Murder at the Country Fair by Merryn Allingham

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I’ve never read a Flora Steele mystery before, so I was excited to be part of this tour. I had to say that the concept of someone murdered by a very large cheese was both humorous and horrifying, and it set the tone for this cozy mystery – at times I laughed out loud. Overall, this was a satisfying and fun read. I look forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you for my copy and for having me as part of the tour.

Here’s the scoop:

When a body is discovered at their local country fair, amateur detectives Flora and Jack Carrington agree this death smells suspicious – and it’s not just the killer cheese. It’s the scent of murder…

Sussex, 1960: It’s the perfect day for Abbeymead’s autumn fair. The village green has been transformed into a riot of stalls and tents, and Flora and Jack are keen to sample all the local produce. But when local cheesemaker Gilbert Barrow crashes into the fair, he brings the festivities to a dead halt.

Flora rushes to the van and finds Gilbert slumped over the wheel, killed by his prize-winning round of cheese, which has broken free of its bonds. Flora is immediately alert – surely Gilbert would have been more careful with his treasured prize… and with his life?

Certain there’s more to this than just a tragic accident, Flora and Jack begin investigating Gilbert’s close circle – his jealous cousin, Bea, his corporate dairy rival, Reginald, and his estranged wife, Vivienne. When Gilbert’s new girlfriend is attacked, the race to find out who had the biggest motive heats up faster than fondue. But can Flora and Jack sniff out the killer – or will their investigation crumble before the murderer strikes again…?

A completely gripping and page-turning, charming cozy mystery novel packed to the brim with brilliant twists. Fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and J.R. Ellis will love Murder at the Country Fair.

About the Author:

Merryn taught university literature for many years, and it took a while to pluck up the courage to begin writing herself. Bringing the past to life is a passion and her historical fiction includes Regency romances, wartime sagas and timeslip novels, all of which have a mystery at their heart. As the books have grown darker, it was only a matter of time before she plunged into crime with a cosy crime series set in rural Sussex against the fascinating backdrop of the 1950s.

Merryn lives in a beautiful old town in Sussex with her husband and one last cat, Bluebell. When she’s not writing, she tries to keep fit with adult ballet classes and plenty of walking.

BIRDBRAINS: A Lyrical Guide to Washington State Birds by Susan Rich, Stephanie Delaney, and Hiroko Seki

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I recently was offered this book by the authors’ very pleasant publicist. Since it was okay that I did NOT live in Washington, I happily accepted it since I do love birds (but don’t know much about them).

This was such a unique approach to learning about and celebrating birds! A “lyrical guide” is how it’s framed, and each entry has hand-drawn art depicting the bird, as well as a poem. It was really a delight to look through this book and I am so thankful for the print copy I received. I thought as I read this that it would make a lovely gift for someone living in or moving to Washington State, or really just for anyone who loves and is interested in birds!

Thank you so much for thinking of me and reaching out!

Here’s the scoop:

Birdbrains: A Lyrical Guide to Washington State Birds is a one-of-a-kind Washington State bird guide. The anthology includes original pen and ink sumi-e paintings by artist Hiroko Seki, bird fact notes, and short poems/stories/memoir. Poems/prose are bird-focused rather than human centered. The bird notes include information about song, call, mating rituals, habitat, migration, climate, dark comedy, and fun facts.

Birdbrains brings to the stage 107 species of Washington birds in the words of ninety-eight talented poets and writers. The contributors come from different regions of Washington State, from other parts of the USA, and even from faraway lands such as Ireland. In the mix of talent, there are contributions from four Washington State Poet Laureates (Elizabeth Austen, Claudia Castro Luna, Kathleen Flenniken, and Derek Sheffield), three Pulitzer Prize winners (Rae Armantrout, Ted Kooser, and Diane Seuss), and a special collaborative poem by Ann Teplick’s young students at Seattle Children’s.

(summary from Amazon)

Product Review: the Makana Mask

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My friends over at Team Chic Execs sent me an offer to trial a Makana Mask – https://makanamasks.com/ – and to give some feedback. I don’t really get too many offers for non-book items but a mask is something I can use and I was happy to give it a try.

I ordered a black mask in medium and it arrived promptly with a heavy duty filter.

