Dark Clouds Bring Waters by I.R. Ridley - #bookreview #blogtour

 

Dear Billie,

I'm sorry it's come to this after ten years. I once loved you deeply but now that love has been overshadowed by what's happened and all that we've become, sad to say. I just couldn't go on like that nor live under the same roof as you any longer. Drama, sound and fury have become too tiresome and overwhelming for this ageing stick-in-the-mud, as you described him...

***

Comedy writer Luke Jessop's life is in stasis. He hasn't written a word since his wife, Billie, died almost three years ago and on finding a pile of old letters from her ex, Adam, he has begun to wonder how well he really knew her. Embarking on a pilgrimage to Italy, Luke determines to piece together the full story about his wild and sometimes secretive love. But with Adam refusing to answer his questions and a flame-haired hotel guest threatening his fragile calm, can Luke finally face the truths of the past and learn to live again?

***

Sometimes it is the cover that initially attracts me to a book. Other times, it might be the blurb or reviews that I have read. What initially intrigued me with this book was it's title. I guessed it was a quote from somewhere, but I could not identify it. 

However, one of the characters explains in the book,

"Dark clouds bring waters,"... It's a line from The Pilgrim's Progress. You know, by John Bunyan? It's saying how soothing the rain can be after oppressive heat."

And that sums up the experience of the main character perfectly. Luke's wife, Billie, passed away three years ago.  Upon discovering some letters which she had kept from her first husband, Luke becomes consumed by the need to understand her life before he met her.

This is a short book at 146 pages, and its principal theme is grief and bereavement. Admittedly, not the jolliest of topics but it is so eloquently written that it was a pleasure to read. It reads as contemporary literary fiction and I was drawn into this by the beautiful descriptions of Italy.

The author lost his own wife in 2019 and he clearly draws on the rawness of his own experience, and has thus created a moving and heartfelt novel. My heart went out to Luke; his need to understand and have questions answered was visceral and made for an emotive read.

It also made for positive reading. We accompany Luke on his journey to find out more about his wife but we also observe his personal growth throughout the novel. 

Ultimately, it is a story of love, loss and personal growth and I highly recommend this excellent novel.

ISBN: 978 1739639624

Publisher:  V Books

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

No. of Pages: 146 (paperback)

About the Author:

IAN RIDLEY is a writer and journalist who spent 35 years on national

newspapers, including 18 on The Guardian and The Observer. DARK CLOUDS

BRING WATERS is his third novel, and a move into literary fiction after his two

crime thrillers, OUTER CIRCLE and DON’T TALK, in the ‘Jan Mason

investigative journalist’ series.

Ian has also written 14 non-fiction books, including two shortlisted for the

William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award. Addicted, written with the former

Arsenal and England captain Tony Adams, was a Sunday Times No. 1

bestseller while The Breath of Sadness: On love, grief and cricket is a poignant

account of coping with the death of his wife Vikki Orvice, a trailblazing sports

journalist, in February of 2019 at the age of 56.

(book and media courtesy of Random Things Tours)

(all opinions are my own)

This Child of Mine by Emma-Claire Wilson - #BookReview @AvonBooksUK

 

It was supposed to be the happiest day of my life.

I was supposed to bounce out of this chair and follow the sonographer into a room for a follow-up scan and to hear the sex of our first child. This was supposed to be the day all our dreams came true. I was supposed to have a grin on my face and a heart full of joy and love.

But that's not what happened. My heart knew it was coming before anyone else did. Somehow my body knew it too. I could feel it. My heart wasn't racing. In fact, I think it all but stopped. I couldn't feel anything...

***

When Stephanie is told she’s pregnant and that she is sick on the same day, she faces an impossible choice…

After trying for a baby for so long, finding out I was pregnant was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. But in the same breath as the news I had been waiting years to hear, the doctor told me I was seriously ill.

If I carry my baby to term, I will almost certainly die.

If I proceed with treatment, my baby will not live.

My husband – the father of this child – is telling me to save myself. But with all the secrets I know he is keeping from me, I can’t trust him anymore.

What would you do?

***

This is an extremely well written and heartfelt book and made for emotional reading. It deals with some difficult themes that readers should be aware of before they read this book as it discusses grief, miscarriage and cancer at length. 

Having said that, and speaking as a reader who has had multiple miscarriages and lost loved ones to cancer, it is ultimately an uplifting and hopeful book. Thankfully, I have never been in the position that the protagonist, Anna, found herself but the book is designed to make the reader wonder how they would react if they were unfortunate enough to find themselves in the same situation.

