Hist Fic Saturday ~ The Turn of Midnight by Minette Walters

On Hist Fic Saturday

Let's go back to ...medieval England

The year is 1349 and time is running out..

Black Death #2
Allen&Unwin
4 October 2018

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book

What's it all about...

As the year 1349 approaches, the Black Death continues its devastating course across England. In Dorseteshire, the quarantined people of Develish question whether they are the only survivors.

Guided by their beloved young mistress, Lady Anne, they wait, knowing that when their dwindling stores are finally gone they will have no choice but to leave. But where will they find safety in the desolate wasteland outside?

One man has the courage to find out.

Thaddeus Thurkell, a free-thinking, educated serf, strikes out in search of supplies and news. A compelling leader, he and his companions quickly throw off the shackles of serfdom and set their minds to ensuring Develish's future - and freedom for its people.

But what use is freedom that cannot be gained lawfully? When Lady Anne and Thaddeus conceive an audacious plan to secure her people's independence, neither foresees the life-threatening struggle over power, money and religion that follows...

My thoughts about it...

In 1348/49 the worst pandemic in history continues to make its presence felt. For those who try to survive in the demesnes of Develish in Dorseteshire, life, despite the plague, is, thanks to their gracious benefactor, Lady Anne, safely maintained. When clandestine news arrives from their erstwhile steward, Thaddeus Thurkell, that there are little survivors throughout the area, plans are made to bring in whatever food and livestock is available in order to ensure the survival of Develish. However, danger is never far away, and Thaddeus and his young companions need to keep their wits about them as they venture into dangerous territory.

There is no doubt that the author has created a very believable and almost dystopian medieval world. Fourteenth century Dorset is a place where all hope of charity is abandoned and the old feudal way of life is forever changed. Survivors of the plague look for guidance from their lords and priests but finding nothing worthwhile challenge authority on every level. Lawlessness is one step ahead of terror and Thaddeus and his companions need wit and guile and also a plausible reason for travelling the land, and so, with the collusion of Lady Anne, an audacious plan is set in place which will either see the success of Develish or its demise.

Thanks to the undeniable skill of the author I have been immersed in a dark medieval world, traversing a countryside destroyed by the ravages of a deadly disease which ravaged communities. The old remnants of a feudal system is in disarray and the country is a lawless place were bodies lie unburied and livestock roam untended. However, if people are to survive, plans have to be made, and both serfs and freemen must work together in order to survive, and for some this is the chance of a lifetime to make something of themselves.

The Turn of Midnight brings this dark world to life in glorious detail, concentrating more on what is going on in the wider community than at Develish, the story is no less compelling. The characters we got to know so well in The Last Hours continue to have a starring role in this story but with greater emphasis placed on Thaddeus and his young companions who he has trained into a strong band of followers. 

As there is a seamless continuation from the first book to this second story, I feel that readers coming  new to The Turn of Midnight will have missed far too much and whilst I'd like to say this story works as a standalone, I don't think it does, as this really is one of those series which you should read in book order.

Alive with menace from the start, The Turn of Midnight is a vivid recreation of medieval life and one of the best historical fiction series I have read in a long time. I do hope that there's going to be at least one more book as the ending in this one certainly lends itself to a continuation...

About the Author

©Vicky Fry

Minette Walters is one of the world's best-selling crime writers. She is the author of twelve novels, winning the CWA John Creasey Award for The Ice House, the Edgar Allan Poe Award in America for The Sculptress and two CWA Gold Daggers for The Scold's Bridle and Fox Evil. The Last Hours and The Turn of Midnight mark an exciting new direction for Minette. She lives in Dorset with her husband.

Amazon UK

Twitter #TheTurnOfMidnight

Northern Writer ~ Conrad Jones

I am delighted to bring this feature to Jaffareadstoo which showcases

 the work of authors who live and write in the North

 ✧ Here's Northern Writer : Conrad Jones ✧

A very warm welcome to Jaffareadstoo, Conrad. Tell us a little about yourself and how you got started as an author? 

