Tag: contemporary fiction

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: The House of Light and Shadows – Lauren Westwood

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An atmospheric and captivating old-house mystery, layered with romance and secrets.

Secrets lurk in the shadows at Rookswood House…

When Kate goes to look after her estranged sister’s children in their creepy old house, she takes a photo of what seems to be a ghost. Frightened yet intrigued, Kate undertakes to uncover the secrets
of the house and the two mysterious sisters who lived there over a hundred years before.

But like the illusions of light and shadow in the sisters’ strange and disturbing Victorian post-mortem photography, Kate discovers that all is not what it seems. Someone – or something – has their own
plans for Rookswood House – and for Kate.

With a potential developer circling around, her teenage niece in danger from an unseen force, and new love on the horizon, Kate must unravel the secrets and lies of her own and Rookswood’s past
before she loses everything she holds dear.

If you like historical mysteries by Eve Chase, Rachel Burton and Harriet Evans, you’ll love Lauren Westwood.

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Lauren Westwood is an author of emotional women’s fiction and intelligent romance novels.

Facebook: @Lwestwoodbooks
Twitter: @lwestwoodwriter
Instagram: @lwestwoodwriter
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My thoughts: I liked Kate, I felt awful bit sorry for her, estranged from her only family, but I know that sisters can be very hard work (personal experience has taught me that!) and that things are not always as they appear. When she steps in to take care of her niblings, while her sister gets better, she’s not entirely sure how to deal with teenagers.

Their dishy headteacher on the other hand, she’s intrigued by. And the crumbling old house her sister bought is also fascinating. Rookswood House was home to an earlier pair of sisters – one of whom was a photographer and worked with early special effects to create some unusual images. Victorians did some pretty weird things – like taking photos with their recently deceased loved ones as though they were still alive, but this early science and imagination also created some incredible things.

Ada might be dead, but part of her remains trapped in her home, unable to move on without her sister, lost to her years ago. Kate picks up on this energy and wants to help Ada move on, so Rookswood can too. Luckily headteacher, photographer and amateur historian Matthew does too. As the pair search for answers, they grow closer. Then Kate’s sister comes home and a few secrets and home truths need to be shared.

Pairing Kate’s story with Ada’s is interesting, the different relationships they have with their younger sisters, the struggles they both share as women who haven’t followed the expected paths in life (both unmarried, both working women) despite their different centuries. I really liked that aspect of the story – things don’t change as much as we sometimes would like.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour – Late Venetian – GN Lawson

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A disgraced former MP, Teddy Chesterton, is dying. He wants to put things right with
his ex-wife, Laura, the only woman he has ever loved, but who left him after
believing he deceived her. Teddy finds out that Laura has recently been widowed
and invites her to come with him to Venice. To his surprise, she accepts.

They first meet at a gallery where Teddy’s university friend, Paul Merrick works, and
Laura is offered the chance to work in London to help stage an exhibition of
paintings by Tiepolo. Paul asks Laura to do him a favour and authenticate a sketch
by the younger Tiepolo. She is told subsequently that what she believed to be a genuine Tiepolo was a fake, and her reputation in the art world is ruined.
She blames Teddy for his part in getting her involved with Paul. They divorce, and
Teddy goes to prison for money laundering.

Upon his release, he visits Paul, who explains that he had nothing to do with the sketch being a fake and that it was copied by a forger to whom he had unwittingly sold the original.

In Venice, Teddy gives Laura a pile of papers that prove Paul did not set out to
deceive her about the sketch he asked her to authenticate. Teddy knows that he
has done what he set out to do, even if everything is just too late.

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Apart from three years studying History of Art and Philosophy at University College
London, I have lived my entire life in the North West – born in Warrington, lived and worked in Manchester, and fourteen years ago moved to north Cumbria.

