Tag: Rachel’s Random Resources

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

    Today, I’m reviewing Maggie In The Middle by Debbie Viggiano #blogtour #newrelease #bookreview

    Here’s the blurb

    WHEN LIFE FEELS LIKE…
    A TEST YOU DIDN’T STUDY FOR

    When Maggie King turned sixty, she thought her life complete.

    Now she’s sixty-one, and everything has gone horribly wrong.

    Husband Greg has abruptly upped and left leaving Maggie bewildered. But there’s no time to question his departure because her ancient parents are all-consuming.

    Once fondly referred to as the Golden Oldies, they’re now the BOBs – Bad-Tempered Old Buggers.

    Sister Freya is never available to help, and Maggie is rapidly reaching the end of her tether.

    She wants her life – and husband – back.

    Instead, she’s trapped in what has been coined the Sandwich Generation – supporting both children and parents – except this particular sarnie is in danger of falling apart.

    Maggie needs to learn that when life is like a club sandwich, it needs the best ingredients – and that includes lashings of love and some knee-trembling romance!

    Purchase Links

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Maggie-Middle-poignant-moving-romantic-ebook/dp/B0CXQ4WQK4

    https://www.amazon.com/Maggie-Middle-poignant-moving-romantic-ebook/dp/B0CXQ4WQK4

    My Review

    Wow. What a simply charming and delightful tale, not without some harrowing scenes. I’ve read a few of these sorts of novels recently, and this one is by far my favourite to date. Told with genuine warmth, just the right touch of ‘reality’ and real laugh-out-loud moments, I loved Maggie in the Middle.

    Our main character, Maggie, is at an unexpected crossroads. No matter what she does, she can’t seem to win the help of her sister or even the respect of her ageing parents. Her adult children are much more understanding. What Maggie needs is a companion of the four-legged variety, and what comes with it is very unexpected.

    I don’t want to spoil this delightful story. Instead, I will say that this takes quite a brutal look at the problems of caring for ageing parents, one with dementia and one who is also starting to struggle, leaving Maggie feeling helpless and worried. It very much addresses the guilt of caring for parents and not being able to do more for them, mostly because they won’t accept that assistance. As the author says, she’s embroiled in such a situation and the scenes feel vivid and real – there is, alas, no magic solution. However, interspersed with these difficult scenes are much warmer ones, offering readers hope that not all is as hopeless as we might think.

    This is such a genuinely uplifting story. It doesn’t shy away from the realities it describes, but it will still fill you with hope and joy, and the humour will make you giggle out loud. Go and read it.

    Meet the author

    Prior to turning her attention to writing, Debbie Viggiano was, for more years than she cares to remember, a legal secretary. She lives with her Italian husband, a rescued pooch from Crete, and a very disgruntled cat. Occasionally her adult children return home bringing her much joy… apart from when they want to raid the fridge or eat her secret stash of chocolate. Tweet @DebbieViggiano or follow her on Facebook!

    Connect with Debbie

    TWITTER:   @DebbieViggiano

    FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/debbie.viggiano.5/

    INSTAGRAM: debbieviggiano

    Posts

    Today, it’s time for something a little different, I’m reviewing The French Cookery School by Caroline James #fiction #newrelease #blogtour

    Here’s the blurb

    Mix together a group of mature students:

    A culinary Sloane, a take-away cook and a food journalist.

    Add in:

    A handsome host

    Season with:

    A celebrity chef

    Bring to the boil:

    At a luxurious cookery school in France!

    Waltho Williams has no idea what he’s letting himself in for when he opens the doors of La Maison du Paradis, his beautiful French home. But with dwindling funds, a cookery school seems like the ideal business plan. 

    Running away from an impending divorce, super-snob Caroline Carrington hopes a luxurious cookery holiday will put her back on her feet. Blackpool fish and chip café owner Fran Cartwright thinks she’s won the lottery when her husband Sid books her on a week working alongside a celebrity chef. Meanwhile, feeling she is fading at fifty, journalist Sally Parker-Brown hopes her press week covering the cookery course will enable her to boost her career.

