"Never Again" Nicky Clifford

Mountains, Mystery, Romance: Can you run from your past?

Harriet Anderson’s life is spiralling out of control. Unused to such mayhem, she ditches her high-powered job to take refuge in the Swiss Alps where she meets Philippe Smith, a crime writer with a dark and shadowy past. Thrown together by chance, is their fate intertwined? Will the karma and romance of the mountains and the quaintness of the Alps soothe their troubled souls?

Or will their rocky paths create avalanches that cannot be avoided...

Bestselling authors, Erica James, Jane Green and Caroline James congratulate Nicky Clifford on her debut novel, Never Again: 

“Delicious! A perfect book to cosy up with...” 

This contemporary romance novel starts with an appealing premise. Harriet arrives in the Alps, escaping her life in England and taking up the position working in a hotel. There's a comical element to the set up; the hotel owners are portrayed with a touch of satire and Harriet is a very relatable character, comfortably matching our expectations for this genre. Becky, joining her in this new adventure, is equally colourful and wastes no time in flirting with the guests.

"Becky had shed her clothes in record time and was stretching her long, toned body on a towel placed very close to Philippe's. .......Becky was unbelievable! She had no morals. Not that she cared. A man was the last thing she needed in her life right now. Particularly a man like Philippe."

Yes, the enigmatic Philippe, at whom Becky has decided to set herself the challenge of snaring, despite the engagement ring on her finger! But as Harriet states, unlike Becky, she has no interest in men. She is trying to forget about her complicated relationship she has hoped to have left behind in England.

So the first third of the novel is a bit of a gentle holiday romance. Beautiful setting, celebrity guest, girl nursing a broken heart. All the right ingredients for a gentle, enjoyable read.

But as the novel continues Clifford develops her main protagonists, giving both Harriet and Philippe more complex backstories and forcing them both to confront deep issues they've tried to bury within themselves. I liked the way Philippe was allowed to develop as much as Harriet as a character and that although the story is mainly from Harriet's point of view, Philippe is more than just the male interest. There is a vulnerability about him as he too has to come to terms with loss, rejection and work out how to reconcile himself with his past.

Both characters are determined not to fall in love - never again!

"He had sworn to himself that he would be a confirmed bachelor. Forever."

"This getaway of hers was turning out to be nothing at all like she had imagined. Instead, she had walked into a nightmare. It may be a different country, but it looked as if history was repeating itself."

But there is something very magnetic about their attraction and try as they might to ignore it- or as hard as Becky tries to make sure they never see it- they seem to be constantly drawn back together and gradually have to admit their feelings for each other. However, the course of true love (never again) does run smooth.......

Philippe has a lot of soul searching to do.

"What had he become? As he rose up the ranks of the heights of a famous tennis player, his ego had grown with him. If you are treated like a king and worshipped long enough, you start to believe you are a king. ....When all of that is ripped away, you become a 'nobody'. In fact, you are worse than a 'nobody' because you are a 'has been'. You lose yourself and you become rudderless."

His heartache is as much about his sense of physical failing as an emotional one. It is Harriet's "son" Toby who is able to help Philippe overcome some of his more complicated feelings of resentment and frustration he's been experiencing since his accident.

The more we learn about Harriet, the more we learn about her previous relationship with Greg. She is obviously so scarred by his treatment of her that she becomes angry and suspecting very quickly. She is too fearful of history repeating itself.

"Her calm and ordered life had morphed into a soap opera, that she no longer recognised. And the worst thing of all, she seemed to have taken on the role of Chief Drama Queen in all of this.....From Ice Queen to Drama Queen."

The second half of the novel is dramatic and there is an increase in pace as the couple face many dilemmas, tough decisions, tragic and even life threatening situations. Almost every single hurdle that can be thrown at them, is. Just when you begin to relax and dust of your fascinator, something else comes up and your hopes of a wedding fall off the edge of the Alpine mountains. The reader is constantly shuttled backwards and forwards over the tennis net as the umpire shouts out "Will they? Won't they?" Until finally, I was almost screaming, "Well, will they or won't they???" And a few "Nooooooo not again....." 's might have slipped from under my breath!

