A Song for Tomorrow - Alice Peterson

About the book… 

Tom fell in love with Alice the moment he saw her. He realises that being with her will not be easy, but she is a force of nature, a burst of sunlight in his otherwise ordinary world. 

Some people might look at Alice and think she has everything, but Alice knows she is not like other women. Her life is complicated, unpredictable, difficult. Alice does not like pity. All she wants to do, has ever wanted to do, is sing.

Alice has been told not to follow her dreams. But when fate has already dealt a tough hand, it’s time to stop listening to everyone else and only follow their hearts.

What readers are saying about A Song for Tomorrow

‘A tremendously inspiring story’ Handwritten Girl 

‘A Song for Tomorrow is about a woman who strives to follow her dreams’ Chicklit club 

‘A Song for Tomorrow is the best example of how genius a writer Alice Peterson is – I can’t stop admiring how wonderfully and effortlessly she brings all the emotions to life … beautiful, captivating… I can’t recommend it highly enough’ On my Bookshelf

‘The most beautiful, moving, inspirational book I have ever read. Its story will stay with me for life, and will inspire me every single day’ Jill loves to read 

5 Stars ‘A moving story of guts and determination!’ Breakaway reviewers 

‘A beautiful story… full of hope, strength, love and determination’ Sincerely Book Angels 

Buy Links: 

About the author… 

At the age of eighteen Alice had been awarded a tennis scholarship to America when she experienced pain in her right hand. It was rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and she hasn’t picked up a tennis racket since, a sadness that shall always be with her. The theme of disability features in her fiction, but there is nothing gloomy about Alice or her work. Rather this gives her fiction the added dimension of true poignancy.

Contact Links: 

Goodreads / Website / Twitter

My thoughts…

Wow, how privileged do I feel to have met Alice Peterson at the Books and the City Spring Blogger event, not only that, she read from and signed a copy of her latest book A Song for Tomorrow. I had already pre-ordered a kindle copy of this book which hit my kindle on publication day and I saved it for my holiday last week.  I was warned I'd need tissues, something that SJ at Books and the City had provided in the goody bag and they weren't wrong.

A Song for Tomorrow has to be one of the most breath takingly beautiful books I have ever read.  It is based on the true story of Alice Martineau, an incredibly strong, determined woman whose grit and determination propels her towards her goal of becoming a singer and securing a recording contract. 

Alice has the odds stacked against her, she has Cystic Fibrosis a condition that affects her lungs and breathing, the very things that are needed to sing. Growing up being told she'd never make it in music and being bullied and taunted at school are the very things that give her the backbone to try.

Alice Peterson has written a deeply moving book that is inspirational and moving beyond belief - written in such a way that leaves the reader in no doubt as to the extent of the physical and mental challenges faced by Alice and her family, yet at no point did I feel pity for any of them.   I felt the style Alice Peterson wrote A Song For Tomorrow was such that the reader gets to walk a mile in Alice's shoes gaining a small understanding of what her life entailed. It wasn't all sad, Alice had a fantastic humour and joy for life that shines throughout the story.  The love and support she both receives and gives with her friends and family  makes what could be a very sad book up-lifting.  Her character exudes a strength and determination that totally amazed me - her cup wasn't just half full it was brimming, when really she could have been forgiven if it was half empty.

I loved her relationship with Tom, it wasn't all hearts and flowers and the reactions of his parents and best friend when faced with the reality of Alice's condition, although not pleasant for Alice; was probably very realistic - it is human nature after all to protect our loved ones from potential hurt and they were no different.

This is a book I'll be shouting about for a long time to come - it is humbling, breathe takingly beautiful and a book that I know I shall read again and again.  Thank you SJ & Books and the City for introducing me to this amazing author Alice Peterson - a shining star in the Simon and Schuster family that is every bit as strong, determined and gorgeous as Alice Martineau.

Dead Hope - Nicky Wells

About the book...

