Summer Nights at Hillview Farm by Margaret Amatt - #bookreview #blogtour

Adele had just reached the end of the secondary five records and was cross-referencing projected exam results with behaviour notes when her eyes landed on the date at the top of her planner...

***

I am required to make it clear at the beginning of my reviews that I received this book for free from Rachel's Random Resources. I have not been paid for doing this and all opinions are my own. I am Bookshop.org affiliated, which means I earn a very small amount of money if you buy from there using my direct link. Although I include purchase links to Amazon, I am not affiliated with them. I include them to make it easy for you to navigate to them if you so wish.

***

The Blurb

Some rules were made to be broken… especially when it comes to love.

After a tragedy left her heart shattered, deputy headteacher Adele Robson has rebuilt her life in Glenbriar, keeping her grief hidden behind a polished, no-nonsense exterior.

Rugged farmer Owen Lyndell is having a hard time with his wayward teenage son Max, and the summer holidays at Hillview Farm aren’t going well.

Term-time clashes over Max have made Adele and Owen loathe each other, so discovering her new dream cottage is next door to Owen’s farm is unwelcome news, especially when she’s finally built up the courage to carry out the summer bucket list she and her late fiancé dreamed of. And when Owen shows up accidentally during one of her bucket-list activities, they start to see a different side to each other.

Between horse riding, wild swimming, and sunsets over Loch Briar, both Owen and Adele have a chance to rediscover love. But only if Adele can overcome her past heartbreak… plus the immovable fact that she's Max’s teacher, and when summer ends, she and Owen must return to a professional relationship.

But perhaps the last item on the bucket list is one already written in the stars.

My Review

Although this book is part of a series, each book works as a standalone story. This book made for lovely reading and I enjoyed it very much.

The chapters are told from two different perspectives: Adele, who is deputy headteacher at a nearby school, and Owen, who is the father of Max, a student who tests Adele's patience every day. When Adele moves into a new home following the death of her fiancé, she is shocked to find that Owen is her nearest neighbour.

However, outside of the school setting, they see and appreciate one another in a different way and it's not too long before the chemistry between them becomes apparent. 

This is a lovely enemies-to-lovers story and is set in a small Scottish town. The setting was perfect for this story, and was an enchanting setting for the author to place her characters. 

The book deals with themes such as second chances, healing and moving on.  Although grief figures in the story, it is not even remotely maudlin.

The book has a predictable ending which was perfect for this story. It was clear from the very beginning that this was the likeliest outcome. If you like a beautiful setting with relatable characters and a little spice thrown into the mix, then you will love this story as much as I did.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1914575136

Publisher: Leannan Press

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

No. of Pages:  363 (paperback)

Series:  Book 18 in the Glenbriar series

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the Author

Margaret Amatt is a bestselling Scottish author, professional daydreamer, and certified chocolate addict. She’s been making up stories for as long as she can remember – some of them even made it onto paper (and, tragically, onto floppy disks that no computer can read anymore). After two decades of writing in secret, she finally unleashed her first novel on the world in 2021, kicking off a ten-book series set on the stunning Isle of Mull.

But why stop there? She’s also the creator of The Glenbriar Series, where romance, small-town drama, and a pinch of spice keep readers coming back for more. This series is still going strong, with more books planned!

Margaret has spent her whole life in Scotland’s breath-taking Highland Perthshire, despite her entire extended family coming from the Glasgow area. Her books are romantic and emotional, sweet and funny, and each one can be read as a standalone, but long-time readers know the joy of familiar faces popping up, adding to the chaos.

So, if you love relatable characters, sizzling chemistry, and plenty of banter, you’re in the right place – just don’t blame Margaret when you stay up way too late reading just one more chapter.

You can also find Margaret at:

Author Website

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(ARC and media courtesy of Rachel's Random)

(all opinions are my own)

Tiger's Last Roar by Harriet Howe and Katie Cottle - #bookreview

Tiger and Mae

Queens of the Jungle

The greatest explorers...

The Blurb

After a whole day of exploring with Tiger, Mae loved drawing with Tiger and telling stories with Tiger.

Always with Tiger. Tiger and Mae. Queens of the Jungle.

