Joy Blackwood has no idea why her French art dealer husband has left a valuable painting to a woman called Robyn Tessier in Ballycove, a small town on the west coast of Ireland, but she is determined to find out. She arrives in Ballycove to find that Robyn runs a rather chaotic and unprofitable bookshop. She is shy, suffering from unrequited love for dashing Kian, and badly in need of advice on how to make the bookshop successful.
As Joy gets drawn into the dramas of everyday life in the town, she finds it more and more difficult to confess why she really came, let alone find the truth about the painting she brought with her. When she does finally summon up the courage, it sets the cat amongst the pigeons in the close-knit, friendly community she has come to love.
My thoughts: Faith Hogan’s books are always little delights and this one, set as it is in a bookshop, is exactly that. I love books about bookshops and bookshop people, and the people of the Ballycove bookshop are a family of treasures.
I would quite like an Uncle Albie of my own, complete with pet giant tortoise called Dolly Parton. I have always wanted a tortoise and a kindly great-uncle who listens and offers good advice would be lovely (sadly I’ve run out of those).
Robyn is luckier than she realises when she accidentally railroads a visiting American called Joy into helping out in her newly acquired bookshop. Joy is actually there to find Robyn, though it takes her quite a while, and a lot of tears, to get around to telling her why.
Joy’s late husband’s last words and a bequest in his will are all she has to go on as she travels from their home in Paris to Ballycove, and the bookshop, with a painting under her arm. Once there she meets the delightful Albie, charming coffee shop owner Shane and grumpy baker Leo (Albie’s son), as well as Robyn and her mother Fern, an artist.
As the women work together to get the bookshop ready for it’s relaunch (and Dolly snoozes under the stairs), they bond, but the revelation about who Joy really is will smash their new relationship apart.
A joyful celebration of books, bookshops, family, and finding your place in the world at any age. Just lovely.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
Hera, immortal goddess and daughter of the ancient Titan Cronos, helped her brother Zeus to overthrow their tyrannical father so that they could rule the world. But, as they establish their reign on Mount Olympus, Hera suspects that Zeus might be just as ruthless and cruel as their father was, and she begins to question her role at his side. She was born to rule, but does that mean perpetuating a cycle of violence and cruelty that has existed since the dawn of time? Will assuming her power mean that Hera loses herself, or can she find a way to forge a better world?
Traditionally portrayed as a jealous wife, a wicked stepmother, and a victim-blaming instrument of the patriarchy, Hera is ripe for a retelling that shows her as a powerful queen–ruthless when she needs to be, but also compassionate, strategic, and ambitious. With Hera, beloved and bestselling author Jennifer Saint delivers another epic and enthralling reimagining of a Greek heroine we only thought we knew.
Due to a lifelong fascination with Ancient Greek mythology, Jennifer Saint read Classical Studies at King’s College, London. She spent the next thirteen years as an English teacher, sharing a love of literature and creative writing with her students. She is the #1 internationally bestselling author of Hera, Atalanta, Elektra, and Ariadne.
My thoughts: Hera is an interesting choice after Ariadne, Elektra and Atalanta. Zeus’ sister/wife, not often seen very positively, driven to wreck terrible revenge on the women Zeus rapes (let’s face it, that’s what he does, it isn’t consensual 99% of the time) and the children he abandons.
I can’t think of a positive myth of Hera, she isn’t in many of the best known stories, and ones like that of Herakles (named after her in an attempt to please her) she’s all Vengeance and Wrath.
Goddess of women, marriage and sometimes childbirth (although her daughter Eileithyia actually is), represented by peacocks – which always seem more Zeus like in their look at me fanciness, especially as peahens are very plain.
I did find her a bit more sympathetic here, sometimes. Because she is vengeful and full of rage, bitter and constantly trying to bring Zeus down. But she is also a victim of his cruelty, her children never really seem to love her, the monsters she favours go off to serve or hide elsewhere, even her sisters don’t really bother with her. She seems very alone on Olympus.
