A Little Trickerie by Rosanna Pike - #bookreview

May 1500

Ma had said she would give the cordwainer man a baby - the thing he could not get from his dull-as-ditchwater wife - and we would get a roof in return. That baby-child would be born, and when it was out then the cordwainer would discard the woman called his wife... and we would live there in that neat stone house...

The Blurb

Born a vagabond, Tibb Ingleby has never had a roof of her own. Her mother has taught her that if you’re not too bound by the Big Man’s rules, there are many ways a woman can find shelter in this world. But now her ma is gone.

As she journeys through the fields and forests of medieval England, Tibb discovers that there are people who will care for her, as well as those who mean her harm. And there are a great many others who are prepared to believe just about anything…

So, when the opportunity presents itself to escape the shackles society has placed on them, Tibb and her new friends conjure an audacious plan: her greatest trickerie yet. But before they know it, their hoax takes on a life of its own, drawing crowds - and vengeful enemies - to their door.

A tale of belief and superstition, kinship and courage, A Little Trickerie introduces a ragtag cast of characters and an unforgettable, endearing and distinctly unangelic heroine.

My Review

I can honestly say that this book is unlike anything I have previously read. It is set during the reign of Henry VII but is not about the Tudor dynasty.

Instead, it is about a vagrant girl called Tibb Ingleby.  Her story is told during a time when vagrancy was illegal and, if caught, could end with a V branded onto her forehead. She is orphaned at a young age and is left without an adult to guide her, and must make her own way in life through whatever means possible.

Tibb is probably, without question, the most lovable book character I have ever come across. She is vibrant and unique and, as readers, we are able to view Tudor England through her eyes. 

Her descriptions are uncompromisingly honest but told with humour. She is critical of religion for the way it punishes those who do not comply with its strictures, and rails against its inequalities. She loves those who care and trusts them wholeheartedly.

The author writes brilliantly, portraying Tibb's world with depth and humour. I savoured every single word of this book, and was indeed sorry when it came to an end. I almost felt bereft when I had to let Tibb go on the final page. She is a character that will stay with me for a long time.

I borrowed this book from the library, but I will be buying myself a copy as I know I will want to read this again. It was a joyous book to read. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to everyone. It will appeal to those who enjoy historical fiction, but this can equally be enjoyed by a much wider audience too. If you fancy something different, then I think you will love this book as much as I did.

Book Details

ISBN: 978 0241646076

Publisher: Fig Tree

Formats: e-book, audio, hardback and paperback

No. of Pages: 384 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Bookshop.org

Blackwell's

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the Author

Rosanna Pike is a former teacher and diarist for The Evening Standard who lives in south-west London with her family. She is a graduate of Curtis Brown Creative and the Faber Academy. Her debut novel, A Little Trickerie was an instant Sunday Times’ bestseller.

You can also find Roseanna at:

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(author photo and bio courtesy of Paper Literary)

(all opinions are my own)

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

Winter Wishes for the Home Front Nurses by Rachel Brimble - #bookreview #blogtour

Bath, 1942

"V! Wait for us! Have You heard the news?"

Startled from her worries, Veronica Campbell halted near the hospital entrance and spun around as her best friends and fellow nursing colleagues... hurried towards her...

The Blurb

Winter, 1942.

Secrets abound for the Home Front Nurses, but will one of them be able to tell the truth about her past before Christmas?

As the weather turns cold, and the war rages on, Veronica Campbell finds herself loving her job as a home front nurse more than ever. She’s spending time with her beloved best friends Sylvia and Freda, as well as assisting on life-saving operations with her fellow nurse Betty Wilson, and feeling valued and happy.

But at home, she wishes things were different. Because even cosied up by the fireside of her lovely little house, there’s a man who lives on her street. Someone she’d once thought she could trust, who – five years ago – had violently attacked her. His threats to her remain, but she’s been terrified into silence.

But everything changes when Betty needs somewhere to stay for Christmas, and Veronica impulsively suggests she move in with her. But can she trust Betty enough to let her guard down and tell her what happened that fateful day? Because if she doesn’t, they could both be at risk?

My Review

This book may be the third in the series, but not having read the previous two did not impact my enjoyment of this book in any way. Enough information on the backstory is provided to fill in the major parts of the earlier ones in the series.

It is a very character-driven novel, and I really enjoyed meeting the three main characters, Veronica, Freda and Sylvia. Their close friendship is the main feature running through this book. They are all nurses at a hospital in Bath during 1942 while the war rages on, and at this stage, an end to it is not in sight. We follow their stories both within and out of the hospital.

It was gratifying to see how during this period the role of women was changing professionally. They were being offered opportunities which would have previously only been available for men. It was wonderful to see their careers begin to progress.

It deals with some difficult themes which the author dealt with sensitively and with realism. However, it is a book full of hope, which was also heartfelt and emotive. I particularly thought that she wrote of the attraction of one of the characters towards someone of the same sex movingly. 1942 was not a time when one could speak of homosexuality openly, and she handled this very well.