I was completely gripped by this novel and finished it within a day. I so wanted to know how things would pan out for Anna and her husband James. The author has created a cast of characters who were believable and easy to identify with.

The author deals with her difficult themes with sensitivity and compassion. As a debut author, I think Ms. Wilson is one to watch out for. She clearly knows how to delve into human emotions and to bring characters to life on the page. An excellent addition to the genre.

ISBN:  978 0008608088

Publisher:  Avon

Formats:  e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages:  352 (paperback)

Purchase Link *

About the Author:

Born in Scotland, Emma travelled the world as the child of military parents. Finally she settled in Southern Spain with her husband, daughters, and rescue dog, Pip. Emma works as a journalist for English language magazines and newspapers in Spain and in 2015 launched The Glass House Online Magazine. When not writing emotional book club fiction, you can find her by the sea dreaming up new stories, or wrapped in a blanket with a book in her hand.

Purchase Link *

(book courtesy of the publisher)

(author photo and bio. info. courtesy of Kate Nash Literary Agency)

(all opinions are my own)

*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.

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.

The Story of Us by Dani Atkins - #BookReview

Despite the obvious assumption, it was definitely the deer that caused the accident and not the daiquiris, and it most definitely wasn't due to Caroline's driving, because she hadn't touched anything stronger than lemonade all night.

As hen parties go, mine had been a fairly subdued event. Nothing tawdry; no strippers, no L-plates, no drunken antics that come back to haunt you in the months to follow. At twenty-seven I felt I was perhaps a little too 'elderly' for the night of raucous partying which had been a signature note to my university days...

***

Emma Marshall can't wait to marry her childhood sweetheart, Richard. But then a tragic accident changes everything, and introduces a stranger, Jack, into her life. Gorgeous and mysterious, Jack is like no-one Emma has met before. But Richard is the man she loves...

Two different men.

Two different destinies.

How will Emma end her story?

***

This was one of those books that I did not want to put down. I was gripped from the very first sentence where we are immersed into the car accident that friends, Emma, Caroline and Amy, are involved in.

It is beautifully written and the author has a very real understanding of her characters and their feelings. Emma is the protaganist and I felt very involved in her life, and one way or another, I was rooting for her throughtout the story.

Ms. Atkins is an excellent storyteller and uses a mixture of narrative, dialogue and description throughout the book; all of which combine to move the story along at an appropriate pace for the subject matter.

It was an interesting protrayal of friendship, love, loss and betrayal. It made for an emotive and heart-felt reading experience and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I am very much looking forward to reading more from this author.

ISBN: 978 1781857144

Publisher:  Head of Zeus

Formats:  e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages:  384 (paperback)

About the Author:

Dani Atkins was born in London in 1958, and grew up in North London. She moved to rural Hertfordshire in 1985, where she has lived in a small village ever since with her family. Although Dani has been writing for fun all her life, Fractured was her first novel. She has since written several other books, including The Story of Us.

The Rescue by S. L. Rosewarne - #BookReview #BlogTour

 

'She's very bright you know,' Pip said to everyone when I was little. He may have been biased, but it was still gratifying to have my intelligence acknowledged.

He still said it now, five years on; most recently on their wedding anniversary, when we had a day out to our favourite beach. A little boy mis-hit a tennis ball which landed nearby and bounced over to me. I stood guard over it, my eyes fixed on the boy as he ran over.

***

When terrier Moll’s owner dies, she is determined to protect his widow, Suki. And that means finding her anew man to care for her.

As Suki navigates grief, dating and men with baggage of their own, Moll tries gently to push her beloved owner to moving on with someone Moll has chosen, with a good sense of humour, a generous heart, and a steady supply of biscuits.

But Suki has a frustrating habit of doing things the way she wants, instead of Moll’s way. Until she meets Ted, who Moll adores almost as much as Suki does.

Ted, though, has demons of his own - so is he really the right choice for Suki?

With Moll getting older, and Suki still struggling, can this devoted pup fulfil her promise to look after her owner, before her time runs out?

A quirky tale of second chances, told through the eyes of woman’s best friend.

***

Dog lovers will adore this book which is narrated by the authors dog, Moll. She tells the story of her owner, Suki's experience as she steers her through a journey of love and loss en route to finding happiness again.

It is a heartfelt account of the routes upon which grief can send you. However, at times it is humorous, at other times it's poignant and at all times it is an enjoyable read.

