The Freshman Parents by Ko Porteous - #bookreview #blogtour

Sitting in her house in Edinburgh, Heather McVey takes a horrified gasp, minimises the chat and slams the laptop closed...

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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.

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The Blurb

They're off for the time of their lives. But are you? 

Book #1 in The Empty Nesters Series.

Single parent Heather isn't neurotic (honest!) - she's simply dreading the day her only child leaves for university - so her meticulous checklists grow longer by the hour. When she seeks advice on a parents' forum, she clashes with Scott, a single dad whose "helpful" statistics and assertions about “helicopter parenting” leave her fuming. 

Move-in day delivers the ultimate surprise: their daughters aren’t just roommates – they are self-declared "besties for life". Suddenly, Heather and Scott are thrown into a begrudging alliance. 

As they navigate the new status quo, Heather's instinct to organise meets Scott's philosophy of letting go. Their practical text messages about mattress toppers and emergency supplies evolve into conversations about dream jobs and bucket list aspirations. Despite their intentions to avoid relationships at all costs, unpredictable events keep throwing them together, meaning Heather and Scott find it increasingly difficult to ignore each other... 

My Review

This was a wonderful book to read and I enjoyed every page.

The main characters, Heather and Scott, both single parents, rub each other up the wrong way when they join an online support group for the parents of young people who are heading off to St Andrews University. Heather is feeling a sense of dread at her only daughter, Georgia, going off to university, whereas Scott has raised his daughter, Brianna, to be independent and self-sufficient. When Georgia and Brianna become the best of friends, Heather and Scott have to deal with seeing each other more than they wished.

Heather was such an easy character to identify with. Yes, I was that mother who sobbed when each of my sons went off to uni. Then when my youngest left, my nest felt very empty indeed. I think anyone who has had a child go off to university will relate to Heather wholeheartedly. And while Scott initially came across as judgemental and a little offhand, as the book progresses and we learn more of his backstory, he becomes an equally likeable character.

It's obvious from the beginning that they were going to be attracted to one another despite their initial dislike. The author portrays this enemies-to-lovers story extremely well. As a debut novel she has done an excellent job and I am already looking forward to reading her next book, The Twenty Dates, which is due to be released in October 2026.

I also enjoyed the way the author depicted the story. We have chapters told from the perspectives of both Heather and Scott, as well as through the online forum messages and text messages between the characters. In addition, the author used both dialogue and narrative to move the story along at an appropriate pace.

The author uses both humour and sadness in this story. She is clearly a skilled writer and I am looking forward to reading more from her in the future. It is very rare that I would award a book of this genre five stars, but this one really deserves it. I highly recommend this book.

Book Details

ISBN: 978 1918664010

Publisher: All Ways Books

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

No. of Pages: 454 (paperback)

Series: Book 1 in the Empty Nesters series

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the Author

Ko Porteous lived in a tiny fishing village in the north of Scotland before moving to Edinburgh aged 10.  

Ko loves meeting people with interesting stories to tell and is constantly on the lookout for knotty story themes, particularly involving women navigating the messiness of life. She has worked as a Research Chemist, Assistant Chef, Teacher and School Leader.  

As well as writing, Ko works as a Business Manager and provides listening services for a mental health charity aiming to reduce the number of deaths caused by suicide.  

In her free time, Ko loves to run, meditate and travel; preferably all on the same day.   

Ko has been married for 25 years, has 2 children of her own and is now navigating her own empty nest.  

The Freshman Parents is Ko’s debut novel and is the first in ‘The Empty Nesters’ series. 

You can also find Ko at:

Author Website

Instagram

Facebook

My Other Blog Posts Featuring This Author

Cover Reveal

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

(all opinions are my own)

A Modern Midlife Christmas Carol by Alana Oxford - #excerpt #extract #publicationday

This looks like such a fun Christmassy read that I could not resist taking part in todays publication day push, and I'm thrilled that I have an excerpt for you today.

Without any further ado, let me tell you a little about the book.

