17th century Gloucestershire. Joan, the daughter of a millworker with drink-fuelled pipe dreams, is thrust into her family's battle against poverty. W17th century Gloucestershire. Joan, the daughter of a millworker with drink-fuelled pipe dreams, is thrust into her family's battle against poverty. With her father's legacy tarnished, Joan steps into his place, mastering the art of cloth-dying to save her family from destitution and restore their lost honor. But Joan's exceptional skill challenges her community's rigid conventions--and stirs whispers of witchcraft. Her lonely endeavours are further shadowed by marital strife and a complex rivalry with her sister, Alice, fueled by jealousy and long-standing grievances.
‘Watch yourselves, fellows. Got an eye like a blue hawk, has this one.’
This is a truly wonderful read, full of rich detail and imagery, with characterisations that are fantastic and very real. Joan is determined and spirited, she has a clear voice, full of passion and ambition. I really felt for her taking on so much at such a young age. Marriage, her father’s business, the cruelty and jealousy of her sister, Alice - she deals with it all. She is sharp and has huge ambition, yet she is constrained by her place and her sex, it made me want to scream at times, the unfairness of it all!
It is beautifully written and woven intricately with rich detail of nature, plants and dyes. It transported me to an area I know well and I could picture it in my minds eye. I got totally enveloped and absorbed in it, it makes it a sensory experience to read which is rare.
‘the memory of every one of the merchant’s swatches, stitched in a circle like the rays of the sun. The red of ripe haws, deepest perse, and jay-feather blue. But when sleep came, it took her to the riverbank: to reams of crumpled wet wool, all of it rich in that uncommon grey-green of her mother’s eyes, as it was lifted hand-over-hand from the Frome.’
This is a fantastic debut, I loved it and would recommend you read it too. This could be my book of the year!...more
This is such a sorry tale to read, these poor girls forced to marry outside of their hearts because they are not deemed good enough. This I suppose isThis is such a sorry tale to read, these poor girls forced to marry outside of their hearts because they are not deemed good enough. This I suppose is a cautionary tale to follow your heart as otherwise it could all end badly....more
Susan Bell lives with her mother and sister Hetta. Her mother is constantly on the lookout for wolves of the manly kind, alert that they could take a Susan Bell lives with her mother and sister Hetta. Her mother is constantly on the lookout for wolves of the manly kind, alert that they could take a daughter or two. Enter Aaron Dunn, an engineer who lodges one winter and starts his courtship of the titular Susan with a drawing of a bridge.
‘From his drawings Aaron got to his instruments, and before bedtime was teaching Susan how to draw parallel lines.’
She loves it, he draws her a picture, then agonises over how to give it to her. When he does, it is declined by her mother and so he burns it - oh the melodrama! He is allowed to draw her a new one to keep after tears which is accepted.
Returning one day early from work, Aaron makes his declaration of love to Susan
“The truth is just this. I–I love you dearly, with all my heart. I never saw any one I ever thought so beautiful, so nice, and so good;–and what’s more, I never shall. I’m not very good at this sort of thing, I know; but I couldn’t go away from Saratoga for six weeks and not tell you.”
She does not know what to say and he leaves…for six weeks!
There is tooing and froing, but it all ends well. It’s a neat little tale that raised a smile to me, but honestly, victorians! Why they couldn’t just talk to each other properly!...more
WOW! The opening prologue basically dragged me into this book, so good, got the heart pumping and from then I just couldn’t leave this book til I’d fiWOW! The opening prologue basically dragged me into this book, so good, got the heart pumping and from then I just couldn’t leave this book til I’d finished it! Sorry housework, dinner, etc you can wait!!
One night Amelia is found on a beach unresponsive but her life is saved. Her sister Lexi rushes across the Atlantic to be with her. When she arrives Amelia wants to know where her husband Sam is. Amelia has no husband, but believes she does, she remembers everything about him and can even draw him in detail. Then Lexi meets Nick, who is identical to Sam and she convinces him to take some pictures of Amelia and Sam’s memories but Lexi begins to fall for Nick and how can she when he is her sister’s ’husband’
‘There’s a bond the two of you share that’s stronger than your dad and I could ever understand. She’d walk through fire for you, and I know you’d do the same for her.’
This is about family bonds, love and memory. It will tug at your heartstrings and run the whole gamut of emotions. I loved the characters of Nick and Lexi, the will they won’t they, misunderstandings and the way they bantered and teased each other was fabulous. I also had a soft spot for old Tom too, he made me smile.
‘…suddenly our eyes connected and everything slowly went quiet and very, very still. It was a moment spun out of delicate glass..’
I got so wrapped up in this story, it is absolutely incredible and made me cry, Dani Atkins, you took my heart and squeezed it so hard it nearly broke me, the tears fell fast but I would not have missed this one!
