Be Mine by Lizzy Barber - #bookreview #blogtour

 

A shriek rips through the blackness.

I struggle to process it in the muddy depths of sleep. It is familiarly unfamiliar; a continuous, rasping cry, insisting itself on me even as I beg it to retreat.

But when my brain starts to clear and I recognise it... The sound is coming from me...

***

The Blurb

Once, Beth was a different person, convinced she was living her dream life with the enigmatic wellness group, Elixir. But when that dream became a nightmare, she had no choice but to run, no matter what – or who – stood in her way.

Ten years later, exhausted and struggling with the pressures of motherhood, she receives a mysterious letter bearing only the infinity symbol, and knows immediately it is from them.

The past she’d run from has finally caught up with her, and the secrets she’s tried so hard to hide will soon be uncovered. Can she finally escape them for good, or will her freedom pay the ultimate price?

If wellness is the new religion, what happens when it’s taken too far?

My Review

This is a powerful and compelling novel that I couldn't put down. I went to bed one night with the intention of reading a chapter or two before I put the light out and found there was no way I was going to stop reading until I had finished it. In fact, my poor husband who has to be up extremely early for work was complaining about the light being on so late. So, what's a woman to do? Well, I gave him my sleep mask and continued reading until I'd finished it!

The book follows Beth who has escaped a cult which is dressed up as a wellness organisation called Elixir and is headed up by the charismatic Tate.  Following her escape, she has gone on to marry Adam and have a child but ten years on and the cult have tracked her down. The book is set during 2023 but with an equal number of chapters dedicated to the time when Beth becomes involved with Elixir.

As a reader we can anticipate the danger that she is getting into as she succumbs to the attraction of the organisation. I literally found myself wanting to shout at her and intervene to stop her doing this. The control that she was succumbing to was unnerving to read, all the while she herself believes these are her decisions and are for her own good.

I found myself questioning how reliable a narrator the Beth of 2023 was. She has spent the last decade looking over her shoulder, thinking the Elixir organisation will catch up with her. When she thinks they are, having initially received a letter with their symbol attached, I was wondering if she was simply paranoid.

I enjoyed the dual timeline of this book, and it moved back and forth seamlessly. The author's writing is wonderful and her ability to build tension was outstanding. Little by little we observe the life Beth has built for herself unravelling and the author portrays this skillfully.

There is a twist at the end of this story which I did not see coming until it was upon me but I shall say no more on that subject. However, I would highly encourage you to get your hands on a copy of this book to read it for yourself.

I have never read anything by this author previously but am now fully intent on reading all of her books and have already ordered a copy of My Name is Anna. 

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1915523518

Publisher:  Datura Books

Formats:  e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages:  400 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Datura Books

Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

Blackwell's

About the Author:

Lizzy Barber's first novel My Name is Anna was a Daily Mail First novel winner, whilst her follow up Out of her Depth was a Richard & Judy pick and has been optioned by Eleventh Hour Films. She read English at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. She has worked in acting and film development, and has spent the last thirteen years working in the restaurant business with her brother Jamie, heading up their brand and marketing department. They have a small group of restaurants in London: Haché, Hush and Cabana.

You can find out about Lizzy's other novels My Name is Anna and Out of Her Depth by clicking on the titles.

You can also find Lizzy at:

Author Website

Twitter / X

Instagram

Facebook

Bluesky

Why not check out some of the other fabulous bloggers on this tour.

(ARC and media courtesy of the publisher)

(all opinions are my own)

(bookshop.org affiliated)

Widows on the Wine Path by Julia Jarman - #bookreview

 

That's - er... The name escaped her as it often did these days.

Libby had been standing at the crowded theatre bar for the last five minutes, waiting for someone to notice she was there, when he - what is his name? - had walked in and caught the barman's eye in seconds...

***

Viv, Janet and Zelda know all about facing the wobbly first year of becoming a widow as their friendship was forged when they ran away from the same dreary support group. Forming instead the much more lively widows' wine club – The Muscateers – they welcome new member Libby with open arms.

Libby feels lost without Jim, her husband of more than thirty years, but the warmth, friendship and fun the women wrap her up in inspires her to begin to look to the future. When a solo trip to the theatre brings a blast from the past back into her life, things are looking up.

But as cravat-wearing, smooth-talking Monty Charles sweeps Libby off her feet, the women of the Muscateers smell a rat. They know only too well that the first year of widowhood is prime for making mistakes, and they’re determined to protect their friend. And as Monty soon finds out to his cost, never underestimate a Widow on the Wine Path…

***

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read, and I liked it very much. It is a sequel to the author's earlier book, The Widows Wine Club, but it works perfectly well as a stand alone novel and my reading was not hindered by being unaware of the back story.

