🎄 OMG! An excerpt, a competition and an AMAZING new release. @rararesources #christmas #books #romance #romcom #excerpt

I'm Glad I Found you this Christmas

by

CP Ward

I'm glad I found you this Christmas - an uplifting sweet romance set against the magical backdrop of Christmas.

Maggie Coates is frustrated. Her longterm boyfriend, Dirk, recently moved to London to take a job she fears puts him out of her league. Despite the assurances of her best friend Renee, Maggie is convinced Dirk is slowly drifting away. All Maggie wants is to get married and settle down, but maybe Dirk has other ideas.

Convinced by Renee to make one last throw of the dice, Maggie books a romantic holiday for two in the quaint Scottish village of Hollydell. But will Dirk show up?

And if he doesn't, what if there is a perfect man waiting for her among the Christmas magic of Hollydell's snow-laden streets? What if Henry, the humble reindeer farmer with the kind smile, turns out to be the man of Maggie's dreams?

I'm glad I found you this Christmas is a glowing sweet romance which will leave you feeling warm inside and buzzing with Christmas spirit.

Amazon.UK | Amazon.com

Excerpt…

Maggie gets advice from her best friend Renee on the Dirk Situation

True to her word, Renee was waiting outside Maggie’s flat when she arrived. Even though Maggie was nearly twenty minutes late, Renee flashed a wide grin and lifted up two carrier bags.

‘Wine,’ she said. Then, holding up the other, she added, ‘And this one’s comfort food. Tesco’s takeaway korma, caramel popcorn, and I got us Frozen on DVD. Girls’ night.’

‘Frozen?’

‘It was on special offer. Two for one.’

‘Oh. What was the other one?’

‘Dora the Explorer. It’s for my niece.’

Maggie laughed. ‘Frozen it is, then.’

Renee, petite, blonde-bobbed, and stunning in everything she wore, was an almost perfect person—kind to animals and people, a charity donator, an ever-present at fundraisers, and her job as an administrator in a children’s care home was almost a cliché—and therefore impossible not to love.

‘So, tell me what’s going on,’ Renee said as Maggie let them into her flat.

‘Let me make the tea first.’

When they were settled on the sofa with the curry, tea, and popcorn arranged on the coffee table in front of them, with the Frozen DVD looping through its main menu sequence, Maggie finally let out a sigh.

‘I was hoping it would be this year,’ she said.

‘What?’

‘That he’d finally … you know. Pop the question.’

‘Oh.’

‘Four years we’ve been together, and we still don’t even live together. I mean, that was supposed to happen last year, but then he got promoted and had to move to London.’

‘You could have moved down there. He did ask, didn’t he?’

‘Yeah, of course. I mean, I think he mentioned it once. But I can’t leave my mother, you know that. Her hip is getting worse and she needs me close by.’

Renee sighed. ‘You’re in Cambridge and Dirk’s down in London. It’s not going to work.’

‘It’s only an hour on the train. A lot of people commute from here. The only reason Dirk won’t is because Saunders & Co gave him a flat in Kensington. I know he wants me to move in with him….’

Renee turned on the sofa and put her hands on Maggie’s knees. She cocked her head in that puppy dog way, and Maggie knew a home truth was coming.

‘It’s commitment avoidance. Can’t you see that? He might as well have a billboard above his head with “single and loving it” written in gold lettering.’

Appetite whetted, now for the competition…

Giveaway – Win 10 x e-copies for I’m Glad I Found You This Christmas (Open Internationally)

*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.

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About the author:

CP Ward is a writer from the UK who currently lives and works in Japan. 

This is his first Christmas book.

Website

If time-travel is your bag then check out this fabulous #YA novel, plus on WWBB, the author's main character is interviewed, and WIN a prize! So much to check out! #books #kidslit #timetravel @tyrannopaulus @rararesources

The Lights of Time

Engella Rhys is alone, adrift and on the run. Pursued by a secret agency, known only as the Hunters, she must stay ahead to stay alive.

As she travels through space-time using dangerously experimental technology, she only has one wish: to be reunited with her lost parents. After a close shave with a Hunter on the streets of New Shanghai, Engella escapes to find herself on a deserted beach. When she meets a kind stranger, who offers her food and shelter, Engella feels safe and protected for the first time in years.

But who is this woman? And why did their paths cross at the most convenient of times?

