Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “fall from the sky.” Write about anything that falls from the sky–real, imagined, or idiomatic. Have fun!
May 2, 2019, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about sisu. It’s a Finnish concept of enduring strength, the ability to consistently overcome. Think long-term. Go where the prompt leads!
Sisu Book-su
Finally, time to sit down and read.
“Mum! I’m hungry!”
Don’t worry book, I’ll be back.
“Okay dear.”
Child fed. Back to my book.
“Honey, do you know where my tie is?”
Tie found. Where was I?
Raised voices and screaming.
Book down.
“What is the matter with the two of you? Okay, Tom, you sit here with that Lego. Amelia, draw me a picture over here. No, not near your brother!”
“It’s a bit, erm, old, isn’t it? Gonna cost a few bob to sort that one out.” Douglas surveyed his son’s new investment with a little apprehension.
“Yeah, but Dad, I got it dirt cheap. Saved so much on the actual property purchase, I’ve managed to set aside a pretty sizeable lump sum for the renovations.” Duncan rubbed his hands together, and his eyes lit up. “Just think of the potential!” “What are you actually going to do with it?” “I was thinking, spruce it up, maybe create a boutique spa hotel experience. We’ve not got anything like that around here, and I reckon we could rake the cash in. Women nowadays love splurging on these pampering weekends away, with a little bubbly thrown in. Could even add another dimension and pretend we have some old ghost lurking around. People love a little haunting too.” Oh, the plans Duncan had. “Come on, let me show you inside.” The front door creaked as Duncan unlocked and pushed it open, allowing a wave of musty air to drift out. “Doesn’t look like anyone’s been here for a while.” Douglas ran his finger over the surface of a side table by the side of the door, leaving a long clear mark across it, and a large pile of dust on his finger. “Nah, it’s been in the market for ages, apparently. Whenever anyone’s offer was accepted, something would happen and they’d have to bow out before closing the deal. Even though I offered just half the asking price in cash, they snapped it up and got me to sign the papers pretty much as soon as they’d accepted.” Douglas glanced at his son, a little concerned, “Isn’t that a little bit of a worry? I mean you haven’t even had a survey done. There could be all sorts wrong. I mean, have you seen the roof from the outside? It looks like it would take just one more of those awful storms we’ve been experiencing recently for the whole thing to collapse! All those lovely wooden beams on the outside? I bet they’re riddled with wood rot, and even they are bowed. It looks like someone is pressing on it from above!” “I told you, Dad, I’ve got it all covered. The money is there for the work, and I’ll bet, if I get my team started asap, we could be up and running in six months! Now look here, I thought we could make this a bar area.” Duncan pointed towards a door, walking towards it. Douglas’s mind was elsewhere. He swore he’d seen a shadow moving across the staircase. “Duncan, I think someone is here.” “What? Don’t be silly Dad. No one’s here but us.” “I just saw a shadow moving upstairs.” “Look, the wind is picking up outside, you probably saw the shadow of a tree from outside waving around. Come on Dad, I want to show you the back, where I might put the spa area. Might need a little extension.” Douglas looked back towards the staircase. “There!” He started towards it. “I saw someone. It was definitely a person’s silhouette!” He ran up the stairs with Duncan hot on his heels. They combed the empty rooms, flinging open doors, and only disturbing the dust that had gathered, nothing else. “See?” Duncan guffawed. “You’re saying someone’s here? Nothing.” “No, Duncan, I definitely saw someone.” “What, like a ghost? Oh, leave off Dad! Like we even believe in ghosts!” He made his way downstairs. “Come on, let’s go. I’ll show you another time. Ghosts, ha! Well, if there was one, that would definitely be a selling point for the hotel, eh!” *** They closed the door behind them, dislodging a piece of paper that had been lodged in the letterbox. It floated onto the hallway floor. “No such thing as ghosts, huh? We’ll show them…” Had they looked back then, they would have noticed two figures peering out of the upstairs window. And that paper? An old letter. Mother, we’ll never let your plans go ahead. This is our home. You cannot sell it. You can keep us locked up as long as you like. We’ll find ways to make sure you can’t do this. And we promise… Even beyond our mortal days, we will be here, making sure our home is just that. Ours. Peter And Jane
I was appproached by fellow blogger Tanmay Jain, of Bookinton Blog to ask whether I would participate in a writing challenge with a difference this month. The Finish The Story Challenge 2. 2 because he ran one similar last year and wanted to extend the challenge to a few more bloggers. It is an opportunity to streach creativity, and share others stories too!
