Monday 8 July 2019

June Reading List

June was an awful month for reading (and writing) productivity I am afraid to say... What with moving house and work, I have struggled to fit anything else in as I have been ready for bed by ten every night!

Here are the ones I did fit in...

A customer at work that reads similar books to the ones I do recommended this series to me and of course, I went and bought the first one - and did not regret it! Sacrificed by the Dragon by Jessie Donovan, the first in the Stonefire Dragons Series.

~~~

In exchange for a vial of dragon’s blood to save her brother’s life, Melanie Hall offers herself up as a sacrifice to one of the British dragon-shifter clans. Being a sacrifice means signing a contract to live with the dragon-shifters for six months to try to conceive a child. Her assigned dragonman, however, is anything but easy. He’s tall, broody, and alpha to the core. There’s only one problem—he hates humans.

Due to human dragon hunters killing his mother, Tristan MacLeod despises humans. Unfortunately, his clan is in desperate need of offspring to repopulate their numbers and it’s his turn to service a human female. Despite his plans to sleep with her and walk away, his inner dragon has other ideas. The curvy human female tempts his inner beast like no other.

~~~

Wowsers - this was stunning! Fantastically written, great characters and a well-paced and thrilling storyline. I would definitely recommend it to readers of Naini Singh, Christine Feehan and Kelley Armstrong, which were the authors that the customer and I had in common. Check out my review.


I started The Book Thief by Markus Zusak as it was Book Club's 'Classics' choice for June, but I really struggled with it. I already know the story, and I loved the 2013 film adaptation, but have really struggled to get into the novel. I persisted for a long time, which I think is what slowed down the reading for June, but eventually, I did admit defeat and shelved it! I will go back and try again one day!
~~~

It is 1939. In Nazi Germany, the country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier - and will become busier still.

By her brother's graveside, nine year old Liesel's life is changed forever when she picks up a single object, abandoned in the snow. It is The Gravedigger's Handbook, and this is her first act of book thievery.

So begins Liesel's love affair with books and words, and soon she is stealing from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor's wife's library . . . wherever there are books to be found.

But these are dangerous times, and when Liesel's foster family hides a Jew in their basement, nothing will ever be the same again.

In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winnin

~~~


Those People by Louise Candlish was one I had on the shelf ready for an event with the author and I picked this up with just over a week till the event - I didn't need a week!

~~~

Could you hate your neighbour enough to plot to kill him?

Until Darren Booth moves in at number 1, Lowland Way, the neighbourhood is a suburban paradise. But soon after his arrival, disputes over issues like loud music and parking rights escalate all too quickly to public rows and threats of violence.

Then, early one Saturday, a horrific crime shocks the street. As the police go house-to-house, the residents close ranks and everyone's story is the same: Booth did it.

But there's a problem. The police don't agree with them.

~~~

A brilliantly written novel full of twists and turn to keep you guessing and with some good choices for events - I often worry about being disappointed by the 'whodunnit' part of books like this, but I loved the outcome here. Check out my review!


Alongside Louise, we had another author in whose book was similar in themes to Those People and I read her book too! The Neighbour by Fiona Cummins is similar in style, but grittier due to the serial killer using the street as his hunting ground!

~~~

FOR SALE: A lovely family home with good-sized garden and treehouse occupying a plot close to woodland. Perfect for kids, fitness enthusiasts, dog walkers . . .

And, it seems, the perfect hunting ground for a serial killer.

On a hot July day, Garrick and Olivia Lockwood and their two children move into 25 The Avenue looking for a fresh start. They arrive in the midst of a media frenzy: they'd heard about the local murders in the press, but Garrick was certain the killer would be caught and it would all be over in no time. Besides, they'd got the house at a steal and he was convinced he could flip it for a fortune.

The neighbours seemed to be the very picture of community spirit. But everyone has secrets, and the residents in The Avenue are no exception.

After six months on the case with no real leads, the most recent murder has turned DC Wildeve Stanton's life upside down, and now she has her own motive for hunting down the killer - quickly.

