Reading Roundup - March 2023

 

The clocks went forward last weekend, and I am very much looking forward to the lighter evenings. Not to mention warmer days with the weak spring sunshine doing it's best to brighten our days.

March has been a good month for reading and I have read some good books, along with a couple that I did not care for much.

I hope it was a good month for you too. Did you read something you think that I might enjoy? I would love to hear about it.

Books I Have Read

Dreaming of Flight by Catherine Ryan Hyde - A gorgeous book and almost my favourite this month. You can read my review by clicking here.

Woman of a Certain Rage by Georgie Hall - We read this fictional book about a woman going through the menopause for my book group this month, and overall we did not enjoy it greatly.

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler - This book was my favourite book this month. It was just wonderful. You can read my review by clicking here.

Maid of Steel by Kate Baker - I read this book as part of a blog tour and I am very glad I did. You can read my review by clicking here.

Where We Belong by Sarah Bennett - I enjoyed this light read set in a rural Cotswolds village. If you would like to read my review you can do so here.

Birthright by Charles Lambert - Enjoyable intense read about a young woman who meets her doppelganger. You can read my review by clicking here.

A Line to Kill by Anthony Horowitz - another enjoyable book in the Hawthorne and Horowitz series.

Still Life by Val McDermid - I am so enjoying the Karen Pirie series and am eagerly awaiting publication of the next in the series.

The Hagley Wood Murder by M.J. Trow - A fascinating true crime book set during World War II which is being released today. You can read my review by clicking here.

Lyrics for the Loved Ones by Anne Goodwin - I have been blessed to have an early readers copy of this book. It is due for publication in May and my review will also go live then too.

Books I Did Not Finish

When Christ and His Saints Slept by Sharon Kay Penman - This really did not work for me.

Death in Fancy Dress by Anthony Gilbert - I had high hopes for this but it did not live up to my expectation.

Books I am Partway Through

The Little Venice Bookshop by Rebecca Raisin

The Fortune Men by Nadifa Mohamed

Hope by Amal Elsana Alh'jooj

(header photo courtesy of Unsplash)

A Midlife Baby by Cary J. Hansson - #BookReview

You have reached your destination.

Helen leaned forward to look out at the drab brick building across the drab grey car park. "You sure?" she said.

"It's the sat nav," Lawrence muttered. "Of course it's sure."

"Not the oracle then?"

"The what?" He squinted at the screen in the centre console. "This is it, Helen! This is St. Stephen's Wellness Centre."

"Right." Sitting very still, Helen stared straight ahead. Well then. Marriage guidance. Here they were.

***

Helen's week in Cyprus has left her on a high! She's back home, and determined to make changes as she forges ahead with the second half of her life. But events soon take an unexpected turn, leaving her plans in tatters and her loyalties divided. Overwhelmed by a powerful sense of deja vu, her dreams seem more impossible than ever.

Kay is also feeling re-charged. Accepting of the changes she must make in order to reclaim her life, she is quietly optimistic, until the threat hanging over her professional career becomes damagingly real.

And as Caro's life is turned upside down by the choice she made in Cyprus, she finally begins to understand that not everything in life can be planned for.

When a series of dramatic events then engulfs all three women, the friendship that has sustained them throughout adult life is tested as never before.

Will it survive? Or must they accept that some actions are unforgivable?

***

A Midlife Baby is the second in a trilogy and picks up directly at the point where the first book in the series, A Midlife Holiday, leaves off. If you have not already read it then I suggest you do, not only because it is a fantastic book but it will make reading A Midlife Baby make much more sense. If you would like to read my spoiler free review of A Midlife Holiday you can do so by clicking here..

It was wonderful to spend time again with the three characters, Helen, Kay and Caro.  I almost feel as though I am part of their friendship group now. They are fully realised characters that the author has made leap from the page. They are easy to identify with and reminiscent of so many women at this time in their lives.

The book covers some challenging themes but any sadness equally corresponds with the strength the three friends gain from one another. The author writes with sensitivity and understands her characters very well.

I enjoyed this book every bit as much as A Midlife Holiday and I am already excitedly anticipating the final book in the trilogy. I highly recommend this book.

ISBN: 978 9198758795

Publisher: Hansson Publishing

Formats: e-book and paperback

No. of Pages: 366 (paperback)

About the Author:

Cary grew up in the UK, but now lives in Sweden. After a varied career that saw her tap-dancing in a pantomime and selling towels on shopping channels, she settled down to write contemporary fiction. She swims in the Baltic year round, stands on her head once a day and enjoys Merlot over Shiraz. 

(ARC courtesy of the author)