Caring Conservationists Who Are Changing Our Planet by Kate Peridot & Illustrated by Sarah Long - #BookReview #Blogtour

 

Step into nature and look around you. Hundreds of creatures are going about their day: digging, building, hunting and harvesting. Our planet is home to around 8.7 million species of animals and plants and each is unique, extraordinary and important.

Sadly, many wild animals, plants and their habitats are disappearing, from the mammals in the forests to the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, even once plentiful insects. Today over one-million animal and plant species are at risk of extinction and we, humans, are the main cause... But there is still hope and we can all help make a BIG difference.

***

Travel around the world and discover the stories of 20 conservationists and the endangered animals they are helping to save, including the orangutang, blue whale, Indian tiger, rhino, honeybee, Komodo dragon and sea turtle. Positive, uplifting and packed full of information, with 20 fun activities for children to try, this book will show children no one is too small to make a difference. 

***

This is a lovely book aimed at primary school aged children. It is full of information and beautifully illustrated.

Each page is dedicated to an individual conservationist, both living and dead, young and old, and includes a section on 'how to be a wildlife champion." Each page includes activity ideas for children to investigate and suggests ways in which children can care for wildlife in their own geographical area.

Although the book covers conservationists from across the world, its chief message is that everyone can make a difference, even in a small way - from building bee hotels to putting a bell on the collar of a pet cat. The book is full of examples on how to protect wildlife.

I think children will enjoy reading this book for themselves as well as sharing it with an adult. I could also envisage that it could be a useful teaching aid. All school libraries would benefit from having a copy of this inspirational book on their shelves.

ISBN: 978 1529506150

Publisher:  Walker Books

Formats:  Hardback

No. of Pages:  48

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About the Author:

Kate is an author of both fiction and non-fiction children’s books. Originally from London, she now lives with her family in the South of France. She writes wild and adventurous stories about animals, people and STEM that encourages a can-do spirit, a quest for knowledge and a sense of adventure. 

Caring Conservationists (Walker Books) is her first non-fiction children’s books. A further nine books are in production launching between 2023-2025. Find out more about Kate and her books at https://kateperidot.com/ .

About the Illustrator:

Sarah graduated with her illustration degree from Cambridge School of Art in 2004 and headed off into the sunset. Not really. She needed to get a paid job.

She started off her career at Caroline Gardner before moving into giftware, where she designed bags, ceramics and textiles from initial concept to final product. This also involved working with licensors designing products for The Beatles and Moomin.

When she’s not happily illustrating or starting a new interiors project, you can find her encouraging her children to colour outside the lines or having a mini rave in the kitchen to songs that are probably aimed at a much cooler/younger age bracket.

(book, photo and bio info from the blog tour organiser)

(illustrator photo and info from The Bright Agency)

Support Independent Bookshops - Buy from Bookshop.org *

*Disclosure: I only recommend books I would buy myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post contains an affiliate link from which I may earn a small commission.

Foxash by Kate Worsley - #BookReview

 

I thought he'd be here to meet me. I had it all crystal clear in my head. Letter said to come down twenty-eighth of January. Ticket was a single, same as his. Caught the ten-to-eight mainline, same as he had, three month back. I'd pictured him that day, arriving here about teatime, with the rest of the men from the Special Areas. Cold, hungry, tired, piling into an Association truck in a fog of white breath. All those nights since, I've conjured him up, stood here waiting on me. I'm not after a truck. Just my Tommy.

He's not written to say either way, of course. Not written once, bar that Christmas card. A robin, perched on the handle of a spade dug deep in snow. Crinkle edges. Greetings from the Association. And just Tommy, no love from, no news...

***

Worn out by poverty, Lettie Radley and her miner husband Tommy grasp at the offer of their very own smallholding - part of a Government scheme to put the unemployed back to work on the land. When she comes down to Essex to join him, it's not Tommy who greets her, but their new neighbours. Overbearing and unkempt, Jean and Adam Dell are everything that the smart, spirited, aspirational Lettie can't abide.

As Lettie settles in, she finds an unexpected joy in the rhythms of life on the smallholding. She's hopeful that her past, and the terrible secret Tommy has come to Foxash to escape, are far behind them. But the Dells have their own secrets. And as the seasons change, and a man comes knocking at the gate, the scene is set for a terrible reckoning.

Combining a gothic sensibility with a visceral, unsettling sense of place, Foxash is a deeply original novel of quiet and powerful menace, of the real hardships of rural life, and the myths and folklore that seep into ordinary lives - with surprising consequences.

***

Publishing today, Foxash is a remarkable novel which tells of a rural experiment during the 1930's in England.

From the very first page the author establishes a strong sense of voice with Lettie,  from whose perspective the narrative is told.

It is slow paced which echoes the changes in nature perfectly. Although this is about the characters, we also follow the story of the produce which is grown on their land. From sowing the seeds through to germination to packing up for sale, this book follows the rhythm of the natural growing season. Indeed, the land and plants are a significant aspect of the book.

The author understands her characters and the natural world with which they are surrounded extremely well. The intense and claustraphobic friendship that Lettie and her husband have with their neighbours is excellently portrayed and there were dark secrets hidden within. The truth of the plot is witheld to the very end and made this for an entralling read.

It is a disquieting book which has being beautifully written. It was involving and the atmosphere which Ms. Worsley created was palpable. She injected nature with a sensuality which we can observe through the behaviour of the characters.

I thought this was an excellent book, and I highly recommend it.

ISBN: 978-1472294876

Publisher:  Tinder Press

Formats:  e-book, audio and hardback

No. of Pages: 368 (hardback)

About the Author:

Kate Worsley’s first novel, She Rises, won the HWA Debut Crown for Historical Fiction and was shortlisted for a Lambda Literary Prize in the US. She was born in Preston, Lancashire and now lives on the Essex coast.

(author photo and bio from Tinder Press)

(ARC courtesy of the publisher)

Reading Roundup for April 2023

 April has definitely begun to feel more like spring. There has been a good mixture of sunshine and rain. It is making everything in the garden grow like crazy and we have even had a few days when the weather has been kind enough to enable us to get out and tackle the weeds which are making themselves known.

