The Slow Lane Walkers Club by Rosa Temple Daniel is 30 and has been working in Sicily as a walking tour guide for the last five years, but he is now baThe Slow Lane Walkers Club by Rosa Temple Daniel is 30 and has been working in Sicily as a walking tour guide for the last five years, but he is now back home in Cornwall, where his sister Annabelle lives with her husband Scott, daughter Mia (6) and son Rasmus (4). Daniel and Annabelle have inherited their grandmother’s cottage and need to decide what to do with it. Moving from Sicily to the quiet Cornish village of Trevone is a big change for Daniel, so he soon comes up with an idea to get out and meet local people – the Saturday Walkers Club. He is particularly hoping the blonde woman he keeps seeing around will turn up… However, only one person turns up to join him on his Saturday walk – Hazel, who is widowed, originally from Trinidad, in her eighties and lives nearby. Daniel is disappointed, but as they begin to walk, Hazel tells him how she was good friends with his late grandmother Molly. Daniel hadn’t had much to do with his grandmother in recent years, but now he can learn something new, by seeing her through Hazel’s eyes. I love novels where strong friendships are made between characters from different generations, such as in Libby Page’s The Lido or Hazel Prior’s Away with the Penguins and this also fits that remit beautifully. There are some great characters here. I love the character of Hazel particularly in The Slow Lane Walkers Club, she is so full of life and fascinating! The cat is great too and the little girl Mia is just brilliantly realistic! There’s a lot good to say about this book. I like the length of the chapters. It was very easy to get into and is a really enjoyable read. I will look forward to reading more of Rosa Temple’s novels in the future. 9 out of 10 ...more
The Witch’s Tree by Elena Collins I have read and enjoyed Judy Leigh’s novels, so when I heard she had written a new novel in a different genre, I knewThe Witch’s Tree by Elena Collins I have read and enjoyed Judy Leigh’s novels, so when I heard she had written a new novel in a different genre, I knew I wanted to read it. Writing as Elena Collins, her new book is called The Witch’s Tree. It’s a dual timeline, historical fiction, with a bit of everything really – romance, relationships, friendship, suspense, witchcraft, mystery, magic…and a whole lot of charm. The novel is set in two times, two places… In present day Manchester, Selena is 38 and an artist. She lives with her friend Claire and runs an art gallery with her. After a difficult relationship, Selena decides she needs to spend some time in the countryside, away from all the stress and just doing her painting. She rents a 17th Century cottage – Sloe Cottage – for a couple of months. In 1682, in Ashcomb, Somerset in Slaugh Cottage, Grace (22) lives with her father Will Cotter (42) who is a farm labourer. They live a simple life in a tied cottage - Will working, Grace seeing to the household tasks and cooking, sewing, etc. after her mother died ten years earlier. The past seems authentic, well-researched, with lots of atmospheric detail which I really enjoyed. I also love how the two timelines come together. It is beautifully written; you’ll get Selena’s view from a certain place, then back in time to see Grace in the same position, it’s very cleverly done. I liked the main characters straight away. The cottage is so well-described that it almost becomes a character in its own right and the setting is very important to the novel. I found the book easy to get into and I wanted to keep reading to see what happened. It is interesting to see how women are treated in both timelines – how some things have changed over the centuries, but others not so much. Grace is expected to get married and perform her duties as a wife, mother and housekeeper, whereas Selena has more freedom to choose what to do with her life – yet both of them are badly treated by a man. Both women are strong characters, but Grace is more restricted by the time she lives in. There’s also the whole ghostly feel to the book. It’s not just a ghost story though, there’s plenty more to it than that, but the cottage seems to retain some “essence” of those who have lived in it before. I loved how the tree branches reach out to the cottage in the present day, like a palm pressing against the window. The novel has that undertone of threat and danger, yet it isn’t a horror novel at all, it is the echoes of the past coming through to the present day. What will happen to Grace and Selena? You’ll have to read the book to find out… This is the first in three books Judy is writing as Elena Collins and I look forward to reading the next two as well. 9.5 out of 10
