January 2025 – Novel Kicks (2025)

Published January 16, 2025 | By Laura

January 2025 – Novel Kicks (1)I’m so pleased to be welcoming Shari Low back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, One Day and Forever.

As dawn breaks, four people are planning journeys that could change their lives forever…

Kara McIntyre is supposed to be jetting off to her destination wedding in Hawaii. However, a last-minute hitch appears to have left her without a job, home and, more importantly, a fiancé.

TV sensation Ollie Chiles and Kara always have each other’s backs. But when his wife goes viral in a compromising clinch with another man, Ollie must choose between supporting his best friend in her hour of need or going home to save his marriage.

Alice Brookes is flying away to a new life after surviving a horrendous marriage and a very public scandal… until a stranger brings a letter from the past that could change everything.

After saying goodbye to someone he loves, Zac Conlan should be heading back to Dublin. Now a shocking discovery is threatening to change his plans and his future.

When weather delays their flights, Kara, Ollie, Alice and Zac discover that storms are brewing… and the turbulence is about to shake their worlds.

*****

Kara is about to marry Josh. However, when something happens at a work event and she loses her job, it shows her that her relationship may not be as strong as she thought.

Alice, with the help of her friend Val, only sees good in her life after escaping her abusive husband. However, when she tries to reconnect with an old friend, secrets from the past begin to emerge.

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Published January 16, 2025 | By Laura

January 2025 – Novel Kicks (3) I’m pleased to be welcoming Florence Wetzel to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Dashiki: A Cozy Mystery.

A cozy mystery with a dash of romance set in the vibrant world of jazz.

During an interview with reclusive jazz singer Betty Brown, journalist Virginia Farrell is shown priceless tapes from the iconic 1957 Thelonious Monk-John Coltrane gig at the Five Spot. When Betty is found murdered, Virginia is determined to recover the tapes and uncover the truth behind Betty’s death.

In the spirit of Nancy Drew, Virginia teams up with her six-foot blonde roommate to investigate the various suspects. Detective Robert Smith from the Hoboken Police Department joins the case, quickly becoming absorbed by an unsolved murder possibly linked to Betty Brown’s death, as well as an undeniable attraction to Virginia.

Dashiki is a cozy mystery laced with romance, immersing readers in the captivating world of jazz, where musicians, journalists, scholars, and enthusiasts intersect in an entertaining whodunit.

The author of Dashiki has joined us today to talk about The Healing Power of Reading and Writing Cozy Mysteries. Over to you, Florence.

While at Barnard College in the 1980s, I studied English literature and creative writing. From that time on, I devoted myself to reading literature with a capital L, including authors such as Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Doris Lessing, Albert Camus, and Virginia Woolf. The more challenging the book, the more I enjoyed it. I had also decided to become a writer myself, and those were the kind of books I aspired to create.

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Published January 14, 2025 | By Laura

January 2025 – Novel Kicks (5)I’m excited to be welcoming Sarah Hope to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Welcome to Pennycress Inn, book one in the brand new Pennycross Inn series.

Laura wants to shake things up. She’s thirty-eight, and has been living in her parents’ house since her divorce last year. Her siblings seem to have got their lives together: successful careers, happy marriages, beautiful children.

Laura’s determined to prove herself. And buying the beautiful Pennycress Inn in the idyllic Cotswolds village of Meadowfield could be just the way to do it.

But getting the inn ready for its first guests proves easier said than done! With crumbling walls, dangerous woodwork and loose roof tiles, not to mention unfriendly locals and even errant sheep, Laura soon fears she’s made the wrong choice.

Luckily a friendly face is on hand in the form of gorgeous chef, Jackson. But is he too good to be true? And just why are the villagers so against her?

Can Laura turn her life around and get the fresh start she longs for at Pennycress Inn?

*****

Welcome to Pennycress Inn.

Laura is looking for a change. She’s in her late thirties, divorced and back with her parents. She’s determined to change her life. Despite her family’s objections, she buys Pennycress Inn in the village of Meadowfield. Not everyone is pleased by her arrival though.

One of the things I love most about running Novel Kicks is when I get the chance to discover a new author. This was the case with Sarah Hope. I was delighted to be invited onto the blog tour for her latest novel, Welcome to Pennycress Inn.

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Published January 14, 2025 | By Laura

January 2025 – Novel Kicks (7)It’s great to be welcoming Louise Marley to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Murder at Raven’s Hollow, book three in the English Village Mystery series.

