Blog Tour: The Butlins Girls by Elaine Everest @ElaineEverest

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Release date: May 4, 2017

Publisher: Pan

Genre: Historical fiction 

Blurb: 

They escaped their pasts, for the adventure of a lifetime . . .


‘Molly Missons gazed around in awe. So this was Butlin’s. Whitewashed buildings, bordered by rhododendrons, gave a cheerful feeling to a world still recovering from six years of war. The Skegness holiday camp covered a vast area, much larger than Molly expected to see.’


Molly Missons hasn’t had the best of times recently. Having lost her parents, now some dubious long-lost family have darkened her door – attempting to steal her home and livelihood…


After a horrendous ordeal, Molly applies for a job as a Butlin’s Aunty. When she receives news that she has got the job, she immediately leaves her small home town – in search of a new life in Skegness.


Molly finds true friendship in Freda, Bunty and Plum. But the biggest shock is discovering that star of the silver screen, Johnny Johnson, is working at Butlin’s as head of the entertainment team. Johnny takes an instant liking to Molly and she begins to shed the shackles of her recent traumas. Will Johnny be just the distraction Molly needs – or is he too good be to be true?


I’m so pleased to welcome you to my stop on the blog tour for The Butlins Girls. 


Review: 

I had no prior knowledge of holiday camps before reading this book so I had no idea exactly what to expect, but I’m so glad that I read this, it was such a delightful read. You know those books that just leave you feeling happy and warm when you’re done? This is that type of book, it was adorable. 

After discovering that Butlins holiday camps are  indeed real, (excuse me, my American is showing)  I spent some time doing good old Google research as I was reading because I was so taken with the concept. The first camp opened in 1936 and though they closed during the war, they are still running today! I had a blast looking through their website and am now trying to figure out how to convince my husband we need to take a vacation there. The book is set when Butlins opens after the war is over and Molly Missons gets a job there. 

The characterization is fantastic, Molly is such a dear, sweet, innocent girl, I took to her right away. Her parents passed away in a car accident and she has no family left. She does, however have some wonderful friends and that’s who she turns too when times are hard. When her friend, Freda encourages her to apply for a job at Butlins she takes a chance and meets some lifelong friends in her roommates Bunty and Plum, both of whom are also well drawn, though all three are vastly different. She also meets Johnny, a movie star who is in the entertainment part of the camp. 

This had a little something for everyone, it has a deep history, some light romance, and even some mystery, a cozy one at that. It was about friendship and family and had a saga feel to it with some drama added. Freda is apparently from Everest’s first novel, The Woolworths Girls and now I’m eager to go back and read more about her. I’m also holding out hope that maybe there will be a sequel to this book, it was such a truly lovely, warm read. 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy. 

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: 


Crimes Against a Book Club was a super fun read.

Any Day Now was a sweet contemporary romance. 

Dead Souls was a fantastic addition to one of my favorite series.

Bad to the Bone was a solid beginning to a new crime series.

The Note was a chilling short story.

Into the Water left me feeling conflicted.

The Good Widow is the perfect summer read.

Block 46 blew me away, amazing book. 
Currently Reading: 


Up Next:


Another great week despite some craziness on the home front! I missed a couple of books that I had hoped to get to last week, hopefully this week I can squeeze them in. 

I’ve never been one that has to be in a certain mood to pick up a book, if it grabs me, genre doesn’t matter much, but I had a hard time with a couple of reads last week and had to put them down for now. It wasn’t that they were bad books, it just seemed like I couldn’t get into them so I’m guessing this is what people mean when they say they’re a mood reader? Are you like this? (Renee, I’m talking to you 😂)

I’m also finally almost done with my discussion post for the month and I’ll have some fun giveaways in the coming weeks. Next month is my big blogiversary celebration and I’m hoping to do either a week of giveaways on different social media platforms or one giant one, which would you guys prefer? I’m planning on having at least one being open internationally as I have so many readers from all over. I think that’s so cool, I love checking that part of my stats out. I also hit 1,000 WordPress followers over the weekend which blows my mind as well! Definitely cause for celebration/giveaways. 