The descriptive passages of Cornwall made me want to hop on a train and walk through its countryside with my own dog. However, he is elderly and riddled with arthritis and cannot walk far but I think he would strongly identify with Moll's ability to enjoy a good sniff.  Although I have visited Cornwall in the past, and it is indeed a beautiful county, reading this book has initiated my desire for a return visit.

The book contains a certain charm, and it's being narrated by Moll elevates the story. Whilst based on the author's own experiences, it is imaginatively constructed and well written. I am already looking forward to reading the author's next book, Lainy's Tail.

I defy anyone who reads this not to fall in love with this little bundle of canine intuition.

ISBN: 978 1912009343

Publisher: Compass Publishing UK

Formats:  e-book and paperback

No. of Pages: 308

About the Author:

S. L. Rosewarne writes contemporary women’s fiction with an underlying theme which can be overcoming grief, second chances, how to live with anorexia, dealing with a problem rescue dog - everyday dilemmas that many of us face. 

She hopes that by sharing her experiences, wrapped up in characters that have grown from her imagination, you may laugh and cry with her, and enjoy reading how she overcome her dilemmas.

(author photo and bio information courtesy of the authors website)

(book courtesy of Rachel's Random Resource)

The Notekeeper by Hannah Treave - #BookReview #BlogTour

 

The lights of the runway dazzled up ahead. It was as though the twinkling blue and white lights had been arranged especially for her - a reminder that she had made the right choice. As the twin engines roared into life, she took a deep breath. The rumble of power beneath her would carry her thousands of miles away. This was it. No going back.

As the aircraft accelerated, she fixed her gaze on the lights. They flashed past so quickly they looked like one great line rather than individual dots. And then they were up, the plane soaring into the Australian night sky with all the grace and elegance of a leaping ballet dancer. She let out a loud gasp, the realisation of what she had done hitting her with such force she disturbed the sleeping passenger beside her.

***

In order to love again, first she’ll need to learn how to live again...

Following a tragedy, Zoe flees Australia and makes a life for herself in the UK. Two years later, working as a care nurse in Bath and knowing just how much comfort last words can bring, Zoe has taken it upon herself to become a notekeeper - writing down the final thoughts of her patients and delivering them to their loved ones.

Zoe’s new boss, Ben, isn’t happy about her getting so involved in the patients’ lives. Even as they clash, they both begin to realize that facing one’s past is the only way to move on. But life is never straightforward, especially for Zoe. In finally opening up her heart after all these years, is she about to have it broken all over again?

***

I enjoyed reading this book very much and becoming aquainted with the cast of characters.

The main character, Zoe, is multi-faceted and her journey to healing is a heartfelt and moving one. Running away from grief, and working as a nurse in a hospice she is constantly reminded of her own loss. However, this is not a depressing book but is thoughtful and sensitive, although many readers may do well to have a handkerchief tucked into their sleeve. 

The author handles the subject matter carefully and skillfully. The main theme in the book is that of dying and bereavement but ultimately it is an uplifting and hopeful novel. There were many joyous moments in the book, with the other characters playing a vital, and meaningful role. I particularly liked Miles, Zoe's colleage and fellow Australian. He brought humour and fun to the story.

Written in a light and accessible style this is a book that can be read in a two or three sittings. I certainly found myself being lured back to it when I had to put it down and I definitely read past my bedtime.

I will read other books by this author. This is the first book published under the pseudonym of Hannah Treave but she has released several books under the name of Fiona Ford, of which I soon hope to become acquainted. 

ISBN:978 1804361290

Publisher: Canelo

Formats: e-book, audio, paperback

No. of Pages: 352 (paperback)

Triggers: Death of a child, dying, grief, bereavement, cancer.

About the Author:

Hannah Treave is the pseudonym for Fiona Ford, an experienced freelance journalist and prolific novelist. She has written for the national press for many years (far too many to count) and is the author of the bestselling Liberty Girls series published by Penguin Random House. She lives in Berkshire with her husband and two cats and when she's not writing can be found in the gym desperately trying to exercise her way out of diet that is filled with just a little bit too much cake.

(ARC courtesy of Love Book Tours)

(author photo courtesy of Blake Friedmann)

(author bio courtesy of Amazon)

The Ascension of Mary by William West - #BookReview

 

I know you think I'm an old fool, Esther, but this is important, and I need you to listen to me. I've been sitting on this front porch waiting for two months now. I watched the sky, and I watched the road. I sipped my tea, and I did some more watching, some more waiting. I thought you'd be here by now. Every day has been the same as the one before. I was sure the time to go was getting close. I felt it in these old bones. But then something strange happened. This young girl walked by in front of the house. Oh yes, I know, a lot of young girls live in the neighbourhood and pass through here on their way to the other side of the Eisenhower, but this girl was different. I could tell right away. She had a determined way of walking. Something was special about her, and it wasn't long before my suspicions came true. Things began to happen - things that changed the last fifteen years or at least made me think I needed to stick around and help fix things.