Despite being Zeus’ partner in bringing down the Titans, seated at his right in the hall of Olympus, he doesn’t give her a domain of her own or a particular place to belong. She becomes the reluctant goddess of wives and marriage – and reluctantly a wife. Her anger and spite is born of resentment and perhaps if she’d been given more to do she wouldn’t have so much time on her hands.
I couldn’t decide whether I liked her or not – she wasn’t very likeable, spiky and disdainful, but I didn’t dislike her. This version of Hera seemed less black and white than the more commonly portrayed version I know from mythology. Jennifer Saint does this very well, her books are always very enjoyable, even when the protagonists do questionable things. Her Ariadne and Elektra – neither all good or all bad are certainly like this (Atalanta is more a straightforward hero).
I am really into these modern day re-evaluations of mythic figures – and Jennifer is one of the best at this, they feel like real women, even if they live in worlds peopled with gods and monsters.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
When artist and writer Noah Angell first heard murmurs of ghostly sightings at the British Museum he had to find out more. What started as a trickle soon became a deluge as staff old and new – from overnight security to respected curators – brought him testimonies of their supernatural encounters.
It became clear that the source of the disturbances was related to the Museum’s contents – unquiet objects, holy plunder, and restless human remains protesting their enforced stay within the colonial collection’s cabinets and deep underground vaults. According to those who have worked there, the institution is heaving with profound spectral disorder.
Ghosts of the British Museum fuses storytelling, folklore and history, digs deep into our imperial past and unmasks the world’s oldest national museum as a site of ongoing conflict, where restless objects are held against their will.
It now appears that the objects are fighting back.
My thoughts: this was a really interesting, thought provoking read. I have been many times to the British Museum, it’s collections often coinciding with something I was studying at school – Egyptians, Romans, Greeks. I can remember my sister, aged 5, being absolutely captivated by a pair of huge vases on the stairs, she could probably have fitted in one, and being deeply unnerved by the Egyptian mummies on display.
The main thing haunting the museum it seems are not just those who died in its buildings (there seem to be a very large number of suicides by staff over the years – someone should probably look into that) or the ones attached to the various artifacts, but colonialism.
I was genuinely horrified by some of the things Noah learnt in his meetings with museum employees past and present. The most infamous stories I knew – the theft of the Parthenon marbles by Lord Elgin, the Benin Bronzes the museum just won’t return (give them back already!) But there were so many truly awful stories, of theft, murder and outrageous behaviour. Some of the items are never intended to be displayed – so why does the museum have them?
The number of people who told Noah they’d had creepy experiences around specific items had Mike Wachowski from Monsters Inc singing “put that thing back where it came from…” in my head while I was reading. Cursed objects are cursed for a reason, do not mess with them.
I don’t really believe in ghosts, but I do agree that things can hold onto strange energies. The house I grew up in apparently came with a presence – according to my mum – it’s an old building and she felt the previous owner was a bit worried about how we would treat her home. It sounds a bit woo woo, but the otherwise fairly sensible people who had these interactions in the museum (and my mum, a nurse with a scientific brain) suggest there might be something to it. I was much more sceptical of the psychics and mediums Noah took into the museum – if you’re predisposed to “see” things, funny enough you often do.
I am very much of the return things to their homeland, put the thousands of human remains back where they came from school. We can use replicas, photos, video links to the museums in the items homelands (how much more stunning would the Parthenon look in the Athenian sunlight, finally reunited?) and the internet to study these incredible items, in context, surrounded by their home, instead of in cold and sterile rooms in Bloomsbury. And the British Museum could have a go at being an actual museum of Britain – I really enjoyed the exhibition they did a few years ago on my ancestors, the Celts. It might be nice to have a museum of Britain, though no human remains please, leave the dead to their rest.
Noah’s book is very timely, and made me quite sad to think of so many precious and important things being left to time in Storage, never displayed,yet not returned home to their people and their place, forgotten and neglected. It’s an important and powerful read and I hope more people pick it up and realise that perhaps these artifacts don’t belong there, but to the descendants of the people who created them.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
Set against the majestic backdrop of Imperial Istanbul in the aftermath of the First World War, A Farewell To Imperial Istanbul is a captivating tale of family, duty and the resilience of the human spirit.
