But I Smile Anyway…

Month four of the year, and it’s a different life we are living at the moment. Have you managed to read more, or less? I have found that I am easily distracted from books at the moment, but that’s not so say I’m not going to try! I’ve been reading in bed, in the bath, on the sofa, in the garden, and even while walking! (yes honestly!) Last April, I think I managed around 15 books in a month. Did I hit anywhere near that number this month?

Only You by Kate Eberlen ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Two young souls meet in Rome and end up striking up a friendship which turns to an intense romance. With a dance background behind both of them, music and dance bring them together more.
Until their pasts catch up with them.
I must confess that it took me a while to get into this book. Written from two perspectives, we learned about Alf and Letty, how they were feeling in Rome, but it took a little while to get in the swing of things. The second section, which jumps back, explaining the whys of the story, gave me a good few Aha! moments. And the conclusion... well, it was what we all would want from a love story.
But, I have to say, I did enjoy it,  once I got into the story.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Booms And Busts by Geoff Le Pard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh, I was glad to get back to the adventures of Harry Spittle in his lawyer days!
What a fantastically farcical tale of the mishaps and misadventures that Harry finds himself in, narrowly escaping prison, mixing with the wrong sorts, and with reappearing ghouls from the past. I really enjoyed it, and Le Pard’s way with words, his dry sense of humour, makes the book for me!
Hooray for Harry, the hapless hero!

The School Mistress of Emerson Pass by Tess Thompson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a lovely story filled with love, hope and true goodness.
Just the kind of book to read, to surround yourself with positivity.
Quinn Cooper travels to a tiny backwater, Emerson Pass, in the snowy winter, to take up a position as a school teacher, where she can earn money, and send some back to her poverty-stricken mother and sister, back home.
Lord Alexander Barnes has managed to fulfil his dreams. He moved from England to the USA, and has, slowly, built up a small town, Emerson Pass – a place he’s proud to call home. A place his children can grow up happily, despite their lack of a mother. All they need is a school, with a good teacher at it’s helm.
It’s safe to say that neither Quinn, nor Alexander were what the other imagined, but as they get to know one another, it’s clear they need one another.
Their story is entwined with tales of the residents of Emerson Pass, bigotry, racism, honour, respect, love.
A happily ever after that I know is going to spawn some great sequels!

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, but the blurb held an interesting premise.
Unfortunately, I found it very hard to get into.
The way the book was written with no regard to traditional structure or punctuation was different, but also confusing.
Nevertheless, each short section detailing a different strong woman’s life was intriguing. I had to read to the end to find out how it all tied together.
But… I just wish there were fewer characters, so I could get to know some in more detail, rather than so many, women, who seemed to blend into each other after a while.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Books for an ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion.

Published 2nd May 2020

People Like Us by Louise Fein
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Having read The Book Thief before, and loving it, this book, People Like Us really appealed to me and I was not disappointed,
A love story, set in Germany, detailing the relationship between Hetty, daughter of a high ranking SS officer, and Walter, a young Jewish neighbour.
The story starts at a time when they were children, and Hetty owes her life to Walter when he rescued her from drowning. It is a time of innocence, when there is no real distinction between Aryan and other races, for the children at least.
As time goes by, and the Nazi regime begins to take hold of the lives and thoughts of the younger generations, friendship turns to forbidden love.
I was engrossed from very early on in the book, and my heart went out to the innocents in the war. All those whose lives were ripped apart because of the thinking of that one man, Hitler, and his henchmen.
Highly recommended,
Many thanks to NetGalley ad Head Of Zeus for an ARC, in exchange for an honest review,