The Blurb

Christmas cheer was dead, to begin with.

The world rests on Eliza’s shoulders. The kids, her husband, work, her elderly mother and don’t forget her newest friend, perimenopause. It’s too much to carry, but she’s been doing it for years. It’s just what a good wife and mother does, isn’t it? 

When another Christmas rolls around, Eliza is drained by all the expectations and logistics of the holiday season. She’s fast approaching her breaking point, only no one around her notices she’s on the edge.

After an incident at her in-law’s on Christmas Eve brings things to a boiling point, she finds herself with three unexpected visitors. The spirits of the past, present, and future take her on a journey through her life to shake her out of the rut she’s gotten into. Their messages leave her with new possibilities: reconnect with her past, reclaim her present, or forge a new future, and you, the reader, decide which option is best! 

The Excerpt

Eliza, her husband, Jacob, and their teenage children, Bella and Bobby, have just pulled into the driveway at Jacob’s brother Edward’s house for Christmas. They don’t have the greatest relationship with Edward and his wife, Dymond. 

Heavy. The word hit Eliza as she struggled to motivate herself to get out and put on the holiday act she was expected to perform. That’s how she felt…heavy. In mind, body, and spirit. Like she was carrying around the dead weight of the person she used to be, the reality of who she really was, and the ever increasing boulder of who everyone wanted her to be. The roles she had to play were layering on top of her as she struggled to unbuckle her seatbelt. Adoring wife - gleefully putting aside her misgivings to give her husband the Christmas he inexplicably wanted. Gentle and endlessly patient mother - even though the kids wanted her to back off and shut up, they also wanted her to know exactly what they wanted to eat and when and have it ready for them…and clean up their messes, physical and emotional…and be the butt of their jokes, and their punching bag, and their champion but always on their own terms. Cheerful sister-in-law - to two people who knew and cared nothing about who she was and what she was interested in. But she did have to soak up everything Edward and Dymond cared about and were interested in and nod and “ooh” at all the right parts. Attentive and dutiful daughter - even though her mother was not at Edward and Dymond’s house, she’d still expect Eliza to answer her every text within seconds. Doting aunt - it wasn’t Derby’s fault he was overstimulated and spoiled, but Eliza must bite her tongue at his unruly behavior and pretend he was just the sweetest angel she’d ever laid eyes on, her own children included. Authentic self - no. That role hadn’t been cast in this performance. Strangely enough, it never was. Eliza doubted she’d even know how to play it anymore, if she ever had. 

Eliza realized that even the kids had dragged themselves out of the vehicle and were stretching outside their doors. She couldn’t hide from it any longer.

About the Author:

Alana Oxford is a Michigan author of romcoms, sweet romance, and humorous women's fiction. She wants her stories to bring sunshine and smiles to her readers. She enjoys improv comedy, moody music, everything book related, and has an ongoing love affair with the United Kingdom.

Why not check out some of the other bloggers on the tour:

Linda's Book Bag

Book Escapes with Babs W67

Tizi's Book Review

 

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

(all opinions are my own)

One Midnight With You by Shari Low - #bookreview #blogtour

 Ailish Ryan, 54 - Newly divorced mum, primary school teacher, recently moved from her family home to a two-bedroom flat where she is supposed to be embracing single life. And she will - just as soon as she works up the motivation to get out of her comfy clothes and Crocs...

***

What would you do if you had just twenty-four hours to change your life?

Ailish Ryan has been in hiding since her husband’s affair ended their marriage. But when a friend forces her to face her new reality, will she choose to revisit the past or embrace a brand new future?

Ailish’s daughter, Emmy, thought her boyfriend was nothing like her cheating father, but now she’s not so sure. As the hours pass, she turns detective to find out if she picked the right man, or if history is repeating itself.

Grandmother, Minnie Ryan is on a mission to deliver a very special gift to a lifelong friend. But will grit and a touch of divine intervention be enough to overcome the obstacles that fate is putting in her way?