But this is a romantic drama. And drama it must have.

It's always a credit to the author if you are shouting at fictitious people because it means the characters have left the page and climbed inside your head -which means you must care about them and you must be engaged in their story. Clifford has achieved this.

The story is one of love, betrayal, loss, trust and fate. Harriet has to face many tough decisions to which there are no easy answers. She has to learn to trust again just as Philippe has to learn to accept who and what he now is.

It is also a novel about family. Elspeth, an elderly guest at the hotel who is an eccentric breath of fresh air, brings much light relief to the pages as well as a candid honesty and wisdom. Then there is Philippe's family who add a further depth to his character and role. The reader becomes part of these extended families and all of them have a part to play in the resolution of the story.

It is a bit cliched in places but in a very comforting and pleasing way. The book is well written and although it treads the well worn path of a decent chick lit read, the reader is forever wondering whether there will indeed be a happy ending and just what the fate of Harriet and Philippe really will be. There's always room for one more twist!

This is Clifford's first novel and I think it is a confident, solid book. If you enjoy chick lit and romantic novels, you will find this a rewarding read. I will be looking out for anything else she writes and I think Clifford's "Never Again" will sit snugly alongside other contemporary popular titles from the likes of Lucy Dillon and Cecelia Ahern.

"Never Again" by Nicky Clifford publishes on 21st October 2016 and is available to buy on Amazon.

I received a copy of "Never Again" from Nicky Clifford in return for a fair and honest review which I believe this is. My thanks to Nicky for the advanced copy. 

MORE ABOUT NICKY CLIFFORD  

Theale resident and writer, Nicky Clifford, launches her debut novel, Never Again, on October 21^st and her dream of seeing her book in print finally becomes reality. Never Again has received warm reviews ahead of publication and looks set to storm its way up the Amazon charts in romantic fiction.

A successful poet with scores of poems and articles published, Nicky completed a writing course at Reading University and says her local writing group was instrumental in motivating her to get the book finished. With a corporate background in HR and training, Nicky says her skills never prepared her for the complex minefield of editing, web design and social media required for today’s indie authors and she is fortunate in having a very patient family as housework has gone on the back-burner!

Never Again is a contemporary romance set in the heart of Berkshire and also in the Swiss Alps where Nicky worked during a placement whilst at university. Bestselling authors, Erica James, Jane Green and Caroline James have congratulated Nicky, and Caroline describes the book as, “Delicious! A perfect book to cosy up with...”

Nicky is making a donation from the book’s profits to the charity, Childhood Tumour Trust (childhoodtumourtrust.org.uk). Never Again is available via Amazon for pre-order download now and will be available to download and in paperback from October 21^st

Nicky Clifford lives with her family in Theale and works for the local charity, Auticulate. She is the author of three novels and Never Again is the first to be published. A keen ice-skater, Nicky hung up her boots to concentrate on her writing.

Contact:

Email: nickyLclifford@hotmail.co.uk             Tel: 07766950347

www.nickyclifford.com                                  Twitter: @nickynovelist

For more recommendations and reviews follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacuk) 

**AUTHOR Q&A** Nicky Clifford

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Today I welcome Nicky Clifford to my blog for a Q&A about her new debut book "Never Again" which is published on the 21st October 2016.

Thanks so much Nicky for answering my questions!

Has there ever been an occasion or event that has made you say "Never Again"?

There have been a few! However, the time I plonked my neighbourhood watch hat firmly on my head and called the police has to top them all. I had been pottering in my bedroom when I heard a loud banging. I looked out of the window and was horrified to see two hooded youths vandalising the ‘Welcome to Reading’ sign in broad daylight – the cheek of it! So I hid behind the curtain (as you do) and called the local police. The officer asked me to describe the scene. I peeked out, nervous about any retribution from these thugs and started to describe the scene: “There’s two hooded men. They are bashing the sign and . . . oh, they seem to have a drill . . . and . . . ah, a Reading Borough Council van". Honestly, the mortification! Fortunately, the police officer was very understanding, but that is definitely my most memorable ‘Never Again’!