Published 7th May 2020

Marred: Kyle and Violet by Tess Thompson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It’s been a couple of months since I started the Cliffside Bay series, and what with ARCS and a certain pandemic, it has taken me a while to get back to the books, but I was determined!
This wonderful series of books takes a look at the lives of a group of friends whose lives become entwined in different ways. Each book takes a look at a specific couple, winding threads from previous stories, and planting the seeds for the next ones.
In Marred, we learn more about Kyle and Violet.
Kyle, or Kale, as Violet’s son calls him, is a successful property developer with a ton of money, a portfolio bulging with properties and a reputation as a ladies man.
Violet is a single mother with a conscience. She takes an instant dislike to this man who wants to commercialise her beloved home town, Cliffside Bay, with a holiday resort, but finds herself in a situation where, not only is she working for him, but living with him too.
A wonderful read, where you know the happily ever after will come, but not without its fair share of ups and downs.
Thank you, Tess! On to Tainted!

Tainted: Lance and Mary by Tess Thompson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book 5 of the Cliffside Bay series and I am not tired of it at all.
In fact, since I came into it so late, I am lucky that there still a good few for me to read!
This story focuses on the last of the Dogs, Lance, and his relationship with Mary, who tumbled into the lives of the Cliffside Bay gang when her father, Dax, married Lance’s housekeeper, Flora.
We get to learn, as we do in each story, more about these key characters, as well as taking deeper looks into the lives of the established pairs. And then there is always the introductions of fresh blood, that give you good indications of the stories that may be to come.
I loved that Tess Thompson dealt with the issues around losing a baby, mid-pregnancy. Miscarriage, in all its different forms, is an awful thing to go through. I know. Been there done that. But it is handled with kid gloves, and you end the story with a huge helping of hope.
Tess’s books are always filled with positivity, no matter what bumpy ride the characters may take you on, to get to the end of their journey.
I can’t wait to get to the next one, now!

A Springtime Affair by Katie Fforde
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Katie Fford’s books have kept me company through much of my adult life, from the end of university, marriage, kids, and now, as we live in this surreal world of COVID-19.
I was smitten with the story of Helena and her ‘not romantic at all’ relationship with her evil, about to evict her, landlord, Jago, as well as the tale of Gilly, Helena’s mother, who has side away from love after her divorce.
Needless to say, there’s definitely a happy ending, with a few wrong ‘uns thrown in, along the way.
I love how Fford writes in a way that makes the reader lose themselves in the story, forgetting reality while being immersed in her lovely stories.
Definitely a great feel-good romance!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Missed: Rafael and Lisa by Tess Thompson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This time we are venturing into the world of the Wolves, and their romantic pursuits.
The Wolves are a secondary pack of men who have, for various reasons, ended up in Cliffside Bay and have been mentioned in the previous 5 books, so it is easy to see how their stories slot into the adventures of the Dogs.
This time we are given more of an understanding about Rafael and his dark past, and Lisa, with her disturbed background, and hopes and dreams.
I knew they were going to get together. I knew all was going to be fine at the end, but Thompson took her scenic route, as always, to get us to the end.
Another wonderful addition to the Cliffside Bay series!

Cliffside Bay Christmas by Tess Thompson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I do love these little novellas that Tess Thompson has written, to add a little splash of extra spice into her Cliffside Bay Series!
Here we get to become involved in the expansion of the Dogs and their families, with not one, but two births, and all during the season of Christmas!
A lovely, easy read that you can devour in one sitting.

Healed: Stone and Pepper by Tess Thompson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book seven of the Cliffside Bay series, and Tess Thompson takes us on another romantic journey, uniting a pair who are destined to be together, even though they don’t quite know it yet!
We follow one of the Wolves, Stone, and his developing feelings for Pepper.
Another tale of heartbreaks, and emotional upheavals that result in that Happy Ever After!

11. So I managed eleven. That’s not so bad, is it, and I managed to read lot’s of Tess Thompson’s series which was on my Kindle FOREVER!

I have omitted an arc I read as well, and I have been dipping into craft books and online courses, as well as writing, and popping in to school to do the Covid-19 version of my day job, so I don’t think eleven books is to be sniffed at!

So, how has your reading month been? Seen anything you like the look of?