This year I’ll be taking part in this blog tour, with two historical novels. This is the calendar for the Blogival.
![Calendar[1635]](https://rosemariecawkwell.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/calendar1635.png?w=620)
My tour dates are the 14th and 16th August 2017.
Monthly Archives: July 2017
Review: ‘Childhood & Death in Victorian England’, by Sarah Seaton
Imprint: Pen & Sword History
ISBN: 9781473877023
Published: 19th June 2017 Price: £12.99
Blurb
In this fascinating book, the reader is taken on a journey of real life accounts of Victorian children, how they lived, worked, played and ultimately died. Many of these stories have remained hidden for over 100 years. They are now unearthed to reveal the hardship and cruel conditions experienced by many youngsters, such as a travelling fair child, an apprentice at sea and a trapper. The lives of the children of prostitutes, servant girls, debutantes and married women all intermingle, unified by one common factor – death. Drawing on actual instances of Infanticide and baby farming the reader is taken into a world of unmarried mothers, whose shame at being pregnant drove them to carry out horrendous crimes yet walk free from court, without consequence. For others, they were not so lucky. The Victorian children in this publication lived in the rapidly changing world of the Industrial Revolution. With the introduction of the New Poor Law in 1834 the future for some pauper children changed – but not for the better. Studies have also unearthed a religious sect known as the ‘Peculiar People’ and gives an insight into their beliefs. This book is not recommended for those easily offended as it does contain graphic descriptions of some child murders, although not intended to glorify the tragedies, they were necessary to inform the reader of the horrific extent that some killers went to. This book will appeal to anyone with an interest in the social history of the Victorian period.
Continue reading “Review: ‘Childhood & Death in Victorian England’, by Sarah Seaton”
Author Spotlight: Ted Galdi
Afternoon all, having a good weekend?
I’m full of cold and have had to cancel all sorts of fun plans, however it does mean I’ve got time to write a blog post or two. Which brings me nicely to the subject of today’s ‘Author Spotlight’.
Review: ‘Best Day Ever’, by Kaira Rouda
- ISBN: 9781848456914
- Imprint: HQ
- On Sale: 07/09/2017
- Format: Paperback
- List Price: £7.99
BlurbA loving husband. The perfect killer?‘I wonder if Mia thinks I have a dark side. Most likely as far as she knows, I am just her dear loving husband.’Paul Strom has spent years building his perfect life: glittering career, beautiful wife, two healthy boys and a big house in the suburbs.But he also has his secrets. That’s why Paul has promised his wife a romantic weekend getaway. He proclaims this day, a warm Friday in May, will be the best day ever.
Paul loves his wife, really, he does. But he also wants to get rid of her. And with every hour that passes, Paul ticks off another stage in his elaborately laid plan
Behind Closed Doors meets Liane Moriarty in this creepy, fast-paced psychological thriller with a twist you won’t see coming!
I have moved
The house is still upside down but the office is set up, so reviews and blog posts will resume next week. I will also be back at work on ‘Charley’s War’ and ‘Fire Betrayed’.
I wish I lived here, but I actually live in an early 20th century terrace in Grimsby.
Extract: ‘An Almond for a Parrot’
You may remember last month I reviewed An Almond for a Parrot, by Wray Delaney. This month, as part of the blog tour for this novel I would like to present to you and extract of the novel.
Published by: HQ, HarperCollins
Publication date: 27th July 2017
Format: Paperback
I.S.B.N.: 9780008182533
Blurb
‘I would like to make myself the heroine of this story – an innocent victim led astray. But alas sir, I would be lying…’London, 1756: In Newgate prison, Tully Truegood awaits trial. Her fate hanging in the balance, she tells her life-story. It’s a tale that takes her from skivvy in the back streets of London, to conjuror’s assistant, to celebrated courtesan at her stepmother’s Fairy House, the notorious house of ill-repute where decadent excess is a mustTully was once the talk of the town. Now, with the best seats at Newgate already sold in anticipation of her execution, her only chance of survival is to get her story to the one person who can help her avoid the gallows.She is Tully Truegood.
Orphan, whore, magician’s apprentice.
Murderer?
Moving day cometh and I have loads of books.
Almost.
I am packed. The washing machine is running through a last load before I put some cleaning stuff in it. The fridge-freezer has been turned off, ready for both to be collected tomorrow morning. My internet gets turned off tomorrow but I’ll be back online on Saturday afternoon when my new house gets connected up.
I am stressed. It’s not fun, this moving lark. The clinical psychiatrist I was seeing to sort out my anxiety and depression says because of my obsessive and ritualistic traits any change in my routine causes upset and anxiety. There is nothing more disturbing to my routine than moving. Everything is out of place because I’ve had to pack it all up and I really don’t like my stuff being moved about.
I collect my keys and sign the paperwork tomorrow afternoon. I shall be calmer once that is done and then I’ll really relax once I’m moved, and have got everything back in its place.
A box of books arrived today, from Pen & Sword books. Two more arrived on Tuesday from HQ, and I also received a book from an author who had contacted me directly for a review. That’s ten books this week. I have so much to read, it’s brilliant. It’ll keep me entertained for a few weeks anyway. At the moment I’m reading Best Day Ever by Kaira Rouda from HQ. I’m enjoying it so far.
Author Spotlight: Nicholas Lovelock
And in the final post for my day of the Discoucia book tour, I present the author, Nicholas Lovelock.
‘Discoucia’, an extract
Today, I’m taking part in the blog tour for ‘Discoucia’, by Nicholas Lovelock. It’s a ‘Victorianish fairytale’. As part of the tour, organised by Rachel Gilbey of ‘Authoright’, I have an interview and extract of the book. First the extract.
A trio from Olympia Publishing
A couple of weeks ago a marketing bod from Olympia Publishing emailed me with a list of recent books to see if I wanted to read and review any of them. I asked for three that looked interesting. I’ve now read them and present to you, dear readers, the reviews. I’ve also been looking at the Olympia Publishing page, since I’ve never heard of them before I thought I’d also give you my opinion on the quality of the books and anything I’ve gleaned from reading their website.
Everything Is Better With Dragons 