DANGER AT THATCHAM HALL by Frances Evesham

Since I started this reader blog, I have been surprised by the fact that I have not been inundated by review requests. I am not actively promoting this blog. Mainly, because I barely have time to schedule tweets or be active on Twitter or Facebook. It's so hard to keep up with everything to be honest. However, since I started a new Goodreads group I have been lucky enough to read some great books.

If any of you offer to read to review you should follow through, but if the book is not the right fit for you, then tell the author. I have been sent a few which I started and then realised were not my preference. I always worry that telling the truth will result in an aggressive response. However, so far most writers/ publishers have been great. They prefer you to leave the book and not review.

This is what I do. I only review books I finish and enjoy. What is the point of getting a free book and then ripping it apart?

So... moving on to DANGER AT THATCHAM HALL by Frances Evesham

REVIEW

I was lucky enough to be contacted by the author, and given a copy of this book for review. I really enjoyed it and got immersed in this Victorian world, with a strange death setting the scene for the brief encounter between the two main characters, Nelson and Olivia.

I have been a huge fan of crime fiction in the past (I have a lot of Agatha Christie books!) and had not read a book like it in a long time. Overall, I thought it was a fantastic read. Extremely well-written, with well thought-out characters, and an intriguing plot.

Nelson is an interesting character, who survives a costly war in Afghanistan, where he was one of the few survivors. He carries a few battle scars and resents certain Officers who claim to be war heroes. The truth, as he saw it, was very different with many Officers putting their lives before that of their men. However, he has reinvented himself as a highly sought after lawyer who gets called upon to try to solve some of the issues occurring in Thatcham Hall.

Since I am currently working on a historical novel set in the Victorian era, and have a love of Austen and Bronte, I followed the historic setting and understood the problems that resulted from Officers bad decisions. Even though hard to imagine, history has taught us that those in charge are not always the most knowledgeable!

Even though not mentioned, the Charge of the Light Brigade is a classic film written about the blunders that resulted in the Crimea because of Officers who had no knowledge of battle, made hasty decisions, or for costly mistakes resulting from a lack of communication. (There were no mobile phones you could use with which to abort a mission if it was obvious it would go sour!)

I mention this because his character is important, and the attraction with Olivia is almost blighted by his own misgivings.

Olivia is a strong and intelligent young lady who is a keen musician, but living in a man's world believes she can do no better than get a job as a governess. In those days, a woman's choices were limited! I loved the way her curiousity and better judgement came through in the end!

I would highly recommend this book to readers of crime and Victorian historical novels. Even though their relationship is of interest, I would not call this book a romance novel, but would suggest that if you like some hints of romance and a feel-good ending this is the book for you.

It certainly worked for me!

BLURB

Nelson Roberts, an ambitious new lawyer in Victorian England, trusts no one. Embittered and wounded in the First Afghan War, jilted by his fiancée, he trusts no one, but jumps at the chance to make a name for himself at Thatcham Hall, convinced he’ll soon solve the riddle of mysterious thefts and violence.

Olivia Martin, headstrong and talented, dreams of a career as a musician. She’ll do anything it takes to avoid a looming miserable fate as a governess.

The pair stumble on a body. Is the farmhand’s death a simple accident, or something more sinister? 

Who attacked the livestock at the Hall and why are the villagers so reluctant to talk? Can Nelson and Olivia overcome their differences and join forces to unravel the web of evil that imperils the Hall?

EXTRACT: 

"Aghast, Olivia slid to a halt, half-lying in the stream. Water seeped into both boots, chilling skin, bone and muscle. Her woollen skirt mushroomed, the dress absorbing moisture until damp fabric outlined every curve of her body.

The stranger watched, eyes widening. Oh! He was staring at her—at her—no, Olivia could hardly even think the words. He could see her—her shape. Shame drove out the chill, reddening her chest, and heightening the dreadful humiliation. Oh, if only the earth would open and swallow her whole! She gulped, strove for words, but none came.