Conrad Jones a 52-year-old Author, living in Holyhead, Anglesey, which I class as my home, before starting a career as a trainee manger with McDonalds Restaurants in 1989. I worked in management at McDonalds Restaurants Ltd from 1989-2002, working my way up to Business Consultant (area manager) working in the corporate and franchised departments. 

In March 1993 I was managing the Restaurant in Warrington`s Bridge St when two Irish Republican Army bombs exploded directly outside the store, resulting in the death of two young boys and many casualties. Along with hundreds of other people there that day I was deeply affected by the attack, which led to a long-term interest in the motivation and mind set of criminal gangs. I began to read anything crime related that I could get my hands on. 

I link this experience with the desire to write books on the subject, which came much later due to an unusual set of circumstances. Because of that experience my early novels follow the adventures of an elite counter terrorist unit, The Terrorist Task Force, and their leader, John Tankersley, or `Tank`and they are the Soft Target Series, which have been described by a reviewer as ‘Reacher on steroids’. 

I had no intentions of writing until 2007, when I set off on an 11-week tour of the USA. The Day before I boarded the plane, Madeleine Mcann disappeared and all through the holiday I followed the American news reports which had little or no information about her. I didn't realise it at the time, but the terrible kidnap would inspire my book, The Child Taker years later. During that trip, I received news that my house had been burgled and my work van and equipment were stolen. That summer was the year when York and Tewksbury were flooded by a deluge and insurance companies were swamped with claims. They informed me that they couldn't do anything for weeks and that returning home would be a wasted journey. Rendered unemployed on a beach in Clearwater, Florida, I decided to begin my first book, Soft Target. I have never stopped writing since. I have recently completed my 20th novel, The Journey, something that never would have happened but for that burglary and my experiences in Warrington. 

As far as my favourite series ever, it has to be James Herbert’s, The Rats trilogy. The first book did for me what school books couldn’t. It fascinated me, triggered my imagination and gave me the hunger to want to read more. I waited years for the second book, The Lair, and Domain, the third book to come out and they were amazing. Domain is one of the best books I have ever read. In later years, Lee Child, especially the early books, has kept me hypnotised on my sunbed on holiday as has Michael Connelley and his Harry Bosch Series.

Would you say that your novels are influenced by your northern background and how have the people and its landscape shaped your stories? 

I like to write about places that I know well, hence I use Liverpool and North Wales. 

In your research for your novels, do you visit any of the places you write about and which have made a lasting impression? 

Yes. I travel to the cities and towns to see how they have changed. It’s important to keep in touch with what is going on. It adds to the realism of the novel. 

If you were pitching the North as an ideal place to live, work and write – how would you sell it and what makes it so special? 

The diversity of the cities, history, mingled with modernism. Each northern city is different to the next yet the people are passionately similar. The diversity of the population adds to the rich mixture of cultures. Then we have the jaw-dropping beauty of Snowdonia, Anglesey and the Lake District. 

As a writer based in the North, does this present any problems in terms of marketing and promoting your books and if so, how do you overcome them? 

I think marketing and promotion are mostly internet based now. 

Writing is a solitary business - how do you interact with other authors? 

I am a member of several online author groups and I try to attend as many festivals as possible. 

How supportive are local communities to your writing, and are there ever any opportunities for book shops, local reading groups, or libraries to be involved in promoting your work? 

The support locally is mixed in my area. The nearest book shop is 80 miles away. My local libraries are very supportive and stock my novels. 

Links to my series: 

The Detective Alec Ramsay Series 

My latest book

The award winning, very emotional, The Journey; 

Huge thanks to Conrad for being my special guest on the blog today

Twitter @ConradJones

Coming next  time : Andrew Rainnie

National Poetry Day 2018...

