Book after Book

By Robin Talley Published by HQ Synopsis: In 1955 eighteen-year-old Janet Jones must keep the love she shares with her best friend a secret. As in the age of McCarthyism to be gay is to sin. But when Janet discovers a series of books about women falling in love with other women, it awakens something in her. As she juggles a romance she must keep hidden and a new-found ambition to write and publish her own story, she risks exposing herself – and Marie – to a danger all too real. Sixty-two years later, Abby Cohen can’t stop thinking about her senior project – classic 1950s lesbian pulp fiction. She feels especially connected to one author, ‘Marian Love’, and becomes determined to track her down and discover her true identity. Is Abby prepared for what she will find? How did this book end up in my hands? I requested a review copy of this book as soon as I saw it in the HQ newsletter and my wish was granted. I am one lucky bookblogger! Was it a page-turner? It was at first and...

Rachel’s Random Resources presents a book birthday blitz for Stephanie Weaver’s: The Migraine Relief Plan: An 8-Week Transition to Better Eating, Fewer Headaches, and Optimal Health In The Migraine Relief Plan , certified health and wellness coach Stephanie Weaver outlines a new, step-by-step lifestyle approach to reducing migraine frequency and severity. Using the latest research, her own migraine diagnosis, and extensive testing, Weaver has designed an accessible plan to help those living with migraine, headaches, or Meniere’s disease. Over the course of eight weeks, the plan gradually transitions readers into a healthier lifestyle, including key behaviours such as regular sleep, trigger-free eating, gentle exercise, and relaxation techniques. The book also collects resources - shopping lists, meal plans, symptom tracking charts, and kitchen-tested recipes for breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner - to provide readers with the tools they need to be successful. The Mig...

By Neil White Published by Bonnier Zaffre Synopsis: When Lizzie Barnsley is murdered along a canal after escaping her abusive boyfriend, Dan Grant is called in to represent her alleged killer, Peter Box. The evidence is strong, but did he actually do it? He didn't know Lizzie, so why would he kill her?  As Dan and his investigator, Jayne Brett, begin their case, they discover a number of murders and disappearances along the canals, including the brutal killing of fourteen-year-old Rosie Smith ten years earlier. Rosie's stepfather Sean had been accused of her murder, but then Dan finds out that Peter tried to confess to that crime as well and was ignored.  With a client who won't tell anyone what really happened, Dan and Jayne have their work cut out, but when it becomes clear that Peter Box can't have been involved in every murder and disappearance, they realise that they may have stumbled on to something far more sinister. But the clock is ticki...

By Holly Seddon Published by Corvus Books Synopsis: Alex is sinking. Slowly but surely, she's cut herself off from everything but her one true love - drink. Until she's forced to write a piece about a coma ward, where she meets Amy. Amy is lost. When she was fifteen, she was attacked and left for dead in a park. Her attacker was never found. Since then, she has drifted in a lonely, timeless place. She's as good as dead, but not even her doctors are sure how much she understands.  Alex and Amy grew up in the same suburbs, played the same music, flirted with the same boys. And as Alex begins to investigate the attack, she opens the door to the same danger that has left Amy in a coma… How did this book end up in my hands? The author was incredibly kind and offered to send me a copy of her debut novel after our second Q&A together. There are some absolute stars out there! Was it a page-turner? OMG, yes! I alternated reading my physical copy of the book with ...

By Victor Dixen Translated from the French by Daniel Hahn Published by Hot Key Books Synopsis: Six girls, six boys: looking for glory and romance on Mars  They thought they were masters of their destiny. They are the twelve pioneers of the Genesis programme. They thought they were taking part in the most extraordinary of missions. In fact, they are the victims of the cruellest of plots. Leonor was looking for glory - and love - on Mars. She thought she would be able to open her heart there. But what she has done is open up a Pandora's box of her past… How did this book end up in my hands? I won this book in a giveaway. Afterwards, having made it quite clear online that I had adored the first book in the Phobos trilogy, Ascension , I was also approached by the publisher to join the blog tour . Was it a page-turner? I was apprehensive that the second book might have lost the momentum that had started in Ascension but I needn’t have feared. It is as gr...

