I was really excited to be asked to review a secret release last month, and it wasan’t any old book, but a story by world famous comedienne, Dawn French!
How cool was that?
It was all a bit secretive, as it hadn’t been publicised that Dawn was releasing a new book, so I had to hold my review close to my chest… and, here it is, now the book, Because Of You, has been published.
But first, the blurb!
Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock . . . midnight.
The old millennium turns into the new.
In the same hospital, two very different women give birth to two very similar daughters.
Hope leaves with a beautiful baby girl.
Anna leaves with empty arms.
Seventeen years later, the gods who keep watch over broken-hearted mothers wreak mighty revenge, and the truth starts rolling, terrible and deep, toward them all.
The power of mother-love will be tested to its limits.
Perhaps beyond . . .
Because Of You is Dawn French’s stunning new novel, told with her signature humour, warmth and so much love.
And my review:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was extremely excited to be chosen to read an advanced copy of Dawn French’s new book, Because of You, having read all of her previous novels, and enjoyed them immensely. The story centres around two women, due to give birth on New Year’s Eve/Day, 2000. Anna, wife of wannabe politician Julian, and Hope, the girlfriend of gentle Isaac. Tragedy surrounds both women, yet out of the despair, one baby, Minnie, emerges.
It took me a little while to really get into the book, but within a few pages, I was truly immersed in the story. A story about mothers and daughters, and love that grows. How real relationships are formed. Matters of the heart. Dawn French has created beautiful, rounded, characters, that cause you to either to care deeply about them, or want to throttle them (Julian, anyone?) Every step of the way, I wondered when the truth would be exposed. I had an inkling, but I wasn’t sure. The book is written from the point of view of Hope, Anna and Minnie, in turn, with snippets of Julian and Isaac too, giving you a complete picture of the thoughts of everyone throughout a surreal situation. I don’t want to give too much away, but suffice to say, I had tears in my eyes by the end of the book. Absolutely wonderfully written.
Available at all good retailers.
Dawn French has been making people laugh for thirty years. On purpose.
As a writer, comedian and actor, she has appeared in some of the UK’s most long running, cherished and celebrated shows, including French and Saunders, The Comic Strip Presents …, Murder Most Horrid, The Vicar of Dibley, Jam and Jerusalem, Lark Rise to Candleford, and more recently, Roger and Val Have Just Got In.
It’s a busy month, my birthday, and starting back at school. I am always shattered every evening, so it’ll be interesting to see how many books I manage to read this month… not many…
Christmas Sisters is a wonderful introduction to the characters due to star in a series to be released soon. A woman filled with grief at losing her husband and child, opens her heart and home to a young girl who has been left with no carer, and as she comes to terms with having a new child in her life, she ends up with not one, but four new foster girls. No links to one another, but connection that becomes so strong, they become soul sisters. Looking forward to reading the series, now!
Neena is an immigrant who has moved from her life and family in India to the hustle and bustle of modern USA. This story charts a period in her life where the two cultures clash in many ways, when her father is taken ill, back home, and she has to rush back to support her parents. How do you mesh two cultures together, keeping hold of your roots, as well as embracing the new one you now live in? An interesting story. My only sticking point was that some writing was a little clunky in places, possibly due to language differences, meaning there were moments when certain situations cot lost in translation. However, if you look beyond this, the story has good potential, and makes good points.
I’ve always enjoyed Sarah Morgan’s Christmas inspired stories and this one was no different. One More For Christmas explores the fractured nature of a mother’s relationship with her daughters, where her trying to do the best for them, ends up forcing them apart. Then an accident brings them together, where secrets are unveiled, and in the midst of it all, a romance begins to blossom. A great read for Christmas, with some touching moments,
Releasig 22nd October, 2020
To be published 15th October. I can’t actually put my review up yet, until the publication date… but it’ss GOOD!!
I loved Dawn O’Porter’s So Lucky, so jumped at the chance to read her take on the Lockdown of 2020, and was not disappointed, whatsoever. There were many moments I was nodding my head, agreeing with her thoughts, times I was giggling at her antics, and then, especially as she discussed the loss of her good friend, Caroline Flack, there were moments of deep sadness. Dawn’s experience, regardless of whether she is a celebrity or not, mirrors the emotions of many families, stuck at home, home schooling, dealing with being in a home with the same people for months on end. A great read!
