We are returning to France for another great summer read by Gillian Harvey . The Village Cafe in the Loire was published by Boldwood on July 12th. High-flyer Becky Thorne cannot believe what she’s being told. She doesn’t need to be signed off for burnout! Life has been a bit chaotic lately, that’s all. As if dealing with her enviable job and permanent meddling from her mother aren’t enough, she’s also inherited a café in the Loire from an estranged great-aunt, complete with sitting tenant who refuses to budge. But nobody stands in Becky’s way! Ignoring her best friend Amber’s advice, she decides to storm over to France and sort the tenant out. Then she can finally get the café sold and jump back on the career ladder. What she doesn’t count on is the tenant being Pascale, who is six feet of tall, dark, handsome and extremely grumpy about her plans for change. Not to mention the village and the secrets it holds about her past. Becky’s path to succes...
Fault Lines by Doug Johnstone ** Review & Giveaway**
In a reimagined contemporary Edinburgh, in which a tectonic
fault has opened up to produce a new volcano in the Firth of Forth, and where
tremors are an everyday occurrence, volcanologist Surtsey makes a shocking
discovery. On a clandestine trip to The Inch - the new volcanic island - to
meet Tom, her lover and her boss, she finds his lifeless body. Surtsey's life
quickly spirals into a nightmare when someone makes contact - someone who
claims to know what she's done...
My Thoughts
In siting this story in a reimagined Edinburgh, the author gives you a setting which you are completely unsure about. Never quite certain what the reality is, everything seems both familiar and at the same time, unrecognizable. From the start, you feel that you are missing a step, not quite sure of what is what. I like that about a book. It makes you feel that anything is possible.
Throughout the book, the danger from the erupting earth is always there. It gets more insistent as the story progresses and makes you feel that danger is getting closer and closer. The truth of what happened to Tom and what is threatening Surtsey is a surprise when it is revealed and yet has always been hiding in plain sight. This is a cracking read and well worth the effort.
In short: An arresting setting and tension which ramps up throughout.
About the Author
Doug Johnstone is an author, journalist and musician based
in Edinburgh. He’s had eight novels published, most recently Crash Land. His
previous novel, The Jump, was a finalist for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish
Crime Novel of the Year. Several of his other novels have been award winners
and bestsellers, and he’s had short stories published in numerous anthologies
and literary magazines. His work has been praised by the likes of Ian Rankin,
Val McDermid and Irvine Welsh. Several of his novels have been optioned for
film and television.
Doug is also a Royal Literary Fund Consultant Fellow. He’s
worked as an RLF Fellow at Queen Margaret University, taught creative writing
at Strathclyde University and been Writer in Residence at both Strathclyde
University and William Purves Funeral Directors. He mentors and assesses
manuscripts for The Literary Consultancy and regularly tutors at Moniack Mhor
writing retreat. Doug has released seven albums in various bands, reviews books
for The Big Issue magazine, is player-manager for Scotland Writers Football
Club and has a PhD in nuclear physics.
Book link: Amazon UK
Thanks to Doug Johnstone, Karen Sullivan and Anne Cater of Orenda Books for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.
Don't forget these other great bloggers!
Giveaway (UK only)
To win a copy of Fault Lines, just Follow and Retweet the pinned Tweet at @bookslifethings. Closing date is 28th May 2018 and there is one winner, UK only.
Thanks so much for the Blog Tour support x
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