Intrigued, as ever…. I decided to step up, and this is what we are doing.
There are 5 bloggers, myself included, who have submitted a prompt.
Each of us will answer the prompt with a 250 word flash fiction piece on set days.
Let me introduce you to the others who are taking part.
1)Tanmay Jain
Tanmay Jain is a blogger, book reviewer, writer and bibliophile from Jaipur, Rajasthan. He has been reading books since he was a child and hasn’t stopped since. He started his first blog in 2016 and since that, after many unsuccessful attempts at managing a successful blog, he landed on his current and most successful blog, Scion of Society. Tanmay dabbles mostly in fiction writing but sometimes wanders off to poetry, book reviewing and writing tips. He is an editor for his school magazine, X-rays. He’s a teenage writer, aspiring author, and a budding blogger.
Prompt – A non-risk-taking writer has writer’s block, so they decide to do something they’ve never done before to inspire them.
4)Suchita Agarwal
A writer and content creator, Suchita Agarwal believes words are where the magic is. You can find her on Twitter, Instagram and WordPress. She goes by talesofsuchita.
And then there is me… who has a HUGE amount written in her bio, and SM Links too, but then you know me… I cannot actually stop talking/writing, and you know I waffle… but if you wanted to read/connect… here you are!
5)Ritu Bhathal
Ritu Bhathal was born in Birmingham in the mid-1970’s to migrant parents, hailing from Kenya but with Indian origin. This colourful background has been a constant source of inspiration to her.
From childhood, she always enjoyed reading. This love of books is mostly credited to her mother.
The joy of reading spurred her on to become creative in her own writing, from fiction to poetry.
Winning little writing competitions at school and locally gave her the encouragement to continue writing.
As a wife, mother, daughter, sister, and teacher, she has drawn on inspiration from many avenues to create the poems that she writes.
A qualified teacher, having studied at Kingston University, she now deals with classes of children as a sideline to her writing!
Ritu also writes a blog, a mixture of life and creativity, thoughts and opinions, which was awarded first place in the Best Overall Blog Category at the 2017 Annual Bloggers Bash Awards.
Ritu is happily married, and living in Kent, with her Hubby Dearest, and two children, not forgetting the furbaby Sonu Singh.
Having published an anthology of poetry, Poetic RITUals, she is currently working on some short stories, and a novel, to be published in the near future.
And we’re finished with month four of the year… seriously? Where is the time going? Well, two of the weeks have been at school, and two whilst on the Easter break, so the hope was that I read loads!
I have to admit that since my involvement with NetGalley, I have got a bit obessed! The chance to read new books and give my opinions before the rest of the world reads them was far too good a chance to lose, so I requested plenty of fab reads…. only to have a March where I could hardly keep my eyes open at night to read, so I have a HUGE backlog of my own TBR books, as well as ARCs from NetGalley! April, I hope will have helped me solve that problem!
I’ve recently become more involved with the #WritingCommunity on Twitter too, so have found a good few interesting reads there and one I read this month was Blood Drops by W.B. Welch… Horror shorts – review below if that is something that tickles your fancy!
This was my first Sarah Morgan book and I have to say, I was enthralled!
A sympathetic and entertaining read that covers some pretty sensitive issues, from alcoholic parents and dyslexia to unfaithfulness in long term relationships.
Grace, one of the main characters, is looking forward to celebrating her 25th wedding anniversary, but instead of a pleasant surprise, she is given the gift of a husband announcing an affair.
The news shocks her to the core, but somehow, she finds the strength to take a long-planned trip to Paris, by herself, to rediscover herself.
She meets the other main character, Audrey, a dyslexic teenager, who is trying to escape from a life of covering up for her alcoholic mother.
One speaks fluent French, due to her French grandmother; the other speaks none.
They meet in an encounter involving a handbag thief, and after a slight hiccup at the start of their relationship, the two very different women forge a unique friendship, exploring love, life and books!
I loved the way it was written from both perspectives, with the addition of Mimi, Grace’s grandmother, in snippets too.
Goes to show that you don’t have to be the same age, with the same interests, to be friends.