I’ve got to be honest with you. The last few weeks have seen me read less and less, not for want of trying, but because I am exhausted due to the trials and tribulations of this whole Covid-19 craziness. Books that I would usually whizz through, are unable to keep me awake and reading, However, for the first time in around four weeks, I found a book that kept me reading, and I finished it in two sittings. And that book was The Christmas Swap by Sandy Barker. OMG, I LOVED it! It was just the level of lighthearted reading that I needed, with characters that I felt invested in from the beginning. The May Ladies, or rather Jules, Lucy and Chloe, are a trio who met as youngsters and formed a true bond, despite living in totally different continents, America, Australia and England. Their friendship stays strong over the years, with them meeting up regularly. This Christmas, however, they end up swapping their lives, with Jules, the Aussie, ending up in a small village in Oxfordshire, Lucy the English rose, in the snowy depths of America, and Chloe, the American, enjoying a warm Aussie Christmas in Melbourne. A total departure for each of them, and who knew they might just meet some one special in their new Christmas abodes? I loved how Sandy switched slang for the different characters, so you could tell the origins of each character. The chemistry that simmered between certain individuals as they tested their feelings out, and that hint of something physical, without too much graphic detail. A really wonderful read, that promises to take you on a journey of discovery, and a whirlwind tour of the world! Many thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Released 16th October, 202
See, it was a much quieter reading month for me, due to starting back to school. the first few weeks always drain me totally, and having the builders around doesn’t help! Still, I was always reading, whether it was a page a day, or a chapter.
Last year I was introduced to the debut novel of someone who I have come to view as one of those authors whose books I will put others aside, to read as soon as I can.
Kiley Dunbar’s first book, One Summer’s Night, is a wonderful story, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, and heavily influenced by that famous bard, William Shakespeare. As I read her fourth book, One Winter’s Night, (yes, she’s got that many under her belt since last year’s release!) I realised it was also Shakey-heavy, too, so I decided to be nosy and ask all about her fascination with Shakespeare, and how much he’s influenced her writing, and life, too!
Over to you, Kiley!
I fell in love with Shakespeare’s poetry when I was fourteen and I talked my mum into buying me A Midsummer Night’s Dream, based solely on my lovestruck reaction to its gorgeous cover. I still have that book! (pictured).
That was the summer my parents dug out a small pond in the back garden of their terrace in the coal board village where I grew up. I spent hours that summer sitting by the pond trying to get to grips with the strange language and magical characters. I only understood half of what I read and it took me the whole summer to finish the play.
I was always a dreamy kid but something about the summer moon reflecting in the water and this 400-year-dead beardy English bloke had me reeling. I was a goner.
Cut to Mrs Marr’s English class a few years later and I’m head over heels for Hamlet, outraged by Othello and totalled on Twelfth Night. Thank you Mrs Marr!
In May 1999 I was writing a long letter to the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in Stratford upon Avon explaining my obsession and asking if they have any summer job vacancies – and they did!
Within weeks I was living in Stratford, working as a tour-guide and seeing every single play at the RST and the Swan. I was in heaven!
And I didn’t want to leave.
So I applied to study at the Shakespeare Institute and, to my amazement, got a place – after a nerve wracking interview. I made Shakespeare-obsessed friends for life there.
A few years, and a lot of studying, later I have been fortunate enough to be able to teach my own Shakespeare courses at a uni in the North of England. Seeing the moment where it finally all made sense for my students was utterly magical!
It felt as though all my teenage summer dreams had come true. Except for one. I wanted to write love stories and comedies of my own.
In March 2019 my debut novel, a rom com, called ‘One Summer’s Night’ came out with Hera Books, inspired by my love of Shaky and (v. v. loosely) based on my first summer in Stratford all these years ago where I met my husband and we got engaged after FOUR days! I know, I’m not exactly risk averse. Now I’m looking forward to sharing the sequel to that novel. It’s called One Winter’s Night and is out on 17th September 2020 and follows the same characters and some new ones through a very romantic, dramatic winter in Shakespeare’s hometown. One of the storylines is a gender-reversed version of Love’s Labour’s Lost, one of my favourite Shakespeare plays.
I hope you love it, Kiley, x
You can download your copy of One Summer’s Night here:
A gorgeously uplifting, romantic read that will warm your heart – take a trip to Stratford-Upon-Avon, where magic happens…
It’s autumn in beautiful Stratford-Upon-Avon and Kelsey Anderson is enjoying her new life in her adopted town. Her Shakespearean tour guide days behind her, she’s now opened her own photography studio and loved up with boyfriend Jonathan – even if a long-distance relationship is sometimes lonely.
When best friend Mirren Imrie moves down from Scotland, Kelsey is delighted to have her friend at her side – and as the nights turn colder, Mirren throws herself into dating, until she finds herself growing closer to sexy journalist, Adrian Armadale. But when Mirren uncovers a long-buried scandal while working at the local newspaper, her big scoop might throw Kelsey’s – and Jonathan’s – life upside down. Will she choose her career over her friends’ happiness?
And when Jonathan returns from America and discovers the secrets Mirren has uncovered about his family, it throws his relationship with Kelsey onto shaky ground. Can they find their way back to love, before it becomes the winter of their discontent?