What are you currently reading? 

Review: The Promise of Provence by Patricia Sands @patricia_sands 

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Goodreads|Amazon
Release date: October 6, 2015

Publisher: Lake Union

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Blurb: 

On the evening of her twenty-second wedding anniversary, Katherine Price can’t wait to celebrate. But instead of receiving an anniversary card from her husband, she finds a note asking for a divorce.


Fifty-five and suddenly alone, Katherine begins the daunting task of starting over. She has her friends, her aging mother, and her career to occupy her, but the future seems to hold little promise—until, after a winter of heartbreak, Katherine is persuaded to try a home exchange holiday in the South of France.


In Provence, bright fields of flowers bloom below medieval hilltop villages with winding cobblestone streets. Charmed by the picturesque countryside, the breathtaking Côte d’Azur, and the enchantment-filled boulevards of Paris, Katherine feels life opening up once again. Lavender perfumes the air, and chance encounters hint at romance and passion. But memories of heartbreak and betrayal linger—and her former life waits for her back home. Can she find the courage to begin again?

Review: 

I keep finding all of these amazing summer reads lately so I apologize in advance if I’m contributing to making your summer reading lists being out of control! The Promise of Provence was an absolutely lovely read, I fell in love with the main character, Katherine, but I also was utterly charmed by France as the author really brought the country to life. I’m so happy there are still two books left in this beautiful series.

When the novel begins, Katherine is dumped in an extremely callous manner by her jerk of a husband, James. He breaks up with her via a note on their anniversary. Thank goodness his role in this story is minimal, you never actually meet him and for that I was grateful. The story follows Katherine over the course of a year as she deals with the end of her twenty something year marriage and her struggles as she navigates a new life as a single woman in her fifties.

As I mentioned earlier, I adored Katherine. She was so raw, vulnerable and honest, wholly relatable. She has a small support group in her friends Molly and Andrea, (Andrea is also her cousin) and both of them were great characters as well. Molly had an air of mystery about her and I’m hoping to learn more about her secrets in subsequent books. She also has a terrible potty mouth but that only made me like her more! There were also many fantastic people that Katherine meets as she travels in France, they were so charming and interesting! There is some romance along the way as well, but I won’t tell you with whom, you’ll have to read and see for yourself.

It was very clear that Sands has a deep personal connection to France and Canada, her passion was apparent in her gorgeous descriptive writing style. In her authors note she calls the book her love letter to France and that’s an apt description. The food described was stunning and had me practically drooling several times and the imagery she conjured really brought the setting to life. I had such a great time following Katherine on her adventures as she experienced highs and lows and can’t wait to reconnect with her in the second book.

Overall rating: 4/5

About the Author: 


Patricia Sands lives in Toronto, Canada, when she isn’t somewhere else. An admitted travel fanatic, she can pack a bag in a flash and be ready to go anywhere … particularly the south of France, for her annual visit.

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Blog Tour: Block 46 by Johana Gustawsson @JoGustawsson @OrendaBooks

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Release date: May 1, 2017

Publisher: Orenda Books

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb: 

In Falkenberg, Sweden, the mutilated body of talented young jewelry designer Linnea Blix is found in a snow-swept marina. In Hampstead Heath, London, the body of a young boy is discovered with similar wounds to Linnea’s. Buchenwald Concentration Camp, 1944. In the midst of the hell of the Holocaust, Erich Ebner will do anything to see himself as a human again. Are the two murders the work of a serial killer, and how are they connected to shocking events at Buchenwald? Emily Roy, a profiler on loan to Scotland Yard from the Canadian Royal Mounted Police, joins up with Linnea’s friend, French true-crime writer Alexis Castells, to investigate the puzzling case. They travel between Sweden and London, and then deep into the past, as a startling and terrifying connection comes to light. 

I’m so delighted to welcome you to my stop on the blog tour for Block 46 today. 


