Book After Book

Publication: 18th March 2021 – Simon & Schuster UK

The dazzling new novel from Richard & Judy book club author Catherine Isaac, The World at my Feet is a story about the transforming power of love, as one woman journeys to uncover the past and reshape her future.

The secrets that bind us can also tear us apart…

1990. Harriet is a journalist. Her job takes her to dangerous places, where she asks questions and tries to make a difference. But when she is sent to Romania, to the state orphanages the world is only just learning about, she is forced to rethink her most important rule. 

2018. Ellie is a gardener. Her garden is her sanctuary, her pride and joy. But, though she spends long days outdoors, she hasn’t set foot beyond her gate for far too long. Now someone enters her life who could finally be the reason she needs to overcome her fears.

From post-revolution Romania to the idyllic English countryside, The World at My Feet is the story of two women, two worlds, and a journey of self-discovery that spans a lifetime.

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

**********

Catherine Isaac always brings tears to my eyes with her wonderful and emotional stories and her beautiful and relatable characters.

Her newest novel, The World At My Feet, is set between England and Romania and the protagonists are two incredible women. Ellie is an Instagram influencer with thousands and thousands of followers who are drawn and inspired by her beautiful pictures of her garden. But, behind the scenes, Ellie’s life is far from perfect. In the 1990s, Harriet is a journalist who travels around the world to report on breaking news. Her article on orphanages in Romania opens the eyes of the world to the dramatic and horrible conditions of the children there and it will change her life for good. 

The World At My Feet is a compelling story of family and I especially enjoyed Ellie’s close relationship with her sister Lucy. It’s also a story of friendship. I found the relationship that Ellie develops with five-year-old Oscar adorable and heartwarming. Romance is present and complicated, but it’s not at the center of the story. At the center of the story there is Ellie, her journey of self-discovery, facing her past and her ghosts, her fears and anxieties. I really liked the character of Ellie and I really felt for her and her struggles. I also liked the character of Harriet, a mother who has to revisit her past to help her daughter heal.

The Worlds At My Feet is a poignant and beautiful story, it is enjoyable, but it’s not always an easy read. There are themes of mental health and trauma and the descriptions of the children in the orphanage are heartbreaking. Overall, The World At My Feet is a wonderful and engaging story, with some humour, some tears to shed, and a perfect ending!

The World At My Feet is out in just one month, so the wait is not long, and I’d like to say a huge thank you to SJV, TeamBATC, and Simon & Schuster for providing me with a copy of this fantastic novel.

Publication: 18th February 2021 – Bantam Press

EVERYONE’S IN DANGER. ANYONE COULD BE NEXT.

An imposing, isolated hotel, high up in the Swiss Alps, is the last place Elin Warner wants to be. But she’s taken time off from her job as a detective, so when she receives an invitation out of the blue to celebrate her estranged brother’s recent engagement, she has no choice but to accept.

Arriving in the midst of a threatening storm, Elin immediately feels on edge. Though it’s beautiful, something about the hotel, recently converted from an abandoned sanatorium, makes her nervous – as does her brother, Isaac.

And when they wake the following morning to discover his fiancée Laure has vanished without a trace, Elin’s unease grows. With the storm cutting off access to and from the hotel, the longer Laure stays missing, the more the remaining guests start to panic.

But no-one has realized yet that another woman has gone missing. And she’s the only one who could have warned them just how much danger they’re all in…

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

**********

If you are looking for a chilling, dark, and twisty read that will keep you on the edge of your seat while you turn page after page after page, unable to put it down because you can’t wait to see what happens next, then I highly recommend you pick up The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse.

Le Sommet was formerly a sanatorium for TB patients, but now it is a luxurious hotel on the Swiss Alps. Elin is a detective visiting with her boyfriend Will to celebrate her brother Isaac’s engagement. Even before she arrives at the hotel, Elin feels a sense of dread about her visit, not only because she and her brother have been mostly estranged for the last years, but also because the minimalist style of the hotel recalls too much the former sanatorium. When members of the staff start to disappear, Elin needs to find out the truth and investigates and, as an avalanche completely isolates the hotel from outside help, she discovers that danger may be inside the hotel itself.