    But will the eclectic group be a recipe for success, or will the mismatched relationships sink like a souffle? 

    Whip out an apron, grab a wooden spoon and take a culinary trip to La Maison du Paradis, then sit back and enjoy The French Cookery School!

    Purchase Link   

    https://mybook.to/TFCS

    My Review

    The French Cookery School is a life-affirming story of second chances for our cast of 50+ characters set in the heat of Franch in the mid-summer, as well as the heat of the kitchen. Our main characters, and there are really four of them (Fran, Sally, Caroline and Waltho), all have their own struggles to overcome or ambitions to achieve, which sets the scene for a story of facing grief and loss and moving beyond the comfort of how lives have been led for so many years.

    It is an engaging, quick read that is sure to appeal to fans of cookery, France, and second-chance stories who are looking for a more ‘serious’ take on the genre.

    Meet the author

    Caroline James always wanted to write, but instead of taking a literary route, followed a career in the hospitality industry, which included owning a pub and a beautiful country house hotel. She was also a media agent representing celebrity chefs. When she finally glued her rear to a chair and began to write, the words flowed, and several novels later, she has gained many bestseller badges for her books.

    The French Cookery School is Caroline’s tenth novel. Previously, The Cruise, described as: ‘Girl power for the over sixties!’ was an Amazon Top Ten Best Seller. Caroline’s hilarious novels include The Spa Break and The Best Boomerville Hotel, depicted as ‘Britain’s answer to the Best Marigold Hotel’.

    She likes to write in Venus, her holiday home on wheels and in her spare time, walks with Fred, her Westie, or swims in a local lake. Caroline is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association, the SOA, ARRA and the Society of Women’s Writers & Journalists. She is also a speaker with many amusing talks heard by a variety of audiences, including cruise ship guests.

    Books by Caroline James:

    The French Cookery School

    The Cruise

    The Spa Break

    Hattie Goes to Hollywood

    Boomerville at Ballymegille

    The Best Boomerville Hotel

    Coffee Tea the Gypsy & Me

    Coffee Tea the Chef & Me

    Coffee Tea the Caribbean & Me

    Jungle Rock

    Connect with the author

    www.carolinejamesauthor.co.uk

    Twitter: @CarolineJames12

    Facebook: Caroline James Author

    Insta: Caroline James Author

    Today, I’m spotlighting the new release, The Family Home by Lorraine Mace #blogtour #thriller

    Here’s the blurb

    IS BLOOD ALWAYS THICKER THAN WATER?

    Sally has lived in fear of her husband long enough. But after twenty years of suffering, she has been left with nothing of her own and no one to turn to – except her estranged sister, Alison.

    When Alison agrees to help Sally escape, she knows she must return to the one place she was told never to show her face again – the family home – and confront her father once more.

    But soon, Sally begins to suspect that all is not as it seems, and as she is forced to face the ghosts of the past, she discovers there may be secrets hidden in her own memory that are best left buried . . .

    A twisting and compulsive page-turner, with a shocking twist. If you love Keri Beevis, L H Stacey and K. L. Slater, you’ll love The Family Home.

    Purchase Links

    UK Paperback 

    UK Ebook: 

    US Ebook 

    US Paperback

    Meet the author

    Born and raised in South East London, Lorraine lived and worked in South Africa, on the Island of Gozo and in France before settling on the Costa del Sol in Spain. She lives with her partner in a traditional Spanish village inland from the coast and enjoys sampling the regional dishes and ever-changing tapas in the local bars. Her knowledge of Spanish is expanding. To stop her waistline from doing the same, she runs five times a week.

    Lorraine is the author of the D.I. Sterling series and two psychological thrillers, The Guest and The Family Home.

    Connect with the author

    Website: www.lorrainemace.com

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/lomace

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

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

    Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1336955.Lorraine_Mace

    It’s publication day for The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlov by Eleni Kiriacou #blogtour #NewRelease #histfic

    Here’s the blurb

    THEY HAVE TOLD SO MANY LIES ABOUT ME.