Welcome to The Chestnut Man blog tour! I have been trying to think of a clever introduction to Søren Sveistrup ’s debut novel but I am too star-struck to think straight. So, here’s how things are: Søren Sveistrup is the scriptwriter of the awesome Danish TV series The Killing . Søren Sveistrup ’s debut novel, The Chestnut Man , is coming out in the UK on January 10th. I loved The Killing and I am loving The Chestnut Man . Why haven’t I finished the book already? Because I am a chicken and I can only read it during daylight hours if I am not alone in the house. How on earth am I going to fulfil my blogging duties today? I was hoping you’d ask! I have a surprise for your today! Two, in fact, so you’ll have to read to the end! First of all, I am over the moon to introduce you to Caroline Waight, the skilled linguist who has translated the novel from Danish into English, thus allowing us avid readers to enjoy this awesome book. Hi Caroline! Thank you for joining me ...

By Vanessa Lafaye with Rebecca Mascull Published by HQ Synopsis: Orphans Clara and Jacob Marley live by their wits, scavenging for scraps in the poorest alleyways of London, in the shadow of the workhouse. Every night, Jake promises his little sister ‘tomorrow will be better’ and when the chance to escape poverty comes their way, he seizes it despite the terrible price. And so Jacob Marley is set on a path that leads to his infamous partnership with Ebenezer Scrooge. As Jacob builds a fortress of wealth to keep the world out, only Clara can warn him of the hideous fate that awaits him if he refuses to let love and kindness into his heart… How did this book end up in my hands? I received a gorgeous proof copy from the publisher in exchange of my honest opinion. And I am so glad I did. Was it a page-turner? With age, I have sadly lost the ability to stay up late with a book, no matter how much I am loving it. It was with great sadness that I put this novel down to sleep but ...

By Holly Seddon Published by Corvus Books Synopsis: Robin and Sarah weren't the closest of twins. They weren't even that similar. But they loved each other dearly. Until, in the cruellest of domestic twists, they were taken from one another.  Now, in her early 30s, Robin lives alone. Agoraphobic and suffering from panic attacks, she spends her days pacing the rooms of her house. The rest of the time she watches - watches the street, the houses, the neighbours. Until one day, she sees something she shouldn't… And Sarah? Sarah got what she wanted - the good-looking man, the beautiful baby, the perfect home. But she's just been accused of the most terrible thing of all. She can't be around her new family until she has come to terms with something that happened a long time ago. And to do that, she needs to track down her twin sister. But Sarah isn't the only person looking for Robin. As their paths intersect, something dangerous is set in mot...

It is no secret that I adored Ascension by Victor Dixen, which was published in June this year. If you follow me on Twitter, you will have seen me gushing over it again and again. If you only follow my blog, you might have noticed my enthusiasm when I tracked down and interviewed both the English translator and the book cover designer of the series! Despite brief interactions on Twitter, the idea of approaching Victor Dixen himself seemed too daunting so you can imagine my excitement when I was recently offered the opportunity to join the Phobos Distortion blog tour and… wait for it… interview the author! I’m still pinching myself. Ouch! I can confirm I’m not asleep and it is with great pleasure that I welcome you to my stop along the awesome space journey below: And without further ado, I give you Victor Dixen… Hi Victor! First of all, I would like to congratulate you on the publication of Distortion , the second book in the Phobos series! Can you please briefly tell u...

By Ava Dellaira Published by Hot Key Books Synopsis: This sweeping multi-generational love story introduces readers to mother-and-daughter pair Marilyn and Angie. To seventeen-year-old Angie, who is mixed-race, Marilyn is her hardworking, devoted white single mother. But Marilyn was once young, too. When Marilyn was seventeen, she fell in love with Angie's father, James, who was African-American. B ut Angie's never met him, and Marilyn has always told her he died before she was born. When Angie discovers evidence of an uncle she's never met she starts to wonder: What if her dad is still alive, too? So she sets off on a journey to find him, hitching a ride to LA from her home in New Mexico with her ex-boyfriend, Sam. Along the way, she uncovers some hard truths about herself, her mother, and what truly happened to her father. How did this book end up in my hands? The publisher kindly sent me a copy of the book to review earlier this year and I only wish I had picked...