I was so engrossed in The Sanatorium that, when I wasn’t reading, I couldn’t wait to go back to it. The characters are smart and very well-developed, especially the protagonist Elin Warner. This trip is her chance to reconnect with her brother, but she is haunted by her past, her grief, and her last case. The mountains are a character itself of the story. Threatening, impressive, but also beautiful, they are the perfect set for this dark, intense, addictive, and suspenseful story that will give you chills, it will take you by surprise with its many twists, and it will make you question until its very excellent end: who is the killer?

A huge thank you to Transworld and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this amazing novel.

**********

Sarah Pearse lives by the sea in South Devon with her husband and two daughters. She studied English and Creative Writing at the University of Warwick and worked in Brand PR for a variety of household brands. After moving to Switzerland in her twenties, she spent every spare moment exploring the mountains in the Swiss Alpine town of Crans Montana, the dramatic setting that inspired her novel. Sarah has always been drawn to the dark and creepy – remote spaces and abandoned places – so when she read an article in a local Swiss magazine about the history of sanatoriums in the area, she knew she’d found the spark of the idea for her debut novel, The Sanatorium. Her short fiction has been published in a wide variety of magazines and has been shortlisted for several prizes. You can find Sarah on Twitter @SarahVPearse and Instagram @sarahpearseauthor

Good morning everyone! Today I am delighted to take part in a fantastic cover reveal for the new YA crime novel by S. E. Smith, A Disappointment of Owls, out on 3rd March 2021.

First, let’s read more about the book and it’s author:

When the mutilated body of Albert Shawcross is found in the East End, the police head straight to Fournier street to the last person who saw him alive – Symington, Earl Byrd

Horrified at the presumption of guilt, Symington vows to track down the real killer. With the help of the pawnbroker’s niece, Emily, he’s drawn into an increasing dangerous world, where not everyone wants him to succeed.

With enemies using violent tactics to persuade him to drop the case, the earl must make a difficult decision. Does the shady solicitor deserve justice, or did he deserve to die?

AMAZON

S.E. Smith, known as Sarah to her friends, and ‘Miss’ to her students, was born into a naval family and now lives on a 65-foot broad-beam boat with her husband, Steve, and her two rescue dogs – Ben and Eva.

Crediting her Nana May for instilling in her a love of history, and an encyclopedic knowledge of the East End of London at the turn of the 20th Century, Sarah took on board the adage ‘write about what you know’ and created Symington Byrd: a gentleman detective whose foray into the East End leads him into all kinds of danger.

A great fan of the West Wing, Pokemon Go, and Doctor Who, Sarah’s biggest claim to fame is the day spent with the Fourth Doctor, Tom Baker, chasing Daleks down The Strand.

And now let’s look at the cover:

What do you think?

Publication: 21st January 2021 – Orbit

Darkly magical and beautifully imagined, The Mask of Mirrors is the unmissable start to the Rook & Rose trilogy, a rich and dazzling fantasy adventure in which a con artist, a vigilante, and a crime lord must unite to save their city.

Nightmares are creeping through the city of dreams . . .

Renata Virdaux is a con artist who has come to the sparkling city of Nadezra — the city of dreams — with one goal: to trick her way into a noble house and secure her fortune and her sister’s future.

But as she’s drawn into the aristocratic world of House Traementis, she realises her masquerade is just one of many surrounding her. And as corrupted magic begins to weave its way through Nadezra, the poisonous feuds of its aristocrats and the shadowy dangers of its impoverished underbelly become tangled — with Ren at their heart.

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

**********

I am thrilled to welcome you on my stop for the blog tour of The Mask of Mirrors, the fantastic new novel by M. A. Carrick.