 If you were to move away for some "time out" or a new start, where would be your perfect retreat and what job would you do?

I would move to Venice. With its network of canals, delicious pasta, pizza and ice-cream, it is the most romantic and beautiful place. In addition, of course, to writing, I would work under cover as a mystery diner so I could eat for free in a wide range of different cafes, hotels and restaurants. When can I pack my bags?!

Which celebrity would you to be a fellow hotel resident with? Why?

Claudia Winkleman every time! She is hilarious. You never know what she is going to do next. I mean, who else would lick Paul Hollywood’s face?! And so there would never be a dull moment with her around.

What's been your worst holiday job?

That has to be when I was in my teens. I worked at an old people’s home in the kitchen washing up. I didn’t mind the amount of crockery and cutlery or how filthy the pans were; I didn’t mind bleaching the wooden work surfaces; but what really freaked me out, particularly as a teen, was when the odd old person wandered into the kitchen without a stitch of clothes about their person and struck up a conversation! I honestly didn’t know where to look . . .

 Have you ever had a holiday romance?

I have! A few! This particular one was during my teens (all my examples are from my teens – my life must have been so much more exciting back then!). I spent a week by the beach in Wales with my friend, Julie, and her family.  I met this guy at the campsite disco. He had a car and a motorbike – given I wasn’t even old enough to drive, he definitely ticked all of my boxes (Materialistic? Me?). It was very romantic: BBQs by the beach, strolling hand in hand by the waves . . . until one evening we lost track of time. He gallantly dropped me back at the caravan where I had hoped to sneak in without being spotted, only to find a police car parked outside the front door, having been brought in to track down a missing 15-year-old . . . oops!

Who is your fictional hero / perfect partner?

As Pretty Woman is one of my favourite films, I reckon Richard Gere climbing up to my balcony with a rose between his teeth would do it for me! Although Colin Firth in Pride and Prejudice wandering out of the lake in a certain wet and white see-through shirt would also be in the running . . .

Can you recommend any other novels or authors whose stories are about love, marriage and romance?  Are there any novels about love and marriage that have particularly influenced you?  

The thing about me is that I have the most terrible memory. So I read a book, I love it and then within weeks I have forgotten the title and within months, I could almost read it again and not remember the ending! But there are a few books that stick in my memory: the first is Man in Charge by Mills & Boon, which I picked up from a jumble sale years ago when I was a teenager – it set me on the path to dreaming of romance, love and marriage. A couple of books that I would highly recommend are written by Cecelia Ahern Thanks for the Memories and A Place called Here. She manages to weave romance with a little bit of magic, a stretch of the imagination and gives lots of food for thought.

What are you reading now / just finished reading / hoping to read next......?

I have just started The One Plus One by JoJo Moyes; I am only a few pages in, but am sure I will love it as much as her others. I have thoroughly enjoyed two of Caroline James’ page-turning novels, and so next on my list is her So you think you’re a … Celebrity Chef?

Thanks ever so much Nicky for your entertaining and interesting answers! Good luck with "Never Again" which is available for PreOrder via Amazon and on general release from 21st October 2016. 

To read my full review of Nicky's book please click here:
http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/10/never-again-nicky-clifford.html


Don't forget to follow the rest of the blog tour for "Never Again"! 

For more reviews and recommendations please follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacuk) 

Children's Series: "Molly Mischief" Adam Hargreaves

Remember these? Still reading them? Still a family favourite? Of course!! So how exciting is this? Meet "Molly Mischief", a new creation from Adam Hargreaves, son of Roger! 