    London, 1954. Zina Pavlou, a Cypriot grandmother, waits quietly in the custody of the Metropolitan police. She can’t speak their language, but she understands what their wary looks mean: she has been accused of the brutal murder of her daughter-in-law.

    Eva Georgiou, Greek interpreter for the Met, knows how it feels to be voiceless as an immigrant woman. While she works as Zina’s translator, her obsession with the case deepens, and so too does her bond with the accused murderer.

    Zina can’t speak for herself. She can’t clear her own name. All she can do is wait for the world to decide…

    IS SHE A VICTIM? OR IS SHE A KILLER?

    A compelling historical crime novel set in the Greek diaspora of 1950s London – that’s inspired by a true story – The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou is perfect for fans of Erin Kelly, Sara Collins, and Jessie Burton.

    Purchase Link

     https://geni.us/TUAOZPRRR

    Meet the author


    Eleni Kyriacou     is an award-winning editor and journalist. Her writing has appeared in the Guardian, the Observer, Grazia, and Red, among others. She’s the daughter of Greek Cypriot immigrant parents, and her debut novel, She Came To Stay, was published in 2020. Her latest novel, The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou, is inspired by the true-crime story of the penultimate woman to be executed in Britain. Follow her on and http://www.elenikwriter.com.

    Connect with the author

    Twitter: @EleniKWriter

    Facebook: Elenikwriter

    Website: www.elenikwriter.com

    Aries/Head of Zeus Social Handles

    Twitter: @AriesFiction

    Facebook: Aries Fiction

    Instagram: @headofzeus

    TikTok: @headofzeus

    Website: http://www.headofzeus.com

    Today, I’m sharing my review for The Maiden of Florence by Katherine Mezzacappa #blogtour #histfic #newrelease And there’s a competition too

    Here’s the blurb

    ‘My defloration was talked about in all the courts of Europe. The Prince boasted of his prowess, even as preparations were being made for his wedding, as boldly as if he had ridden across that causeway with bloodstained sheet tied to his lance.’
    1584, Italy: Twenty-year-old Giulia expects she will live and die incarcerated as a silk weaver within the walls of her Florentine orphanage, where she has never so much as glimpsed her own face. This all changes with the visit of the Medici family’s most trusted advisor, promising her a generous dowry and a husband if she agrees to a small sacrifice that will bring honour and glory to her native city. 
    Vincenzo Gonzaga, libertine heir to the dukedom of Mantua, wants to marry the Grand-Duke of Tuscany’s eldest daughter, but the rumours around his unconsummated first marriage must be silenced first. Eager for a dynastic alliance that will be a bulwark against the threat of Protestant heresy beyond the Alps, the Pope and his cardinals turn a blind eye to a mortal sin. 
    A powerful #MeToo story of the Renaissance, based on true events.

    Purchase Links 

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Maiden-Florence-Katherine-Mezzacappa/dp/1914148509

    https://www.amazon.com/Maiden-Florence-Katherine-Mezzacappa/dp/1914148509

    My Review

    Told with the benefit of hindsight by our maiden of Florence, Giulia, The Maiden of Florence is the story of this astounding event and the consequences of it for our fair maiden. The first third of the book is a retelling of what might have befallen Giulia, and events then move on to tell the story of what occurred afterwards, including her eventual marriage. However, the reach of the man behind her involvement is never very far away, despite her resentment of it.

    The narrative allows Giulia to have her happily ever after ‘for now’, but events quickly move on, and she finds herself caught up in the battle to protect her oldest son, seeking aid where she would never have thought to do so until desperate.

    The story is told with compassion and some insight from her husband. The recreation of Florence and Venice in the late 1500s/early 1600s is intriguing while also reflecting her restricted world view—we see only a small area of Florence and Venice. Giulia is rarely, if ever, not subject to some external force, whether it is the benign influence of her husband or other malevolent forces.

    An engaging read, somewhat slower in pace, and sure to delight readers of this era and also narratives featuring strong women who are constrained by the society they live in.