Unlikely friendships can be the strongest.
Absolutely loved this book, so yes, I guess I am now a Sarah Morgan convert!!!
Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ Publishing for an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars A most heartwrenching memoir, written by Meredith May that had me gripped, and finishing the book on just a couple of sittings.
In all honey-sty (sorry!) I had forgotten this was a memoir as I was drawn into the life of young Meredith and experiencing the horrors of a broken marriage through the eyes of a child.
The way her experiences all tied up with the bees was so cleverly woven into the storyline, it had me hooked.
I could feel the first bee on her arm, I experienced the shock of that first attack from her mother, I empathised when she finally found out why her mother was how she was, relief flooded through me when she was able to fly the hive herself, though sadness bubbled over at her return because of her grandpa’s passing.
What a wonderful book, which, I am sure, will stay with me for a long time, and honestly, I shall view bees in such a different light from now on!
Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ publishing for an ARC of the book, in exchange for an honest review.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars A truly hard-hitting story about issues that are most definitely prevalent in society today, especially the Social Media ones.
A Snapchatted photo causes total hell for a young girl, Lyla, and her father, Tom, but they aren’t the only ones affected. Nina, the mother of the accused photograper, Finch, is in turmoil too, from a moral perspective, as well as a personal one.
I stayed up late once I had started this book and didn’t get out of bed the morning until I had finished it.
The author has really captured a side to this issue that many don’t think of, the case of not wanting to make a big deal of being taken advantage of, because of the repercussions that the victim has to suffer.
Add in a pompous husband, Kirk, who will go to any lengths to cover up any bad deeds, his son’s as well as his own, a bunch of snobbish friends, and a whole host of other secondary characters who you will either love or want to shoot down, and you have a fantastically written book.
I enjoyed it very much, not because I liked the topic, but that it really covered the issues well.
I’d love to know more about what happened with Lyla and Finch after though!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an unbiased review.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars I’ve had this on my list to read for a while, and finally got to it, and wasn’t disappointed at all!
Dear Mrs Bird follows a young girl, Emmy Lake, as she lives in London with her best friend Bunty in the midst of World War 2.
She has dreams of becoming a journalist, whilst holding down a secretarial job and helping at the Fire Station on night shifts.
Her dream looks set to come true as she finds an advert for a job as a Junior at a proper paper, and she gets it but isn’t prepared for what she was actually employed for.
Emmy finds herself as a typist for the Editress, Mrs Henrietta Bird, who is a formidable character with extremely high morals and the opinion that everyone should be able to solve their own problems by growing a spine. Not always helpful for advice if you are the actual columnist that women around the country write to.
Reading through correspondence from many women, and realising Mrs Bird wouldn’t even give most of the letters the time of day, Emmy takes it upon herself to write back to some, with more sympathetic advice and even speaks some replies into the actual magazine.
Having lived through a wartime engagement with her own beau which ends rather abruptly, and having to deal with a personal tragedy involving her own best friend, Emmy is more than capable of answering the worries of the young women around her, in a way that Mrs Bird never would.
Does she get found out? Does she get her own column? Does she find love?
Well, you’ll have to read it to find out!
I love books set in wartime London and this was an easy read, with plenty of laughs as well as tearjerking moments. The only thing that was a little grating was when certain parts of the text were in capitals…
But I’d definitely recommend it as a good read!
Many thanks to NetGalley, PanMacmillan and Picador for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
My rating: 5 of 5 stars I love a good book with a great dollop of culture, my own culture, in it. And this debut, filled with the fun of being a British Indian, complete with the obligatory GIF (Great Indian Family) was fantastic! I love that there were elements of the story I could relate to, nodding my head, smiling manically or giggling to myself, with my son sat beside me wondering whether his mother was finally losing it… That being said, there was a lot that wasn’t ordinary about the story too. We follow Rilla, a young woman on the eve of her wedding, who ends up bailing, in the most unorthodox of ways, by getting arrested (on purpose). She’s stuck in a loop in life, trying to get her MA, but unable to really focus, always feeling like she is second best in everyone’s eyes. Because of Rose. A person who hasn’t been in her life for over half of it, but who has overshadowed her every move, Rose – her sister, who suddenly went missing from her life. Rose – who no one will talk about. Rose – did she run away? Did she get taken away? Did she die? All these questions, but no answers. I really enjoyed everything about the book, and look forward to more from this great talent!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars I’ve always liked wartime stories, and usually, they are fictional accounts and family sagas, but rarely from the view of a child. Robbie has taken the accounts of wartime life from her mother, and alongside her, used the anecdotes to write a book about what life during the war was like, from Elsie’s 3-6-year-old perspective. Not really a story, more a memoir, mother and daughter have weaved the tales together to create a wonderful, simply written account from Elsie’s memories. It was great to read how, despite all the shortages and limitations, Elsie and her family still managed to have a good life. Simple pleasures were enough to sate the appetites of children, both foodwise and when keeping busy – something this generation of youngsters could learn from too! And a bonus of some lovely family photos and even recipes from the war era!
