MJ Porter, author

I’m delighted to be sharing my review for Old Girls Behaving Badly by Kate Galley #blogtour #newrelease #comedy

Here’s the blurb

A delightfully heartwarming and funny story that proves it’s never too late to change the habits of a lifetime, perfect for fans of Judy Leigh, Hazel Prior and Maddie Please.

Something old, something new, something stolen…?

Gina Knight is looking forward to the prospect of retirement with her husband of forty-three years. Until, to her surprise, said husband decides he needs to ‘find himself’ – alone – and disappears to Santa Fe, leaving divorce papers in his wake.

Now Gina needs a new role in life, not to mention somewhere to live, so she applies for the position of Companion to elderly Dorothy Reed. At eighty-three, ‘Dot’ needs someone to help her around the house – or at least, her family seems to think so. Her companion’s first role would be to accompany Dot for a week-long extravagant wedding party.

But when Georgina arrives at the large Norfolk estate where the wedding will take place, she quickly discovers Dot has an ulterior motive for hiring her. While the other guests are busy sipping champagne and playing croquet, Dot needs Georgina to help her solve a mystery – about a missing painting, which she believes is hidden somewhere in the house.

Because, after all, who would suspect two old ladies of getting up to mischief?

Purchase Link

https://mybook.to/oldgirlssocial

My Review

Old Girls Behaving Badly is a fun read with elements of mystery, which I wasn’t expecting and was very pleased to discover.

Our two main characters (and we get both of their POVs), Gina and Dorothy, are coming to terms (or not) with recent changes in their lives. While neither of them thinks they necessarily need one another, they soon discover that, in fact, they do, and they also like one another.

As the events of Dorothy’s big family wedding swirl around them, Gina and Dorothy are somewhat distanced from it. Both are trying to uncover the truth surrounding Dorothy’s husband’s death about a year ago. With the addition of a more fleet-footed granddaughter, our duo pursues the matter to the bitter end, and yes, it does feature a quad bike ride.

This story is really enjoyable. I read it in two days:)

Meet the author

Kate Galley writes UpLit and Bookclub fiction full of heart and humour. The older generation are at the centre of her stories and are usually wrapped up in a mystery.

She lives with her family in Buckinghamshire and works part time as a mobile hairdresser in the surrounding Chiltern villages.

In her spare time she crochets blankets, knits jumpers and also disappears into her workshop to play with kiln formed glass.

Kate is the author of The Second Chance Holiday Club – which has been optioned for TV – and The Golden Girls’ Road Trip.

Connect with the author

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083291782773

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KateGalley1

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/KateGalleyNews

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kate-galley

Today, I’m reviewing #CrucialBlack by Colin Garrow, a highly- entertaining Scottish thriller set in Inverness

Here’s the blurb

A brace of corpses. A bone-crunching machine. A new recruit.

Now employed by an Inverness organised crime gang, former petty thief Relic Black is teamed up with hitman Ali McKay, the man he almost killed a few weeks earlier. As the team tidy up the loose ends after the shooting, gang member and bent cop DI McKenzie must investigate the disappearance of two people, knowing Relic and Ali have already disposed of the bodies.

Meanwhile, Rebecca’s unpopular colleague DI Swinney, suspects her of involvement in the shooting. Knowing one of the bodies currently taking up space in the mortuary remains anonymous, he discovers the man’s identity. Can Swinney uncover the truth, dig the dirt on McKenzie and regain his former status with the DCI, or will the gang step in to stop him?

Warning – strong language and adult situations throughout.

Crucial Black is book #2 in the Relic Black Thriller series set in Inverness, Scotland.

NB book #2 is not a standalone – the series must be read in order.

Purchase Links

AMAZON https://geni.us/gXeQFS

SMASHWORDS https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1345380

My Review

Crucial Black is book 2 in Colin Garrow’s hard-hitting adult-themed thriller (that just means it’s violent and sweary), reuniting us with Relic Black from book 1 (check out my review below).

As ever, Colin takes us on a thrilling journey, using Inverness and its surrounding area as a canvas upon which to paint the violence and double-dealing of the tale.

It’s a quick, fast-paced read, pitting our bent coppers against our slightly less bent coppers, almost making our gang of violent thugs seem more civilised. Relic is our eyes on all this, fairly innocent of everything that’s happening, he is slowly becoming embroiled within the group and has a few ideas of his own that involve some piggies.

There are any number of bodies to dispose of in weird and wonderful ways, as well as a great deal of misdirection.

A really well-devised plot ensures the story passes by quickly, and the reader is left wondering just who is going to surprise them next.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, Colin excels in the many genres he writes in, and this is no exception. An entertaining, if violent and slightly-twisted tale complete with authentic Scottish accents, you ken.

Check out my reviews for Colin’s other stories.

Terminal Black (Book 1 in the series)

Sherlock Holmes

Geordie Crime -Blood on the Tyne

Shadow of the Witch – historical horror

Meet the author

Colin Garrow grew up in a former mining town in Northumberland. He has worked in a plethora of professions including taxi driver, antiques dealer, drama facilitator, theatre director and fish processor, and has occasionally masqueraded as a pirate.