Summer at the French Café by Sue Moorcroft MY REVIEW Kat is happy. She is 37 and works in a book café in Parc Lemmel, a gorgeous place near Strasbourg iSummer at the French Café by Sue Moorcroft MY REVIEW Kat is happy. She is 37 and works in a book café in Parc Lemmel, a gorgeous place near Strasbourg in France. She has a boyfriend called Jakey and a dog called Angelique. Her younger brother Solly (25) has recently moved to work near her as well. Life is going fabulously. Solly introduces her to Noah, who he shares a room with. They become friends, but as the truth comes out about Jakey, will Kat find Noah becomes more than just a mate? Sue Moorcroft’s books are always a delight! Her characters are real and I loved Kat straight away. She writes believable people in believable situations, but it’s also escapism too and as this one is set in France, you’re transported to a beautiful, warm, foreign location amongst nature, trees and water. It was an easy book to get into, I was hooked straight away and I wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen to Kat and really hoping she would find happiness. Sue’s books aren’t straight-forward romances though, there’s a depth to them and other issues are explored. In this one, step-families and blended families are an important topic and how children and adults respond to changing relationships within their families. Solly is Kat’s half-brother and I loved how their relationship became closer, especially as I have a half-sister who I am very close to. The supporting cast are all very well-rounded too. I loved Marcel, who works with Noah and also Graham and Reeny who own the café. I especially loved the adorable dog, who has her own personality which shines through Sue’s words. Although I am a fan of romance novels and romcoms, I don’t like them too sickly-sweet, but Summer at the French Café again hit just the right note. Overall, this is a lovely book and I would definitely recommend it. 9 out of 10
The Memory Keeper of Kyiv by Erin Litteken MY REVIEW This book features a dual timeline, one part following Cassie’s story and one following Katya’s. ThThe Memory Keeper of Kyiv by Erin Litteken MY REVIEW This book features a dual timeline, one part following Cassie’s story and one following Katya’s. The novel begins in Wisconsin, USA in May 2004. Cassie lives with her young daughter Birdie, who hasn’t talked for over fourteen months since her father (Cassie’s husband) Henry died. Cassie and Birdie soon move to Illinois, as her mother Anna suggests it would be good for all of them if Cassie could move in with her grandmother Bobby, who is Ukrainian and seems to be struggling with health issues. Soon it is obvious Bobby is keeping her own secrets, but can Cassie find out what they are? In the next section, we meet Katya (Kateryna Viktorivna Shevchenko) – a sixteen-year-old girl living in Ukraine in 1929 with her parents and her sister Alina. We see her romance developing with her best friend Pavlo. As 1930 arrives, it is by now the time of Stalin and collectivisation, which affects Katya’s village as Soviet officials take over. As one of the characters says, “Everyone wants Ukraine’s fertile soil for their own, and nobody wants to let Ukrainians rule it.” Life changes and suddenly, Katya’s normality becomes fear and terror. With what is happening in Ukraine in 2022, The Memory Keeper of Kyiv has a special poignancy. The author’s family are from the Ukraine and the authenticity of what she writes about come through really well. I learned about Stalinism at University (I studied Russian and Soviet Studies), but this book really brings to life the atrocities of the Holodomor (Great Famine) in Ukraine in a way that textbooks don’t manage. I was hooked right from the start. It is very well-written and draws you into both timelines with enough intrigue to tempt you to read more. The characters are very realistic, right from the start. You see their strengths and weaknesses and sympathise with the things they have to deal with. It is a very sad book in many places, as there are deaths and grief and the whole injustice of what happened in Stalin’s time. But also hope, as we admire what people can accomplish in the hardest of times and how they keep going. Overall, it is a very moving book and will stay with you for a long time, but be aware some of the scenes described are shocking and upsetting. I cried. 9.5 out of 10 ...more