A romantic, funny and feelgood read that will make you smile from ear to ear. Fans of Milly Johnson, Heidi Swain and Holly Martin will fall in love with this cosy winter read!
Thank you, so much, Kiley, for sharing your love affair with Shakespeare with us all!
And four days! Wowzer! Well, they do say, when you know, you know. 😉
As I mentioned, I was honoured to be able to read an ARC of One Winter’s Night, and it was fabulous! Here’s my review.
I happened upon Kiley Dunbar and her debut last year, and after devouring the first one, I have awaited any other releases with great anticipation, and she’s never failed to satisfy. Hearing that the characters from One Summer Night, Dunbar’s debut were getting another outing in One Winter’s Night, made my summer. I love Shakespeare, Stratford-Upon-Avon is a place we visited plenty when I was growing up, And though I’ve never been, Scotland and its. beauty has always enticed me. One day I will visit. And romance? Well, I love a bit of romance, so, having all these components in a book should be a guaranteed good read, for me, at least. And it surely was! Catching up with Kelsey Anderson, as the Scottish lass comes to grips with settling far south of her home town, in Shakespeare’s land, attempting to set up a business fuelled by her passion for photography, with no good friends or family close by, and the love of her life off acting across the Atlantic was a joy. And I loved the parallel story of Kelsey’s best friend Mirren, the newly single, Scottish journalist who’s finally had enough of the sexist world of broadsheet journalism, and finds herself swearing off men, jacking in her job, and jumping on a train to join her best friend, for a little while, as she straightens her life out. There were a whole host of new characters introduced, including the old soak, propping up the local bar, who ended up being a rather famous actor in his prime, with a hidden secret, and Blythe. Oh, I loved Blythe! Everyone needs a Blythe in their lives. An eccentric elderly woman who was a force to be reckoned with in her prime, on stage, until life threw her some huge curveballs. Blythe may be a bit of a recluse, but she has amassed a veritable smorgasbord of memorabilia and hard-learned wisdom over the years, along with the talent of distilling her own extremely strong flavoured gins. Kelsey’s unusual, initial meeting with Blythe cements a multi-generational friendship that adds another layer to an already wonderful story. So there’s love, heartbreaks, more romance, Shakespeare, family angst, and GIN! What more could a reader want? Absolutely a recommended read. Many thanks to NetGalley and Hera Books for an ARC, in exchange for an honest review.
Now, I 100% recommend you get reading all of Kiley’s books, they are wonderful little nuggets of escapism!
What a fantastic book! I always find Historical fiction to be fascinating, and this was no different. Orphan Meg Owen is picked up by the guards for stealing a loaf of bread. Expecting a punishment, but lenient at that, she is stunned to find that she is branded, on the tongue and made into a sin eater. She is cast into a life of loneliness and silence, finding solace with the other sin eater in her town. Unable to fathom why, Meg begins to learn more about her new life, taking on the sins of others on their deathbeds, then eating them, expecting to die a lonely woman. filled with the secrets of others. But she doesn’t expect to stumble upon a secret of epic proportions, involving royalty and treason. I don’t want to write too much about the story, which is twisted and brilliant in its entirety. Megan Campisi has created a parallel world, so similar to certain parts of our history, with enough changes to make it fantastical. Many thanks to NetGalley and Pan. Macmillan for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve been a fan of Lindsey Kelk since the first I Heart book, and am always enticed by the thought of another Kelk-masterpiece out. In Case You Missed It is another great easy, summer read, with a main character, Ros, experiencing the telltale ups and downs synonymous with a Lindsey Kelk book. Trouble with work, trouble with relationships, trouble with adulting… Lots of laugh out loud moments, a gaggle of loyal, almost all-knowing friends, a teenage gaming celeb (I Know!) and some cheeky romance, with a couple of dashing heroes to add to the mix. What fun! Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Yet another brilliant read from Sophia Money-Coutts! Meet Florence Fairfax, a slightly OCD character, with some interesting anxiety-related behaviours, who works in a small book shop in London. Oh, and a non-existent love life. Until a concerned stepmother suggests a therapist… Amidst disbelief that anything will come of it, Flo visits said therapist and comes away with a list of her perfect man. And apparently, the universe delivers! Or does it? I loved the characters, and I honestly laughed out loud several times, causing my husband to look at me quizzically. How could I explain that “Cowabunga!” will never sound the same to me ever again? (Confused? Well, you need to read to find out the reason – and it’s well worth the read!) Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The title, Beach Read, intrigued me. The blurb even more so. Two writers, each very different, and struggling with writer’s block in their own way, end up in the same place, neighbours. And an old ‘rivalry’ becomes tentative support for one another, but love? January is all about the Happily Ever Afters, in life and her writing. Gus doesn’t suffer fools gladly, and his literary preferences mirror his thinking. Their personal challenges, along with the writing one they set for each other, allows their lives to entwine in a way they never thought possible. It took me a little while to get into the book, but once I started, I couldn’t stop. I enjoyed the characters and the story, along with the little twists and reveals that are dropped along the way, making you guess which way this story is going to end. It’s not a typical RomCom, but I could definitely see myself reading it on the beach! (Apart from some of the more intimate scenes… Well written, not too tacky, but erotic enough to make you feel…) Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I’m not sure where to start. But suffice to say this story blew me away. Read in a day. Some say that with books that have too many characters, it is hard to feel connected or emotional about them, but this one did that and more. The story surrounding Diana and Arie’s love story is an emotive beginning, and the twists and turns at the beginning left me in tears. Then the way Belinda, Evie, Bene, Felix, Beatrix, and others, were brought into this tale of love was so clever. I just loved it! I really don’t want to write too much about the story, for fear of giving something away. Suffice to say, I think you should definitely read it! Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was looking forward to some sort of domestic thriller, but it wasn’t quite there. The story of Karen and Nick, moving to the country to escape from her demons, and his cheating, had so many chances for more twists to occur, and some did, but they were left with the ends still loose. The characters were great, the descriptions fantastic, but the story was lacking. Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ for an ARC, in exchange for an honest review.