~~~

I could not put this down! I genuinely had to keep tearing myself away from it to go back to work or to eat or sleep, and I read the last quarter or so, when everything started unraveling, in an evening and into the night as I just had to get to the end and find out who the killer was! I won't reveal too much, but the line up of characters *cough cough* suspects will have you second guessing yourself all the way through while you try and work out who the 'Doll Maker' serial killer is that DC Stanton is searching for! Check out my review and then go and grab your own copy - you won't regret it...


And that's a wrap... I hope to be back on it for July :)

Sunday 9 June 2019

Crooked Halo Books

As some of you may know, I started up my own publishing imprint this time last year to self-publish my books a little more professionally. Today, that publishing imprint, and the revamped first three novels turn one!!
Crooked Halo Books was my way of branding my books and making them look that little bit more professional. I was so proud of myself for setting it up and getting the books redone and then releasing my fourth Hidden World Novel as the first official Crooked Halo Books title.

The four Hidden World Novels so far, The Love That Binds Us, A Handful of Secrets, Part of the Pack and Inner Magick are all Crooked Halo Books releases, as is Destiny!

All other books I write will be released under the Crooked Halo Books publishing imprint too, Hidden World, Cursed Novels and any others that materialise over the years :)


I am currently the only author that I have published under the imprint, however, it is in my future plans to add another name to the imprint :) - more on that another time...


For now, a big Happy Birthday to Crooked Halo Books - oh, and don't forget about my Launch Party for Destiny! All details can be found on the Facebook event page, and please remember to pre-order a copy through either me or the Milestone to ensure a book on the night...

XxX

Saturday 1 June 2019

MyMarathon Champion!

Well, I did it!!

If you have been following my Instagram then you will have seen my final results... 26.15 miles in 11 runs throughout the course of May. I worked out that it took me roughly five hours and fifty-one minutes, so it would take me forever to actually run the marathon, but when you remember that I have only been running for eight weeks now, I am really proud of what I have achieved in May!


I raised £183.10 altogether, so a huge thank you to each and every one of you who sponsored me over the course of the month. I beat my £150 target easily! You can still add to that sponsorship before the end of June I believe!

I started and ended my marathon in very fitting t-shirts :) 


My next running goals are to start taking part in Park Run on a Saturday morning on the weekends when I am not working. I want to concentrate on running for longer periods of time until I can actually say that I can RUN the 5k Park Run without having to slow to a walk!

My journey will, of course, continue on Instagram with regular updates on the blog!

Thanks again for all of your support,
Vanessa x

Friday 31 May 2019

May Reading List

Back on track this month - I started by finishing off a couple I had started with...

I'd had Scarred by Kylie Walker on the go for a while. It was one on my phone and I just dipped in and out of it when I found myself in places where I had a few minutes to spare...


~~~ 

Pain...Fear...Uncertainty...

That pretty much sums up Kelly Ward's life in a nutshell.

Surviving a childhood filled with horrific abuse and then at the hand of the one man
that saved her... her first love that she trusted only to discover he was really a monster. Jesse Donovan will try and kill her again once he gets out of prison.

On the run... New city...New identity is the new Chloe Green. Not the broken, scarred and frail Kelly Ward.

Trying to build a new life towards her life-long goal of becoming a teacher, she accepts a job at one of the most prestigious gentlemen clubs in Rhode Island as a pole dancer. Her goal - save as much money as she can...No Men...No Distractions.

That is until she meets Derek Stark. Self-made Millionaire, dark-haired, blue-eyed and a body of a gladiator. He wants Chloe...but does he have an ulterior motive? Is he connected to her old life somehow - Kelly Ward's life? She soon discovers that Derek does have secrets of his own, secrets that will change her life forever...right before Jesse is released from prison and is ready to start hunting her.

~~~

It took me a long time to get this finished, partly because it was so damn long and I was only reading it bit at a time, but also because it was really hard going in places. I found that the main storyline held some readability, but it wrapped up earlier than the book did, and the last leg of the book was almost pointless. My review echoes this - it was a good read, mostly!


