Aristotle for Novelists by Douglas Vigliotti - #Question2 #readalong #blogtour

 

Welcome to Question Two of our Readalong of Aristotle to Novelists by Douglas Vigliotti.

Q Do you prefer comedy or tragedy?

A  What a great question. It depends on my mood a little and what I fancy reading at the time. Overall, I would say I prefer comedy. I like a novel that is full of hope and has a nice satisfying ending.

On the other hand I have read some really excellent tragedies. I recently read Silent Riders of the Sea by John Gerard Fagan. This is a good example of a tragedy which was excellent to read but was bleak and brutal. 

A Girls Guide to Winning the War by Annie Lyons - #bookreview

"Got yer nose in another book, 'ave yer?'

Peggy Sparks looked up from the page in front of her into the disapproving face of Elsie Cooper, who had just boarded the busy morning train and was making a beeline for her. Peggy had known Mrs Cooper all her life and couldn't remember ever seeing her smile or laugh, or do anything except look perpetually disappointed with the world...

***

The Blurb

Can two young women and one book change the course of war?

1940. Whip-smart librarian Peggy Sparks is determined to make sure that her brother Joe returns from the frontline to their London home, which they share with their beloved mother and grandmother. So when she is offered a once-in-a-lifetime job at the heart of the war effort, Peggy jumps at the prospect of making a real contribution to her country.

But when she finds herself working under the fanciful socialite Lady Marigold Cecily, Peggy discovers that those around her are more keen on dancing at the Café de Paris than on ending the war. Writing accounts of her daily life is the only thing keeping Peggy's hopes alive. But when she finds her inner-most thoughts accidentally published by the Ministry of Information, Peggy realises she needs Marigold's help to save her job, and to bring her brother home . . .

My Review

This is a thoroughly enjoyable novel set during World War II. 

The main character is a young woman called Peggy Sparks. Her brother, Joe is away fighting in the war and she lives in a household with her mother, grandmother, sister-in-law and her niece and nephew, Nancy and Charlie. When Peggy is offered at job in the Ministry of Information she leaps at the opportunity to do something that will help bring Joe home. She might live in a very female environment but she soon learns that at work, she is in very patriarchal territory.

The characterisation in this book is superb and I utterly believed in these characters. Peggy was a very strong character and she was easy to identify with. There were also some other excellent characters in this book. Marigold, who works with Peggy brought some humour to the book at times and I loved Peggy's grandmother, Alice; a very strong and single-minded woman indeed.

The author has done a fantastic job of portraying the time and place in which the book is set. The atmosphere of London during the war comes over well and I felt immersed in it.

What struck me most in this book is the spirit of hope that these stalwart Londoners possessed. Even in times of despair, they still remained hopeful. This came alive on the page and the author did an excellent job. She is clearly a very skilled storyteller and I cannot wait to read more of her work.

The book is being released in paperback today and I highly recommend you get hold of a copy of this marvellous book.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1035401116

Publisher:  Headline Review

Formats:  e-book, audio, hardback and paperback

No. of Pages:  400 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the Author

Having realised early on that books are pretty much the best things in life, Annie has been lucky enough to spend her entire career working with them. Her first job after leaving university was as a bookseller in a bookshop on Charing Cross Road, London and then she worked for eleven years in publishing. Following redundancy in 2009 she was thrown into the world of stay-at-home motherhood. Realising that her brain was starting to fester like an old potato in the bottom of the vegetable tray, she enrolled on a creative writing course and decided to try and write her first novel. It took her two years to finish it and another two to get her first publishing deal. In July 2013 Not Quite Perfect was published and she enjoyed a rather exciting summer as it reached number one in the Kindle bestsellers.

She has since written seven other novels including the USA Today bestseller, The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett. She loves to write about characters with whom readers can make a real connection and about subjects we can all relate to – parenthood, love, families, grief, friendship, music, laughter. Annie wants to carry readers along in a story which makes them laugh and shed the odd tear but which ultimately leaves them feeling uplifted and hopeful. It’s quite honestly the best job in the world.

