At the Dark Hour #blogtour by John Wilson

Summary:
A moving story about the nature of love and redemption set amidst the worst of the London Blitz and the destruction of London’s hallowed seat of law, the Temple

Adam Falling is a failing, sick barrister married to Catherine but conducting an affair with the glamorous Julia, who happens to be the wife of his Head of Chambers, Jeremy Pemberton.

Julia, fearful of losing her children, suddenly ends the affair. But it is too late. Pemberton discovers it and Adam is kicked out of his home and his chambers. Unable to work without a chambers and facing ruin, salvation comes in the unlikely form of the brilliant barrister, Roland (“Roly”) Blytheway. Blythway, held back in his career because of his sexuality, befriends him and invites him to join his chambers at Lamb Building.

It is there he finds himself defending a Czech refugee, Tomas Novak, who has been accused of treason and who is facing the gallows and becomes mired in another contested divorce case for one Arnold Bateman, where he, on the recommendation of Pemberton, represents the co-respondent whilst Pemberton represents the petitioner - a piece of cruel psychological torture on the part of Pemberton.

Whilst the Blitz rages on around, can Adam save Novak from the gallows? Can he get Bateman off? Will he ever discover why Julia suddenly broke off their affair? Can he succeed in resisting Jeremy’s claims against him personally? He has been told that only one man can possibly save him and that man is Roland Blytheway.

At the Dark Hour is the story of ordinary people caught in the horror of war whilst the city is destroyed around them. It features many of the most notable real life events of the Blitz such as the bombing of the Café de Paris.

My review
I was thrilled when Faye asked me if I wanted to be part of this blog tour, having read the blurb, I was very excited to get my hands on a copy of this book. 

This is a love story, a story that also questions love, and whether it's possible to love more than one person. Are there degrees of love, and if you had to choose, would romantic love win the day?

Now imagine yourself in London during the Blitz, imagine the bombs, the destruction, the loss of life. It all sounds so harrowing, so terrifying, and no doubt it was, however, human beings are incredibly resilient, so also imagine the camaraderie, the courage, the fortitude... When faced with the darkest of times, people can shine the brightest and here, some characters do just that. 

At the Dark Hour begins with an account of a clandestine relationship, forbidden love and it's fallout. Adam Falling and Julia Pemberton are having an affair, when Julia's husband Jeremy discovers their infidelity, both Adan and Julia's lives, their credibility, their futures are suddenly at risk. Adam is a barrister, his cases also play a large part in this story. Arnold Bateman has also been accused of infidelity and Tomas Novak is facing a charge of treason, as Adam takes on their cases, their stories cast their shadows on his life and those around him. 

Enter Roland Blytheway, for me the ultimate hero of the story. I absolutely adore this character, his strength, his intelligence, his kindness. When Julian attempts to destroy Adam's life, Roland takes Adam under his wing. When Adam's illness leaves him bedridden, it's Roland who comes to his rescue and nurses him back to health. Each and every character's story somehow intertwines with Blytheways, and he never fails to shine like the brightest star in the sky. 

Think Atonement, think Birdsong, think love in times of war and you'd be on the right path,  At the Dark Hour is utterly brilliant! I couldn't stop thinking about the characters, they pulled me in and made me care. The writing is fantastic, the storyline amazing, the characters wonderful! At the Dark Hour is a must read! 

Title Information
Title: At the Dark Hour
Author: John Wilson
Release Date: 19th July 2018
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Clink Street Publishing
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Author Information

Originally from Wigan, John Wilson is a QC at 1, Hare Court, London who was called to the Bar in 1981. He has written or contributed to a number of academic text books, written very many articles and is a published poet.Wilson drew on his many years of experience of family law (and in the early days criminal law) and upon the misogyny and homophobia which were characteristic of the law at the time the novel is set.When not working in London, Wilson spends as much of his time as possible in the South of France, where the novel was written, and travels extensively.  website

From Daughter to Woman

         From Daughter to Woman by Kim McCabe #blogtour

Summary:
This book aims to make the adolescent's journey just that bit safer, kinder, and better supported - so parents and teens can enjoy the teenage years more.

The teen years are tough - for teens and for parents. Many parents dread the moodiness, dishonesty, preference of friends over family, exam stress, and the push for greater independence. Mothers have a pivotal role to play; this is a guidebook for parents and mothers of girls in particular as they navigate the rocky teenage landscape with their daughters aged 8 to 18. It aims to help them embrace the potential of their child's teenage years by marking this time of growing maturity for girls and celebrating it with them. We celebrate birth, marriage and death, but this important life-transition from child to young adult is nowadays rarely acknowledged within an appropriate community.

My Review:

'Thousands of girls are on a similar journey right now and millions and millions of women have trodden the pat before you. There is no right way to grow up, and you will find your own way.'

From Daughter to Woman isn't a how to manual, but a gentle hug of encouragement and support, in a world where we come across so much judgement and negativity. 

As a mother of an eleven year old daughter, I was very keen to read this book. Navigating the ups and downs of a preteen can be challenging, so any guidance as to how to make this journey through adolescence feel a bit safer, kinder and more supportive, could only be a good thing. 

'If our children learn how to learn and acquire a love of learning, then they are well equipped. Enabling this is true education.'

Being able to look objectively at myself, and the example I am setting my daughter is an obvious first. Obvious, but so often overlooked. Do as I do, and not as I say is important when raising children, lead by example, not instruction. Remembering the basics when raising children/teenagers can be hard when we are so incredibly busy.

The extent and scope of the guidance and ideas in this book is astounding. There are chapters on pretty much anything you can think of that links with a teenage girl, from periods and relationships, to moods, body image and self confidence. 

Not everything will be appropriate for you and your daughter, but as you read this book, you will undoubtedly pick up so many gems that will help you bond with your child instead of being at loggerheads. 