‘Losing something you love is always painful, but the good memories you’re left with are proof that it was worth it.’
This book will stay with me for a long time. What a book!...more
The lovely PC Ben is back! And this time in another adventure looking for a missing cat, called Mrs Ted. She is a tricky customer to find and the searThe lovely PC Ben is back! And this time in another adventure looking for a missing cat, called Mrs Ted. She is a tricky customer to find and the search takes PC Ben all around the town, including the castle and the church. And as for the location of Mrs Ted, well, you’d have to read until the end to find out!
This is going to be the perfect gift for Christmas for younger readers, it has lovely illustrations for early readers and a few longer rhyming words for those who are older. It is full of fun, is funny and is full of community spirit and kindness. With PC Ben on the case, you just can’t go wrong, this book is just a joy!...more
I absolutely adore this series, pacy, kick ass funny, clever and just so entertaining.
We are back at The‘Long story short, a man fell out of the sky.’
I absolutely adore this series, pacy, kick ass funny, clever and just so entertaining.
We are back at The Stranger Times, Stella is enjoying life as an almost student when a man falls out of the sky in front of her and ends up buried in the pavement. How he ended up in the sky at all has non-obvious answer and this is where The Stranger Times comes in. They have to prove Stella’s innocence as dark powers think she is involved. Vincent Banecroft is meanwhile being made to atone for his sins by a six foot eight walking funeral of a man. Banecroft is not keen, being banished to a hellscape is no fun.
As usual this is snappy, bonkers and brilliant. There is a lot going on but I just love the flow of these books and this is the best yet, perhaps because I have got to know all the characters. Vincent is still awful but I love him, Stella has developed so much, Ox and Reggie are like a bickering old couple and Grace is sublime…and a ninja! Plus we get new characters- Brian, love him! And all sorts of crazy mayhem ensues.
This is a series that for me can just run and run, fabulous!...more
When friends Dido and Henry, owners of Heavenly Houseparties are employed to create a last Christmas party for elderly Sabine at Mitras Castle, littleWhen friends Dido and Henry, owners of Heavenly Houseparties are employed to create a last Christmas party for elderly Sabine at Mitras Castle, little do they expect how much it will change their lives. Dido is enchanted by the castle as soon as she steps through the imposing front door. And as Christmas day approaches, her feeling of connection to the old house runs deeper than she first thought. But when the snow begins to fall and Sabine's family arrive at the house - including Dido's teenage crush Xan - tensions rise around the castle's future and long-buried mysteries begin to unravel...
I read this over a couple of weeks and it really got me in the Christmas mood, I felt like I was getting ready for Christmas myself with all the preparations and the food - absolutely mouthwatering. I took the characters to my heart especially Henry, Xan and Dido. I also thought Nancy was wonderful and Sabine did annoy me initially but I grew to love her. This is full of Christmas magic, heartwarming for the soul and is absolutely ideal for curling up in front of the fire with tea, cake and one hopes lots of snow on the ground outside!...more
1947, Jerusalem Bill Wolfe, SIB operative part of the Military Police, and is hard and tough as they come. Hated by soldiers who in turn are despised b1947, Jerusalem Bill Wolfe, SIB operative part of the Military Police, and is hard and tough as they come. Hated by soldiers who in turn are despised by the populace, the atmosphere created is heavy with tension, suspicion is everywhere, a fragile existence of three religions ready to go up in a second.
“ He knew Jerusalem’s shadows like old friends…this place got inside a man, became part of him.”
A yellow ribbon on a door is like lighting a match and the story sets off apace. A Jewish woman attacked on her way home by a para, who Wolfe recognises. Are there links to the seven women murdered over the previous seven months? Instinct tells Wolfe that a single killer is stalking the streets, with bodies discarded like trash across the city he is determined to root out the killer. Setting off a train of events mired in the troubles of the region.
This is a masterful short thriller, atmospheric and evocative. We have a clever killer who think they have covered their tracks, terrorism, and a threat to the delicate balance in the area. I found it quite unnerving given the current situation in Israel and the link to previous events written about here. I enjoyed meeting Bill Wolfe and finding out about his back story. It rattles along at a fast pace and despite the short length it is full of tension which kept me hooked. A sharp, punchy and gripping thriller with more to come....more
Where better to start again than New York? Iris arrives in the city of dreams, intent on restarting her culinary career, and leaving her recent heartWhere better to start again than New York? Iris arrives in the city of dreams, intent on restarting her culinary career, and leaving her recent heartache behind. Wandering the streets at a famous food festival, Iris feels like she's living in a movie. Then she stumbles upon a gelateria that looks strangely familiar. Inside, she meets Gio: a perfect leading man with an irresistible smile - and a crisis of his own. As fate would have it, Iris is the one person with the answer to his problem. She just can't tell him that . . . So, can Iris finally let go of the past - and let herself fall in love?