You can also find Annie at:

Website

Twitter / X

Facebook

Instagram

BlueSky

(book courtesy of the publisher)

(author media courtesy of the author)

(all opinions are my own)

(bookshop.org afilliated)

 

Aristotle for Novelists by Douglas Vigliotti - #blogtour #readalong #Question1

 

Welcome to Question One of our Readalong of Aristotle to Novelists by Douglas Vigliotti.

Q Do you prefer stone-cold serious or humour and casual writing in a non-fiction work?

A I think it very much depends upon the subject matter of the book. There are many non-fiction subjects whereby it would be highly inappropriate to write in anything but a serious manner. 

However, I also think there are certain books to which a little humour can make a dry subject more accessible and helps the brain to store the knowledge.

What do you think?

Dark Times for the Clarks Factory Girls by May Ellis - #blogtour #bookreview

 

"What are you thinking, Louisa? You can't wear that for church. Go and put your Sunday dress on," her mother ordered...

***

The Blurb

1916: As fighting in Europe continues, the Clarks Factory Girls find themselves caught in a divided community...

With the country in the grips of conscription, the pacifism at the heart of Street village comes under scrutiny, and when Kate befriends Gerald, a young Quaker arrested for refusing to fight, she starts to understand the true dilemma the community finds itself in.

Still grieving the loss of her sweetheart Mattie, Louisa finds herself at odds with her parents, who refused them the chance to marry. As her mother’s attempts to find Louisa a husband show no signs of abating, Louisa takes solace in her friendship with Jeannie’s brother Lucas, but could an unexpected opportunity offer a solution to both their problems?

Meanwhile, Jeannie finds herself torn between her heart and her faith. With each other’s help, can the girls hold true to what they believe in, even as the village enters its darkest days yet?

My Review

This is the third book in the Clark's Factory Girls series. I have previously read the other two books in the series, The Clark's Factory Girls at War and Courage for the Clark's Factory Girls both of which I enjoyed immensely.

I was delighted to be able to spend more time with the three main characters of this book, best friends Kate, Jeannie and Louisa. The book picks up where the previous book left off with the stand off between Louisa and her parents. Having said that, this book works well as a standalone novel by explaining the background if you have not read the previous books.

The strongest theme that runs through all of these books is the strong bond of friendship that the three women have. Each of them are different but it is easy to identify with aspects of all three of them. In their own ways they each demonstrate courage and the conviction of their beliefs. 

Set during the First World War, we as readers have the benefit of hindsight that the characters do not. We are aware of when the war will end but, of course, the characters do not and it was easy to understand how they must have felt like the war had been going on for such a long time, living in fear of friends and loved ones who are away fighting on the front. The author depicts the time period extremely well and portrays the stresses and strains on people of the time.

This is an excellent book and series in the historical saga genre and I highly recommend it.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1835330395

Publisher:  Boldwood Books

Formats:  e-book, audio, and hardback (currently available on Kindle Unlimited)

No. of Pages:  288 (hardback)

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Waterstones

Blackwell's

About the Author

May Ellis has been a legal executive, registered childminder, professional fund–raiser and a teacher. She has travelled the world, including trekking in mountains, deserts and the Great Wall of China, as well as helping build a house in Thailand. 

She went to university in her forties and gained a first class degree and an MA while still working full – time. Her first book, a contemporary romance, was published in 2014. Since then she has had five more novels published, including another romance and a YA time travel adventure. The last three are gritty dramas set in the 1960s/70s published by Darkstroke Books. 

She lives in Somerset, within sight of Glastonbury Tor, volunteering at her local library and for the Alfred Gillett Trust (custodians of the Clark’s archives). Her current series, based on the factory workers at Clark’s Shoes was inspired by her move to the area and her love of social history.

