Women in Lockdown - Ed. by Wayfinder Woman #bookreview

 

This beautiful and by turns, poignant, powerful, sad and amusing book you hold in your hands came about by accident. It is the culmination of an unexpected and topsy turvy 18-month journey into, through and, we hope, beyond the Covid-19 pandemic that swept the globe...

***

The Blurb

When the UK entered lockdown in the Spring of 2020 a call went out from The Wayfinder Woman Trust for ordinary women's voices to be heard so that they could feel supported, connected and valued. They asked women to communicate their hopes, fears and experiences of the pandemic so their stories could be told.

Now experience these extra-ordinary women's responses in this unique collection of stories, poems, diary entries and artwork, sometimes poignant, sometimes humorous and often uplifting. Their voices will not be forgotten but live on for future generations in this inspiring book.

My Review

Recently, I was fortunate enough to meet Laura Murphy when she came to speak at my Women's Institute meeting. Laura is the founder of The Wayfinder Woman charity and she was fascinating to listen to. So, I am very happy to be writing a short review of this book, which they have published.

The book is full to the brim with the writing, artwork and photographs of women in lockdown. The artwork in itself is testament to the talents that we women possess. For many, lockdown gave women the opportunity to express themselves creatively in a way that they perhaps had not had time to do before. The artworks appear in several medias; painting, textile and photographic. There are several inspiring examples in the book.

The writing is in many different forms also. Prose, diary entries, poetry and even as the minutes taken during a meeting. The writings portray the frustrations and challenges they faced. However, there are many that saw the time as an opportunity to put in place the things that they had been putting off.

The collection of experiences has been well put together and it was interesting to read how other women coped with the lockdown situation. You will find the good and the bad portrayed here, all of which were fascinating to read.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1838102210

Publisher:  Thought Centre Publishing

Formats:  Paperback

No. of Pages:  202

Purchase Link

Wayfinder Woman

About the Wayfinder Woman Charity

Wayfinder Woman is a charity run by women for women. They are an organisation that provides support and resources to women of working age who need help.

Their vision is to empower every woman to live a life of confidence, skill, and strength to create the life that she desires.

Their mission is to have a positive social impact on the women and communities they serve. Their purpose is to give women access to the resources, networks and assistance they need to build and maintain their lives.

You can find them at:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

(book courtesy of The Wayfinder Woman)

(all opinions are my own)

10 Ten Books I Want to Read in June 2025

 

Here we are in June and I am looking forward to this month. Not just for the reading but because it's my birthday and we are going on a long awaited holiday to the Lake District.

Consequently, I should get lots of reading time and I'm looking forward to catching up on some of those books which have been on my radar to read for a while; as well as some nice new recent releases... and who knows if any new birthday books might appear!

Here are just ten of the books I would like to read.

The Door-to-Door Book Store by Carsten Henn

The Silken Rose by Carol McGrath

The Hundred Loves of Juliet by Evelyn Skye

The Perfect Crime: Around the World in 22 Murders by Vaseem Khan and Maxim Jakubowski

Butter by Asako Yuzuki

No Stone Unturned by Pam Lecky

Dark Flood by Karon Alderman

The Union Street Bakery by Mary Ellen Taylor

All the Little Bird Hearts by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow

Pioneering Women's Education by Sally Waller

Snow is Falling by Sarah Bennett - #bookreview #blogtour

 "You look beautiful," Dylan Travers said to the woman dressed in a confection of pale gold lace and cream silk... The dress was an elegant frame-skimming number... sheer enough to allow Jennifer's all-year tan to glow through...

***

When Sadie Bingham’s life takes an unexpected turn, her children treat her to a well-earned break at Juniper Meadows, the gorgeous Cotswolds estate owned by the Travers family.

The festive season is in full swing, and Sadie throws herself into the packed Twelve Days of Christmas programme, relishing the opportunity to make new friends and new memories.

Single father Dylan Travers hasn’t been to his childhood home of Juniper Meadows for decades. Estranged from his cantankerous father Monty, he has made a happy life for himself in the States. But now with teenage children keen to know more about their roots, Dylan has brought them back to the Cotswolds to meet his family.

As Sadie and Dylan both navigate a Christmas very different from the ones they had expected it's soon clear that, geography apart, they have a great deal in common. And as Dylan confronts his past and Sadie contemplates her future, perhaps the miracle of this Christmas will be the happily-ever-after they both deserve.