Cat Hope doesn’t want to go to prison. She needs a job, and she needs it fast: judge’s orders.

Kay Mahon, office worker by day and hacker by night, is on the run from a past life that he’d rather not remember.

When their paths cross, they discover that the night that derailed Cat’s future nineteen long years ago also changed the path of Kay’s life. Confused and intrigued, they begin to investigate the truth behind the deaths of the successful rock star couple Jackie and Adam Hope. Little do they know that their quest is putting Cat in grave danger. 

Buy Links:

KINDLE: UK / USA

PAPERBACK: UK / USA

About the Author...

Nicky Wells writes captivating romance and breathtaking thrillers featuring famous (or infamous!) feisty heroes and extraordinary villains. DEAD HOPE is her eighth book and the first published novel in her “Wake Up Dead” themed thriller series, with the next two books scheduled for release through the course of 2017 and 2018. Nicky has previously published seven works of romantic fiction both with US publishing house, Sapphire Star Publishing, and independently.

Born in Germany, Nicky moved to the United Kingdom in 1993 and currently lives in Lincoln with her husband and their two boys. She loves listening to rock music, dancing, and eating lobsters. When she’s not writing, she’s hopelessly addicted to reading crime novels by the truck load.

Nicky’s books: 

Sophie’s Turn | Sophie’s Run | Sophie’s Encore | Spirits of Christmas

| Fallen for Rock | Fairy Tale in New York | Seven Years Bad Sex

Contact Links:

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon | Goodreads | Pinterest | Google+

Q and A....

Question: You’ve been a bit quiet this past year or so. What’s been happening? Where have you been?

Nicky: After the release of my last novel, the romantic comedy “Seven Years Bad Sex,” I decided to take a little breather and to allow myself some time to think about where I was going to go next, writing-wise. I took a whole six months off, and I spent that time with family and decorating a part of our house. Wouldn’t you know it, six months flew by, and I found myself brimming with ideas for not one but several books, and I got busy writing and planning and writing again.

Question: Tell us about DEAD HOPE. How did you come up with the idea?

Nicky: DEAD HOPE was born with the working title of “Deep Cover”.  When the idea came to me, I was still planning to write a romance featuring rock stars, and the key nugget is: what would happen if you transplanted a world-famous rock star into an office job like you and me might hold down? Moreover, what would happen if you removed that rock star from their natural habitat, the glittering metropolis, and placed them into a sleepy rural town? Romantic and comedy ideas flowed galore. 

Question: So, DEAD HOPE was going to be a romantic comedy?

Nicky: A romantic comedy-slash-suspense, yes. That was the plan.

Question: How did you get from romantic comedy-slash-suspense to thriller? That’s quite a leap.

Nicky: It might look that way, but it was actually a gradual progression. I’m an OCD planner. I can’t write if I haven’t got the book planned out in minute detail, so I sat down and started weaving all my wonderful ideas together. But there was one central question I couldn’t answer: Why. Why would this whole thing happen? What would bring the rock star to the office job in the middle of nowhere?

Question: And?

Nicky: I did a spider map of all the possible scenarios that could have got the rock star into his unusual circumstances, and I got a bit carried away. I allowed myself to really think out of the box, and suddenly one scenario jumped out at me that turned the plot entirely on its head. Funny how a small idea can prompt a cataclysmic change! My hero turned into a heroine, and while she’s the daughter of a famous rock star couple, she isn’t a celebrity in her own right. But at that point, the romance theme was still dominant.

Question: What happened next?

Nicky: I finished planning and started writing. And as soon as I started writing, the thriller and crime ideas just took off. This baby wanted to be something completely different from what I had envisaged, so I had to abandon writing and re-plan. I went deep on the logistics of my core crime, my mystery, and I learned quite a bit about court and police procedures and forensics, more so than is evident in the story but lots of stuff that’ll come in handy in my next stories. In this way, DEAD HOPE turned from a romantic suspense into a crime thriller with a strong romance subplot.