Adam Hargreaves is the son of Roger Hargreaves and took on the role of author and illustrator of the bestselling series, which has sold over 200 million copies around the world, in 1988 after Roger died suddenly.
Pavilion Children has acquired the very first children’s series by Adam Hargreaves outside the world of the Mr Men and Little Misses. 


The first book in a series of three titles is called "Molly Mischief...Wants a Pet" and is scheduled for release in August 2017. In the story a visit to the Wildlife Park gets Molly thinking about just what sort of pet she would really like to have. A hippopotamus proves to be too muddy an addition to the family... So begins Molly’s quest to find the perfect pet, with plenty of mischief along the way. The second book in the Molly Mischief series will follow in Spring 2018.

Publisher of Pavilion Children’s Books Neil Dunnicliffe said: 

"To be the publisher of Adam’s first children’s book since the phenomenally successful Mr Men series is a real privilege. Molly is a sparky, fun character with lots of stories to tell, and I’m sure that she will become a modern mischievous classic."

Adam Hargreaves commented: 

“It is a pleasure to be working with Pavilion on 'Molly Mischief' and it is exciting to have the chance to publish a series of my own. I strongly believe that there’s an opportunity for an adventurous and strong girl character. Molly is just this, but the stories are also packed with silliness, humour and fanciful events that will amuse and entertain. I hope that children and their parents will love these collectible stories.”

Adam Hargreaves was born in 1963. At the age of 7, the young Adam asked his father what a tickle looked like. The resulting title, Mr Tickle became the first title in the incredible Mr Men series. On his father’s death in 1988, Adam took over the management of The Hargreaves Organisation, and ran the business until 2004, when he sold THO to Chorion.

Adam’s creative involvement with the Mr Men has remained constant for decades, creating numerous new titles and new characters for the UK, USA and France, including Little Miss Princess, Mr Birthday and Little Miss Hug. Over the decades the Mr Men and Little Miss books have sold somewhere in the region of 200 million books.

When he’s not creating Mr Men or promoting the series, he paints landscapes of Sussex and develops new children’s publishing concepts.

For further enquiries please contact Catherine Ward: catherinewardpr@gmail.com, tel: 07748 620051

About Pavilion Books
Pavilion Books is a thriving London-based independent publisher of high-quality illustrated books and was the publisher of 2015’s bestselling non-fiction book in the UK – Millie Marotta’s Animal Kingdom. Their growing children’s list includes books by Quentin Blake, Michael Foreman, Terry Jones, Ralph Steadman and David Roberts.
www.pavilionbooks.com

About David Riley Consulting Ltd
David Riley is an independent publishing consultant and agent, specialising in licensed characters. For further information and licensing enquiries please visit davidrileyconsulting.co.uk, email info@davidrileyconsulting.co.uk or telephone 07775 828206 

**A Review of the Week 3/10/16**

There have been so many things happening this week I have decided to put it all in one post so as not to drive you too crazy with a frenzy of tweeting! Here's a round up of all I reviewed this week in case you missed anything!

Hope there's something here to catch your eye! Do let me know in the comments below if you are reading any of these books too!


"Death at the Seaside" Frances Brody published 6th October
4/5 stars from me
On Monday I was lucky enough to be on the Blog Tour for this fabulous "cosy crime" thriller set in the 1920s and published by Little, Brown Book Group on 6th October 2016. This is a totally charming read with a great sense of historical setting and a juicy enough mystery to fill your afternoon tea sandwiches with! Kate Shackleton is a lively and interesting protagonist who looks to take the sleuthing world by storm! Here's my full review:

http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/10/blog-tour-death-at-seaside-frances-brody.html


"Sins of the Father" Emily Organ published 4th October.
4/5 stars from me
I've been a big fan of Emily Organ's books since the first instalment in this trilogy was published a few years ago so I was delighted to read the final instalment. Organ's adventure, set in 1351, is full of strong female characters, villainous baddies and plenty of twists and turns. Her attention to historical detail is impressive; her prose reading as fluently as any contemporary psychological thriller. For my full review click here:

http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/10/sins-of-father-emily-organ.html