Dario Moretti has spent his whole life working in the family business, but now it’s in trouble and he’s all out of options. Will he have the strength to let it go, even if it means hurting the people he loves?

The clock is ticking… but will twenty-four hours be long enough to heal four broken hearts?

***

This book is set in Scotland during the Hogmanay celebrations. I liked the way the narrative of this novel took place over a 24-hour period. Furthermore, each section is broken down into two hour time periods. This gave the book much immediacy and I enjoyed it very much.

It is a light-hearted, humorous and entertaining read. The chapters are written from the perspective of four of the characters, Ailish, her daughter Emmy,  Ailish's ex-mother-in-law Minnie and Dario, an old friend of the family. I enjoyed the way each of the characters moved the story along through their different perspectives.

 There was much to like about Ailish, and she was easy to engage with. However, there is a great cast of secondary characters who were equally entertaining. Ailish's friends Rhonda and Gwen were excellent, as were the individual men who revolve around the three women and contribute to the story.

There was much humour included in the story. However, there were also some more serious elements that the author handled well. At no time did this feel heavy. It remained along an upbeat tone and was joyous to read.

I very much liked the way the story covered the 24 hours leading up to the Hogmanay celebrations. The new year is a time to anticipate new beginnings and the author conveyed that very well.

I would say that this book would make for a wonderful read over the New Year period. However, we are now in early September and I doubt that I would want to wait until then. As it is available on Kindle Unlimited at the moment I recommend giving it a read. It would then make for a fantastic Christmas gift in the run up to the New Year celebrations.

ISBN: 978 1835184608

Publisher:  Boldwood Books

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

No. of Pages:  304 (paperback)

***

About the Author:

Shari Low is the #1 bestselling author of over 30 novels, including My One Month Marriage and One Summer Sunrise and a collection of parenthood memories called Because Mummy Said So. She lives near Glasgow.

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

(all opinions are my own)

Books Publishing Today 4th July 2024

 

I was going to do a spotlight post on one of the fabulous new books being released today. However, there were a few that I just could not choose between so I decided to give you a little taste of all of them.

I'm sure you will agree that they all look awesome.

Does anything here catch your eye?

The Missing Family by Tim Weaver

 One family . . .

On a beautiful summer's day, at a remote lake in the middle of Dartmoor, three members of the Fowler family take a dinghy out onto the water, leaving mother Sarah at the shore.

Less than sixty seconds later, she checks to see where they are.

The boat is drifting in the middle of the lake. It's empty.

Sarah's family have completely vanished.

One killer . . .

At the Skyline Casino in London, the security team have just made a headline-grabbing arrest: they've spotted and detained a man suspected of murdering a high roller.

After locking him in one of their holding cells, the team station themselves outside and wait for the police. But when the cops arrive, they find something impossible.

The killer is no longer inside the cell.

Two detectives . . .

David Raker is an expert at solving missing persons puzzles – but these mysteries are unlike anything he's ever seen.

As he digs into the Fowler's, his long-time ally – ex-detective, Colm Healy – tries to get to the bottom of what happened at the casino.

But the men are in danger. Because, buried in the shadows of both cases, is a deadly secret that was never meant to come out . . .

Darkness Falls in Jakarta by Louise Soraya Black

The death of Claire's parents triggers troubled memories of her past life in Jakarta, a time that Claire has been running away from her whole life. Haunted by guilt and the terrible misunderstandings and accusations that forced her to leave the city as a teenager, she decides to travel back in the hope of finding answers and perhaps forgiveness. Is confronting her past the key to her deliverance? Beautifully written, with sumptuous and enchanting descriptions of Indonesia, this is a novel that completely transports you to a specific time and place and perfectly portrays that shared sense of guilt in all of us about mistakes or inactions of the past.