    Meet the author

    Katherine Mezzacappa is an Irish writer of mainly historical fiction, currently living in Italy. She has published several novels under pen names with publishers Bonnier Zaffre and eXtasy. She works as a manuscript assessor for The Literary Consultancy. Katherine reviews for Historical Novel Society’s quarterly journal and is one of the organisers of the Society’s 2022 UK conference. In her spare time she volunteers with a used book charity of which she is a founder member.

    Connect with the author

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/katmezzacappa

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

    https://katherinemezzacappa.ie

    Giveaway to Win a vintage postcard, early 1900s, of the babies from the façade of the Innocenti orphanage. (Open INT)

    *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 Rachel’s Random Resources reserves 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 Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

    http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494586/?

    Today, I’m taking part in the #blogtour for Shadow of the Witch, a 1670s era #horror

    Here’s the blurb

    London, 1677. A house with a dark secret. A lawyer in pursuit of magick. A witch, dead for fifty years.

    Israel Cutler, dealer in second-hand goods, discovers the journals of Doctor Winter. Detailing the doctor’s relationship with a hanged witch, he recognises an opportunity. Seeking out a lawyer he knows with an interest in the occult, Cutler tries to sell the journals, but soon finds himself involved in a terrifying ritual—one that could bring black witch Lizzie Pickin back from the dead. Again.

    Forced into a dangerous partnership, the witch leads Cutler on a trail of murder and revenge.

    In this horror series set in London, Shadow of the Witch is book #2 in the Black Witch Saga.

    Purchase Links

    AMAZON https://geni.us/r4kqMtb

    SMASHWORDS https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1480253

    My Review

    Shadow of the Witch takes us to 1677 London – a London rebuilding in the aftermath of the Great Fire, and to a suitably spooky story.

    Our main character is out to make some money when he takes some books he’s found at an auction to a local lawyer known for being involved in some otherworldly doings. Little does he know what he’s letting himself in for.

    Shadow of the Witch packs a lot of punch in very few pages – as we encounter the witch, Lizzie Pinkin, and her nefarious deeds. She has one thing on her mind, revenge, and our poor main character finds himself helping, whether he wants to or not.

    The author takes the reader on a journey through 1670s London, with an eye for what’s happening after the Great Fire. As a historical fiction reader and author, I really enjoyed this aspect of the story.

    I’ve read quite a few of Colin Garrow’s books now – they’re never fail to disappoint and he seems able to conquer all the genres he writes – from thrilling thrillers, to Geordie crime to Sherlock Holmes-esque tales.

    A really enjoyable and atmospheric tale sure to delight readers.

    Check out my reviews for Colin’s other stories.

    Sherlock Holmes

    Geordie Crime -Blood on the Tyne

    Terminal Black

    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

    Happy publication day to The Mystery of Yew Tree House by Lesley Thomson #blogtour #newrelease

    Here’s the blurb

    EIGHTY YEARS OF SECRETS.
    1940. At Yew Tree House, recently widowed Adelaide Stride is raising her two daughters alone – but it’s not just the threat of German invasion that keeps her up at night. She is surrounded by enemies posing
    as allies and, while war rages, she grows sure that something terrible is about to happen.
    A BODY THAT REVEALS THEM ALL.
    2023. Soon after Stella Darnell begins her holiday at Yew Tree House, a skeleton is found in a pillbox at
    the bottom of the garden. The bullet hole in the skull tells her that the person was murdered.
    This triggers the unravelling of a mystery eighty years in the making. Stella will learn that Adelaide was right to worry – the fighting might have been happening abroad, but the true enemy was always much closer to home…

    A unique take on the traditional murder mystery from critically acclaimed author, Lesley Thomson, for fans of Elly Griffiths, Val McDermid and Mari Hannah.

