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Arden by G D Harper #Review

  We start 2025 by visiting the sixteenth century and meeting two remarkable people from the time, one of whom happens to be William Shakespeare. Arden by G D Harper was published on October 1st by Ginger Cat .   The astonishing untold story of Shakespeare's first play Alice Arden, idealistic and wealthy beauty, burnt at the stake for killing her husband, the former mayor of Faversham in Kent. But was she really the one responsible for the most scandalous murder of the sixteenth century? William Shakespeare, England’s greatest playwright, born thirteen years after Alice’s execution. Why does his first-ever play, written about this murder, not bear his name? This is a story of two people – one reviled, one revered – whose fates become linked in a tale of corruption, collusion and conspiracy. Based on historical documents and recently published academic research, Arden unveils shocking new evidence about the murder of Thomas Arden and reveals, for the first time...

The Cocktail Bar by Isabella May #BookBirthdayBlitz #Review #Giveaway


Welcome to the 1st Birthday Blitz to celebrate Isabella May's The Cocktail Bar. I thoroughly enjoyed Isabella's Costa del Churros  and Oh! What a Pavlova so I am delighted that you have the chance to win a signed copy of Oh! What a Pavlova. Details on how to enter are at the foot of this post.
 
Rock star, River Jackson, is back in his hometown of Glastonbury to open a cocktail bar… and the locals aren’t impressed.


Seductive Georgina is proving too hot to handle; band mate, Angelic Alice, is messing with his heart and his head; his mum is a hippie-dippy liability; his school friends have resorted to violence – oh, and his band manager, Lennie, AND the media are on his trail.


But River is armed with a magical Mexican elixir which will change the lives of the Three Chosen Ones. Once the Mexican wave of joy takes a hold of the town, he’s glad he didn’t lose his proverbial bottle.


Pity he hasn’t taken better care of the real one.


My Thoughts
The Cocktail Bar is Isabella's second novel and predates Costa del Churros. I found it interesting therefore to realise that Georgina, who features in Costa del Churros is a major part of The Cocktail Bar. I certainly found out a lot more about her past. It is always fun when characters turn up in subsequent books. The Cocktail Bar has a varied cast of characters. This seems to be a hallmark of Isabella's- bright and vividly drawn characters who all interact and at times, cause mayhem. 

     I enjoyed the setting for this novel, at Glastonbury, which fitted in nicely with the slightly mystical hints that hung over the story. With themes of new chances and starting over, it proves to be an enjoyable read. River and Alice both return to their roots and reappraise what their lives are all about. It is lively writing and at times, funny. I found it to be an entertaining read with an heart-warming message on how goodness will spread, once it is let loose.

In short: A lively mix of humour and romance with a splash of good intentions and a tiny pinch of bitterness.

 
About the Author 


Isabella May lives in (mostly) sunny Andalucia, Spain with her
husband, daughter and son, creatively inspired by the sea and the mountains. Having grown up on Glastonbury’s ley lines however, she’s unable to completely shake off her spiritual inner child, and is a Law of Attraction fanatic.

Cake, cocktail, and travel obsessed, she also loves nothing more than to (quietly) break life’s ‘rules’.


You can follow Isabella here: Website| Twitter| Facebook | Instagram

Book link: Amazon UK

Thanks to Isabella May, Crooked Cats Books and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.
Giveaway (International)

Win a signed copy of Oh! What A Pavlova (Open Internationally). To enter, just follow the link below and good luck!

*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 I reserve 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 I will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
  a Rafflecopter giveaway

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