Old Girls on Deck by Maddie Please

It's never too late to sail a new course... When retired Jill Parker wins an all-expenses paid mediterranean cruise for two she is thrilled! At 63 life in retirement has got a little bit bland for Jill and this might be just the holiday she and husband Eddy need to get the sparks back in their marriage. But when Eddy admits he would much prefer to build his patio and look through the latest DIY magazine, Jill is left with only one other option - her sister Diana. Diana has become rather reclusive since her husband, Caspar died, but perhaps this is the push she needs to bring some excitement back into her life, too? Could this trip be just what both sisters need to reconnect and chart a new path for their futures? Excited to be exploring new horizons and catching up, the sisters soon discover that not everything is smooth sailing on board. And as they enjoy cocktails together at sundown, they discover that they are both actually a little all at sea...

No Country for Love by Yaroslav Trofimov

Seventeen-year-old Debora Rosenbaum, ambitious and in love with literature, arrives in the capital of the new Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Kharkiv, to make her own fate as a modern woman. The stale and forbidding ways of the past are out; 1930 is a new dawn, the Soviet era, where skyscrapers go up overnight. Debora finds work and meets a dashing young officer named Samuel who is training to become a fighter pilot. They fall in love, and begin to mix with Ukraine's new cultural elite.

But Debora's prospects - and Ukraine's - soon dim. State-induced famine rolls through the over-harvested countryside, and any deviation from Moscow-dictated ideology is punished by disappearance. When Samuel is sentenced to ten years' hard labour, Deborah is left on her own with a baby. And this is only the beginning. As advancing Nazi armies move through Ukraine during World War II, its yellow fields of wheat run red with blood. Forced to renounce the man she loves, her identity and even her name, Debora also learns to endure, manipulate and resist.

No Country for Love follows the hard choices Debora makes as Ukraine, caught between two totalitarian ideologies, turns into the deadliest place in the world - while she tries to protect those she loves most.

All His Spies: The Secret World of Robert Cecil by Stephen Alford

Robert Cecil, statesman and spymaster, lived through an astonishingly threatening period in English history. Queen Elizabeth had no clear successor and enemies both external and internal threatened to destroy England as a Protestant state, most spectacularly with the Spanish Armada and the Gunpowder Plot.

Cecil stood at the heart of the Tudor and then Stuart state, a vital figure in managing the succession from Elizabeth I to James I & VI, warding off military and religious threats and steering the decisions of two very different but equally wilful and hard-to-manage monarchs. The promising son of Queen Elizabeth’s chief minister Lord Burghley, for Cecil there was no choice but politics, and he became supremely skilled in the arts of power, making many rivals and enemies.

All His Spies is a wonderfully engaging and original work of history. Many readers are familiar with the great events of this tumultuous time, but All His Spies shows how easily these dramas could have turned out very differently. Cecil’s sureness of purpose, his espionage network and good luck all conspired to keep England uninvaded and to create a new ‘British’ monarchy which has endured to the present day.

Dark Flood by Karon Alderman

Everyone knows the history of the famous Heaton Main coal mine accident - but that's never interested Archie. Why would he bother about the past when he's got more than enough to worry about right now? Like his Granda's health taking a turn for the worse. And the shifty Robson twins from across the street deciding they have it in for him.

With the help of his best-friends Adila and Kyle, Archie goes on a mission to raise money for his Granda's recovery while also avoiding the Robsons at all costs. But when timelines collide during an unexpected storm, Archie is pulled more than two-hundred years into the past, and into an experience that will change his life forever. . .

If he can make it back.

Under a Lightning Sky by Pam Lecky

London is under attack. But within the rubble, a greater danger lurks…

The Luftwaffe has been bombing London continuously since September 1940.

During a bombing raid, Madeline Fairfax is caught in her kitchen whilst cooking for her husband and children. She becomes trapped in the rear of her home, but regains consciousness just in time to see a familiar face, offering hope of rescue. But instead, Madeline is tragically strangled to death.

As a dangerous murderer uses the Blitz to cover their crime, local detective Jamie Barton enlists the help of Madeline’s sister and volunteer firefighter, Penny Miller to help. Now, caught in a web of uncertainty and mistrust, a grieving Penny must find the truth and do whatever it takes to protect those she loves most.

Together, will they unravel this case before it's too late…?