The highlight of my month was going to the theatre in Eastbourne to see author, Tracy Borman, in her roadshow, How to Be a Good Monarch. It was a fantastic show and if it is showing anywhere near you then I highly reccomend it.

Have you done anything exciting or interesting this month?

Have you read any good books? I have read a mixture of the great, the good and the average this month.

Books I Have Read

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart - This was a re-read for me and it was every bit as brilliant as the first time I read it.

Ascension by Oliver Harris - This was the choice of my book group this month. The majority of the group really liked it. It was a good book, well written for it's genre but it just wasn't my cup of tea.

The Little Venice Bookshop by Rebecca Raisin - I read this as part of the book tour and enjoyed it very much. You can read my review by clicking here.

Night Wherever We Go by Tracy Rose Peyton - This was an excellent book, set in Texas in 1852. Well worth reading and you can read my review by clicking here.

The Wonderland Murders by Millie Ravensworth - This cosy crime mystery was an easy read and part of another book tour. You can access my review by clicking here.

The Viscount's Daring Miss by Lotte R. James - A lovely bit of escapist reading and you can access my review by clicking here.

The Best Minds: A Story of Friendship, Madness, and the Tragedy of Good Intentions by Jonathan Rosen - This non-fiction title was really interesting. It's difficult to describe in a few words so please read the full review by clicking here.

Ada's Realm by Sharon Dodua Otoo - This was a complex novel which took a little working at. It was extremely good though and you can read my review by clicking here.

The Fortune Men by Nadifa Mohamed - This was my favourite book this month and I cannot say enough good things about it. Please read my full review by clicking here.

Foxash by Kate Worsley - I only finished reading this yesterday but I plan to get my review written today ready for uploading tomorrow.

Caring Conservationists by Kate Peridot - Another book I finished only yesterday and my review will be up by the end of the week.

Books I Am Partway Through

Henry VIII: The Heart and the Crown by Alison Weir

Through Three Rooms by Sven Elvestad

James I: The King Who United Scotland and England by Keith Coleman

The Viscount's Daring Miss by Lotte R. James - #bookreview #blogtour

 

If Lady Rothwakes had been here to witness her eavesdropping, Bobby would've had to write a lengthy and thorough dissertation on the importance of good manners. Only, Her Ladyship was not here to witness such vulgar, ill-mannered behaviour. She had been gone a long time now, so this, like so much else Bobby did that the lady might've objected to, would go unpunished.

Not that it felt that way to Bobby. Twelve years since the best woman in the world had died, and still, it felt as if she was there, waiting around a corner to call her to tea, or reprimand her for things like eavesdropping. Feeling her presence contantly, particularly in the house, was something which was both reassuring, and painful...

***

May the best Viscount or Miss…

…win!

When her best friend and employer is injured, groom Roberta ‘Bobby’ Kingsley feels compelled to help him. She agrees to step into the saddle and compete in an endurance horse race to help secure his ancestral home. Yet the minute Bobby comes face to face with her opponent—arrogant yet infuriatingly charismatic Lawrence, Viscount Hayes—it’s clear that it won’t just be the competition that has her heart racing!

***

I am new to both this author and publisher imprint and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was a wonderful bit of escapism and was perfect yesterday when the weather dictated that I curl up on the sofa with a good book.

The main character, Bobby, is feisty, determined and self assured. She is not the average 19th century woman and some of her values were very twenty-first century. 

Speaking as a history graduate, its paucity of correct period attitude would usually have bothered me. However, with Bobby I did not care. I was rooting for her all the way. She is the daughter of a blacksmith who was raised as the ward of Lord and Lady Rothwakes. She struggles with her place in the world and prefers to spend her nights sleeping on a bed of hay with the horses.

It is the story of a horse race and a budding romance, and I very much wanted her to succeed on both counts.

The chemistry between Bobby and Lawrence was unmistakable, and the author did a good job in bringing this to life. The book is rather racy at times and if you are a reader who prefers the more intimate scenes in a book to conclude with the closing of the bedroom door, this may not be the book for you. However, it is not gratuitous in its descriptions of the intimate side of their relationship but served to highlight the significant attraction between them.

Setting this book in the beauty of the English countryside added a further dimension to its atmosphere. 

The enemies to lovers trope is not an original one, but Ms. James did a great job in bringing all the elements of this book together. It was a captivating story, and I enjoyed it very much. 

ISBN:  978 0263305135

Publisher:  Harlequin Historical

Formats: e-book and paperback

No. of Pages:  282 (paperback)

About the Author:

Lotte James trained as an actor and theatre director, but spent most of her life working day jobs crunching numbers whilst dreaming up stories of love and adventure. She’s thrilled to finally be writing those stories, and when she's not scribbling on tiny pieces of paper, she can usually be found wandering the countryside for inspiration, or nestling with coffee and a book.

(book, photos and bio info all courtesy of the blog tour host, Rachel's Random Resources)

The Reapers Quota by Sarah McKnight - #bookreview #blogtour

 

In the cavernous marble hall that serves as an office, the Big Boss sits back against the plush velvet of his golden throne. He appears large and menacing on the platform above me. The glowing red coals deep within his hollow sockets pulse with displeasure as he stares down. He raises an old, creaking arm and points his bony finger at me. His bones are yellowed with age, and micro-cracks lace an intricate pattern up to his arm. I imagine a musty smell coming off him. He's ancient, and whatever is left of his vocal cords grinds with effort as he speaks.

"Reaper #2497," he croaks, his finger shaking just inches in front of my own hollow sockets that once contained real eyes, "it is almost the end of the month."

"Is it?" I ask innocently...

***

Meet Grim Reaper #2497. Behind on his work, he must complete his quota of thirty Random Deaths or face termination in the worst way. Faced with an insurmountable task and very little time to complete it, Reaper #2497 struggles to hang on to the one thing he's not supposed to have - his humanity.