İstanbul, 1922: As the Ottoman Empire crumbles in the wake of the Great War, the fate of the Imperial capital and the House of Osman come under threat. Emboldened following their victory in the Turkish War of Independence, the Turkish Nationalist Government in Ankara abolishes the Ottoman Sultanate, marking the end of over six centuries of Ottoman rule. The Ottoman Caliphate endures for now, but Istanbul, stripped of its Imperial mantle, mourns its lost glory. Prince Nihad fears for the nation and the fate of the Imperial family, while his son, Prince Vâsıb, envisions a hopeful future defined by peace following the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne.
As the new Republic of Türkiye emerges from the ashes of the once-mighty Ottoman Empire, Istanbul and the Ottoman Dynasty confront the crossroads of history, their destinies entwined with the shifting tides of the Bosphorus. Yet, amidst these perilous currents that separate East and West, where the deep waters threaten to engulf the city’s Imperial past and sweep away its soul embodied by the Imperial family, the Ottoman Dynasty must navigate a new and uncertain course.
The history of the Turks and their vast and powerful Empire has been intertwined with the Ottoman Dynasty for over six hundred years. But can the Imperial family survive the tempest of change as the world enters a new era?
Ayşe Gülnev Osmanoğlu is a member of the Ottoman Imperial family, being descended from Sultan Murad V through her grandfather, and from Sultan Mehmed V (Mehmed Reşad) through her grandmother. After reading History and Politics at the University of Exeter, she obtained an M.A. in Turkish Studies from SOAS, University of London, where she specialised in Ottoman History. Her debut novel, The Gilded Cage on the Bosphorus was published in 2020. Ayşe Osmanoğlu lives between Türkiye, France and the United Kingdom with her husband, five children and two cats. Her research and literary works concentrate on the late Ottoman period, exploring narratives embedded in her imperial heritage.
My thoughts: I enjoyed the author’s previous book, The Gilded Cage on the Bosphorus, and was looking forward to reading this book. I wasn’t disappointed.
It conjures up a vanished world of Imperial splendour, with the Princes and Princesses of the Ottoman Empire in their finery, riding to parties in fine carriages and early motor cars. Their lives in the 1920s might be very different from their ancestors – power having passed to the government as opposed to direct rule, but they still remain the upper echelon of society.
As the tides of change flow along the Bosphorus, they sweep all before them. Beginning with the last Sultan’s journey into exile with his young son, it ends with the train ride that takes dozens of the Imperial family away, many for the final time, from their beloved homeland.
While the story could have been just a list of dry facts leading to exile, the author, a descendant of the Imperial family, infuses the events with personal recollections from her grandparents and their family, bringing the events to life.
I’m not an ardent monarchist, but the way the Osman family were treated seemed particularly heavy handed, stripping them of their titles, houses, and even their citizenship – a very cruel and unnecessary extreme, many of the family were never able to return because of this and are buried far from their homeland.
Some were presumably left rather impoverished, as they didn’t have hidden wealth, relying on the State to provide a stipend. From grand palaces, they were sent across Europe and Asia, to lives of uncertainty and loneliness.
The book was moving and sensitively written, obviously as this is the writer’s family, there is some bias, but overall it felt quite balanced, there was a sense of the facts being delivered and no animosity towards the Turkish government.
I don’t know a huge amount of Turkish history, despite having friends and colleagues whose families come from the country, so this was fascinating and deeply interesting. The world of interwar Türkiye is so far removed from the modern country, and probably from many memories that this provides an incredible look into a time and place that has long since passed.
Giveaway To Win an A Farewell to Imperial İstanbul prize bundle… (Open to UK Only) a Rafflecopter giveaway
The list of prizes is below: Paperback signed copy of A Farewell to Imperial İstanbul Scented Candle from the Imperial İstanbul Collection – Scent: Harem Garden (Jasmine, Rose & Orange Blossom) Black matchsticks Traditional Rose Turkish Delight A Farewell to Imperial İstanbul postcard Set of four A Farewell to Imperial İstanbul bookmarks
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
**Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will be passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.**
Sometimes the greatest spectacle hides the darkest secrets . . .
