Tuesday 31 October 2017

The Little Village Christmas by Sue Moorcroft Blog Tour

Alexia Kennedy has lived in the little village of Middledip all her life – and now it’s time for her to give something back. As an interior decorator, she’s been tasked with turning the village’s neglected Victorian pub into a community café that everyone can use.

After months of fundraising by all the villagers, Alexia can’t wait to get going – but disaster strikes when every last penny is stolen. With Middledip up in arms at how she could have let this happen, Alexia feels ready to admit defeat.

But help comes in the most unlikely form when woodsman, Ben Hardaker and his rescue owl Barney, arrive on the scene. Another lost soul who’s hit rock bottom, Ben and Alexia make an unlikely partnership. However, they soon realise that a little sprinkling of Christmas magic might just help to bring this village – and their lives – together again…



I am so pleased to be able to bring you an extract from the book:



‘I’m hoping you can help me,’ the man began loudly. ‘I’m looking for someone called Benedict Hardaker. Ben.’

Alexia gave him a second look. The man had thin sandy hair and a forehead that looked as if it saw a lot of frowns.

Tubb shrugged. ‘Sorry, mate. Don’t think I know him.’

The man’s frown dug deeper furrows. ‘He might be staying with his uncle. Gabe Piercy.’

Tubb gave his odd smile, the corners of his mouth turning down instead of up. ‘I know Gabe. Not been in here tonight, though.’

‘He’s not at home either. Neither he nor Ben seem to have been answering their phones lately.’

Tubb looked sympathetic. ‘Bad signal round here sometimes.’

‘Right.’ The man’s cheeks were mottled red. ‘Perhaps if you do see Gabe you could give him a message to pass on to Ben? It’s very important that Ben sees his brother. Tell him Imogen really needs his help, too. Oh, and we’d actually appreciate knowing that Ben’s OK.’

Tubb began to move off to serve a customer. ‘If I see Gabe I’ll try and remember the gist.’ He didn’t look as if he’d try very hard. Probably the man ought to have at least bought a drink before demanding favours.

Alexia pinned her gaze to her phone screen. Should she speak up and say that Ben was fine – if you didn’t count being moody and changeable? But Ben might be hiding out in the woods for a reason.

On the other hand . . . the messages had sounded as if they could be important.

The ‘buts’ continued to circulate in her mind while the man drummed his fingers on the counter then turned and left.

Tubb paused in front of Alexia on his way to the till. ‘Have you seen Gabe today?’

She nodded. ‘Think he was going out this evening.’ He’d been going to see Christopher – they’d taken one awkward interview each: him Christopher, her Jodie – so maybe he was still there.

‘Gabe’s nephew is the wizard in the woods, isn’t he?’

Alexia nodded, unsurprised. Tubb knew a great deal about the village and everyone in it.

Tubb grunted and went to the till, frowning. Alexia had known Tubb since she was a child being brought into the beer garden for lemonade and crisps on a summer’s afternoon. Despite his often dour façade he had a code so far as his pub was concerned. It was the village’s oasis and people deserved to be able to relax there unhounded. Ben was a prospective customer by

virtue of having chosen to live in Middledip, even if on its very edges, whereas the man asking after him was an outsider.

In following the possible workings of his mind, Alexia found herself making a decision. ‘I’ll make sure the nephew gets the message. I can ring Gabe.’



Make sure you check out the next stops in the tour!


Monday 30 October 2017

Clumpety Bump by Phil Allcock

Clumpety BumpClumpety Bump by Phil Allcock
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Clumpety Bump is a lazy horse, a VERY lazy horse.
His owner, Wally Wobblebottom, needs him to trot, jump and gallop, but Clumpety can't be bothered!


I read this book to my class today during story time and they absolutely loved it.

This is a story about a lazy horse, who can't be bothered to take his owner - Wally, where he wants to go, he ends up causing trouble and Wally leaves him behind one day.

This is a silly book that the children loved, it had repetition in it, which the children loved to join in with. This book also has some of the days of the week in, which helps them to know the order of the days, it would have been nice if the author had extended this and we could have read about all 7 days.

Overall though the book is beautifully presented and one that children will want to visit time and time again.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

Friday 27 October 2017

Audible presents a special edition of three Gothic tales for Halloween

Audible presents a special edition of three Gothic tales for Halloween

  • A brand-new Audible Exclusive recording of Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Bram Stoker's Dracula.
  • Bursting with intrigue, suspense and malice, The Monster Collection resurrects the deepest and darkest of all our fears: that a monster lurks, and it lurks within us.

The Monster Collection AudiobookIntroduced by Dr Maria Mellins and Dr Peter Howell, Senior Lecturers in Gothic literature at the University of London, this collection offers additional insight into the three audiobooks, their authors and their legacies.

Jekyll and Hyde – narrated by Richard Armitage
Robert Louis Stevenson's Jekyll and HydeRichard Armitage (The Hobbit, North and South) tells the story of a conflicted man who seeks a remedy to free the monster inside him from the clutches of his conscience. Following his celebrated performances of David Copperfield and David Hewson's Romeo and Juliet for Audible, Armitage delivers another powerhouse performance as the narrator of this Gothic tale.

Frankenstein – narrated by Dan Stevens
Narrated by Dan Stevens, who rose to fame through Downton AbbeyBeauty and the Beast and Legion, the story of science student Victor Frankenstein has been artfully retold.

Testing the limits of science, Frankenstein fashions a living being from the conjoined body parts of rotting cadavers. Horrified at the end result, he abandons his monster, leaving him to endure a life of isolation and loneliness. A poignant example of human weakness and our inability to take responsibility for our actions, Frankenstein is both moving and terrifying.

Dracula – narrated by Greg Wise
Narrated by Greg Wise, star of Effie GrayThe Crown and Sense and Sensibility; Greg depicts a young lawyer whose services are hired by a sinister Transylvanian count. Releasing Dracula 80 years after Frankenstein, Bram Stoker was greatly influenced by Shelley's writing style and similarly propels the story along through diary entries, letters and newspaper cuttings. Possessed of grisly imagery and unexpected twists, it's no wonder that Dracula still manages to shake us to our very core.

All that remains is to offer a note of caution: this collection is not for the fainthearted. Old as these tales may be, do not mistake the unsettling nature of their content. Grab some popcorn, turn the speakers up and enjoy. Just don't say we didn't warn you.