After several years of freelance arts journalism, I ran a NW-based public relations agency called Lawson Leah in the 1990s, then worked for various organisations in the construction industry, as CEO of Construction for Merseyside Ltd and then Director of the Civil Engineering Contractors’ Association. I have been a guest lecturer on urban regeneration and chaired a housing association for three years, and now work part-time as a consultant.

I have had articles on a range of topics, including the arts, construction,
engineering, housing and economic development published in numerous
magazines, as well as poetry and a guidebook to waterway walks in the NW.

My approach to writing tends to involve identifying a problematic situation and then finding a means of resolving it. I derive particular pleasure from finding the right words to achieve that. I was first inspired to write, as a teenager, after reading The Catcher in the Rye, and latterly find inspiration in the daunting novels of Bellow, Nabokov and Pynchon.

My thoughts: Teddy invites his ex-wife Laura to join him on a short trip to Venice, she is the only woman he’s ever loved and he doesn’t blame her for divorcing him when she did.

The story of their relationship is told in turns by them, the story of how a Jewish New Yorker art historian met a Home Counties Tory MP (as he became). It’s bittersweet as you know from the beginning that they aren’t together any more and that Laura moved on. It’s also the story of an art fraud that they were implicated in, one that could have ended very badly.

Teddy is dying, something he keeps from Laura even as they relive their previous trips to Venice and their life together. He leaves her with the proof that the art fraud that destroyed their marriage was not done with malice towards them, that it was in fact the buyer of the piece that perpetrated it and they were merely caught up in. While we’re not given Laura’s reaction, after everything else we as readers know, it would be a shock.

Once you get into the narrative flow, and the way it passes back and forth between Teddy and Laura, between the past and the present, it’s a well written and quite engaging story, Teddy is a bit of a rogue and Laura slightly naive and unworldly, but somehow it worked and they have two adult children together, keeping them always just in each other’s lives long after their marriage ended. A fascinating and thoughtful read. 

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: In Judgement of Others – Eleanor Anstruther

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The Midhurst Amateur Dramatic Society are putting on a production of Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit, and Tessa has agreed to play a part. But when she suffers a psychotic episode, Ros, a C-list celebrity and new to the community, takes her place.

In this darkly comic tale of psychosis in the Home Counties, the stage is set for a blistering examination of mental illness, how we treat it and why we don’t. While Tessa is sectioned in a secure psychiatric hospital, the relationships in the community unravel, and by the time she’s released, all that we thought we knew, and all of our judgements, are thrown into question.

Dim the lights, turn off your phones, settle in as the curtain rises…

My thoughts: This was really interesting, mental illness is still so misunderstood, and Ros failed to understand that you can love someone even though their illness makes it very hard to live with them at times, and get frustrated by this but not give up on them. Tessa is ill, she’s not doing this on purpose. Many mental health conditions cause people to stop taking their meds, because the illness lies to you. Tessa felt better, so she stopped taking her pills, then she got worse. So she needs the time as an inpatient to get back to herself.

Ros seemed to think that Tessa was gone for good, stepping into her role in Blithe Spirit, and attempting to step into Tessa’s life too. But as Tessa recovered, and even in her worries, her family and community were still with her.

An interesting study of how mental illness can affect people and how a little knowledge might be useful. Sometimes you hear the phrase “everyone has mental health” which is true but not everyone is genuinely mentally ill, although sometimes it feels as if you’re the only sane one, and everyone else could do with a stay in the psych ward. 

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.

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Cover Reveal: Greek Retreat Trilogy – Stephanie Wood

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Jessica is escaping to the Greek Retreat to discover if running away from a broken engagement really can lead to a happy ever after. She doesn’t believe life works that way, but her future could depend on it.


The Greek island of Kynos is an idyllic hideaway, offering its visitors the space and time needed to truly appreciate the traditional hospitality. The locals are always friendly and ready to entertain their guests, while the daily activities offer many different ways to explore the island and its heritage.


Jessica is hoping The Retreat will provide everything she needs in order to plan for a successful future, but has she left it too late?

