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The Fascination by Essie Fox #Review #Giveaway

   Today be prepared for a dark, Victorian gothic novel! The Fascination by Essie Fox is published on June 22nd by Orenda . For the chance to win a print copy of The Fascination see the foot of this post for details. Victorian England. A world of rural fairgrounds and glamorous London theatres. A world of dark secrets and deadly obsessions… Twin sisters Keziah and Tilly Lovell are identical in every way, except that Tilly hasn't grown a single inch since she was five. Coerced into promoting their father's quack elixir as they tour the country fairgrounds, at the age of fifteen the girls are sold to a mysterious Italian known as ‘Captain’. Theo is an orphan, raised by his grandfather, Lord Seabrook, a man who has a dark interest in anatomical freaks and other curiosities … particularly the human kind. Resenting his grandson for his mother’s death in childbirth, when Seabrook remarries and a new heir is produced, Theo is forced to leave home without a penny to his

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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