On Wednesday, I was delighted to be able to share an extract from Casey Kelleher's "The Taken" which you can read here....if you dare!!! Her book is a gritty, twisted thriller not for the fainthearted!

http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/10/exclusive-extractthe-taken-casey.html



"The Secret Letters" by Catherine Law was published on 6th October by Bonnier Zaffre
3/5 stars from me
This is an engaging story about love, loss and sacrifice set in the second world war. I was intrigued by the story and wanted to know how things would pan out for the characters. Law has written a pleasing and satisfying debut. For my full review click here:

http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/10/the-secret-letters-catherine-law.html



This ghost story published on 6th October and I would highly recommend it! It is dark, chilling and vey gripping! Short and very easy to read in a few sittings. Paver is a talented writer. My review is here:

http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/07/thin-air-michelle-paver.html



Graham Norton's first novel was published on the 6th October too. I really enjoyed "Holding" and gave 4/5 stars. It was gently humorous, entertaining, full of well conceived characters and a good, strong plot. Recommend!

http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/10/holding-graham-norton.html


Fleur Hitchcock's children's fiction novel "Murder in Midwinter" was also published this week. It is a great mystery thriller set in deep Wales and an excellent introduction to crime and murder novels for a younger audience. I really enjoyed it and will be buying for lots of children I know this Christmas!

http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/10/childrens-fiction-murder-in-midwinter.html




The fantastic thriller from Deborah O'Connor came out in paperback on Thursday and I would urge you to buy it if you've not yet read it! It's a great story and a fantastic debut. Highly recommend!



This also came out in paperback this week and is perfect for fans of Nick Hornby and David Nichols. Another great debut from Bonnier Zaffre which looks at marriage from different view points.


I ended the week by being on the blog tour with this chick lit novel which is a kind of Bridget Jones meet Emma! Enjoyable and recommend!

http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/10/blog-tour-losing-it-emma-rathbone.html


I also read this book and was very moved by the illustrations and content. It is being sold for War Child charity and will make a great gift for all young people this Christmas.

http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/10/refuge-retelling-of-nativity-from-nosy.html

**BLOG TOUR** "Losing It" Emma Rathbone

 

It is my pleasure to be part of the Blog Tour for Emma Rathbone's "Losing It" today! Thanks so much to @HQStories for inviting me to join in!

This book is about just that - losing "it". "It" is 26 year old Julia Greenfield's virginity. Somehow, she has made it through life so far without losing it, even having been to college and hung out at parties; she's had boyfriends and she's tried to take things to that final stage on several occasions, but it just doesn't seem to be that easy. And now she is totally fixated about "losing it". This is a woman obsessed and a woman on a mission.

To inject a bit of excitement and attempt to shake up her stalled life, she decides to go to North Carolina and spend the summer with her 58 year old aunt Vivienne. Whilst there, she unearths a shocking secret  - that's it, you've guessed it; she discovers Vivienne is also a virgin! Horrified Julia is desperate to find out how and why this is, mainly so she can make sure she avoids the same "terrible" fate. Then there follows an entertaining story of Julia's attempts not just to lose her own virginity, but to help her aunt lose hers as well!

From the moment we meet Julia, all the information, anecdotes and descriptions of friendships are built around her still intact virginity. She frequently reminisces about the unfairness of her friends getting there before she has.

"Chelsea's face was folded and smug, like she was in possession of a secret I couldn't possibly fathom and she had to crowd around it and protect it."

She describes her obsessive need to "lose it" as a kind of helpless desperation, as an anger and a strain -one of several "strains of being an adult" she comes to realise over the course of the summer. Her almost mathematical analysis of dates, attraction and body language are gently humorous as the irony of her actions felt by the reader. Although I feel we are laughing alongside her empathetically rather than at her and I liked that Rathbone does not resort to slapstick cheap cliched scenes to engage and entertain her readers.