***

As one of the panellists for the Book Bloggers Novel of the Year Award 2022, I was delighted when I was asked to read this book. The book was a finalist and came in at number five, and deservedly so.

I loved the dark humour of this book. It was an easy and entertaining read and the main character, Reaper #2497 (aka Steve), was delightful as we observe his reluctance to end the lives of people randomly to fulfil his daily quota. I was amused by the ways in which he justified the killing of those whom he finally settled on. For a deceased character he still exhibited elements of humanity, and it is this that made him such a likeable character.

Ms. McKnight creates a fictionally believable afterlife, and it was very easy to engage with. 

It is a really fun read and made me laugh on several occasions. The book is aimed at a young adult audience, but it will equally appeal to a more wide ranging audience. Adults who enjoy satirical writing will love this book, and it was a pleasure to read.

There is also a sequel, Chasing the Reaper, which I anticipate will be worth reading.

ISBN: 979 8781351893

Publisher:  Independently published

Formats: e-book and paperback

No. of Pages: 190 

About the Author:

Sarah McKnight has been writing stories since she could pick up a pencil, and it often got her in trouble during math class. After a brief stint teaching English to unruly middle schoolers in Japan, she decided she wasn’t going to put off her dream of becoming a writer any longer and set to work. With several novels in the making, she hopes to tackle issues such as anxiety, depression, and letting go of the past - with a little humor sprinkled in, too. A St. Louis native, she currently lives in Pennsylvania with her wonderful husband and three cats. You can find her on Twitter @mcknight_writes and www.sarahmcknightwrites.com.

(book, photos and info. courtesy of The Write Reads)

The Wonderland Murders by Millie Ravensworth - #bookreview #blogtour

 

The message on Penny's phone had read:

Nana Lem's been taken to St Agnes' Hospital. She's asked for you. It's critical. Come quickly.

Of course, Penny had to go. Firstly, there was that word 'critical'. Secondly, Nana Lem, her last surviving and definitely favourite grandparent, had asked for her. Thirdly, the message had come from Penny's cousin, Izzy... Fourthly, given that Penny's job at a London hotel had recently come to a crashing end (for reasons she did not want to go into), she was very much at a loose end.

***

A quirky and funny series for fans of a good mystery and compelling characters. Can you solve the crime before our dressmaking duo?

After losing her job at an exclusive London hotel, Penny Slipper is only too happy to help when her grandma asks her to take charge at the Cozy Craft sewing shop in charming rural Suffolk.

With cousin Izzy on hand as the expert dressmaker and Penny’s head for business, what can possibly go wrong?

But Penny’s in town for less than a day when the local librarian is poisoned and Penny fears she might even be accidentally responsible. Penny and Izzy are forced to turn detectives to uncover the true cause of death, while finishing a costume commission for their first customer.

Matters take a further deadly turn when a second body is discovered.

Can Penny and Izzy unpick the mysteries of the past and sew the pieces of this puzzle together before it’s too late?

***

This is the first in a four part series of books set in the Cozy Craft sewing shop. Being relatively nifty with a needle and thread myself I was instantly attracted to a book set in craft environment.

It was a fun book to read, full of eccentric characters. Penny and Izzy are the main characters and they complement one another very well. Penny is level headed and is the perfect foil for Izzy's, often outlandish ideas.

There are some lovely characters in this book, not all of them human. Arabella, the poetry loving pig, features just as much as some of the other secondary characters. I loved the name of the farmer, Stuart Dinktrout, and the book is littered with similar things, suggesting this is going to be fun from the very start.

It has all of the components that a reader would expect to find in a cosy crime mystery. At the beginning I thought I would work out who the murderer was quite quickly. However, the 'whodunnit' aspect kept me in the dark until the very end.

This made for a nice easy read and had I had time it could have been read in a single sitting.

ISBN:  979 8374205138

Publisher:  Independently published

Formats:  e-book and paperback

No. of Pages:  250 (paperback)

About the Authors:

Millie Ravensworth isn’t just one writer but two! The Millie Ravensworth books are the product of long-term collaborators Heide Goody and Iain Grant. Heide and Iain have been writing together for more than a decade. Together they have written various comedy novels and, in recent years, have written the Sam Applewhite series of comedy crime novels.

In their own words: “There are a number of reasons why we did this but part of the reason is because of the algorithms Amazon uses to identify what books readers might like. Not everyone who reads one series by us will necessarily like books we've written in another series. Therefore, to avoid confusing the AI algorithms and to avoid disappointing some readers, we've written the latest batch of books under the pseudonym of Millie Ravensworth,” said Iain.

“We write other books under our own names but they’re nothing like the Millie Ravensworth books,” said Heide. “The fifth book in the Cozy Craft series is coming out in the middle of May and we hope to have book six written soo

n too. I hope people will continue to enjoy reading them as much as we enjoy writing them.”

(book courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources) 

Night Wherever We Go by Tracey Rose Peyton - #bookreview

 

In the coming year of our Lord, the 1852 Farmer's Almanac predicted four eclipses, three of the moon, one of the sun. It said nothing of torrential rain. No prophecies of muddied fields or stalks of cotton so waterlogged and beaten down the bolls grazed the earth.

By the time the hot Texas sun made its return, glaring its indiscriminate and wanton gaze, it was much too late. The cotton wouldn't mature, instead choosing to rot right there, the bolls refusing to open. It held back the white wooly heads that were so much in demand, and instead relinquished a dank fungal smell that remained trapped in the air for weeks.

***

An intimate look at the domestic lives of enslaved women, Night Wherever We Go is an evocative meditation on resistance and autonomy, on love and transcendence and the bonds of female friendship in the darkest of circumstances.

On a struggling Texas plantation, six enslaved women slip from their sleeping quarters and gather in the woods under the cover of night. The Lucys―as they call the plantation owners, after Lucifer himself―have decided to turn around the farm’s bleak financial prospects by making the women bear children. They have hired a “stockman” to impregnate them. But the women are determined to protect themselves.