Rosarita by Anita Desai

A young student sits on a bench in a park in San Miguel, Mexico. Bonita is away from her home in India to learn Spanish. She is alone, somewhere she has no connection to. It is bliss.

And then a woman approaches her. The woman claims to recognize Bonita because she is the spitting image of her mother, who made the same journey from India to Mexico as a young artist. No, says Bonita, my mother didn’t paint. She never travelled to Mexico. But this strange woman insists, and so Bonita follows her. Into a story where Bonita and her mother will move apart and come together, and where the past threatens to flood the present, or re-write it.

Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo

Flor has a gift: she can predict, to the day, when someone will die. So when she decides to throw her own living wake, her sisters are concerned. What has she foreseen?

Planning the celebration brings further complications for the Marte family, because Flor isn't the only person with secrets: her sisters are hiding things, too. And the next generation, cousins Ona and Yadi, face tumult of their own.

Family Lore traces the intertwining stories of five women: sisters and cousins, mothers and daughters, aunts and nieces, to ask the ultimate question - what does it take to live a good life, for yourself and those you love?

Bring Me Sunshine by Alex Brown - #bookreview #blogtour

 

Sinking her toes into the sand, she savoured the soft sensation as the plump, peach sun streaked the sky amber, bathing the sea with its shaft of shimmering gold. Leaning into him, she rested her head on his shoulder as they sat together on a large rock at the water's edge listening to the waves tumbling over the sand. The holiday was almost over...

***

Mamma Mia meets Shirley Valentine in the brand-new holiday romance for 2024 from the International No.1 bestseller.

Gina Bennett has had enough after her husband of twenty-seven years lets her down one time too many. Deciding to choose herself, she embarks on a transformative solo journey to break free from the monotony of her life.

She escapes to the gorgeous Greek island of Kalosiros, where she holidayed in her youth, and where she had her first romance with the handsome Nico. Encountering two kindred spirits in Rosie and Deedee, the women bond over art classes and cocktails, renewing their lust for life and a shared quest to find Gina's lost love.

Together, they navigate the challenges of middle-age, self-discovery, and the liberating power of skinny-dipping. Will Gina find love again with her teenage sweetheart Nico, her husband, or with someone new? 

Bring Me Sunshine is a wonderfully uplifting, coming-of-middle-age story about female friendship, romance and starting over, set on a gorgeous Greek island in the sun. The perfect summer read!

***

This is a wonderfully uplifting read which is perfect for summer.

When I saw a new release from Alex Brown was being offered on a blog tour I jumped at the chance to get my hands on it. I have previously read two of her titles, The Great Village Show and The Great Christmas Knit Off. You can find my review of the latter by clicking here..

Bring Me Sunshine would be an ideal book to read on the beach. However, it worked perfectly well for me on a rainy day in June in the UK. It may have been a typical English summer day here in the UK, but the book filled my heart with sunshine. It was an uplifting read and I sighed with satisfaction when I turned the final page.

The main character, Gina, is a lovely creation. She has lost her confidence due to her husband, Colin, criticising her. When he refuses to join her on a planned holiday to Greece, she boldly goes by herself. There she meets DeeDee and Rosie who help her to rediscover the confident and brave woman that she really is. I was rooting for her every step of the way. Additionally, I was really hoping that Colin would get his comeuppance for the horrible way he treated her and took her for granted.

I loved the strong friendship that these three women formed. Each of their voices were very distinct and hugely likeable characters. Ms. Brown is able to bring her characters fully to life on the page.

The book is well written, and I could have sat and gobbled the whole thing up in one had time permitted. The descriptions of the Greek island of Kalosiros were sublime. I have been lucky enough to visit Greece in the past and it is every bit as beautiful as the author conveys on the page. I was left longing for hummus and hot pitta bread after reading it described in the book.

This is a novel to get completely lost in, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading this book. I highly recommend it.