Julia doesn't have a lot else going for her really. She seems to have lost her drive, ambition and direction since leaving college. She doesn't enjoy her job and states that soon she will go back home to her apartment, "microwave a dinner that would burn the top of my mouth, then float facedown in the internet for a while before going to bed even though I wasn't tired." She's made the wrong choice about where to live as she didn't realise there were specific neighbourhoods young people were supposed to live. She's been duped by the website blurb and taken a flat in the "charming downtown of a sub-city called Arlington" which actually turns out to be in an "unworkable mile of overpasses and parking garages." Like her relationships, Julia has just missed the mark and once again gets a little more left behind. Staring out in the world of work and independence hasn't quite worked out as she had expected. I can relate to that!

I liked Julia. I did find her fixation with "losing it" rather obsessive but I think Rathbone has tapped into something that does bother all women - not necessarily concerns with their virginity, but that holy grail of being in a relationship or as "Bridget Jones" would say, a "smug married". However, Julia's obsession is pretty severe:

"My virginity composed about 99 percent of my thought traffic. I concentrated on it - trying to drill it down to its powder, its particle elements, trying to recatergorize it, impose different narratives on why this had happened."

I can see that this could become irritating to some readers and I appreciate I am probably not the desired target audience for this novel. But if you can accept Julia's one track line of thought and push on to the second half of the novel which focuses more on Aunt Vivienne and her back story then you will be rewarded. This thread of the storyline was interesting and Vivienne's character perhaps a bit more complex. Julia's interaction with her Aunt and the journey of their relationship is well observed.
Julia is not a completely vacuous character. She's not bothered about getting a high powered job - interviews and offices are merely a place to meet men and orchestrate situations that might lead to achieving her goal; but sometimes there are moments of poignancy, understanding and insight - particularly regarding her relationship with her Aunt.

Rathbone's writing is gentle. It flows with appropriate dialogue, humour and descriptions for this kind of novel. There are some charming moments and some good use of language. There are some lovely glimpses of characterisation, for example when Julia sees the ancient Caroline asleep in her chair she says:

"She was positioned like a rag doll that had been thrown from across the room and happened to land that way - one hand, resting in her lap, the other dangling down by her side. Her legs were lolling open under her dress. She looked deflated, inanimate."

And then towards the end she writes:

"The rest of our afternoon was like an Impressionist painting - our colours swirling together as we glided out of the basement and out onto the wooden swing, sitting together."

My favourite phrase when one character wryly stated: "I don't sit there and twist myself into a pretzel trying to figure out how it got to be that way."

Rathbone can write and she can tell a good romantic, comedic, coming of age novel for the twenty something generation. There were many echoes of other American authors' voices in these pages and it will easily slip in amongst other chick lit novels that are either set in small towns or focus on boy-meets-girl type plots. It was a little predictable, a little contrived but I liked its fluency and on the whole, the characterisation.

This is kind of "Bridget Jones" meets Austen's "Emma" - a mismatching matchmaker whose desperation, obsession and cringing dates culminate in an easy, light, entertaining and finally heartwarming novel.

My thanks to HQ Stories and Net Galley for an advanced copy of this novel in return for an honest review.

To find out more about "Losing It" and Emma Rathbone on Twitter, search #LosingIt or follow @HQStories  and  @EmmaRathbone  

Author info:Emma Rathbone is the author of the novel The Patterns of Paper Monsters. She is the recipient of a Christopher Isherwood Grant in Fiction, and her work can also be seen in the New Yorker, the New York Times, and the Virginia Quarterly Review. She is also a writer for the upcoming Netflix comedy, G.L.O.W. She lives in Los Angeles.




If you've enjoyed this review then please follow me on Twitter for more recommendations @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacuk)

"Refuge- A Retelling of the Nativity" from Nosy Crow

REFUGE - A RETELLING OF THE NATIVITY STORY WITH A REFUGEE FAMILY 

ANNE BOOTH & SAM USHER 

PROCEEDS TO WAR CHILD 

“Every day one in every 200 children wakes as a refugee having been forced to flee their homeland. In this new book, which beautifully adapts the nativity story to a setting of today’s refugee crisis, readers can find a message of hope about a vulnerable family that is met with kindness and warmth."

