Marble’s Marvels by Katie Simpkins – Blog Tour

Today I am so excited to be reviewing Marble’s Marvels by DC Brockwell (writing as Katie simpkins). Thank you to Zoe-Lee from https://zooloosbookdiary.co.uk/zooloos-blog-tours for organising this tour and to DC Brockwell for a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Synopsis

Famed Hampshire restaurant, Marble’s Marvels, is struggling. Poor food, few customers. And competing with the Italian restaurant across the road is not helping either.

Kate and Aiden Marble are out of ideas. Aiden is still struggling to cope after a tragic accident split their village in half two years ago. Kate tries to hold everything together, knowing that unless things change soon, they will lose the restaurant.

Out of the blue, a chef turns up and offers to cook them the best food they’ve ever tasted, in exchange for a job as sous chef. It seems like the fortunes of the restaurant are turning around. But is it a coincidence, or is there something magical about the new, mysterious chef?

Buy Links

Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/Marbles-Marvels-Katie-Simpkins-ebook/dp/B09P6WPKGZ/

Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/Marbles-Marvels-Katie-Simpkins/dp/B09P7QDLPP

My Thoughts

Marble’s Marvels was so much more than I expected.  I was expecting a feel-good story with food references and a sprinkle of magic, which is what I was served, but there are also deeper issues explored amongst the characters that really tug at the heartstrings.

My heart immediately went out to Kate and Aiden for everything they had been through and to the other family involved too.  Such a tragic event has completely torn to families, a business, friendships, a marriage and a whole village apart and I couldn’t imagine being in that position.  There is also Fran too who has an unexpected issue to deal with and I loved her story arc.

I adored Katie and Aiden and just wanted things to be right for everyone, so I was delighted when the Greek stranger turns up things take a surprising, and slightly magical turn.  I got such a warm vibe from the sense of love, friendships and community spirit in this books and I couldn’t put it down.

Marble’s Marvels was such an unexpected story and it was a perfect pick me up and it just restores a little faith back in humanity.

I cannot recommend this story of loss, love and community enough.    

Author Bio – Duncan Brockwell/Katie Simpkins

Katie Simpkins is the pseudonym for crime and psychological thriller writer, Duncan Brockwell. Katie’s first publication, The Southern Belles was released in July 2019 to positive praise from readers.

Duncan then signed a 3 book contract with digital first publisher, Bloodhound Books for his thriller series, The Met Murder Investigations, starring Nasreen Maqsood. No Way Out, Bird of Prey and Bad Blood were published in July, September and November 2020.

In January 2021, Bloodhound released Mr Invisible, Duncan’s first standalone psychological thriller.

His second Katie Simpkins novel, Marble’s Marvels was published on March 19th under Fusion Press.

In April 2021, Bloodhound Books released his latest novel with them, The Hard Way.

Duncan has several projects coming up, 2 with new publisher, Spellbound Books. They are Oakwood Falls, a supernatural fantasy novel and Hellingly, a hardcore horror set in an abandoned mental asylum.

He is now writing a horror novel called The Notorious Six, a throwback to 80s horror movies such as A Nightmare on Elm Street. After that, he plans on finishing a couple of projects he started, most notably, Trailblazer, an action comedy about an aging country singer who is trying to get to know his estranged daughter while on tour and being chased by the mob, the FBI and a particularly crazy sheriff.

Follow him at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dcbrockwellauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dcbrockwell/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dcbrockwell1

Follow Katie Simpkins at

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/Katie-Jayne-Simpkins-1399082103567368