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Crow Moon by Suzie Aspley#Extract #Giveaway #AMarthaStrangewaysInvestigationBook1

  I am delighted to introduce the first in a new series by debut writer, Suzie Aspley . The atmospheric thriller, Crow Moon was published by Orenda on March 14th. Today I have an extract for you to read and the chance to win a print copy of Crow Moon . Details on how to enter are at the foot of this post. When the crow moon rises, the darkness is unleashed… Martha Strangeways is struggling to find purpose in her life, after giving up her career as an investigative reporter when her young twins died in a house fire. Overwhelmed by guilt and grief, her life changes when she stumbles across the body of a missing teenager – a tragedy that turns even more sinister when a poem about crows is discovered inked onto his back... When another teenager goes missing in the remote landscape, Martha is drawn into the investigation, teaming up with DI Derek Summers, as malevolent rumours begin to spread and paranoia grows. As darkness descends on the village of Strathbran, it soon becomes

Christmas at Butterfly Cove by Sarah Bennett ** Blog Tour Excerpt, Review & Giveaway **

I am delighted to be taking part in the celebrations for Sarah Bennett's third book in the Butterfly Cove trilogy: Christmas at Butterfly Cove. I have an excerpt for you to sample and there's also the chance to win a £10 Amazon Giftcard, a butterfly journal and a butterfly necklace. Details on how to enter are at the foot of this post. (Sorry, UK only). Before we get to the excerpt, here's a little more about the book:


All she wants for Christmas…
When talented artist Nee Sutherland returns to Butterfly Cove for her sister’s wedding, it’s only a matter of time before she has to face her own bridegroom – Luke Spenser – the man she impulsively married, then left in the middle of the night.
Nee hasn’t picked up her paintbrushes in months, a part of her is broken. She knows Luke might never forgive her, leaving him was the biggest mistake of her life – but could coming home for Christmas be the best decision she’s ever made?
Maybe all she needs is a little Christmas miracle…
A delightfully feel-good festive romance, perfect for fans of Trisha Ashley, Rachael Lucas and Hilary Boyd.


‘I’m not coming to Butterfly Cove.’


‘Luke…’


The ever-present simmer of anger in his gut boiled over. ‘Leave it!’ Damn. None of this was Arron’s fault, not Kiki or Mia’s either. There was only one person responsible for turning his life upside down.


 Again.


He shoved a hand through his hair. ‘Sorry.’


His brother hunched closer across the table. ‘You have to speak to her sometime, bro. I don’t know what happened to her in New York, but she’s a mess.’


His temper spiked again. ‘And how is that my problem?’


Aaron gripped his forearm. ‘She’s your wife, Luke. For better, for worse and all that.’


He’d heard enough. He loved Aaron, but if he didn’t shut the hell up, Luke would say something unforgivable. He stood up, lifted his glass and drained the last third of his pint. ‘We’d better get back.’ He left the table without another word.


He was a couple of hundred yards up the road before Aaron caught up with him. Falling into step, he kept his eyes fixed on the road ahead of them. ‘We heard your argument, Kiki and me. After the wedding.’


Luke stopped dead. ‘What?’


Aaron faced him, one shoulder lifted in an apologetic shrug. 

‘Outside the barn. We didn’t mean to, we were in the shadows at the side of the building.’


What the hell had they been doing lurking in the dark like that? It had been the night Aaron finally opened his heart to Kiki and…oh. The embarrassed flush on his brother’s face spoke volumes. He raised an eyebrow at him and the redness darkened.


‘Yeah, anyway. We weren’t snooping, but we heard what Nee said, about leaving you being a mistake. She sounded pretty sincere to me. Can’t you at least give her a chance to explain?’


A car approached, and they stepped onto the grass verge to let it pass. As soon as the road was clear again, Luke started walking. He didn’t want to think about the wedding. Didn’t want to think about how delicate and slight Nee had looked, the aching sorrow in her voice when she’d tried to talk to him. He heard Aaron’s footsteps behind him. Without looking around, he held up a hand in warning. 

‘No more. The subject is closed.’


He couldn’t give her a chance to explain, because then he’d have to admit to the true source of his anger—himself. For all his protestations, he didn’t care why she’d left. He just wanted her back. And what kind of an idiot did that make him?

My Thoughts

Warm and uplifting, this couldn't feel much more festive, with all the family gathered together over the Christmas period. Not everything goes according to plan of course and the focus of this book is the relationship between Nee and Luke. I think to get the most out of the story, it would be best to have read the previous two books in the series. The dynamic between the characters feels believable and the more peripheral characters all contribute something to the story as well.

    Despite its life enhancing feel, there is more to this story than hearts and flowers. As you discover why Nee is unable to pursue her love of art, you realise that there is a lot of pain in the background. I must say I enjoyed finding out if she was going to be able to get over her anguish. Great characters, all with their own story, make this an enjoyable read.

In short: lashings of festive fun.

About the Author

Sarah Bennett has been reading for as long as she can remember. Raised in a family of bookworms, her love affair with books of all genres has culminated in the ultimate Happy Ever After – getting to write her own stories to share with others.


Born and raised in a military family, she is happily married to her own Officer (who is sometimes even A Gentleman). Home is wherever he lays his hat, and life has taught them both that the best family is the one you create from friends as well as relatives.



When not reading or writing, Sarah is a devotee of afternoon naps and sailing the high seas, but only on vessels large enough to accommodate a casino and a choice of restaurants.



Sarah is the author of the Butterfly Cove trilogy, published by HQ Digital UK. You can also look forward to a new series coming in 2018, set in the beautiful seaside town of Lavender Bay.

You can follow Sarah here: Twitter   |  Facebook

Book Links: Amazon UK   |  Amazon US   |  Amazon CA 
   |  Amazon AU   | Kobo Books  |  i Books   |  Google Play   

Thanks to Sarah Bennett,  HQ Digital and Jenny at Neverland Tours for a copy of the book and a place on the Tour.

Giveaway (UK only)

To be in with a chance to win a £10 Amazon Giftcard, a butterfly necklace and a butterfly journal, just follow the link below and good luck! (one winner)


 
a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

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