring true as real people. As soon as I began to sketch in the character of Paul, I found him a fascinating fellow. He is an iceberg creation. There is much more below the surface than is visible. During the course of the novel as we learn more of Paul’s thoughts and motives, we are allowed to dip below the waterline a little. But even I, as his creator, have not yet been able to probe all his feelings and secrets. That is what makes him such a fascinating character. I hope you get to meet him.

 Oohh Paul Snow sure sounds interesting to me, I’ll definitely be adding Blood Rites to me TBR!