Josie Silver has done it again. This book is totally cosy, wintery, romantic and just ticks all my boxes for a fabulous read! Gio and Iris! Just loved this character combo, any character called Iris in a winter romance has me hooked, it’s ‘The Holiday’ that does it. Add in New York cafe vibes, gelato, family, food and a huge dollop of love and this book is just a recipe for success.
Iceland, 1956. Fifteen year old Lára spends the summer working on the small island of Videy, just off the coast of Reykjavík. One day she just disappeIceland, 1956. Fifteen year old Lára spends the summer working on the small island of Videy, just off the coast of Reykjavík. One day she just disappears without a trace. The mystery becomes Iceland‘s most infamous unsolved case. What happened to the young girl? Is she still alive? Did she leave the island, or did something happen to her there?
1986 Reykjavík prepares to celebrate its 200th anniversary, journalist Valur Robertsson begins his own investigation into Lára's case. But as he draws closer to discovering the secret, it soon becomes clear that Lára's disappearance is a mystery that someone will stop at nothing to keep unsolved...
‘As far as he knew, they had been the only three people on the island, then suddenly there had been only two of them left. It reminded him of a whodunit he’d once read by Agatha Christie.’
I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book, I have read some of Ragnar Jónasson’s books before and really enjoyed them but teamed up with the prime minister of Iceland? I wasn’t sure…
‘Yeah, right….Like anyone would want to read a detective story set in Iceland.’
Happily, this book was just brilliant, it has a really good old fashioned storytelling quality to it in the vein of Christie, a proper murder mystery rooted in the past. I enjoyed following Valur and his sister as they tried to piece together what happened to Lara the missing girl. They are dogged in their pursuit of the truth.
‘someone had wanted to prevent him from revealing the truth.’
I enjoyed the descriptions of Iceland, I did a bit of Google mapping to see where these places are and place myself in the story to a degree. Stories like these where you have to look to the past for clues and answers are ones that I find so engaging, especially as connections and relationships between the characters become important. There are plenty of red herrings and twists and I was fooled as per usual!
A very cool Icelandic noir mystery for winter nights!...more
‘They told me I had the Knowing. Things people didn’t want anyone to know were whispers I heard or pictures I saw’
Flora is a living canvas for an abus‘They told me I had the Knowing. Things people didn’t want anyone to know were whispers I heard or pictures I saw’
Flora is a living canvas for an abusive tattoo artist, living in the slums of 19th century New York. She meets Minnie who offers her love and refuge in the house of her lover Chester Merton. But it is out of the frying pan and into the fire, for in this home she has to work as a mystic, reading the tarot cards, whilst struggling to contain her gift. The Knowing is her ability to see and speak to, and for the dead. In this dark love triangle she begins to unravel secrets and then when she exposes a killer through the use of the Knowing she has to fight to survive.
‘Wilhelmina the Magnificent Armless Wonder marched ahead.’
This is a stunning debut, dark gothic and suspenseful. I got into this book so quickly, it moves fast and I was enthralled by Flora’s story. It is dark and full of a brooding malevolence that will keep your attention throughout. I liked Minnie but felt mistrustful of everyone’s motives, except perhaps Abernathy who just seemed a sweetheart really.
‘The wheel of fortune was always turning and there was nothing to do but face it. ‘
I was interested to find that the story was inspired by real historical characters including Maud Wagner, one of the first known female tattoo artists, New York gang the Dead Rabbits, and characters from PT Barnum's circus in the 1800s. It sent me off down a few rabbit holes!
As the story progresses it gets very dark, there is terror, violence and abuse, murder stalks the pages and there is a fear of The Knowing that curdles your blood as you read. The plot moves at pace, at times disturbing, creating confusion so you feel you are in the mind of Flora, laudanum soaked and disjointed. It’s really well done and keeps you on your toes.
A really excellent, dark debut, rolling, twisting and totally enthralling!...more
Molly the maid is back, she is now Head Maid at The Regency Grand Hotel and once more she is mixed up with murder. Grimthorpe a famous mystery writer Molly the maid is back, she is now Head Maid at The Regency Grand Hotel and once more she is mixed up with murder. Grimthorpe a famous mystery writer drops dead at an event where he was about to unveil a big secret but can’t as he falls off the stage after drinking his tea.
‘There are things going on around here that I don’t quite understand, and until I do, you best be vigilant.’