 On National Poetry Day I am delighted to bring another fabulous set of poems from Candlestick Press

Ten Poems about Rivers

Candlestick Press
August 2018

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this poetry pamphlet

Poems that travel from source to sea

Rivers carve a passage through our landscapes with elemental force. At the same time, they can be and signify many different things. In Ian Duhig’s fascinating selection we encounter the scope and drama of rivers, from the complexity of Eavan Boland’s Liffe to Kayo Chingonyi’s turbid Tyne which prompts lovers to reflect on what brought them together.

This rich and varied mini-anthology captures rivers in all their beauty and grandeur, taking us on a compelling journey from source to sea and encapsulating the shape-shifting nature of water on the move. As Philip Gross says in his beautiful poem ‘Severn Song’:

“The Severn was brown and the Severn was blue –

not this-then-that, not either-or,

no mixture. Two things can be true.”

Ian Duhig is an award-winning poet who also works with artists and musicians, and on projects for the socially excluded.

Poems by Eavan Boland, Kayo Chingonyi, Ian Duhig, Philip Gross, Kathleen Jamie, Zaffar Kunial, Beth McDonough, Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin, Pascale Petit and Julian Turner.

Cover illustration by Ian Phillips.

Donation to The Rivers Trust.

My thoughts about it...

There's something rather splendid about a river. Be it ambling through the countryside gently touching banks of wild flowers, or tumbling noisily like a giant through rocks and crags, the impression of wild water as it disappears into an unknown distance lives on in the memory.

In this collection of fine verse every aspect of rivers and their effect is explored, from the dramatic, in The Scar by Eamon Boland, to the enigmatic, Empty Words by Zaffar Kunial there is a wealth of emotion expressed in the beauty of their words and every succinct observation makes reading the poems such a joy.

It is from my favourite, the beautiful, Appletreewick by Julian Turner that these words are taken:

" Everywhere the water's great height

surprises, a great smooth swelling 

over weirs, a sheer glass welling

above the banks as skeins of light 

wind around themselves in mauves 

and greys..."

If you like rivers, enjoy nature in all its glory, or simply like to meander along the banks of fast flowing water then I am sure that Ten Poems about Rivers will appeal and what better way to celebrate National Poetry Day than by ordering one of these lovely poetry pamphlets from Candlestick Press.

Candlestick Press is a small, independent press publishing sumptuously produced poetry pamphlets that serve as a wonderful alternative to a greetings card, with matching envelopes and bookmarks left blank for your message. Their subjects include Clouds, Sheep, Birds, Home and Kindness. Candlestick Press pamphlets are stocked by chain and independent bookshops, galleries and garden centres nationwide and available to order online.

Website

Twitter @poetrycandle

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Blog Blitz ~ The Warrior's Bride Prize by Jenni Fletcher - GIVEAWAY !!

✨ Happy Publication Day ✨

Blog Blitz

Jaffareadstoo is excited to be hosting today's stop on The Warrior's Bride Prize Blog Blitz

Harlequin
Mills and Boon
4 October 2018

My thanks to the author and Rachel's Random  Resources for my invitation to the Blog Blitz

What's it all about...

Daughter of a slave…wedded to the warrior

Livia Valeria is furious when she’s ruthlessly gambled away by her intended bridegroom. Luckily, it’s tall, muscled and darkly handsome Roman centurion Marius Varro who wins her as his bride! Livia must hide her Caledonian roots, but when Marius faces a barbarian rebellion at Hadrian’s Wall she must make a choice: her heritage or the husband she’s falling for...

My thoughts about it...

In The Warrior's Bride Prize I escaped back to the days of the Roman occupation of Britannia, back to AD 197 when women were used as little more than commodities to be bought and sold. Livia Valeria has been sent to the north by her ambitious brother to be given in marriage but fate has a funny old way of intervening and Livia ends up in quite a different relationship than she expected.

I really enjoyed this trip back in history and the author has done a great job of recreating a real sense of time and place so that it was easy to become immersed in Roman life. There are enough thrills and spills to make reading the story exciting, with elements of a dark mystery which surrounds Livia's background, which she tries to keep hidden, and also the dangerous task of keeping the empire safe from marauding Caledonians which falls to the brave and handsome, Marius Varro, who is a Roman soldier to the very tips of his finely made leather boots. The romance between the two lead characters fairly sizzles on the page and I enjoyed reading of the challenges they both faced and hoped that everything would work out for them.