Wait. The stranger wasn’t watching her at all.

His gaze travelled further, coming to rest beyond Olivia. He stared, the knowing smile fading, and Olivia’s insides turned to horrified pulp. What could he see? Something terrible? Slowly, heart hammering inside a tight chest, she twisted, awkward in the flow of water, to peer over one shoulder.

A brown boot, heavy and cracked with wear, wavered in the stream, barely an inch from Olivia’s fingers. She gasped. A swollen leg bulged from the battered leather, the pale stretch of waxen flesh exposed through torn brown trousers. Olivia snatched back her hand, biting the knuckles to stifle a scream.

The man’s body lay on its back, head half-submerged, as the current stroked wisps of black hair across a pale cheek."

In my opinion, the discovery of this body sets the scene for the investigation that brings both Nelson and Olivia together to solve mysterious crimes that have been happening in the village. 

=> BUY ON AMAZON NOW

Frances Evesham can’t believe her luck, spending her days writing and collecting grandsons, Victorian trivia and stories of ancestors.

She’s fascinated by the Victorians, especially the women in England, so complex and human, hiding longings, ambitions and repressed passions under society’s stifling conventions. 

Cooking with a glass of wine in one hand and a bunch of chillies in the other, Frances devours books full of mystery, murder and adventure, their pages spattered with olive oil and scented with rosemary and garlic, their spines propped up on piles of lemons and oranges in the kitchen. Writing the Thatcham Hall Mysteries leaves just enough time to enjoy bad jokes and puns, and wish she’d kept on with those piano lessons.

Find out more about Frances via... Her WEBSITE, TWITTER, FACEBOOK

Cover Reveal: HOME by Melissa Pearl

 

Home by Melissa Pearl

COVER REVEAL

July 1, 2015

Rachel Myers never meant to stay in Payton. Her eyes were set on bigger things than waitressing at Clark’s Bar. She wants to perform on a stage of her own with bright lights, fame, and fortune. But something got in the way—Joshua Clark. He’s a good man who loves her, a solid rock she can depend on. She wants that to be enough, but it hasn’t quelled her yearning for the big city.

Josh knows Rachel wants more out of life and might leave one day. Yet so far, she hasn’t gone anywhere. Deep down, he believes his love is enough to keep her...or at least he hopes so. Until one night, a city boy from Hollywood promises Rachel a record deal and destroys everything.

Jumping at a chance she never thought she’d have, Rachel leaves Payton. And Josh. But the sparkle of Los Angeles is not all it’s cracked up to be, and Rachel quickly figures out that some sacrifices are not worth the risk. Is she too late? Will Josh forgive her, or has her desire for fame ruined the best thing she’s ever had?

Sometimes you have to say goodbye before you can say forever.

ADD IT TO YOUR GOODREADS TBR: http://bit.ly/1GNVp9j

~*~ABOUT MELISSA~*~

Melissa Pearl was born in Auckland, New Zealand, but has spent much of her life abroad, living in countries such as Jordan, Cyprus and Pakistan... not to mention a nine month road trip around North America with her husband. "Best. Year. Ever!!" She now lives in China with her husband and two sons. She is a trained elementary teacher, but writing is her passion. Since becoming a full time mother she has had the opportunity to pursue this dream and her debut novel hit the internet in November 2011. Since then she has continued to produce a steady stream of books, ranging in genres from Fantasy to Contemporary Romance. She loves the variety and is excited about the books she has coming up in 2015.

"I am passionate about writing. It stirs a fire in my soul that I never knew I had. I want to be the best writer I can possibly be and transport my readers into another world where they can laugh, cry and fall in love."

WHIRLWIND LOVE by Didi Henley

I met the author of this book via Goodreads and agreed to read their book for an honest review. I loved this story, as you find out in my review below.

I truly hope the author succeeds in promoting this story. It's such an easy read, with some frustrating elements - what if? What if? Life is never as straightforward as we hope, and in Libby's case it came with a double-edged sword.