This is the first book that I have read by this author, and it has left me keen to read more. I recommend this one if you enjoy wartime sagas. A word of caution - the book does describe the rape of one of the characters, although it does not take place on the page.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1835617939

Publisher:  Boldwood Books

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

No. of Pages:  296 (paperback)

Series:  Book 3 in the Home Front Nurses series

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the Author

Rachel Brimble is the bestselling author of over thirty works of historical romance and saga fiction. The first book in her series, The Home Front Nurses, is set in Bath.

You can also find Rachel at:

Author Newsletter

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

(all opinions are my own)

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid - #bookreview

 

"Film legend and '60's It Girl Evelyn Hugo has just announced that she will auction off 12 of her most memorable gowns through Christie's to raise money for breast cancer research..."

***

The Blurb

Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?

Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.

Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the '80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn’s story near its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a mesmerizing journey through the splendour of old Hollywood into the harsh realities of the present day as two women struggle with what it means and what it costs to face the truth.

My Review

I thought this was a fabulous book. It was steeped in glamour and made for a luscious read.

Hollywood legend, Evelyn Hugo has made her way up from a life of poverty. With a spirit of determination and blind ambition gets herself to where she wanted to be in life; a sexy and envied award winning actress. She determines to become the kind of woman who men desire and women envy.

Now in her later years, she seeks out little known journalist Monique Grant to write her life story. Evelyn intends to provide her with a warts and all account of her life to be published after her death. Monique recognizes that not only will this catapult her career but will also make her financially secure following the breakdown of her marriage. Evelyn's other condition is that it is a true and accurate account of her life and not the Hollywood version of it.

Each section in the book is headed with one of the titular seven husbands, and Evelyn narrates her time married to each of them. I couldn't help but compare her to Elizabeth Taylor, a real-life glamorous actress who was married multiple times. The sections were also interspersed with newspaper cuttings about her life which added another dimension to the story, demonstrating the way in which the media chooses to portray her.

In addition, there is a strong theme regarding LGBTQ+ issues running throughout the book. It was interesting to read how acceptance of homosexuality has changed throughout the decades and observe how unacceptable it was during Evelyn's earlier years. I think the author has done a great job of demonstrating this valuable point and the change that has occurred during the later period of her life.

The book is partly about the film industry and this book itself is crying out to be made into a film. It possesses enormous cinematic quality, and I would love to see this on the big screen.

This is an addictive novel that I couldn't wait to get back to every time I had to put it down. A marvellous book which I highly recommend.

Book Details:  

ISBN:  978 1398515697

Publisher:  Simon & Schuster

Formats:  e-book, audio, hardback and paperback

No. of Pages:  400 (paperback)

Purchase Details

Bookshop.org

Amazon UK / Amazon US

Blackwell's

Other Books by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Daisy Jones and the Six

Malibu Rising

Forever, Interrupted

After I Do

Carrie Soto is Back

Atmosphere

About the Author

Taylor Jenkins Reid is the author of the New York Times Bestselling novels Carrie Soto Is Back, Malibu Rising, Daisy Jones and The Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, as well as One True Loves, Maybe in Another Life, After I Do, and Forever, Interrupted. Her books have been chosen by Reese’s Book Club, Read with Jenna, Indie Next, Best of Amazon, and Book of the Month. Her novel, Daisy Jones and The Six, is now a limited series on Amazon Prime. She lives in Los Angeles.

You can also find Taylor at:

Author Website

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Facebook

(media courtesy of the author's website)

(all opinions are my own)

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

The Hangman's Master by Elyse Hoffman - #blogtour #bookreview

 The day that Stefan Harkel became a God was five years after he left the Nazi Party, one year after he joined the resistance, two months after Hitler's invasions of Poland, and one hour after he found his first mass grave...

***

The Blurb

In a world torn by hatred, reckless Stefan Harkel finds himself expelled from home at sixteen and drawn to the Nazi Party's Brownshirt Unit. But when the Führer turns against his own during the Night of Long Knives, Stefan vows vengeance for those he lost.

Joining an anti-Nazi resistance, Stefan’s thirst for revenge leads him to a supernatural twist: he’s chosen as a warden in Hell, granted a Contract for Zone N-1, home to the soul of Reinhard Heydrich, a key architect of the Holocaust. Yet, he’s not alone in this dark game; a ruthless Nazi seeks to claim the power of the Contracts for himself.

As the fate of Europe hangs in the balance, Stefan must protect his Contract from falling into enemy hands, confronting the ultimate battle between good and evil.

Elyse Hoffman delivers a gripping tale of redemption and resilience in the shadow of World War II.

My Review

I have had the good fortune of reading books by this author before so I was thrilled to be invited onto the blog tour for this book. In fact, they were all part of the Project 613 series. I haven't necessarily read them in order, or read the entire series as they do work very well as standalone novels. I have included links to my reviews of those books at the bottom of this review.