Ren “Renata” Viradaux is an ex-street rat and con-artist who has arrived in Nadežra with her sister Tess to insert herself in the House Traementis pretending to be a long-lost cousin. Easily accepted by her cousins, she has to work hard to win the affection and trust of Donaia, the family head. Soon, Ren finds herself involved in family feuds and the political intrigue of the city.

What I loved most about this novel is its variety of characters. They are all likable, complex, and intriguing, and full of secrets. Ren is very smart, always ready to keep intact her façade of wealthy young woman who wants to reconnect with her family. Her cousins Leato and Giuna are fun characters and I like how their storylines developed throughout the story. Captain Grey is asked by Donaia to look into Renata’s life, but he also becomes obsessed with the case of missing children while facing ghosts from his past. Vargo is a crime lord trying to work his way up to the nobility. A bit shady and mysterious, he is a character that it is hard to read and that I can’t wait to see how it develops in the second book. And, last but not least, there is The Rook, a Robin Hood-vigilante character that helps the poor against the nobles. Around from hundreds of years, his identity is a mystery that Ren spends the entire book trying to uncover.

The world-building is incredible and rich. I was fascinated by the different noble houses, the rebels groups, and the different layers of magic. Sometimes the story feels slow-paced by the many information the author gives, but the more I read the more I found myself completely addicted and, thanks to the perfect and gripping ending, I can’t wait to see what happens in book number 2!

A huge thank you Tracy Fenton and Orbit for inviting me to join the blog tour and providing me with a copy of the novel.

**********

M. A. Carrick is the joint pen name of Marie Brennan (author of The Memoirs of Lady Trent) and Alyc Helms (author of The Adventures of Mr. Mystic). The two met in 2000 on an archeological dig in Wales and Ireland — including a stint in the town of Carrickmacross — and have built their friendship through two decades of anthropology, writing, and gaming. They live in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Publication: 4th February 2021 – Hodder & Stoughton

‘Leave your daughter with me, or I will kill you both’

It felt like a normal Friday evening before Karl and his daughter Leah were ambushed by a figure in a blank mask. At knife point, Karl is forced to make an impossible choice. Stay and die, or walk away from Leah and take this thug’s word that they both will live.

Should Karl trust a villain and leave his daughter with a knife at her throat? Could he ever live with himself if he did?

It’s not long before more seemingly unconnected and innocent people across London are offered a deal in exchange for their life. More blood is spilled, more families shattered, and more people are left to suffer with the consequences of their decisions.

DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen must hunt for a killer that appears to have no face, no motive and no conscience before more victims are forced to make their choice.

This is second in Will Shindler’s Finn and Paulsen series – a British detective series that ranks with Mark Billingham, M.J. Arlidge and Stuart MacBride.

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

**********

Thrilled to welcome you on my stop for the blog tour of The Killing Choice, the new gripping novel by Will Shindler.

Last year I really enjoyed Will Shindler’s debut novel, The Burning Men, so when I was invited to join the blog tour for this second novel, I accepted without thinking twice about it. In The Burning Men, we were introduced to DI Alex Finn and his new colleague, DC Mattie Paulsen, but, if you haven’t read it, you can easily read The Killing Choice as a stand-alone, although I highly recommend you give The Burning Men a read.

The Killing Choice starts with Karl Suleman and his daughter Leah on their weekly father-daughter dinner when they are stopped by someone in a mask and with a knife who gives them a choice: if Karl leaves, both he and his daughter will survive; if Karl stays, they will both die. What would you do? Karl’s choice ends tragically and while he is condemned by the media and the public, and, most of all, by his wife, DI Alex Finn and his team investigate.

The Killing Choice is a gripping and suspenseful police procedural that shows on one side the police in a race against time trying to stop a killer before he hits again while, at the same time, they are facing personal problems; on the other side, the victims of what seems to be random attacks that leaves them feeling guilty and helpless.