Now, each of the six faces a choice. Nan, the doctoring woman, has brought a sack of cotton root clippings that can stave off children when chewed daily. If they all take part, the Lucys may give up and send the stockman away. But a pregnancy for any of them will only encourage the Lucys further. And should their plan be discovered, the consequences will be severe.

Visceral and illuminating, Night Wherever We Go marks the arrival of a bold, lyrical and powerful new voice in fiction.

***

This book is set in Texas in 1852 where six enslaved women are faced by the prospect of being impregnated by a 'stockman', brought to the plantation by its owner in order to increase his slave numbers and rescue his failing plantation. 

It put me in mind of The Handmaid's Tale, albeit one is set in the future and this  is set in the past. However, both deal with the issue of the forced impregnation of women. At least, we can hold out hope that the future will not bring anything even approaching this very disturbing image. Sadly, the same cannot be said of the past and any book which deals with such a bleak time in history does not make for easy reading.

However, what elevates this book is the close friendship the women form in order to protect themselves from pregnancy and consequently deny the plantation owner his aim. 

There are some very powerfull scenes in this book. However, the camaraderie between the six women and the small chinks of light they are able to find in their lives make for an excellent read. The author is a gifted storyteller and writes with conviction and confidence.

Ms. Peyton has given us an excellent debut novel and if this is anything to judge by then she is one to watch. 

ISBN: 978 0008532840

Publisher:  The Borough Press

Formats:  e-book, audio, hardback

No. of Pages:  304

About the Author:

Tracey Rose Peyton received her MFA from the Michener Center for Writers at University of Texas-Austin and her BA from Howard University. She’s an alum of VONA/Voices, Callaloo, The Writer’s Institute at CUNY, Sackett Street, and Tinhouse and has received fellowships from Hedgebrook and Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts. Her short fiction has appeared in Guernica, American Short Fiction, Prairie Schooner, Best American Short Stories 2021, and elsewhere. She lives in Los Angeles, California.

(ARC courtesy of NetGalley)

(author photo and bio. info courtesy of the author's website https://www.traceyrosepeyton.com/about)

New Releases in May 2023

The month of May is almost upon us so it is time to take a look at which exciting new books are being released. It is also the month where we witness history with the Coronation of King Charles III, so lots to look forward to next month.

Here are ten books which have caught my eye.

Mrs Porter Calling by AJ Pearce

A heart-warming, heart-wrenching wartime story from The Sunday Times bestselling author of Dear Mrs Bird, AJ Pearce.

Emmy Lake is the much-loved agony aunt at Woman’s Friend magazine, relied upon by readers across the country as they face the challenges of life on the Home Front. With the problem page thriving and a team of fantastic women behind her, Emmy finally feels she is Doing Her Bit.

But when a glamorous new owner arrives, everything changes. As the Honourable Mrs Porter tries to charm her way around the rest of the team, Emmy realizes that she plans to destroy everything readers love about the magazine.

With happiness quickly turning to heartbreak and war still raging in Europe, will Emmy and her friends find the inner strength they need to keep keeping on - and save the magazine they love?

The Stories Grandma Forgot (and How I Found Them) by Nadine Aisha Jassat

From an award-winning poet comes a gripping mystery. "Grandma Farida has Alzheimer's - but I'm going to help her remember a huge secret..."

Twelve-year-old Nyla's dad died when she was four, or that's what she's been told. So when Grandma Farida insists she saw him in the local supermarket, Nyla wonders if Grandma is simply "time travelling" again - the phrase she uses when Grandma forgets.

But Grandma is Nyla's best friend and when she asks Nyla to find her dad and bring him home, Nyla decides to make a brand new promise to her Grandma: to find him.

As Nyla turns detective and sets out on a journey through her family's past to try and find the truth, she also hopes that uncovering important stories will help her understand who she is, and where she fits in the world ...

A page-turning verse novel about the power of memory and story-telling, and an unbreakable bond between a grandmother and granddaughter.

An Invitation to Seashell Bay (Part 1) by Bella Osborne

This is the first part of a new feel-good romantic comedy, published as a four-part serialised novel.

One ambitious businesswoman.

One irresponsible heir.

A deal that will turn both their lives upside down…

To save her business, All Things Crafty, Nancy is in desperate need of two things: help and money. After a pitch goes horribly wrong, Nancy is convinced she's failed to secure either. But, when a potential investor recommends an assistant, she jumps at the chance to hire them – hoping it will help her land a much-needed deal. 

Enter Freddy Astley-Davenport, a notorious socialite with zero work experience. He’s poised to inherit his family’s estate in sunny Seashell Bay, but only if he can hold down a job for six months first. Nancy is not impressed. Freddy’s late, rude and totally incompetent – and that's just the first day!

Nancy is further horrified to learn of Freddy’s plan to take the assistant role in name only, then do the least work he possibly can, expecting Nancy to lie to his parents on his behalf. She has other ideas, though, and the pair butt heads from day one.

However, as they argue, sparks begin to fly…

Henry VIII: The Heart & the Crown by Alison Weir

Six wives. One King. You know their stories. Now it's time to hear his.

A second son, not born to rule, becomes a man, and a king...

In grand royal palaces, Prince Harry grows up dreaming of knights and chivalry - and the golden age of kings that awaits his older brother. But Arthur's untimely death sees Harry crowned King Henry of England.

As his power and influence extends, so commences a lifelong battle between head and heart, love and duty. Henry rules by divine right, yet his prayers for a son go unanswered.

The great future of the Tudor dynasty depends on an heir. And the crown weighs heavy on a king with all but his one true desire.

HENRY VIII. HIS STORY.

Ghost Girl, Banana by Wiz Wharton

1966: Sook-Yin is exiled from Kowloon to London with orders to restore honour to her family. As she strives to fit into a world that does not understand her, she realizes that survival will mean carving out a destiny of her own.

1997: Sook-Yin's daughter Lily can barely remember the mother she lost as a small child. But when she is unexpectedly named in the will of a powerful Chinese stranger, she embarks on a secret pilgrimage to Hong Kong to discover the lost side of her identity and claim the reward. But she soon learns that the secrecy around her heritage has deep roots, and good fortune comes at a price.