I was very lucky to receive an advance reader copy of Nicola's new novel. I am very much an Elwood fan and I couldn't wait to get reading Free the Dark by Nicola Rose, The Elwood Legacy book 3. The last in the trilogy!!


~~~

The world is descending into devastating chaos. There’s a new enemy to mankind on the horizon… it’s me.

I’m ready to let go of morality. It’s time to play.

But how much ‘fun’ is too much when you’ve accidentally triggered the vampire apocalypse?! Are there any lines left that shouldn’t be crossed?

There’s a brand new hunger under my skin, and it wants more. More of Alex’s darkness, more of Zac’s light—

The two don’t go together, but that doesn’t stop the pull in my chest, or the ravenous shadowy beat that strikes a constant melody in my soul, driving me forward, destruction in my wake.

Can I really side with vampires and stand by as humanity is lost?

Because once that darkness is set free, pulling it back might be beyond my capabilities…

~~~

I read this cover to cover in just over twenty-four hours, and it only took so long due to having to sleep and go to work!! Check out my review - but be aware it may be a little spoilerish if you haven't read the start of the trilogy yet! Get started with Taste the Dark now!


I totally read my own book this month too - I had the first physical copy of Destiny to read through and check for formatting errors. It was amazing to have it in my hands for real and I cannot wait to share it with you guys this summer!

~~~

The predetermined course of events in life that some people believe others are to follow; an inevitable and unavoidable future.

What would you do if you found out that your life was a lie? How would you react to finding out that your destiny had once been your wildest dreams? Who do you turn to when those you’re meant to trust turn their backs on you?

When Serena meets the mysterious new guy at college her life seems complete. Great friends, good grades, hot boyfriend. That is until she tells her parents and life as she knows it begins to unravel in ways she cannot understand.

The box in the attic holds the clues to a past she doesn’t remember, but do they also show her the future she’s long since forgotten? Her mother believes so and tears a rift between them trying to convince her that Dylan is bad news, pushing Serena into the arms of another family. A family she is destined to be a part of.

~~~

Obviously, I am not going to review my own book - but please check it out on my website - there will also be a Book Launch Party in July which everyone is welcome at! Details are all on the Facebook Event Page.


Book Club chose The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern for their classic this month and I loved having an excuse to finally pick this up. I have always wanted to read it, and have had it on the bookshelf for some time, but never gotten around to actually reading it. 


~~~

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. The black sign, painted in white letters that hangs upon the gates, reads: Opens at Nightfall, Closes at Dawn.

As the sun disappears beyond the horizon, all over the tents small lights begin to flicker, as though the entirety of the circus is covered in particularly bright fireflies. When the tents are all aglow, sparkling against the night sky, the sign appears. Le Cirque des Reves. The Circus of Dreams. Now the circus is open. Now you may enter. 

~~~

Oh My Wow!! I cannot believe that I have never gotten around to this before... It should have been one of my favourites all this time! I can't find the right words to express how much you should all go and read this if you haven't already!!
Check out my review and then go get your own copy and go to Les Cirque des Reves.


Next up was Call Me Star girl by Louise Beech ready for the event with her and Carrie Martin. I picked this up four days before the event. I did not need four days - I read it in two sittings!!!

~~~

Stirring up secrets can be deadly ... especially if they're yours...
Pregnant Victoria Valbon was brutally murdered in an alley three weeks ago - and her killer hasn't been caught.
Tonight is Stella McKeever's final radio show. The theme is secrets. You tell her yours, and she'll share some of hers.

Stella might tell you about Tom, a boyfriend who likes to play games, about the mother who abandoned her, now back after fourteen years. She might tell you about the perfume bottle with the star-shaped stopper, or about her father ...

What Stella really wants to know is more about the mysterious man calling the station ... who says he knows who killed Victoria, and has proof.
Tonight is the night for secrets, and Stella wants to know everything...

With echoes of the Play Misty for Me, Call Me Star Girl is a taut, emotive and all-consuming psychological thriller that plays on our deepest fears, providing a stark reminder that stirring up dark secrets from the past can be deadly...

~~~

Wowsers! What an emotional and intriguing book. Had me gripped from the moment I opened the front cover. I loved the 'Then' and 'Now' storyline that ran through the book, although I did find myself hastily reading the 'Then' chapters as I was desperate to find out how things were unfolding in the 'Now'. An amazing read, check out my review!


