General

Reading has been a real lifeline for me during lockdown. I love it anyway, but it’s been the perfect entertainment, especially when the better weather has meant that sitting out in the garden is an option. New books arriving in the house have always been a source of excitement and never more so when we are going out and about into the world a bit less.  For me books are a form of escapism, so I’m less likely to miss that foreign holiday when I have a fantasy world to escape into.

If you have been feeling the same about reading and books as I have, you’ll be pleased to hear that I have a bundle of books to give away to one lucky reader.  Read the descriptions below to find out all about the books I have to give away and see if you’d like the chance to win them.

Call Me Joe

The environment, society and mankind itself are facing extreme challenges in a world that is both more connected, and yet more divided than ever before. Fear and confusion seep into all parts of everyday life… now, more than ever, the world needs one voice, one guide…One day the Earth is plunged into darkness and when light appears again so does a man –call him Joe –claiming to be the son of God. Can Joe bring the world’s most creative thinkers and leaders together to tackle the ills of mankind? Can he convince us all to follow him before it’s too late? In Call Me Joe, Martin van Es and Andrew Crofts highlight the key concerns of our time and imagine a future where we, at last, all work together to ensure the future of our world and all the life that calls it home.

Awakening of Spies

Thomas Dylan is an unlikely spy. Rejected by MI6he joins the Ministry of Defence where his first mission is a total failure. Unexpectedly he is sent to Rio de Janeiro to recover a submarine interrogator stolen from the US Navy. In Brazil he discovers that those supposedly on his side, MI6 and the CIA, have their own priorities and that his life is definitely not one of them.A murderous game which began with the death of a British spy in Argentina is being played out in a city of sun, sea and secret police. When Dylan comes face-to-face with the brutal realities of Brazil’s military dictatorship he knows he has to trust somebody. But who? The only thing he knows for sure that the woman he wants to trust has been lying to him from the very beginning -should he take the risk? Awakening of Spies is a fast-paced thriller in the vein of John le Carré and Agatha Christe.

No Precedent

No Precedent is the “poignant, funny, thoughtful and raw” sequel to Where’s Sailor Jack?, due for release in July 2020 by novelist John Uttley. The northern grammar school pals Bob Swarbrick and Richard Shackleton are back, now facing the era of Brexit, Momentum and Donald Trump. For the first time in their lives, Bob and Richard struggle to see the meaning of it all. The trials and renewals of Where’s Sailor Jack? (John Uttley’s debut novel released in 2015) behind them, they find themselves in a world whose faith and politics have moved beyond their sphere of influence and feel increasingly cut off from their roots. Bob, now settled with Wendy, must reconcile old memories and new children while Richard must save his family from themselves. Along the way, they are adopted by the lascivious Lucy Fishwick and her predatory daughter Maddie, whose lives are as mad and chaotic as the radio play Lucy is trying to write and, indeed, the world itself. But despite the coming plague, it doesn’t look like Armageddon. There is to be an apocalypse, but one of personal dimensions. We don’t all go together when we go!

A Wash of Black

IT’S NOT LIFE THAT IMITATES ART. IT’S DEATH.
Anna Symons. Famous. Talented. Dead. The body of a famous actress is found mutilated on an ice rink in Manchester, recreating a scene from a blockbuster film she starred in years ago.  DI Erika Piper, having only recently returned to work after suffering a near-fatal attack herself, finds she must once again prove her worth as the hunt for the media-dubbed ‘Blood Ice Killer’ intensifies.  But when another body is found and, this time, the killer issues a personal threat, Erika must put aside her demons to crack the case, or suffer the deadly consequences. A Wash of BlackA Wash of Black will keep you on the edge of your seat.

If you’d like to win this bundle of fab books, enter via the Gleam widget below.

Competition Terms and Conditions

1. No bulk, third-party or automated entries allowed.

2. Entrants must be aged 18 years or older and resident in the UK.

3. The winner or winners will be chosen by a random draw using the competition widget.

4. Promoter is responsible for fulfilling the prize and full contact details of the winner will be passed onto the promoter to enable prize fulfillment.

5. The winner’s name may be published on this site.

6. Competition closes at the end of Sunday 9th August 2020.

Win A Books Bundle

I know Birmingham so well having lived here all my life, but recently I was challenged to seek out some places to share with you.  I was happy to put on my thinking cap and come up with something a little bit different.  If you are visiting Birmingham, there’s a lot to see here in the city and surrounding area. I’d suggest booking into a hotel either in the city centre or you could look at a Birmingham airport hotel as there is a frequent and fast train service into the city centre from the airport.

They do say that Birmingham has more canals than Venice and certainly the canals make a great focus for a day out in the city.   We started our day with a boat trip run by Sherborne Wharf Heritage Narrow Boats.  They took us on a trip which had us cruising along the Icknield Port Loop which is a part of the canal system that you can only visit by boat because there are no tow paths.  This makes it a great way to see wildlife and we spotted a heron, ducks and some coots.  We also saw part of the new redevelopment of this part of the city as they are currently building on a site that faces onto the waterfront along Icknield Port Loop.

For lunch we decided to visit Marco Pierre White’s Steakhouse Bar and Grill which is situated in the Cube, an eye-catching building accessed from the canal near the Mailbox complex.  The restaurant is on the top floor so views over the city are breathtaking too and as Birmingham is a very green city it’s sometimes difficult to believe that you are looking out over the second biggest city in the country.  We could see planes coming into land at the airport in the distance and it’s fun to pick out the various landmarks of the city while you eat.

The food was great too: really tasty and freshly prepared.  There are good deals to be had if you opt for the limited menu rather than choosing from the full A La Carte menu.  You still get a choice of four or five dishes per course and we didn’t have any trouble picking out something that we would like.  We loved the succulent Chicken Kiev served with fries and char grilled tomatoes.   My Whitebait starter is also well worth a mention.

Afterwards we stopped off to enjoy the atmosphere and do a little people watching at one of the bars lining the canal at Gas Street Basin.  One of the bars had a live band on playing popular cover versions and the music carried nicely over the water so everyone could enjoy the sound.  As you’d expect on a sunny day, lots of people like to be near the water so it’s a very relaxed and popular place to be. Seats can be at a premium, but you can usually get one before too long.

The spending money was gifted by Hotels.com, but all views are my own.