 

(ARC and media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)

(all opinions are my own)

​

Ace, Marvel, Spy: A Novel of Alice Marble by Jenni L. Walsh - #bookreview

 

With a sigh, Alice lowers the newspaper. She knew the war was coming. Hadn't he - she won't think his name and drudge up all those memories - predicted it? But now to see the state of the world so clearly in black and white... it takes the wind out of Alice, while also igniting a fire inside of her...

***

The Blurb

Trailblazer, superstar, activist, and spy: Alice Marble is a true American icon.

Alice strives to have it all. At seventeen, Alice Marble has no formal tennis skills and no coach. What she does have is an ability to hit the ball as hard as she can and a strong desire to prove herself. With steadfast determination and one sacrifice after another, Alice plays her heart out on the courts of the rich and famous, at national tournaments, and—the greatest of them all—at Wimbledon, rising to be one of the top-ranked players in the world.

But then her world falls apart. With the outbreak of war with Germany, Alice’s tennis career and life come to a screeching halt, and for the first time, she is forced to confront who she is without tennis. As she seeks to understand her new place in the world and how she can aid in the war efforts, a telegram arrives with devastating news from overseas. Heartbroken and lost, she feels like she can only watch as the war wreaks havoc in every area of her life.

Until an unexpected invitation arrives. Alice is given the chance to fight back when the US Army sends her a request: Under the guise of playing in tennis exhibition games in Switzerland, she would be a spy for them. Alice aches for nothing more than to avenge what the war has taken from her and to prove herself against this new opponent. But what awaits her might be her greatest challenge yet.

From her start as a promising athlete with worn-out shoes to her status as a glamorous international star, Alice Marble’s determination to control her own life and destiny fuels a story of achievement, discipline, loss, and love.

Jenni L. Walsh’s Ace, Marvel, Spy brilliantly showcases the life of Alice Marble, a real-life tennis sensation known for her extraordinary talent and indomitable spirit. This fast-paced and action-packed historical novel spans multiple international settings and is enhanced by discussion questions that prompt readers to reflect on Alice’s challenges and triumphs, making it an ideal choice for book clubs.

My Review

This is a fascinating novel based on the life of the tennis player, Alice Marble.

I must confess that Alice Marble was completely unknown to me until I read about her in this book. I am so very glad that I was able to read about her as she was a fascinating woman who overcame much adversity in her ambition.

The narrative is divided into two different time periods which are headed as 'Now' and 'Then.' It was extremely easy to move from one time to the other, and the author has made this seamless. I was very interested to learn about this woman who hadn't even picked up a tennis racquet until she was 15 but had the ambition and determination to go on to become one of the top ranking tennis players in the world. Equally, it was her strength of character that enabled her to later be willing to risk her life by working as a spy.

Without doubt, she was a fascinating woman who passed away in 1990. Her legacy is a great one; not just for her tennis but for the bravery and courage that she faced life with. The author depicts the highs and lows of Alice's life, demonstrating how her strength of character helped her to face the love and losses of her life. 

This is an extremely well written book; a novel based on fact which has the ability to draw the reader in. Personally, I am not a big sports fan but I very much enjoyed this novel about the strong and remarkable woman who was Alice Marble.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1400246748

Publisher:  Harper Muse

Formats: e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages:  336 (paperback)

Pre-Order Links

Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Blackwell's

About the Author

Jenni L. Walsh is a USA Today bestselling author of over twelve books. Her passion lies in transporting readers to another world, be it in historical or contemporary settings. She is a proud member of the Tall Poppy writers, a graduate of Villanova University, and lives in the Philadelphia suburbs with her husband, daughter, son, and various pets.

For adults, Jenni has written historical novels Becoming Bonnie, Side by Side, A Betting Woman, The Call of the Wrens, Unsinkable, and the forthcoming Ace, Marvel, Spy. She also writes books for children, including the nonfiction She Dared series and novels Hettie and the London Blitz, I Am Defiance, By the Light of Fireflies, Over and Out, Operation: Happy, and The Bug Bandits. 