Review: 

It’s only the first week of May but I’m already betting that Block 46 is going to be my favorite read this month, I’m that confident. I’ll even go so far as to say that it will have a firm spot on my list of top reads for the entire year. While I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect before I read this, I certainly wasn’t expecting to be so blown away. 

There are two timelines here, the first is in 2014 where Emily Roy and Alexis Castells are trying to catch a serial killer who has hunting grounds in both London and Sweden, then there is a historical element that follows Erich, a prisoner in a concentration camp in 1944. I equally loved both timelines and wondered how they would eventually merge together, I congratulated myself (prematurely) on figuring out how everything would fit together only to be completely wrong, Gustawsson flipped the script and blindsided me totally with a killer twist. 

Emily is a profiler while Alexis is a true crime writer and telling the story from their points of view brought a fresh insight that I didn’t even realize was missing from this genre until now. Erich’s chapters were heartbreakingly harrowing and invoked so many emotions in me. The author is unflinchingly honest in her portrayal of the horrors of Nazi camps and while parts were extremely difficult to stomach, they were beautifully and sensitively depicted at the same time, a rare combination that she pulls off absolutely flawlessly. 
The writing is crisp, taut and intelligent, the plotting is tight, bold and skilled, and had a profound effect on me as a reader. It’s one of those books that linger well after you finish and challenged me to think in a deep way. Gustawsson is not afraid to take the reader to dark places but it’s not just for shock value, it’s purposeful, meaningful even. This is a stunning beginning to a new series from a formidable author that I couldn’t be more excited about. 

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to Orenda Books for my review copy. 

Review: The Good Widow by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke @LizandLisa

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Release date: June 1, 2017

Publisher: Lake Union 

Genre: Domestic Suspense 

Blurb: 

Bestselling authors Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke make their suspense debut in this twisty, emotional thriller.


Elementary school teacher Jacqueline “Jacks” Morales’s marriage was far from perfect, but even in its ups and downs it was predictable, familiar. Or at least she thought it was…until two police officers showed up at her door with devastating news. Her husband of eight years, the one who should have been on a business trip to Kansas, had suffered a fatal car accident in Hawaii. And he wasn’t alone.


For Jacks, laying her husband to rest was hard. But it was even harder to think that his final moments belonged to another woman—one who had left behind her own grieving and bewildered fiancé. Nick, just as blindsided by the affair, wants answers. So he suggests that he and Jacks search for the truth together, retracing the doomed lovers’ last days in paradise.


Now, following the twisting path of that fateful road, Jacks is learning that nothing is ever as it seems. Not her marriage. Not her husband. And most certainly not his death… 

Review: 

If you’re looking for a perfect, super addictive, summer read you can thank me now because I found it for you! The Good Widow was a highly entertaining, twisty read that is ideal for reading poolside, bonus points if you can read it on the beach. I had planned on reading it when I go to Mexico next month, but I’m bringing my kids and just knew it wouldn’t happen. I’m so glad I read it early, it was an ignore your family type of read, one where you cannot put it down until you finish. 

It opens with a fantastic prologue, an unknown couple is cruising in Hawaii and she has a secret. But what is she hiding? Why is she so scared to tell him (whoever he is?) I was obsessed with getting the answers to these questions, hooked after two pages. We skip to After where Jacks is getting the devastating news that her husband died in a car accident. He had been traveling for work, but the cops inform her he wasn’t in Kansas like he told her, he was in Hawaii, with another woman named Dylan. 

I loved Jacks and felt so awful for her, first she loses her husband, then on top of trying to deal with her grief and heartache, she realizes she didn’t really know James at all. When Nick contacts her and suggests making their own trip to Hawaii, she accepts, though she’s hesitant. She needs closure and hopes this is the key. As she starts to find some answers she also discovers that she has more questions as well. 