This book is slightly different in that it has a supernatural element running alongside a cracking good story. The main character, Stefan, is a German homosexual serving in the SA just prior to the beginning of World War II. However, some of the atrocities that he witnesses lead him to join the resistance group, Black Fox. The story takes quite a turn when Stefan is offered the opportunity to become a God of Hell and oversee the punishment of some of the Nazi's responsible for the brutal mass murders which he had witnessed.

I must confess, it took me a little while to reconcile these two differing parts of the story. However, I did feel that they aligned well enough by the end of the story. The author weaves the present, past and supernatural elements of the books together splendidly and it was easy to differentiate which part of the book that I was reading.

She is a good storyteller, and I have been very impressed by this series of books. There were some good twists and turns throughout the book and I was satisfied with the ending.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a supernatural element thrown in.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1952742354

Publisher:  Project 613 Publishing

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

No. of Pages:  216 (paperback)

Links to Reviews

Adiel and the Fuhrer

The Vengeance of Samuel Val

Black Fox One

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Amazon CA

About the Author

Elyse Hoffman is an award-winning author who strives to tell historical tales with new twists. Having studied WWII since the age of thirteen and with interests in fantasy and Jewish folklore, she loves to combine them in her writing. Elyse started writing novels at fourteen and finished her first historical fiction work at fifteen. She has published eight books: five in a series called The Barracks of the Holocaust, and three novels, including The Book of Uriel, Where David Threw Stones, and Fracture. In her spare time, she loves to read, work on pretty keyboards, and hang out with her co-authors - her Goldendoodle Ari and her ex-feral cat, Echo.

You can also find Elyse at:

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FaceBook

(ARC courtesy of The Write Reads)

(all opinions are my own)

Northern Boy by Iqbal Hussain - #bookreview #blogtour

 

Despite the years, her handwriting remains unchanged: big loops, rounded forms and circles for dots. I smile, then tut. She's put Sydney on the envelope rather than Melbourne. Judging by the date on the postmark, it's been round the whole of Australia to get here.

***

It's 1981 in the suburbs of Blackburn and, as Rafi’s mother reminds him daily, the family moved here from Pakistan to give him the best opportunities. But Rafi longs to follow his own path. Flamboyant,

dramatic and musically gifted, he wants to be a Bollywood star.

Twenty years later, Rafi is flying home from Australia for his best friend’s wedding. He has everything he ever wanted: starring roles in musical theatre, the perfect boyfriend and freedom from expectation. But returning to Blackburn is the ultimate test: can he show his true self to his community?

Navigating family and identity from boyhood to adulthood, as well as the changing eras of ABBA, skinheads and urbanisation, Rafi must follow his heart to achieve his dreams.

***

This was a wonderful book to read. Anyone who has grown up feeling that they were different will love this book. Even if that was not you, this is a great book to read. It is a heart rending story, filled with love and humour.

We follow the main character, Rafi, from his childhhood in the north of England, through to adulthood in Australia. Rafi is a fully realised character and I thorougly enjoyed getting to know him in this book. As a child he is theatrical and flamboyant. He is bullied at school and by his older brother at home, but when he is with his best friend Shazia, he is a child able to dazzle.

Rafi's mum, has a huge role in the book too. She is a colourful character, who wears flowers in her hair, sings, dances and cossetts Rafi. Whilst Rafi has his heart set on Bollywood, she wants him to have a respectable career as doctor, lawyer or account; the standard aspirations for sons in her Pakistani Muslim community. Her concerns with how others will perceive Rafi is to the forefront of her mind.

To the reader, it is abuldantly clear from the outset that Rafi is homosexual. How he will handle this within a community that is unaccepting is the main theme running through the book. The author accomplishes this superbly. His writing is full of compassion but imbued with humour. There were several occasions on which I would have liked to reach into the book and give Rafi a hug.  I was fully invested in his story and I do not think I will forget him in a hurry. 

This is an outstandingly compelling book which is well deserving of a five star rating. Reading it made for an immersive and gripping experience. This is Mr. Hussain's debut book and I think he is one to watch. I would defintely want to read another novel by this author if he were to write one. It is an excellent book and I highly recommend it.

ISBN: 978 1800183148

Publisher:  Unbound

Formats:  e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages:  359 (paperback)

About the Author:

Iqbal Hussain is a writer from Blackburn, Lancashire and he lives in London. His work appears in various anthologies and on websites including The Willowherb Review, The Hopper and caughtbytheriver.

He is a recipient of the inaugural London Writers’ Awards 2018 and he won Gold in the Creative Future Writers’ Awards 2019. In 2022, he won first prize in Writing Magazine’s Grand Flash competition and was joint runner-up in the Evening Standard Short Story Competition. In 2023, his story ‘I’ll Never Be Young Again’ won first prize in the Fowey Festival of Arts and Literature short story competition. He was also Highly Commended in the Emerging Writer Award from The Bridge Award. Northern Boy is his first novel.

(book and media courtesy of Random Things Tours)

(all opinions are my own)