In an alternate London, the city’s Theatre District is a walled area south of the river where an immersive production – the Show – has been running for centuries, growing ever bigger, more sprawling and lavish. The Show is open to anyone who can afford a ticket but the District itself is a closed world; even the police have no jurisdiction within its walls.
Juliet’s mother died when she was a baby. Brought up by her emotionally distant father and even more distant stepmother, she has never felt wanted. It’s only when her father passes away that Juliet – now nineteen – learns her birth was registered in the District. Desperate to belong somewhere at last, she travels to London where she hopes to unearth the truth about her identity, her mother’s death and her father’s years of silence – and claim her birthright.
But in the District, there is only one central truth: the Show must go on. And in a world where illusions abound, and powerful men control the narrative, Juliet has no idea of just how far some will go to ensure certain stories are never told . . .
Anne is originally from the north-east, but somehow slid down the map and finished up in a small village near Bath, where she lives with her partner and three sons. She has an MA in English Language and Linguistics from Edinburgh University, and an MSt in Linguistics from Oxford University. During her postgraduate studies, she worked as an etymologist and proofreader for a dictionary, carrying out research at the Bodleian Library.
Armed with her linguistics-related degrees and work experience, Anne took the somewhat illogical next step and became a criminal lawyer. In 2011, after several years spent working in the London courts and police stations, Anne remembered that she’d actually planned to be a writer, and commenced work on her first novel. This was slightly unfortunate timing, given that she was right in the middle of relocating to Somerset with her family, who seemed to feel that a little less novel-writing and a little more packing might be warranted. They probably had a point.
Over the next couple of years Anne fitted writing work around her day job as a solicitor. Her writing has appeared in various newspapers, magazines and anthologies, and has won various awards.
In 2016, The Space Between the Stars was published by Pan Macmillan in the UK and Random House in the US. She wrote most of this novel while studying for a Creative Writing MA at Bath Spa University. Her second novel, The Theatre of Glass and Shadows, will be published in May 2024 by Bonnier.
Anne enjoys working with other writers, through editing, mentoring and teaching.
My thoughts: this was a dark, clever fairy tale set in a version of our world where the Theatre District is still on the south bank of the Thames – roughly Southwark, where once theatres, bear pits and other such entertainment once plied its trade.
The theatre is all encompassing, Shakespeare died a penniless nobody, rather than the Bard of Avon, the show must always go on and since a king once gave the District his approval, the police have no jurisdiction (a bit like the City of London having its own force, and the Met not having power in the square mile).
Everyone who goes there wants to be in the show or learn its secrets, of which there are many. When Juliet’s father dies and she finds some things among his effects that suggest her past, and her mother’s identity, lie in this mysterious place, she heads there, determined to get answers.
What she finds there is a world of smoke and mirrors, illusion and misdirection. Just as she thinks she understands everything, it all tilts and turns on her and she learns the dark secrets at the heart of the show, and her life.
Clever,beguiling and beautifully brought to life, this dark fable lifts the curtain on a world of artifice hiding death and chaos, a Director clinging onto power by any means and players who will stop at nothing to gain it.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour,but all opinions remain my own.
Imogen Clark wakes up on her 16th birthday to find her parents dead at the breakfast table, along with a message from their killer.
A twist of fate
Detectives Jazzy Solanki and Annie McQueen join the investigation, but the more they discover, the more Jazzy suspects that the killing is a twisted message for her. Jazzy shares the same birthday as Imogen, and believes that this is more than a coincidence.