Let Sarah Bennett whisk you away to a snowy Cotswolds for the perfect winter romance. A Sarah Bennett book is guaranteed to brighten any day, perfect for all fans of Cathy Bramley, Katie Fforde and Phillipa Ashley.

***

This is the fourth book in the Juniper Meadows series. I have previously read and enjoyed the first book in the series, Where We Belong. If you would like to read my review, you can find it by clicking here. Whilst I have missed out the second and third books in the series, it did not affect my enjoyment of Snow is Falling.

Because I enjoyed Where We Belong so much, I jumped at the chance to read this fourth installment when I was presented with the opportunity for the blog tour. This completely lived up to my expectations.

The main character is Sadie whose husband has left her for a much younger woman. When her children give her the gift of booking her into Juniper Meadows Twelve Days of Christmas celebration, she sets off to spend the holiday alone. However, she is not alone for long when she meets up with some other ladies whose company she enjoys and then meets the attractive Dylan Travers and his two teenage children.

Sadie is a wonderful character. Faced with moving on when she is in her middle years she is realistic in her outlook on life. Dylan lives in Florida and she can see no way in which she and Dylan can move forward with their burgeoning romance. I liked her for her practicality and down to earth characteristics but I was rooting throughout for her and Dylan to find a way.

This is a heartwarming and life affirming book and I enjoyed every page. The author is a skilled storyteller and this was wonderful to snuggle down with. 

This was a joy to read.  It has wonderful characters, a lovely plot and the setting was ideal.   I highly recommend it.

Publisher:  Boldwood Books

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

No. of Pages:  296 (paperback)

About the Author:

Sarah Bennett is the bestselling author of several romantic fiction trilogies including those set in Butterfly Cove and Lavender Bay. Born and raised in a military family she is happily married to her own Officer and when not reading or writing enjoys sailing the high seas.

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

(all opinions are my own)

The Mistress by Valerie Keogh - #bookreview #blogtour

 

I was brushing my hair when Ivan came into the bedroom. He said nothing, just stood there looking at me. I wasn't easily intimidated, but he was a big man and he had an air about him that said he could resort to violence if necessary...

***

She wants what you have...

Hannah Parker is a woman who always gets what she wants.

When her current husband discovers she has been lying to him – again - she knows it’s time to moveon and find someone who can give her the life she desires... The life she knows she deserves...

But who will be the lucky man?

When her eye catches a glimpse of an old flame in a photograph, she’s sure it’s a sign. Mark Shepherd has always been in her thoughts – they’d been happy once, he’d adored her, but she’d made a mistake and let him get away. She won’t make the same mistake again....

Hannah is older now and wiser. She knows what men want and she knows how to keep them happy.

So what if Mark is happily married with a family of his own?

All good things must come to an end...

***

No spoilers here, but wow, that ending was completely unexpected!

This is the story of two women; Susan, who feels unmoored because her only son has left to go to university a long way from home and suspects her husband is having an affair.  Then there is Hannah, a manipulative woman who is used to getting her own way.

The book is written with a dual perspective with the chapters being told by either of the two women. This is what elevated this book as it was easy to understand the point of view of both of them. This made it far easier to like Susan than Hannah. Susan is the wronged woman but Hannah is devious and scheming. I found myself rooting for Susan whilst hoping that Hannah would somehow get her comeuppance. I did feel some sympathy for her as the book progressed and I learned more of her backstory though.

I was gripped from the very first page of this book. It was a page-turner with some nice twists and turns to the narrative along the way. The author is a great storyteller and really knows how to keep the readers interest. She has created an utterly believable scenario and has written an engaging and compelling story.

This is the second book I have read by Valerie Keogh. I also read The Nurse which I enjoyed equally. You can read my review by clicking here. Having now read two of Ms. Keogh's novels and enjoyed them so much it has left me wanting to go and read every book she has ever written. 

Releasing in the UK today, this is an excellent and exciting book which I highly recommend.

ISBN: 978 1805494225

Publisher:  Boldwood Books

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

No. of Pages:  288 (paperback)

About the Author:

Valerie Keogh lives in Wiltshire with her husband and a huge black cat, Fatty Arbuckle. She grew up reading Agatha Christie and initially wrote crime novels - she now writes psychological thrillers.