Tiger and Mae do everything together, the very best of friends. But there is nothing they love more than exploring, racing and chasing across their jungle. That is, until the call comes for "TEATIME!" and they race back to the house. As time moves on, Mae realises that Tiger is getting old and tired. And when Tiger then dies, Mae feels lost in a whirlwind of anger, fear and sadness. Even the safety of their jungle is stripped away. Only through time and healing does Mae learn that Tiger lives on - through her memories, pictures and their jungle itself.

This book is a profoundly moving, hopeful and reassuring story that celebrates the strength that comes from love and supports a child (and adults too) through navigating the loss of a beloved pet. A necessary and important book for your bookshelf.

My Review

This is a moving story about losing a pet. The death of a pet is a difficult enough experience when you are an adult, but for children, it can be a sad and confusing time. This book is a reassuring story about Mae and her pet cat, Tiger. They do everything together, and across a few short pages, we observe Tiger ageing. As he grows older, he slows down and sleeps more, but is always there for Mae, until one day when he doesn't come home. Mae has to deal with the myriad of emotions of his loss. Sometimes she is quiet, other times she is angry, until the time comes when she shuts herself away completely. However, the book culminates in hope when she realises that although Tiger has gone, he will always be with her and around her. This book has been beautifully illustrated by Katie Cottle, and I love the way the colour palette changes based on Mae's emotions. They combine perfectly with the excellent text to produce a book that is just perfect to help both children and their adults to deal with such a difficult time. In fact, there is a section at the back of the book which is dedicated to adults in supporting their child cope with the loss of a pet. Publishing on the 11th September, this debut book is a perfect one to have on the shelf at home or in the classroom for when a child has to face the devastating loss of a pet. I highly recommend it.

Book Details

ISBN: 978 1800789302

Publisher: Templar Books

Formats: paperback

No. of Pages: 40

Preorder Links

Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

Blackwell's

Waterstones

About the Author

Harriet's first word was "book", she's loved stories ever since, so it's a dream come true to end up writing her own. Originally from London, she now lives in Suffolk with her family. When not writing, Harriet works in television; she's filmed talking horses, chefs in jets and pop princesses in fabulous dresses. But she's happiest with a pencil in one hand and a cup of tea in the other, brewing up her next story.

You can also find Harriet at:

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About the Illustrator

Katie Cottle is a freelance illustrator and picture-bookmaker based in Bristol. Originally from Swansea, Katie graduated from the Illustration course at the University of the West of England in 2017. She enjoys telling stories through drawing, and uses a variety of media, including a mix of traditional and digital techniques. She was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize for The Blue Giant. She particularly enjoys using bright colours and drawing grumpy faces. 

You can also find Katie at:

Website

Instagram

(ARC and media courtesy of Bonnier Books)

(Illustrator photo courtesy of katiecottle.com/)

(all opinions are my own)(Bookshop.org affiliated)

The Youngster by Bibi Berki - #bookreview

From a distance. they could have been the same age. Two older women, sitting on a park bench on an overcast late winter morning...

The Blurb

Georgie and her mother Cherry have had their ups and downs. But now they're devoted to each other – and when Cherry learns that she’s in the early stages of dementia, Georgie is with her every step of the way…

…Until she can't be. And that's when he steps into her mother's life. The one who's been waiting, watching, whispering.

In turns deeply moving and deeply chilling, The Youngster is about one woman's spiralling descent when her mother is taken away from her by a damaged younger man.

My Review

This was a tense book to read, and it had me holding my breath at times.

The book begins with the main character, Georgie, feeling unwell as she sits on a park bench with her mother, Cherry, who has recently been diagnosed with dementia. They have a close relationship, and through Georgie's thoughts and reminiscences, we learn that Cherry has been a charismatic woman, who is feisty and very much knows her own mind.

When Georgie's illness turns into covid at an early point in the lockdown process, she is hospitalised and is very ill, leaving Cherry with no one to care for her. At least, this is Georgie's supposition when she is conscious but nothing could be further from the truth. The titular Youngster, has insinuated himself into Cherry's life and erected a barrier between her and her daughter. 

This made for fabulous reading. It was an utterly believable scenario and made for compelling reading. I could not put it down and I felt very invested in the story line.