'Children need us to respect who they actually are and not try to change them. They need us to champion their individuality.'

From Daughter to Woman is a book that I will be revisiting often over the next few years, as I hopefully help my daughter become the spirited, independent, incredible woman I know she is destined to be. 

Title Information:
Title: From Daughter to Woman
Author: Kim McCabe
Release Date: 18th July
Genre: Non-Fiction
Publisher: Little Brown Books

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Author Information:

Kim McCabe is the founder of Rites for Girls. As the originator and facilitator of Girls Journeying Together groups, she offers guidance to preteen and teen girls and simultaneous support for their mothers. In training other women to facilitate these groups, her dream is that every girl grows up expecting to be supported and celebrated in adolescence. Kim was commissioned to write a section in Steve Biddulph's latest best-selling book, 10 Things Girls Need Most: To Grow Up Strong and Free.

Kim is a home-educating mother of two boys, one girl, two cats and a colony of aloe vera plants; she is wife to a Kiwi, daughter to itinerant parents, friend to a cherished few, and lover of time alone, too. She lives in the Ashdown Forest in Sussex. She sometimes shouts at her children, accidentally steps on the cat's tail and forgets to water the plants, but she loves her work, her family and her life. She has always had deep affinity with teenage girls, and by sharing her wisdom and compassion she infects the reader with her enthusiasm for this life stage.

           #blogtour The Haunting of Mount Cod by Nicky Stratton 

Hi everyone, today The Haunting of Mount Cod blog tour stops here, and it is my pleasure to introduce you to Lady Boxford and her pug, Parker. 

Summary:
Lady Laura Boxford lives with her pug, Parker, in the retirement complex of Wellworth Lawns, formerly her family home.

One day she and her friend Venetia see the ancient actor Sir Repton Willowby arriving. He’s Venetia’s cousin by marriage and Venetia says he murdered his wife.

He lives at the Edwardian pile, Mount Cod and he says he’s being haunted by the ghost of an eighteenth century serving wench called Rosalind.

Laura is convinced he’s a charlatan using the ghost as a ruse for finding a new wife.

She determines to get to the bottom of the mystery on account of Venetia’s daughter, who stands to inherit Mount Cod.

But did Sir Repton murder his wife and is the house haunted?

My Review:

I really enjoyed this crime mystery. Lady Boxford is a spirited heroine, who takes absolutely no nonsense whatsoever and doesn't suffer fools gladly, she brought to mind an elderly Jessica Fletcher. ( Murder she Wrote )

I'm not sure I've ever read a crime novel set in a retirement complex before, but it works! The age of the characters didn't slow the action down at all, and if anything, their life experience, along with their joie de vivre made for some thrilling moments. 

Lady Boxford has a lot to contend with, murder, a ghost, theft, illegal marriages, seances... but she doesn't falter, and with the help of some friends follows the clues and attempts to solve the crimes. 

I believe this is the second in the Lady Boxford mysteries and am looking forward to reading more. 

Information about the Book
Title: The Haunting of Mount Cod
Author: Nicky Stratton
Release Date: 28th June 2018
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Clink Street Publishing
Format: Paperback 


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Author Information


Nicky Stratton came second in a short story competition when she was twenty; the prize was a brown typewriter called The Underdog 2000, but rather than become a novelist, she embarked on a thirty year career as a copywriter. Alongside work, Stratton raised two children plus a veritable menagerie of animals, including a hawk; she also took an Open University degree in Humanities, graduating at the age of fifty with a 2.1. She finally published her first novel, The Weight of Death, in 2016. Nicky Stratton lives in Stratford upon Avon with her partner Myles.

Writing retreat #blogtour

Have you ever wanted to be whisked away somewhere remote to get that book inside you written? And do you wish that you had expert guidance and support to help you while you 
did it?



If you answered yes to the above questions then you should definitely continue reading this post which is going to tell you all about the Atelier des Ecrivains (Writers’ Workshop) retreat.
Becky and Sarah who are co-hosting the writing retreat, and are both writers themselves, know that there are lots of people who harbour a desire to write a book but may either lack the confidence, the skills or the headspace to actually do it. They also know from experience that removing yourself from your daily life, with all of its pressures and interruptions, and coming together with like-minded people can be a great way to overcome those barriers. Where better to do that than in a beautiful 18th century manor house outside one of France’s prettiest villages, Aubeterre?

Helen Cross, author of My Summer of Love, which was turned into a Hollywood film starring Emily Blunt and whose other novels, screen and radio plays entertain people all over the world will be leading the workshop. She is an experienced teacher of creative writing and currently teaches on the MFA in Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia, UK. The combination of skills and experience offered by Helen, Becky and Sarah will be invaluable to authors at all stages of their writing journey.




ABOUT THE WORKSHOPS
Getting started – Thursday 20 to Monday 24 September, 2018 For people at the beginning of their writing journey, this workshop will help you develop your writing skills, find your creative voice, thematic material and literary style: create credible characters and reveal them through dialogue and active, dramatic scenes: and build your world - structure, point-of-view, and narrative voice. With a small group of up to 10 writers, we are promoting an environment of creativity and support with one-to-one feedback sessions and time for questions and answers.


Keeping going – May, 2019 For people who have already started their writing journey, this workshop will enhance your skills even further, help you overcome barriers and enable you to shape your words into the brilliant piece of work you know it has the potential to be.
Getting published – September 2019 For people reaching the conclusion of a writing project, this workshop is designed to support the final stages of writing and editing, and will contain lots of useful information about how to get published and successfully market your book. You can find out more information about the hosts, venue and workshops here. To book your place or to contact the hosts, you can visit the website here.
I don’t know about you but I would very much like to go on this writing retreat!