***

The Ascension of Mary tells the story of Mary Hester, a 14-year-old violin prodigy, who moves to a new home near Chicago with her mother and discovers a ghost in her bedroom. Mary believes that the ghost is her father who gives her the power to heal others. When Mary begins to help others with her powers, strangers hoping to be healed show up at their house. Mary’s efforts to help them turn tragic, and Mary must turn to her family and her music to find answers to the losses in her life.

The story is told from alternating perspectives of three main characters. Mary tells her story through her diary as she talks to her imagined father about the changes in her life. Mary’s mother, Rachel, reveals to Mary the secrets of their family, and her history with Mary’s father who was killed in what appeared to be a racially motivated drive-by shooting. Jonah Culpepper, who lives next door, talks to his dead wife, Esther, about Mary, and how she has given him a reason to live.

The Ascension of Mary addresses relationships, diversity, racism, grief, and discovery in today’s society through the eyes of a blended family which finds strength in its broken parts.

***

This novel has a triple narrative which I really enjoyed. The story is told from the perspectives of Mary, her mother Rachel and their neighbour Jonah. It was very interesting to see how these three different voices moved the story along and ultimately come together.

The author is a good storyteller and wove several strands and issues together. He deals with some difficult themes throughout the book; grief, racism, bigotry, and ultimately, love and family and the effect that those three former themes have upon the individual characters.

ISBN:  978 1952816888

Publisher: Touch Point Press

Formats: e-book and paperback

No. of Pages: 219 (paperback)

About the Author: 

I grew up in Texas, went to UT, graduated from University of Houston and started a career in social work before moving to California in search of something different. I ended up in law enforcement and spent most of my time investigating major crimes. That's about it. Basic stuff, huh? Well there was a lot of life mixed in there which I will probably add later, bit by bit. Suffice it say, looking back, I wish I had studied creative writing and literature. That's where my real love was. So I took the long way around, and now I have the time to write. My debut novel, Evolution of a Young Man in Love, was published in 2018 but was not able to reach a wide audience.

I have completed two additional novels, The Ascension of Mary and Kissproof World, which have been accepted for publication by TouchPoint Press, and will be released in 2021 and 2022, the long delay due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

All of my novels speak to relationships and how we get through troubling times, on a personal level as well as a collective society.

(author photo and bio. info courtesy of the author's website

ARC courtesy of Netgalley)

The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs - #BookReview

 

This was a big moment for Natalie. The biggest in her career so far, for sure. The whole company had gathered in the reception hall of Pinnacle Fine Wines to celebrate her promotion and the million-dollar deal she'd made for the firm. But her own mother was a no-show.

True to form.

To be fair, the drive from the city up to Archangel could be unpredictable in the afternoon. It was equally possible that Blythe Harper had completely forgotten that she'd promised to show up to celebrate her daughter's achievement.

***

Heartbroken Natalie Harper inherits her mother’s charming, cash-strapped bookshop and finds herself the carer for her ailing grandfather Andrew. She thinks it’s best to move him to an assisted-living home to ensure his care, but to pay for it, Natalie will have to sell up the bookshop. However, Grandpa Andrew owns the building and refuses to budge.

Moving into the studio apartment above the shop, Natalie hires a contractor, Peach Gallagher, to do some repairs. His young daughter becomes a regular at the shop, and she and Natalie begin reading together while Peach works. Slowly, Natalie’s sorrow begins to dissipate as her life becomes an unexpected journey of new friendships. From unearthing hidden artefacts in the bookshop’s walls, to learning the truth about her family, the bookshop is full of surprises. Can Natalie reveal her own heart’s desire and turn a new page…?

***

I can never resist books about book shops so when I found this on the library shelves, I knew I had to borrow it. And what a good choice it was. It did not disappoint in any way, and now I cannot wait to read more from this author.

In fact, she has an extensive back catalogue and having checked, I am delighted that the library has lots of them in the county.

There is a cast of well developed and likeable, characters. Natalie is an excellent main character and her relationship and challenges with her grandfather were wonderful to observe.

It has a certain charm to it, and Natalie was easy to identify with. She is a woman who, at the outset, is trapped in a job that she finds unfulfilling, and it was fascinating to see her character mature as she takes on the bookshop and has to deal with so much loss.

