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Mix-U{ Under the Mistletoe by Margaret Amatt #Review #GlenbriarSeriesBook11

  We are returning to the beautiful Scottish Highlands for Margaret Amatt's eleventh in her Glenbriar  Series, Mix-Up Under the Mistletoe. This latest festive novel was published on 23rd November by Leannan Press .   She’s always on the outside looking in, but his door might just be the one to open for her this Christmas. ‘Her name’s Tilly. Tilly Thorpe. She lives in London.’   To stop his family from speculating about his love life, travel company CEO Rafe Harrington casually drops Tilly Thorpe’s name as his girlfriend. After all, they’ll never meet – she’s just a name he saw on a rival company’s website. But when Rafe arrives at his family’s home in Glenbriar for Christmas, he’s shocked to find ‘his girlfriend’ waiting for him. He has some explaining to do and so does Tilly. Why did Rafe’s family welcome her with open arms when she’s little more than a spy? Someone who’s trying hard to please her superiors, hoping it’ll bring some desperately desired happiness to h

The Madonna of Bolton by Matt Cain ** Blog Tour Review**

I am delighted to welcome The Madonna of Bolton to the blog today as part of the celebrations for Matt Cain's novel. Published by Unbound, it is their fastest - ever funded novel, with pledges from David
Walliams, S.J. Watson, and Mark Gatiss, as well as from countries where to be gay is currently still illegal. It has been published to coincide with Madonna's 60th birthday.



Charlie Matthews’ love story begins in a pebble-dashed house in suburban Bolton, at a time when most little boys want to grow up to be Michael Jackson, and girls want to be Princess Di. Remembering the Green Cross Code and getting out of football are the most important things in his life, until Auntie Jan gives him a gift that will last a lifetime: a seven-inch single called ‘Lucky Star’…

On his ninth birthday, Charlie discovers Madonna, and falls in love. His obsession sees him through some tough times in life: being persecuted at school, fitting in at a posh university, a glamorous career in London, finding boyfriends, getting rid of boyfriends, and family heartbreak. Madonna’s music and videos inspire him, and her fierce determination to succeed gives him the confidence to do the same – and, ultimately, to let go of his idol, and find his own voice.

                                                                                  My Thoughts

 This is a great, coming- of- age book which I thoroughly enjoyed. I found it to be touching and funny by turns and particularly appreciated the references to Bolton of the 1970's and 80's. You see Charlie's early life through his eyes and it is only later that you come to see that there are other reasons behind his family's responses to him, which as a child he did not understand. You go through events with him as he grows up and leaves Bolton for Cambridge University and later London. Family always has a pull on his heart.

    Exploring issues of identity and sexuality there are some lessons hidden in there about what is important in life and ultimately, I found it to be an uplifting read. Matt's writing style flows easily and there are numerous cameos which light up the pages. His University friends provide lots of humour, and the later episodes with Charlie's family strike me as a celebration of what it is to be human. Set against the backdrop of his love for Madonna's music, it captures the spirit of an age and I found it to be an exceptionally enjoyable read.

In short: One young man's coming to terms with his self.  


                                                                             About the Author


Matt Cain was born in Bury and brought up in Bolton. He spent ten years making arts and entertainment programmes for ITV before stepping in front of the camera in 2010 to become Channel 4 News’ first ever culture editor. His first novel, Shot Through the Heart, was published in 2014 and his second, Nothing But Trouble, followed in 2015. As a journalist he has contributed articles to all the major UK newspapers and is currently Editor-in-Chief of Attitude, the UK's biggest-selling magazine for gay men, and its sister publication, Winq. In 2017 he was voted Diversity in Media’s Journalist of the Year. He lives in London.

You can follow Matt here: Website   |   Twitter   |  Instagram

Book link: Amazon UK 

Thanks to Matt Cain and Anne Cater of Random Things Tours for a copy of the book and a place on the tour. 

Check out the rest of the tour!

 

Comments

  1. Thanks so much for this wonderful Blog Tour support xx

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