The Greek Retreat is a trilogy of standalone tales full of sunshine, surprises and love.

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https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DPL8X95M
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DPL8X95M

Publication Date: 20th March 2025

Chrissie is escaping to the Greek Retreat to avoid some of the issues her parents have left her to deal with at home. She hopes that visiting a new location will give her a different perspective and help her to find a way forward.

The Greek Retreat is a trilogy of standalone tales full of sunshine, surprises and love.

Pre-order Links

Publication Date: 22nd May 2025

Katie is escaping to the Greek Retreat to give herself some space to recover from an unexpected predicament. She blames herself for the situation she finds herself in and knows that something has to change, although she has no idea what she is looking for.

The Greek Retreat is a trilogy of standalone tales full of sunshine, surprises and love.

Pre-order Links

Publication Date: 21st August 2025

Stephanie writes contemporary fiction in the form of novels, novellas and short stories and her books explore a wide range of life’s challenges, dreams and responsibilities. The stories are all character based, so she has fun expressing each unique personality and the reasons behind their actions in a setting which always has a strong sense of community.

She published the AEGEAN SUN series of books as a fly-on-the-wall vision of life in a Greek resort during the summer season, the CHRISTMAS ON THE CLOSE series is set in a British suburban cul-de-sac over the festive period and the GREEK RETREAT trilogy is planned for publication in 2025.

Stephanie lives in Lancashire where, apart from reading and writing, she loves gardening and cycling and is a huge fan of the soaps Emmerdale and Neighbours.

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blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: One Day and Forever – Shari Low

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As dawn breaks, four people are planning journeys that could change their lives forever…

Kara McIntyre is supposed to be jetting off to her destination wedding in Hawaii. However, a last-minute hitch appears to have left her without a job, home and, more importantly, a fiancé.

TV sensation Ollie Chiles and Kara always have each other’s backs. But when his wife goes viral in a compromising clinch with another man, Ollie must choose between supporting his best friend in her hour of need or going home to save his marriage.

Alice Brookes is flying away to a new life after surviving a horrendous marriage and a very public scandal… until a stranger brings a letter from the past that could change everything.

After saying goodbye to someone he loves, Zac Conlan should be heading back to Dublin. Now a shocking discovery is threatening to change his plans and his future.

When weather delays their flights, Kara, Ollie, Alice and Zac discover that storms are brewing… and the turbulence is about to shake their worlds.

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Shari Low is the #1 bestselling author of over 30 novels, including My One Month Marriage and One Summer Sunrise and a collection of parenthood memories called Because Mummy Said So. She lives near Glasgow.

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My thoughts: I love these interconnected stories of Shari’, set in Glasgow, with a cast of delightful characters, Val (who I adore) and Alice (from One Long Weekend) are back, it’s been a year since those events.

Alice is planning to move to Reading to be near her son Rory and his girlfriend Sophie, Val’s planning to drop her at the airport. But then Alice learns that an old friend has died, she has just enough time to attend the funeral before she needs to leave. There she meets Zac, her childhood friend Morag’s son, and he has some questions.

Meanwhile Kara has just quit her job and ditched her unsupportive fiancé, and still has to get to the airport to fly to Hawaii and see her sister Drea down the aisle, even while wallowing in her self-pity. Her best friend, Ollie, is also heading there, while his spoilt wife becomes an online sensation and he has to make some big decisions. 

As all these different people hope the heavy January weather doesn’t delay their flights, stories collide and the past, present and future hang in the balance. 

I enjoyed this so much, I loved seeing Alice’s story finally get its happy ending, and Val still roaring around in her yellow jeep. Kara, Ollie and Zac also get to make some huge decisions and change their lives, hopefully for the best. 

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.

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Blog Tour: People Collide – Isle McElroy

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From the acclaimed author of The Atmospherians, a gender-bending, body-switching novel that explores marriage, identity, and sex, and raises profound questions about the nature of true partnership.