My rating: 5 of 5 stars More Glimpses… even better than Glimpses! I absolutely loved reading Hugh’s first collection of short stories and was eagerly awaiting this new collection, and it really did NOT disappoint! What was wonderful was that all the stories were new, and I hadn’t read them before on his blog, which meant plenty of new gems that were unearthed! Baby Talk was a favourite of my daughters. There are plenty with sinister twists, and in order to create such suspense in a few pages, you have to be a pretty good wordsmith, which Hugh has firmly shown he is! Easter Bunny Carrot Cake is a short and sweet one, but the romantic in me really loved Floral Hall, even though it is listed as a paranormal story! Murder in Evershot is another great read… In fact, they all are. What are you still reading this for? Go, get the book!
My rating: 5 of 5 stars It’s not easy being a working, single mum, and to top it off, deal with the issues of a teen, as well as a preschool daughter. Oh and manage daycare cliques as well as find love… Or is it?
In this fantastic read, we meet Frankie who is all of the above and follow her over a year filled with Jaffa Cakes, Prosecco, Tinder, toilet happenings and Mooncups…
A hilarious diary style book that had been rooting for Frankie throughout. For the record, I’d have thrown a stapler at Steve, her boss, scrolled longingly through the Insta account of @simple_dorset_life, and embraced my new friends, Lou and Sierra too.
I’d recommend this book to anyone who wants a light-hearted read, with maximum enjoyment!
Think of it as Adrian Mole for the Middle Aged, or Dork Diaries for grown ups!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Random House and Ebury Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars I’m not one to read many thrillers/chillers but I was intrigued by the blurb of this book, and I am glad I took the decision to give Little Darlings a try.
What a spinetingling book – I am still not sure what to think!
Lauren is mum to newborn twins, and from the first night, gets embroiled in a twist and turn filled journey as she believes her babies may be changelings.
With a husband who’s motives are questionable at best, who I thoroughly disliked, and a cop who has a heart, wanting to believe this woman who all others have relegated to the Mental Health Department, alongside a journalist who wants a scoop, this book kept me riveted!
Old spooky stories about a village underwater, a missing person, possible copycat crimes 40 years apart – seriously, there was a lot to take in.
If you are a thriller fan – read it. If you are a new mum, read with caution!
Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars It’s hard enough being adopted… but a loving family makes it all worthwhile, right?
What if you find out that they have been lying to you about your birth mother, and other connections too?
Cassie is a young girl at the cusp of womanhood, wanting to explore her own independence, and all is well. Her adoptive parents and sister, Erin, are wonderful, but they can’t answer the questions thrown at her by the Family Planning Clinic nurse about her birth mother…
Cue a search for her real mum, or at least information, and boy does she find some… but not what she was expecting.
A highly sensitive read, emotional in many ways.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Atlantic Books and Corvus for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
My rating: 3 of 5 stars A fascinating concept of baby farming, not in a dystopian setting, like The Handmaid’s Tale, but in modern-day USA.
Surrogacy and having babies for others for financial gain is not uncommon, but a setting like the Golden Oaks is above and beyond…
Apart from choosing the actual genes that form their babies, the uber-wealthy have a chance to choose the ‘hosts’ for their eggs, happy in the knowledge that the woman will be cared for over the nine months of their child’s development, with access to everything they might need, in order to produce a healthy offspring – without the need to actually experience pregnancy. Or there are those too old to have a good chance of carrying a baby to term.
But what about these ‘hosts’ emotional needs, or their own physical ones?
