Review: The Death & Life of Lucy Westenra

 

What desperate steps will Lucy Westenra take to save her own life?
Hillingham in Hampstead, once the home of the well-to-do Westenra family, is now divided into apartments. When teacher Kate Balcombe sets about renovating her flat in the attic, she finds an unsent letter written 130 years before by Lucy, the nineteen-year-old daughter of the house.

You may know Lucy from Bram Stoker’s Dracula... a pretty, flirtatious girl with three ardent suitors, she is Mina Harker’s best friend. When Lucy falls mysteriously ill and dies, Van Helsing identifies her as a victim of the vampire.

But what if the monsters who hunt Lucy are much closer to home?

As Kate begins to investigate Lucy’s story, she meets James Harker, Mina’s great-great grandson, and together they uncover a long-hidden story of deception and murder. 

Review

I am a sucker for a vampire story.  I read Dracula during high school and fell in love with the lore of the undead. From Vlad the Impaler to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I've delved into each interpretation of the myth. So, I was very happy to be asked to review Lucy's story. 

In this novel, we look at vampire lore through a very human lens. Lucy's descendants discover her writings and decide to explore the reasons behind her death. Lucy comes to life in as both victim and conqueror of misdirected beliefs. The fresh perspective creates suspense and drama that keep the pages turning, even if you're familiar with the basic plot of Lucy's story. 

The author deftly guides the reader through Lucy's transformation, giving everyone a fresh look at a very old tale. In the end, we are all aware that the truth may be hard to find. Kate Balcombe summarizes the journey well from her perspective. "The truth is often buried beneath layers of lies, and sometimes, the deadliest monsters are those we trust the most."

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Death-Life-Lucy-Westenra-ebook/dp/B0F3Q4GZK6/

https://www.amazon.com/Death-Life-Lucy-Westenra-ebook/dp/B0F3Q4GZK6/

Author Bio –

Rosie Fiore is the author of eight published novels, including Wonder Women, After Isabella and What She Left, as well as The After Wife, written as Cass Hunter. She is a teacher of creative writing and a Royal Literary Fund Fellow. She lives in North London with her family, and can frequently be found wandering on the Heath or haunting a churchyard.

 Social Media Links – 

https://x.com/rosiefiore

https://www.facebook.com/rosiefiorewriter

https://bsky.app/profile/rosiefiore.bsky.social

 

Wicket Maiden

 

WICKET MAIDEN is a groundbreaking romantic comedy set in the world of women’s cricket.

It’s the start of a new season for professional women’s cricket team The Scorpions.

Acclaimed batter Ellie, 32, is returning to the game after a long injury, determined to regain her form and her place in the England squad. This is her last chance, and she won’t let anything stand in her way.

Cricket fan Adam, 34, an artist and photographer, has followed Ellie and the team through highs and lows. He’s drawn to her talent, athleticism and public persona - but is content to be a face in the crowd, cheering her on. He’d never date a famous person, anyway.

When events on and off the pitch bring Ellie and Adam together, friendship blossoms, and their careers initially soar. Yet, with romance in the air, Ellie loses focus, jeopardising her dream.

What’s more important to them both - love, or cricket?

A share of the book’s royalties will be donated to pertinent clubs and organisations who champion the development of grassroots, girls’ and women’s cricket.

The story echoes the film “Notting Hill” – the challenge of love between a ‘star’ and a ‘normal person’.

The book touches on the good and bad sides of fame, and shines a light on women’s cricket – the mental and physical challenges, pressure of relentless media attention, community outreach, fan engagement, and the finite nature of the career of professional athletes. Above this, it is, of course, a love story.

The book is a non-spicy romance, and also includes neurodiversity and epilepsy representation.

Review

This little novel follows the successful wicket career of Ellie and one of her many fans. It was a sweet, touching story about wanting to be seen when your "label" causes others to make unfair assumptions. 

I admit that I don't know anything about wicket so the sports scenes were a little lost on me. I enjoyed the story, even though I didn't have enough basic knowledge to really understand the play during games. However, most of the book was universal to all sports - the fear of injury, the idea of being "old" before your time, and the desire to find someone who loves you as a person not a figure.

The romance does not get very steamy. The focus is on the relationship between the two. I enjoyed the character development and I would love to live in a world where women's sports are really this popular.

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wicket-Maiden-groundbreaking-womens-cricket-ebook/dp/B0DVMPT1DN/

https://www.amazon.com/Wicket-Maiden-groundbreaking-womens-cricket-ebook/dp/B0DVMPT1DN/

Author Bio – 

I’m an incurable romantic at heart, and a sucker for great humour. I’ve been writing for many years, and all the stories contain either love, or humour, or both – I simply can’t keep these elements out of my work.

I’m inspired by the big and small screen as well as books, and have a soft spot for Richard Curtis’ romcoms, timeless TV comedy like The Good Life and Blackadder, less well-known feelgood films and romances (Always, Forget Paris, Roxanne), and books which make me laugh (Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, The Rosie Project).

I have a soft spot for stories with strong women and nerdy or hapless guys.

Fundamentally, I try to write the books I like to read. I hope to distil humour, romance – and sometimes pathos or bittersweet vibes – into my novels.

Outside of writing, I enjoy photography, great scenery, a nice peaceful train ride, delicious coffee and cake, and catching up with old friends. I’m also something of a geek, fascinated by maths, science and even fonts!

Chrissie Harrison is a pen name.

Social Media Links – 

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorChrissieHarrison

https://www.instagram.com/authorchrissieharrison/

https://www.tiktok.com/@authorchrissieharrison  

https://www.youtube.com/@AuthorChrissieHarrison

https://www.chrissieharrison.co.uk

 

Troubled Times for Tilly

 A gripping saga of courage, resilience and fractured dreams, set in Victorian London.

Life on the river has never been easy for Tilly and Sam, but through hard work and determination,

they’ve built a home filled with love. Joey, Tilly’s eldest son, has lived between two worlds—cherished as her child but granted privileges, denied to her other children, through his wealthy birth father’s family. It’s a fine balance that has always held… until an incident at a glittering Celebration Ball shatters the fragile harmony.

Tilly fears the consequences, especially when her spirited, headstrong daughter Martha is involved. Martha has ideas of her own. How will she fare when she faces Joey’s entitled friends and their easy lives?

Disaster strikes Sam’s business, shaking the family’s foundation. Tilly’s worst fears come to life when Joey’s affluent relatives start making plans to reclaim him. Tilly is torn between fighting for her son and respecting his dreams.

As old wounds reopen and new temptations arise, Tilly must summon all her strength to keep her family together. But will love and loyalty be enough, or will the promise of wealth and comfort lure her children away forever?

A Powerful follow-up to The Water Gypsy.  Perfect for fans of Anna Jacobs and Dilly Court

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/TTfT

Author Bio – Kay Seeley is a talented storyteller and bestselling author. Her short stories have been published in women’s magazines and short-listed in competitions. Her novels had been finalists in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. She lives in London and loves its history. Her stories are well researched and beautifully written with compelling characters where love triumphs over adversity.  Kay writes stories that will capture your heart and leave you wanting more. Often heart-wrenching but always satisfyingly uplifting, her books are perfect for fans of Anna Jacobs, Lesley Pearse and Josephine Cox. 

Kay is a Member of The Alliance of Indie Authors and The Society of Women Writers and Journalists. 

All her novels are available for Kindle, in paperback, audio and in Large Print

Social Media Links –   

Webpage: https://kayseeleyauthor.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/kayseeley.writer/

Twitter/X:  https://x.com/KaySeeley1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kayseeley6