My focus was on three questions:

  1. How it does it fit/feel?
  2. Can I breathe in it comfortably?
  3. And this is specific to me – can I sing in it?

Since COVID, I keep masks around for travel as we travel by plane often. I also have a lot of allergies and I keep masks for when I’m going down to clean in the basement as I’m allergic to dust and mold (it’s my excuse to clean as little as possible lol). And finally, I do a lot of singing – both at church as a cantor and choir member, and in community theater. Having a good mask, especially for rehearsals when others might be ill or if I have a scratchy throat, is key!

So here’s what I found:

  1. The mask fit securely and was soft and comfortable. It really sealed and I did not feel like air was going out the sides, etc. It also did NOT fog up my glasses (which I wear mostly for distance). My family could still hear my speaking voice distinctly, too.
  2. Yes – I could breathe in it. Here’s where things got a little tricky – I could breathe, but I couldn’t exert myself and breathe/pant without feeling like I was using up the air. Again, it’s got a strong sealed fit (for safety), and I was using a heavy duty filter, so a lot of air wasn’t creeping in. But for strolling around my basement and sitting down doing stuff without exertion, I was totally fine. Would I put it on and go for a run? No.
  3. To be honest, like the “I’m not going to go for a run in this” point above, I really couldn’t get enough air to sing in it. I’m a high soprano and I require a lot of air. That did not work with this mask. However, they do make another filter that is considered light duty and “breathable”. I did wonder if perhaps that would fit my needs for singing.

Info on the mask and filters and how to buy them can be found here: https://makanamasks.com/shop/ (note: this is NOT an affiliate link for BBNB).

Thank you for sharing this product with me and getting my feedback! I appreciate it! Below is a picture of me “modeling” it.

Like Snow Before Sun by Marianne Rabalais Sulser

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Coming out June 9 is a beautifully written piece of historical fiction from Atmosphere Press: Like Snow Before Sun.

Marianna Rabalais Sulser tells the story of Jeanne LeJeune, a young woman who is part French, part Mi’kmaw, in 1700s Nova Scotia. I did not know much about Nova Scotia and Acadia during the time of the French and Indian War, and it was so interesting to read of how the people tried to not take sides and just live their lives, only to be turned upon by the British and displaced to other areas against their choice. This is a piece of history I did not know about and it was so interesting to read Jeanne’s story against this backdrop.

Beautifully written, with a story that highlights the upheaval at that time for Acadians, Like Snow Before Sun is highly recommended for those who enjoy historical fiction and stories of strong women.

Thank you to my friends at Books Forward for my copy to review!

Here’s the scoop:

INSPIRED BY TRUE STORIES

Which will you sacrifice-the father that raised you, or the nation you adore?

Acadia, 1755. Jeanne LeJeune has always lived between worlds-the fierce daughter of a French merchant and a Mi’kmaw woman, she is torn between the quiet rhythms of village life and the wild heartbeats of her mother’s people. But when her father is seized by English soldiers, her fragile peace shatters.

To win his freedom, Jeanne agrees to guide an English officer through the wilds of Nova Scotia-a choice that entangles her in the coming storm of war. What begins as a wary alliance soon becomes a journey fraught with danger, betrayal, and passion.

As the drums of conflict echo through the untamed heart of the forest, Jeanne must face an impossible choice: betray her heart to save her father or risk everything for the nation who shaped her soul.

Lush, romantic, and unflinching, Like Snow Before Sun captures a love tested by loyalty, loss, and the devastating cost of survival.

Here’s a bit about Marianna from her website: https://www.mariannesulser.com/about-the-author/

Bookouture Blog Tour for The People Next Door by Carla Kovach

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I’m excited to be part of the tour for this new novel that is SO suspenseful and thrilling! It’s The People Next Door by Carla Kovach. It kept me guessing the whole book and I also kept thinking how it would make a GREAT limited series for Netflix. I really like stories told from different points of view, too.

Thank you for my copy and for having me as part of the tour.

Here’s the scoop:

Dear Neighbour. I know who you are. I know what you did…

After that summer, I swore I’d never come back to Clover Lane. But when my aunt left us her house, I couldn’t say no. The last in a neat row of houses with white fences and countryside views, it was the life I’d always dreamed of for my family. They deserved it, even if I didn’t.