A Ration Book Victory by Jean Fullerton This is the eighth book in the Ration Book series by Jean Fullerton and the first of hers I have read. At firstA Ration Book Victory by Jean Fullerton This is the eighth book in the Ration Book series by Jean Fullerton and the first of hers I have read. At first, I found it quite confusing to work out who was who, as there are a lot of characters, but this probably would have been easier if I’d started with book one! I would have liked a list of characters at the start of the book, so I could refer to it when I got a bit lost. The book has a dual timeline. It starts in Ireland in 1877, where the young Philomena meets Patrick Mahon. The book follows them growing up and see what happens to their friendship over the years. In the other sections of the novel, it’s 1945 in London and coming towards the end of World War II. Philomena Brogan, known as Queenie, lives with her son Jeremiah, daughter-in-law Ida, grandsons Billy (15) and Michael (14) and granddaughter Victoria (3). Queenie has seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. By this time, Patrick is Father Mahon and still part of her life. I loved the whole family feel to the book and there are so many great characters, each with their own issues to solve. I liked the relationships between the Brogan sisters and I enjoyed the 1940s setting, especially celebrating VE Day and the end of World War II. I was also interested by Tommy and Jo’s infertility story. Queenie is a brilliant character, I loved her strength and feistiness. She’s a real matriarch and such a strong woman. I loved reading her story and how her love for Patrick had endured throughout the decades. (And I couldn’t stand Patrick’s sister Nora!) An enjoyable read. 8.5 out of 10 ...more
This is Miranda Dickinson’s first novel writing as M J White and her first crime novel, after many great romcom novels. Hannah Perry is eight years olThis is Miranda Dickinson’s first novel writing as M J White and her first crime novel, after many great romcom novels. Hannah Perry is eight years old and lives in St Just, a village in Suffolk. She shares a house with her mum Ashleigh and her mum’s partner Shaun and a bedroom with her sisters Lily and Ruby. Cora Lael does research for the University of South Suffolk’s Cognitive Psychology unit. Since she was sixteen, she’s had an ability to hear voices from objects. She’s an ‘emotional synaesthete’ and is currently helping her boyfriend, Professor Daniel Gold, with research into this. When Hannah goes missing, Cora wants to see if she can use her unusual talent to help find her. She wants to see if she can hear her voice before it’s too late. The chapters of the book are written from different points of view – Hannah Perry, various police officers (Acting Detective Sergeant Rob Minshull, Detective Inspector Joel Anderson, Detective Constable Kate Bennett, Detective Constable Dave Wheeler) and Cora Lael. This is good, as you see various perspectives on the events. Hannah’s voice is well-written and believable too. There are a lot of police who feature in the book, but they are distinctive from each other and again very well-written. I especially liked Rob Minshull, who has just been put into a more senior position as Hannah goes missing. This contrasts well with Joel Anderson, who is more experienced, having served twenty years with CID, but he hadn’t saved a missing boy seven years ago and still lives with the guilt. This book is great, it’s clever, witty, exciting, well-paced and has superb dialogue. The story is easy to get into, with really good characters and you want to read on and find out what happens. I felt it was very interesting to have Cora with her gift, which made for a different take on a crime/thriller book. Overall, I really enjoyed every aspect of this book and hope there will be more Cora Lael books to come from M J White, as I’ll be first in the queue to get them. 9.5 out of 10 ...more