Question: But there is still some romance?

Nicky: There is still some romance. 

Question: What about blood and gore?

Nicky: That, not so much. I don’t like blood and gore and while there is some—it is a crime story, after all—the novel is all about solving the mystery. I guess I’m trying to follow in the tradition of Agatha Christie and Sue Grafton, not that I could ever hope to aspire to match their genius.

Question: Go on then, sell it to me. What’s DEAD HOPE all about?

Nicky: All right… here goes the elevator pitch! 

A unique and delicious cocktail of crime, suspense and romance, “DEAD HOPE” is a compulsive page turner.

Cat Hope doesn’t want to go to prison. Kay Mahon is on the run from a past life that he’d rather not remember. When their paths cross, they begin to investigate the truth behind the deaths of Cat’s parents, the successful rock star couple Jackie and Adam Hope. Little do they know that their quest is putting Cat in grave danger... 

The Things I Should Have Told You - Carmel Harrington

About the book… 

Every family has a story…But for the Guinness family a happy ending looks out of reach. Olly and Mae's marriage is crumbling, their teenage daughter Evie is on a mission to self-destruct and their beloved Pops is dying of cancer. Their once strong family unit is slowly falling apart.

But Pops has one final gift to offer his beloved family – a ray of hope to cling to. As his life's journey draws to a close, he sends his family on an adventure across Europe in a camper van, guided by his letters, his wisdom and his love.

Because Pops knows that all his family need is time to be together, to find their love for each other and to find their way back home…

‘Carmel Harrington…will make you see life in a different way’ Woman’s Way

Buy Links: 

Amazon UK / Amazon US

About the author… 

Irish Times Bestseller, Carmel Harrington is an award winning author from Co. Wexford, where she lives with her husband and two children, Amelia (6) and Nate (4).

The Things I Should Have Told You (HarperCollins), was published in September 2016. Her page-turning novels are to be published worldwide, translated into eight different languages. 

Carmel is the Chairperson of Wexford Literary Festival, of which she co-founded. She is a regular on Irish TV, as one of the panelists on TV3’s Midday show. She is also a guest panelist and book reviewer for South East Radio’s Morning Mix and writes feature articles for many newspapers and magazines. A popular keynote speaker she has given talks in Ireland, UK & USA.

A stay at home mum, Carmel juggled babies and books to become a success story in the digital publishing world with the digital first imprint Harper Impulse. Every Time A Bell Rings, The Life You Left and Kindle Book of The Year & Romantic eBook of the Year - Beyond Grace’s Rainbow were all eBook bestsellers. 

But her dream to be published traditionally has now come true, with her move to HarperFiction. The Things I Should Have Told You is her first trade paperback and is on sale in bookshops nationwide. It follows in audio format December 2016 and mass paperback in UK & Ireland January 2017. Foreign translations have been sold to Hungary, Finland, Norway and Sweden so far. 

Carmel has been dubbed the Queen of Emotional Writing and has been compared to one of her heroes, Maeve Binchy. She writes with warmth and compassion about characters so believable that they could be sitting beside you.

Contact Links: 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HappyMrsH

Website: http://carmelharrington.com/

My thoughts…

I was given a copy of this book by Jaime Frost at harper Collins in exchange for an honest review, something which I'm more than happy to do.  Carmel Harrington is an author that makes you live inside her books, from the very first page you'll be hooked.

Olly, Mae, Evie and Jamie are a family that are on the brink of totally falling apart.  Nobody is communicating properly with each other all all bar Jamie are so entrenched in their own problems that they shut each other out.  Olly was made redundant and became a house husband, Mae feels redundant as both a wife and mother and daughter Evie has a near death experience which pulls the family up short.  Pops, Ollie's dad lives with them and is terminally ill, watching his family disintegrate before his eyes is just too much for him to bear.  On the day of his funeral they open a letter for him that will change their lives forever. He knows what a lovely, tight knot family they once were and wants to give them the chance to find themselves and each other again - he sends them on an eight week adventure across Europe in 'Nomad' the camper van. To say it's a shock and they're not all happy at the thought of spending eight weeks in a confined space would be an understatement.