Beneath the ruins of a Victorian greenhouse, a skeleton is unearthed – and with it, years of buried secrets in Raven’s Edge…

When decades-old human bones are discovered beneath the old glasshouse behind Foxglove & Hemlock, the local florist,DS Harriet Marchand DI Ben Taylor find themselves digging into Raven’s Edge’s murky past. As a frosty wind whips down the cobblestoned lanes of the village, the two detectives feel an ominous chill that has nothing to do with the weather…
The discovery coincides with the arrival of enigmatic novelist Iris Evergreen at Raven’s Hollow, a gothic monstrosity of a mansion that’s been sitting empty for years. Harriet is shocked to uncover a web of hidden secrets connecting the skeleton, Raven’s Hollow and, most alarmingly, her own family history.

Just as Harriet begins to piece together the puzzle, a heavy snowfall blankets the village. And there, half-buried in a snowdrift outside Raven’s Hollow, lies another body – this one still warm. As sirens wail in the distance, Harriet realises with a shiver that this killer is anything but history. The past and present have collided in Raven’s Edge, will DS Harriet March be the one to pay the price?

Filled with buried plots, tangled romances and deadly intrigue, this cosy village mystery will keep readers guessing until the very last page. Perfect for fans of Fiona Leitch, Agatha Christie, and anyone who loves their murders with a side of charm!

*****

DS Harriet March is keen to make the most of a rare day off. It’s going well until humans remains are found in her garden.

DI Ben Taylor wants to get his current case wrapped up, but he soon realises that things are not what they seem.

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Published January 10, 2025 | By Laura

January 2025 – Novel Kicks (9)I’m so excited to be welcoming Judy Leigh back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The Cream Tea Killer – book three in the Morwenna Mutton Mysteries series.

Morwenna Mutton should be living the quiet life of a librarian and grandmother in Cornwall’s beautiful Seal Bay – if only dead bodies would stop turning up…

After the excitement of her last investigation, amateur sleuth Morwenna is looking forward to things getting back to normal. When local DJ Irina asks to meet however, desperate to share information she has discovered regarding nefarious goings-on, Morwenna can’t resist.

But Irina never arrives for their drink – instead her body is washed up on the beach, an apparent victim of an accidental drowning. At once keen wild bather Morwenna knows something is amiss as Irina was a strong swimmer who knew the local conditions well. What had Irina uncovered and who would want her dead?

When the local news dubs Irina’s murderer The Cream Tea Killer in honour of Cornwall’s famous delicacy, the clock starts ticking. Now the murderer knows Morwenna is on their trail, no one in her family is safe. She must get to the truth before the killer gets to her…

If you love The Thursday Murder Club, Agatha Christie and Richard Coles then you’ll love The Morwenna Mutton mysteries.

*****

Morwenna Mutton has gained a name for herself as a sleuth in her home town of Seal Bay in Cornwall. It’s not long before her skills of deduction are needed again. When a friend of hers is found dead, Morwenna is in. race against the clock to find The Cream Tea Killer.

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Published January 9, 2025 | By Chris Parish

January 2025 – Novel Kicks (11)It’s a pleasure to be welcoming back MJ Porter to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for their latest book, Betrayal of Mercia – book seven in the Eagle of Mercia Chronicles.

A King in crisis, a Queen on trial, a Kingdom’s survival hangs in the balance.

Londonia, AD835

The deadly conspiracy against the children of Ealdorman Coenwulf is to be resolved. Those involved have been unmasked and arrested. But will justice prevail?

While the court convenes to determine the conspirator’s fate, King Wiglaf’s position is precarious. His wife, Queen Cynethryth, has been implicated in the plot and while Wiglaf must remain impartial, enemies of the Mercia still conspire to prevent the full truth from ever being known.

As Merica weeps from the betrayal of those close to the King, the greedy eyes of Lord Æthelwulf, King Ecgberht of Wessex’s son, pivot once more towards Mercia. He will stop at nothing to accomplish his goal of ending Mercia’s ruling bloodline.

Mercia once more stands poised to be invaded, but this time not by the Viking raiders the so fear.

Can Icel and his fellow warriors’ triumph as Mercia once more faces betrayal from within?

*****

Queen Cynethryth is on trial. All kingdoms are in a constant state of war. Can Mercia stand against those who wish to see it fall?

This is the seventh book in the series and the first to land upon my desk.

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Published January 8, 2025 | By Laura

January 2025 – Novel Kicks (13)Today I am pleased to be welcoming Lisa C. Michaud to Novel Kicks as I help to reveal the cover of her upcoming book, Somewhere in Hollywood.