As the last boxes are unpacked and neighbours drop by to welcome us, I see the sparkle back in my daughter Morgan’s eyes and know we’re safe. I won’t ever let her near the woods where my best friend went missing, but welcome gifts and a coffee date with my neighbours have me feeling like we belong here. But then the first letter arrives, and my perfect new life shatters…


Suddenly, I notice curtains twitch as I unload the car and I find myself looking over my shoulder every time I leave the house. When more letters arrive and rumours poison the street, I start double-locking the doors at night. How much do I really know about the people next door? Are my children safe? Is there anyone I can trust?


Someone in this close-knit community thinks they know what happened that summer. I know they’re wrong, but my worst fear is realised when the last letter drops: Morgan is missing…

If you loved reading The Housemaid, The Perfect Marriage and The Girl on the Train, you will devour this absolutely jaw-dropping psychological thriller from Carla Kovach.

Buy links – NOT affiliated with BBNB:

Here’s a bit about the author:

Carla has been writing seriously since her mid-thirties. She started by writing stage plays which led to her producing and directing her own full length piece of theatre. After that, she decided to write films and books where she began by self-publishing. In the past, she has acted in a few indie films and has also co-owned a photography and video production company.

Right now, she is a full time crime and thriller author living in Worcester with her husband, Nigel and Poppy the cat.

Okay – hold the phone a minute here. Carla — we are practically NEIGHBORS! I live near Worcester as well. We could get together and drink coffee and chat about books and writing and theater if you want!

The Windsor Affair by Melanie Benjamin

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I love Melanie Benjamin’s novels but I truly adored this book! I love anything to do with the royals and it was so interesting to have a book that is largely written from the viewpoint of the Queen Mother. And it involves that crass Wallis Simpson who stole the heart of a king! So fun to read about the characters as they are all real people.

I highly recommend it to those who enjoy historical fiction related to the royals from not too long ago!

Thank you for my copy!

Here’s the scoop:

Description

A scandalous affair. A power struggle for the throne. A sensational rivalry between an English queen and an American social climber. In this electrifying novel, the New York Times bestselling author of The Swans of Fifth Avenue tells the story of the Abdication of Edward VIII—and the two women at the center of it all.

“As deliciously dishy as an English cream tea and the royal gossip whispered over it!”—Kate Quinn, author of The Astral Library

Feuding Windsor brothers and their wives—some things, it seems, never change. The Windsor Affair recreates the cataclysmic events that nearly toppled the monarchy and incited the power struggle between Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon and Wallis Simpson. Told from the perspective of both women, the novel propels readers into the fabulous world of the debonair Prince of Wales, café society of the 1930s, and the glittering private lives of the Windsors. The first novel to be dedicated to this infamous rivalry, The Windsor Affair brings us all the gossip and intrigue between the two very different—yet perhaps more similar than they would admit—wives of royals.

As Queen, Elizabeth would become the symbol of British pluck and courage during World War II and remain a British institution the rest of her long life. Wallis would be forever forced to enact the World’s Greatest Love Story even after it sours, as she goes from being admired to vilified and, ultimately, pitied. Against the backdrop of the Abdication Crisis, World War II, coronations, funerals, births, and deaths, these two women maintain a biting, sharp-tongued feud—until age and the long arm of history bring about a kind of understanding. For the last communication between these bitter rivals was a simple, surprising message: “In friendship, Elizabeth.”

Blog Tour for HARRY ALTMAN: BUFFALO’S MASTER SHOWMAN by Susan Fenster

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I’m shouting it out today for a new historical fiction novel that sounds really interesting, especially if you love the history of live entertainment as I do!

Entertainment history often focuses on the performers audiences recognized, while the people creating the spaces behind those moments disappear into the background. Susan Fenster’s Harry Altman: Buffalo’s Master Showman centers on one of those overlooked figures and the world that surrounded him.

Synopsis:
The rise of Harry Altman unfolded during a period when entertainment was changing rapidly and audiences were searching for something larger, louder, and more immersive than before. Through casinos, nightclubs, and performance venues, Altman became part of that transformation, helping shape experiences that kept crowds returning night after night.