There are also Before chapters narrated both from Jacks and Dylan. I loved how you slowly find out more about how Dylan and James began their affair and you also find out more about James and Jacks relationship. Their marriage was far from perfect, it shows an ugly, hidden side and things eventually start to form a clear picture. The pacing is spot on and relentless as you follow both women and try to figure out where it all went wrong. 

It all culminates in an explosive manner with a pretty shocking twist, I sure didn’t see it coming! I had one of those gut punching, breathtaking moments where I had to stop for a second and soak it all in. This is perfect for fans of The Marriage Lie and Everything We Keep, if this is the dynamic duo’s first (impressive) foray into suspense I’m SO excited to see what they come up with next. 

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to Kathleen at Goldberg McDuffie for my review copy. 

Review: Into the Water by Paula Hawkins 

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Goodreads|Amazon
Release date: May 2, 2017

Publisher: Riverhead Books

Genre: Mystery/Thriller 

Blurb: 

The author of the #1 New York Times bestseller and global phenomenon The Girl on the Train returns with Into the Water, her addictive new novel of psychological suspense. 


“Hawkins is at the forefront of a group of female authors – think Gillian Flynn and Megan Abbott – who have reinvigorated the literary suspense novel by tapping a rich vein of psychological menace and social unease… there’s a certain solace to a dark escape, in the promise of submerged truths coming to light.” –Vogue


A single mother turns up dead at the bottom of the river that runs through town. Earlier in the summer, a vulnerable teenage girl met the same fate. They are not the first women lost to these dark waters, but their deaths disturb the river and its history, dredging up secrets long submerged.


Left behind is a lonely fifteen-year-old girl. Parentless and friendless, she now finds herself in the care of her mother’s sister, a fearful stranger who has been dragged back to the place she deliberately ran from—a place to which she vowed she’d never return.


With the same propulsive writing and acute understanding of human instincts that captivated millions of readers around the world in her explosive debut thriller, The Girl on the Train, Paula Hawkins delivers an urgent, twisting, deeply satisfying read that hinges on the deceptiveness of emotion and memory, as well as the devastating ways that the past can reach a long arm into the present.


Beware a calm surface—you never know what lies beneath. 

Review: 

Along with most of the free world, Into the Water was very high on my list of most anticipated reads for 2017. I think it’s always difficult for an author that has had a successful first novel to release their second, imagine the pressure, the doubt, the insecurity. When you wrote one of the best selling books of all time and had tremendous global success, I would gather it’s even scarier, even more intimidating. I saw a tweet from Clare Mackintosh the other day and I couldn’t agree more. Here’s what she said:

#intothewater is out today. Intelligent and beautifully written. It’s not #thegirlonthetrain, and nor should it be. Don’t compare – enjoy.

I’m glad I saw that before I picked this up, she’s totally right and I did my best not to compare the two books. How can you even top TGOTT anyway? Simple answer? You can’t. Hawkins second book shows her writing style has gotten even more sharp and refined, she is a sure footed author and a talented one to boot, however this one never did grab me the way I expected it to.

This one is slow going and at the beginning is downright confusing. I think I counted twelve different perspectives, which the fact that I can’t remember an exact number pretty much speaks for itself. It’s told through flashbacks, parts from a manuscript written by Nel, and present day happenings. Each chapter shows a different narrator which never gave me the proper time to form a solid connection to any of them. There was so much going on, and I’m no slouch when it comes to reading books that follow this formula, but it was even a bit too much for me.

The middle is where I finally felt drawn in, I remember thinking, finally, this is what I’ve been waiting for! This is also where Hawkins shines, the various plot threads started to vaguely come together and there was a sinister feeling that I couldn’t shake, along with a hint of the supernatural that really worked for me. Unfortunately, as things neared the end she lost me again. The intensity did increase as did the chapters, and I was eager to see where things would head, but I kept feeling like something was missing. I wanted more suspense, tension, that addictive quality that makes a book a real page turner. 