I truly enjoyed the first book in the series, True To Me, so was eager to dive back into the Maui waters, and I was not disappointed, No Place Too Far continues the stories of a group of characters we met before in True To Me, concentrating a little more on Maggie. Maggie came out to live in Maui after her friend Quinn settled there, once she found out that was where her birth family lived. Maggie, herself, is trying to settle down after spending a year on the run from a stalker, with her young son. I was so engrossed with the story, that had I not had work the next day, I’d have been reading far into the wee hours of the morning! Quinn and Maggie’s stories run side by side, but entwining in places, and with blossoming friendships, tentative romances and shocking returns. The descriptions of the lush scenes of Maui made me wish I was there. And knowing there is a third book to come… well, I am super excited! Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
A compelling read, with an amalgamation of personal experience and suggestions of how we, as a whole community, can really get behind becoming anti-racists. It gives a good background into the #BlackLivesMatter movement, and why current events may have escalated in the way they have. Educate to change. Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for a copy of this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed Karen Swan’s The Hidden Beach. Bell is a young British woman, who, through her own personal tragedy, ends up living in Sweden, and nanny to a family with three children she is immensely attached to. Friends think the parents, Hanna and Max, may be taking advantage of her love for the children, as week after week, she cancels plans to help them out. But then she gets sucked into a personal tragedy the family suffers, and there is no going back. The thing is, there is a twist. How can she be an impartial help in their time of need, when she appears to have confusing feelings for the one person they are all scared of? I loved Bell’s character. She is a damaged soul, who wants to get back to normality, but life is not prepared to let her. Her relationship with the children she looks after, and especially Linus, the 10-year-old son, is heartwarming to read. The story shifts in perspective, being told from Bell’s point of view, as well as Emil, and sometimes Hanna and Max. This wasn’t always clear, but with a little rereading, I would work out whose head I was in. But a good read finished in a day. Many thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an arc, in exchange for an honest review.
I popped my YA cherry on the Guardian Series by Shelley Wilson, and enjoyed the Hood Academy too, so was quietly excited for this new book by her to come out. I enjoyed the story of Marianne, a young, unsuspecting girl, who doesn’t realise the power she holds within. A kingdom torn apart by the Phantom’s curse, then gently pieced together again, to be at the point of being ripped at the seams again. A strange world for this girl to be in, until she realises what her part in the role of ridding the world of the Phantom. Marianne, along with her brother, Newt, and various friends, battle dark armies and crooked lords to save their kingdom. There is magic, the fae, kingdoms, lords, ladies, and a little bit of love! I enjoyed the book, and read it easily in a couple of hours. I would say it is targeted at the younger end of the YA market.
Love. India, finding oneself, romance, strong woman… what’s not to like? I really enjoyed the story of Rachel, a woman with a plan. Or a list, at least. She’s worked hard to achieve all her goals in life so far, with the exception of one; to get married to her perfect man. But that is all about to change, just not in the way she expected. Rachel winds up in an ashram in India, attempting to rescue her boyfriend and perfect life, but ends up on a journey of self-discovery, and realises that the best-laid plans aren’t always the ‘best’. Rachel is a fabulous character. Don’t we all want to be like Rachel? Someone who knows exactly what she wants, and when. Oh, I wanted to throttle her no-god boyfriend, Paul, but then we met Seb, and I loved him! What a hottie! And a spiritual one at that. A really good read, and I loved the ending! Many thanks to NetGalley for an ARC, in exchange for an honest review.