This book is magical, it made me cry so many times I lost count, it made me smile continuously and laugh out loud at some of the scenario's they found themselves in.  Carmel has created characters that will pull at your heart strings and she takes us on a journey of discovery both of places and experiences and about the Guinness family too. It is a book that won't fail to make you look at your own life too.

Life is too short, it should be filled with happy memories and talking openly and honestly all the time would alleviate many problems.  Inevitably life takes it's toll on relationships and family but love, laughter and communication is key.  We all take our friends and family and the things they do for us for granted but Carmel Harrington, through The Things I Should Have Told You, highlights the importance of taking the time to say little things that let people know how much you care and appreciate them and the things they do for us and most importantly filling your life with experiences, removing the mental barriers that stop us.

I have a caravan and my husband has often suggested taking it to Europe and I've always got a reason not to.  I so want to go now.  Reading this book and living the Guinness family life was so uplifting. The places that the Guinness family visit and the experiences they have on the way are described in such a way I feel I was there. I've sat on a campsite and people watched, sniggering at the 'newbies, setting up and trying to encourage a sullen, teenager into trying new food - been there, it wasn't a success.  I thought it was just us!  

I highly recommend this book, it is my favourite read of Carmel Harrington's and is a book that you can't fail to fall in love with - from the characters to the journey across Europe - I'm off now to get the maps out and make some plans.

The Girl Before - J P Delaney

About the book...

Enter the world of One Folgate Street and discover perfection . . . but can you pay the price?

For all fans of The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl comes this spellbinding Hitchcockian thriller which takes psychological suspense to the next level

Jane stumbles on the rental opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to live in a beautiful ultra-minimalist house designed by an enigmatic architect, on condition she abides by a long list of exacting rules. After moving in, she discovers that a previous tenant, Emma, met a mysterious death there - and starts to wonder if her own story will be a re-run of the girl before. As twist after twist catches the reader off guard, Emma's past and Jane's present become inexorably entwined in this tense, page-turning portrayal of psychological obsession.

Following in the footsteps of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train, The Girl Before is being brought to the big screen. The film is set to be directed by Academy Award-winning director Ron Howard. 

About the author...

The Girl Before is the first psychological thriller from J. P. Delaney, a pseudonym of a writer who has previously published best-selling fiction under other names who is also creative director at major UK advertising agency.. 

Buy Links:

Amazon UK / Amazon US

My thoughts...

Firstly, huge thanks to Alainna at Quercus books for allowing me to be part of the blog tour for this amazing book.

One Folgate Street is a unique house on the books of an estate agent, applications to live there only offered on rare occasions and accepted only after an interview with the architect. The Girl Before follows Jane as she begins her tenancy in the house and discovers The Girl living there Before her Emma died tragically in the house.

The story is told from the lives of both girls Emma-before and Jane-now but is as much about the house and architect Edward Monkton.  Tragedy wraps itself like a blanket around them all, the girls were seeking solace and a reason to escape into the sanctuary that was One Folgate Street. Whilst Edward, who designed the house after tragically losing his wife and son is an enigma.

This was a compelling read that drew me in from the very start, the short snappy chapters and slow build up of the character development added to the mystery.  Jane and Emma so very different in character yet both living mirrored lives.  The concept of living in a house that adapted to moods, time, people was something that both repelled and attracted me.  The house on one hand a sanctuary, on the other a prison was as real as any of the characters and I yo-yoed between liking it and not.  With Edward pulling the strings, using the house to play them both.  He was a character that my opinion is still divided on - his soul guarded by the architecture he designs with it slipping every now and then to reveal a character so complex that I never truly understood. 

