Prospects by Kate Wilson - #bookreview #blogtour

 

The brunchers sit at sun drenched tables, measuring out their lives in green juices and matcha lattes, ordering egg white omelettes with half an avocado on the side. "Is this a California avocado?"

***

Arriving in Los Angeles intent on helping an unwell friend, our narrator contemplates the powerful magnetism of California. Like the gold-diggers, the health-seekers and the movie moguls before her, she had come to the state as a young woman to seek her fortune in ‘the industry’, but her dreams were not fulfilled.

What had become of the men who did not strike gold, those who could not be cured of their ailments, the ones who did not find fame? Where are the failures? Where are the women like her?

Before leaving London, her brother had said, “Most people would give an arm or a leg for a month in LA to revisit their youth. You are willing to give a kidney.”

Perhaps he was right. There are no heroes.

***

This book is set in Los Angeles, and the place is every bit as important as the plot or characters.

It is a thought provoking novel which poses some interesting questions, and considers some challenging themes. For example, what happens to those whose dreams have led them to LA and have then failed in their realisation?

The narrator, who is referred to as She throughout the book, highlights the realities of chasing her dreams as a young woman seeking to find fame in the film industry in Los Angeles. The book follows her experiences as she realises that her dreams will not be fulfilled. 

The book also has much to say on the #MeToo movement, as the narrator tells the reader of the sexual harrassment she has endured in trying to succeed in the film industry. 

The time span in the book moves between the past and the present. We find the narrator in the present day back in Los Angeles as a kidney donor. This process unleashes further complications and challenges that the narrator has to face.

It has been well written and is concise at just over 200 pages. It may be short novel but has much to recommend it.

ISBN: 978 1788648899

Publisher:  Cinnamon Press

Formats:  e-book and paperback

No. of Pages:  214 (paperback)

About the Author:

Kate Wilson is a writer and activist, and Prospects is her first novel.  

She has worked in the film industry for more than 25 years and is a co-founder of the Call It! which enables film and TV industry workers to report incidents of harassment, bullying and abuse to executives or senior producers on their sets. Bosses receive an anonymised, top-level overview of what happened.

She lives in London with her daughters. 

(book and media courtesy of Read Maxwell Communications)

Borrowed Memories by Mark Foss - #bookreview

 

When I pulled up to the cottage, my father is standing outside the main garage, jamming a steel rod into a metal pipe like he's priming a cannon. It's his latest attempt to build a pole for his air force flag...

***

In the midst of the Arab Spring's upheaval, Borrowed Memories unravels a tale of shifting identities and the profound impact of memory. Meet Ivan Pyefinch, a freelance translator seeking solace in the Thousand Islands as he tends to his aging parents, Horace and Aida. Horace, a former World War II pilot, fights to reclaim his driver's license, while Aida grapples with the relentless advance of Alzheimer's. Their borrowed time is both a burden and a gift, and Ivan is determined to make the most of it.

Enter Mia Hakim, an immigrant filmmaker from Quebec with a penchant for other people's memories and an unyielding quest for her Sephardic roots. When she seeks Ivan's help in translating her scenario for a research trip to Tunisia, the collision of their worlds becomes inevitable. As Mia unexpectedly arrives at the Pyefinch home on the eve of Remembrance Day, a family health crisis sets in motion a profound narrative that explores the intricacies of love, loss, and the perennial search for identity.

***

Let me start off by saying how much I really enjoyed this book. It is the story of Ivan, a middle aged man, and his coming to terms with the ageing of his parents, Horace and Aida.

Aida's health is deteriorating as she has Alzeimer's. Horace, who is totally self obsessed, is not without his health challenges either. Through Ivan, the book asks the question as to how much are adults responsible for the care of their failing parents? Should that care take precedence over their own lives?

I lost both of my parents some years ago, and so I was readily able to identify with Ivan. He is an interesting character. He has just come out of a failed relationship, and his work as a translator enables him to spend this level of time with his parents. 

Through his eyes we observe his relationship with Horace and Aida and their relationship with one another. Ivan recognises that Horace is not giving his wife the care that she needs, but Horace is insistent that he can look after her himself. I could not help but wonder in how many families that this scenario is playing out. I think it's relatablility elevates this book to another level.

I was mesmerised by this trio of characters and their situation. When Mia, who Ivan is doing some translation work for, enters the picture it adds another dynamic to the household. Her presence opens the readers eyes to how neglected Aida has been. Mia steps in and provides her with some of the care that has been absent.

Mia is an immigrant film maker, and through her we hear of her exile. In many ways, Ivan is an exile in his own life. He doesn't quite belong anywhere. The book considers identity and belonging and the part that memories have to play in that.

