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Crow Moon by Suzie Aspley#Extract #Giveaway #AMarthaStrangewaysInvestigationBook1

  I am delighted to introduce the first in a new series by debut writer, Suzie Aspley . The atmospheric thriller, Crow Moon was published by Orenda on March 14th. Today I have an extract for you to read and the chance to win a print copy of Crow Moon . Details on how to enter are at the foot of this post. When the crow moon rises, the darkness is unleashed… Martha Strangeways is struggling to find purpose in her life, after giving up her career as an investigative reporter when her young twins died in a house fire. Overwhelmed by guilt and grief, her life changes when she stumbles across the body of a missing teenager – a tragedy that turns even more sinister when a poem about crows is discovered inked onto his back... When another teenager goes missing in the remote landscape, Martha is drawn into the investigation, teaming up with DI Derek Summers, as malevolent rumours begin to spread and paranoia grows. As darkness descends on the village of Strathbran, it soon becomes

The Girls by Bella Osborne #Review


 

I thoroughly enjoyed  Bella Osborne's The Library so I was delighted to be invited to be on the tour for her latest novel, The Girls which was published on April 14th by Aria.

 Four old friends. Thrown back together after forty years apart. What could possibly go wrong?

In the 1970s, The Girls were best friends sharing a house and good times: Zara the famous diva actor, Val the uptight solicitor, Jackie the wild child and Pauline the quirky introvert. Now they're in their twilight years, and Zara suggests that they live with her to support each other through old age.

Initially, being housemates again is just as much fun as in their heyday. But then Zara reveals the real reason she asked them to move in with her, and suddenly things take a sinister turn.

As the women confront their demons they come under the spotlight of the press, the police and an angry parrot. With their lives spiralling out of control can they save their friendships and each other?


 My Thoughts

This is a highly entertaining story of four friends in their later years, who meet up again and spend time together. They are all distinct and different characters and the dynamic between each of them differs. Queen Bee over all of them appears to be Zara, who made it as an actress and has a celebrity profile. I enjoyed all the asides referring to actual celebrities throughout the story. However, behind the facade lurk some serious subjects, ranging from loneliness and depression, through guilt, abandonment to decisions of life and death.

    This story takes you to a surprising setting which I will not mention for fear of spoiling the plot. I loved the descriptions of the life they found themselves living, and the characters they all met there. Friendship is of course an important thread in the story and ties which survive the years. The plot moves at a pace and carries you through to the end.

In short:an entertaining look at friendship

    


About the Author

 

Bella Osborne has been jotting down stories as far back as she can remember but decided that 2013 would be the year that she finished a full length novel. In 2016, her debut novel, It Started At Sunset Cottage, was shortlisted for the Contemporary Romantic Novel of the Year and RNA Joan Hessayon New Writers Award. Bella's stories are about friendship, love and coping with what life throws at you. She likes to find the humour in the darker moments of life and weaves these into her stories. Bella believes that writing your own story really is the best fun ever, closely followed by talking, eating chocolate, drinking fizz and planning holidays. She lives in the Midlands, UK with her lovely husband and wonderful daughter, who thankfully, both accept her as she is (with mad morning hair and a penchant for skipping).

For more about Bella, visit her website at www.bellaosborne.com follow her on Twitter - @osborne_bella or Facebook
 
Aria links: Website  |  Twitter   |  Fiction   |  Instagram
 
Head of Zeus: Instagram  ||  Twitter |  Website  |  Facebook
 
Book links: Amazon UK   |  Kobo
 

Thanks to Bella Osborne, Aria and Head of Zeus for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.
 
Check out the rest of the tour!
 

 

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