J P Delaney played ping pong with my mind, dragging me back and forth between what I view as acceptable behaviour and plain weirdness.  Building the tension like tugging on an elastic band - pulling it tight then letting it go. It is a psychological thriller with a difference, I never felt fear or that heart pounding adrenalin rush - it was more like being slowly mentally drugged until I hadn't a clue, not guessing the real 'villain' of the story until it was played out for real on the pages.  So many times I was sure I knew what was happening only to have my  ideas shattered.  

There isn't many books that I would read for a second time, not because I didn't like them but because time doesn't permit - I feel I want to read this again now I know the outcome - I was going to say full story but I'm not sure I do.  Such an addictive read that I compel others to read - it is a book that will provoke a lot of conversation whether you loved it or hated it - I do believe that you have to suspend reality and buy into a book and The Girl Before is worth doing that for.

White Lies and Wishes - Cathy Bramley

About the book...

What happens when what you wish for is only half the story...?

Flirtatious, straight-talking Jo Gold says she’s got no time for love; she’s determined to save her family’s failing footwear business.

New mother Sarah Hudson has cut short her maternity leave to return to work. She says she’ll do whatever it takes to make partner at the accountancy firm.

Bored, over-eating housewife Carrie Radley says she just wants to shift the pounds – she’d love to finally wear a bikini in public.

The unlikely trio meet by chance one winter’s day, and in a moment of ‘Carpe Diem’ madness, embark on a mission to make their wishes come true by September.

Easy. At least it would be, if they hadn’t been just the teensiest bit stingy with the truth…

With hidden issues, hidden talents, and hidden demons to overcome, new friends Jo, Carrie and Sarah must admit to what they really, really want, if they are ever to get their happy endings.

A feel-good romantic comedy that's guaranteed to make you smile - perfect for fans of Carole Matthews, Trisha Ashley and Katie Fforde.

Your favourite authors have loved reading bestselling Cathy Bramley:

‘Delightfully warm with plenty of twists and turns’ Trisha Ashley

‘Engaging characters and a sweeping romance. This is delightful!’ Katie Fforde

‘A witty, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy’ Miranda Dickinson

‘The perfect romantic tale, to warm your heart and make you smile.’ Ali McNamara

About the author...

Cathy Bramley is the author of the bestselling romantic comedies Ivy Lane, Appleby Farm, Wickham Hall and The Plumberry School of Comfort Food (all four-part serialised novels) and Conditional Love. 

She lives in a Nottinghamshire village with her family and a dog.

Cathy loves to hear from her readers. 

You can get in touch with Cathy Bramley via:

Website: www.CathyBramley.co.uk, 

Facebook: Facebook.com/CathyBramleyAuthor 

Twitter: twitter.com/CathyBramley.

Buy Link:

Amazon UK

My thoughts...

It's no secret I'm a big fan of Cathy's and when I heard she had a new book coming out I waved my hand madly and was fortunate enough to receive an ARC for reviewing - huge thanks to Becky Hunter.

There are a handful of authors that I always pick up their latest book and read without even reading the blurb - from the very first book I read of Cathy Bramley's she was added to this list.  I had no idea what to expect with White Lies and Wishes and my expectations of a 'Cathy' book were met and then some.

Three women, Carrie, Jo and Sarah find themselves drawn together at the funeral of a mutual friends husband.  In my experience the normal conversations at funerals turn to our own lives and vowing not to put things off and fill our days because life is too short etc.  The girls chat and decide not to create a bucket list as such but to voice what their life wishes would be if they could be granted and agree to meet up to try and help support each other towards their goals.

This book is about the strength of friendship, how it's alright to aim for the impossible and that as we change and grow our hopes and dreams might change too and that is okay too.

The girls all tell each other their wishes but, it's soon very obvious that they haven't been entirely honest with either themselves or each other.  It isn't that they tell out and out lies more that they hold back.  It made me think, we all have an inbuilt need to protect ourselves laying your sole bare for others to see isn't easy - feeling mocked or having our ideas thought as stupid isn't top of anybodies list.