The Warrior's Bride Prize is great historical escapism. I read it comfortably over the space of an afternoon, quite at home at the edge of Hadrian's Wall immersed in the life of Livia and Marius. I hope the author will take us back to the Roman empire in future novels.

Giveaway – Win 1 x Signed US Copy of The Warrior’s Bride Prize (Open Internationally) 

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide 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 I reserve 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 I will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

Jenni Fletcher was born on the north coast of Scotland and now lives in Yorkshire, where she writes Medieval, Roman and Victorian romance novels.

She studied English at Cambridge University before doing an MA on Women and Literature in English and a PhD on Victorian & Edwardian literature at Hull. After realising that she was better at writing than teaching, she worked in a number of administrative jobs whilst trying to finish her first book, which was rejected. Thinking there must have been some mistake, she then wrote another, which was fortunately accepted by Harlequin Mills & Boon.

Her favourite Jane Austen novel is Persuasion and her favourite Brontë is Anne. If she had to choose a romantic hero it would be John Thornton, but maybe that’s just because she’s Northern.

Facebook

Twitter @JenniAuthor

@rararesources

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Blog Tour ~ The Coordinates of Loss by Amanda Prowse

✨Jaffareadstoo is thrilled to be hosting today's stop on The Coordinates of Loss Blog Tour ✨

Lake Union Publishing
25 September 2018

My thanks to the publishers and edpr for my copy of the book and for the invitation to be part of this blog tour

What's it all about...

When Rachel Croft wakes up on her family’s boat in Bermuda, it’s to sunshine and yet another perfect day…until she goes to wake her seven-year-old son, Oscar. Because the worst thing imaginable has happened. He isn’t there.

In the dark and desperate days that follow, Rachel struggles to navigate her grief. And while her husband, James, wants them to face the tragedy together, Rachel feels that the life they once shared is over. Convinced that their happy marriage is now a sham, and unable to remain in the place where she lost her son, she goes home to Bristol alone.

Only when she starts receiving letters from Cee-Cee, her housekeeper in Bermuda, does light begin to return to Rachel’s soul. She and James both want to learn to live again—but is it too late for them to find a way through together?...

Here's what I thought about it...

It is every parent’s worst nightmare to wake from sleep and find a beloved child gone from sight. When Rachel Croft discovers that her seven year old son is missing from his bed, her immediate reaction is to search all the nooks and crannies of the family’s boat, thinking that Oscar is hiding. However, the desperately sad opening chapter of the book reveals that all is not well. What then follows is visceral and all-consuming look at the absolute desperation which comes from tragedy, and shows, with real insight, into just how coping with such a desperately sad situation can either make or break a fragile spirit.

There’s a real sense of heartbreak throughout the whole of the story and the author has done a commendable job at creating, in vivid detail, a sense of bewilderment and the utter loneliness of trying and, in Rachel’s case, failing to rationalise such a devastating loss. I found the book immeasurably sad, and testament to the author’s sensitive handling of such a difficult topic, quite gripping, although, I have to say that there were times when I needed to take a break, as Rachel’s grief was filled with such raw emotion. I enjoyed the parts of the narrative which were centred on the family’s elderly housekeeper, Cee-Cee who, with beautiful and quite lyrical prose, explores her own feelings of loss. Cee-Cee’s strength of character and her uncanny ability to get through to Rachel when no-one else can comes across in a poignant narrative which is quite unique to Cee-Cee. 

The Coordinates of Loss is a real study into relationships, not just between a mother and her child but also between husband and wife and, I think it also shows the poignant reality of how the wider circle of friends and family cope, not just with their grief and sense of loss, but also in trying to bolster fragile moods and unpredictable behaviour.