In this second novel we learn more about the two leading detectives. A year after the death of his wife Karin, DI Alex Finn is still grieving. He buries himself into work, arriving first thing in the morning and leaving late at night. When one of her oldest friends tells him that Karin asked her to keep an eye on him, he may be ready to acknowledge that he needs help.

DC Mattie Paulsen is facing problems both on the professional and personal side: she feels frustrated that, after a year, she still must prove herself to DI Finn and this may put her in danger. On the personal side, she receives bad news from her parents that affect her deeply.

The Killing Choice is a story of revenge, guilt, choice, and grief that poses the question: would you risk your life to protect the person you love? Twisty and intense it shows the author’s deep knowledge of police procedure and it will leave you on the edge of your seat. I am already looking forward to the next installment of this must-read series!

A huge thank you to Jenny and Hodder & Stoughton for inviting me to join the blog tour and for providing me with a proof of the novel.

**********

Will Shindler has been a Broadcast Journalist for the BBC for over twenty-five years, spending a decade working in television drama as a scriptwriter on Born and Bred, The Bill and Doctors. His time on these leading prime time dramas has given him a rich grounding in authentic police procedure, powerful character development and gripping narratives. He currently combines reading the news on BBC Radio London with writing crime novels and has previously worked as a television presenter for HTV, a sports reporter for BBC Radio Five Live, and one of the stadium presenters at the London Olympics. The Burning Men is his first novel.

Publication: 4th February 2021 – Quercus

Dr Ruth Galloway returns to the moody and beautiful landscape of North Norfolk to confront another killer. A devastating new case for our favourite forensic archaeologist in this acclaimed and bestselling crime series.

The Night Hawks, a group of metal detectorists, are searching for buried treasure when they find a body on the beach in North Norfolk. At first Nelson thinks that the dead man might be an asylum seeker but he turns out to be a local boy, Jem Taylor, recently released from prison. Ruth is more interested in the treasure, a hoard of Bronze Age weapons. Nelson at first thinks that Taylor’s death is accidental drowning, but a second death suggests murder.

Nelson is called to an apparent murder-suicide of a couple at the isolated Black Dog Farm. Local legend talks of the Black Shuck, a spectral hound that appears to people before they die. Nelson ignores this, even when the owner’s suicide note includes the line, ‘He’s buried in the garden.’ Ruth excavates and finds the body of a giant dog.

All roads lead back to this farm in the middle of nowhere, but the place spells serious danger for anyone who goes near. Ruth doesn’t scare easily. Not until she finds herself at Black Dog Farm …

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

**********

The Night Hawks is the thirteenth book in the Ruth Galloway series and I will say what I have been saying about the previous books: Ruth and DCI Nelson’s complicated relationship is still interesting and entertaining, Cathbad is my favourite character, the plot is suspenseful and gripping and the list of suspects is long and well-built and I never figure out the truth until it is revealed.

Let’s start by talking about the mystery. A body is found on the beach of Norfolk by the Night Hawks, a group of metal detectorists who search for treasure during the night. Not only they found a body, but also ancient weapons and skull and that’s why DCI Nelson calls Ruth on the scene. While Nelson starts the investigation, he is called to another murder scene at Black Dog Farm, locally famous for its legend of the Black Shuck, a huge dog that it is a sign of impending death.

On the personal side, we see Ruth facing the fact that her daughter Kate is now ten years old, a few years short of becoming a teenager, and she already spends much time on her phone, goes to many birthday parties and sleepovers. In the meantime, DCI Nelson is trying to avoid his boss, Super Jo, who is pressuring him to retire, and he struggles with his loyalty to his wife and his family and his love for Ruth and Kate.

The Night Hawks is another win from Elly Griffiths. I loved the dark atmosphere and the sense of dread coming from Black Dog Farm that gave the story a chilling horror movie element. The story is riveting and captivating and, as usual, the incredible cast of characters kept me glued to the pages. Highly recommended!