You can also find Jenni at 

Website

Facebook

Instagram

(ARC courtesy of the publisher)

(media courtesy of the author's website)

(all opinions are my own)

(bookshop.org afilliated)

Aristotle for Novelists by Douglas Vigliotti - #readalong

 

I am delighted to introduce this book today. Aristotle for Novelists: 14 Timeless Principles on the Art of Story by Douglas Vigliotti is coming up as a read along here on the blog.

This is perfect reading for all those budding writers amongst us and I am really looking forward to reading this book and sharing my thoughts/hearing your views on the questions posed over the next four weeks.

I really hope that you will join me in reading this.

Thank you to Love Books Tours for this fantastic package of goodies to accompany the book.

The Paris Chapter by Victoria Walters - #bookreview

 I weaved through the passengers, my suitcase squeaking as I walked towards the waiting Eurostar train, wondering why I had let my best friend Carly talk me into this...

***

The Blurb

Can the city of love mend a broken heart?

Romance author Tessa Elliot has writer's block, and worse - she isn’t sure she still believes in love. To heal her broken heart, she decides to go on the romantic break in Paris she’d booked before her world fell apart.

But when she arrives at the Airbnb, Tessa is stunned to find someone is already there. Her ex’s best friend Ethan has made himself at home, being told that the place would be empty.

As it’s Paris Fashion Week, and with no other options, they agree to share the apartment. Neither will be in the place much after all, with Ethan taking a cookery course and Tessa on a hard deadline to finish her novel.

But sharing close nights in a one bed apartment, there’s an undeniable pull towards one another.

Will Tessa be able open her heart, and her laptop, ever again?

My Review

Whilst this isn't my first review of the year it was my first completed read. This was a lovely book to kickstart my reading year. It was light-hearted but also had something important to say.

The main character, Tessa is a best-selling romance author. She loves writing but when she realises her boyfriend Joe has been cheating on her, she finds it hard to believe in love anymore. Quite the dilemma for a romance writer who consequently has writers block. She even considers returning the advance that she received from her publishers who are waiting for her next novel but she has had to spend it on a deposit on a flat now that she is no longer living with Joe. She hopes that a trip to Paris might inspire her but upon her arrival at the apartment that she rents she discovered Joe's best friend, Ethan, has already taken up residence.

The chemistry between Tessa and Ethan was extremely well executed. I could feel their attraction, as well as their doubts and fears, oozing from the pages. Both of them are scared of getting into another relationship, particularly with each other after the mess that has been left behind by Joe.

It was impossible to read this and not hope for them to overcome their doubts and get together somehow. There is a real 'will they/won't they' vibe running throughout the whole book, and I found myself reading faster as I really wanted to know the outcome.

However, the message running throughout this book is one of self-acceptance. We need to love ourselves regardless of other people before we can move forward in life. I thought the author conveyed this message very well in this novel.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a contemporary romance novel based in a beautiful setting. Paris is an important element of this story and is almost a character in itself. 

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1835189702

Publisher:  Boldwood Books

Formats:  e-book, audio, hardback and paperback

No. of Pages:  296 (paperback)

Pre-order Links (releasing on 19th January 2025)

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Waterstones

Blackwell's

About the Author

Victoria Walters is a full-time author living in Surrey. Victoria writes sweet and spicy rom coms including the BookTok viral hits THE LOVE INTEREST and THE PLOT TWIST. She used to work in publishing and a bookshop, and has been a bookworm since childhood.

Victoria is also the author of the bestselling uplifting and romantic series GLENDALE HALL and the cosy crime series THE DEDLEY END MYSTERIES.

You can also find Victoria at:

Website

Blog

Instagram

Twitter / X

Face Book

Tik Tok

(ARC courtesy of Boldwood Books and Net Galley)

(media courtesy of the author's website)

(all opinions are my own)