Find out more via Amazon or connect with the author via Twitter.

After 29-year-old Libby Morgan settled her niece, Megan, into college, she’s heading west to fulfill her ten-year-long dream of photographing a hot-air balloon “Freedom Festival” at the Grand Canyon in her parents’ refurbished RV.

No one could have predicted where her road would actually take her.

Disillusioned, 35-year-old Joe King is fed-up with the music business and is looking forward to the end of their two-week state fair tour forced onto him by his ruthless manager. His band, The Brothers King, should be headlining instead of opening. He’s weary of carrying his 31-year-old, irresponsible brother Chuck, who refuses to grow up past a teenage-mentality. The guitar-god's groupies are only too willing to participate in his exploits, so why should he grow up? New management has driven Joe and TBK down, but his need for control might be consumed by his darkness.

Take the journey with Libby across the United States, as she crosses into Joe’s crazy world of music and madness, and see who comes out the other side.

MY REVIEW: 4 Stars

"This was an enjoyable story about a woman, Libby, who has lost a lot in her life and yet is blessed by good fortune. Her acts of kindness and generousity make you instantly like her a lot, and her attraction to musician, Joe, makes for an interesting romance. She is also a redhead so of course I instantly related to her - being one myself!

Their love story is so natural and sweet that I loved the way it progressed. The line between attraction and friendship is beautifully done, and so discrete - refreshing in the currant climate where erotica seems to seep into so many stories that do not warrant it. In this case, the way their relationship evolved worked wonderfully and I have to admit that I cried at the end.

I don't want to give a spoiler, but you should read this book if you enjoy books that tug on the heart-strings.

At times, I wanted a bit more description. This is the reason it did not score a five. Especially, when she sees the balloons. I thought it needed more. Minor thing though."

Awesome Children's Book

Even though I am British, I love to use this American phrase... OMG! I have been hooked by another book!

My daughter (aged 11) has had this book for a while and it was pretty tattered after her re-reads. But, since we are becoming more and more alike in our reading habits, she told me I should read this one and so I did. 

WOW!

Hooked from the first page, and swallowed up into the story of a "would be princess" and "would be witch" who end up in the wrong schools for good and evil after been kidnapped by the "school master." 

Everything you expect from a fairy tale but twisted into something SO much more. The fight between good and evil has never been more blurred.

After reading Harry Potter years ago, this is the first book that has hooked me in the same way. An incredible read suitable for children & adults alike.

I loved it and thought the characters were so clever and well-developed. 

I did not know who to cheer for along the way. The twists and plot lines are so tense. The rule book has been thrown out with this one.

A well-deserved FIVE stars from me!

Find out more about THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL by Soman Chainani via Goodreads. Also on Twitter.

The first kidnappings happened two hundred years before. Some years it was two boys taken, some years two girls, sometimes one of each. But if at first the choices seemed random, soon the pattern became clear. One was always beautiful and good, the child every parent wanted as their own. The other was homely and odd, an outcast from birth. An opposing pair, plucked from youth and spirited away.

This year, best friends Sophie and Agatha are about to discover where all the lost children go: the fabled School for Good & Evil, where ordinary boys and girls are trained to be fairy tale heroes and villains. As the most beautiful girl in Gavaldon, Sophie has dreamed of being kidnapped into an enchanted world her whole life. With her pink dresses, glass slippers, and devotion to good deeds, she knows she’ll earn top marks at the School for Good and graduate a storybook princess. Meanwhile Agatha, with her shapeless black frocks, wicked pet cat, and dislike of nearly everyone, seems a natural fit for the School for Evil.

But when the two girls are swept into the Endless Woods, they find their fortunes reversed—Sophie’s dumped in the School for Evil to take Uglification, Death Curses, and Henchmen Training, while Agatha finds herself in the School For Good, thrust amongst handsome princes and fair maidens for classes in Princess Etiquette and Animal Communication.. But what if the mistake is actually the first clue to discovering who Sophie and Agatha really are…?


