It’s a busy couple of weeks. There will be a giveaway below each review, for a chance to win a copy of The Wonderland Murders and other bits.
And in surprise news about the author!
“It’s been a poorly guarded secret for quite a while but Millie Ravensworth isn’t just one writer but two! The Millie Ravensworth books are the product of long-term collaborators Heide Goody and Iain Grant. Heide and Iain have been writing together for more than a decade. Together they have written various comedy novels and, in recent years, have written the Sam Applewhite series of comedy crime novels.
“There are a number of reasons why we did this but part of the reason is because of the silly algorithms Amazon uses to identify what books readers might like. Not everyone who reads one series by us will necessarily like books we’ve written in another series. Therefore, to avoid confusing the AI algorithms and to avoid disappointing some readers, we’ve written the latest batch of books under the pseudonym of Millie Ravensworth,” said Iain.
“We write other books under our own names but they’re nothing like the Millie Ravensworth books,” said Heide. “The fifth book in the Cozy Craft series is coming out in the middle of May and we hope to have book six written soon too. I hope people will continue to enjoy reading them as much as we enjoy writing them.”
Cheers Heide and Iain”
I’ve reviewed Heide and Iain’s books before; in July 2021 I reviewed their Sam Applewhite series of mysteries set in and around Skegness. In 2019 I shared an extract from their novel ‘Candy Canes and Buckets of Blood’ and reviewed ‘Jaffle Inc’. They’ve always been good about sending me copies of their books, and I do rather enjoy the writing style.
Interlude by Felicia Ketcheson Release Day – 31st March Genre: Young Adult – Dystopian Format: ePub
Blurb
In the isolated city of Lexum, following your heart’s desire against the will of the collective
could be deadly. But for seventeen-year-old Breel Sorep, the urge to express herself is just too tempting.
With her passion for drawing on the list of banned activities, Breel is devastated when she receives her final warning. Art offers an escape from the harsh realities of her life, but to be caught once more would have dire consequences for the rebellious teen.
If only Uncle Famut’s stories of the fictional world of Intercludae were real. Then Breel could be free to express her creativity instead of being trapped in the field of computer programming—a career chosen for her as a small child.
Starting in a new role, Breel encounters Cafrec, a co-worker with striking sparkling blue eyes, who’s unlike anyone the young woman has ever met. Together, the pair begin to decipher a series of clues which seem to reveal that Intercludae may not be so fictional after all.
Using her programming skills and cunning, Breel must decide how far she’s willing to go to have the freedom she so desperately wants. But as Breel and Cafrec try to escape the forces of oppression, can Breel leave everything she knows and risk her own life for the faint hope of finally finding freedom.
Author Content Warnings: Manipulation, a man taking a teenage girl (although she goes willingly), a mugging, one of the protagonists is drugged, and a five-year-old who becomes scared and distraught
Blurb
A teenage girl tempted from this world over a carpet of bluebells…
A house full of shadows and a presence waiting to be let in…
Finally, everything is going well for Erica Murray, witch and paranormal investigator. That is, until the mother of a missing teenage girl recognises Erica’s fae lover, Alfie, for what he is and begs for his help. Erica must step into Alfie’s world to find the girl, but it means discovering secrets about her lover that might tear them apart.
Meanwhile, Jess Tidswell has other things on her mind. Her parents are meeting Jess’s new dog and, more importantly, her fiancé for the first time.
That’s not the worst of her problems. Her parents, keen for a new adventure, have bought a house and it comes with some unexpected residents. Shadows that move of their own accord, a curious spirit and something malevolent that lives on the periphery.
Unable to contact Erica, can Jess handle this terrifying ordeal on her own and protect her family?
Deep in another world, can Erica find the missing teenager and bring her out of harm’s way?
Author Bio – J E Nice is a fantasy author who lives in a city filled with dragons, woodland where the fae hang out, on an airship home to a crew of sky pirates and, sometimes, on the outskirts of Bristol in England. Wherever she is, there is always cake.
Imprint: Aurum Pub Date (UK): Apr 20, 2023 Price: £16.99 GBP ISBN-13: 978-0-7112-6711-4 Format: Hardcover Book Pages: 256
Blurb
In this fascinating and insightful book, feminist curator Rachael Lennon provides an intimate and intersectional examination of the history of marriage around the world. With a lively and accessible style, Lennon tells a remarkable story of how this institution has developed from the ancient customs of the stone age through to the modern form it takes today. This book also explores themes such as the pressure to marry, the politics surrounding proposals, the spectacle of marriage, the business behind it, and the politics tied to consummation as well as issues such as taking a man’s name, the nuances of marriage vows and obedience, ‘having it all’ and trying to keep up the fight to have an enduring marriage.
Having married her wife just a few years after the legalisation of same sex marriage in the United Kingdom, Lennon interweaves her own personal experiences of marriage with stories and anecdotes from throughout history to explore how marriage has transformed over the years.
Format: 352 pages, Paperback Published: March 28, 2023 by Titan Books ISBN: 9781803362298 (ISBN10: 1803362294)
Blurb
Ten Low and her ragtag comrades take on an ultra-rich tycoon who owns entire planets in this high-octane clash of law and lawlessness across the stars, for fans of Gideon the Ninth , Anne Leckie and Becky Chambers.
Who controls the future, controls it all…
Ten “Doc” Low is a medic with a dark past, riding the wastes of the desert moon Factus, dispensing medicine to the needy and death to those who cross the laws of the mysterious Seekers. Cursed by otherworldly forces, she stays alone to keep herself safe, and to keep others safe from her…
But when she experiences a terrifying vision of conflict and the deaths of those she once called friends, she must drag herself back to the land of the living to stop a war before it begins. With rebellion brewing, the Accord’s grip on the Outer Moons weakening and a sinister tycoon buying up all land in sight, Ten must find allies where she can and face the past in order to save the future. The cost will be greater than she could ever have imagined…
A wild, adrenaline-packed, whip-smart crash of storytelling and shoot-outs, ideal for fans of Becky Chambers’ Wayfarers and Alex White’s Salvagers .