The bookshop itself was as significant as the characters, and I could almost smell the mustiness of the old books, as well as the freshly printed pages of the new. The author has done an excellent job of bringing the shop to life on the page.

On the surface, this book is about grief, but it is about so much more. Love, hope and passion are woven throughout it's pages. Some might say the book is predictable, and certainly there were no rapid twists and turns. But sometimes, a calm stroll through a book is exactly what I need, and this one hit the nail firmly on the head for me.

ISBN: 978 0008358754

Publisher: Harper Collins

Format: e-book, audio, paperback and hardback

No. of Pages: 400 (paperback)

About the Author:

Susan Wiggs's life is all about family, friends…and fiction. She lives at the water's edge on an island in Puget Sound, and in good weather, she commutes to her writers' group in a 21-foot motorboat. She’s been featured in the national media, including NPR, PRI, and USA Today, has given programs for the US Embassies in Buenos Aires and Montevideo, and is a popular speaker locally, nationally, internationally, and on the high seas.

From the very start, her writings have illuminated the everyday dramas of ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances. Her books celebrate the power of love, the timeless bonds of family and the fascinating nuances of human nature. Today, she is an international best-selling, award-winning author, with millions of copies of her books in print in numerous countries and languages. According to Publishers Weekly, Wiggs writes with "refreshingly honest emotion," and the Salem Statesman Journal adds that she is "one of our best observers of stories of the heart [who] knows how to capture emotion on virtually every page of every book." Booklist characterises her books as "real and true and unforgettable."

Her novels have appeared in the #1 spot on the New York Times Bestseller List, and have captured readers’ hearts around the globe with translations into more than 20 languages and 30 countries. She is a three-time winner of the RITA Award,. Her recent novel, The Apple Orchard, is currently being made into a film, and The Lakeshore Chronicles has been optioned for adaptation into a series.

The author is a former teacher, a Harvard graduate, an avid hiker, an amateur photographer, a good skier and terrible golfer, yet her favorite form of exercise is curling up with a good book. She lives on an island in Puget Sound, where she divides her time between sleeping and waking.

(author photo and bio. information courtesy of the publishers website - harpercollins.com)

What Eden Did Next by Sheila O'Flanagan - #BookReview

Darling You,

I went to the beach before sunrise this morning and stood at the water's edge, allowing the softest of waves to break gently over my feet while I wriggled my toes deeper into the cool, damp sand. When a whisper of breeze kissed the back of my neck, I took a deep breath and stretched my arms as high as I could over my head before exhaling slowly and lowering my arms again.

It was a perfect moment.

And then, as the sun peeked over the horizon, I felt the ache of your absence and I wished you were at my side.

***

Five years after the death of her firefighter husband, Eden knows better than anyone that life can change in an instant. Now, instead of the future she had planned with Andy, she has Lila - the daughter he never got the chance to meet. And instead of Andy, she has his family.

Then Eden meets someone. Someone she knew before Andy, before Lila, before the tragedy. Someone who reminds her of how she used to be. But Andy's mother has other plans. And Eden is facing an impossible choice. One that could tear a family apart . . .

Honest and emotionally gripping, What Eden Did Next is an irresistible, sometimes heart-breaking, ultimately joyful, novel of love, loss - and finding your own way to happiness.

***

It has been about a decade since I last read a book by this author. I am not even sure which titles I read, and as this was before I began the blog or using Good Reads to record my thoughts on what I read, I have no way of checking. All I remember is that I enjoyed reading them.

So, it was lovely to reacquaint myself with Ms O'Flanagan's work. It did take me a little while to get into this book. Plot wise, nothing seemed to be happening. However, what the author was cleverly and carefully doing was laying out the thoughts and feelings of the main character, Eden, and I am so glad that I persevered with it as it is well worth reading.

It is very much a character driven novel and Eden was a delight to read about. She is caring and considerate of others despite having been widowed very young. Eden still chooses to see the best in people and in life in general. As a reader it was impossible not to become engrossed in her character and her circumstances.

Even though Eden is a rounded and well portrayed character, the author portrays the secondary characters with equal diligence and detail. I loved Elizabeth, who Eden is caring for, and Lila and Poppy were delightful children to read of.

Although this novel is about grief and how to move on, it is ultimately a heartwarming and uplifting story that gave me a little satisfied tingle as I read the final page. I absolutely will not be leaving it another decade before I read another book by this very talented author.