What a charm of a book! As a young girl, Leila’s mother left her and her father, with only a silver charm bracelet to remember her by. At the same time, Jake and his family move into the area Leila and her father are leaving, into their old home. A fleeting meeting between both young people leaves a lasting bond. The bracelet gets lost, and the book is a retelling of how each charm that dangles from it was acquired, and a plea to whoever finds it, to return it. I was taken on a total rollercoaster of emotions, reading the story of Leila, and her charm bracelet, and Jake, her silent support, who floated in and out of her life. I loved both the main characters and the bittersweet twist at the end left me teary. Yes, definitely read this book!aa Many thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The blurb for The Shelf pulled me in immediately, hence the clicking on Request It as soon as I could, and I was quick to download and read it, once I was accepted. Expecting to be jetting off on an exotic holiday with her hopefully soon-to-be fiance, ends up with our heroine, Amy, finding herself dumped, and on the set of a Big Brother-style reality show, The Shelf. Cue four weeks of coping with humiliation, forming friendships, and coming to realisations about herself. It took me a couple of chapters to get into the book, initially. Why was this woman putting up with that narcissistic idiot of a boyfriend, Jamie? And when she got dumped, live on telly, why did she stay? But then, as the story unfolded, I found myself immersed in the whole situation. I loved Amy, who, as a woman in her thirties, was feeling the pull for the traditional version of where she should be in life; marriage and 2.4 kids, but went on to find a version of herself that worked for her. The supporting cast of women on the show with her were an eclectic mix of characters. I’d almost have enjoyed a bit more friction between them at times, but equally, I loved how they stood up for each other too. Anyone else want to slap the show’s host, Andy? I really did! Overall a good read, and quite addictive, once you get into it. I’d like to see ow a bunch of men would handle the show! Many thanks to Netgalley and Bonnier Books UK for an ARC, in exchange for an honest opinion.
The Memory Of Us is the first of Camille Di Maio’s books I’ve read, and I really enjoyed it. I was touched by the wartime story of Julianne Westcott and her forbidden love for religious man, Kyle McCarthy. Julianne has it all on the face of it. From a wealthy Liverpudlian family, she has all the luxuries a girl desires, including her beauty, and suitors to match, but her heart is insistent in its demand to love only one, deeply unsuitable man. Kyle is the son of a gardener and is destined to become a Catholic priest. Julianne’s Protestant background means even a hint of a union between them would cause great grief. Still, you can’t help who you love… I was wrapped up in the blossoming love story of the two and wanted to cry at the twists and tragedies that befall a near-perfect couple and their love story. Oh, and the deep secret hidden away by her parents… Not giving anything away. A wonderful, heartwrenching read.
This is the first book I have read from Jess Carpenter and I had a ball reading it. The story is based around Les, a young woman who is starting college, and has a bit of history that she is trying to work through. A dear father who passed away, a mother who has extremely high aspirations for her, and an ex-boyfriend who turns up, as a student at her college. Les meets Candy, a Latino fellow student, who brings colour and a different culture into her love, along with a hot brother, Carter. The book is written as if Les is treating us, the readers, as her studio audience, so there are comments directed at us, as well as telling us about what’s going on. I enjoyed the bubbling romances, the love triangle that is set from the beginning, and how it ends up. The author has also touched upon the huge issue of racism, targeting the Mexican community, and how Les combats her mother’s prejudiced feelings towards her new Latino friends. And there are the expectations of her mother that. Les has to try her hardest to reach. I loved Candy, the new best friend, filled with spunk and her own story brewing in the background, so was thrilled to read that there would be more about her in a future book! I think this will be a book much enjoyed by young adults and college-goers, with romance, culture and a lot of fun. Thank you Jess, for a copy of your book, in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the story of baker Lucy, and her journey to rekindling her relationship with estranged hubby, world famous chef, Oliver. Lucy was left high and dry a few years earlier, when Oliver’s career took an international turn, and they sacrificed their marriage for their food passions. When Oliver makes a surprise return to their home town, Lucy is stunned, not least because she is in a relationship with someone else. A great rom-com filled with food, cakes and other relationship bakes!
And there you have it. Another month of great reads! Seventeen, this time!
The month of May! Aaaah, the spring evenings seguing into summer. Lazy weekends filled with barbeques and drinks in the garden, or catching up with friends…
Or maybe not.
Coronagate is still with us, at the moment, so the meeting friends bit, well, that’s not gonna happen in the same way as before. But I hope the weather was good for you, and the added time allowed you to read plenty too!