It is based around a group of friends who have all been widowed; Viv, Janet, Zelda and Libby. They call themselves the Muscateers and I very much enjoyed reading about their friendship. All in their sixties, it is their strong bond which has carried them through their bereavement and helped each to face the challenges which this has brought to them.

However, the book focuses on Libby who bumps into a man that she had a crush on when she was young. Initially, her friends are pleased that Libby has reconnected with Monty, but as alarm bells start to ring, their bond strengthens as Viv, Janet and Zelda seek to protect Libby. 

The author has done a fabulous job in creating this group of women, all of whom the reader can identify with in one way or another. I could anticipate the danger of this new relationship alongside the three women, whilst Libby is living her life in ignorant bliss.

It is easy to recognise that Monty is not who he pretends to be. The author has portrayed him in a measurable manner and his connivance leaps off the page.

The novel is full of humanity and at times is extremely funny. With a well crafted plot, this made for a book which was excellent to read, and I highly recommend.

ISBN:  978 1785130397

Publisher:  Boldwood Books

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

No. of Pages: 344 (paperback)

***

About the Author: 

Julia Jarman is the author of many books for both children and adults.

She lives in Bedford with her pet cat, Penny.

(ARC courtesy of Net Galley)

(all opinions are my own)

The Vintage Village Bake Off by Judy Leigh - #bookreview #blogtour

 

'In the presence of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we have come together to witness the marriage of Harriet and Geoffrey, to pray for God's blessing on them, to share their joy, and to celebrate their love.'

The vicar smelled of something muddy and a strong whiff of aniseed. Hattie wondered if he'd just finished a quick burial outside. He must have rushed into the vestry to dust the soil from his hands and swig a swift glass of Pernod before starting the marriage service. She squinted at Geoffrey, sombre in his grey suit, through the dense net of her veil...

***

Now in his seventies, Robert Parkin is stunned to find himself the unlikely sex symbol of the village gardening club.

Living in happy solitude with his cat Isaac Mewton in the Devon village of Millbrook, entertained by his mischievous chickens and goats, Robert has never figured out the rules of romance. But as the local ladies vie for his company, it soon becomes clear that Robert’s Victoria Sponge cake is the lure, and as his baking prowess grows, so does his confidence.

Cheesecakes, meringues, puddings, Robert can do it all, but his real masterpieces are his scones – ginger, rosemary, coconut, fruit, his recipes are inspired and soon come to the attention of the local media. Which county does the best cream tea – Devon or Cornwall? It’s time for an age-old debate to be settled with a competition.

Robert’s sisters Bunty and Hattie are both at crossroads in their lives, so news of their brother’s baking competition is the perfect excuse to bring them to Millbrook. And as the siblings relish each other’s company, and Robert relishes being at the heart of his community, a summer of scones may just light the way to long-lasting happiness for them all.

***

This book was fun to read. It focusses on how we are never too old for second chances and how it is never too late to delve into new opportunities.

Whilst Hattie is the main character, it is really the story of three siblings of mature years, Hattie, Robert and Bunty. The author has developed their characters brilliantly, and they were each a joy to become acquainted with.

However, there was also a cast of secondary characters who were equally well drawn. I loved the vicar's daughter, Tilda, who is part of a punk band called Armpit. Jacko, the self-centred plumber, as well as the various women who are vying for Robert's attention. All extremely well drawn and who added an extra nuance to both plot and character.

What was delightful in this book was observing how Hattie grew as a person. Having escaped her marriage to the coercive and controlling Geoffrey it was marvellous to observe how she grew in strength and character.

It was a character led book set in an English village in Devon. The author conveys the feeling of community very well. Devon is a beautiful part of the country, and she did a great job in demonstrating that through the narrative.

It was a heartwarming and lighthearted novel which was a pleasure to read, and I recommend it.

ISBN: 978 1785132230

Publisher:  Boldwood Books

Formats:  e-book, audio, hardback and paperback

No. of Pages:  336 (paperback)

About the Author:

Judy Leigh is the USA Today bestselling author of The Old Girls’ Network and Five French Hens and the doyenne of the ‘it’s never too late’ genre of women’s fiction. She has lived all over the UK from Liverpool to Cornwall, but currently resides in Somerset.

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

(all opinions are my own)