I thought this was a fabulous book. It is a short novel at 228 pages. The fact that Mr. Foss was able to convey such feeling and emotion in so few words demonstrates great writing skill. I was really moved by this book.

I highly recommend this to anyone who likes a slower paced literary novel.

 

ISBN: 978 1926716787

Publisher: 8th House Publishing

Formats:  Paperback

No. of Pages:  228 (paperback)

About the Author:

Mark Foss is the author of the novels Molly 0 and Spoilers, as well as the short-story collection Kissing the Damned. His fiction and creative nonfiction have also appeared in print and online literary journals, including The Fiddlehead, The New Quarterly, subTerrain, Numéro Cinq, carte blanche, and Montréal Serai. A radio drama, Higher Ground, was broadcast on CBC. He lives in Montreal.

(book courtesy of the publicist)

(all author media courtesy of the author's website)

The Agincourt King by Mercedes Rochelle - #bookspotlight #blogtour

 

I am excited to be shining the spotlight on The Agincourt King by Mercedes Rochelle. This is the fifth book of the Plantagenet Legacy series. 

The Blurb

From the day he was crowned, Henry V was determined to prove the legitimacy of his house. His father's usurpation weighed heavily on his mind. Only a grand gesture would capture the respect of his own countrymen and the rest of Europe. He would follow in his great-grandfather Edward III's footsteps, and recover lost territory in France.

Better yet, why not go for the crown? Poor, deranged Charles VI couldn't manage his own barons. The civil war between the Burgundians and Armagnacs was more of a threat to his country than the English, even after Henry laid siege to Harfleur. But once Harfleur had fallen, the French came to their senses and determined to block his path to Calais and destroy him.

By the time the English reached Agincourt, they were starving, exhausted, and easy pickings. Or so the French thought. Little did they reckon on Henry's leadership and the stout-hearted English archers who proved, once again, that numbers didn't matter when God was on their side.

ISBN:  978 1734797480

Publisher:  Sergeant Press

Formats:  e-book and paperback (currently available on Kindle Unlimited)

About the Author:

Mercedes Rochelle is an ardent lover of medieval history, and has channeled this interest into fiction writing. Her first four books cover eleventh-century Britain and events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. The next series is called “The Plantagenet Legacy” and begins with the reign of Richard II. 

She also writes a blog: www.HistoricalBritainBlog.com to explore the history behind the story. Born in St. Louis, MO, she received by BA in Literature at the Univ. of Missouri St.Louis in 1979 then moved to New York in 1982 while in her mid-20s to "see the world". The search hasn't ended!

Today she lives in Sergeantsville, NJ with her husband in a log home they had built themselves.

(all media courtesy of The Coffee Pot Book Club)

(all opinions are my own)

The Lost Queen by Carol McGraph - #bookreview #blogtour

During Advent and the Christmas season, into the Feasts of Epiphany and Candlemas, Berengaria of Navarre crosses the Alps.

She is accompanied by her mother-in-law to be: iron-jawed Eleanor of Aquitaine...

***

1191 and the Third Crusade is underway . . .

It is 1191 and King Richard the Lionheart is on crusade to pitch battle against Saladin and liberate the city of Jerusalem and her lands. His mother, the formidable Eleanor of Aquitaine and his promised bride, Princess Berengaria of Navarre, make a perilous journey over the Alps in midwinter. They are to rendezvous with Richard in the Sicilian port of Messina.

There are hazards along the way - vicious assassins, marauding pirates, violent storms and a shipwreck. Berengaria is as feisty as her foes and, surviving it all, she and Richard marry in Cyprus. England needs an heir. But first, Richard and his Queen must return home . . .

The Lost Queen is a thrilling medieval story of high adventure, survival, friendship and the enduring love of a Queen for her King.

***

Today I am back with the book review that I should have posted for the blog tour on Friday. I had a horrid flu bug, and although my throat is still somewhat sore, I am feeling a little better, although not quite myself yet. Certainly sufficiently better to bring you my review of The Lost Queen as promised.

This was an enjoyable historical fiction book set in 1191 during the reign of King Richard the Lionheart. I like the way this author writes. In fact, this is not the first of her books that I have read. I read The Woman in the Shadows back in 2018, although the title has since been changed to Mistress Cromwell. If you would like to read my review of this book you can find it here.

The author brings both the story and the characters to life extremely well. I really enjoyed learning about the character of Berengaria of Navarre, the wife of King Richard I. She has passed through popular history with little note and it was great to get to know more about her. She was a strong and resilient woman who showed great courage.

The novel was clearly well researched and the author used enough detail to create a realistic feeling Medieval period. There were a few surprises along the way and the novel had a dramatic feel. Any fans of historical fiction, particularly the Medieval period will love this novel.