Welcome to the bouncy castle of Los Angeles in 2004. At the dawn of social media, Carla and Pete embark on a quest for meaning in a city where dreams often fade into the smog. They came for indie rock stardom, only to find themselves sidelined by life’s realities and their own emotional limitations. Carla experiences the true meaning of monotony as a TV extra, while Pete, wrestling with societal views on bisexuality, answers phones. Despite their mutual affection, Carla feels rejected, while Pete, secretly grappling with his identity, shies away from intimacy.

Their world, filled with vinyl records, a spirited cat named Joni, and an eccentric Hollywood landlady, offers fleeting moments of deep connection. But the arrival of a charismatic stranger disrupts their fragile status quo, forcing them to confront faded ambitions and the true nature of their relationship.

With the pop culture eye of Bret Easton Ellis and lyrical longing ofJust Kidsby Patti Smith,Somewhere in Hollywoodexplores the tight-rope walk of personal growth and relationship dynamics, capturing the soul of a generation in search of itself and the relentless pursuit of something more.

OK, so now we know about the book, it’s time to reveal the cover. OK, drumroll…three…two…one…

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by January 2025 – Novel Kicks (14)

Published January 7, 2025 | By Laura

January 2025 – Novel Kicks (15)I’m pleased to be welcoming Kate Wells back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest novel, Death in the Hills – book four in the Malvern Farm Mystery series.

This is no peaceful walk in the countryside…

When Jude Gray and DI Binnie Khatri join a local walking group, their expectations for a peaceful outing to the Malvern Hills takes a grim turn. Arguments abound, and the hike ends in tragedy when one of the walkers is found dead in her car.

Initially ruled as an accident, Jude’s instincts tell her there’s more to the story.

As Jude and Binnie dig deeper, they uncover tensions and secrets within the group. From hidden affairs to longstanding rivalries, it becomes clear this death was no accident.

With each revelation, the danger grows. Can Jude and Binnie unravel the mystery before the killer strikes again?

*****

Jude Gray and DI Binnie Khatri have become fast friends. When Binnie asks Jude to join a walking group with her, Jude agrees. When another member of the group is found dead, it isn’t long before the ladies are back in the thick of an investigation with deadly stakes.

Was it an accident or murder and can the truth be uncovered before it’s too late?

Having read previous novels in this series, I have become a big fan of this author. So I wasted no time in accepting an invitation to join the blog tour for the latest book in the series, Death in the Hills.

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Published January 3, 2025 | By Laura

January 2025 – Novel Kicks (17)I’m so pleased to be welcoming Hannah Lynn back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Forever Love at Wildflower Lock.

Hannah Lynn’s GORGEOUS series continues as Daisy May looks ahead to her happy ever after…

It’s time to meet the family…

Daisy May thought she had everything figured out. After successfully establishing her coffee shop at the idyllic Wildflower Lock and with things going well with charming Theo, she was ready to embrace her happily ever after. But when Theo pops the question, the happiness is overtaken by worries.

Because meeting Theo’s family for the first time is not accompanied by the warm welcome she hoped for. Theo’s parents disapprove of her and they have no qualms in showing it. And when they reveal secrets about Theo’s past, Daisy is left in a spiral.

As insecurities creep in, and with even her own mother expressing her doubts, Daisy begins to question her future with Theo.

Will love conquer all, or will she give in to her fears and cancel the wedding?

The heartwarming conclusion to the Wildflower Lock series, a gorgeous story of friends, found family and above all, romance!

*****

Daisy May is thrilled to be settled in Wildflower Lock, especially now her boyfriend, Theo is back living across the water having been away for a year.

January 2025 – Novel Kicks (18)However, a development in their relationship threatens to end it. Can Daisy and Theo get through it or is their happily ever after just not meant to be?

I was so thrilled to be invited onto the blog tour for Forever Love at Wildflower Lock and be back with Daisy May, Theo and Johnny.

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Published January 3, 2025 | By Laura

January 2025 – Novel Kicks (20)Happy New Year and Hello January.

I hope everyone enjoyed welcoming in 2025. Was it me or did 2024 go really quickly?

Like many people, I always feel a little sad at this time of year. I don’t like saying goodbye to the Christmas tree, lights and brightness. Everything always feels a little plain. Of course, the weather doesn’t help this feeling of melancholy.

So, for January’s book club choice, I wanted to pick a book that sends us into a magical, colourful world – the wonderful world of OZ.

I wanted to join in with the buzz of Wicked but I feel that the novel that inspired this story needs a little love too. That is why I’ve chosen The Wonderful Wizard of OZ by L. Frank Baum.

I was shocked to realise that, although I know the 1939 movie, I’ve never read the novel. So, here we are. I think it’s the perfect story to kick off 2025.

How to join our book club –

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January 2025 – Novel Kicks (2025)

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