Rob Williams, War Child

On 6 October 2016, multi-award winning independent children’s publisher, Nosy Crow, will release the paperback edition of Refuge, which has so far raised £30,000 for the charity War Child. 

The hardback sold out its original print run in two weeks last Christmas, and the publisher aims to keep the book in print and the donations to War Child coming with this new edition. As we approach the Christmas season, the book is a reminder of the more important things in life as well as a gentle, thought-provoking way of discussing the subject of refugees with younger children.

Refuge is a retelling of the Christmas story, but one with a difference: the focus of this short, lyrical picture book is that, after the birth of Jesus, the family become refugees from Herod’s soldiers as they make their way to safety in Egypt. 

To emphasise the parallels with refugees around the world, the story is told from the point of view of a donkey that travels with them: to the donkey they are just a ‘man’, ‘woman’ and ‘child’. The intention of the book is to help parents with young children broach the difficult subject of the refugee crisis as children begin asking questions about the news pictures they see of boys and girls their own age in unimaginable circumstances.

Author Anne Booth said about the book: “Whenever I think about refugees I think about what happened directly after the first Christmas. I hoped that retelling this part of the story would help people empathise with refugees today. I’m delighted Nosy Crow and War Child agreed.” 

Just before illustrating the book, Sam Usher had visited the “Jungle” refugee camp in Calais travelling with a friend who was delivering supplies to refugees, and saw for himself the misery of the refugees there.

Rob Williams of War Child explained how the charity “supports more than 125,000 children and their families around the world who have been affected by conflict, often providing the much needed support and refuge. We’re delighted that this book has already made so much for us and I’d like to thank Nosy Crow for their generosity in helping and would encourage every family to add this to their Christmas wish list.”

The hardback edition of Refuge, written by Anne Booth and illustrated by Sam Usher, was published on 12 November 2015, just seven weeks after Anne Booth’s story arrived at the publisher’s office. Anne Booth and Sam Usher waived royalties, and Nosy Crow ensured £5 from each copy sold was donated to War Child, by taking no profit, and asking suppliers and booksellers to take no profit or minimise costs. The book sold out the 6,000 copies printed in two weeks, raising £30,000 for War Child.

For every copy of the paperback sold, Nosy Crow will donate £1 to War Child, and the publisher aims to keep the book in print and the donations to War Child coming as the book becomes a new Christmas classic.

Kate Wilson, Managing Director of Nosy Crow, said: “In a 30-year career in publishing, and having published books as diverse as The Gruffalo and Horrible Histories, Refuge is one of the books I am most proud of. Anne’s story, complemented by Sam’s beautiful illustrations, is a simple way to help children understand what it might mean to be a refugee by linking it to a story that is familiar to so many of us, particularly as we begin to think about Christmas. Publishing Refuge in paperback gives us a sustainable way of communicating the message and continuing to support the excellent work of War Child.”

Refuge is published in paperback on 6 October at £7.99 by Nosy Crow

Anne Booth:
Anne’s debut novel Girl with a White Dog was shortlisted for the Waterstones Prize. She lives with her husband, four teenage children and two dogs.

Sam Usher:
Sam’s debut Can You See Sassoon? was shortlisted for the Waterstones Prize and the Red House Children’s Book Award and Snow was nominated for the 2016 Greenaway Award.

War Child:
War Child is striving for a world where children’s lives are no longer torn apart by war.
We are the only specialist charity for children in conflict, delivering high-impact programmes that are rebuilding lives across Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Central African Republic. We understand children’s needs, respect their rights, and put them at the centre of the solution - from supporting Syrian children to access education, to reintegrating child soldiers in the Central African Republic and enabling girls to escape life on the streets in the DRC.
We aim to reach children early in the conflict cycle and stay to support them through their recovery, providing education and protection services and also building longer-term livelihood opportunities. We support children to deal with the traumas of armed conflict, equipping

them with the skills and knowledge to go back to school, and providing training to young people so they can support themselves.
We believe that children and young people know what matters to them and that their voices and demands should be heard – we work with them to build their confidence as advocates and to mobilise others to take action in support of them.