A huge thank you to Quercus and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the novel.

Publication: 4th February 2021 – HQ

One will change your life.
One will end it.
Who will … FIND YOU FIRST?

It’s a deadly race against time…

Tech billionaire Miles has more money than he can ever spend, and everything he could dream of – except time. Now facing a terminal illness, Miles knows he must seize every minute to put his life in order. And that means taking a long hard look at his past.

Somewhere out there, Miles has children. And they might be about to inherit both the good and bad from him – possibly his fortune, or possibly something more sinister.

So Miles decides to track down his missing children. But a vicious killer is one step ahead of him. One by one, people are vanishing. Not just disappearing, every trace of them is wiped.

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

**********

Find You First is such a brilliant and gripping read! You never know what to expect next, it is full of surprises and twists, and I couldn’t put it down.

It all starts with Miles Cookson, a millionaire who just received the news that he has a terminal illness. He decides it is time to find the children he fathered when he was younger, not only to find out if they inherited his illness, but also to distribute his fortune. Chloe Swanson is a waitress who, in her free time, makes videos of her family. She is looking for the family she never had, the half-siblings and the father she never met. When their paths cross, they discover that Miles’s children are disappearing, leaving no trace of their existence. In a race against time, Miles and Chloe must discover who is after them, before someone else disappears…

The story is fast-paced and thrilling. The author masterly switches from a character’s point of view to another, leaving you in suspense and wondering: who will survive? I turned the pages as fast as I could, always on the edge of my seat.

I liked the characters of Miles and Chloe. Miles’s discovery of his illness changes him. He becomes obsessed in finding his children and protect them. I found Chloe very mature for her age. She is feisty, witty, and independent. Miles and Chloe are the two main characters, but there are other characters that keep the tension high: there is the runaway teenager kept prisoner in the mansion of a psychopathic billionaire. There is the manipulative woman who is ready to sacrifice her family to get her hands on Miles’s money. There is the fertility doctor keeping a secret. The plot is so intricate that you don’t know how these characters are all connected, until it is slowly revealed.

Find You First is an addictive thriller, well-written and with an excellent ending… you won’t be able to put it down!

A huge thank you to HQ and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of the book.

**********

Linwood Barclay is an international bestselling crime and thriller author with over twenty critically acclaimed novels to his name, including the phenomenal number one bestseller No Time For Goodbye. Every Linwood Barclay book is a masterclass in characterisation, plot and the killer twist, and with sales of over 7 million copies globally, his books have been sold in more than 39 countries around the world and he can count Stephen King, Shari Lapena and Peter James among his many fans.

Many of his books have been optioned for film and TV, and Linwood wrote the screenplay for the film based on his bestselling novel Never Saw It Coming. He is currently working with eOne to turn the Promise Falls trilogy into a series. Born in the US, his parents moved to Canada just as he was turning four, and he’s lived there ever since. He lives in Toronto with his wife, Neetha. They have two grown children. Visit Linwood Barclay at www.linwoodbarclay.com or find him on Twitter at @linwood_barclay.

Publication: 2nd February 2021 – Titan Books

The thrilling sequel to instant New York Times bestseller All the Stars and Teeth, called captivating by Tomi Adeyemi, Vicious and alluring by Hafsah Faizal, and phenomenal by Adrienne Young.

Through blood and sacrifice, Amora Montara has conquered a rebellion and taken her rightful place as queen of Visidia. Now, with the islands in turmoil and the people questioning her authority, Amora cannot allow anyone to see her weaknesses.

No one can know about the curse in her bloodline. No one can know that she s lost her magic. No one can know the truth about the boy who holds the missing half of her soul.

To save herself and Visidia, Amora embarks on a desperate quest for a mythical artifact that could fix everything but it comes at a terrible cost. As she tries to balance her loyalty to her people, her crew, and the desires of her heart, Amora will soon discover that the power to rule might destroy her.