The author wrote with authenticity of the empty streets during lockdown, along with the claustrophobic atmosphere of those who were locked inside within their bubbles. However, the thing that she accomplished so well was the gradual shift from dread and suspicion to Georgie's absolute horror of this man who she realises is coercively controlling her mother. What begins with the shock of her illness develops into something far more sinister with Cherry and the man she dubbed "The Youngster." 

There were points at which I questioned the reliability of Georgie as a narrator. She is frequently confused following her illness. Could she equally be confused concerning her mother's situation?

This is an outstanding book. It oozes with tension. The author has written very skillfully and laid out her story in a way which was engaging and edgy.  I wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a psychological thriller written with literary style. If you want a book which will get under your skin, then this is the book for you.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1917090094

Publisher:  Deixis Press

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

No. of Pages:  274 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Deixix Press

Blackwell's

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the Author

Bibi Berki is the author of novels, articles and podcasts, including psychological thrillers The Youngster and The Watch, and the film history series, The Kiss – The Women who made a Movie Masterpiece. She writes both fiction and non-fiction, and contributes to many sites and publications.

Bibi is based in South East London, where many of her stories are set. She is also the co-founder of Tempest Productions, which makes original audio stories.

You can also find Bibi at:

Author Website

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(ARC courtesy of the publicist)

(author photo and bio courtesy of the author's website)

(all opinions are my own)

Rainbows and Lollipops by Mo Fanning - #bookreview

 Two weeks before everything changed, Jake's life had seemed wonderfully, boringly normal. Surrounded by scatter cushions, he perched on the sofa, working from home, reading an emailed complaint from a Horizon Holidays customer whose Dusseldorf mini-break was 'ruined' by a lukewarm in-flight beef casserole...

***

The Blurb

When Jake met Tom, he waved goodbye to trawling Birmingham's gay bars. He didn't reckon with sleeping under glow-in-the-dark stars in his childhood bedroom.

Ambitious lawyer and lifelong loner Vicky has everything worked out... until she's faced with threats that can't be fixed with a power suit and a clever argument.

Lucy has planned her wedding down to each perfect petal on each perfect flower. If only 'happily-ever-after didn't come with a question mark.

Six binge-worthy episodes tell a story of finding your tribe and standing you ground.

My Review

This is a wonderful book that I enjoyed reading very much.

It is a novel that focuses on three friends during the summer of 2024. Each of the main characters narrate sections of their own: Jake, Vicky and Lucy. This gives the narrative a personal perspective from each of them. I enjoyed reading how their lives intertwine. Individually, they are all dealing with their own challenges, but with the support of one another, they are able to come through.

The book demonstrates how friends can become family and the importance of friendship in our lives. Jake, Vicky and Lucy were well-presented characters who were fully formed. What makes this book somewhat unique is that it is written as though for a television screenplay series which takes place across six episodes. This means the scenes are separated, but it all flows together cohesively.

The book deals with some serious themes such as grief and loss, love and friendship, and also what it is like to be queer or trans in twenty-first century Birmingham. The author does not sugarcoat these issues but presents them in a compassionate and sensitive way. 

This is a story that is contemporary, relevant, and utterly compelling. It is relatable, and the author develops the plot brilliantly throughout. 

This is an excellent book, and I highly recommend it.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1739290382

Publisher:  Spring Street Books

Formats:  e-book, hardback and paperback

No. of Pages:  320 (paperback)

Preorder Links

Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

About the Author

Page Turner Award finalist Mo Fanning is a part-time novelist, part-time stand-up comic and full-time potty-mouthed homosexual.

Birmingham-based Mo crafts deeply emotional, character-driven stories that blend humour, heartbreak, and hope. With a commitment to authentic LGBTQ+ representation, his work explores the messy, beautiful realities of love, loss, and resilience through characters readers can't help but root for.

When not writing, Mo enjoys immersing himself in Birmingham's vibrant culture and finding inspiration in its streets, stories, and people.

You can also find Mo at:

Author Website

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(book courtesy of the publicist)

(all opinions are my own)

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

The Secret Collector by Abigail Johnson - #blogtour #bookreview

 

Alfred had not let anyone inside his house for almost three years. Not that anyone cared. The overgrown weeds and bushes that swamped the small front garden were usually enough of a deterrent to any potential callers...