I loved the way that the girls true characters came out in the end - being drawn and repelled to each other like magnets.  There's always a mother type, the friend we know will sort our problems and point us back in the right direction - in this case it was Jo.  Although it has to be said she probably wouldn't have cast herself in the role - it's funny what others see in us that we don't.

As the story progressed they re-evaluated what they wanted from their wishes and surprisingly it wasn't always what they thought. I really loved the drive and determination of all three and when they each sat back, re-evaluated and went for their real dreams it was fab.

White Lies and Wishes made me think, how often do I open up and tell even my closest friends the whole story?   It also re-iterated something I already knew - friends , particularly close friends are important and friendship is two-way.

This is a book that makes you sit up and think, dreams are good but why not go for them, the reality might not be what you dreamt of, it could be better.  With the support of friends and family anything is possible.  I am going to suggest to my friends we put some wishes/goals in a jar and support each other to do them - such a fun positive way to start the year.

I can't recommend this book enough it was just lovely. Thank you Cathy for another book that I was sad to finish, characters that I could empathise with and a story that was up-lifting and thought provoking - you are the best :)

Little Girl Lost - Carol Wyer

(Detective Robyn Carter crime thriller series Book 1) 

About the book...

A perfect family hiding disturbing secrets. A killer who wants the truth to be told. 

A teacher is found dead, close to the school where he works. 

A millionaire is murdered at a local reservoir. 

For Detective Robyn Carter, there’s no obvious link between the victims. Apart from one thing. The bodies both have the same grisly trophy beside them - a bloodstained toy rabbit. 

As Robyn starts to delve into the lives of the two dead men, her investigations lead her to Abigail, perfect wife and mother to beautiful little Izzy. What was Abigail’s connection to the victims? And why is she receiving threatening messages from an anonymous number? 

But as Robyn starts to inch closer to finding the killer, Izzy is abducted. 

Unless Robyn gets to the twisted individual in time, a little girl will die …

Gripping, fast paced and nail bitingly tense, this serial killer thriller will chill you to the bone. Discover Carol Wyer’s new series – at a special launch price.

Buy Links: 

UK: http://amzn.to/2eMFrTu 

US:http://amzn.to/2e69S7l 

About the author...

A humorous writer and blogger whose light hearted novels and articles encourage others to laugh at life and grow old disgracefully.

Her best selling novels have won several awards for humour and her witty non-fiction book, Grumpy Old Menopause won The People's Book Prize Award in 2015.

She has been interviewed on numerous BBC radio stations including BBC Radio 2 Simon Mayo and on BBC Breakfast television and Sky.

Carol writes for magazines and websites and also blogs for the Huffington Post HUFF/50.

As a child Carol Wyer was always moving, and relied on humour to fit in at new schools. A funny short story won her popularity, planting the seed of becoming a writer. Her career spans dry cleaning, running a language teaching company, and boxercise coaching. Now writing full-time, Carol has several books published by Safkhet and journalism in many magazines.

Carol won The People’s Book Prize Award for non-fiction (2015), and can sometimes be found performing her stand-up comedy routine Laugh While You Still Have Teeth.

Connect with Carol Wyer:  tp://www.carolewyer.co.uk

My thoughts...

Huge thanks to Bookouture for an ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Something which I'm more than happy to give.  

Wow, where do I begin? I began this book knowing it was a psychological thriller but at the same time expecting it to be a little bit light hearted because it was written by Carol Wyer - she writes humorous, laugh out loud books - something this absolutely was not!  

I'm amazed as the ability to switch genre and produce a book that is both captivating and gritty making me want to read on and on - if only lunch breaks were endless, yet at the same time aspects of it were difficult to read.