“A big project knocking around in a small package, portending even bigger projects ahead.”—New York Times

“A little Kafkaesque, a little Hitchcockian, a little Freaky Friday, but McElroy makes this dizzying story their own.”—Electric Literature

When Eli leaves the cramped Bulgarian apartment he shares with Elizabeth, his more organized and successful wife, he discovers that he now inhabits her body. Not only have he and his wife traded bodies, but Elizabeth, living as Eli, has disappeared without a trace. What follows is Eli’s search across Europe and to America for his missing wife—and a roving, no-holds-barred exploration of gender and embodied experience.

As Eli comes closer to finding Elizabeth—while learning to exist in her body—he begins to wonder what effect this metamorphosis will have on their relationship and how long he can maintain the illusion of living as someone he isn’t. Will their new marriage wither completely? Or is this transformation the very thing Eli and Elizabeth need for their marriage to thrive?

A rich, rewarding exploration of ambition and sacrifice, desire and loss, People Collide is a portrait of shared lives that shines a refreshing light on everything we thought we knew about love, sexuality, and the truth of who we are.

Isle McElroy (they/them) is a non-binary author based in New York. Their writing has appeared in the New York Times, The Atlantic, New York Times Magazine, The Cut, GQ, The Guardian, Vogue, Bon Appétit, and other publications. They have received fellowships from the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, the Tin House Summer Workshop, the Sewanee Writers Conference, and they were named one of The Strand’s 30 Writers to Watch.

In May 2021, Isle founded Debuts & Redos, a reading series for authors who published books during the pandemic. Their first novel, The Atmospherians, was named an Editor’s Choice by the New York Times and a book of the year by Esquire, Electric Literature, Debutiful, and many other outlets.

My thoughts: Eli wakes up one morning in the apartment he shares in Bulgaria with his wife, Elizabeth. Only she’s not there. He discovers that he is now in Elizabeth’s body, and she has his. In Paris.

An exploration of how we see ourselves and others, how our bodies are part of our identities, or not. Elizabeth revels in her new masculine form, I did wish there was a little more exploration of the way society treats gender, as Eli has a pretty easy time in his wife’s skin, the story is quite gentle in that regard.

He goes to Paris to find Elizabeth at the behest of his mother, who thinks she’s talking to her daughter-in-law. He has to also present himself as Elizabeth to her parents. They may be in each other’s physical selves but with their own thoughts, experiences and knowledge, so he worries there’s things her parents might say that he can’t answer, because he hasn’t been Elizabeth for long.

The book explores their relationship, when they connect at last in Paris. Elizabeth (as Eli) doesn’t want to return to Bulgaria, or America, she wants to remain in Paris, living a different life in Eli’s body.

But their parents, very different people, pursue them, determined to help “Eli” recover from his apparent wobble, and reunite the couple. This causes its own issues, they married in haste and Eli comes to realise he doesn’t really know his wife at all on a profound level.

A fascinating, thought provoking read, I liked Eli, he’s sensitive and gentle, and in Elizabeth’s body, respectful and kind. She’s a lot brasher and more confident, which is interesting as in a man’s body, that slight arrogance reads differently. Very interesting book.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.

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Blog Tour: Fruit Woman – Kate Rigby

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Fruit Woman is narrated by Helen Scutt, a quirky and naïve twenty-seven-year-old.

The image of the Fruit Woman has appeared to Helen at important times in her life, particularly in relation to her own sexual and spiritual awakening. But only now, while on holiday with her extended family, does she get her first warning message from the Fruit Woman.

Set in the l980s, Helen returns with her extended family, after a twelve year break, to spend a fortnight at their favourite holiday destination in Devon: Myrtle Cottages. Due to join them for the second week of the holiday are: Helen’s old friend, Bella, Bella’s brother, Dominic, and Helen’s cousin, Les. But shortly after the family have arrived on holiday, Helen’s mother
announces that she has also invited along someone from church for the second week of their holiday: Christine Wigg, a friend of the family, and victim of a rape several years before.