I am steadily working my way through Tess’s Cliffside Bay series and this was a little novella to slip into the stream of love stories. We finally get to see the wedding of Raphael and Lisa, but not without a few dramas along the way. I enjoy how these extra snippets of stories add another layer to the relationship that us readers are building with all the characters in the series, and the fact that it is set in Emerson Pass, after reading the first book in Tess’s newest series, well, that was another pleasant surprise! Onwards to the next book.
Book 8 of the Cliffside Bay series, but the tenth I’ve read, counting the novellas. I love that I kinda know what is going to be the conclusion, but knowing how Tess’s stories evolve, I am aware that it won’t be a straight path. Scarred is the story of the pairing together of Autumn, the scarred sister of Wolf, Stone, and Trey, one of the Wolves pack. Again, plenty of loose threads from previous books are tied up, but there are a good few left dangling, so you know the next book has some work to do!
Boy, am I enjoying steaming through this series! I almost don’t want to have to wait for June for the last book! Jilted gives us the story of the fourth Wolf, Nico, and his blossoming love story with Dog Sane’s half-sister, Sophie. Both souls with feelings of abandonment, but totally different life situations, they go from pushing each other away to drawing close like two opposite ends of a magnet. I enjoyed this next instalment, and can’t wait for David and Sara’s story. Thank goodness I still have a couple of novellas to read!
Another short novella to tie up some loose ends in Tess Thompson’s Cliffside Bay series. This time we jumped to the seniors who now live there, and follow the blossoming romance between Rapahel’s mother, Rosa (Mama) Soto and Lisa’s Uncle Dominic. A lovely, magical, light read to make your heart feel good.
Finally! I got to see (read) Pepper and Stone’s wedding! Tess Thompson delivers a short side tale to her Cliffside Bay series, whisking the readers away to France to witness the dream marriage, that has its fair share of ups and downs, even in such a short book! I could have carried on reading more!
Retired elementary school teacher, Pete Springer, uses his experience and knowledge to create a wonderful book that is as much memoir as it is a handy tool to have as a teacher about to embark upon the best job in the world (I’m a teacher, maybe I’m biased), and just as useful for a parent to read, so they can understand a little more about the role the teacher plays in their children’s lives. Peppered with anecdotes from his teaching career, as well as the story detailing how he ended up becoming a teacher, the book gives a personal account of the life of aa teacher, as well as many handy hints for setting up and running a successful classroom of your own.
Imagine being that child who can see and hear awful things being done to your mother, then, when you try and raise an alarm, you get shot down? This is the true story of Sharon, who, from a young age, witnessed her mother suffer from mental and physical abuse from her father, and eventually had to deal with fatal consequences. The harsh truth is that there is still stigma attached to families who are vocal about abuse or wrongdoings in families in many Indian communities, even now. So much so, that it is easier to ignore the reality, or cover it up, rather than seek help and face the repercussions. Well done to Sharon for bravely writing about this awful situation, with the hope it will give other young people the courage to come forward and speak out for members of their family in similar situations, who feel unable to themselves. Domestic violence, physical, mental and emotional abuse is NEVER right.
A young woman; single, plump, and totally unconfident in her appearance. That’s Molly. But she’s a great florist, and a good friend, though she can be a bit self-absorbed sometimes. But let’s be honest, who can honestly say, hand on heart that they never think about themselves, and only others? And that’s why many readers will identify with Molly. As I read her story, trying to find love, and acceptance for herself, as well as that elusive ideal weight, I found myself comparing certain parts of her life with mine. I totally got her with the dieting, and ‘life-changing’ health plans. I’ve been up and down my whole life, and though many who know me, would say I’ve never been ‘big’, I know I have, compared to my previous, svelte self. That hating what you see in the mirror? Yup. Been there, done that. I read about her dating mishaps with intrigue, probably because I never went through all that online dating malarkey, myself. She had her ups and downs, but Molly learns how to accept herself, and build changes into her life so she really does end up loving herself – and, no spoilers here, but she might just find someone else who loves her too! There’s a lesson in the story for us all. Self-care, and self-love is as important as getting acceptance from the outside. I’m just glad Molly stopped apologising for herself by the end!
Pixy by Linda g. Hill My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I always enjoy the book sof Linda’s that I have read, and this short story, a free treat from Linda, was no different.
We are introduced to the world of Pixies, and meet Merryn, who has been transported to the human world as a joke, but there he meets Ivy, a widow, and they start a romance that develops in a flash, in human years, but takes much time, in pixy years! A cute love story with a twist!
I just love Flash Fiction and I feel blessed to have got to know the crew over at the Carrot Ranch, with Charli, the head buccaneer! I’ve had this anthology to read for a long while, but time, and so many books… you know. But finally, thanks to Lockdown, I got to savour the wonderful bite-sized morsels that 99-word fiction can provide. I enjoy crafting the stories to go with Charli’s weekly prompts, and I am also eager to read how someone else interprets the same prompt. The first half of this book is filled with these, kind of like appetisers. Then the second half has slightly longer pieces, like your main course, but selected Ranchers, and finishes with a dessert of essays from memoirists. A wonderful collection to savour over time, or devour in one sitting!