The Little Lies was shortlisted for the Crime Fiction Lovers Award 2021.

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

(all opinions are my own)

Time Waits for No One by M.W. Arnold - #blogtour #spotlight

 

Today I am shining a spotlight on Time Waits for No One by M. W. Arnold, as part of the blog tour. It is the fifth book in the Broken Wings series, and I am definitely thinking this is a series I would enjoy.

The Blurb

It's April 1944, England is preparing to take the war back into Europe and the girls of the Air Transport Auxiliary Mystery Club become mixed up in a desperate fight to save a dear friend from forces who would threaten the very existance of the country.

The girls find solace in their deep friendship, even though the presence of a Nazi spy ring threatens their essential war work and their very lives.

Can love blossom through a fortunate meeting, and will they survive a period where life seems determined to put them in mortal danger? The girls find the strength to battle through all the war throws at them, whilst still keeping a stiff upper lip, a witty repartee, and unbreakable spirit.

ISBN: 978 1509255009

Publisher:  The Wild Rose Press

Formats:  e-book and paperback

No. of Pages:  380 (paperback)

About the Author:

Mick is a hopeless romantic who was born in England and spent fifteen years roaming around the world in the pay of HM Queen Elisabeth II in the Royal Air Force before putting down roots and realizing how much he missed the travel. This, he’s replaced somewhat with his writing, including reviewing books and supporting fellow saga and romance authors in promoting their novels.

He’s the proud keeper of two cats bent on world domination, is mad on the music of the Beach Boys and enjoys the theatre and humoring his Manchester Utd supporting wife. Finally, and most importantly, Mick is a full member of the Romantic Novelists Association.

His previous books published with The Wild Rose Press include A Wing and a Prayer, Wild Blue Yonder, I’ll Be Home for Christmas, and In the Mood, all part of his Broken Wings series on the ATA of WW2, and The Lumberjills.

(all media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)

(all opinions are my own)

Back to Her Future by Cary Hansson - #bookreview

Tuesday 14th January 1986

Dear Mery,

I'm writing this letter even though I haven't got your address. Mum says she's sure we'll get one soon. I thought I'd write because otherwise I'm going to forget all the things I need to tell you. It's been twenty-four days already and I miss you.

***

Meryem has learned to look out for number one.

Abducted as a teenager from England to Turkey, where she was forced to marry a man twice her age, thirty years later she is finally free to live life on her own terms.

She is divorced and wealthy, working a lucrative job in Dubai when a whispered confession from her dying father turns her world upside down, and sets her on a path to discover the truth.

The first step is a return to London, and her childhood best friend, Alma.

But the women, once so close, struggle to reconnect as forgotten memories and shocking revelations surrounding Meryem's abduction, tear open unhealed wounds for both of them.

 Beautifully and boldly written, Cary J Hansson merges history, everyday circumstances and aching tragedy into an unforgettable narrative.

Back to Her Future is the compelling first novel in The Gen X Series of women’s contemporary fiction. If you like scarred but resilient heroines, nostalgic interludes, and transformative epiphanies, then you’ll love The Gen X Series.

***

Wow! It is rare that I begin a review with such an expression but on this occasion there is no other word which will do. This is a fantastic novel and was easily a five star read for me.

I have previously read all three books in the author's Midlife series and I am posting links to my review of each of those books below. I really enjoyed all three of them and highly recommend them. 

When I picked this book up, I was expecting it to be as good. However, my expectations were surpassed. In Back to Her Future, the first in a new series, Ms Hansson writes with depth and self assuredness and it is a delight to witness how accomplished her writing has become.

She has delved deeply into the complex lives of the three women in the book, Meryam, Alma and Sammy, who were friends as children. Life has taken them in very different directions and when they come together again as adults, it is not without problems.

The author demonstrates a depth of understanding of her characters. Each of them is complex in her own way, and I enjoyed the way in which the author brings the three of them to a point of understanding of one another, and themselves.

There are some difficult themes running throughout this book but there is nothing gratuitous and they are dealt with sensitively and compassionately. The story also looks at identity and culture and how they make us act.

However, the thing that is common to all these women is the guilt that they carry for one reason or another. Add to that themes of motherhood, friendship and forgiveness along with some excellent writing and you have a superb book.