Sepulchre Street by Martin Edwards

'This is my challenge for you,' the woman in white said. 'I want you to solve my murder.'

London, 1930s: Rachel Savernake is attending renowned artist Damaris Gethin's latest exhibition, featuring live models who pose as famous killers. But that's just the warm-up act...

Unsure why she was invited, Rachel is soon cornered by the artist who asks her a haunting favour: she wants Rachel to solve her murder. Damaris then takes to the stage set with a guillotine, the lights go out - and Damaris executes herself.

Why would Damaris take her own life? And, if she died by her own hand, what did she mean by 'solve my murder'?

There are many questions to answer, and the clues are there for those daring enough to solve them...

Just a Regular Boy by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Out there is chaos, the collapse of society, and so much to be afraid of. All that matters is freedom.

That’s what Remy Blake has been taught by his survivalist father. Raised off the grid in the middle of nowhere, his own survival skills not yet honed, Remy is days shy of his eighth birthday when his father unexpectedly dies. As seasons pass, supplies run out, and fending for himself grows more desperate, Remy sets out on foot, unprepared for the great unknown of civilization.

He is found―near feral, silent, and terrified―in the small rural town of Blaire. To Anne, a nurturing mother of two adopted teenagers who’s still dealing with her own childhood rejections, Remy is not a lost cause. Just a challenging one. As Remy cautiously adapts to his new foster home, his family wants nothing more than to reassure him that he can trust the world. But to do so, they must first reexamine how much they trust the world themselves, and how much they should. As Remy’s journey into the real world begins, figuring out how to navigate it becomes a path they will have to learn to walk together.

The Last Passenger by Will Dean

A luxury cruise liner, abandoned with no crew, steaming into the mid-Atlantic.

And you are the only passenger left on board.

Caz Ripley, a cafe owner from a small, ordinary town, boards the RMS Atlantica with her boyfriend Pete and a thousand fellow passengers destined for New York.

The next morning, she wakes to discover that everyone else on board has disappeared.

And that's just the beginning. Caz must prepare for a crossing that will be anything but plain sailing ...

Sheep Says Shalom by Ann Diament Koffsky

The word ‘shalom’ means three different things: ‘hello’, ‘goodbye’ and ‘peace’. In this sweet, simple tale, Sheep experiments with this triple meaning as she goes about her day on the farm. The sun is rising, and we follow Sheep as she stops to say ‘shalom’ ('hello’) to each of her friends: ‘Shalom, Cat’, ‘Shalom, Cow,’ ‘Shalom, Horse’, ‘Shalom, Duck’. ‘Shalom, Sheep’, they all reply! When the day comes to a close, Sheep realises she can use this same word to say goodbye to all of her friends, as well: ‘Shalom, Cat’, ‘Shalom, Cow,’ ‘Shalom, Horse’, ‘Shalom, Duck’. ‘Shalom, Sheep’, they reply once more! As she tucks herself into bed that night, Sheep remembers that ‘shalom’ has one more meaning: ‘peace’. And with that, surrounded by the moon and the stars, she falls into a peaceful night’s sleep. Sheep Says Shalom is a heartwarming story for young readers, introducing them to Hebrew, teaching them about the joys of learning a language and giving them insights into the Jewish faith and culture. Children will be captivated by this foldout board book with colourful illustrations of animals and nature.

The Girl with the Red Hair by Buzzy Jackson

1940, Amsterdam.

You're nineteen years old. The war has stolen your future and your country is under siege. The people you love are no longer safe.

Will you stand aside as the menace of Nazi evil tightens its grip on your homeland? Or do you unleash your fury, joining forces with your enemies' enemies, plotting to strike?

Because if not you, then who?

You're drawn deep into a web of plots, disguises and assassinations. The Resistance trained you for this. You flash your enemies a smile and beckon them closer.

Little do they know you've grown used to the weight of a gun in your hand...

Soon they will all know your name.

You're "the Girl with the Red Hair." A match for any Nazi soldier, a true threat, a target.

(header photo courtesy of Pixabay)

The Best Minds: A Story of Friendship, Madness and the Tragedy of Good Intentions by Jonathan Rosen - #bookreview

 

I am going back fifty years. Before the lurid headlines, the Hollywood deal, the publishing contract and The New York Times profile of the role model genius who finished Yale Law School against all odds. Before delusions mistaken for stories, and stories mistaken for life. Before the fancy clothes you bought for management consulting and wore into the hospital, the halfway house, and the Gatsby House you guarded with a baseball bat against enemies disguised as friends and family, guarded in turn by beloved neighbors.

I am going back to the time before you graduated from Yale... Before high school, where you ran while I was beaten and the horror twenty years later when it was my turn to run.

***

When the Rosens moved to New Rochelle, New York in 1973, Jonathan Rosen and Michael Laudor became inseparable. Both children of professors, the boys were best friends and fierce rivals who soon followed each other to Yale University.

Michael blazed through Yale in three years, graduating summa cum laude and landing a top-flight consulting job. Then one day, Jonathan received a devastating call: Michael had suffered a psychotic break and was in the locked ward of a psychiatric hospital.

Diagnosed with schizophrenia, Michael was still in hospital when he learned he'd been accepted to Yale Law School, and living in a halfway house when he decided, against all odds, to enroll. Still battling delusions, he managed to graduate, and after his triumphant story was featured in The New York Times, sold a memoir for a vast sum. Ron Howard bought film rights, completing the dream for Michael and his tirelessly supportive girlfriend Carrie, and Brad Pitt was set to star. But then Michael, in the grip of psychosis, committed a horrific act that made him a front-page story of an entirely different sort.

The Best Minds is Jonathan Rosen's powerful account of an American tragedy, set in the final decades of the American century, an era that coincided with the emptying out of state mental hospitals. It is a story about the bonds of friendship, the price of delusion and the mystery of identity. Tender, funny, and harrowing by turns, The Best Minds is both a beautifully rendered coming of age story and an indictment of the profound neglect of mental illness in our society.