I think for some readers this might be quite a difficult story as it focuses heavily on the after effects of grief but all credit to the author for tackling such a poignant subject and doing so in such a sensitive and profoundly moving way.

On my reading table

About the Author

Amanda Prowse is one of the UK's most prolific and loved story tellers with global sales of 6 million copies and legions of loyal fans. Based near Bristol, Amanda is the author of 25 novels and novellas, with books sold in 22 countries and translated into 12 languages -  no mean feat when you consider her first novel was only published in 2012.

Website

Twitter @MrsAmandaProwse #TheCoordinatesof Loss

@ed_pr

Blog Blitz ~ The Makings of a Lady by Catherine Tinley

🌠 Jaffareadstoo is delighted to be involved in the Blog Blitz for  The Makings of a Lady 🌠

Harlequin
Mills and Boon
1 October 2018

My thanks to the author and Rachel's Random Resources for my copy of the book
and the invitation to be part of this blog blitz

What's it all about...

Be calm, she thought.

Be gracious. Be twenty-two.

Lady Olivia Fanton is eager to prove she’s no longer a child. However, just as she thinks she’s found a suitable match in the suave Mr Manning, charismatic Captain Jem Ford walks back into her life, bringing with him all the embarrassment of her infatuation four years before! She’s determined to appear mature, distant, friendly. But does she dare hope he’ll notice her as the lady she’s become? 

Here's what I thought about it...

This is now the third book in The Chadcombe Marriage mini series and in The Makings of a Lady we follow the story of Lady Olivia Fanton, who, as an eighteen year old, said goodbye to the first man who made her heart flutter. Now aged twenty-two, Olivia still remembers, Jem Ford, the gallant young soldier who stole her heart but, older and a little wiser, Olivia is now looking to find love with an entirely different sort of man. 

What then follows is a lovely Regency romance which, set against the background of the Chadcombe estate in Surrey, brings all the sights and flavours of an aristocratic family doing what they do best, that is, entertaining the local gentry with tea parties and balls and riding horses and walking in the countryside. 

The author writes this type of gentle romance with a lovely light touch and brings such a warmth to her characters that you can't help but bond with them, and yes, even the dastardly villains, of which there are a few splendid ones in this story, make their own rather special impact.There are several strands to the story, not just the "will they, won't they" aspect of a relationship, but also in the darker elements of the story which together help to create a nice blend of light and shade.

I'm sure that fans of this series will be delighted with The Makings of a Lady as it continues the lovely atmosphere which runs like a ribbon throughout the stories. It was lovely to meet up with the characters from the previous novels, particularly Adam and Charlotte who we met in Waltzing with the Earl and Juliana and Harry who took centre stage in The Captain's Disgraced Lady. However, it must be said that each of the stories work really well on their own merits and can be comfortably read as standalones.

There is no doubt that the author has found a real niche in writing Regency Romance and I think that, there is still scope for more lovely stories within this series. I look forward to seeing what happens next...

About the Author

Catherine Tinley writes heartwarming Regency love stories for Harlequin Mills & Boon. She has loved reading and writing since childhood, and has a particular fondness for love, romance, and happy endings. After a career encompassing speech & language therapy, NHS management, maternity campaigning and being President of a charity, she now works in Sure Start. She lives in Ireland with her husband, children, cat, and dog and can be reached at:

Website

Facebook

Twitter @CatherineTinley

Amazon

Don’t forget to take a look at Catherine Tinley’s Social media accounts. She is running a giveaway to win a copy of the book, along with two other (surprise) romance novels by other writers. 

2 x UK/Ireland Winners and 1 x International Winner. 

For all the details look out for Catherine Tinley on Facebook and Twitter

Northern Writer ~ Fiona Morgan

I am delighted to bring a new feature to Jaffareadstoo which showcases

 the work of authors who live and write in the North

 ✧ Here's Scottish writer : Fiona Morgan ✧

A very warm welcome to Jaffareadstoo, Fiona. Tell us a little about yourself. 