Oh, what an emotional ride! Imagine having a gift that could give so much joy, but at the same time, suck the joy of living from you? This was what life was like for Joel, and what stopped him from fully living his own life. And Callie? A simple, loveable woman, who isn’t quite sure where here future lies, until she meets Joel. Add in Murphy, Callie’s dog, and you have a beautiful bittersweet love story, with an ending you didn;t expect… or did you? I absolutely loved this story of Joel and Callie, and their forever love, that just wasn’t meant to be. Descriptive, emotive writing that kept me reading all day, so I could finish the book, all the while not wanting it to end. Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I picked this book to read when it was still registered as Death and other Happy Endings. The title piqued my interest, and the blurb confirmed I would be up for reading. Upon reading the book, I think the new title Life and other Happy Endings, is much better suited! I was fully prepared for a swing of emotions, knowing I was going to be reading about a woman counting down to the end of her life, writing letters to three people who were so important in her life, and I wasn’t wrong there. But the swing of emotions included laughter and smiles, as well as the sadness and dread that I had expected. I loved the twist to the story in the middle, and the extra U-Turn at the end. Nope. Don’t ask for details. You need to read to find out! Great book! Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A wonderfully whimsical, romantic read, perfect for a sunny holiday read, or even a read when there is no holiday sun around, as the vivid descriptions of Greek islands will whisk you away anyway! I loved meeting Sarah, the woman who has sworn off men, taking a trip away to get away from all that romantic nonsense, then ends up with not one, but two suitors, and all with the backdrop of this beautiful greek scenery! I really enjoyed this debut from Sandy Barker, and am already excited to dive into book two!
What? So, I finished book one yesterday, and today, I’m here reviewing book two. Think that is a clue in itself as to how readable Sandy Barker’s books are becoming to me. I thoroughly enjoyed Sarah’s story in book one, One Summer in Santorini, and it was great to pick up on the story, interlinked, but on its own journey, about Catherine, Sarah’s sister. Not only do you get a whistlestop tour of some of Europe’s most famous cities, complete with descriptions that make you feel like you are standing in the middle of said cities, but there is the huge dollop of ‘will she/won’t she’ romance added to keep you turning pages. Cat’s been hurt before. She’s sworn off relationships and men, until a mistaken (bit more than a ) fumble with her flatmate. Disasterous enough to make her book a hasty coach tour around Europe, to get away from the atmosphere she’s created, by trying to stay away from her newly love-lorn flatmate. On the tour, she visits amazing places, cements life long friendships with her ‘bus buddies’, and ends up bumping into her teen pen pal, Jean Luc, in Paris. And he’s no longer that cute, gawky teen whose features haven’t quite grown into adulthood at the same time. No. Now he is all kinds of hot, good looking – like model good looking, tall, with a to die for physique… and he seems to actually ‘like’ like Cat. I don’t want to tell you what happens, but wills he be able to stick to her ‘no relationships’ stance, or will a holiday fling be enough? And what about that flatmate? Book three – I am diving in, right now!!
Having devoured the first two books in Sandy’ Barker’s series, I was eager to get to this concluding title to see what happened. And I wasn’t disappointed. Sarah went on a trip to the Greek islands, sworn off men, and ended up coming home with the possibility of two relationships at the end of the first book. In this third episode detailing the lusts, losses and loves of Sarah, along with plenty of wine and alcohol, we hoped to come to some conclusion. And it didn’t disappoint! Sandy Barker has a great way of describing the places visited, so you feel as if you are there with the characters, so I feel like I can say I’ve visited Maui, Sydney and parts of New Zealand! Aside from the travel, the ‘who will she choose?’ scenario kept me on my toes the whole book. Would it be cute, young American dude, Josh, or older, more experienced, extremely attractive, and rather rich, James? Of course, I’m not going to tell you… you’ll have to get the book to find out!
Many thanks to NetGalley. Harper Collings and One More Chapter for an ARC, in exchange for an honest review. Releasing on 3rd July, 2020
Okay, so this is a definite ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, but I’m saving the review for the Blog Tour of which I’ll be a part.
This is my first Nicola Marsh book, and I had great fun delving into the very familiar world of India, Bollywood and cross-cultural East-West mixes. I loved the doses of masala as we saw met Shari, the MC, thrown into a duplicitous situation, where she had to pretend to be her best friend Amrita, to break up an arranged marriage engagement. What she didn’t count on, was hot Bollywood Dudes, stalkers, soothsayers, superstar opportunities and a new aunty who was eager to fatten her up and get her married off. A fun read full of vibrancy.