A glamorous maternity home or simply a baby farm?
We start the story meeting Ate, a Philippino woman who has spent a long time in the USA, leaving her own family, to become a much-revered baby nurse, and are introduced to her cousin Jane, who is a new mother herself, then encouraged to become a Host to secure her own child’s financial security by her cousin
The story hops from the point of view of both these characters, and Mae, the woman who heads the operations at The Farm, with her own financial gain in her mind, and Reagan, considered a Premium Host, as she is white, young, and a college graduate from a wealthy family.
There were twists in the tale, things happened that I hadn’t imagined would, keeping me reading though.
It was an interesting concept, but a little slow at the beginning, and sometimes the hopping from one point of view to another, with not enough clarity, was a little confusing.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars I’ve been hearing a lot about this particular collection of horror shorts, especially on Social Media, so was drawn to read it. Horror is not my go-to genre – I always assume it will end up as a blood and guts filled massacre or haunting stories… However, I was pleasantly surprised by this collection of stories that had their fill of gore, but a lot more psychological horror elements to them. Author W.B. Welch has created a lot of striking characters and situations that stick with you, despite some of the stories being only a page or so long. I was haunted by Her, loved Laveau and Girl in the Pink Coat was really rather stirring… Looking forward to more from this intriguing writer!
My rating: 5 of 5 stars I have waited patiently to finally read this sequel to Linda Hill’s The Magician’s Curse and I was really not disappointed!
It took a couple of chapters to get back up to speed with the original story; the magic, the curse, Stephen and Herman’s love, Nina and her demented adoration for the ‘Master’ who impregnated her by compulsion rather than desire…
Then the magic of this sequel started with so many dark and twisted turns, as we were led deeper into the curse of the Dagmar family, and all connected.
I don’t want to give anything away, and to be honest, the way it ended, I don’t think I could because what a way to finish it!
Linda, we need another book, asap as I have to know what is going to happen next!!!
My rating: 5 of 5 stars A beautiful collection of poems, words, photos and paintings that glide you through life. Miriam Hurdle has used the best inspiration possible: her life, to create a stunning set of work that can be consumed in one sitting or even dipped into as and when you feel you need a lift. My personal favourite… Let Go…
My rating: 3 of 5 stars Stories with an element of truth in them always intrigue me… how much is the truth and how much the imagination of the author?
This was a fictional retelling of the relationship between CS Lewis and Joy Davidman, snippets taken from letters written to each other as they forged a friendship that turned into a love that saved them both, with God as their guide.
I have to say it took me until halfway through the book to really feel involved enough, but I was hooked enough to want to finish and find out the ending.
A slow burner, but a lovely story in end.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars I’ve always enjoyed short stories, and I have said that before. They are a way to drift off into an unknown world for a snippet of time, however, there are few that can evoke real emotions within their limited words. I can happily say that this collection ticked all the above boxes. From the weird and wonderful The Strangest Parents On Earth to the bittersweet The Letter, the vengeful humour of The Secret Diary of Marvin Martin aged 14 1/2 to the sadness of a child’s view in William, there was so much to take in. I would highly recommend this collection. A short read, but one that really sticks with you.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars I remember reading the first of this series, I Heart New York way back in 2009, as a new mum to two, desperate for a little escapism, and it was the perfect companion to sleepless nights as the baby woke.
Over the years, I have read each of the sequels, and the Jenny novellas, enjoying each and every one.
I was delighted to have been granted a wish by the publishers for a chance to receive a copy of I Heart Hawaii in advance.
Sadness at the fact it was the last in the series though.
Angela, Jenny, Alex, James et al have been my companions for a long time, and what a way to say farewell!
Leaving her 10-month-old, Alice, at home with rock god hubby Alex, Angela steps into a new role, with Cici, her initial nemesis, as her boss.
Things are never as simple as just ‘starting a new job’ for Angela Clark, though.
Familiarising herself with a new workplace, ethic and possible extra new boss, is not easy when she is tempted away by Jenny, on a trip of a lifetime with all her favourite people to Hawaii.
Of course, she has to go, with the grudging consent of Alex, and spends five days partly intoxicated, partly paranoid, and wholly hilarious!
Add in the MOB, fertility, in-law/out-law wars and some skirmishes with the NYPD and you have the average few days of Angela’s life!