    Purchase Link

    https://geni.us/TMOYTHRRR

    Meet the author

    Lesley Thomson grew up in west London. Her first novel, A Kind of Vanishing, won the People’s Book Prize in 2010. Her second novel, The Detective’s Daughter, was a #1 bestseller and the resulting series has sold over 800,000 copies. Lesley divides her time between Sussex and Gloucestershire. She lives with her partner and her dog.

    Connect with the author

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/LesleyjmThomson

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

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

    Connect with the publisher

    Twitter: @AriesFiction

    Facebook: Aries Fiction

    Instagram: @headofzeus

    Website: http://www.headofzeus.com

    Time for something a little different, I’m reviewing How To Start A Riot In A Brothel In Thailand By Ordering A Beer And Other Lesser Known Travel Tips #blogtour #bookreview #travelmemoir #competition

    Here’s the blurb

    Book 1 of a hilarious series of travel misadventures and dubious personal introspection by Australian author Simon Yeats, who from an early age learned that the best way to approach the misfortunes of this world is to laugh about it.

    Simon shares his comedic insights into the unusual and uproarious elements of living life as an Aussie ex-pat and having a sense of Wanderlust as pervasive as the Spanish Flu in 1918.

    From how to keep yourself entertained when unwittingly forced to watch 11 hours of live sumo wrestling in Japan, to surviving heartbreak in India at the hands of a French flight attendant, to 48 hours spent in Nepal that qualify as the funniest most gut wrenching travel experience since Captain Bligh was set adrift in the Pacific, to his unsuccessful attempts at avoiding going to a brothel in Thailand.

    Simon Yeats has gone into the world and experienced all the out of the ordinary moments for you to sit back and enjoy the experience without the need to break a leg or rupture a pancreas.

    Purchase Links 

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLDBSXGX

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CLDBSXGX

    My Review

    How to Start a Riot in a Brothel in Thailand by Ordering a Beer and other lesser known travel tips is a mostly light-hearted and fun travel memoir.

    Taking us through a range of memoirs from a visit as a 12-year-old to New Zealand to a 39-year-old retracing those steps with his wife, we are regaled with tales mostly taking place in Oceania throughout the author’s adult life. Some of them are amusing, some of them a little horrifying, and all told with some introspection to place the stories into context. That said, the funniest story (the bath one) is about Yeats travelling home to visit family and the joys of nieces and nephews.

    As someone who doesn’t like to travel (at all), this might seem like a strange memoir to read, and indeed, it assures me that I’m probably quite happy staying at home if these stories are based on real experiences, but I’m always keen to read something sprinkled with light humour. How to Start a Riot fits the bill nicely.

    I would caution that there are some elements of these memoirs that are not totally PC, and that we are treated to a bit of a tirade to begin with, but once beyond that point, the tales are engaging and connect together well.

    This travel memoir will appeal to those who share the same Wanderlust, offering a snapshot from the 1980s onwards. And perhaps those looking for some reassurance that they are, indeed, quite right to stay at home where they need not concern themselves with learning the art of haggling.

    Meet the author

    Simon Yeats has lived nine lives, and by all estimations, is fast running out of the number he has left. His life of globetrotting the globe was not the one he expected to lead. He grew up a quiet, shy boy teased by other kids on the playgrounds for his red hair. But he developed a keen wit and sense of humor to always see the funnier side of life.

    With an overwhelming love of travel, a propensity to find trouble where there was none, and being a passionate advocate of mental health, Simon’s stories will leave a reader either rolling on the floor in tears of laughter, or breathing deeply that the adventures he has led were survived.

    No author has laughed longer or cried with less restraint at the travails of life.

    Connect with the author

    TIK TOK – https://www.tiktok.com/@authoryeats

    INSTAGRAM – https://www.instagram.com/authoryeats/?hl=en

    Giveaway to Win 1 set of all Three Books in Simon Yeats Lesser Known travel tips series in paperback and 1 set in epub (Open to UK / US / Canada).