My overall feeling when I was finished was that I was underwhelmed. Hawkins does have an uncanny ability to tie several plot threads together effortlessly and I’m immensely impressed by this ability. This wasn’t a bad book, it just wasn’t my favorite, I’m feeling pretty apathetic about it. I think people will be divided about it and I’m so curious to see what others think, if you’ve read it I would love to chat! Or when you do read it, come back and we can discuss. 

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to BookSparks for my review copy. 

#CoverReveal Secrets of the Dead by Carol Wyer @carolewyer @bookouture

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I’m SO excited to be sharing the cover for Secrets of the Dead which is the second book in the Robyn Carter series. Little Girl Lost is book one and I loved it. 

Blurb: 

Three murders. Three innocent victims. What secrets did they share with their killer?


A bottle of bubble bath and colourful, plastic boats were scattered in small puddles on the floor. In the bathtub lay Linda Upton, fully-clothed, her lips a shade of blue, and her bloodshot eyes wide open.


When a young mother is found drowned in the bath, clutching a receipt saying ‘all debts paid’, Detective Robyn Carter knows it’s just the beginning of a harrowing case. She recognises the signs of a serial killer, and when a second victim with a receipt is found, her worst fears are confirmed.


With the local press whipping the public into a frenzy, Robyn is under pressure to solve the crime yesterday. But her team can’t find a link between the two bodies, and the cracks are starting to show.


Just when her leads have dried up, Robyn discovers an unsettling clue she thinks could unlock the case. But as she chases across the plush carpets and manicured lawns of the wealthy elite, honing in on the killer’s shocking motive, one of her own is put in terrible danger. 


The press call him The Leopard for his stealth, speed and brutality. Can Robyn stop the most twisted killer of her career before it’s too late?


A heart-pounding, toe-curling, one-sitting serial killer thriller that will hook you from the first page till the last. 


Doesn’t that sound fantastic?! Check out this cover…

You can preorder here on Amazon US and Amazon UK.

Blog Tour: The Note by Andrew Barrett @AndrewBarrettUK

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Release date: May 5, 2017

Publisher: The Ink Foundry

Genre: Crime Fiction 

Blurb: 

I’m Eddie Collins, a CSI.

Ever had that feeling of being watched but when you turn around no one’s there?

I have. 

It was raining, and I was working a murder scene around midnight when that prickle ran up my spine. If I’d listened to that feeling, if I’d thought back to my past, maybe I could have prevented the terror that was to come.

Back at the office, I found a death threat on my desk.

I had no idea who sent it or why they wanted to kill me.

But I was about to find out.

I’m so pleased to be a stop on the blog tour for The Note today! 


Review: 

This is the second book I’ve read by Andrew Barrett, I read Ledston Luck a few months ago and was really impressed. That was the fourth in a series featuring CSI Eddie Collins and I loved his character and the fact that the story was told from a fresh perspective. Andrew Barrett is a CAI himself so the authenticity is outstanding and you know you’re getting a true look at the life of a CSI. The Note is a short story featuring Eddie and it was fun to check in on him again, albeit briefly. 

Barrett sure knows how to set a creepy stage, it opens late one evening when Eddie is processing a crime scene and gets that uneasy feeling of being watched, unawares. Then, he finds a note that says he’ll be dead tonight. The atmosphere was really fantastic, late at night, alone in an office then at home, I was paranoid for Eddie’s safety just as much as he was! The chilling cover certainly matched what was inside and had the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end. 

As it’s such a short story I don’t want to say anything more about what happens, but Barrett manages to include a few shocking plot twists in a short amount of time. Even though Eddie is scared for most of the story his sarcasm and wit is still there, maybe even more so than usual. Defensive mechanism perhaps? I don’t know, but it always works for me! This is a perfect introduction to a great character, so if you haven’t read any of the books in this series, why not start here? 

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy. 

Blog Tour: Bad to the Bone by Tony Forder @tonyjforder @bloodhoundbook

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Release date: April 29, 2017

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb: 

A skeletal body is unearthed in a wooded area of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. DI James Bliss, together with DC Penny Chandler, investigate the case and discover that the young, female victim had been relocated from its original burial site.