Format: 332 pages, Paperback Published: June 1, 2021 by Titan Books ISBN: 9781789096620 (ISBN10: 1789096626)
Blurb
Ten Low is eking out a living at the universe’s edge. An ex-medic, ex-con, desperate to escape her memories of the war, she still hasn’t learnt that no good deed goes unpunished.
Attempting to atone for her sins, she pulls a teenage girl from a crashed lifecraft. But Gabriella Ortiz is no ordinary girl—she is a genetically-engineered super soldier and decorated General, part of the army that kept Ten prisoner. Worse, Ten realises the crash was an assassination attempt, and that someone wants Ortiz dead…
My Review
I’m on a bit of a space western kick at the moment after reading Frontier last week. I’m reading Hel’s Eight next.
There are spoilers below, don’t read if you don’t want to know what happens.
Summary: I enjoyed this one. going to read Hel’s Eight now, as soon as I finish writing this review.
Information About the Book Title: The Starlight Stables Gang (The Starlight Stables Gang #1) Author: Esme Higgs Author: Jo Cotterill Illustrator: Hannah George Release Date: 30th March 2023 Publisher: Puffin Books UK Genre: MG (8 – 12 year olds)
Summary:
Summer has always loved horses but she never thought she’d be able to learn how to ride them – not with money being so tight at home. Then she discovers the Starlight Stables where she meets a new gang of friends and learns how to ride in return for helping-out with the horses. It’s a dream come true!
Summer falls in love with life at the stables and especially with Luna, a beautiful dapple-grey pony. But one day, Summer arrives at the stables to find that Luna has been stolen in the night. It’s up to the Starlight Stables Gang to follow the clues and rescue Luna before it’s too late!
Full of fun, friendship and and mystery, this is the first book in the brand-new Starlight Stables Gang series. Beautifully illustrated by Hannah George.
Author Information
Esme Higgs
Esme Higgs is one of the biggest social-media content creators in the equestrian world with over 1.5 million followers. She’s a writer, presenter, video producer – and a horse-mad ordinary girl.
Her online videos are a mix of tutorials, horse-care videos, and vlogs about her horses (Mickey, Joey and Casper) and her life. She is also a proud ambassador for the Brooke charity and a patron to her local charity riding stables – Team Tutsham.
Jo Cotterill is a multi-award-winning author with over forty books for children and young people. Her novel A Library of Lemons has sold into twelve countries and her superhero-comic strip series Electrigirl has encouraged many reluctant readers to enjoy reading. She has written stories for Disney and Doctor Who, and her background in acting and teaching makes her a hit on school visits. Jo lives in Oxfordshire with her daughters, one of whom is a massive Esme fan!
There are two routes to school. One goes along pavements and across roads. The other is twice as long and involves going down a little alleyway and round the back of the houses. For maybe fifty metres, the path borders a couple of fields. In one of the fields there are two ponies. One of them is a small chestnut gelding who stays at the other end of the field, but the other is a dapple-grey mare and she always, always comes to the fence to say hello.
When we first moved here, I was miserable – until I discovered the path behind the houses, and now I visit the grey mare on my way to and from school. She’s my best friend, which is either amazing or very sad, depending on how you look at it.
This morning I leave the house extra early so I can spend even more time with the pony. She makes this funny sound when she sees me – they call it ‘nickering’: it’s like a cross between a snort and a purr. She trots over and nuzzles me. I used to give her an apple, but then a sign appeared on a fence post saying PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE PONIES’ so now I pull up handfuls of grass because I figure she eats that anyway. And I check to see that no one else is around, in case I get into trouble.
‘Hello,’ I say softly this morning. I don’t know what her name is, but I call her Pebbles because the markings on her back look like pebbles in a stream. I rub her velvety nose and she tips her head and bumps it against mine. ‘How are you today, Pebbles? Have you eaten any nice dandelions recently?’ I place my hand against her neck, feeling the muscles
underneath. She’s warm and solid and has this smell that I can’t describe – like biscuits and friendship.
I tell her about the video I watched this morning where a girl my age was talking about the three ponies she owns, and about the different tack she uses, and Pebbles nods like she understands. I think Pebbles is a Welsh Cob, according to the pictures I’ve looked at on the internet. She’s the most beautiful pony I’ve ever seen.
Even though I’ve got to the field early, I’m nearly late for school because I always lose track of time when I talk to Pebbles. I would spend all day talking to Pebbles if I could. Even simply resting my head against hers makes me feel … I can’t explain it. Calm. At peace, like all my worries and fears have gone away. I wave goodbye and have to run the rest of the way, arriving at school breathless ten seconds before they close the gates.
It’s 1994, Kurt Cobain has just died, and teenager Alex is spending the summer working in her Aunt’s Bed and Breakfast in rural Argyll. The village pace of life is slow compared to home in Edinburgh and Alex resigns herself to a quiet summer spent serving breakfasts and making beds. Everything changes however once she meets the twin brothers who live next door.
Spanning the next fifteen years of Alex’s life, Fade Into You is a love letter to growing up in Scotland in the 90s and 2000s. Set against a backdrop of T in the Park and the war in Iraq, soundtracked by Britpop and Grunge mixtapes, with the sweet taste of tablet, it is a novel about growing up and growing apart. It explores the intensity of childhood friendships, how they change as we get older but how they never really leave us.
Everything Is Better With Dragons 