Engella soon discovers their lives are intertwined in more ways than she could ever imagine.

Amazon.UK | Amazon.com

Character Interview

with 

Engella Rhys

from the book

The Lights of Time

(The Chronicles of Engella Rhys Book 1)

Who is the protagonist from The Lights of Time?

Introducing Engella Rhys, the protagonist from The Lights of Time. Engella was born in London UK in the mid-21^st century and is seventeen years old. She is the daughter of Dr Evan Rhys and Dr May Nakamura, but they were separated during a Hunter attack many years ago. Engella has lived alone ever since. She is on the run, shifting through space-time every few days, weeks or months. She has been searching for her parents ever since.

Engella was a happy child and felt safe and secure, until the day her parents took her away from home; after the Hunters’ first attack. The family moved around a lot, shifting from place to place and time period to time period. It was not all bad – she remembers one day in particular: visiting the beach with her parents, making sandcastles and eating ice cream. One of her favourite memories is watching holo-movies with her Papa. But all Engella has ever known is running from the Hunters, until one day she receives a message, which she believes is from her father. She was living on the streets of New Shanghai at the time and was trying to find out more about the message when the Hunters attack again.

What are her likes/dislikes?

Engella loves shifting to a mountaintop where she watches the sunrise or sunset. She feels at peace and can forget about her life on the run from the Hunters. She also loves to eat desserts. She doesn't get to eat them often, but can’t resist a piece of apple pie covered in custard. Her favourite pass times include playing retro computer games and wearing retro clothes from the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. She often uses holo-technology to try out different garments from these historical periods.

Engella can’t stand nosiness; she gets irritated when asked a lot of questions by strangers, like when she meets Eddie Reyes. Engella only hates one thing – the Hunters. She doesn’t understand why they were after her family and wishes she could live a normal life.

What is Engella’s primary goal in life?

Engella’s main goal is to find out what happened to her parents. She won’t stop until she finds them.

How does she see herself?

Engella probably doesn’t see herself like others see her. Her years on the run have affected her greatly, knocking her confidence. She just wants to live a normal life and settle down somewhere quiet. But Engella doesn’t yet realise how strong she really is. 

But how do others see her?

The other main characters see Engella as a strong and confident leader. With time, Engella starts to see how others see her and she grows in strength and confidence as a result.

Sounds brilliant! Thank you, Paul, for sharing.

Paul Ian Cross is a multi-award-winning children’s author and scientist from London, UK.  

Paul works in clinical research (developing new medicines), and he’s also involved in science communication; presenting science to non-scientists. He enjoys his science career, but he also has a real passion for writing stories! He likes introducing children to the wonders of science, especially reluctant readers. By introducing science creatively, he aims to spark their interest; allowing them to gain confidence in their reading. As a previous reluctant reader himself, he understands how hard it can be. But it’s all about making reading fun and interesting!

Paul’s nephew Hayden influenced his decision to become a writer. He loved seeing Hayden’s reaction when his sister Michelle first read one of Paul’s stories to him! In his spare time, Paul likes to visit new and exciting places. One of his favourite places is Scotland, especially the Isle of Skye.

Paul’s debut picture book, Praxx and the Ringing Robot, won second prize in the ‘Picture Books 5 and Younger’ category at the Purple Dragonfly Book Awards 2017. The book trailer also won first place in the ‘book trailer’ category at the Royal Dragonfly Book Awards later that year.

Paul’s second book, Planet Scrabbage and the Vegerons, won an honourable mention in both the ‘Picture Books 6 and Over’ and ‘Health’ categories at the Purple Dragonfly Book Awards 2018.

And that brings us to now... Paul is currently working on several new books. Paul’s debut upper middle-grade novel will be published in 2018. The Lights of Time is the first novel in a brand-new series: The Chronicles of Engella Rhys.

Paul hopes you enjoy reading his stories as much as he enjoyed writing them!

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GIVEAWAY TIME!

Win a Kindle HD Fire 7” and a signed copy of The Lights of Time (UK Only)

*Terms and Conditions –UK 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 be passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for the fulfilment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

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If you enjoyed BBC's Bodyguard, you'll LOVE House Divided by .@rachelmcwrites #political #books #fiction #thriller .@rararesources

A House Divided

by

Rachel McLean

Jennifer Sinclair is many things: loyal government minister, loving wife and devoted mother.