Web: https://www.warchild.org.uk/
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Children's Fiction: "Murder in Midwinter" Fleur Hitchcock

Maya is travelling on a bus in Central London trying to take photos on her phone of the beautifully festive shop windows when a couple step into her viewfinder and start arguing. Through the camera flashes as Maya clicks away trying to get a decent photo for her sister, a glint of something else catches her eyes. The man has a gun. As Maya's flash releases, the man disappears. But not before he's seen her. 

Then a dead body appears. 

Sharing her eye witness account with the police puts Maya's safety under threat. She is sent away to her Aunt's farm in the Welsh mountains with police protection but Maya is determined to solve the mystery and won't rest until the man she saw is arrested. 

Snow falls. They are trapped in the hills. But are they safe?

This is a gripping story, full of drama, mystery and excitement that will capture the imagination of any young sleuth or any young reader that wants to delve into the world of crime fiction for the first time.

Hitchcock has created a great protagonist that will appeal to her readers. Maya is sharp, funny, brave and strong. The story is told in the first person and Maya's narrative is engaging, authentic and enjoyable. Even from the start, we know there is something special about her - her Mallen streak:

"I know it's unusual, but I like it. It makes us special, me and Zahra and Dad. Black hair, white streak. Hereditary. Like skunks, or Cruella de Vil."

The opening of the story introduces to us a girl who is interested in clothes, friends and her family. The exciting event which she witnesses happens immediately on the third page, pulling us straight into the thick of the story and ensuring a dramatic and tense pace which is maintained throughout the whole novel.

I liked that Maya is believed by the police, despite difficulties with evidence and proof. Although she is sent away to her Aunt's farm, it is not upsetting or threatening for the readers and Maya is a girl able to take everything in her stride.

Her cousin Ollie is not impressed with his new house guest. The interchange between the two is very amusing and once again, Maya makes us smile with her quick witted replies and her ability not to be put down or intimidated. For example, Maya is not really equipped for life in the countryside coming from London and finds herself a little unprepared for walking in the mountains or even around the farm:

"Haven't you got anything more sensible?" she asks looking at my low heeled boots. 
Ollie lets out a long and exaggerated sigh. "Expect she only wears glass slippers." 
"I do that on Tuesdays," I say, "not Saturdays." 

The relationship between Ollie and Maya is well handled as they become involved in solving the mystery and various dramatic moments of high adventure!

It is a great thriller for the winter. The setting and atmosphere are perfect in creating tension and suspense. The characters are well drawn and full of spark and the family dynamics are heartwarming.

I would recommend this for any readers aged 8-12 and thing it is a well paced story with a satisfying balance between chills, thrills and humour. It is not scary or frightening but includes enough suspense to engage and excite readers.

My thanks to Nosy Crow publishers for an advanced copy of this book in return for a fair review.

"Murder in Midwinter" by Fleur Hitchcock is published on 6th October 2016.

FLEUR HITCHCOCK
Born in Cobham, by an airfield, and raised outside Winchester on the banks of the river Itchen, Fleur grew up as the youngest of three children. She spent her smallest years reading Tintin and Batman under her brother's bed and searching for King Alfred's treasure in the river. She grew up a little, went away to school near Farnham, studied English in Wales and for the next twenty years sold Applied Art in the city of Bath. When her youngest child was 7, she embarked on the Writing for Young People MA at Bath Spa and graduated with a distinction. Now she lives just outside Bath with her family working with her husband who is a toymaker, looks after other people's gardens and tries to grow vegetables. She is also the author of Dear Scarlet and Saving Sophia. 

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