A race to catch a killer
When Jazzy discovers the connection between the killer and the stalker who has been following her for years, she is forced to confront the dark past she was desperate to keep hidden. She must stop at nothing to solve the case before she becomes the next victim…
Liz Mistry moved to West Yorkshire in the late 1980s. Her gritty crime fiction police procedural novels set in Bradford embrace the city she describes as ‘Warm, Rich and Fearless’ whilst exploring the darkness that lurks beneath. Yet, her heart remains in Scotland, where childhood tales of bogey men, Bible John and grey lady ghosts fed her imagination. Her latest work, The Solanki and McQueen crime series is set around West Lothian, where she uses the distinctive landscape, historic heritage and Scottish culture as a backdrop to her gritty yet often humorous stories. Struggling with clinical depression and anxiety for many years, Liz often includes mental health themes in her writing. She credits her MA in Creative Writing from Leeds Trinity University with helping her find a way of using her writing to navigate her ongoing mental health struggles. The synergy between creative and academic writing led Liz to complete a doctorate in creative writing researching the importance of representation of marginalised groups within the genre she loves. Her husband, three children and huge extended British Indian family are a constant support to her. In her spare time, Liz loves visiting the varied Scottish and Yorkshire landscape, travelling, listening to music, reading and blogging about all things crime fiction on her website blog, The Crime Warp.
My thoughts: Liz’s books are a must read for me, I really like how she writes and the characters and stories she creates. This newest book is no exception.
I love Jazzy and the hilarious Queenie aka the Jazz Queens (the name does need work!) as they and their colleagues attempt to solve this grisly case. Jazzy is pretty sure the killer is leaving messages just for her, and that her past is vital in solving the case and putting a killer behind bars. But facing up to her sad start in life is hard and admitting that she’d far rather pretend it didn’t happen is never easy. Thankfully she’s got support from those around her, who won’t let her get too bound up in it.
The twists are pretty shocking and I didn’t see them coming, it’s all revealed so carefully. Hopefully this is the start of another great series of stories from a writer I really enjoy reading.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own
In the quaint seaside town of Loch Lomond, an ominous fog descends, shrouding the landscape in mystery and fear. As the locals whisper of lurking terrors within its depths, the fog thickens, casting an eerie pall over the town.
When a girl goes missing, simple shepherd Ivas Sbarg has the only clue to what happened, and he ventures into the mist to find her. He stumbles upon a chilling revelation: something far more sinister than the monstrous fog is on the horizon, and it hungers for the souls of all who dwell in Loch Lomond.
In a desperate bid to unravel the mystery and save their town from impending doom, Ivas, a girl with horns, and an incredible cast of villagers, must navigate the treacherous fog and confront otherworldly forces. But as they delve deeper into the heart of darkness, they soon realize that the true enemy may lie closer than they ever imagined.
A gripping tale of unlikely alliances and unwavering courage, The Shepherd and the Horned Girl plunges readers into a world of ancient legends and supernatural horrors. With its richly developed characters and palpable sense of dread, this haunting narrative explores themes of grief, resilience, and the unbreakable bonds of friendship.
Prepare to be ensnared by the chilling atmosphere and heart-pounding suspense of The Shepherd and the Horned Girl—a mesmerizing journey that will leave you hooked until the very last page.
My thoughts: this is a dark fairy tale, about a Dead God who sends a terrible fog full of monsters ahead of him, a brave Shepherd, a girl with horns and the power of friendship.
Ivas tends his flock with his loyal dog Blanc, and braves the fog to rescue a lost lamb one night, a night that changes his life. There in the fog he sees a Messenger, and it delivers a scroll to a young woman in a neighbouring cottage. The next morning, that girl, Ruby, is missing. Ivas knows the fog took her, and that only he might be able to find her.
The fog is growing and cutting off the small town from the world – so Ivas, Ruby, his friend Tess and her aunt (who happens to be a witch) join forces to fight off the Dead God and repel the fog, before it can take their town.
This tale of resilience, bravery, friendship and determination is haunting and beautiful.
Also available now:
The highly anticipated second book in this dark and twisted fantasy horror series is finally here!
Don’t go in the woods…
Desperate for respite from the horrors of their past, Ivas and Ruby seek refuge in the serene mountains away from the seaside, hoping to leave their troubles behind. After narrowly escaping the clutches of supernatural scavengers from the sea, Ivas and Ruby find sanctuary on a secluded mountain farm. But tranquility proves elusive as they soon discover that the monsters they sought to escape are lurking in the shadows of this new wilderness.