***

The Blurb

When an elderly eccentric collector and a troubled teen become each other's only hope of getting their  lives back on track, what can possibly go wrong? 

Alfred is an elderly widower who uses antiques and collectibles to fill the hole in his heart left by his late  wife. Kian is a lost teen who has been let down by the care system and finds it difficult staying on the  straight and narrow. 

After Kian throws a brick through Alfred's window, the shock sends Alfred to hospital and a social worker to his home, where his hoarding becomes impossible to ignore. 

Begrudgingly, and at the request of the authorities, they both agree to enrol Kian on a restorative justice  programme, helping to make Alfred’s home liveable again. The only problem: Alfred doesn't want to throw  any of his treasures away, and he certainly doesn’t want Kian for company. 

What unfolds is a surprising and delightful journey of two characters who help each other more than they  ever could have anticipated and, along the way, form the unlikeliest of friendships. 

My Review

This was a delightful read, and I loved everything about it.

The main characters, Alfred and Kian are brought together as part of the restorative justice programme after Kian throws a brick through Alfred's window. What follows is one of the most delightful of friendships that I have discovered within the pages of a book.

However, this friendship took time to form. Initially, they are resentful of each other. Both characters are flawed; both trying to appease the authorities that have entered their lives following the incident caused by Kian. If the restorative justice fails then teenager Kian fears he will be sent to prison and elderly Alfred is concerned he will be placed into a care home.

There are some difficult themes addressed in the book; growing up in care, grief and abandonment to name the main ones. However, Ms. Johnson dealt with this with compassion and sensitivity. At no point does the book ever become overly dramatic.

I was actually rather sorry when the book ended as it was delightful to be immersed in this story. Had time permitted I would have gobbled this up in one sitting. It was a quick and easy read with charming characters and a delightful plot line.

It is a well written, heartfelt and joyous book which was a delight to read. This is a debut novel from the author, Abigail Johnson. I thought it was fabulous and highly accomplished. If her future writing is as fabulous as this is then she is definitely one to watch. 

It is a heartfelt novel which is full of hope and optimism. I highly recommend this book.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1035057757

Publisher:  Pan

Formats:  e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages:  304 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Waterstones

Blackwell's

About the Author

Abigail Johnson wrote this novel while completing the Curtis Brown Creative three-month novel  writing course, where she was tutored by author Laura Barnett.  

It was longlisted for the 2021 and 2022 Bath Novel Award. Her writing has also been longlisted for  the Exeter Novel Award, shortlisted for the 2021 Edinburgh Flash Fiction Award and she was a  Friday Night Live finalist at the Festival of Writing in 2017. She lives in Birmingham.  

You can also find Abigail at:

Author Website

Instagram

Twitter / X

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(book and media courtesy of the publisher/author)

(all opinions are my own)

(bookshop.org affiliated)

Silent Riders of the Sea by John Gerard Fagan - bookreview

 

the dead of night on an Arctic ship

as close to hell as his imagination could construct

groaning metal and the lip vibrations of exhausted men

pale and unwashed figures...

***

The Blurb

In 1930, Jack the miner is grieving the loss of his young son.

In a desperate attempt to escape his misery, he makes the choice to leave.

With a motley crew of Scots, he embarks on Arctic fishing with the promise of a better life.

John Gerard Fagan, the author of the memoir Fish Town, takes us on a ride to the Arctic Sea through Jack's battle for survival on a crammed and gruesome ship and inescapable submission to the cruelty of nature and humankind alike.

In the background, memories of his life as a miner, while a permanent excruciating pain from mourning his own child lingers.

Be ready for a tale of human suffering, violence, and sadness with this story of the hard side of human life.

My Review

This book is my first five star read of 2025 and is well deserving of each and every one of those shiny stars.

That said, it is not an easy read. Written throughout in verse, it is beautiful but bleak, harsh and harrowing, and powerful and poetic. It is a complete juxtaposition of a novel in that it is perfectly composed against a background of despair and longing.