***

Usually, I write my review of a book as soon as I have finished it. However, with this book I have had to leave it a few days in order to process the impact it has had on me.

It is extraordinarily powerful and was well worth reading through it's 500 plus pages. It wasn't an easy read. In fact, there were times I found it devastatingly sad and heartbreaking. That said, I am extremely glad that I read it.

Mr. Rosen writes of his childhood friends diagnosis of schizophrenia and his psychotic downward spiral was devastating and it's impact on those around him tragic. He presents an unflinchingly straight forward and compassionate observation of the mental health system in the US with honesty and candour.

He portrays the fine line between genius and madness; not un unfamiliar trope in novels. However, this is not a novel - it is a factual account and an outstandingly written one. There are few books which I would describe as unforgettable but this is one such book. It will stay with me for a long time.

This is not my usual style of review. There is no place here for commenting on characterization, setting or plot. That only leaves me with encouraging you to read this exceptional book for yourselves.  I would love to hear your thoughts.

ISBN: 978 0241647448

Publisher: Allen Lane

Formats: e-book, audio and hardback

No. of Pages:  576 (hardback)

Purchase from Bookshop.org* 

About the Author:

Jonathan Rosen is the author of two novels: Eve's Apple and Joy Comes in the Morning, and two non-fiction books: The Talmud and the Internet

and The Life of the Skies. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Atlantic and numerous anthologies. He lives with his family in New York City.

(ARC and author bio info courtesy of the publisher)

(author photo courtesy of The Guardian)

*Disclosure: I only recommend books I would buy myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post contains an affiliate link from which I may earn a small commission.

The Fortune Men by Nadifa Mohamed - #bookreview

 

'The King is dead. Love live the Queen.' The announcers voice crackles from the wireless and winds around the rapt patrons of Berlin's Milk Bar as sinuously as the fog curls around the mournful street lamps, their wan glow barely illuminating the cobblestones.

The noise settles as milkshakes and colas clink against Irish coffees, and chairs scrape against the black-and-white tiled floor.

Berlin hammers a spoon against the bar and calls out with his lion tamer's bark, 'Raise your glasses, ladies and gentlemen, and send off our old King to Davy Jones's Locker.'

***

Mahmood Mattan is a fixture in Cardiff's Tiger Bay, 1952, which bustles with Somali and West Indian sailors, Maltese businessmen and Jewish families. He is a father, chancer, some-time petty thief. He is many things, in fact, but he is not a murderer.

So when a shopkeeper is brutally killed and all eyes fall on him, Mahmood isn't too worried. It is true that he has been getting into trouble more often since his Welsh wife Laura left him. But Mahmood is secure in his innocence in a country where, he thinks, justice is served.

It is only in the run-up to the trial, as the prospect of freedom dwindles, that it will dawn on Mahmood that he is in a terrifying fight for his life - against conspiracy, prejudice and the inhumanity of the state. And, under the shadow of the hangman's noose, he begins to realise that the truth may not be enough to save him.

***

This compelling novel, which is based on factual events, is an outstanding book and one of the best I have read this year. Set in 1950's Tiger Bay, Cardiff it exudes with atmosphere and highlights the racial injustice suffered by the main character, Mahmood Mattan and his contemporaries.

I particularly enjoyed reading about this melting pot of characters who have settled in Tiger Bay from other parts of the world. This mixture of nationalities and faiths culminated in the occurrence of racial tensions, and it was this that led Mahmood to come to be in the position he did.

This character driven novel permits the reader to follow Mahmood through his time living and working in Tiger Bay, to his imprisonment for a murder which he did not commit. Despite his life experience, Mahmood seemed to have a naivety about him and had complete faith that the British justice system would come to recognise the truth of his situation.

I found this to be a heartbreaking read, written with sensitivity, intelligence and humanity. It was a calm, appropriately paced, devastating novel.

Every now and then, a novel comes along which I feel privileged to have read. This was one such book and I applaud the author for bringing this miscarriage of justice to prominence in the form of her novel.

It is no surprise to discover that the book was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and the Costa Novel Award in 2021, as well as the Wales Book of the Year Award in 2022.

I can foresee myself re-reading this book again in the future, and I most definitely want to read other titles from Ms. Mohamed.

I thoroughly recommend that you read this book and hope that you enjoy the reading experience as much as I did.

ISBN: 978 0241466957

Publisher:  Viking

Formats:  e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages:  384 (paperback)

Purchase from Bookshop.org

About the Author:

Nadifa Mohamed was born in Hargeisa (now in the Republic of Somaliland) in 1981 and moved as a child to England in 1986, staying permanently when war broke out in Somalia.

She lives in London and her first novel, Black Mamba Boy, based on her father's memories of his travels in the 1930s, was published in 2010. It was longlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction and the Dylan Thomas Prize and shortlisted for the John Llewellyn-Rhys Memorial Prize and the Guardian First Book Award. It won the 2010 Betty Trask Prize.

(author photo and bio. info. courtesy of GoodReads)

Ada's Realm by Sharon Dodua Otoo - Translated by Jon Cho-Polizzi - #bookreview #socialblast

 

During the longest night of the year, blood clung to my forehead and my baby died. Finally. He had whimpered in his final moments, and Naa Lamiley had caressed his cheek. How lovely, I had thought, that this would be his final memory. She lay just beside him, the child between us, and her head resting next to mine. Naa Lamiley's eyes shimmered as she assured me it would not be much longer now, "God willling". She whispered because all of our mothers were sleeping on the other side of the room, but Naa Lamiley's voice would have given out at any moment anyway. Together, we had cried and prayed at my baby's side the last three nights. I could barely hear her, and I understood her even less. While she caressed him, she had stared at me, as if surprised by my confusion...

***

WHERE IS ADA?

In a small village in West Africa, in what will one day become Ghana, Ada gives birth again, and again the baby does not live. As she grieves the loss of her child, Portuguese traders become the first white men to arrive in the village, an event that will bear terrible repercussions for Ada and her kin.

WHEN IS ADA?