ISBN:  978 1836030782

Publisher:  Boldwood Books

Formats: e-book, audio, hardback and paperback

No. of Pages:  232 (paperback)

About the Author:

Alex Brown is an international #1 bestselling women’s fiction author. Her novels have been published in twenty-one countries and have sold over a million copies. Previously published by HarperCollins, her first title for Boldwood, Bring Me Sunshine, will be published in June 2024.

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

(all opinions are my own)

Guest Post with Carolyn Clarke - And Now There's Zelda...

 

I am so excited to welcome Carolyn Clarke to the blog today. Carolyn is the author of And Then There's Margaret... Her latest book, And Now There's Zelda... is a fantastic follow up novel. You can read my reviews by clicking on the respective titles below.

And Then There's Margaret...

And Now There's Zelda...

Today, Carolyn is going to be talking about the sandwich generation; something that many of us can identify with. Welcome to the blog Carolyn.

Caught between the responsibilities of aging parents and adult children lies the sandwich generation, where the strain of caregiving can weigh heavily—both emotionally and financially. Navigating these complexities is no small feat. As someone knee deep in the sandwich generation, helping to care for my 90-year-old mother, I understand firsthand the heartache of witnessing her decline. I mourn the loss of her vitality and her once vibrant presence in our lives. And then there are my two mid-twenty daughters. There are moments of uncertainty and even nostalgia as I grapple with the shifting dynamics of our relationship. Gone are the days of bedtime stories and scraped knees; now it's conversations about career choices and boyfriends. I find myself straddling the line between offering advice and stepping back to let them find their own way.

Surprisingly, this demographic comprises almost half, roughly 47%, of individuals in their 40s and 50s. In my second novel And Now There’s Zelda (Sequel to And Then There’s Margaret), our protagonist, Allie, is also “sandwiched” between her aging mother (and mother-in-law, Margaret) and her adult children, Samantha and Camerson who still very much depend on her for advice and of course for financial support. Meanwhile, Allie’s just trying to keep her own sanity sandwiched somewhere in between. It's a comedy of errors, really. One minute she's doling out advice to her kids, and the next she’s explaining to her mom how to use emojis on her smartphone.

All kidding aside, expert Carol Abaya delves deeper, categorizing three distinct roles within the sandwich generation:

1. The Traditional Sandwich Generation: Individuals typically in their 40s or early 50s find themselves sandwiched between elderly parents requiring care and their own adult children in need of support, be it financial or otherwise.

2. The Club Sandwich Generation: Older adults in their 50s or 60s are wedged between the needs of aging parents, adult children, and potentially grandchildren. This term can also apply to younger adults in their 30s or 40s juggling the demands of younger children, elderly parents, and aging grandparents.

3. The Open Faced Sandwich Generation: This category encompasses individuals who, at some point in their lives, find themselves providing non-professional care for elders, accounting for an estimated 25% of the population.

For Allie and many others of the sandwich generation, we are finding ourselves grappling with a myriad of challenges. We often battle feelings of burnout (not a great mix with the big ‘hormonal’ changes), depression, and isolation, compounded by the guilt and frustration of trying to fulfill roles as a spouse, parent, and child simultaneously. Juggling work, hobbies, relationships, and personal time becomes increasingly difficult, leaving us feeling completely overwhelmed. As we’re pulled in multiple directions, we experience a sense of losing control, struggling to manage the demands of caregiving and our own lives - such as writing this blog and promoting And Now There’s Zelda!

If you’re interested in hearing more on my take of being part of this generation, here’s my interview with Cameron Cowan.

The Cameron Journal Podcast - The Sandwich of Middle Age

Thank you Carolyn for being on the blog today. It has been a delight to host you.

A Midlife Gamble by Cary J. Hansson - #BookReview

 

So now you know the full truth of it. And that makes a grand total of five. I haven't told Helen. I've left that with Caro because it means they'll have to talk to each other. Things haven't been good between them since we got back from Cyprus, but that's a long story. My worry is that they're both Alex's godmothers, and if they're not even talking to each other, I don't know how they're going to be able to help him when ...