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

**********

I devoured All The Tides of Fate! I read it in a couple of sitting, one Sunday afternoon, completely engrossed in the story. I enjoyed the first book in this duology, All The Stars and Teeth, where we are first introduced to the characters and the story, but I have to say that I LOVED All The Tides of Fate because both the characters and the plot develop well, much better than I expected, and I was sad when I reached the end (both because the end is heart-breaking and because the story is over).

The protagonist of All The Tides of Fate is Amora Montara, now the new queen of Vividia. Following the events of the first book, the kingdom of Vividia is still healing and Amora is ready to do anything to help it and protect it, even if this means going on a tour of the islands looking for an eligible bachelor who could become her king. In reality, Amora is looking for something, something that will keep her secret hidden from her people and that could break her curse.

I really liked the character of Amora. She is flawed, she doesn’t always make the right choice, and, thanks to the author’s brilliant and captivating writing, her worries, her doubts, her grief feel real and relatable. She is surrounded by a cast of brilliant and entertaining characters. I would love to be part of her crew: Bastian, Ferrick, Vateea, Casem, and Shanty kept me glued to the pages.

All The Tides of Fate is a terrific and riveting story. There is magic and there are pirates and sirens. There are love, friendship, and family. As I mentioned, the ending is heartbreaking but also fantastic and I am already looking forward to Adalyn Grace’s next book!

A huge thank you to Titan Books and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of the novel.

**********

Adalyn Grace is a New York Times bestselling author of All the Stars and Teeth, which was called “2020’s biggest YA fantasy” by Entertainment Weekly.

Prior to becoming an author, Adalyn spent four years working in live theatre, acted as the managing editor of a nonprofit newspaper, and studied storytelling as an intern on Nickelodeon Animation’s popular series The Legend of Korra.

Local to San Diego, Adalyn spends her non-writing days by watching too much anime, and by playing video games with her bossy cat and two dorky dogs.

Publication: 21st January 2021 – Michael Joseph

500 years ago: eight martyrs were burnt to death
30 years ago: two teenagers vanished without trace
Two months ago: the vicar committed suicide

Welcome to Chapel Croft.

For Rev Jack Brooks and teenage daughter Flo it’s supposed to be a fresh start. New job, new home. But, as Jack knows, the past isn’t easily forgotten.

And in a close-knit community where the residents seem as proud as they are haunted by Chapel Croft’s history, Jack must tread carefully. Ancient superstitions as well as a mistrust of outsiders will be hard to overcome.

Yet right away Jack has more frightening concerns.

Why is Flo plagued by visions of burning girls?
Who’s sending them sinister, threatening messages?
And why did no one mention that the last vicar killed himself?

Chapel Croft’s secrets lie deep and dark as the tomb. Jack wouldn’t touch them if not for Flo – anything to protect Flo.

But the past is catching up with Chapel Croft – and with Jack. For old ghosts with scores to settle will never rest…

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

**********

Super delighted to welcome you on my stop for the blog tour of The Burning Girls, the incredible new novel by C. J. Tudor.

The Burning Girls is a rollercoaster of a read! It is sinister, twisty, and dark. There is mystery, suspense, ghost appearances, and paranormal, all perfectly combined under the fantastic pen of C. J. Tudor for a story that will give you goosebumps.

“If you see the burning girls, something bad will befall you.”

After a scandal has forced them to leave Nottingham, Reverend Jack and fifteen-year-old Flo are new in Chapel Croft, ready for a new and quiet life. And what better place than a small tedious village in Sussex? However, Chapel Croft is far from the quiet, boring village they expected, with its tradition, its history, and its secrets. Five hundred years earlier, eight Protestant martyrs were burned at stake, including two little girls, and thirty years earlier two fifteen-year-old girls, Merry and Joy, had disappeared and have never been found. Following the discovery that the former reverend had killed himself and about his obsession with the burning girls and the disappearance of Merry and Joy, and following the receiving of threatening messages, Jack knows that their lives in Chapel Croft are far from simple and that their past is about to catch up with them.