But when a terror attack threatens her family, her world is turned upside down. When the government she has served targets her Muslim husband and sons, her loyalties are tested. And when her family is about to be torn apart, she must take drastic action to protect them.

Amazon.com | Amazon UK

A House Divided is a tense and timely thriller about political extremism and divided loyalties, and their impact on one woman.

 The theme on WWBB is all about the character from an author's book, and today Rachel McLean discusses her character Yusuf Hussain, and why she made him. 

Over to Rachel...

Yusuf Hussain - why is he the way he is? 

by 

Rachel McLean

 In A House Divided, Yusuf Hussain is the husband of the protagonist, the politician Jennifer Sinclair, and father to their two sons, Samir and Hassan.

Yusuf first landed on the page fifteen years ago in the first draft of the book and to be honest, at that stage he was a bit of a wet blanket.

I painted him as the perfect husband: handsome, supportive, great with the kids and handy in the kitchen. While Jennifer was having all sorts of crises thrown at her by the other characters, I wanted him to be the rock she could retreat to.

But I soon realised that was the wrong approach. A man doesn’t have to be perfect to be a good husband, nor does he have to be so much of a ‘new man’ that he’s unbelievable.

So I changed him.

I started to think about how he’d react to the political situation he and Jennifer found themselves in and the way it victimised him and his sons as Muslims. I analysed Jennifer’s actions, sometimes impulsive, and considered how Yusuf, as a real person and not some idealised version of manhood, might react to those.

And the conclusion I came to was that, while still being a great guy (which really comes out in book three of the trilogy), he’s angry.

He’s angry at a government that’s victimising Muslims like himself. He’s angry at a school system that wants to segregate his sons. He’s angry at a society that doesn’t trust him. And often he’s angry at Jennifer for being a part of that system as a government minister, albeit a rebellious one.

He doesn’t get as angry as his eldest son Samir, whose reaction to Islamophobia is a key driver for the plot. But he understands where Samir is coming from, and often argues with Jennifer about it.

They argue about the fact that she’s part of a government that wants to increase surveillance. They argue about the riots that take place, and how they make him scared for his kids. And they argue about how to respond when Samir gets into trouble for fighting at school.

But when push comes to shove, can Yusuf and Jennifer put aside their differences and channel their different forms of anger at the same target? Can they work together and use that anger to make things better?

The only way to find out is by reading the book!

A House Divided is out now in eBook and paperback. You can also find out more about the characters (including Jennifer) and read excerpts at my website.

Twitter | Facebook | Amazon Page | Website | Instagram

'I'm Rachel McLean and I write thrillers and speculative fiction.

I'm told that the world wants upbeat, cheerful stories - well, I'm sorry but I can't help. My stories have an uncanny habit of predicting future events (and not the good ones). They're inspired by my work at the Environment Agency and the Labour Party and explore issues like climate change, Islamophobia, the refugee crisis and sexism in high places. All with a focus on how these impact individual people and families.

You can find out more about my writing, get access to deals and exclusive stories or become part of my advance reader team by joining my book club at rachelmclean.com/bookclub.

Fancy a bit of #cozy crime? Then check out Haircuts, Hens and Homicide by @llamamum #romcom #crime @rararesources

Dear reader,

Hi, Megan here, the narrator of ‘Haircuts, Hens and Homicide’. I’ve been invited chat about myself, so here goes.

First of all, who am I and what’s made me me? Well, I’m nobody special really, but I do like to think I’m a loyal friend, and I always try to do the right thing. It may not work out in practice, but the intention is there.

I was brought up by my prickly grandmother after my teenage mum went to India to ‘find herself’ when I was three, but whether Mum went or not nobody knows, because she disappeared without a trace. Gran never gave up hope, and wrote letters to her every week. I found those in the attic last month and they broke my heart. ☹

Gran died recently so I’ve come over to France to sort out her affairs and decide what to do with myself: whether to stay in France or go back to England where I have no job, no boyfriend (he dumped me two months before our wedding, the worm) and no home (my flat, along with the others in the block, is being turned into a bingo hall). Such choices!