***

A terrifying future. Fragile forgiveness. Can three good friends rebuild their connection from the wreckage of burned bridges?

Helen Winters can’t ignore the ache in her heart. With one beloved friend facing a shocking diagnosis and the other still walking on eggshells after their blowout fight, the bubbly fifty-year-old craves the lost comfort of their familiar dynamic. So when someone suggests a trio of tickets to Vegas, the determined woman hopes the trip will rescue their decades-long friendship.

Landing in Sin City, Helen struggles to reclaim her devil-may-care university spirit. And as everyone plays their cards close to their vest and tries to make it alone, she worries that time is running out for reconciliation.

Will laughter, tears, and shared vulnerabilities help them salvage their lifelong bond?

***

This book is the third in the Midlife Trilogy. It begins with A Midlife Holiday, and you can read my review by clicking here. It is followed by A Midlife Baby and my review can be found here.

This book is every bit as good as it predecessors and I very much enjoyed having the opportunity to spend more time with Caro, Helen and Kay. Now in their late fifties, they have been close friends since university, and one of the things that this book looks at is what happens when a fracture appears in such a friendship.

Although this book is the third in the trilogy, it would work as a stand alone novel. However, I think a reader will enjoy it more by understanding the backstory behind these three women and the way in which their friendship has evolved over the years. 

At times it was humourous read. At other times it was emotional which has probably come from spending three books with these characters. The author totally understands and inhabits these women and consequently, the reader becomes totally invested in them. 

I do not want to give the ending away but I was a little concerned that the book would end on a depressing theme. However, the book was life-affirming and hopeful and my fears were unfounded.

As with the previous two books I enjoyed reading this very much and highly recommend it.

ISBN: 978 9198758771

Publisher:  Hansson Publishing

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

No. of Pages:  324 (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 musicals and selling towels on shopping channels, she settled down to write contemporary fiction. She swims in the Baltic all year round, stands on her head once a day and prefers Merlot over Shiraz.

(ARC courtesy of the author)

(all opinions are my own)

Maybe It's About Time by Neil Boss - #Bookreview #Blogtour @WriteReadsTours @iamneilboss #maybeitsabouttime #neilboss

 

The concourse at Waterloo Station was rammed as Marcus Barlow emerged from the warm cocoon of the Underground like a pupating moth. Thousands of Monday evening commuters were awaiting their fate at the hands of South Western Trains. He took his AirPods out of their case. For years he had resisted, insisting they looked like hearing aids. Now they were as much a part of his uniform as his Cartier cufflinks and Ferragamo tie.

His smartphone came to life. A picture of his family taken the previous year on holiday in the Maldives. Four tanned bodies, squinting into the sun waist-deep in a turquoise ocean. A happy picture taken at a happy time...

***

Two people trapped in their different worlds. One by wealth and one by poverty. Twenty years working for The Firm has given Marcus Barlow everything he wants but has taken his soul in return. Finding a way to leave has become an obsession.

Claire Halford’s life hits rock bottom when she is caught stealing food from Tesco Express. Left alone by her husband with two small children and an STI, her suicide music is starting to play louder in her head.

A chance meeting brings them together. As a mystery virus from China starts to run riot across the country, their world’s collide and they find they have more in common than they knew.

Set in the early months of 2020, Maybe It’s About Time is a story about the difficulty of changing lives for the better. Starting as a funny and satirical view of the egocentric world of professional services, it gives way to a heart-warming story of an unlikely friendship that rejuvenates Marcus and Claire, giving them both hope for a better future.

***

There is something original about this book, and it kept me completely hooked. Set during the run up to, and during the pandemic lockdown it was so much more than a novel of 'unprecedented times'. 

There were some marvellous characters in this novel. The main characters, Marcus and Claire were both well drawn and utterly believable. However, the author does an equally good job with the secondary characters. I loved Mr Mahoney and Claire's other neighbours. Equally, Marcus' family were well portrayed.