His short stories have appeared in several literary mags, including SN Review, Flash Fiction Magazine, Word Bohemia, Every Day Fiction, The Grind, A3 Review, 1,000 Words, Inkapture and Scribble Magazine. He currently lives in a humble cottage in Northeast Scotland where he writes novels, stories, poems and the occasional song.

He also makes rather nice vegan cakes.

Connect with the author

Twitter https://twitter.com/colingarrow

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/colinngarrow/

Website https://colingarrow.co.uk/

Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/colin-garrow

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/colingarrowthewriter

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@colingarrowauthor

Today, I’m delighted to welcome Becky Papworth and her new book #JanetJacksonSuperhost to the blog. #authorinterview #newrelease #blogtour

I’m always fascinated to discover the secrets of how authors write their stories. I asked Becky some questions about her writing routine. Read on to find out more.

Can you tell me about your writing process, please – do you have a set routine?

Unfortunately not, I’m still balancing writing around work and family so it can a bit ad hoc…definitely prefer mornings if I can grab them though.

Are you an earlier morning writer, or do you prefer writing late at night?

See above – morning, that hazy phase where you can tune in to other worlds before the day’s obligations take hold.

Do you have a writing drink/food of choice?

Tea. Earl Grey. Strong, not a lot of milk.

Do you write with a pen or on a laptop/desktop?

Laptop. Though I will do desktop too if I’m not in bed.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

With Janet, it’s being a bit of a magpie, certain real life incidents that stick with me because they’re unusual or funny or tough, that I think others might relate too. Other bits are pure imagination once you get writing it’s surprising what arrives.

Do you find the humour comes easily or is it more difficult? (I always worry that I have a very strange sense of humour)

Humour is definitely subjective, however I’ve worked in comedy on Tv for a long time and you do learn to recognise jokes and ways of constructing stories that leads toward punchlines or reveals I suppose. I’m surprised by what people find funny sometimes, it’s all good, as long as people are enjoying it.

Do you have any advice for people wanting to write humour?

Can you make the people around you laugh? That’s an indication that you can construct stories, one liners etc that will give you confidence about what works and watch great comedy – learn from the masters – how are they doing it?

Perhaps most importantly, are you a pantser, a plotter or in between?

I have loose direction and have scenarios/ notes that loosely plot out 3 chapters ahead – lots of room manoeuvre once the characters get chatting.

What are you working on next?

Something darker, set in Yorkshire with a fantastical element.

Thank you so much for answering my questions. Good luck with the new book.

Here’s the blurb

Lavender Cottage, Yorkshire’s finest B&B, is owner Janet Jackson’s pride and joy. Now, after a year of running it and coming out alive, she’s set her heart on becoming a Superhost. For that Janet will need a bloomin great tsunami of 5 star reviews- despite the many obstacles that stand in her way.

Number one, of course, is the guests themselves. Their strange requests, habits and lasting damage to her garden, the cottage and her sanity, are a non- stop challenge.

Add in the piles of laundry, sleepless nights, scary spreadsheets, sneaky neighbours, and sex with no strings . . . and her goal seems far away.

Yet despite an endless run of dramas, and thanks to her passion for hospitality and home baking, Janet may find she is just a Lemon Drizzle cake or two away from a 5-star life.

Purchase Link

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Janet-Jackson-Superhost-gorgeous-reinvent-ebook/dp/B0CW1FS2W1/

https://www.amazon.com/Janet-Jackson-Superhost-gorgeous-reinvent-ebook/dp/B0CW1FS2W1/

Meet the author

Becky Papworth has been writing since she was seven, when she won a prize for her Mother’s day poem from Bradford’s Telegraph & Argus. With further writing credits on CBBC and BBC Radio. Her play ‘Miscreant Mothers’ for BBC Radio 3 was nominated for the prestigious Tinniswood award. She has an MA with distinction in Scriptwriting from Salford University. Her career as a TV Exec has kept her busy over the last few years, working on shows like; ‘Citizen Khan’, ‘Rab C Nesbitt’, ‘Gavin & Stacey’, ‘The Royle Family’ and ‘I love the 80’s’.

Rebecca was the first woman to produce ‘Have I Got News For You’ and is responsible for ‘Steph’s Packed Lunch’, Channel 4’s landmark daytime series.

In her spare time Rebecca kills houseplants and attempts to control two teenage daughters.

Connect with Becky

www.beckypapworth.com

https://twitter.com/beckypapworth1

I’m delighted to welcome V P Felmlee and her new book, Autumn and The Silver Moon Stallion, to the blog #YoungAdultFiction #NewAdultFiction #Mustangs #WildHorses #AbandonedAnimals #TheCoffeePotBookClub #BlogTour

I’m delighted to welcome V P Felmlee and her new book, Autumn and The Silver Moon Stallion, book 3 in The Abandoned Trilogy, to the blog with an excerpt.

Excerpt

As one, Becky, Autumn, and Silver Moon looked up just in time to see a tower of water coming over the top of the canyon, right towards them.

Autumn turned to run.