What appeared glamorous from the outside carried enormous pressure behind the scenes. Success depended on constant movement, financial risk, and an ability to keep pace with an industry that rarely stopped changing. As public habits evolved and new entertainment models emerged, the structures Altman built began losing their footing.

Susan Fenster reconstructs this vanished world through archival discoveries, historical fragments, and surviving records that reveal how quickly influence can fade once an era passes. Rather than presenting a straightforward rise-and-fall story, the book examines the instability beneath visibility itself.

Harry Altman: Buffalo’s Master Showman explores memory, reinvention, and the uneasy reality that some people help define an era without remaining part of the story that survives afterward.

Author bio: 

Susan Fenster is a nonfiction author and historian whose work focuses on New York State and the evolving cultural life of the region.

With degrees in history and journalism from Buffalo State University, she brings together long-form research and narrative storytelling to examine how people, businesses, and communities shaped their time. Her work draws extensively from archival sources, including newspapers, business records, and local collections.

She has spent more than 30 years writing about the region and lives in Williamsville, New York.

Visit Susan at her website.

Amazon: https://bit.ly/4a8Qrsm (not affiliated with BBNB)

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/243895850-harry-altman

Bookouture Blog Tour for A Wartime Promise for the East End Girls by Jean Fullerton

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I’m here today to dish about the latest in the East End Girls series, a WWII historical fiction saga. I did not discover Books 1 or 2 so I’m so happy to have found Book 3. You do NOT need to read these novels in order to enjoy the story! So – you know I love my WWII stories and I love books where ordinary people are doing extraordinary things, especially in the face of hardship. I really enjoyed this book because it was not about a famous person or a top spy or a military hero; these were ordinary young women making a difference in the war by using their strength, smarts, and grit. And those East Enders are a scrappy lot! There’s some romance in here but it doesn’t take over the narrative in my opinion. In all, a solid read that makes me want to go back and find books one and two!

Thank you for my copy and for having me as part of the tour!

Here’s the scoop:

East London, 1943: As air raid sirens wail, can the East End Girls join forces to protect their city and the people they love?

Nell Reilly’s blonde curls and piercing blue eyes might look angelic, but she is ready to fight with everything she has for a better future. Brought up in London’s tough East End, she is fiercely determined to keep the promise she made to her little sister Jo to build a new life for them one day. Until a chance meeting changes everything…

Absorbed in her work with the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, the last thing Nell is looking for is love, but tall, broad-shouldered Tom Hunter stops her in her tracks. Tom is her wayward brother Frank’s new right-hand man in his black-market operations, and Nell knows from bitter experience the risks of falling for a man like that. But when she witnesses his unexpected kindness and sees how he cares for Jo, she realises that Tom has made an impression she can’t forget, no matter how hard she tries…

But Tom has a secret, one he’s finding harder and harder to keep. And when Nell finally discovers that he is an undercover police officer, she also learns something that makes her heart stop: his cover is blown and he’s in terrible danger.

As London prepares for another night of air raids, Nell races through the blackout to find Tom and warn him. Can she reach him in time to save his life? And as bombs crash down over the East End, will their love survive to fight another day?

Fans of Katie Flynn, Rosie Goodwin and Lizzie Lane will adore this page-turning, heart-warming and emotional World War Two saga about love, friendship and finding hope in the darkest of places.

About the Author: Jean Fullerton

Born and bred in East London, Jean was a District Nurse by trade working throughout East London. Since 2008, she has been publishing bestselling saga fiction, including the popular World War Two Ration Book series, which, like all her books, is set in East London. Jean has also written her autobiography A Child of the East End , about growing up in post-war Stepney and Wapping.

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0G2BMW817social NOT affiliated with BBNB

Bookouture Blog Tour for The Girl with Two Names by Imogen Matthews

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Today I’m posting about a new historical fiction novel, centered on WWII: The Girl with Two Names by Imogen Matthews.

This was an engaging read – I always love reading about the Resistance because it forces me to ask myself if I could ever be that brave. There is some romance/love interest built in, but the story, in my opinion, is driven by the war experience. Stories like this always remind me of how much people were (are) willing to sacrifice to stand up for what they believed in, even if it meant death.

I haven’t read this author before, but I would look for her again!