The story is told mostly from Jack’s and Flo’s points of view. I really liked these two characters because they both feel realistic and relatable. Jack is the typical parent who constantly worries about their child, especially when that child is now a teenager on her first boy crush. Flo is smart, witty, and she doesn’t back down in front of bullies. I enjoyed her close relationship with Jack and the movie references, but, of course, she is still a teenager, so she is keeping secrets, but she is not the only one.

The close-community setting that doesn’t welcome outsiders and it is full of secrets and the claustrophobic and dark atmosphere are the perfect elements to create a suspenseful story with elements of supernatural. The Burning Girls is creepy and scary, it is addictive and intense, it’s what a novel by C. J. Tudor promises and always deliver. Highly recommended!!!

A huge thank you to Gaby and Michael Joseph for inviting me to join the blog tour and providing me with a copy of the novel.

**********

C. J. Tudor’s love of writing, especially the dark and macabre, started young. When her peers were reading Judy Blume, she was devouring Stephen King and James Herbert.

Over the years she has had a variety of jobs, including trainee reporter, radio scriptwriter, dog walker, voiceover artist, television presenter, copywriter and, now, author.

Her first novel, The Chalk Man, was a Sunday Times bestseller and has sold in over forty countries. Her second novel, The Taking of Annie Thorne, was also a Sunday Times bestseller as was her third novel The Other People.

She lives in Sussex with her family.

Twitter @CJTudor

Facebook @CJTudorOfficial

Publication: 28th January 2021 – Hodder & Stoughton

A stunning historical women’s debut fiction novel that spans both time and the globe
as we follow one woman’s journey from simple country girl to global fashion icon.

I need to tell you a story, ma chère . My story.

Rosa Kusstatscher has built a global fashion empire upon her ability to find the perfect outfit for any occasion. But tonight, as she prepares for the most important meeting of her life, her usual certainty eludes her.

What brought her to this moment? As she struggles to select her dress and choose the right
shade of lipstick, Rosa begins to tell her incredible story. The story of a poor country girl from a village high in the mountains of Italy. Of Nazi occupation and fleeing in the night. Of hope and heartbreak in Switzerland; glamour and love in Paris. Of ambition and devastation in Rio de Janeiro; success and self discovery in New York.

A life spent running, she sees now. But she will run no longer.

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

**********

Delighted to welcome you on my stop for the blog tour of The Dressmaker of Paris, the brilliant new novel by Georgia Kaufmann.

I have to confess that I shed a few tears while reading The Dressmaker of Paris. It is such a beautiful and emotional story, and my heart broke a few times. The story is told in first person by the protagonist of the story, Rosa, who reflects on her life while getting ready for the most important meeting of her life. Born in a small Italian village, Rosa escapes to Switzerland during the Nazi occupation. Here she discovers she has a skill for sewing and fashion that leads her to leave behind what she loves most and to move to Paris where she works for Dior, falls in love, and moves to Brazil where she starts to build her fashion empire.

The Dressmaker of Paris is beautifully written and well-researched. I admire the author’s attention to detail and I love that she wrote a story within a story in which the narrator, Rosa, not only seize the opportunity to confess her story to her listener, but she also comes to terms with the decisions she made throughout her life. The Dressmaker of Paris is a tale of love, friendship, family, and success. It narrates a woman’s journey from a small village in Italy to the bright lights of New York, a life of dreams and happiness, of tragedy and grief, of guilt and regrets. It is a wonderful, immersive, and unforgettable story to get lost in. Highly recommended!!!

A huge thank you to Jenny and Hodder & Stoughton for inviting me to join the blog tour and for providing me with a proof of the novel.

**********

Georgia Kaufmann studied Social Anthropology and Demography at Cambridge, LSE and Oxford. She currently lives within cycling distance of central London with her husband, two daughters and a cat. The Dressmaker of Paris is her debut novel.