In the context of the family holiday, where games of cards, scatological worries, and deep discussions abound, the story centres on Helen’s anxieties over the second week’s ‘guestlist’. She’s not seen Bella for years, she’s attracted to Dominic in spite of his religious beliefs, and she thinks it a bad idea for her mother to have invited Les, who was originally accused of Christine’s rape by her in-laws.

Helen’s concerns trigger off all sorts of childhood and adolescent memories, but as her anxieties mount, can she make sense at last of what
happened years before?

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Kate Rigby has been writing for many decades and is widely published. She’s mainly written novels, many of them hard-hitting and/or edgy. She’s been published by traditional and small presses before going independent and embracing the digital technology. She’s also written & published short stories, flash fiction and poems and is currently writing memoirs.
She was diagnosed with autism and ADHD late in life which has been life-changing. She has started a Facebook group for autistic book lovers as well as a second blog called Authistic Words. She is also an M.E. and Fibromyalgia warrior, a hyperhidrosis and migraine sufferer
and has suffered lifelong anxiety. Her other interests are reading, music, photography, cats & LFC.

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Cover Reveal: Candlelight Dreams in Cosy Cove – Abbey Hicks

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Welcome to Cosy Cove, where love burns brighter than any candle!

Beth Williams thought her dreams had melted away after a devastating breakup, but she finds a flicker of hope at Harbour Lights, her artisan candle shop nestled in the heart of Cosy Cove. But just when Beth thinks she’s content with her quiet life, a ruggedly handsome stranger threatens to reignite her carefully guarded heart.

Enter Jacob Lawson, a charming journalist whose assignment in the quaint seaside town quickly becomes more than just another story. As Beth introduces him to the town’s hidden gems—from the bustling summer fair to sunset walks on the beach—Jacob finds himself captivated by more than the scenery.

But as their attraction simmers, both Beth and Jacob must confront their deepest fears. Can Beth trust her heart to love again? And will Jacob choose the comfort of Cosy Cove over the call of his career?

Join Beth and Jacob on a journey of second chances, sweet moments, and the kind of love that makes every day feel like a summer holiday. Will they find the courage to embrace a future together, or will their fears extinguish the flame before it truly ignites?

Get ready to fall head over heels for Cosy Cove, where every page promises a warm hug for your heart. Perfect for fans of seaside romances, charming small towns, and love stories that sparkle brighter than the sea at sunset!

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 Candlelight Dreams in Cosy Cove ebook pre-order: Cosy Cove Series, book 1 – Payhip

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Publication Date – 28th February 2025

Abbey Hicks writes sweet, feel-good romance filled with dashing heroes, quirky heroines, and those heart-melting happily ever afters. Whether it’s contemporary romance or paranormal love stories, she brings her signature charm and a sprinkle of magic to every page. 

Writing as Abbey MacMunn, her debut paranormal romance was shortlisted for the prestigious Joan Hessayon Award for new writers. Since then, Abbey has written eleven more books, including the bestselling steamy paranormal romcom series, Love Bites: A Dating Agency for Paranormals.

When she’s not dreaming up her next romantic hero, you’ll find her on walks with her mischievous but lovable labradoodle, Brody, or binge-watching anything from romcoms to fantasy/sci-fi. If it has romance, adventure, and a dash of humour, she’s there!

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Book Blitz: A Modern Midlife Christmas Carol – Alana Oxford

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Christmas cheer was dead, to begin with.

The world rests on Eliza’s shoulders. The kids, her husband, work, her elderly mother and don’t forget her newest friend, perimenopause. It’s too much to carry, but she’s been doing it for years. It’s just what a good wife and mother does, isn’t it?