ISBN: 978 1472297372

Publisher:  Headline Accent

Formats:  e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages:  336 (paperback)

About the Author:

Following a first degree in English and History, Carol McGrath completed an MA in Creative Writing from The Seamus Heaney Centre, Queens University Belfast, followed by an MPhil in English from University of London. The Handfasted Wife, first in a trilogy about the royal women of 1066 was shortlisted for the RoNAS in 2014. The Swan-Daughter and The Betrothed Sister complete this highly acclaimed trilogy. Mistress Cromwell, a best-selling historical novel about Elizabeth Cromwell, wife of Henry VIII’s statesman, Thomas Cromwell, was republished by Headline in 2020. The Silken Rose, first in a medieval She-Wolf Queens Trilogy, featuring Ailenor of Provence, saw publication in April 2020. This was followed by The Damask Rose. The Stone Rose was published April 2022. Carol is writing Historical non-fiction as well as fiction. Sex and Sexuality in Tudor England was published in February 2022. The Stolen Crown 2023 and The Lost Queen will be published 18th July 2024. Carol lives in Oxfordshire, England and in Greece. 

(e-book and media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)

(all opinions are my own)

The Lost Queen by Carol McGraph - #bookreview #blogtour

 

fafds

***

1191 and the Third Crusade is underway . . .

It is 1191 and King Richard the Lionheart is on crusade to pitch battle against Saladin and liberate the city of Jerusalem and her lands. His mother, the formidable Eleanor of Aquitaine and his promised bride, Princess Berengaria of Navarre, make a perilous journey over the Alps in midwinter. They are to rendezvous with Richard in the Sicilian port of Messina.

There are hazards along the way - vicious assassins, marauding pirates, violent storms and a shipwreck. Berengaria is as feisty as her foes and, surviving it all, she and Richard marry in Cyprus. England needs an heir. But first, Richard and his Queen must return home . . .

The Lost Queen is a thrilling medieval story of high adventure, survival, friendship and the enduring love of a Queen for her King.

***

I want to apologise that this review is not going to be up to my usual standard. I have a flu bug and am feeling really dreadful. Today is my turn on the blog tour and I really have not been up to writing a review during the last few days. I hate to let the author, and the tour organiser down but I'm afraid needs must.

Suffice to say this was a good book and it was interesting to read about this little known queen. I will be back with a longer review when I am feeling better.

ISBN: 978 1472297372

Publisher:  Headline Accent

Formats:  e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages:  336 (paperback)

About the Author:

Following a first degree in English and History, Carol McGrath completed an MA in Creative Writing from The Seamus Heaney Centre, Queens University Belfast, followed by an MPhil in English from University of London. The Handfasted Wife, first in a trilogy about the royal women of 1066 was shortlisted for the RoNAS in 2014. The Swan-Daughter and The Betrothed Sister complete this highly acclaimed trilogy. Mistress Cromwell, a best-selling historical novel about Elizabeth Cromwell, wife of Henry VIII’s statesman, Thomas Cromwell, was republished by Headline in 2020. The Silken Rose, first in a medieval She-Wolf Queens Trilogy, featuring Ailenor of Provence, saw publication in April 2020. This was followed by The Damask Rose. The Stone Rose was published April 2022. Carol is writing Historical non-fiction as well as fiction. Sex and Sexuality in Tudor England was published in February 2022. The Stolen Crown 2023 and The Lost Queen will be published 18th July 2024. Carol lives in Oxfordshire, England and in Greece. 

(e-book and media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)

(all opinions are my own)

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams - #bookreview

 

The doors are new: automatic open. Fancy. That has changed since Aidan was here last. The first thing he notices are the sparse rows of books - when he'd been younger, smaller, the shelves seemed to never end, teeming with books of all shapes and sizes...

***

A faded list.

Nine favourite stories.

For two strangers, friendship is only a page away . . .

When Mukesh Patel pops to the local library, forgoing his routine of grocery shopping and David Attenborough documentaries, he has no idea his life’s about to change.

He meets Aleisha, a reluctant librarian and the keeper of a curious reading list – just a scrappy piece of paper with the names of 9 stories. It doesn’t seem anything special. Yet something tells her to keep it close . . .

Story by story, Mukesh and Aleisha work their way through the list – their worries slipping away with every encounter, with every world discovered in their unlikely book club of two.

A fresh chance at life, at friendship, wasn’t on the cards for these lonely souls – but every story starts somewhere . . .

***

This is the perfect book for book lovers, and I enjoyed every word.