ISBN: 978 1472272676

Publisher: Headline Review

Format: e-book, audio and hardback

No. of Pages: 464 (hardback)

About the Author:

What Eden Did Next is Sheila O'Flanagan's 30th book to be published. When her debut novel, Dreaming of a Stranger, was first published twenty-five years ago, she never imagined that it was the beginning of such an amazing writing journey.

She was born in Dublin and has always lived there.

The Unsinkable Greta James by Jennifer E. Smith - #BookReview #BlogTour

 

Greta is standing at the window of a hotel in West Hollywood when her brother calls for the third time that day. Across the street, there's a billboard with a sleek white yacht surrounded by turquoise water, an ad for a new kind of beer, and something about it - that feeling of being adrift - makes it easier to say no when she finally picks up the phone.

***

Just after the sudden death of her mother - her most devoted fan - and weeks before the launch of her high-stakes second album, Greta James falls apart on stage. The footage quickly goes viral and she stops playing. Greta's career is suddenly in jeopardy - the kind of jeopardy her father, Conrad, has always warned her about.

Months later, Greta - still heartbroken and very much adrift - reluctantly agrees to accompany Conrad on the Alaskan cruise her parents had booked to celebrate their fortieth anniversary. It could be their last chance to heal old wounds in the wake of shared loss. But the trip will also prove to be a voyage of discovery for them both, and for Ben Wilder, a charming historian who is struggling with a major upheaval in his own life.

In this unlikeliest of places - at sea and far from the packed venues where she usually plays - Greta must finally confront the heartbreak she's suffered, the family hurts that run deep, and how to find her voice again.

***

This is a well written and compelling novel that gripped me from the start. Greta is an interesting character, and one who is very easy to identify with, even though she is a rock star! The story dealt with the Greta behind the lights and the music. She is a multilayered and engaging character who is struggling to come to terms with the death of her mother whilst also fearing the loss of her career.

Whilst the book deals with the difficult issue of grief and bereavement, it is not done in a depressing or mawkish manner. Rather it is heart felt and sensitive and allows the reader to empathise, not only with Greta, but with her father also.

Her relationship with her father has been problematic at the best of times but now that they are both swaddled in their own grief, they are emotionally further away from each other than ever. Taking her mothers place on the cruise, and being forced to spend time together in this way is a great plot device on the part of the author, because it informs the reader that this will either resolve or exacerbate the divide in the relationship.

Ultimately, the story's central message is of hope, love and inspiration. The way in which the author took what could have been a joyless subject, and turn it into such a positive and heart warming story demonstrates her skills as a writer and when I reached the end of this novel, I gave a huge satisfied sigh of satisfaction.

Additionally, if the author had intended to make me want to head off on a winter cruise she has been hugely successful. Having read this book, I am now longing to go on a winter cruise. The author's descriptions of the beauty of Alaska would challenge anyone not to feel tempted.

I highly recommend this wonderful book.

ISBN: 978 1529416435

Publisher: Quercus

No. of pages: 320 (hardback)

About the Author:

Jennifer E. Smith is the author of nine books for young adults, including The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight and Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between,  both of which have recently been adapted for film. She earned a master’s degree in creative writing from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, and her work has been translated into thirty-three languages. She currently lives in Los Angeles.

(author photo and bio info from the authors own website athttps://www.jenniferesmith.com/about)

The Letter by Ruth Saberton - #BookReview

 

May 1914

On her first night at the Rectory the old dream came again. It began, as it always did, with a moon the colour of honey slanting shadows across the counterpane while the night breeze enticed her out of bed. Somehow, she'd reach the window without her feet touching the floorboards, while her white nightgown billowed behind her like the sail of a stately galleon and bore her into the shadowscape.

On the eve of the First World War aspiring poet and Lord of the Manor's heir, Kit Rivers accepts that his duty is to his family and his country. Yet when he falls passionatley in love, Kit discovers hard choices must be made when conflict threatens everything he holds dear and shatters his world beyond all recognition.

One century later, newly widowed Chloe Pencarrow exchanges London life for an isolated Cornish house. Haunted by memories, Chloe's interest in a local war memorial proves a welcome distraction from grief and leads to a fascination with a collection of forgotten poetry. As Chloe's own story becomes entwined with Kit's, she finds herself caught in a tangled web of love, loss, and the darkest of secrets.

* * *

Generally, romance novels are down the list of my favourite genres. I tend to find them a little too sugary, and dare I say formulaic, for my taste. Then every once in a while I find myself in the mood for a little romance (note to self - mention this to my husband and drop hints about flowers and chocolates).

However, this is the book that has challenged my preconceived ideas and may even have converted me to embrace romance as a genre to add into my reading choices more regularly.