You know when you read a book and realise it is something incredibly special? Not another book you read, then forget in six months. No, a really speciYou know when you read a book and realise it is something incredibly special? Not another book you read, then forget in six months. No, a really special, wonderful, unique, heart-warming book you love and adore. Lost Property is one of those. I was hooked from the first page and it just got better and better. Dot Watson works at the Transport for London Lost Property Office, hoping she will be able to reunite owners with their lost items. But that’s about all I’m going to tell you about the plot, because I really want you to read it and discover its treasures for yourself. Dot, a bit like the wonderful Eleanor Oliphant, isn’t your average Joe. She describes herself as “anomalous, perspicacious and sagacious” but her sister calls her “odd.” Dot sees the world in her own unique and beautiful way. She is an amazing character, truly wounded and rounded and brave and ordinary and extraordinary. I love her father too, another character I will remember for a long time. The book is also beautifully written. Parts of it made me laugh out loud, others brought a lump to my throat and an audible gasp. Helen Paris’s writing is almost poetic in its beauty; it pulls the reader one way and the other, yet we’re always firmly on Team Dot. 9.5 out of 10 ...more
Sherlock Bones and the Case of the Crown Jewels by Tim Collins Illustrated by John Bigwood Age 7-9 The book is written from the viewpoint of Dr Jane CatsSherlock Bones and the Case of the Crown Jewels by Tim Collins Illustrated by John Bigwood Age 7-9 The book is written from the viewpoint of Dr Jane Catson, the sidekick to Sherlock Bones and they run the detective agency between them. This time, the crown jewels have been stolen from the Queen and the dog and cat must solve the crime! Of course, the Queen isn’t our Queen, she’s a dog, specifically “a pug with a droopy mouth” who lives in Kennel Palace. This is a great book for kids, just the kind of thing my son loves. As well as the fun story and the beautifully detailed illustrations, the book also contains over thirty games, including mazes, number puzzles and search-and-find challenges. (Answers are at the back!) This means there are lots of things to break up the pages of text and make it more interesting for the kids reading it. It is very cleverly written and I enjoyed the humour in it too. The cast of animals are great fun, especially the naughty police pups. You even get to read the statements from the suspects to see if you can guess who the thief is! (I guessed wrong.) I would really recommend this, I’m sure any child aged about six to eleven would love this fun book. 9 out of 10 ...more
Women Like Us: A Memoir by Amanda Prowse I love Amanda Prowse! Whenever I watch her on TV, she is beautiful, intelligent and I spend most of my time noWomen Like Us: A Memoir by Amanda Prowse I love Amanda Prowse! Whenever I watch her on TV, she is beautiful, intelligent and I spend most of my time nodding along to what she is saying, thinking “This woman really knows people, she understands us.” Reading the first part of her book Women Like Us: A Memoir, even before Chapter One, I was relating to it all – yes, that’s me, I do that too, I’m that one at parties, she sees me, she knows me! It helps that Amanda is around my age, we’re both women, we’re both writers, we’re both mothers. We’re even the same height! Right from the start, it feels like Amanda wrote this book for ME! It feels like we’re sitting chatting over coffee (or wine) and I keep wanting to join in the conversation and tell her I completely get where she’s coming from. Amanda is best known for being the author of 28 novels, but although this is a memoir, it is just as engaging a read. We go through all the emotions with her as she grows up, having to endure ten operations between the ages of thirteen and eighteen to correct a congenital pelvic condition. I felt so sorry for her reading this section. Amanda really puts herself on the page. Women Like Us is brutally honest, upsetting, emotional but also amazing, uplifting and most of all, relatable! While none of us have experienced everything Amanda has, there will be so much we have in common with her. I loved all the cultural references like Bunty and Jackie and idolising Debbie Harry. (Me too!) I also loved how reading was so important to her from childhood onwards (especially with the time she spent in hospital) and I was fascinated to hear about her writing ambitions and how long she had to fight against the feeling she wasn’t good enough to be a successful author. Biographies and memoirs can sometimes be a bit dull, as it’s just one person’s life story (especially if you’re only twenty and the one thing you’ve done in your life is appearing on a reality show for ten minutes…) but this is NEVER dull, it’s a real page turner and I don’t say that about many memoirs. Because Amanda is a writer more than a “celeb”, the way she handles words is outstanding and you get swept up into her classy prose and hilarious self-deprecating wit.