Robyn Carter is working at a detective agency whilst taking a recuperating break from the police where she is a detective - she finds herself embroiled in a private investigation that she quickly realises can only be dealt with by the police.  Due back at work shortly she returns early to take on the case.

Carol has woven the lives of the many characters intricately into the plot.  It took me a little bit of keeping up with at first - we have the missing person, an ex music teacher who Robyn was initially commissioned to look for as part of a Private Investigation.  Then a murder made to look like an accident whist out jogging.  A child is abducted and the realisation that all of them are connected in someway to Abigail who is being blackmailed by an anonymous source makes for many chest tightening moments.

The story is told in both the present and the past and by the victims and the murderer - how Carol Wyer kept all those balls in the air I don't know but I'm thankful she did.  This is a fast paced book with short snappy chapters that leave no time to ponder as the plot unravels at an alarming rate.  A grippingly, captivating story that is just that little bit too awful for words - a story that made me want to read between my fingers at times. To say this is Carol Wyer's first foray into the thriller world is beyond amazing and Little Girl Lost is just the first in a series.

Thank you Carol for such a brilliant debut thriller, I look forward to book 2.

Watch Me - Angela Clarke

About the book...

YOU HAVE SIX SECONDS TO READ THIS MESSAGE…

The body of a 15-year-old is found hours after she sends a desperate message to her friends. It looks like suicide, until a second girl disappears.

This time, the message is sent directly to the Metropolitan Police – and an officer’s younger sister is missing.

DS Nasreen Cudmore and journalist Freddie Venton will stop at nothing to find her. But whoever’s behind the notes is playing a deadly game of hide and seek – and the clock is ticking.

YOU HAVE 24 HOURS TO SAVE THE GIRL’S LIFE. MAKE THEM COUNT.

About the author...

Angela Clarke is an author, playwright, columnist, screenwriter and broadcaster. Her debut crime thriller Follow Me was named Amazon’s Rising Star Debut of the Month January 2016, longlisted for the Crime Writer’s Association Dagger in the Library 2016, and shortlisted for the Dead Good Reader Page Turner Award 2016. Watch Me is the second instalment in the Social Media Murder Series. Angela’s memoir Confessions of a Fashionista is an Amazon Fashion Chart bestseller. 

Her play, The Legacy, enjoyed its first run and rave reviews at The Hope Theatre in June 2015. She hosted the current affairs show Outspoken on Radio Verulam for six months in 2014, and has appeared on the BBC World Service, BBC Radio 4, BBC Three Counties and more. Her journalist contributions include: The Guardian, Independent Magazine, The Daily Mail, Cosmopolitan, and Writing magazine. 

In 2015 Angela was awarded the Young Stationers' Prize for achievement and promise in writing and publishing. She volunteers with Womentoring, and the RSA Meet a Mentor scheme, and others, to help encourage and support marginalised artists into the industry. 

A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Angela lives with her husband and far too many books

My thoughts...

Avon books have just the best marketing campaigns and when I received an advance copy of Watch Me along with a mirror, giving me 24 hours to tweet a photograph I was intrigued.  I wasn't disappointed, Watch Me is a gripping, emotionally charged read that at times is so fast paced you don't have time to think and then slows just enough to grab a breathe before hurtling straight back int the abyss.  To say I was totally hooked is an understatement.  Angela Clarke pulls no punches, reading the story set over a 24 hour period was a pure adrenalin rush.  

D S Nasreen Cudmore is part of the investigating team, investigating a suicide note that was circulated by snapchat just before a teenage girl killed herself.  It all kicks off when their phones start pinging.  Snapchat again - this time an ultimatum.  It would appear another girl, a bit too close to the team has been taken hostage and the potential killer has given just 24 hours to find her or he'll kill her. Are the two linked is the question immediately on everyone's lips?

Nasreen drags childhood friend Freddie Venton into the investigation.  She helped with a previous case known as the #hashtagmurders - where the killer taunted the police via twitter.  Are the two cases connected? So many questions rattled around my brain as I raced around London on the hunt for a potential murderer with them.

