The Curse of Ragman’s Hollow by Rhys A Jones #Review #Children’sBook #Series #Giveaway

The Curse of Ragman’s Hollow

Synopsis:

Just a walk in the countryside. What could possibly go wrong

Sam Jones’s grandmother is training him to be one of the Cunning Folk, like her, and exams are looming.

But Sam’s mother has holiday plans and drags him off to a remote cottage in the middle of nowhere for some country air.  No mobile phone, nettle soup and long walks are the rule. One such walk takes them to Ragman’s Hollow, a place the locals avoid with good reason.

It’s a place where people and animals go missing, never to be found.

That’s just superstitious nonsense, according to Sam’s mother. But there is no smoke without fire and Sam soon finds himself up against an old, very spiteful, and very tricky enemy.
He’s going to need every ounce of his cunning to stop the Ragman. But can he do it alone?

My Review:

This is a magical suspense story for Middle Grade readers – and older readers, too! It turns out that this is the third story in the Merryweathers Mysteries series but I have to say it works well as a standalone as I haven’t read the other two books – yet – and thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Ten year old Sam is being trained by his Grandmother, Gwladys Merryweather, to be one of the Cunning Folk. His special talent is his ability to make himself and things invisible, though he’s still learning just how to do this reliably. Then that much anticipated visit is cancelled by his Mum, Arabella Jones, who takes him with her, her friend, Hester, and her two children, Vilma and Zedrick, to a remote Welsh cottage, a few miles from Ragman’s Hollow, somewhere his Mum wants to visit but Gran warns them to stay away. Why has Gran warned them about Ragman’s Hollow? What danger lurks there? How can he help keep them all safe?

This is an engaging story, written in short, action packed chapters. It has great characters who are brought to life in the story. There are characters to admire, others to dislike. The horrendous Hester Hollinghurst is a self-opinionated, bullying lady, determined to lead what everyone does on the holiday – including eating what sound like disgusting meals! The events are dramatically related, bringing them to life in the readers’ imagination. There is mystery, magic and mayhem in this suspense filled story, with powers to be developed, secrets to be uncovered and a new friend to be made. It was an enthralling read that I have no hesitation in highly recommending.

I requested and was gifted a copy of this book and this is my honest review after choosing to read it.

Purchase Link: http://smarturl.it/Ragmans

Author Bio 

Rhys A Jones was born in 1955 and grew up in a mining village in South Wales with his nose in a book and his head in the clouds. He managed to subdue his imagination long enough to carve out a career in medicine, writing whenever the chance arose.

The Merryweathers mysteries feature a boy and his more-than-meets-the-eye Granny Merryweather. The Curse of Wihtlea Barrows (previously the Dreables) and The Curse of Borage Doone have just been released as paperbacks with new covers and a new publisher (Wyrmwood). The third in the series entitled The Curse of Ragman’s Hollow is now available at last

Rhys is currently writing The Artefact Quintet featuring eleven-year-old Oz Chambers whose family inherits a ‘haunted’ house. His mother wants to leave, but Oz wants to unlock the house’s mysteries and uncovers a secret that will change his life forever.

Rhys also writes for adults as DC Farmer and Dylan Young

He has three grownup children who have emerged remarkably unscathed into adulthood. When not writing, he practices medicine and lives in darkest West Wales with his understanding (very) wife and dog.

Oh, and the Rhys is pronounced Reece–as in the actor Rhys Ifans of Mr Lovegood (Harry Potter) and The Lizard (The Amazing Spiderman) fame. Or perhaps it’s easier if you just think of Reece Witherspoon, though she is a lady.

FROM WIKI:
Rhys /ˈriːs/[1] is

a Welsh given name (usually male), famous in Welsh history
a surname of Welsh origin that means “Dragon“, “fervour”, “passion”, “ultimate strength”, “king” or “zeal”

It was also my dad’s name!
The name is also anglicised as Rice, Rees, Reese and Reece

Social Media Links –

https://jonestheauthor.com/rhys-a-jones-landing/

https://www.facebook.com/RAJonesauthor/

Giveaway

Your chance to win a signed copy of
the Merryweathers Mysteries series
(Open Internationally)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter link below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/preview/232/

 

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