I really enjoyed this book, it was a different kind of book - a romcom at heart, but so much more. The main character of Tim is lovely - he's 50, singI really enjoyed this book, it was a different kind of book - a romcom at heart, but so much more. The main character of Tim is lovely - he's 50, single and has been working at the same place for 25 years, doing a job he hates. He eventually decides to leave the job and becomes Habitat Man - someone who goes round people's gardens to explain how they could make them more environmentally friendly. As he does this, he meets some great characters, especially Lori and her gorgeous dog Florence and her teenage son Ethan. I found I learnt a lot reading this too. There are plenty of practical tips along the way and information slotted into the story. For example, I didn't realise that treating your pets for fleas and worms every month (as I do) can be detrimental to the environment. But it certainly isn't preachy in any way and I really enjoyed this lovely, heart-warming, clever book. ...more
One Moonlit Night by Rachel Hore My mum and aunt are big fans of Rachel Hore’s and always read all of her books, but I had never got round to reading One Moonlit Night by Rachel Hore My mum and aunt are big fans of Rachel Hore’s and always read all of her books, but I had never got round to reading hers until this latest release One Moonlit Night. Now I know what I was missing! At least I have the author’s entire back catalogue in the family to read, as I definitely want to read more now. One Moonlit Night follows the story of Maddie. Married to Philip and with two daughters, Sarah and Grace, we begin their story briefly in 1977, but then go back to 1941 and most of the novel is set in the 1940s. Philip in missing in action in the War and Maddie doesn’t know if he is alive or dead. After their house in London is bombed, Maddie and the girls move to Knyghton, were Philip used to live. These days, Gussie lives there (Philip’s aunt), Lyle (Philip’s cousin) and Mr and Mrs Flegg who do the work around the house. It is an old, large house and seems to be full of secrets and ghosts of times past. Will living there help Maddie understand her husband’s background? And will he ever return? This book is beautifully written with wonderful characters you soon care about and an involving storyline. There’s enough going on to keep you interested, but not too much that you become confused. I especially liked Maddie and could relate to her trying to bring up her children by herself, while working as an illustrator. I also loved the setting of Knyghton and the farmland around it, the nature and countryside. I also enjoyed the novel being set in WWII and following what happened to Philip too. Overall, an excellent read and highly recommended! 9 out of 10 ...more
Rainbows End in Ferry Lane Market by Nicola May MY REVIEW This is Book 3 in the Ferry Lane Market series, but works perfectly well as a standalone. GlanRainbows End in Ferry Lane Market by Nicola May MY REVIEW This is Book 3 in the Ferry Lane Market series, but works perfectly well as a standalone. Glanna Pascoe is approaching her 40th birthday. She lives in Flat 4, Ferry Lane, Hartmouth with her lovely dog Banksy. She runs an art gallery and is an artist herself, known as ‘the Rainbow Painter’ through her love of painting rainbows. We soon meet the important people in her life, including her mum Penelope (Penny) and her dad Fred Gribble, who is one of my favourite characters. We also meet her therapist Myles Armstrong and learn Glanna has been in rehab, and is trying to stay sober. Glanna’s flaws are made obvious early on. She hasn’t had an easy life, with drink and drugs and a broken relationship with ex-boyfriend Oliver Trueman, who she left because he wanted children and she didn’t. He appears back on the scene, but there’s also the enigmatic and attractive famous artist Isaac Benson (55), who lives nearby with his gorgeous dog Beethoven. Like Glanna, I could definitely see the appeal of both of them! (Oliver being compared to Idris Elba helped, ha ha!) I enjoyed the art themes and found it all very interesting, plus the life drawing classes add an extra dimension to the book with new characters to discover and lots of opportunity for humour. Talking of art, the book cover is beautiful and I know Nicola May’s father draws them for her and he really does a fabulous job! I love the community aspect of these kinds of books and this one is really believable. I like seeing familiar characters pop up in the area and places like coffee shops and cafes, florists, fruit and veg shops, as well as Ferry Lane market itself. My only tiny criticism of this book is that there was a bit too much sex. But that’s just my individual preference, so don’t let it put you off. I really enjoyed the book. It’s well-written, and there is a great variety of wonderful characters to get to know. I also liked that although there is romance at the core of the book, there’s so much more. Glanna has to overcome her demons and sort herself out, before she can find happiness, which is a great positive message. I had a big smile on my face reading the last couple of chapters, as the things I wanted to happen did. It’s a lovely, warm-hearted book that I am sure you will love. 9 out of 10