Dealing with my difficult grandmother, who is… was the sort of person who could start an argument in an empty room has led me to be a tactful, conflict-avoiding sort of person, but I could always see beneath the skin. Hidden below the thick veneer of cantankerousness that coated Gran was a warm, loving person. And so I don’t immediately pigeon-hole the people I meet, no matter how weird, annoying or irritating they might first appear to be. Usually there’s more than meets the eye. I hope people appreciate that quality in me and find me a sympathetic person to be with.

me chicken

I love the colour peach, which I think speaks ‘sympathetic’. I don’t know, it just sorts of suits me as you can easily tell from my wardrobe. I also love chickens. That’s a recent development, because inheriting Gran’s house meant I also inherited her four chickens and one duck, and her shy adopted cat Catastrophe (name speaks for itself!). Oh, and some other wandering chickens came my way too. They chose to appear on the day of Gran’s funeral, as did Romain, the arrogant gendarme. That’s French for cop, btw. He was very snooty and wouldn’t let me explain that I had a burial to be at until Gran’s hearse rolled up the drive. He went as red as a beetroot but in true French style didn’t apologise.

I’ve become used to the French not apologising now. Even though they may do something that, in hindsight, wasn’t the best course of action, the word ‘sorry’ will not pass their lips—actually, it would be ‘désolé’ but you know what I mean.

Romain was therefore my main dislike, but the more I’ve got to know him, the more I’ve begun to like him.

My biggest wish at present is to set up my own hairdressing salon. That’s my profession, and I love it. I’m not half bad either. I’ve been steadily relooking – making over – the local women in return for baked goods mainly. Until my business is up and running properly, I can’t accept money. That’s frustrating but at least I don’t go hungry. There’s certainly demand for a hairdresser here, especially a mobile one who can call on elderly clients. In this part of Creuse the average age is about sixty, or so it seems. A lot of old folk are housebound. So, I know I could earn my living. But, my plans are all up in the air, as you could probably imagine. 

Now, what would I change about myself if I had a magic wand? Easy. My nose. It’s a rather an enthusiastic one, much bigger than it really needs to be. But, that said, I’ve got used to it and I would certainly never have surgery on it. Too expensive, and I might miss it. Which is why a magic wand would be perfect. If I didn’t like my new look, I could restore the old one with a quick wave. And anyway, Romain’s nose is even bigger than mine.

Finally, and before I bore you to tears, will you be seeing more of me? Oh yes. I can categorically state that will be more adventures to share with you, my first one being HAIRCUTS, HENS AND HOMICIDE so please do come and see me there! I’m sure that they’ll be starring a particular type of bird, an element of hairdressing and some appropriately alliterative skulduggery! 

I’m already starting to investigate the suspicious death of a pigeon fancier…  

Anyhoo, that’s all for now,

Megan

Haircuts, Hens and Homicide

Megan finds mayhem when she arrives in France to bury her Gran and sort out her affairs. She expected difficult encounters with civil servants and red tape but not with wandering chickens, an imperious policeman and a dead body.

Together with her unlikely new friend, the elderly and grumpy Alphonse and his canine equivalent, Monsieur Moustache, Megan becomes involved in investigating the fowl-related foul play that’s at work in this sleepy part of rural France. 

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She’s helped but mainly hindered by the people she comes across. These include the local mayor, who wants Megan to stay and set up a hair salon in his village to help keep it alive. There are the cousins Romain, the gendarme, and Nico, the clumsy but hunky farmer. They have always clashed, but do so constantly now that Megan is on the scene. Michelle, Romain’s terrifying ex who wants him back, appears along the way, as does Claudette, a wheelchair-bound old lady, and Kayla, Megan’s best friend, who is hugely pregnant but not above taking on the forces of French law and order when Megan finds herself the prime suspect after Alphonse is stabbed.

There’s excitement, humour and lots of ruffled feathers in this rom-com slash cosy mystery, the first in a projected series.

About Stephanie Dagg, in her own words...

'I'm an English expat living in France, having moved here with my family in 2006 after fourteen years as an expat in Ireland. I now consider myself a European rather than 'belonging' to any particular country. The last ten years have been interesting, to put it mildly. Taking on seventy-five acres with three lakes, two hovels and one cathedral-sized barn, not to mention an ever increasing menagerie, makes for exciting times. The current array of animals includes alpacas, llamas, huarizos (alpaca-llama crossbreds, unintended in our case and all of them thanks to one very determined alpaca male), sheep, goats, pigs, ducks, geese, chickens and turkeys, not forgetting our pets of dogs, cats, zebra finches, budgies , canaries, lovebirds and Chinese quail. Before we came to France all we had was a dog and two chickens, so it's been a steep learning curve. I recount these experiences in my book Heads Above Water: Staying Afloat in France and the sequel to that, Total Immersion: Ten Years in France. I also blog regularly at www.bloginfrance.com.