A witness is convinced that a young female was struck by a vehicle back in the summer of 1990, and that police attended the scene. However, no record exists of either the accident or the reported victim. As the case develops, two retired police officers are murdered. The two are linked with others who were on duty at the time a road accident was reported. 


As Bliss and Chandler delve deeper into the investigation, they start to question whether senior officers may have been involved in the murder of the young women who was buried in the woods.


As each link in the chain is put under duress, so is Bliss who clashes with superiors and the media. 


When his team receives targeted warnings, Bliss will need to decide whether to drop the case or to pursue those responsible. Will Bliss walk away in order to keep his career intact or will he fight no matter what the cost? And is it possible the killer is much closer than they imagined? 

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Bad to the Bone. 


Review: 

I love police procedurals but there are times when they can get a bit dry and humorless, leaving me wanting more. Books like Bad to the Bone breathe new life into a sometimes stale genre and remind me why I’m such a fan of these types of novels. It was full of dark humor, well drawn characters and plenty of surprises to knock me off balance.

Bliss and Chandler are partners and they had such a warm, genuine relationship. Forder did an excellent job of developing their friendship and I liked that they had each other’s backs at any cost. Bliss’ backstory was especially well crafted and by the end I felt like I had a true sense of what type of person he is. 

The pacing was steady as they investigated a cold case after bones are found in a semi remote locale. When this old case starts to show links with current happenings, things get really tense and complicated. This was a character driven book with a very strong lead and a writing style that kept true to police procedures while adding some much needed humor to break things up. It’s an excellent beginning to a new series,  I could even see a prequel at some point as Bliss’ history was fascinating. 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to Bloodhound Books for my review copy.

About the Author: 


On 1st February 2017, Tony signed to Bloodhound Books, who will publish his new edgy crime thriller Bad to the Bone this spring. It is the first in a series.


Later this year, Tony’s second novel for Bloodhound Books, Degrees of Darkness, featuring ex-detective Frank Rogers, will be published.


Tony has been writing stories since childhood, but it was only when he won a short story competition judged by an editor from Pan Books, that he realised he might actually be half decent at this writing business.


The story, Gino’s Bar and Grille, went on to be published in Dark Voices 2, part of the celebrated Pan Book of Horror series. Three further short story sales followed: Book End, published in Dark Voices 4, Character Role, in FEAR magazine, and finally A Grim Story, which featured in A Rattler’s Tale.


During a book singing for Dark Voices 2, Tony was seated next to author Brian Lumley. At one point, Tony revealed to Brian that he felt out of place alongside all the proper writers. Brian then told Tony something he has never forgotten: “The moment you sat down and pulled a story out of your imagination and put it to paper, you became a proper writer.”


Subsequently, Tony began to focus on novel writing. He admits that his initial attempts were exploratory and somewhat derivative, although there was some interest from an agent – who oddly enough turned out to be Brian Lumley’s wife, Dorothy.


Tony wrote Degrees of Darkness, which he was happy with. He wasn’t so happy with a follow-up, so that never saw the light of day. 


As a part-time writer with a full-time job, plus some ill-health, life got in the way and, although Tony continued writing, it took a back seat to making a living.


This year, however, Tony has been inspired by new ideas, and has been working hard on two new books, both of which should be completed in 2017. In the meantime, he hopes you enjoy Bad to the Bone, introducing DI James Bliss and DC Penny Chandler.

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Extract: Perfect Summer by Karen King @karen_king

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Release date: May 10, 2017

Publisher: Accent Press

Genre: YA

Blurb: 

Set in a society obsessed with perfection, 15 year old Morgan is best friends with the seemingly perfect Summer. But when Morgan’s brother, Josh, who has Down’s syndrome, is kidnapped, they uncover a sinister plot and find themselves in terrible danger.

Can they find Josh before it’s too late? And is Summer’s life as perfect as it seems?

 

What people are saying about Perfect Summer

‘This book was amazing, as it was easy to relate to the characters, and it put a perfect twist on society’s obsession with perfection.’ Shehayamsani – Litpick reviewer.