    Prize includes copies of:

    How to Start a Riot in a Brothel in Thailand by Ordering a Beer and Other Lesser Known Travel Tips

    How to Avoid Getting Mugged in Rio de Janeiro by Singing Songs by The Police and Other Lesser Known Travel Tips

    How to Survive Making Yourself Look Silly While Dancing with the German Mafia at a Bavarian Nightclub and Other Lesser Known Travel Tips

    2 winners – first winner will win the paperbacks, second winner will win the epubs .

    http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494585/?

    *Terms and Conditions –UK / US / Canada 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 Rachel’s Random Resources reserves 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 Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

    I’m really excited to be taking part in today’s blog tour for Race to Novus by RA Clarke #blogtour #newrelease #scifi #review

    Here’s the blurb

    A daughter’s last chance at redemption on an alien planet. A sweeping secret that could not only end her dreams, but her life as well.

    Finn Rucker boards the starship to seek a fresh start as part of a colonizing effort on Joya. The race, sponsored by Governus, yields free land and startup funds for the lucky winners. The number of entrants guarantees someone is going to lose and Finn is determined that she and her bionic horse, Herc, will be among the winners.

    Racing through uncharted jungle to the settlement of Novus, Finn and her fellow racers soon discover that not everything is as it seems – and Governus withheld information from the contestants. Strange beasts attack the racers, mechanical equipment begins to fail, and the very air seems out to get them.

    When all seems lost, a mysterious people arrive and help the racers, revealing the depth of Governus’ deception. Finn will have to keep her pulse pistols close and her new friends closer – but not too close – as they all race to survive the jungle.

    You will love this mashup of Hidalgo and James Cameron’s Avatar as Finn navigates the guilt of her past, the promise of a future, and the imminent dangers of her present.

    Purchase Links

    https://www.amazon.ca/Race-Novus-R-Clarke-ebook/dp/B0CSC5YS3P

    https://www.amazon.com/Race-Novus-R-Clarke-ebook/dp/B0CSC5YS3P

    Publisher’s website: https://www.cloakedpress.com

    My Review

    Race to Novus is a really fun, action-packed sci-fi read. I’ve not read a great deal of sci-fi of late, but this is the second book in a month, and it’s been very enjoyable.

    Our main character, Finn, and her trusty, half-bionic horse, Herc take us quickly to Novus, as the space ship lands on the planet and the race begins. While on board, Finn has already forged some friendships, and I enjoyed that these relationships come to us fully formed, allowing the action to get underway quickly.

    But, all is not as it seems on Novus, and every so often, we are treated to a brief interlude where we begin to discover the depth of the subterfuge used to get Finn and her friends to Novus.

    As well as the friendships, the galaxy that Finn occupies is also fully-formed. We’re quickly told how things stand, and why some of the different species like one another, while others don’t. There is also a genuine sense that this is ‘every species for themselves’ until things start to go wrong, and then these previous alliances come to the fore, as danger abounds and everyone finds their lives under threat.

    This is a really intriguing take on a good-old-fashioned land grab and competition – it has elements of the Hunger Games and indeed, the Avatar description is also applicable. A refreshing read. I’m really glad I decided to try it.

    Race to Novus is available now.

    Meet the author

    R.A. Clarke is a former police officer turned stay-at-home mom living with her family in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. Besides raising two rambunctious boys, soaking in lake time, and acting in community theatre, R.A.’s spare time is spent plotting fantastical novels and multi-genre short fiction. Her tales have been featured in various publications, and have won international writing contests, such as Red Penguin Books’ humour contest, the Writer’s Weekly 24-hour contest, The Writer’s Workout: Writer’s Games, and the 2023 Write Fighters 3-Day Novella Challenge. She was also a finalist for both the 2021 Futurescapes Award and the 2022 Dark Sire Awards.

    R.A. Clarke writes and illustrates a children’s chapter book series for ages 7-10 as Rachael Clarke as well. The first book in that series, The Big Ol’ Bike—a story about a smaller than average kid with a huge heart—was named a Females of Fiction Award finalist by Hindi’s Libraries in 2021. To learn more, please visit: www.rachaelclarkewrites.com.

    Connect with the author

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    Website: www.rachaelclarkewrites.com

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