I'm married to Chris and we have three bilingual TCKs (third culture kids) who are resilient and resourceful and generally wonderful.    

I'm a traditionally-published author of many children's books, and am now self-publishing too. I have worked part-time as a freelance editor for thirty years after starting out as a desk editor for Hodder & Stoughton. Find me at www.editing.zone. The rest of the time I'm running carp fishing lakes with Chris and inevitably cleaning up some or other animal's poop.'

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Domestic abuse is hidden from the outside world, and even hidden from the abused through a mesh of mind games and psychological attacks. Read Silencing Anna, it’s truly harrowing. Based on true experiences. #domestic #abuse #thriller #fiction #authorontour@rararesources @sadiedmitchell

Silencing Anna

by

Sadie D Mitchell

James Green, Anna’s ex-boyfriend, has been arrested and charged with attacking Anna after she was found unresponsive in hotel bathroom. James claims he’s innocent and Anna, unconsciousness, in a hospital bed is unable to tell the truth. But James Green is far from innocent. 

He’s an abuser.

He believes he has the right to control his partner and he uses many tactics to achieve this. The first he uses is early in the relationship and it’s to build her up. He dazzles Anna with attention, compliments and gifts. He makes sure that she knows that he’s never ever had such an amazing woman before.

Anna feels loved, protected and cherished, and this is the hook James has dangled in front of his victim. She’s reeled in. But then comes the verbal abuse and coercive control.

James creates a cycle where he hurts Anna and then heals her again. It’s subtle to start with, but it eventually escalates to physical violence. James always denies responsibility for his actions, shifting the blame onto the victim and using mind games to make her doubt herself. He also isolates her from her family and erodes her self-confidence.

James is a horrible character. He is cruel and nasty and ugly inside, but only those closest to James would ever get to witness this. He controls himself in public and presents a wholesome image to the outside world. He has a good job, he is intelligent, funny, interesting, well dressed and softly spoken.  No one would suspect him to be an abuser and Anna herself doesn’t realise that she is being abused, even after he has violently attacked her.

This the most important message in Silencing Anna: domestic abuse is hidden from the outside world, and it is even hidden from the abused through a mesh of mind games and psychological attacks. 

I deliberately developed the character of James to show the contrast between how someone presents themselves to the outside world and the reality of their behaviour. You see, it’s not always possible to tell if someone is an abuser. They’re not likely to admit their behaviour, and are often the most presentable and charming of people!

I based the character traits of James on my ex-partner. He was gentle, softly spoken and funny. He wasn’t macho—far from it. He liked art and flowers, he loved interior design and could make anything look nice. He didn’t drink even beer or spirits, and he wasn’t into football. He appreciated beauty and culture. He didn’t fit any stereotype of abuser that I was aware of at the time.

Everyone was shocked when I left him, and told them why. But family and friends believed me and helped me grow again. I owe them a lot.

In all honesty, I think that most frightening thing about an abusive relationship is the fact that you don’t have to look far to find a woman who has met and had a relationship with someone just like James Green. 

That is the biggest reason for writing the book. I want to shout about this from the rooftops. I want to raise awareness and wake society up from its apathy regarding domestic abuse for Anna’s story is harrowing, but it is not unique.

Do you know a man like James?  I’d bet my life that you do.

Introducing...

Silencing Anna

Voices surround Anna as she lies on her hospital bed, but she cannot answer them. Her voice has been taken, along with her mobility and her sight. She can hear the nurses chattering and her family that come to visit.

Her mum cries a lot and her dad struggles to deal with what he sees. Life used to be good for Anna, but life can change in a heartbeat, as she knows so well. 

Paperback | Amazon

And then there are the people we think we know. When the smile hides the anger. When the beauty hides the beast.

Only Anna knows the truth, but Anna cannot speak.

About the author:

This is Sadie’s first novel. She has three children and works in healthcare. When she’s not writing or working most of her life seems to involve picking up toys and finding things she’d forgotten she has.

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WWBB note: I have read Silencing Anna (review to follow) and it was truly a brilliant book. It won't be one to forget in a hurry!