I thoroughly enjoyed Laura Jane Williams first foray into fiction, One Stop, and was excited to get the opportunity to read her second offering, The Love Square. A story about Love, of all sorts. Penny is a cancer survivor, burned by her last serious relationship. She is a business owner, with a thirst for success with her cafe, but a huge amount of family loyalty too. And most of all, she wants love. And it comes, from many directions, from her friends, her uncles and sister, and from three very different men. Caught in a love square, Penny has to make decisions that could hurt, but could equally give her the best future ever. I loved Penny. She’s a strong woman, who doesn’t actually know her own strength. Sometimes the need for approval of others overtakes the fact that she needs to be happy in herself, and love herself first. Her three choices: Francesco, the Italian chef with a passion for food to rival hers, and the promise of falling in friendship. Thomas, the happy go lucky playboy with a huge heart. Priyush, the mature, wave and sophisticated older man who is ready to offer a life of elegance and romance. I loved the story and the characters. An easy to read tale with a deeper meaning that the cover may let on. Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Finally finished The Sugar Queen of Emerson Pass and I LOVED it! Tess Thompson’s signature style of concentrating on a couple, within a group of close-knit friends, worked brilliantly, along with tying into the first book of the series The Schol Mistress Of Emerson Pass, even though it is set in a totally different timeline. And I was overjoyed to get all the connections to the Cliffside Bay residents too! A true story of second chance romance, with two childhood sweethearts torn apart in the midst of young love, and then thrown back together years later in very different circumstances, but in the same setting. The story tore at my heart, with loss and confusion, misplaced loyalties and rediscovered romance. Oh and the build-up to the next romance. Loved it, truly! Can’t wait for the next one, Tess. 💜
Love’s Child by Lizzie Chantree My rating: 4 of 5 stars I’m not sure what I was expecting with this first Lizzie Chantree novel, but it wasn’t the interesting twists within this delicious novel. David is the product of a loveless marriage, and left with his degenerate father, he learns, the hard way, how to get through life. In adulthood, he’s found a way to channel all the negativity into a project to benefit the community, and turned his bad experiences into something positive. Finally, life is going great, with his girlfriend Tilly, pregnant, and happy, then things start to go wrong. Love’s Child takes you on a journey of mysterious twists, exploring certain family dynamics, and ultimately, LOVE.
It’s no secret. Amanda Prowse is one of my favourite authors, and when she announced her novella, Mr Portobello’s Morning Paper, it sped its way onto my Kindle and raced to the top of my TBR pile. Her books always do. I’m not apologising! Mr Portobello’s Morning Paper was a beautifully crafted novella and it hit many notes for me for several reasons. Sophie is my age. Sophia is (was) a teacher. Like me. Disillusioned with the way teaching is going – been there, done that. Sophia loves books. Yup, me again. That’s where the similarities end. But the story. Oh, the story. Sophia leaves her job to open a book emporium filled with the old books from her parents’ house. She develops. friendship with the eighty-year-old Mr Portobello, who was the previous tenant of her shop. He pops in at 10 am every morning, on his way to get his morning paper, and slowly they build a relationship that leaves Sophia beginning to think long and hard about how she’s been living her life. Mr Portobello’s Morning Paper is a bittersweet story which will tug at your heartstrings.
Stigmas are something many of us have to live with, and there are different stigmas attached to different diasporas. Chaya is a Sri Lankan girl trusted to leave her family and study in the far away, yet prestigious university of Oxford. Love is the last thing on her mind, or shouldn’t be. Gimhana is another Sri Lankan displaced in the UK. He’s hoping to get his qualifications and become that successful lawyer, as well as be able to be the real himself – a self that loves men, not women. In a clever way, Jeevani Charika weaves chapters laying foundations and dripping clues as to what the past knew that hindered the progression of both individuals. Fast forward to a time where both are being hounded by their families to get married. In a strange twist of fate, they meet, and end up in a marriage of convenience, for them both. No expectations from each other, a friendship, and no secrets… but are there? I really enjoyed reading this story, especially as a fellow South Asian, and knowing so many of these expectations that are hung around our necks as youngsters, weights that can hinder rather than help our lives. There is a shift now, in the way many of the issues raised are thought of now, but not big enough. An enjoyable read, and a cultural education for many, I believe.
Having read Tetting’s story about Zora, and loving it, I was happy to pick up her book, The Opposite of Huw. A quick read with an interesting premise, but I do feel it was rushed. The whole idea of the spreading of the main character’s aunt’s ashes in key places could have been stretched more, and though I liked the main character, Kay, and her feisty nature, the idea of her aunt just forcing marriage upon her, was unrealistic in the setting.
But I Smile Anyway... 