Thank you to Bookouture for my copy and for having me as part of the tour.

Here’s the scoop:

She smooths her light blue coat with trembling hands as a man approaches. ‘Felix?’ he says, and she nods. ‘We weren’t expecting a girl.’ He smiles, but panic grips her throat at what he says next. ‘Whoever you are, you’ve been betrayed…’

1943, Nazi-occupied Holland. Turning up her collar against the wind, Trix prepares for her rendezvous. Hidden in the bottom of her bag are coded instructions from the British Special Operations Executive and a silk handkerchief, secretly printed with a map of her next meeting point. She knows working for the Dutch resistance is dangerous, but she must put her past behind her and become someone new… someone brave.

Trix’s friends think she’s a secretary – they can never know the truth. Living a double life is desperately lonely, but the longer she goes under her alias, Felix, the more comfortable she becomes with this new version of herself: one who will stand up for what is right, and fight for those who can’t. That is, until the warm brown eyes of a pilot from her past spark hope for a life after the war.

But when she’s ambushed and imprisoned by German soldiers posing as men from the Dutch resistance, Trix must lean on everything she’s learnt if she’s going to survive and grasp her chance at love. These soldiers see her as just a woman. But is that her greatest weapon? In war, often it’s those we underestimate the most who have the power to change everything…

Inspired by a remarkable true story, The Girl with Two Names is a totally heartbreaking and emotional World War Two novel of bravery, sacrifice and the power of hope in dark times. Perfect for fans of Heather Morris, Kristin Hannah and Fiona Valpy.

About the author:

Imogen Matthews is an Oxford-based, award-winning author and journalist with an interest in forgotten stories from WW2 Holland. Imogen was born in Rijswijk, Holland, to a Dutch mother and English father who moved the family to England when Imogen was very young. All her life, she listened to her mother’s stories about her life in Holland, in particular the hardships she faced during the Hunger Winter in 1944-5, which has had a profound impact on her writing.

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0GN9G684Xsocial (NOT affiliated with BBNB)

Bookouture Blog Tour for The Book Club Murders by Maggie Allswell

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I’m so happy to be part of the tour for this new cozy series which is a murder mystery but also laugh out loud funny. I love that the characters are diverse and of various ages and abilities, too.

Here’s the scoop:

What Judy’s book club doesn’t know about murder mysteries isn’t worth writing about. Nothing beats cracking a fictional case over some wine and salt and vinegar crisps. But can they put their puzzle-solving skills to the test when the local librarian dies in a real-life murder?

For widower Judy, her murder book club is the highlight of the month: she gets to hear all the local gossip and even discuss a good fictitious poisoning or two. But when local librarian Wendy disappears, Judy follows in the footsteps of her fictional detective heroes only to find her dead in her home, clasping a copy of Romeo and Juliet…

The police rule it a tragic accident, but Judy knows that her friend hated Shakespeare, and suspects foul play. Gathering her fellow book lovers together, soon they discover that several townspeople had motive to want Wendy dead. Was it Nigel from the tavern, who may have been Wendy’s secret boyfriend? Or could it be Bryan, the local bookshop owner, tangled in a bitter rivalry with the library?

The plot thickens at a charity murder mystery night held at Nigel’s tavern. Suddenly more murders come to light, both real and very badly staged. And when Nigel makes an astonishing revelation, the book club agree it’s a plot twist no-one saw coming. Can Judy and her book club solve the mystery before they too fall victim to a killer plot?

An utterly addictive and hilarious new cozy mystery series, perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Robert Thorogood and Faith Martin.

Here’s a bit about the author:

Tracy started writing when her cruel, heartless husband ripped her away from her dream job – shopping for rollercoasters for the UK’s leading theme parks – to live in America with a brand new baby and no mates. In a cunning plan to avoid domestic duties and people who didn’t understand her Derbyshire accent, she wrote NO-ONE EVER HAS SEX ON A TUESDAY.
It went on to become a No 1 bestseller and publishing phenomenon. So now Tracy has a new dream job, making people laugh and sometimes cry through her writing and has had many more novels published successfully around the world. She now lives back in Derbyshire with her now wonderful husband and two children!

Thank you so much for having me on the tour for this new series. I look forward to reading the next installment! Thank you for my review copy.