The School for Good & Evil is an epic journey into a dazzling new world, where the only way out of a fairy tale is to live through one.

Let's Rock & Roll

I have read two books recently that involved Rock Stars! Both very different but worth a read. This is a world I knew nothing about, and I love the fact that books open doors to places I never imagined existed.

My favourite was STORM. Here's why...

"I got this book last night after meeting the author on a Facebook site and started the book straight away! I could not put it down and read  to 62%... 

The main character, Evelyn, is SO funny and the response she gets from Storm is classic! I love her innocence and the fact he brings out the best in her. 

This morning, I finished it immediately and was left satisfied... It all happens too fast in the end, but it works. A sweet love story. The erotica moments in it will keep those looking for a 18+ read happy, but essentially they are discovering each other. I loved the build up and once the relationship intensified a part of me was disappointed! I liked their foreplay!

Overall, a cracking read by a new author. I look forward to reading more of her books. I loved the humour ... Made it less serious than other books in this genre. So glad I found this via Facebook :)"

For a more deep and intense read, I can recommend THE GIRL ON THE HALF SHELL. Read the Author Interview to find out more.

WOW... I am emotionally drained. This book has it all. What an incredible story. 

Chrissie Parker is the daughter of famous rock star, Jack Parker. She is a very confused and traumatised 18-year-old girl, who carries a burden from years earlier. She believes that she had something to do with the death of her brother, Sam, and has self-harmed numerous times to help deal with the guilt that she feels. This is so sad and is portrayed brilliantly in the writing.

She is about to audition at Julliard to become a cellist, like her mother, and heads to New York with her crazy best friend. However, before she does she meets Alan Manzone, a rock star on the brink of disaster, who has been helped back to the road of recovery by Jack for the last few months. The attraction is instant and fate decides to give them a helping hand by cancelling her flight the next day. Alan comes to her rescue and gives her a lift on her private jet to NYC.

Chrissie is out of control and Alan is frankly too old for her (10 years older) but the chemistry that develops between them is unstoppable. I was totally hooked and loved how their story develops. 

There are a few scenes that annoyed me a bit. She has a lot of baths, he washes her a lot, and the sex develops too fast and becomes too extreme considering her limited experience. I would have thought that if Alan truly loved her he would have realised she was really just out of being a school girl. These issues could have been avoided if she’d been in her early twenties, but I understand why it worked better to catch her when most vulnerable. Even so, at times I honestly thought he had pushed the boundaries in the relationship too far.

Saying this, Chrissie acts irrationally a lot. She is not a stereotypical girl. She does not do what you’d expect. I love this about her. We can all act a bit insane at times.

The ending is fantastic. I will not give a spoiler, but it is not what you would usually expect. Chrissie grows up and makes the right decision. Alan has helped her on many levels and it’s wonderful to see so many issues potentially resolved.

Overall, I found the author on Goodreads and asked to review her book! I am SO glad she let me do this and am so lucky to have come across this book. Definitely recommended, but not for those who can’t stand references to ‘Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll!’

*~New Release & Author Shout-out~*

I started a blog for my love of books and movies in 2012, and then deleted it after a year since I could not cope with so many blogs. Now, the time has come to bring it back. There are a lot of authors and books I want to promote and I think it's easier to give them their own space. We'll see how it all works out.

So, for my first blog post I'd like to give a shout-out to Gary Alan Henson, a US author who I have known for a few years, since he graciously let me use his short stories for Anthologies I published for Charity. In addition, I would also like to mention Kevin Marsh, a UK author I met online.

Thank you for reading. Remember to review the books you read if you enjoy.

All the best,

Vanessa

***~***~***

So, first for a NEW RELEASE by Gary.

Our brave compadres have embarked on another spine-tingling adventure that's fraught with danger in every corner of the Galaxy.

They battle new EUAPs (evil ugly alien predators). What has three legs, three arms, and a tri-faceted face only it's mother could love and we're not sure about her?