I very much enjoyed this novel and the author has done a brilliant job with the dual time narrative. I am always impressed by authors who are so successful in doing this as seamlessly as Ms. Saberton has. The change of voice between Chloe and Daisy was evident and I was equally engaged with both stories.

The main character, Chloe, has recently lost her husband and the beginning of the novel is much about her grief and her need to be somewhere new. Her pain is visceral and very moving to read.

All of the characters are expertly portrayed and I felt completely absorbed in their lives. In fact, her portrayal of the fictional Kit Rivers as a war poet spurred me on to reacquaint myself with the War Poets.

The book is set in Cornwall and the descriptions of the area have been beautifully written. I was fortunate enough to spend a couple of weeks in Cornwall a few years ago and it is a gorgeous part of the country and the author has clearly been inspired by the area.

Although this book deals with the issue of grief, it is about so much more. It is also about hope, love and the promise of life ahead.

This is my first book by Ruth Saberton. She is a skilled storyteller and I am looking forward to reading more of her work.

Have you read The Letter? If so, I would love to hear your thoughts.

ISBN: 978 1983623462

Publisher: Create Space Independent Publishing

About the Author:

Ruth Saberton is a British writer with over 26 published books. She has also written under the names of Jessica Fox, Georgie Carter and Holly Cavendish.

Born in London she now lives in Cornwall which she says is a constant source of inspiration for her writing.

She has always wanted to be a writer and as a child filled several notebooks with her stories about horses and ponies. She still likes riding, enjoys walking and spending time with her friends and family.

Murder in Chianti by Camilla Trinchieri - #BookReview

                                                                                                                                                                     

"Monday, 5.13 a.m. The sun wouldn't show up for at least another hour, but Nico got out of bed, shrugged on a T-shirt, pulled on a pair of shorts and socks, and laced up his trainers. Bed had stopped being a welcome place, both back in the Bronx brownstone he and Rita had lived in for twenty-five years, and here in this century-old, two roomed farmhouse he'd rented since May."

Mourning the loss of his late wife, Rita, former detective Nico Doyle moves to her hometown of Gravigna in the wine region of Chianti. He isn't sure if it's peace he's seeking, but that certainly isn't what he finds: early one morning he hears a gunshot near his cabin and walks outside to the sight of a flashily dressed man with his face blown off.

Salvatore Perillo, the local inspector, enlists Nico's help with the murder case. It turns out more than one person in this idyllic corner of Italy knew the victim, and with a very small pool of suspects, including his own in-laws, Nico must dig up Gravigna's every last painful secret to get to the truth.

***

So many of us have had to stay-cation this year. Not a bad thing in itself as we have some beautiful places to visit here in the UK. However, reading this book transported me to Tuscany. It is so rich in atmosphere that I could almost taste the food, sample the wines and feel the Italian sun seeping into my bones.

Additionally, there is a stray dog who attaches himself to Nico, who has this huge void in his life following the death of his wife. I think I may have fallen a little in love with Nico. The author's portrayal of him as a kind, compassionate, grieving man is extremely well executed. As he becomes involved with the local police force in solving the murder of the man whose body he discovered we see his resourcefulness and sensitivity.

The secondary characters are equally well drawn and Ms Trinchieri is able to portray the members of a close community with real skill. Evocative language and great storytelling skills made this an extremely enjoyable read for me.

It is perfect for fans of Donna Leon, Philip Gwynne Jones and Andrea Camilleri.

I am thrilled that this is set to be the first in a series and I am looking forward to the next one already. It is a wonderful combination of character, atmosphere and murder mystery and far exceeds many books of this genre that I have read. I hope that you will enjoy it too.

ISBN: 978 0749026462

Publisher: Allison & Busby

About the Author

Camilla Trinchieri worked for many years on films in Rome with directors including Federico Fellini and Luchino Visconti. She emigrated to the US in 1980 and received her MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University. Under the pseudonym Camilla Crespi, she has published seven crime novels, including The Breakfast Club Murder.

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett - #BookReview

"The first time our father brought Andrea to the Dutch House, Sandy, our housekeeper, came to my sister's room and told us to come downstairs. 'Your father has a friend he wants you to meet,' she said.

Danny Conroy grows up in the Dutch House, a lavish folly in small-town Pennsylvania taken on by his property developer father. Though his father is distant and his mother is absent, Danny has his beloved sister Maeve: Maeve, with her wall of black hair, her delicacy, her brilliance. Life is comfortable and coherent, played out under the watchful eyes of the house's former owners in the frames of their oil painting.