I can’t give things away, but suffice to say I was a little jittery after reading the prologue… what was going on in the life of AC? Was there no more I Heart…?
But I needn’t have worried. Lindsey Kelk takes us on a fantastically twisted, hilarious journey towards an epically wonderful conclusion.
Will I miss AC and the I Heart collective? Absolutely! But what a way to finish!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins and Lindsey Kelk for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars Honestly, I was a little nervous when I realised that this was a translation from the original French novel. the last time I read such a book, the contents were rather dark and disturbing, and the translation didn’t help the unease I felt whilst reading!
I really shouldn’t have worried though.
What a ‘Wonder’ful book! (Sorry!)
Imagine being a successful career woman, and a single parent to a teen who was being a typical teen. The tussles and joys of bringing one of those up are never really thought about until something major happens…
… a tragic accident, followed by the news that your precious child is on a coma. You might never get to live those moments of grief and happiness with him again…
Thelma is in that exact situation, yet instead of wallowing at the bedside of her inert son, she accidentally finds a book he had written in, like the beginnings of a bucket list: all he wants to do in life – well, all he had thought of, up to his accident. His Book Of Wonders
The doctors are reluctant to give much hope as to whether he will ever wake, setting a time upon when the machines will be shut down.
But this mother has some hope.
Along with her own mum, and a bevvy of newly acquired friends, she embarks upon a month-long journey to try and fulfil all his wonders, filming them as she does, in the hope that hearing the videos might just jolt him back to life…
I shan’t tell you the ending, but what I will say is that within a tragedy, Julien Sandrel still manages to weave humour, romance and smiles.
It was an easy read, a pleasant read, and sometimes, that is exactly what you need. Not too many complications, but a lovely story that offers hope in a world of craziness.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Publishing for an ARC in return for an honest review.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars A delightful read which was heightened by the fact that one of the key characters, Cecily Finn was actually based on a real person!
The story follows Kate Parker, a woman in her late 30’s who is in a so so relationship, and a so so job, leading a so so life… until her partner realises he’s not quite ready for commitment.
This pushes Kate to try a few different things, including moving back in with her mother and volunteering at an old people’s home, where she meets Cecily, a bit of a battleaxe, but one with some amazing stories and advice wrapped up in a cookery book.
Through this novel, we learn about Cecily’s life before the home, and how her various experiences help to guide Kate, in a rather roundabout way, to a happier, fulfilled life.
I must admit that my mouth watered several times whilst reading this food-fuelled story of friendship!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Zaffre for an ARC, in exchange for an honest review.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars I really enjoyed this uplifting story about Kelsey, a young woman whose future is all planned, or so she thought. A chance to work in her dream job, albeit rather far away, kick starts changes in her life that have been long overdue. Not to mention two hunks hankering after her! Set in the poetic town of Stratford-Upon-Avon, a place I spent many a summers day, taking visiting family to visit, I could feel myself back there, walking alongside Kelsey on one of her tours. A wonderful debut from someone who I think has a long writerly career ahead of her! Thank goodness there’s a sequel!
Mistaken identity is one thing. Stealing an identity is a whole other issue But is there ever a time when it is right?
I was captured by this story of a young Sri Lankan girl, Jaya, who was running away from a terrible life, and within another awful tragedy, is plummetted into a self-inflicted whirlwind as she chooses to take the path less trodden, and steps into the life of another soul, Soma.
Name changed, she arrives in a new country and is set to work for a Sri Lankan family who want her to be able to look after their baby Louis, teaching him Sinhalese as she works.
The mother, Yamuna, is another interesting character who is struggling with first-time motherhood, and in the throes of undiagnosed Post Natal Depression.
With so many secrets bound within her, Soma tries her best to lead a simple, straightforward life, until she meets Sahan, cousin of her employer, and someone who she forms an irreversible bond with.
I could go on and on, and end up telling you what happens, but I won’t do that.
What I will say is that I really enjoyed the book. It was a simple story with plenty of twists to keep a reader hooked, and the added dash of culture that may be unfamiliar to some, but gives it the spice to make you savour it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hera Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Published May 8th
Wow! 23 books read! I think I averaged at least one a day during my 2 week break, and the rest just before and after! Hope you enjoy my selection!
But I Smile Anyway... 