Centuries later, Ada will become the mathematical genius Ada Lovelace; Ada, a prisoner forced into prostitution in a Nazi concentration camp; and Ada, a young, pregnant Ghanaian woman with a new British passport who arrives in Berlin in 2019 for a fresh start.

WHO IS ADA?

Ada is not one woman, but many, and she is all women - she revolves in orbits, looping from one century and from one place to the next. She experiences the hardship but also the joy of womanhood: she is a victim, she offers resistance, and she fights for her independence.

This long-awaited debut from Sharon Dodua Otoo paints an astonishing picture of femininity, resilience and struggle with deep empathy and humour, with vivid language and infinite imagination.

***

The actor, Paterson Joseph has described this book as "a time-travelling wonder of a read…” and I have to agree. There were many things that I enjoyed about this debut novel from Sharon Dodua Otoo.

The writing is beautiful with a lyricism that is poetic. There were times I stopped and re-read passages simply because they were so perfectly constructed.

It has a unique narration in that much of the story is told from the perspective of a series of inanimate objects, each of which is connected to Ada in different time periods; a broom, a UK passport, a door knocker as well as a series of other things.

Ada is meant to represent all women and the trials and tribulations that we all suffer. She is a reincarnation of herself through the centuries, and are all linked through time by a bracelet which appears in an exhibition during the modern age.

The narrative was not linear and I found this a little confusing at times. The novel is complex in its construction, and although I liked it I was a little perplexed by it at times.

However, as a debut novel I was impressed. It is true I had to work at understanding this book, and I suspect that different readers will take away alternative views of what it was about. I would love for you to read this and let me know your thoughts.

ISBN: 978 1529419016

Publisher: MacLehose Press

Formats:  e-book, audio and hardback

No. of Pages: 320 (hardback)

About the Author:

Born in London in 1972 to Ghanaian parents, SHARON DODUA OTOO is a political activist and novelist living in Berlin. After having published several newspaper articles and two novellas in English, she wrote a short story in German which was later awarded the Ingeborg Bachmann Prize (2016), one of Germany's most renowned literary awards. She is politically active with several civil rights organisations, including the Initiative Black People in Germany (ISD), a Black queer feminist organisation called ADEFRA, and Phoenix. Ada’s Realm is her first novel.

 

About the Translator:

Jon Cho-Polizzi is a freelance literary translator and Assistant Professor of German at the University of Michigan, with Korean and Italian-Jewish roots. He received a PhD in German and Medieval Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, where he was managing editor for the online academic journal TRANSIT. His translations have appeared in the Jewish Museum Berlin, the Maxim Gorki Theater, taz, Jewish Currents, renk Magazin, Versopolis Poetry, and Der Spiegel, as well as in numerous anthologies. He lives and works between Ann Arbor, Northern California, and Berlin.

(ARC, author photo and bio. info. courtesy of the publisher)

The Echo of Old Books by Barbara Davis - #spotlight

 It has been a little while since I did a spotlight post for a book that has caught my eye.

I could not let this one pass me by. It has a beautiful cover that makes me want to dive straight into it. It was released just last week and is currently available on Kindle Unlimited, audio and in paperback.

So, here are some details of the book. I am hoping to read this as soon as my schedule permits.

The Blurb

Rare-book dealer Ashlyn Greer’s affinity for books extends beyond the intoxicating scent of old paper, ink, and leather. She can feel the echoes of the books’ previous owners―an emotional fingerprint only she can read. When Ashlyn discovers a pair of beautifully bound volumes that appear to have never been published, her gift quickly becomes an obsession. Not only is each inscribed with a startling incrimination, but the authors, Hemi and Belle, tell conflicting sides of a tragic romance.

With no trace of how these mysterious books came into the world, Ashlyn is caught up in a decades-old literary mystery, beckoned by two hearts in ruins, whoever they were, wherever they are. Determined to learn the truth behind the doomed lovers’ tale, she reads on, following a trail of broken promises and seemingly unforgivable betrayals. The more Ashlyn learns about Hemi and Belle, the nearer she comes to bringing closure to their love story―and to the unfinished chapters of her own life.

It's a novel about the magical lure of books and summoning the courage to rewrite our stories by the Amazon Charts bestselling author of The Keeper of Happy Endings and The Last of the Moon Girls.

Barbara Davis has an extensive back catalogue, all of which look like books that I would enjoy. 

Have you read any of her books? I would love to hear about your favourite.

The Little Venice Bookshop by Rebecca Raisin - #bookreview #blogtour

In the distance, the rocky mountains of Missoula sit sombrely under an expanse of sky so big it feels like we're the only ones left in the world. On the velvety grass, I lie back on my elbows as Mom loops daisies together like the ultimate flower child.

'It's time for you to fly free, baby girl.' She always knows.

'How...?'

Mom gives me a slow smile. 'You don't think a mother recognises when her own child has itchy feet? Wanderlust can be a curse as much as it can be a cure. But I have to let you go - as hard as it'll be. I expect phone calls every week.'

***

A bundle of mysterious letters. A trip to Venice. A journey she’ll never forget.

When Luna loses her beloved mother, she’s bereft: her mother was her only family, and without her Luna feels rootless. Then the chance discovery of a collection of letters in her mother’s belongings sends her on an unexpected journey.

Following a clue in the letters, Luna packs her bags and heads to Venice, to a gorgeous but faded bookshop overlooking the canals, hoping to uncover the truth about her mother’s mysterious past.

Will Luna find the answers she’s looking for – and finally find the place she belongs?

***

Who can resist a book about a book shop? I certainly cannot and this was such a lovely book. Truth be told, it was a little slow to get going but it was absolutely worth hanging in there.

Luna, the main character of this story, was easy to identify with. I could understand her grief and her need to explore her feelings. I loved her adventurous spirit and enjoyed accompanying her on her personal journey while she considers her place in life now that she has lost her mother. Her story did not pan out entirely the way I had expected but that made for an even greater reading experience. 

I enjoyed reading about the secondary characters too. Oscar, Giancarlo and Gigi were equally well rounded... and let's not forget all the cats which inhabit the bookshop.