The book begins with the prologue from the memoir of Julian Griggs and details how his wife Helen (42) was murdered at home in Edinburgh. The murder iThe book begins with the prologue from the memoir of Julian Griggs and details how his wife Helen (42) was murdered at home in Edinburgh. The murder is still unsolved. He explains how his life changed ten years before, when they had a car accident. Helen was injured, with paralysis of her lower body and brain damage. Julian became her carer until her death. The story then moves to the present day. It’s four years after Helen’s death. Julian is 49 and with wife Olivia Pearson on her 54th birthday at his wife’s gorgeous home, Villa Soledad in Mallorca. The novel starts off quite slowly after the prologue, as it follows Julian and Olivia’s days in Mallorca, and we learn more about them. Then a young man called Gabriel turns up on the beach, who knows Julian from years ago. The book is marketed as a thriller, but there is very little tension initially. In fact, it is quite slow-paced throughout. It’s like queuing up to go on a rollercoaster, only to find you’re on the galloping horses. You still enjoy the ride, but it’s not quite what you were expecting. It’s not a bad story at all, I did enjoy it and wanted to find out what happened, I just felt the pacing was off. There are also some quite graphic sex scenes. 7 out of 10...more
The Spa Break by Caroline James It’s 2018 and Bridgette Haworth’s 70th birthday is coming up, so along with her three best friends – Emily Avondale (63The Spa Break by Caroline James It’s 2018 and Bridgette Haworth’s 70th birthday is coming up, so along with her three best friends – Emily Avondale (63), Serena Alleyne (62) and Marjory Ecclestone (68), they leave their homes in Flaxby, Lancashire to go to a luxury spa called Sparadise for a weekend treat. Emily is a single mum to two boys in their twenties who don’t want to leave home. Serena is a former TV chef and married to artist Cornelius. Bridgette lives in a big manor with her husband Hugo. Marjory is married to Reg, a man whose only love seems to be his pigeons. All the women are lacking something in their lives – relationship happiness, body confidence, sexual fulfilment and so on. During their stay at Sparadise, they all discover some of what has been missing from their lives and try to improve things and reach for what they want out of life. The resort has plenty of entertaining characters and I especially loved the couple Stevie and Robin, as well as Norman the naturist! It’s a fun girlie romcom, albeit a bit too “sexy” for me, as I prefer more “behind closed doors” scenes. But it is also about how the women discover what they need in their lives, and about the wonderful bonds of female friendship, so it is a positive and uplifting read and great to have older women as the main characters.
What If? And What Now? are previous novels written by Shari Low and this one catches up with the characters from those books, but can be read as a staWhat If? And What Now? are previous novels written by Shari Low and this one catches up with the characters from those books, but can be read as a standalone too. The books follow a group of five friends over the years – Carly, Carol, Kate, Jess and Sarah. What Next? begins at the end of 2021 with Carly in a Los Angeles jail cell! Carly Morton is a writer, mum to Mac (19) and Benny (17) by ex-husband Mark Barwick, and she is now married to Sam (actor turned film producer). Kate Smith is Carly’s friend and neighbour, she is married to architect Bruce, with three kids in their twenties (Tallulah, Cameron and Zoe). Carol is married to Carly’s brother Callum Cooper and is also her long-time friend. Carol and Callum have twin daughters Charlotte and Antonia (20). Jess Latham is Carly’s friend, lives with her boyfriend Arnie, and has a son at Uni (Josh). The other major character in the book is the brilliant Val Murray. She is Carly’s aunt, in her sixties and married to Don. The chapters are written in the first person from the viewpoints of Carly, Val, Carol and Jess. These are very well written characters and each one has a distinctive voice, so the reader can easily follow who is talking. The main body of the story is based in the United States. Val, Carly and Carol fly there – Carly to see her husband, Val to try to complete her Bucket List. This is a lovely idea and I really enjoyed following her antics. There are themes of friendship and family in the book. Alongside a great deal of humour, there are many serious issues explored too including loss, illness, ageing, infidelity and controlling partners. It is written in an informal, chatty style, and there are so many clever and laugh-out-loud funny bits, which I especially enjoyed. I also loved the strong female characters, especially as the main friends are all around my age (in their fifties) with grown up kids, so I could relate to some of the things they had to deal with. The book is very well written and I love Val, she’s one of my favourite fictional characters I have discovered in a long time, she’s hilarious, so straight-talking! This is the first of Shari Low’s books I have read, but I’ll be reading more in the future! 9 out of 10