I also picked up Maria in the Moon by Louise Beech the day of the event with high hopes of fitting it in before meeting her that evening... Instead, I read around a quarter of it and then took an impromptu nap in my conservatory!

~~~

Thirty-one-year-old Catherine Hope has a great memory. But she can't remember everything. She can't remember her ninth year. She can't remember when her insomnia started. And she can't remember why everyone stopped calling her Catherine-Maria.

Dark, poignant and deeply moving, Maria in the Moon is an examination of the nature of memory and truth, and the defences we build to protect ourselves, when we can no longer hide...

~~~

I finished this off in my conservatory one sunny evening and loved it. Although a little slow in places, I found the touching storyline gripping and the emotional depths to this novel had my both racing for the end to find out what happened, and dreading the ending because I knew it wouldn't be happy. Check out my review, I've tried to keep it spoiler free.


I picked up the Children's Book of the Month for May, pretty much at the end of the month... Better late than never right?! Malamander by Thomas Taylor was one that I just had to read, all be it, it just took me a while to get around to it!

~~~

Nobody visits Eerie-on-Sea in the winter. Especially not when darkness falls and the wind howls around Maw Rocks and the wreck of the battleship Leviathan, where even now some swear they have seen the unctuous Malamander creep...

Herbert Lemon, Lost-and-Founder at the Grand Nautilus Hotel, knows that returning lost things to their rightful owners is not easy - especially when the lost thing is not a thing at all, but a girl.

No one knows what happened to Violet Parma's parents twelve years ago, and when she engages Herbie to help her find them, the pair discover that their disappearance might have something to do with the legendary sea-monster, the Malamander. Eerie-on-Sea has always been a mysteriously chilling place, where strange stories seem to wash up.

And it just got stranger...

~~~

Oooooo!! So good!! I loved this book!! Not only is it beautiful with its glorious sprayed edges but the story is amazing! Eerie-on-Sea is a great setting and Herbie and Violet are really good characters. The malamander is a legend in the town and creates the best kind of children's mystery as the two children go searching for the lost things. Check out my review and then go out and buy this, not just for the kids, but for yourself too... an escape into children's fiction is recommended regularly to detach from the real world!


This one created a media storm when the little girl who helped co-write it went on morning television a few weeks ago. Can You See Me by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott. Eleven-year-old Libby is autistic herself and helped co-write the story of Tally, meaning that the narrative of the book is credible and true to the characteristics and lifestyle of a child with autism.

~~~

Endearing, insightful and warmly uplifting, Can You See Me? is a story of autism, empathy and kindness that will touch readers of all ages.

Tally is eleven years old and she's just like her friends. Well, sometimes she is. If she tries really hard to be. Because there's something that makes Tally not the same as her friends. Something she can't cover up, no matter how hard she tries: Tally is autistic.

Tally's autism means there are things that bother her even though she wishes they didn't. It means that some people misunderstand, her and feel frustrated by her. People think that because Tally's autistic, she doesn't realise what they're thinking, but Tally sees and hears - and notices - all of it. And, honestly? That's not the easiest thing to live with.

~~~

What a truly important and special book!! Rebecca and Libby have done an amazing job of bringing Tally and her autism to life in a way that is both enjoyable and educational, and I really hope that many adults encourage their children to read this book as I honestly believe that it is important for children to understand learning and behavioural difficulties, especially youngsters who can be really cruel to someone who is 'different' to what they expect them to be. Check out my review for more and then go and buy yourself a copy of this wonderful story!


That's your lot!! Eight books in four weeks - who knows where I find the time!!

More next month, I've already started one!!
Keep Reading, Bookworms x

Wednesday 22 May 2019

Author Event

I couldn't not blog about this... So, it's a normal Wednesday evening, the sister texts to ask if we're going to the pub for Jam Night and we make our arrangements to pick her up and head over to The Milestone - a normal Wednesday evening! Simon even remembered his guitar!

Simon walks into the pub first... Sammy and I follow, to come face to face with a poster-sized version of my poster in the doorway advertising my Book Launch Party!!
Simon totally walked straight past it, never even glanced at it. Me, I was floored!
I knew that Karlos had put a poster up for me - I was expecting an A4 version like the ones I have put up in the local shop etc.

How cool is that?!

Obviously, Sammy and I immediately took a photo with it to send to Mommy, I cannot even begin to explain just how excited I was.


Headed to the bar and found a second one, plus-size again!!! I was genuinely expecting a couple of A4 posters - I can't believe that my face is there like that :)


I hope that you're all coming to the party - check out the Facebook Event Page for all the details, and give me a shout if you want to order a book to collect on the night!