I admire Angela Clarke's ability to produce characters that are hard and gritty, who get right under your skin.  Her ability to cut to the chase with sentences devoid of excess words - straight to the point and unambiguous then switching back with just a few words that showed the softer, more human side to each and every one of the team.  From Nasreen and Freddie, to top dog DCI Jack Burgone, DI McCain and even DI Pete Saunders. The latter and Nasreen butting heads at every turn with DI McCain playing good cop to his bad cop image.

My one regret is that I didn't log my bpm on my Fitbit - it went through the roof, especially in the final chapters - a total captivating read that I haven't stopped telling everyone about.  It's not often I can't make several stabs in the dark as to who the 'guilty party' or what the motive is but this time, I hadn't a clue. There are some revelations that left me thinking WOW I didn't see that coming and I don't know anyone who wouldn't be captivated and gripped by Watch Me.  

Huge thanks to both Avon Books for the opportunity to read Watch Me and a special big thanks to Angela Clarke - this book was blimmin brilliant! 

Angela Clarke Guest post...

How to find Your Writing Muse

Finding that creative spark to keep you motivated can be tricky, when ultimately the writing buck stops with you. Some call it Writer’s Block, I prefer to think of it as merely a passing trip hazard. Block sounds so immovable, right? Whatever you call it, we all panic when we think we’ve lost our writing mojo. So here are some ways I’ve found to help you calm and tap back into your creativity. It’s time to get your muse back on side: 

Go for a Walk

Get your coat and get outside! A change of scenery can help clear your mind and let your subconscious get back to working on your story. Plus, you never know what you might see that can help you untangle that messy plot point.

Have a Shower or a Bath

Many authors I know have confessed that the perfect idea just popped into their head while they were washing their hair. Something about being in the water just does it for your writer brain and gets those creative juices flowing. Have a soak. Play with your rubber ducky. And watch your muse float to the surface. 

Read a Book

Taking a break and reading someone else’s story for a while can help your mind relax and unwind. It’s also a good way to “refill the creative well” so to speak, since you’re not going around in circles on your own story. The same can be said for watching telly, or a film, or checking out an art gallery or museum. Ideas are all around us, sometimes we’re just looking in the wrong place.

Do Something Fun

When you’re frustrated by the words not coming, or you just can’t get the plot to fit together, you need to take a mental break. Removing yourself from your stress is the best way to get your muse to sit up and pay attention. Start a new hobby, or simply carry on with something you already do (see below) and you’ll find those words will start creeping back into your mind.

Spend Time Doing Other Creative Things

A lot of writer’s I know have multiple creative outlets. Whether you take photographs, crochet, knit, scrapbook or paint (I took up painting and drawing last year) - doing other creative tasks helps when your writing when it’s going slow. Your inner muse still gets the fulfilment of creating something, and you also get the benefit of productive relaxation. You can even tie it into your book itself.  Stuck on how to choreograph a fight scene? Draw some stick figures or play with some action figures to work it out. Can’t work out how to describe your heroine’s hair? Go through some magazines and cut out all the ones that look like her and stick them on a piece of paper. 

Write Something Entirely Different

A lot of the ideas above help when you’re mid-book, but what about that initial inspiration? You might have an idea but you’re just not quite sure how to implement it. So shake it up and write something completely random. There are dozens of ways of doing this. You can look up prompts online and write a paragraph based on it. Or open a journal or notebook and just start writing anything that comes to mind (even if it’s “I don’t know what to write!”). Fill two or three pages with a stream of consciousness. Get your brain engaged in the act of writing even if you’re not actively working on your story. The results may just surprise you.

There are countless ways to find your inner muse, but don’t come to rely on it. Sometimes you just gotta sit down and get on with it. That way, when the muse shows up, they’ll find you already working. And that’s the best position to be in. Good luck!