Keeper’s Lodge by Tracy Martin-Summers (Book 3 in the Gordon Square, Arlington Terrace trilogy) Detective Sergeant Mike Brugge, Detective Sergeant Paul Keeper’s Lodge by Tracy Martin-Summers (Book 3 in the Gordon Square, Arlington Terrace trilogy) Detective Sergeant Mike Brugge, Detective Sergeant Paul Osman and Detective Constable Mel Brugge work at Holden CID. Mike and Mel are married and have a son called Jack who’s at Nursery (and a lovely character). The Prologue begins in 2023. Rachel Blossom is a patient in a residential psychiatric hospital (Victoria’s Retreat) with dissociative identity disorder. This was a very interesting start to te story and drew me in straight away. Then Chapter One is set three years later. Linda (Rachel’s sister) has been attacked by psychopath Joe Treville and the police are questioning her. Meanwhile, Rachel is missing and her last known whereabouts seem to be Keeper’s Lodge - a kind of halfway house with an on-site warden, where they stay before hopefully being able to live completely independently. As the police investigate, it seems Rachel has disappeared and they find it hard to find a paper trail from the places she stayed in. Something is clearly not right… There are lots of different characters mentioned and at first, it’s a bit hard to get everyone straight and work out who they are. However, once I got into the swing of it, I did enjoy it. Though I would definitely recommend reading the first two books before this one, if possible, as this is the concluding book in the trilogy. It’s an intriguing story and you are never quite sure where it’s going to go, it certainly isn’t a predictable or boring read at all. I also thought it was a very good idea featuring characters with different mental health issues. The idea of trying to connect with one person’s identity out of several was a fascinating idea and brought a unique perspective to the novel. One little niggle - While I accept the copy I received may well have been a proof copy (though nothing on it says so), I really must comment on the amount of errors in the text – repetition, missing commas and question marks, inconsistent spelling (Casio/Cassio), even the wrong ‘they’re’ at one point. This definitely needed a better check before publishing. But that can easily be sorted and then we’ll have a really good novel. It’s a unique premise (which is hard to find in fiction), a cleverly written plot with engaging characters and it will keep you reading until the end, to find out what is going to happen. Tracy Martin-Summers is a talented writer and I would recommend her work. ...more
Wedding Bells for the Victory Girls by Joanna Toye MY REVIEW (This is the 6th novel in the Shop Girls series, but can be read perfectly well as a standaWedding Bells for the Victory Girls by Joanna Toye MY REVIEW (This is the 6th novel in the Shop Girls series, but can be read perfectly well as a standalone.) Wedding Bells for the Victory Girls begins its story in June 1945 and features Lily, Gladys and Beryl – three friends who live in Hinton. We meet Lily Collins (and her mother Dora and older brother Sid) on her wedding day to Jim. They work at work, at Marlows Department Store. Gladys is married to Bill (now demobbed from the Navy and looking for work) and they have twins Joy and Victor (1). Beryl runs a bridal wear shop and is married to Les, with their son Bobby (3). The novel covers their lives with its ups and downs, twists and turns, which I don’t want to tell you too much about, as you should really read this book and discover it for yourselves. They say not to judge a book by its cover, but this one is stunning – a photographic montage of three young women, with a church and houses behind, the whole thing framed by beautiful pink cherry blossom. It’s really one of the prettiest covers I’ve seen in a long time. The book itself is equally stunning. It is easy to get into and a comforting read, which only took me two days to finish. It has great characters, ones to love and to hate, yet all authentic and real and popping out the pages to tell you their stories. I love reading books set in England in this time (1940s) and have read a few recently, but this is the first one I’ve read by this author. In fact, last year, I bought the first book in this series (A Store at War) but hadn’t got round to reading it yet. While I was reading Wedding Bells for the Victory Girls (Book 6), I also ordered Book 2. I really want to read them all, Joanna Toye is such a great author and her words and stories are wonderful. 9 out of 10 ...more