Hi everyone, I am Fiona Morgan and I live in a small town in Scotland called Airdrie, which is near Glasgow. I am married with two kids. During the day I work as a deafblind guide communicator and a British Sign Language Facilitator in a college interpreting classes for our deaf students. 

How long have you been writing and what got you started? 

I have been writing for about 4 years and have two thriller romance novels, Free and What's Mine, published with Pegasus, under their Vanguard imprint. I started writing after my depression started to get a grip of me again. I felt I had stopped pushing myself and was stagnating again, and that was the last thing I wanted to happen. I asked myself what I had always wanted to do, but was too scared to do and writing a book was the one thing that always came to mind. So as a hobby I picked up pen and paper and started to write myself a story. My friend asked if she could read it and once I was finished I emailed it over to her and she pushed me to send it out to publishers, they could only say no. So off I went to look into some publishers and sent my manuscript away. Pegasus agreed to publish my book in a way that suited me, and the rest, as they say, is history. 

Pegasus Publishing
Amazon UK

Your latest novel, What's Mine was published earlier this year. What can you tell us about the story that won't give too much away? 

What's Mine is a thriller romance story based in Glasgow. It deals with love, hate, manipulation and control. It shows how someone out for revenge can cause so much destruction and asks the question if can love survive? 

Pegasus Publishing
Amazon UK

Are you a plotter...or ...a start writing and see where it takes you sort of writer? 

I am a bit of both. I plot the characters, their appearance, their jobs, their cars, their friends, where they live, but then I allow their characteristics and personalities take on a life of their own. As for the events, I know the main ones I want to happen, major events in the story, but how I get from one to the other I let happen on it's own, that way other events can pop up and the story can flow and change on it's own. I was once letting the writing flow and got a surprise at what my own character did... I love that about writing!

Your books are written in the North. How have the people and the northern landscape shaped your stories?

Both my books are based in Glasgow and surrounding areas, so the landscape in my books is very built up, but I do pick out the well known streets in Glasgow City, like Buchanan Street, Mitchell Lane and Sauchiehall Street.

There are such an amazing spectrum of characters in Glasgow I had a great amount of personalities to help shape my characters, with this in mind, I wrote characters from all walks of life in Glasgow, from the astute, powerful, but dangerous, businessman, or the hard working, hard grafting business owner, to the underground thugs for higher. Due to the vast difference in each character, I used different Glaswegian dialect in my books, including Glasgow slang. I feel this gives the story and the characters a more real life feeling.

If you were pitching the North as an ideal place to live, work and write – how would you sell it and what makes it so special?

I would sell Scotland in two different ways. Firstly on the views and vistas. The scenery, hills and glens are amazing and peaceful to get anybodies creative juices flowing, and not far from any of the main cities. Loch Lomond, Fort William, Glencoe, to name a few.

The second way would be the amazing characters you find. Friendly, funny and real. After hitting the world cclass shopping, sitting in one of the coffee shops or pubs people watching is a great way to see life in its finest.

Do you write the type of books you like to read and which authors influence you? 

I write one of the genres I like, I also like crime, and psychological thrillers. My favourite author at the moment is Stuart MacBride, he mixes gruesome and laughter in a unique way, and I love how he describes characters. 

How do you manage to balance writing with your everyday life and what do you do to relax? 

I write whenever and wherever I can. As I work during the day I try to get some words down before I start or on my breaks, but mostly at night and weekends. There is a Costa Coffee near me which I escape to, to do some writing and people watching, I also try to delegate the housework to my teenagers to give me more writing time, although they rarely take me up on the offer. Who would have thought teenagers didn't want to clean? 

Can you share with us anything about your next writing project? 

My next project is another thriller romance based in Glasgow, but this time it deals with lies and double lives, and of course relationships and love. It is coming on slowly, but surely, as the others did.

You can find out more about Fiona and her writing

Facebook

Twitter @FionaMorgan79

Instagram @f.y.morgan

Pegasus Publishing

Amazon UK

Huge thanks to Fiona for being my special guest on the blog today

Coming next  time : Conrad Jones