There are more dazzling space battles with lasers, particle beams and kitchen sinks being thrown at high speed against overwhelming odds. Has the FTG Triumph met it's match? Why is Jake spinning like a top OUTSIDE the battleship?

There are hopeless conundrums, brave acts of daring-do, strange worlds where small partners must survive and as always lots of just plain FUN!

Join my heroes and their shipmates on the space battleship FTG Triumph as we dive into another adventure with 'Arlo and Jake Lost Partner'.

BUY now via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, etc...


Software coder by day, story teller by night and as much weekend time as I can.

'Genome' is my first completed novel and I'm working on a humorous SciFi series called 'Arlo and Jake'.

I live in beautiful north central Texas with my lovely wife Debbie.


I raise a glass of Texas Red in your general direction!

***~***~***

Now, for some fiction by Kevin Marsh...

England 50 BC - A Celtic symbol of power and wealth, a Torc wrought from white gold, a trophy for a king. Luain Mac Lanis, warrior turned metal smith, is commissioned to make a magnificent Torc, but he knows nothing of the curse surrounding the strange metal. The only way to lift the curse is to offer the Torc to the Gods in a sacrificial ceremony. 

Two thousand years later the Torc is listed on the inventory of a sunken ship. Dr Orlagh Gairne, a leading archaeologist, is sent to work with Jack Harrington and his crew of salvage experts. It's Orlagh's job to identify the Torc and ensure its safe delivery to the National Museum, but the operation is not as straightforward as expected. Aided by his team of mercenaries and an historical expert, Jack unearths a wave of hatred spreading across Europe. 

With the past weaving tightly with the present, they must infiltrate the terrorists' lair in order to prevent a worldwide catastrophe.

BUY now via Amazon

Twelve months has passed since the traumatic events that almost claimed her life and Dr Orlagh Gairne is looking forward to a well-earned holiday. With her partner, Jerry, they jet off for the Aegean coast where they plan to make the most of the Mediterranean sun and visit the ancient sites of Anatolia.

The Phoenix Legion, still reeling from a humiliating defeat, have re-grouped and are now planning the next phase of their quest. They are in possession of the Belgae Torc, but this is not enough to ensure total power so they must rely on the druids and their connection with the spirit world.

Whilst searching for treasure in the Sea of Azov, Jack Harrington and his team make an unexpected discovery and with the past merging with the present are unable to avoid being drawn in to another deadly battle.

The Belgae Torc, Jack Harrington and The Phoenix Legion are far from her thoughts, but as Orlagh enjoys her holiday with the man she loves, these forces come together. Will she manage to avoid another conflict or will she become a victim of circumstances that are beyond her control?

BUY now via Amazon

Landscape artist Josie MacDonald is coming to the end of her stay in Scotland. Whilst out on a painting trip early one morning she witnesses a horrific murder. Mr Mac, the deranged killer, is aware that she has seen him at work and sets out to kill her but Josie manages to escape by plunging desperately into the North Sea. 

Mr Mac, convinced that she has perished, discovers a few days later that she has survived and sets out to track her down. He follows her to London where he subjects her to terrible psychological torment as one by one her friends are drawn into the nightmare. Josie returns to Scotland in order to discover the truth where her worst fears are realised. With time running out and a killer on the loose she must survive long enough to bring their horrifying ordeal to an end.

BUY now via Amazon

Kevin Marsh was born in Canterbury, Kent in 1961. He lived and went to school there before attending the Technical College, (now Canterbury College), as an apprentice sheet metal worker. During his five years of training he worked in a small local company with his father and brother. In 1981 he was married and moved to Whitstable, (his father's home town).

He currently works in further education teaching steel fabrication and welding whilst writing novels and painting in his spare time. His first published novel, The Belgae Torc, was launched on 30th June 2012 and his second book, The Witness, published in March 2013. The second novel in the Torc Trilogy, The Gordian Knot, was published in July 2014.

Web address:- www.kevinmarshnovels.co.uk