 

 

‘King does an amazing job of writing about the discrimination children with disabilities face’ http://strollinginstoryland.blogspot.co.uk/

I was really taken away by this book – it is full of excitement, danger, shocks, gripping scenes and a thick plot. It is a truly brilliant story, with some fun – but SO realistic – characters. It makes the reader think – could the future turn out to be something like this?? Bookworm1, Amazon UK review

‘The story line was fascinating and kept my attention. Could also be a good book club discussion book.’ Donna – More Than A Review

I’m delighted to welcome you to my stop on the blog tour for Perfect Summer. 


Extract: 

Summer and I hurried upstairs while Josh was busy watching TV. Summer plonked herself down on my bed while I got my things ready.

“Want some music?” I asked, pressing the silver button on the comm-panel. The latest hit from Krescendo, our favourite band, blasted out and a hologram of them playing beamed onto the wall.

Then I pressed the green button, my wardrobe doors glided open, and a rail of clothes slid out. I glanced over at Summer, feeling awkward as always, that my room was so small and my wardrobe so sparse. Summer’s wardrobe was a huge walk-in affair full of designer clothes. Luckily, she was sprawled out watching Krescendo so I quickly grabbed the clothes I needed for the weekend and shoved them in my rucksack. Thank goodness I’d found an immaculate emerald green Maliko dress at the recycle store the other week. That would be perfect for Roxy’s. I knew Summer would let me borrow her clothes but felt better if I wore something of my own.

I took out the dress and zipped it into a freshpack to keep it crease-free. I glanced at the image screen on my bedroom wall and grimaced. My make-up needed renewing and some strands of my chestnut hair were escaping from the ponytail I’d swept it into. I swiftly fixed it and applied more make-up. I didn’t want to turn up at Summer’s looking a mess, Tamara and Leo expected everyone to always look their best.  

“Ready.” I pressed the buttons on the CP again to close my wardrobe doors, and switched off the music.

“Have a nice weekend,” Mum said as we popped in to say goodbye. She looked so pale, with dark circles under her eyes. I could tell the visit from the Ministry had upset her and hesitated for a moment, wondering if I should stay. But Dad was due home soon and I was so looking forward to the weekend. I loved going to Summer’s house and being spoilt for a bit. It was like living in another world. She was so lucky.

“Thanks, we will.” I leaned over and tousled Josh’s chestnut curls. “Bye, Josh.”

“Play, Maw,” he said, scrambling up.

“Maw going out now. I’ll play with you when I come back.” He puckered his face as if he was going to cry, but Mum took his hand. “Come on, Josh, let’s pick some tomatoes for tea.”  

Josh’s face lit up. He loved helping Mum in the garden. Everyone had a vegetable patch, compost and water butt by order of the Ministry as part of the Planet Protection Programme. I hated gardening but Josh loved helping Mum water the plants with the rainwater collected in the butt, and picking the vegetables. Summer’s parents had a gardener, of course.

Mum led Josh out into the garden while we went out the front door before Josh could realise I was leaving. I had no idea how much I was going to regret not playing with Josh one more time. Or not kissing him goodbye.

 About the Author: 


Karen King is the author of over 120 children’s books and has had two YA’s published, Perfect Summer and Sapphire Blue. Perfect Summer was runner up in the Red Telephone Books YA novel competition in 2011 and has just been republished by Accent Press.

Karen is also the author of two romance novels, and has been contracted for three chick lit novels by Accent Press. The first, I do?… or do I? was published in 2016 and the second, The Cornish Hotel by the Sea, is due out in the Summer. In addition, Karen has written several short stories for women’s magazine and worked for many years on children’s magazines such as Thomas the Tank Engine and Winnie the Pooh as well as the iconic Jackie magazine.

When she isn’t writing, Karen likes travelling, watching the ‘soaps’ and reading. Give her a good book and a box of chocolates and she thinks she’s in Heaven.

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