As this is written in verse it is testament to the author's skill in that he can convey so much in so few words. Reading this was an immersive experience. I could feel the cold of the Arctic upon the deck of the ship. The grief and despair of the main character Jack were tangible. He had been a miner and he thought nothing could be worse that being underground in such hazardous conditions. However, he found life on the ship to be much worse. Not just the freezing conditions and the constant working but the 'gaffer' would frequently beat them and treated the men extremely cruelly and violently.

The author has also included a series of illustrations throughout the book. They have been drawn using a combination of monotone ink, pen and water and they have a haunting quality which suits the text perfectly.

If you are looking for something a little different to read then this book would be perfect.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1068678295

Publisher:  Cybirdy Publishing

Formats:  e-book and paperback

No. of Pages:  240 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

Cybirdy

The Portobello Bookshop

About the Author

John Gerard Fagan is a writer from Glasgow / Scotland who writes in Scots, Scottish Gaelic, and English.

His debut memoir Fish Town about leaving Scotland to live in Japan was published by Guts Publishing.

His second book Silent Riders of the Sea about a miner in 1930 who leaves for the Arctic after the death of his son was published by Cybirdy Publishing.

You can also find John at:

Twitter/X

Website

(book and media courtesy of the publisher)

(all opinions are my own)

(bookshop.org affiliated)

The Idle Stance of the Tippler Pigeon by Safinah Danish Elahi - #bookreview #blogtour

 

Daylight dims outside my window, as I heave a sigh, I wrap up my work for the day. The electricity bills for this month are higher than they were last month... I take one last look at the screen, hoping for the number to magically change...

***

Zohaib, Misha and Nadia believed they would be in each other's lives forever. As children they played, argued, teased and loved one another. Yet nothing could have prepared them for the tragic turn of events one fateful afternoon in Karachi, Pakistan, when the divisions and differences between them are revealed.

Years later and they are still trying to piece their lives back together, still trying to make sense of what happened. Zohaib is living in London, haunted by the ghosts of the past. Nadia has escaped the household where she first met Misha and Zohaib but finds fate delivering her back to their door…

The Idle Stance of the Tippler Pigeon is a beautifully rendered portrait of love, healing, and long-buried pain, digging deep into the nature of trauma and class division.

***

What a fantastic title to catch a readers eye with.

This is the story of three lives; Misha, Zohaib and Nadia, and the chapters are told from their individual perspectives. There are also occasional chapters narrated by secondary characters. Misha and Zohaib are siblings and Nadia, along with her mother, work as servants in the household of the brother and sister. However, Nadia's position is slightly different to that of most children of her class as she is being educated alongside Misha.

The book moves backwards and forwards through time. Zohaib's chapters are set in present day London where he lives as an adult. Nadia's are also set in the present day in Lahore, but Misha's are set during her childhood in Karachi, Pakistan. This provides for a varied narrative of the three characters and has been extremely well executed. In the beginning I was puzzled by how the three stories were connected to one another, but it does all become clear as the book progresses.

This is a fairly short book but is a very powerful read. It is heartbreaking at times to realise how vast the repercussions that one childhood event had on them. It deals with themes of equality, racism and the issue of class within this one Pakistani household. However, it is also about loss and friendship.

The author is a great storyteller, and not a word of this novel has been wasted. She has carefully constructed a tight narrative and has done so extremely well. It is a character led novel with the plot gently simmering along in the background. It moves along at a fairly slow pace which is essential for this book as it gives the reader the opportunity to soak up the characters themselves.

This will appeal to readers who enjoy literary fiction, and I recommend it.

ISBN:  978 1911107705

Publisher:  Neem Tree Press

Formats:  Paperback

No. of Pages:  250

About the Author:

Safinah Danish Elahi is a lawyer, poet, writer, and the founder of an independent publishing house based in Pakistan. Her poetry collection has been critically acclaimed and one of her novels has been commissioned for television. Safinah was selected for the Iowa Writer’s Workshop 2022 Fall Residency and is often on the judging panel for writing competitions across Pakistan.

(book and media courtesy of The Write Reads)

(all opinions are my own)

Hard Times for the East End Library Girls by Patricia McBride - #bookreview #blogtour

Cordelia walked towards the corner of her street, her mind on the Christmas she'd just spent with her parents. It had been a subdued holiday. Her father was furious that much of their house was to be requisitioned by the army as a convalescent centre...