It is about the unlikely friendship between the two main characters, Mukesh an elderly man who is recently widowed, and Aleisha a teenager who reluctantly works at the library. It is also about how these two very different people discover themselves and their love of books. When Aleisha discovers a faded list of books tucked away inside one of the library books, she works her way through it and encourages Mukesh to do the same.

The chapters are told from the perspectives of both Mukesh and Aleisha. Both are lonely in their different ways. They are in need of healing and the author does a fantastic job in demonstrating how books can be the conduit to do so.

The entire novel is a love letter to books, reading and libraries. It is a heartwarming novel that demonstrates how books can bring people together, bridge the generational divide and heal us. 

This is a wonderful book, and although it has it's moments of sadness, it is ultimately uplifting and hopeful. It has been beautifully written and I highly recommend it.

ISBN: 978 0008391362

Publisher:  Harper Collins

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

No. of Pages:  432

About the Author:

Sara Nisha Adams is a writer and editor. She lives in London and was born in Hertfordshire to Indian and English parents.  The Reading List was her first novel. The Twilight Garden is her most recent novel.

(all opinions are my own)

(author media courtesy of the publisher)

Under a Cloud by Luv Lubker - #excerpt #extract #blogtour

 

Today I am bringing you an exerpt from Under a Cloud by Luv Lubker, as part of the blog tour. It is the second part in the Rival Courts series. 

But first... a little about the book. Happy reading!

The Blurb

Vicky's father, Albert, the Prince Consort, has just died, leaving her and her family under a heavy cloud of grief, without their dearest friend and advisor, at a most critical time: The political horizon grows dark with storm clouds at the entry of Bismarck to Germany's political stage in 1862.

Will Fritz's courage stand the test as he confronts the spider in its web? Is Prussia really fighting for the rights of the Schleswig people, or is so much blood being shed for the sake of Prussia's aggrandizement?

Join Vicky and Fritz on their journeys under the blue cloudless skies of the Mediterranean to the peaceful heather-clad hills of the Highlands of Scotland; to the burning heat of the North African desert to the raging blizzards of a winter war in Denmark.

When Vicky's closest friend disappears, will she be able to keep the secret? Will old enemies prove to be friends, and old friends prove to be enemies?

ISBN: 978 1962465434

Publisher:  Historium Press

Formats:  e-book, hardback and paperback

No. of Pages:  318 (paperback)

The Excerpt

“Meine Herren,” Fritz began, his voice shaking slightly, “Winter, I thank you for welcoming me and my wife here.” He paused, taking another deep breath, his voice growing steadier as he went on. “I, too, was deeply astonished and grieved at the news of the Press rescript. It occurred after my departure from Berlin, as did the appointment of my Royal uncle, Prince Karl, as Statthalter. I certainly have had nothing to do with the Press rescript, and would never have left Berlin if I knew a Regency was in question. I have not refused the position; I did not know that these particular actions were in contemplation.”

He paused, gazing out at the crowd. There had been moments of applause, but he hadn’t paused for them. Vicky sensed that he felt he needed to speak his mind fully, before pausing and possibly losing his nerve.

“This is all the doing of Prince Karl, and of Bismarck!” he called. The crowd hissed, and cheered as he went on, “I will do what I can to uphold the people’s rights, and to bring Germany together through moral conquests.”

Vicky saw that he went on; his mouth moved in speech, but the cheers were deafening this time.

“I deplore this conflict within my country, but I must urge everyone to trust the generous intentions of our King, my Royal father, for he, too, truly intends to foster the right and the good for the country, though he often accepts false advice.”

Fritz nodded, shaking Winter’s hand again, and returned to his seat at Vicky’s side.

Winter returned to the dais, smiling and bowing to them again. “I must thank your Royal Highnesses for gracing our hall with your presence. Three cheers for the Crown Prince!”

The crowd rose, cheering loudly.

“And three for the Crown Princess!”

The cheers were repeated.

“And three for our King!”

The cheers were repeated again, but half-heartedly, with several hisses as well.

“And three for the well-being of our country!”

The crowd rose again, cheering wildly.  

Vicky heard cries of “Hoch lebe der Kronprinz!”, “King Friedrich!” and “Down with Bismarck!”

About the Author:

Luv Lubker has lived in the Victorian era half her life, making friends with the Brontë sisters and the extended family of Queen Victoria. Now she knows them quite as well as her own family.

Born in a cattle trough in the Appalachian mountains, Luv lives in Texas – when she comes to the modern world.

When she isn't living in the Victorian era, she enjoys being with her family; making and eating delicious raw food, riding her bike (which she only learned to ride at 25, though she has ridden a unicycle since she was 7), and watching animals – the passion of her childhood.

(all media courtesy of The Coffee Pot Book Club)

(all opinions are my own)