Vanessa, AKA, Angel McGregor xx

Thursday 16 May 2019

Destiny Book Cover Reveal

Today is the official book cover reveal for my new novel, Destiny, the first novel in a new urban fantasy series, The Cursed Novels.

So, without any further ado...


What do you think?! This book is my baby, and has been a long time coming - I am so excited to finally be sharing it with the world!!

Destiny - The First Cursed Novel

The predetermined course of events in life that some people believe others are to follow; an inevitable and unavoidable future.

What would you do if you found out that your life was a lie? How would you react to finding out that your destiny had once been your wildest dreams? Who do you turn to when those you’re meant to trust turn their backs on you?

When Serena meets the mysterious new guy at college her life seems complete. Great friends, good grades, hot boyfriend. That is until she tells her parents and life as she knows it begins to unravel in ways she cannot understand.

The box in the attic holds the clues to a past she doesn’t remember, but do they also show her the future she’s long since forgotten? Her mother believes so and tears a rift between them trying to convince her that Dylan is bad news, pushing Serena into the arms of another family. A family she is destined to be a part of.



Check out all the information!! My website and social media platforms are littered with details - there's something for everyone :)

Author Website
Crooked Halo Books Website

Facebook
Instagram
Twitter

You name it - we have it going on - plus there's going to be a party!! I will be having a birthday/launch party on Monday 8th July at The Milestone pub at Crystal Peaks - you're all invited - check out the official invite and all the details over on the event page!!

As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts - pick a platform and leave your comments  :)

Vanessa aka Angel McGregor xx

Sunday 12 May 2019

Writing in the strangest of places...

A different kind of post today - I am sitting in the pub right now, and a question I often get asked is "How can you concentrate?" Well, I thought I would put it down in writing to try and explain myself... and depending on how you like this post, I will do others like it :)

So, a little background information... For anyone who is following my Instagram accounts, particularly my author profile, you will see me take part in photo challenges quite regularly. The most recent one is still happening. I am taking part in @rachaelruleywrites's #youMAYbeaWRITERif challenge which runs throughout May.

I am quite enjoying the way this challenge is set up as it is different from the usual prompts, giving room to experiment a little with the photographs I choose.








Anyway, one of the prompts was #youMAYbeaWRITERif "You have a local cafe you love to support" - well, I chose to replace the cafe part of the prompt with my local pub... I mean, I do have a local cafe too, and you will sometimes find me there with my laptop of more likely, a good book, but I spend more time in the local pub with Simon for music-related events. Often, I have been at work all day before coming out to the pub, meaning I don't get any time at home to write or edit, depending on the stage of my work in progress. So, I bring it with me. It's not unusual to find me in the corner of the pub with my laptop or a half-edited manuscript, scribbling away furiously to keep on top of my writing workload.
As I have more than once tried to explain to some of the other pub-goers, I see my writing as a second career, and I have to manage my time around my paying job, my family and home life, in order to achieve any kind of success. Bringing my work to the pub is a win:win situation for me. I get to do my work, and I get to spend the evening with Simon, often listening to good music!

The question always asked by someone; "But, how do you concentrate?"

That's easy! I perfected the art of multitasking when I was at university. I could often be found writing up essays, whilst having music on in the background, and having a conversation with whoever was in my room at the time... It became normal to me, and though I will always have to reread anything I do just in case song lyrics have worked their way into what I was writing, it doesn't stop me from writing or enjoying the live music in the pub.

"If I lay here, would you lie with me and just forget the world?"

Tonight, it was a band that Simon has played with in the past, and is an amazing live act here at The Milestone. Of course we were going to come and support them, but I had work to do after being at work all day, especially with my new book cover reveal coming up, there were some bits and bobs I needed to check, and some editing for The Original Sin to get done so that I can get the manuscript to another reader.
I did both of those things, and am now sat writing this post while still enjoying SwearBox and the amazing Carrie Martin!

"They paved paradise and put up a parking lot."


I hope this answers the question - any other related questions, feel free to drop some comments below and I will try to answer them, or it may just prompt another of these posts :)

Until then, keep it live!!
Vanessa x