Original Sins by Matt Rowland Hill was published by Vintage on 4 May 2023. Matt kindly answered a few of my questions. 1. Tell us a little about Original Sins. It’s the story of my life; my upbringing as the son of a fundamentalist Christian preacher; my adolescent loss of faith; my subsequent near-lethal addiction to…
Author: janetemson
My paid employment is as a writer and editor. My unpaid work is being a mum to three and a wife of one. In the gaps of time in between I read and write down my ramblings on the books I've read. Or as my Twitter profile says "Book pusher. Fighting a losing battle with my TBR"
Fragments of a Woman by Emma Venables – extract
Fragments of a Woman by Emma Venables was published by Aderyn Press on 1 June 2023. Today I have an extract to share with you. Liesel pulls her hand away from Greta’s and shakes her head. Greta rolls her eyes, indicates their surroundings: the frozen lake, the lack of footprints in the snow, the silence….
The Tumbling Girl by Bridget Walsh – review
Published by Gallic Publication date – 25 May 2023 Source – review copy 1876, Victorian London. Minnie Ward, a feisty scriptwriter for the Variety Palace Music Hall, is devastated when her best friend is found brutally murdered. She enlists the help of private detective Albert Easterbrook to help her find justice. Together they navigate London,…
Kate Galley – Q&A
The Second Chance Holiday Club by Kate Galley was published by Aria on 8 December 2022. Kate kindly answered a few of my questions. 1. Tell us a little about The Second Chance Holiday Club. The Second Chance Holiday Club is about sheltered septuagenerian, Evelyn Pringle, an unhappy woman who has lived-in a long and…
Balancing the Books – May 2023
So that was May. 253 bank holidays with a couple of Saturdays thrown in. And some ceremony or other. There’s a vicious rumour going around that we are half way through the year. Obviously, that’s a mistake. We are starting June as we ended May, on holiday. Sun, sea, and sand in our sandwiches, plenty…
Runes: Viking Alphabet or Magical Inscriptions by G N Gudgion – guest post
Hammer of Fates by G N Gudgion was published by Bookouture on 1 June 2023. Today I have a guest post from G N Gudgion with an introduction to runes. RUNES: VIKING ALPHABET OR MAGICAL INSCRIPTIONS? For perhaps two thousand years, runes have held an image of mystery; that sense that they offer a glimpse…
Chikọdịlị Emelụmadụ – Q&A
Dazzling by Chikọdịlị Emelụmadụ was published by Wildfire on 16 February 2023. Chikọdịlị kindly answered a few of my questions. 1. Tell us a little about Dazzling. Dazzling tells the story of two young protagonists; Treasure, whose father has died, leading to a reversal of fortunes, and Ozoemena, the latest and possibly first female in…
J M Simpson – Q&A
J M Simpson is the author of Sea State and Sea Change. The latest book in the series Sea Shaken, was published on 29 September 2022. She kindly answered a few of my questions. 1. Tell us a little about Sea Shaken. Sea Shaken is the third in the Castleby series. Castleby is a fictional…
20 Books of Summer 2023 – the pick
So it’s that time of year again. Devised by Cathy at 746Books, the aim is to read 10, 15 or 20 books between 1 June and 1 September. I have taken part for the last six years. I think I’ve only made it twice! You can read about the challenge on Cathy’s excellent blog here. Because…
Skin Deep by Antonia Lassa, translated by Jacky Collins – review
Published by Corylus Books Publication date – 15 May 2023 Source – review copy When police arrest eccentric loner Émile Gassiat for the murder of a wealthy woman in a shabby seaside apartment in Biarritz, Inspector Canonne is certain he has put the killer behind bars. Now he just needs to prove it. But he…
From First Page to Last 