The narrative is written through prose and a series of letters from the past and this permits the reader to understand the situation from differing perspectives.

All in all, this is an excellent book which I highly recommend. I can hardly wait for the second book in the series.

ISBN: 978 9152786017

Publisher:  Hansson Publishing

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

No. of Pages:  326 (paperback)

Links to Previous Reviews

A Midlife Holiday

A Midlife Baby

A Midlife Gamble

About the Author:

Cary’s  work has been shortlisted in national and international competitions. She writes for various publications, digital and print. She lives in Stockholm, where she enjoys a glass of wine and a cold water swim daily, but not in that order.

(book and media courtesy of the author)

(all opinions are my own)

10 Ten Books I Want to Read in January 2024

 

Brrr..... it's cold, and it is time to snuggle down with a blanket and a hot beverage of your choice.

We have a whole new year of reading ahead of us. Did you get any book shaped gifts for Christmas?

 Here are just ten books which I hope to read this month to kick off the year.

Back to Her Future by Cary J. Hansson

One Day With You by Shari Low

The Widow's Choice by Nancy Revell

The Giver of Stars by Jo Jo Moyes

The Pierogi Peril by Geri Krotow

Strange Ways to Die in History by Ben Gazur

The Last Word by Elly Griffiths

Miss Graham's War by Celia Rees

How to Find Love in a Book Shop by Veronica Henry

Cover the Bones by Chris Hammer

The Library Girls of the East End by Patricia McBride - #bookreview #blogtour

 

Lady Carmichael looked at her daughter in dismay. 'You're not serious! The East End of London? Why on earth would you want to work there? All sorts of unsavoury people live there. Poor people, immigrants, criminals, Jews.' She frowned. 'And where is this Silvertown? I've never heard of it. Is it the principal London centre for making jewellrey?'

'No Mother. It's part of the East End, between Canning Town and the Thames.'

Her mother's eyes widened. 'Really, Cordelia, that sounds just dreadful...'

***

1940, London

When Cordelia accepts the post of head librarian in Silver Town Library, her mother is more than a little disapproving. The East End has high levels of poverty and illiteracy, and her mother says it’s no place for a woman of her status.

But Cordelia is determined to make a difference in these times of strife, and along with her colleagues, Jane and Mavis, she begins to help the local community, making sure everyone knows what the library can offer them.

And maybe even a romance will blossom, giving Cordelia the strength to make it through the chaos and destruction that constantly threatens their livelihood.

Against a background of war, air raids and rationing, it becomes clear the library is more than a building filled with books - it is the beating heart of a community refusing to be torn apart.

***

The older I get the more I like this kind of feel-good fiction. Or maybe, it is just that there is just so much misery in the world at the moment, that I love to escape into a world that lifts my spirits. Whatever the reason, I was delighted to be part of the blog tour for this book. 

The main characters in this book, Cordelia, Mavis and Jane are a wonderful mix of personalities.  I loved the straight talking East Ender, Mavis. I was born and grew up not too far from where the book is set and I certainly recognised Mavis, as well as many of the secondary characters.

Through both the narrative and dialogue, the author has imbued an authenticity to the setting of this book. I have vivid memories of my parents describing the East End during the Second World War, and it was very easy for me to slip this story into those descriptions.

There are lots of themes running throughout this book; rape and domestic abuse are mentioned (although not witnessed on the page) and the author deals with them with sensitivity and compassion. However, alongside this there are happier themes of friendship and a good dose of romance thrown in.

All in all, it was a delightful book which I highly recommend. This is the first in a brand new series from Patricia McBride, and I can hardly wait to see what comes next.

ISBN: 978 1785139918

Publisher:  Boldwood Books

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

No. of Pages:  248 (paperback)

About the Author:

Patricia McBride is the author of the very popular Lily Baker historical saga series. She is now writing a new WW2 series for Boldwood, based in the East End of London during the Blitz, the first title of which, The Library Girls of the East End, will be published in November 2023.

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

(all opinions are my own)

The Stories We Cannot Tell by Leslie A. Rasmussen - #BookReview

 

It had been an exceptionally warm February in Los Angeles, but for the last four hours, rain had been drumming on the windows of Rachel's classroom, leaving her no choice but to keep her kindergarten students inside for both recess and lunch. The caged-in five year olds were bouncing off the walls like tennis balls from a high-speed launcher someone forgot to turn off.