As Ruby, finally free from her cursed horns, begins to embrace her newfound sense of safety, a sinister presence emerges from the depths of the forest. A legendary monster, responsible for the countless disappearances haunting the woods, sets its sights on the unsuspecting duo.
With danger closing in from all sides, Ivas and Ruby must summon all their courage and ingenuity to survive the relentless pursuit of this ancient terror. As they unravel the mysteries of the mountain and confront their darkest fears, they realize that the true battle for their lives has only just begun.
Join Ivas and Ruby on another heart-pounding adventure fraught with peril and suspense in The Shepherd and the Reaper, the thrilling next installment in this spellbinding series of fantasy horror.
About the Author
Breanna Bright is the author of ‘In The End’ and ‘The Shepherd and the Horned Girl’. She lives in the American Midwest but is always on the move with travels and adventures, searching for the next story.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for reviewing it, but all opinions remain my own.
Working in the fast-paced foreign exchange market in Canary Wharf, Amy never expected her job to drive her to collapse. With her doctor advising she take a month off work, when Amy receives a solicitor’s letter informing her of a surprise inheritance in Italy, the timing couldn’t be more perfect. But who on earth has left her a house in the sleepy Tuscan hills?
As she gets to know the town and its inhabitants, Amy discovers more about the mysterious man who named her in his will. Shocking family secrets come to light, leaving Amy questioning the life she knew.
The town of Sant’Antonio holds more than just secrets. Here, Amy meets Adam, a renowned TV journalist whose documentaries take him to dangerous places. But as their attraction grows, so do Amy’s worries. Her life is in England, while Adam’s is untethered and under constant threat…
An emotional, heartwarming love story full of family drama and quirky locals.
I’m a man. And a pretty old man as well. I did languages at university a long time ago and then lived and worked in France and Switzerland before going to Italy for seven years as a teacher of English. My Italian wife and I then came back to the UK with our little daughter (now long-since grown up) where I ran a big English language school for many years. We now live in a sleepy little village in Devonshire.
I’ve been writing almost all my life but it was only ten years ago that I finally managed to find a publisher who liked my work enough to offer me my first contract. The fact that I am now writing escapist romance is something I still find hard to explain. My early books were thrillers and historical novels and I now also write cozy crime, but my first love has always been romance. Maybe it’s because there are so many horrible things happening in the world today that I feel I need to do my best to provide something to cheer my readers up. My books provide escapism to some gorgeous locations and descriptions of food to make you drool.
My thoughts: I always enjoy this author’s books, and they always make me a) hungry and b) want a Labrador.
This book is no exception, there’s two delightful Labs in this book, Max and Coco, and lots of delicious Italian food. As Amy looks into who left her a beautiful, if somewhat dilapidated house in the Tuscan town of Sant’Antonio, near Pisa.
As she learns more about this mysterious legacy and gets the house remodelled, with a very useful plumber, builder and electrician. It helps she speaks fluent Italian as her mother and grandparents came from the country.
While there, she makes lots of friends, including the delightful Labrador, Max, and his sister Coco, and meets some ex pats, including handsome Canadian filmmaker Adam. Unfortunately just as things are beginning, he has to travel to Brazil to make a documentary. Then he goes missing.
Amy is torn between staying in Italy, in the house she’s had renovated, surrounded by her new friends, or returning to her life, and job, in London. Now I know what I would choose, if I was in Amy’s shoes.
This was a really enjoyable story and I loved how Amy found friendship, family and happiness in beautiful Italy, how all sorts of secrets came out and how sweet her relationship with Adam (and more importantly Max) developed. Truly delightful read, enjoy with your favourite tipple or a mug of tea! And snacks, you will need snacks.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
Revolutionary France is full of blood and bite . . .
1793. Eleanor, once a lowly English maid, is now a member of the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel: renowned for their daring deeds, and for rescuing aristocrats and vampires from the guillotine. When the notorious French diplomat Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand goes missing, Eleanor and the League leap into action. But they uncover two vampire factions feuding for control over humanity’s fate. Talleyrand’s disappearance is part of a larger, more dangerous scheme – one that threatens to throw France into bloody chaos . . .