Then one day their father bring Andrea home. Her arrival will exact a banishment: a banishment whose reverberations will echo for the rest of their lives.

As decades pass, Danny and his sister are drawn back time and again to the place they can never enter, knocking in vain on the locked door of the past. For behind the mystery of their own enforced exile is that of their mother's self-imposed one: an absence more powerful than any presence they have known.

The Dutch House is a story of family, betrayal, love, responsibility and sacrifice; of the powerful bonds of place and time that magnetise and repel us for our whole lives.

***

Having read this book and thought it wonderful I have been continually asking myself why I have never read any of Ann Patchett's books before! She has an extensive back catalogue, which I now have the joy of reading, so I am very happy about that.

The author portrayed this dysfunctional family with insight and understanding. I really liked the relationship between Danny and Maeve. They were totally believable, as indeed, were the less focal characters. 

The time span covers several decades and I particularly enjoyed seeing how Danny's character developed. His narration starts when he is still a young boy and takes us through to his adult life. We see how his character matures and changes and makes the reader question how we think we may have reacted if we had been in the same situation.

The titular house itself plays a significant part in this book, playing as compelling a role as the characters do. The descriptions were tangible and I really could see it's exterior and wander around the rooms in my imagination. I think it takes enormous skill for a writer to be able to imbue an inanimate object with such life.

The book tackles many themes, among them, family, forgiveness and loylaty. Ms. Patchett is clearly a phenomenal storyteller and writes with acute observation of the world around her. I really cannot wait to read more of her work.

Have you read any of her earlier novels? Which were your favourites?

ISBN: 978 1526614971

Publisher: Bloomsbury

About the Author:

Ann Patchett is the author of seven novels and three works of non-fiction. She has been shortlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction three times; with The Magician's Assistant in 1998, winning the prize with Bel Canto in 2002, and was most recently shortlisted with State of Wonder in 2012. She is also the winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award and was named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2012. 

She is the co-owner of Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee where she lives with her husband, Karl.

A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier - #Book Review

"'Shhh!' Violet Speedwell frowned. She did not need shushing; she had not said anything. The shusher, an officious woman sporting a helmet of grey hair, had planted herself squarely in the archway that led into the choir, Violet's favourite part of Winchester Cathedral."

1932. After the Great War took both her beloved brother and her fiancé, Violet Speedwell has become a "surplus woman," one of a generation doomed to a life of spinsterhood after the war killed so many young men. Yet Violet cannot reconcile herself to a life spent caring for her grieving, embittered mother. After countless meals of boiled egg and dry toast, she saves enough to move out of her mother's home and into the town of Winchester, home to one of England's grandest cathedrals. There, Violet is drawn into a society of broderers--women who embroider kneelers (kneeling cushions) for the Cathedral, carrying on a centuries-long tradition of bringing comfort to worshippers.

Violet finds support and community in the group, fulfillment in the work they create, and even a growing friendship with the vivacious Gilda. But when forces threaten her new independence and another war appears on the horizon, Violet must fight to put down roots in a place where women aren't expected to grow. Told in Chevalier's glorious prose, A Single Thread is a timeless story of friendship, love, and a woman crafting her own life.

***

We are living in extraordinary times - times of anxiety, worry and uncertainty. My reading tastes are currently inclined towards the lighthearted and humorous. However, this book was neither of those things but it was absolutely the best thing I could be reading right now. I loved it, loved it, loved it.

The pacing of this book was perfect. It is sedate and gentle and I felt as though I was being swept along in the gentle current that was Violet's life. Ms Chevalier's writing is consistently engrossing across all of her works and is very apparent in this novel.

Violet is a wonderful character. Set between the wars we see how she is able to adapt to a life that was unexpected before the Great War. Like many women of the period, Violet finds herself living a life that was unanticipated when her fiance was killed in battle and she faced life as a spinster. However, we see her grow and develop into a woman who was brave, courageous and who  paved the way for generations of women to come.

A book that combines two of my favourite things, reading and needlework, was a 'must read' for me and I enjoyed every word. I have previously read most of Ms, Chevalier's books and have enjoyed them all. I highly recommend this book.

ISBN: 978 0008153847

Publisher: The Borough Press

About the Author:

Tracy Chevalier is the author of ten novels, including At the Edge of the Orchard, Remarkable Creatures and Girl with a Pearl Earring, an international bestseller that has sold over five million copies and won the Barnes and Noble Discover Award. Born in Washington DC, in 2984 she moved to London, where she lives with her husband and son.