Rachel worked in an upscale private school, the kind of place where kids would bring sushi in for lunch instead of a turkey sandwich. She loved her students, except when they forgot to take their lunchbox home on Fridays.

***

There can come a point in life where you'll always remember what came before and what came after.

Rachel is a thirty-year-old married Jewish woman who's wanted a baby for a long time. Katie's a thirty-two-year-old single, catholic woman who has been trying to find a man who'll stick around. We follow the women individually as they find themselves pregnant-Rachel happily, Katie, not. As they enter their second trimester, they're shocked to hear that there's something very wrong with the babies they're carrying. Rachel and Katie meet in a support group and bond as they help each other through not only the excruciating decision they need to make but through the issues that come with making that decision. The Stories We Cannot Tell explores friendship, loss, love, hope, and family.

***

I like books about strong women, and this book offers us two main characters, Rachel and Katie, who fit the bill perfectly.

Rachel and Katie are two very different women who find themselves in a similar situation. Katie is Catholic and Rachel is Jewish and it was interesting to read of the impact that their different religious backgrounds have on the very difficult decisions that they both face. I liked the way the book alternates between the two characters and allows the reader the opportunity to appreciate the dual perspective of their lives.

It is a well written book which deals with the difficult topic of pregnancy that can go wrong, infertility and loss. The author deals with these subjects with enormous sensitivity. Speaking as a woman who has faced loss during pregnancy, at no point did I find the book traumatic. Instead, Ms. Rasmussen uses her pen to convey compassion at the difficult choices women sometimes have to make.

I enjoyed the developing friendship between the two characters and how it served to illustrate the support that women sometimes need from each other. The author developed her characters extremely well and I felt as though I personally knew them both by the end of the book as they were so easy to engage with.

It is a thought provoking and heart-felt book which moved me greatly. It encourages readers to think how they might react in a similar situation, and although the subject manner is an uncomfortable one, it is ultimately a book about hope, resilience and strength.

I highly recommend this book and am looking forward to reading more from this author.

ISBN:  978 1956851601

Publisher:  TouchPoint Press

Formats:  e-book and paperback

No. of Pages:  326 (paperback)

About the Author:

Leslie A. Rasmussen is the award-winning author of the novel, After Happily Ever After. She was born and raised in Los Angeles and graduated from UCLA. She went on to write television comedies for Gerald McRaney, Burt Reynolds, Roseanne Barr, Norm McDonald, Drew Carey, as well as The Wild Thornberrys and Sweet Valley High. After leaving the business to raise her boys, she obtained a master’s degree in nutrition and ran her own business for ten years. Recently, she’s written over twenty essays for Huffington Post, and Maria Shriver, and spoken on panels discussing empowering women in midlife and other women's issues. 

Leslie is a member of The Writers Guild of America, as well as Women In Film and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. In her free time, Leslie loves to read, exercise, and hang out with friends. She lives in Los Angeles and is married and has two sons.

(ARC courtesy of NetGalley)

(all author info courtesy of the author's website https://www.lesliearasmussen.com/about)

(all opinions are my own.)

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)

An Invitation to Seashell Bay by Bella Osborne - #BookReview #blogtour

'Mind the gap,' said the voice over the underground tannoy as more people squeezed into the already full carriage and Nancy felt like sausage meat being squeezed into the already full carriage. Today was a blooming big day for Nancy. Big didn't really cover it. It was more of a make-or-break kind of day. One of those pivotal points in life. What Nancy didn't know was whether it would be wall-to-wall celebrations or the day her life turned to absolute poo. It all hinged on whether her little fledgling business properly took off or nosedived into a puddle, but she wasn't going to let that stress her out. Whatever happened she wanted to look back on today and at least know she'd done everything she could to seal the deal.

***

One ambitious businesswoman.

One irresponsible heir. 

A deal that will turn both their lives upside down… 

To grow her craft business, Nancy is in desperate need of two things: help and money. So when a potential investor she’s looking to impress recommends an assistant, she jumps at the chance to secure both.

Freddy Astley-Davenport is a notorious playboy with zero work experience. He’s poised to inherit his family’s estate in sunny Seashell Bay – but only if he can hold down a job for six months first. His plan is to take the assistant role in name only, then do the least work he possibly can.