I laughed at the way Marcus' colleagues were depicted as soulless human beings and it was a joy to see him come to understand his role within this. It was no surprise to discover that Mr. Boss has worked in the corporate sector and I suspect that much of himself is reflected in Marcus.

The novel is about self-evaluation, and questions what constitutes a family. It was also about friendship and how it can occur in the most unlikely of places and situations.

It is a fairly lengthy novel at just over 500 pages but it was worth every page and I flew through it. It was both heartwarming and funny whilst dealing with a serious subject. I did not anticipate the ending, and I cannot wait to read the sequel when it is published.

ISBN:  978 1803135038

Publisher:  Matador

Formats: e-book and paperback

No. of Pages:  552 (paperback)

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About the Author:

Neil retired from a career in the corporate world in November 2019 with three objectives. To travel around the world and fly fish in the most exotic locations, to play his electric guitar better and to write a novel that he could be genuinely proud of. The pandemic and lockdown in March 2020 put his first two objectives on hold leaving him no option but to start writing. Two and half years later, Maybe It's About Time, his first novel, was published.

As a piece of work, he is incredibly proud of it. It makes him laugh and cry in equal measure. He is even more proud that readers seem to be enjoying it just as much and it is getting great reviews.

Travel and fly fishing has now started again, his guitar playing is improving and a sequel to Maybe It's About Time is planned to start in 2023!

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*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.

(book provided courtesy of The Write Reads)

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)

A Midlife Holiday by Cary J Hansson - #BookReview

 

"Stevie Nicks is a Legend!"

"What?" Daisy, who sat nearest the door and whose job it should have been to say this coded warning, looked up, eyes blanks as buttons.

"Stevie Nicks," Helen hissed again, "is a legend!" She already had her coat on, ready to go home, and her arms were filled with a bouquet of M&S Finest Seasonal Blooms, a bottle of Bucks Fizz and a box of Honey Dust Kissable Body Powder. Still she managed to jab her elbow in the direction of the corridor.

The penny dropped. Daisy grabbed her mug, making a show of drinking from it. So did Anne. And Tina. Then, along with Helen, they all turned and beamed at Dr Ross, who was now standing in the doorway having seemingly forgotten why she was there.

***

She wanted a change. But will a girls' trip to the Mediterranean recapture her joy?

Helen Winters worries the walls are closing in. With her children grown and her selfish husband absent on her fiftieth birthday, she regrets not taking the exciting paths she dreamed about in her youth. So when a well-meaning gift reveals a depressing image of her future, she takes a leap of faith and jets off to Cyprus with two lifelong friends.

Basking in the glorious sunshine and crystal-blue waters while enjoying the attention of handsome men, Helen starts to feel truly alive. But her best friend isn't in Cyprus for the sunshine, and when Helen learns the true reason, tensions threaten their lifelong bond and she fears nothing will ever be the same again.

Can she shake off years of disappointment and claim well-deserved happiness?

***

Three long established best friends, Helen, Caro and Kay know and understand each other really well. However, when they all go on a girls holiday to Cyprus, things take an unusual turn.  They discover things about each other that surprises them all, and the author dealt with this exceptionally well.

In the characters of all three women we can see aspects that we can either identify with, or know someone a bit like them. It is this ability to be able to identify with them that made this both an engaging and worthwhile book to read.

It is very much a character led novel which is driven ahead with excellent dialogue as well as wonderful descriptions. I would challenge anyone who, having read this, does not want to immediately jump on a plane and sit on a Cyprus beach. 

The author excellently describes women of middle age and the feeling that there are still so many things that they each wanted to achieve, but have not been able to due to various responsibilities they have toward careers and families.

This is a highly engaging book which I enjoyed from start to finish and strongly recommend it. I am also delighted to discover that this is the first in a planned trilogy. A Midlife Baby is due to be published in November of this year and I can hardly wait.

ISBN: 978 9198758733

Publisher: Hansson Publishing

Format: e-book and paperback

No. of Pages: 318 (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.

(author photo courtesy of the authors Twitter page and ARC courtesy of NetGalley)