As the mutiny continues, a once-dead queen stalks the streets of Paris and the Scarlet Pimpernel is nowhere to be found. Eleanor must take control of her own fate. If she doesn’t, she may find herself the victim of the very people she came to save.
The thrilling follow-up to Scarlet, Elusive by Genevieve Cogman is a witty, inventive retelling of the Scarlet Pimpernel, perfect for fans of The Invisible Library series, Kim Newman and Gail Carriger.
My thoughts: the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel are back, and planning on rescuing more French aristocrats from Madame Guillotine. This time it’s Marguerite’s brother that the team are heading to Paris to retrieve.
But first they need a distraction – freeing the prisoners, including friend Fleurette, from Mont Saint-Michel and stealing a hot air balloon should do the trick.
Eleanor is discovering that she and Anima can do even more with the unusual mage powers, even free people from the influence of vampires, which could come in very handy if they run into the mysterious Prince of Paris, or even the undead Marie Anoinette.
This is another fantastic, rip roaring adventure, the second in this trilogy and protagonist Eleanor has grown in so many ways, this story has her really coming into her own. Separated from the others, she has to take charge and make decisions herself, often asking “what would the Chief do?” and thinking like the Pimpernel. She’s really brave and uses the fact that people in power don’t pay attention to servants to access the inner sanctum of the Committee on Public Safety, coming face to face with Robespierre.
She might be the best asset the League has, and they don’t really seem to realise it yet. I really enjoyed this book, as I did Scarlet, but I think this is definitely the best one yet. Can’t wait for book three!
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
Fans of Kristy Cambron, Stephanie Dray, and Julia Quinn will adore this Victorian romance from historical fiction dynamo, Rachel Brimble.
Seamstress Rose Watson cannot believe her good fortune when she’s plucked from obscurity to work for Lady Christina, the Countess of Bath. Despite her parents’ distrust that the position will come with conditions, Rose accepts the unexpected offer. When she arrives at the royal residence of Henlow House, a strange sense of destiny whispers through her, and Rose cannot wait for this new adventure to begin. Although, she has Henry Ward to deal with, the handsome, risk-taking and—though she is loath to admit it—exciting royal saddler and horse trainer, who both fascinates and frustrates her in equal measure.
They could not be more different…with the exception of their hunger for more. But as they begin to trust one another, and their bond flourishes, Rose’s connection with Henry could cause her to lose her position at Henlow House, which would destroy her. Will she be forced to choose between love and ambition? Either choice will change her life irrevocably. A captivating escape that will touch your heart and keep you turning pages with impatient hope for Rose…
Rachel lives with her husband, two adult daughters and beloved Labrador in a small town near Bath, England. She is the author of 30 novels and has been published by Harlequin Mills & Boon, Kensington Books and others. Her latest series includes the Ladies of Carson Street trilogy and the Shop Girl series, both published with Aria Fiction. She also has several single titles with The Wild Rose Press. Her debut novel with Harpeth Road Press, Dressing The Countess, was released in May 2024. Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and the Female Entrepreneur Association and has thousands of social media followers all over the world. She is also studying for a history degree with the Open University in her spare time…
My thoughts: I really liked this Victorian set story about a young seamstress and her exciting new role as couturier for Lady Christina, Countess of Bath. Invited to design a dress for a mystery client at her parents’ dress shop, she later discovers that the client is the Countess, who hires Rose to design and create outfits just for her.
There she meets Henry who works with his uncle as the Earl’s saddler and assistant horse trainer. There’s an instant spark between the two, and while Henry frustrates Rose at first, with his gambling and restlessness, they soon become close.
As Rose’s career flourishes and the Countess trusts her more and more, not just with her clothes but also with her secrets, Henry risks it all to find the future he thinks he wants. But will love thrive below stairs and bring Rose and Henry back together?
Rose is a delightful protagonist, clever and talented, she shines when given the Countess as a muse for her designs and as she helps Henry rid himself of his vices and evaluate what he really wants from life. Henry too is charming, the opposite of their employer, the Earl.
This is a charming and enjoyable story of two young people making their way in the world, following their dreams and falling in love as they do.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
ramblingmads 