The book is the second in the Starfish Café Series, but works perfectly well as a standalone novel. It is written from two people’s viewpoints – HolliThe book is the second in the Starfish Café Series, but works perfectly well as a standalone novel. It is written from two people’s viewpoints – Hollie and Tori. Hollie owns the Starfish Café on the North Yorkshire coast. The Café is beautifully situated on a cliff top above a beach (Starfish Point) which is home to two hundred seals. Besides the café, there’s also Hollie’s Wood crafting business to raise money for three charities. Hollie lives with her boyfriend Jake - who works at the hospital and as a volunteer for the RNLI crew – and their dog, a brown shih tzu called Pickle. Tori is an architect and interior designer. She lives with her husband Leyton (who really isn’t very nice) and isn’t very happy with their relationship at all. When she ends up meeting Hollie, the two become friends and Hollie helps her decide what to do. I love the community feel of this novel. I love these books where you feel like you know everyone personally and Jessica Redland is one of the best writers at being able to do this, so you feel you can just walk into the novel and talk to the characters as friends. The book has many themes, including childhood, family, romance but one of the major ones is friendship. There are also different kinds of relationships (good and bad) and characters of all ages, which I also love. (Being 52, I have little interest in reading a book where everyone is in their twenties!) There’s a lot going on, but it’s easy to follow too – the perfect mix. You find out about Hollie and Tori and their backgrounds and the ups and downs of their current situations. There’s even a rumour of buried treasure from the past. Oh and beautiful seals. I loved it and can’t wait to read more about Hollie and Tori in the next book. 9 out of 10 ...more
Willow Schofield is 28 years old and has loved custard tarts since a childhood holiday to Portugal. She adores patisserie and her favourite is a pasteWillow Schofield is 28 years old and has loved custard tarts since a childhood holiday to Portugal. She adores patisserie and her favourite is a pastel de nata (Portuguese custard tart). She wanted to bring her passion for these to England and is now opening up her own custard tart café at the end of the pier in Weston-super-Mare. Along with her staff Tim and Reggie, the opening day begins well with a lovely first customer, Frank. But her joy doesn’t last long when a man walks into the shop and causes a scene, complaining she is damaging the reputation of his country, Portugal, and vowing that he will ruin her business. Her two sisters Caitlyn (at Loughborough Uni) and Lauren (30, married her boss Jamie) try to help with the café, then her friends Kelly and Radhika decide to whisk Willow away on holiday, to try to stop her worrying. She is going back to Portugal where she plans to taste the authentic custard tarts, to see how hers compare. This book is written in a confiding, chatty style, talking to the reader like a friend. Willow is often clumsy and makes silly mistakes, leading to embarrassing situations, so it is easy to see her flaws and hope she has a better time of things. I enjoyed the rapport between Willow, Kelly and Radhika when they go on holiday and how they all want to get something different out of their time away. I can also relate to Willow’s fear of flying!
I read The War Girls of Goodwill House in January and really enjoyed it, so I was pleased to see the second book in the series was out. This is a stanI read The War Girls of Goodwill House in January and really enjoyed it, so I was pleased to see the second book in the series was out. This is a standalone, you don’t need to have read the first one before it, but if you do, you’ll recognise characters from the first book. The novel begins in May 1940, Kent where Lady Joanna Harcourt is waiting for the six new WAAF girls to arrive at Goodwill House. Her daughter Sarah has moved out and her husband David is in France with the British Expeditionary Force. So Joanna now lives with her dog Lazarus (Lazzy) and her unpleasant mother-in-law the Dowager Lady Harcourt, plus the staff - her mother-in-law’s personal servant Miss Baxter, plus her own staff - twins Liza and Joe (14) and Mrs Betty Smith (housekeeper and cook). The girls begin to arrive. First of all, we meet Camilla ‘Millie’ Cunningham and her friend Diane ‘Di’ Forsyth, who are newly-trained drivers in the WAAF. These are the two main characters from the WAAFs though we also meet Cora and Ruby (also drivers) and Pamela and Phyllis (the older WAAFs). Millie strikes up a friendship with Flying Officer Ted Thorrington (19) as they work on the same Airbase together. I really loved this book, the characters are so varied and realistic – ones you love all the way through, ones you learn to love, ones you realise are bad eggs… Just like in real life, there are all sorts of people in here, but they all feel authentic. It is an interesting story and although it is set in WWII, there are lots of different themes and it doesn’t take you into the War as much, so it’s a generally positive and uplifting book of friendship, love and lovely people. I was straight into the story from the first page, it’s really easy to get into and I read the whole book in two days. My only tiny criticism is that the ending was a bit abrupt for me, but all the loose ends were tied up, it’s just setting the scene for Book 3 – which I’ll be reading as soon as it comes out! 9 out of 10
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