Nancy has other ideas, though, and the pair butt heads from day one. However, as they argue, sparks begin to fly, and they soon discover exactly why opposites attract…

An absolutely escapist, funny, feel-good summer romance. Fans of Cathy Bramley, Katie Fforde and Milly Johnson will adore Bella Osborne.

***

This is the first book by Bella Osborne that I have read, and I am certain that it will not be my last.

I really enjoyed reading this light-hearted and humourous romance. It captured my attention from the very first page and I was completely invested in the story.

Nancy and Alice are housemates and both of their stories are being told alongside one another. The main characters, Nancy and Freddy were a delight to read, and Alice's story added another dimension to the book. Ms. Osborne possesses a sound understanding of her characters and as such they are portrayed with realism and thus come alive on the page.

I appreciated the way it was not as predictable as some novels of this genre. I do not want to give anything away so suffice to say that what I anticipated happening at the beginning was not the case.

The book delivered a lot. It is a heart-warming story that was a delight to read, has a cute child and a dog and cat to add to the story. What more could I ask for from a novel? It was entertaining and a joy to read.

I highly recommend this book.

ISBN: 978 0008587970

Publisher:  Avon

Formats:  e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages:  384 (paperback)

Purchase Link - Bookshop.org*

About the Author:

Bella has been jotting down stories as far back as she can remember but decided that 2013 would be the year that she finished a full length novel. Since then she’s written nine best-selling romantic comedies, two best-selling bookclub reads and won the RNA Romantic Comedy Novel of the Year Award.

Bella's stories are about friendship, love and coping with what life throws at you. She lives in Warwickshire, UK with her husband, daughter and a cat who thinks she’s a dog. When not writing Bella is usually eating custard creams and planning holidays.

For more about Bella, visit her website at www.bellaosborne.com or follow her on social media.

Purchase Link - Bookshop.org *

(book and all info. courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)

(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.

The Village Vicar by Julie Houston - #BookReview

 

'Well, look who it is.' Glenys Parkes glanced up from the sausage meat she was expertly encasing in flaky pastry, wiped her hands on the front of her faded pinny and moved to kiss her younger daughter. 'You never said you were coming home?' Glenys took in Alice's lack of suitcase, her grubby-looking bare feet in their leather sandals and her skimpy flowing dress, quite unsuitable for this overcast, chilly May morning in Yorkshire. 'You look frozen. Here.' Glenys threw her mauve M&S cardigan in Alice's direction but, although Alice caught it, she placed it on the battered armchair in fron of her and went, instead, over to the sink to fill the kettle...

***

When Rosa Quinn left her childhood home in Westenbury, she never expected to return over a decade later as the village vicar. But after a health scare and catching her boyfriend cheating, Rosa jumps at the chance to start over and live closer to her triplet sisters Eva and Hannah.

But Rosa's isn't the only old face in the village, and when her role in the parish throws her into the path of her ex, she begins to wonder if she's made a terrible mistake. Meanwhile, Eva and Hannah face their own troubles, as secrets about their family threaten to emerge.

Can Rosa make a life for herself in Westenbury? Or will the sisters discover you can't run away from the past?

***

I am already a fan of Julie Houston. I have previously read and reviewed Goodness, Grace and Me and Sing Me a Secret, both of which I have enjoyed enormously. If you would like to read my reviews of these two book please just click on the book title and it will take you straight there.

The Village Vicar was every bit as good as I had anticipated. We meet triplets Rosa, Eva and Hannah and they make for a set of lovely main characters, although the book focusses slightly more on Rosa than her sisters. They have a close but complex relationship, each of them different to the other and they each bring something distinct to the novel.

The book begins with the story behind their birth. Readers are introduced to Alice, their birth mother, and her sister, Susan, who along with her husband adopts the three girls. It was good judgement on the part of the author, to spend time portraying the back story of the triplets at the beginning as it provides context for the remainder of the novel.

It is both humourous and heart felt and I enjoyed reading every page. Ms. Houston's novels always leave me with a satisfied feeling, and I cannot wait to read the next in the series, The Girls of Heatherly Hall, which was published just last week.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading contemporary women's fiction.