Becky turned to run.

Silver Moon was still coming down the trail, watched as waves hit the ground, then rose up like a living thing several feet in the air before crashing down first on Autumn then on the girl.

More water was coming from above, splashing and crashing, ramming its way from canyon wall to canyon wall, shoving anything in its way forward, relentless and unstoppable.

Without thinking, Silver Moon jumped in.

Becky looked back, trying to see Autumn, swallowing ice-cold water in the process. She spat it out, then saw the palomino struggling to get her footing. The water was too deep, and was forcing them along at an incomprehensible speed.

Becky grasped a large boulder. She couldn’t hold on to it. Her body banged against an outcrop, driving the air from her lungs.

I have to watch where I’m going, she thought, don’t look back, look forward.

The filly was trying hard to get to Becky, who was just ahead of her. The water pushed her against the canyon walls, forcing her to one side, then another. Instinct took over, her legs began to move. I have to keep my head up.

She was now whale-eyed, growing more terrified with each second. She couldn’t avoid the boulders and slammed into them time and again.

She began to panic.

Silver Moon was strong and big but he was almost no match for the churning maelstrom the canyon had become.

Just ahead, he saw Autumn losing the fight to keep her head up. He saw her disappear, briefly emerge, then disappear.

Here’s the Blurb

An abused, neglected filly is abandoned on a remote country road, left to die.

A young woman grieves the loss of her best friend, the champion horse she had built

her life and future around.

The heir to one of the largest ranches in Wyoming comes home to face the ire and

disappointment of his grandfather.

A world-renown scientist clashes with the U.S.government over a brutal,

decades-long war to decide the fate of thousands of

mustangs, a beloved icon of the American West.

Autumn and The Silver Moon Stallion is their story of love, hatred, and death.

Will their struggles give them hope to fight for their beliefs, or tear them forever apart?

Buy Link

Universal Link:

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited

Meet the Author

V P Felmlee is the author of The Abandoned Trilogy: Price Tadpole & Princess Clara; Good Boy Ben; and the third book in the series, Autumn and the Silver Moon Stallion. A former newspaper reporter and editor, she has a degree in geology, and has been active in historic preservation and animal welfare issues. Her articles have appeared in several magazines and she has won numerous awards.

She will be the 2025 president of Women Writing the West and lives in Grand Junction, Colorado, with her husband, two dogs, and six cats.

Connect with the Author

Website:

Follow The Autumn and Silver Moon Stallion blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club

I’m delighted to welcome Ann Bennett and her new book, A Rose In The Blitz, to the blog #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalRomance #WorldWarII #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub

I’m delighted to welcome Ann Bennett and her new book, A Rose In The Blitz of the Sisters of War series, to the blog.

Here’s the blurb

Escape into the dramatic world of London during the Blitz in this sweeping family saga of love, war and betrayal.

Northamptonshire: 1980: Wealthy landowner, Hadan Rose, is dying. His daughter, May, rushes to his country estate, Rose Park, with her daughter, Rachel, to nurse him through his final days.

In the afternoons, while Hadan sleeps, May tells Rachel about her wartime experiences.

In 1940, Three of the four Rose sisters leave Rose Park to serve the war effort. May, the youngest is left behind. But she soon runs away from home to join an ambulance crew in London. She experiences the horrors of the Blitz first-hand but what happens to her there has remained secret her whole life.

In 1980, at Rose Park, Rachel wanders through the old house, looking at old photographs and papers, uncovering explosive family secrets from ninety years before. Secrets that her grandfather wanted to take to his grave. At the local pub, Rachel meets Daniel Walters, a local journalist and musician who takes an interest in her. But can she trust him, or does he have an ulterior motive for seeking her company?

As the secrets of the past gradually reveal themselves, both Rachel and May realise that their worlds are forever changed.

Fans of Lucinda Riley, Dinah Jeffries and Victoria Hislop will love this escapist wartime saga, Book 1 in the Rose Park Chronicles.

Buy Link

Universal Link:

This title is available to read on #KinldeUnlimited

Meet the Author

Ann Bennett is a British author of historical fiction. Her first book, Bamboo Heart: A Daughter’s Quest, was inspired by researching her father’s experience as a prisoner of war on the Thai-Burma Railway and by her own travels in South-East Asia. Since then, that initial inspiration has led her to write more books about the second world war in SE Asia. Bamboo Island: The Planter’s Wife, A Daughter’s Promise, Bamboo Road: The Homecoming, The Tea Planter’s Club, The Amulet and her latest release The Fortune Teller of Kathmandu are also about WWII in South East Asia. All seven make up the Echoes of Empire Collection.

Ann is also the author of The Lake Pavilion, The Lake Palace, both set in British India during the 1930s and WWII, and The Lake Pagoda and The Lake Villa, both set in French Indochina. The Runaway Sisters, bestselling The Orphan House, The Child Without a Home and The Forgotten Children are set in Europe during the same era and are published by Bookouture.

Ann is married with three grown up sons and a granddaughter and lives in Surrey, UK. For more details please visit www.annbennettauthor.com.