It was set in the titular Venice and I almost felt as though I was there. The book did not get bogged down in description but it was sufficient to make me want to pack my bags and go there.

It is a heartwarming read in which books that are damaged are given a new lease of life before being restored and loved again by new customers. The books served as a metaphor for Luna's life and echoed her own feelings and situation.

I will defintely be checking out more titles from this author.

ISBN: 9780008559366

Publisher:  HQ Digital

Formats:  e-boo, audio and paperback

No. of Pages:  272 (paperback)

About the Author:

Rebecca Raisin writes heartwarming romance from her home in sunny Perth, Australia. Her heroines tend to be on the quirky side and her books are usually set in exotic locations so her readers can armchair travel any day of the week. The only downfall about writing about gorgeous heroes who have brains as well as brawn, is falling in love with them – just as well they’re fictional. Rebecca aims to write characters you can see yourself being friends with. People with big hearts who care about relationships and believe in true, once in a lifetime love. Her bestselling novel Rosie’s Travelling Tea Shop has been optioned for film with MRC studios and Frolic Media.

(ARC & author info courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)

Dreaming of Flight by Catherine Ryan Hyde - #BookReview

Stewie rolled his shoulders and pulled the collar of his shirt away from his sweaty neck. It bothered him when it clung there.

He had never gone down to that last house before, because he hadn't needed to. He had always sold out his wagon full of eggs without needing to walk so far.

There was a good quarter of a mile gap along the banks of the lake - an undeveloped spot with no houses. It was after six but still quite hot in an unseasonably summerlike spring. Four of his regular customers had not been home, or had not answered their doors.

***

Never knowing his parents, eleven-year-old Stewie Little and his brother have been raised on a farm by their older sister. Stewie steadfastly tends the chickens left by his beloved late grandmother. And every day Stewie goes door to door selling fresh eggs from his wagon―a routine with a surprise just around the corner. It’s his new customer, Marilyn. She’s prickly and guarded, yet comfortably familiar―she reminds the grieving Stewie so much of the grandmother he misses more than he can express.

Marilyn has a reason for keeping her distance: a secret no one knows about. Her survival tactic is to draw a line between herself and other people―one that Stewie is determined to cross. As their visits become more frequent, a complicated but deeply rooted relationship grows. That’s when Stewie discovers how much more there is to Marilyn, to her past, and to challenges that become more pressing each day. But whatever difficult times lie ahead, Stewie learns that although he can’t fix everything for Marilyn or himself, at least he’s no longer alone.

***

Oh my goodness, it is extremely rare that I cry when reading a book. This novel had me reaching for the tissues well before the end, and of course, at its conclusion also.

The main character, a child called Stewie, has what my mum would have described as 'an old head on young shoulders'. He has had to deal with so much loss in his short life, and consequently, he is a boy who is filled with sadness and takes life very seriously. He is an utterly delightful character and one I felt fully invested in. My heart ached for this little boy, and I wanted to scoop him up and cuddle him.

His relationship with his surly, elderly neighbour Marilyn is the main theme of the book. Marilyn is a woman with secrets of her own and initially it appears to be a very unlikely friendship. However, it serves to demonstrate Stewie's character perfectly. He is caring, sensitive and loyal to the extreme. 

Although the book is the story of Stewie's sadness and inability to deal with his grief, it is ultimately a life-affirming and hopeful story which I highly recommend.

The author already has an extensive back catalogue and I am looking forward to delving into some of those.

ISBN: 978 1542021586

Publisher:  Lake Union Publishing

Formats: e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages:  304

Support Independent Bookshops -  Purchase link to Bookshop.org*

About the Author:

Catherine Ryan Hyde is the author of 44 published and forthcoming books.

Her newer releases are Dreaming of Flight, Boy Underground, Seven Perfect Things, My Name is Anton, Brave Girl, Quiet Girl, Stay, Have You Seen Luis Velez?, Just After Midnight, Heaven Adjacent, The Wake Up, Allie and Bea, Say Goodbye for Now, Leaving Blythe River, Ask Him Why, Worthy, The Language of Hoofbeats, Take Me With You, Walk Me Home, and When I Found You.

Forthcoming are So Long, Chester Wheeler, and Just a Regular Boy.

Other novels include When You Were Older, Where We Belong, Don’t Let Me Go, Second Hand Heart, Jumpstart the World, Becoming Chloe, Love in the Present Tense, The Year of My Miraculous Reappearance, Chasing Windmills, The Day I Killed James, and Diary of a Witness.

She is co-author, with publishing industry blogger Anne R. Allen, of How to be a Writer in the E-Age: a Self-Help Guide.

Her bestselling 1999 novel Pay It Forward was made into a major Warner Brothers motion picture. It was chosen by the American Library Association for its Best Books for Young Adults list, and translated into more than two dozen languages for distribution in over 30 countries. Simon & Schuster released a special 15th anniversary edition in December of ’14.

Pay It Forward: Young Readers Edition, an age-appropriate edited edition of the original novel, was released by Simon & Schuster in August of ‘14. It is suitable for children as young as eight.

(book courtesy of NetGalley)

(author photo courtesy of her website)

(author bio courtesy of Good Reads)

Support Independent Bookshops - Buy from Bookshop.org

*Disclosure: I only recommend books I would buy myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post contains an affiliate link from which I may earn a small commission.

Books I Want to Read in April 2023

 

Here we are in April and I am planning which books to read. Every month my TBR pile gets longer and it gets harder to choose the ten which I want to read most. 

Here are the ten books which I hope to get read this month.

The Viscount's Daring Miss by Lotte R. James 

Nightshade by E.S Thomson

Dombey and Sons by Charles Dickens

Night Wherever We Go by Tracey Rose Peyton

Death Under a Little Sky by Stig Abell

The Diary of a Provincial Lady E.M. Delafield

Foxash by Kate Worsley

The Edinburgh Seven by Janey Jones

The Island of Longing by Anne Griffin

In a Thousand Different Ways by Cecilia Ahern

(Header photo courtesy of Unsplash)