***

As the war hits London, they’ll band together…

War strikes close to home for chief librarian Cordelia when her flat is bombed, and her beloved Robert is called up and sent abroad. Fortunately, her colleagues Mavis and Jane can help see her through hard times.

The three friends find purpose in making the Silvertown library a friendly sanctuary for their deprived and devastated community. But sinister forces, from callous bureaucrats to crafty criminals, still lurk among the stacks. Worse, Jane’s soldier husband is injured and suffers both physically and mentally.

With so many struggles Cordelia and her friends might need more than books to survive war's shadow. Can they find light in the darkness?

A captivating tale of resilience and determination, perfect for fans of Lizzie Lane, Elaine Roberts and Lesley Eames.

***

Last year I read the first book in this series, The Library Girls of the East End, and if you would like to read my review please click here. I enjoyed that book very much, so I was delighted to be offered the opportunity to read the next book in the series for a blog tour.

I enjoyed the opportunity to spend more time with the three main characters, Cordelia, Jane and Mavis. Their personalities are developed further in this book, and by the time I had finished reading it I definitely felt as though these three women were my friends.

They are all employed by the library and are alone with their men away at war. In this book, we meet a new library volunteer, conscientious objector, Tom, as well as a range of visitors, each of who have something to add to the colour of the story. 

The library is also to be used as an IIP centre by the Red Cross, where people can come to look for their missing friends and relatives. In addition, they set up a quilting group to enable those who have lost or are lonely to come together to talk, share and to produce a quilt dedicated to those they have loved. The library becomes the real heart of the community.

The author is a great story teller and has the skill to bring her characters alive on the page. She is also accomplished at creating a setting which is completely believable. It is a very engaging story with much to commend it and demonstrates the importance of friendship and community. I highly recommend it.

Although this book is the second in a series, it would work equally well as a stand alone novel.

ISBN: 978 1835180105

Publisher:  Boldwood Books

Formats:  e-books, audio, hardback and paperback

No. of Pages:  264 (paperback)

About the Author:

Patricia McBride is an author of heartwarming World War II sagas featuring fierce female friendships. She resides in Cambridge, England with her husband. When not writing, Patricia enjoys curling up with a cup of tea and books about strong woman in war time. Patricia's latest series follows the adventures of three librarians living and working in London's impoverished East End during the Blitz. The first book, The Library Girls of the East End, introduces posh Lady Cordelia Carmichael, bold Mavis and more timid Jane. Despite their differences, the three band together to keep their beloved library running amidst food rationing, air raids, and family troubles. And of course, romance.

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

(all opinions are my own)

Goodbye Birdie Greenwing by Ericka Waller - #publicationday #spotlight

 This is my second spotlight post today. I could not resist shining a light on this book which I cannot wait to read. Goodbye Birdie Greenwing which published today looks like a fabulous read. I am sure you will agree.

The Blurb

Great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave and impossible to forget ...

Birdie Greenwing has been at a loose end ever since her beloved twin sister and husband passed away. Too proud and stubborn to admit she is lonely, Birdie’s world has shrunk. But then some new neighbours move in to the house next door.

Jane has come to Brighton for a fresh start, away from her ferociously protective mother Min. While Jane finds it hard to stand up for herself, her daughter Frankie has no problem telling people what she does and doesn’t want. Ada Kowalski has come to England to follow her dreams, but her new life is harder than she expected.

When a series of incidents brings their lives crashing together, the three find that there is always more to a person than meets the eye …

Goodbye Birdie Greenwing celebrates relationships in all their quirky, complicated uniqueness. It is a story about the choices we make and how we justify them. About finding out who we are, not who other people think we should be.

ISBN: 978 0857527257

Publisher:  Doubleday

Formats: e-book and hardback

No. of Pages:  352 

About the Author:

Ericka Waller lives in Brighton, by the sea, with her husband, three daughters and dogs. She loves reading (anything and everything), writing, and 1970's interior design (some may call it 'tut'). She has rheumatoid arthritis but can still talk the hind leg off a donkey. Always time for a cup of tea and some book recommendations.

(author media courtesy of Curtis Brown)

(all opinions are my own)

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.