ISBN: 978 1803280028

Publisher:  Head of Zeus

Formats: e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages:  384 (paperback)

Purchase Link*

About the Author:

Julie Houston is the author of ten novels set in and around the fictional West Yorkshire village of Westenbury, GOODNESS, GRACE AND ME, THE ONE SAVING GRACE, LOOKING FOR LUCY, COMING HOME TO HOLLY CLOSE FARM, A VILLAGE AFFAIR, SING ME A SECRET, A VILLAGE VACANCY and A FAMILY AFFAIR, as well as a novella, AN OFF-PISTE CHRISTMAS, all published by Aria.  Her most recent novel, A VILLAGE SECRET, was published in ebook and paperback in April 2022 by Aria/Head of Zeus.  All her novels have been Kindle bestsellers.

A VILLAGE AFFAIR, published  in November 2018, on the Kindle Top 100 bestseller list for almost a year, was the seventh most-read UK fiction ebook in the year to November 2019, and a Kindle top 5 bestseller.

SING ME A SECRET won the RNA’s 2021 Sapere Books Popular Romantic Fiction Award.

Julie is Yorkshire born and bred and lives near Huddersfield. She worked as a teacher for many years, still doing supply work.   Additionally she sits as a magistrate in West Yorkshire.  

Translation rights in Julie’s novels have been sold to a number of countries.

(author photo and bio courtesy of Kate Horden Literary Agency)

(all opinions my own)

Purchase Link*

*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.

Good Girls Die Last by Natali Simmonds - #BookReview #BlogTour

 

I've woken up in Matt's bed.

Stifling a yawn, I glance over at him. He has his bare back to me; messy hair, long limbs and pale white legs. He couldn't be any further away, curled up on the edge of the mattress like a mountain climber clinging to a rocky precipice. His skin is so translucent I'm able to count each knobbly vertebra jutting out of his spine.

The bed creaks as I roll on to my back...

***

Today, nothing is going right for Em. And it's about to get much worse.

Heartbroken by a recent split, with her 30th birthday looming, she loses her job and her home in the same morning because of two swaggering, dishonest men - the boss who sexually harassed her and the flatmate sleeping with her behind his fiancée's back. But all Em can think about is catching a flight to attend her sister's wedding and see her dying mother.

With a record-breaking heatwave, and a serial killer making the streets unsafe, London is completely gridlocked. Em's life has always been full of men getting their own way, and today the scorched city teems with them standing between her and home. As Em's troubled past returns to haunt her, she refuses to let them win. Her defiance leads to shocking consequences that soon spiral wildly out of control.

In a world where men don't listen, and girls have no voice, one woman can change everything.

Today, no one will be staying silent.

***

This is one of the most powerful books that I have read in quite some time, and it made for an utterly compelling read. I doubt there is a single woman who cannot identify with some of the main characters experiences.

The whole book covers the course of just one day in the life of the main character, Em. In fact, although everyone calls her Em, it is a thread throughout the book that this is not actually her name. She is Spanish, and people find her name difficult to pronounce, so much to her annoyance, everyone calls her Em. All through the book, I was eager to learn what her actual name was, and it is kept from the reader until the conclusion of the book.

The author completely inhabited her main character, so it was unsurprising to read in the author's note at the end of the book that she had experienced most of the things that happen to Em. She is a fully fleshed, highly authentic character and the author has done an excellent job in creating a character that virtually every woman will identify with to one degree or another.

The book is set during a heat wave in the UK and the intensity of the description of the heat made it palpable. I could feel the high temperatures that were being described as the author's attention to detail is superb and were an essential factor into how Em's world spirals out of control during this one, seemingly ordinary, day.

This is a powerhouse of a book which is full of rage, and I have not been able to stop thinking about it since I finished it. To be honest, I am not quite sure I will ever forget Em entirely because she represents all women and the difficulties and challenges that we all face at one time or another.

This book has been expertly written and I cannot recommend this book highly enough. 

ISBN: 978 1035402366

Publisher:  Headline

Formats:  e-book, audio and hardcover

No. of Pages:  384 (hardback)

Purchase link *

About the Author:

As the daughter of a Spanish immigrant, Natali J Simmonds has

lived all over the world. Good Girls Die Last is her first

thriller after writing fantasy novels. When not writing, she is the

Head of Community and Editorial Commissions at Jericho

Writers and lectures at Raindance Film School and The

University of The Hague.

Purchase Link

(Book courtesy of Random Things Book Tours)

*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.