When another Christmas rolls around, Eliza is drained by all the expectations and logistics of the holiday season. She’s fast approaching her breaking point, only no one around her notices she’s on the edge.
After an incident at her in-law’s on Christmas Eve brings things to a boiling point, she finds herself with three unexpected visitors. The spirits of the past, present, and future take her on a journey
through her life to shake her out of the rut she’s gotten into. Their messages leave her with new possibilities: reconnect with her past, reclaim her present, or forge a new future, and you, the reader, decide which option is best!

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Alana Oxford is a Michigan author of romcoms, sweet romance, and humorous women’s fiction. She wants her stories to bring sunshine and smiles to her readers. She enjoys improv comedy, moody music, everything book related, and has an ongoing love affair with the United Kingdom.

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Giveaway to Win an ebook of The Gingerbread Christmas Village by Kiley Dunbar (Open to UK & US Only).

Alana Oxford has kindly said that she would like to do an ebook giveaway for another author who writes charming and cozy Christmas books. A Kindle copy of The Gingerbread Christmas Village by
Kiley Dunbar, which is a lovely holiday romance featuring a protagonist in her early 60s.

Click the link above to enter.**

My thoughts: This was a fun addition to the adaptations of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Transported to modern America, where an exhausted and perimenopausal Eliza has just about had enough. Her husband announces that they’ve been invited to his brother’s for Christmas, throwing the plans Eliza’s made up in the air and pushing her to breaking point. Her mother expects them for the day and is upset that plans have changed, her teenage children barely look up from their phones and she’s had enough.

Staying in her in-laws’ fancy guest room on Christmas Eve, wishing she was anywhere else, she’s visited by strange apparitions who offer her visions a bit like those Ebenezer Scrooge had. Except she’s not a grumpy old miser, just a woman in need of a break.

The twist is that there’s three different endings to the story – three lives Eliza can choose, and the reader gets to decide which ending they like the most – does Eliza choose her family or go a different way? Up to you. Like a Choose Your Own Adventure. Fun!

*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 & US entries welcome. 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 RandomResources 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 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. 

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Blog Tour: The Portrait Girl – Nicole Swengley

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The Portrait Girl thrusts its bereaved and beleaguered heroine, jewellery designer Freya Wetherby, into an astonishing world of re-enacted Victorian art salons and the devious machinations of modern art theft. 

Seeking the identity of a miniature portrait found in her late mother’s belongings, Freya becomes enraptured not only by this mysterious young woman but also by the hypnotic personality of art collector Ralph Merrick and his colourful entourage, including the dangerously attractive ‘Jack.’ 

Thoroughly researched, the milieu in which The Portrait Girl would have moved is beautifully rendered by Swengley, as are the artworks and jewellery designs imagined in the novel. Freya’s own contemporary world and circumstances form a dramatic backdrop to the seductive ‘time slip’ episodes, a mirage created by Merrick that draws her into his web. 

Nicole Swengley is a highly regarded and experienced journalist who has written about art and design for titles such as The Times, Financial Times, the Telegraph, London Evening Standard and many others. A past student of the Faber Academy, Nicole has written non-fiction books for Collins and Adlard Coles, and has had several short stories published in magazines and anthologies. The Portrait Girl is her first full length work of fiction.

My thoughts: This was really fascinating and full of intrigue and secrets. Jewellery designer Freya finds an unusual piece of Victorian jewellery, a necklace hung with a miniature portrait of a young woman among her late mother’s things.

Is the woman in the painting a relative? And why is the art collector Ralph Merrick so very keen to acquire it for his collection?

Freya delves into the complicated relationships and lives of a group of Victorian artists, discovering the sad story behind the precious painting. It puts her in danger, as Merrick recreates the drawing room salons of the past, peopled with actors and other collectors, blurring the lines between reality and his version of the past.

I was absolutely hooked, the story weaves such an unusual and interesting narrative – women artists (and writers) so often lost their work and became lost themselves in the lives and work of the men around them – fathers, brothers, husbands. Emily is one of these lost women, her life a footnote in the Arts & Crafts movement she was part of.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.