I loved this follow up to The Maid and it’s such a great caper! JD Grimthorpe, writer, dead before he can make a great reveal. Molly is on the scene once more and is a suspect once more, in the eyes of Detective Stark. But Molly knows more than she is letting on, we travel back into her past, when Gran was alive and Molly a girl both working in a great mansion for a reclusive mystery author.
‘ Do you hear that?’ she asks. ‘Hear what?’ I whisper back. ‘The silence,’ she says. ‘The Silence of the LAMBS.’
This book has improved on The Maid for me. Perhaps because I know the character of Molly better than before but I think also in part because of the detective element; it pays homage to Columbo, Murder She Wrote and so many others. I am an absolute sucker for a great mystery and who doesn’t want to solve a murder?! The JD fan club or LAMBS are a hoot, such a great addition and Molly herself, Angela, Lily and Mr Preston are all joyous.
This is clever, entertaining and loads of fun, I do hope we get more from Molly in the future. ...more
Oh what total joy it was to sink into this Christmassy book! Just what I needed, snow, a proper Christmas Inn, love, strong women, relationship ups anOh what total joy it was to sink into this Christmassy book! Just what I needed, snow, a proper Christmas Inn, love, strong women, relationship ups and downs and a perfect ending. You get little crumbs as you read of what could happen, little clues to keep you reading, I love guessin...more
‘It’s easy, isn’t it, from the outside to think someone’s got it made. But my life is every bit as difficult as yours.’
Click buy: a French chateau. Co‘It’s easy, isn’t it, from the outside to think someone’s got it made. But my life is every bit as difficult as yours.’
Click buy: a French chateau. Condition: ‘may require improvement’… It seemed like a good idea. Selling everything we owned. Just Mark and me, swapping our tiny, little, terraced London home – and the heartbreak of not being able to start a family – for an entire chateau in the middle of France… It’s everyone’s dream. And now it’s coming true for us. As I use the rusty key to open the big, creaking wooden door of the tumbledown fairytale chateau that’s officially our new home, I wonder: what could possibly go wrong? Little do I know that the answer is going to be… ‘everything’. I don’t speak nearly as much French as I should yet, but I feel like there’s no mistaking the villagers’ hostility. Nor the look of shock on the builder’s face when he sees the roof. Can our marriage survive this adventure? With all the tumbling masonry, will we? As the French sun blazes overhead, one thing’s for sure: it’s going to be a year to remember…
Emma was one of those characters that I just couldn’t decide whether to shake or hug first of all! Having had health problems growing up, she has been wrapped in cotton wool by those around her but with the prospect of being alone in a massive chateau to renovate she steps up to the mark and it was great to see her develop and become stronger and more independent.
‘The woman in the mirror looked back at her, and she noticed that the despair was gone from her eyes, replaced with strength.’
Anxiety is broached in a sensitive manner as is trying for a baby. She has very little self belief and leans heavily on those around her but little by little she starts to spread her wings and finds that she can do things herself and begins to spread her wings.
‘And you can’t rescue another person,’ her sister said firmly. ‘Not completely. You can stand by their side. You can help them. But when it comes to it, they have to be ready to do it themselves.’
This was an unexpected story, not what I thought it would be and it became a lovely gem of a book, it engaged me and took me on a journey (awful phrase but true in this case!), I connected with Emma particularly and by the end was whooping with joy! ...more
No, I know it’s only October, don’t shout me down but I just wanted to get a little of that Christmas frisson! It was rainy and That Christmas Feeling…
No, I know it’s only October, don’t shout me down but I just wanted to get a little of that Christmas frisson! It was rainy and I wanted to curl up with some love and snow and joy and The Christmas Letters by Sue Moorcroft was just the ticket!
Maddy Cracey had called Nelson’s Bar home all her life. Tucked away on the Norfolk coast on the cliffs and sharing her home with her husband Adey until an epic row and he stormed out into a blizzard never to return. Six years later she is living and caring for her Great Aunt Ruthie and daughter Lyla, when a handsome stranger Raff, arrives with some love letters from the past for Ruthie and their quiet lives are turned upside down by family secrets. Maddy and Raff grow close and love begins to blossom until a message from Maddy’s past threatens to upend all they have built.
I have to say that this book was just joyous, I loved the characters and the setting, I could really picture Nelson’s Bar, the cliffs and the sea and the wind blowing! It’s full of snow and Christmassiness (is that a word?!), there’s a big dollop of love in it, there’s mystery and drama and it really is uplifting. I think Ruthie was my favourite character, she is just lovely and brought a tear to my eye. Closely followed by Lyla, who made me hoot; the honesty of kids does it every time!
It made me think about letter writing too, it’s gone out of fashion since we all have phones in our hands. But there’s something about a letter and a love letter that is really special. After this I’m bringing back letter writing to my life!
This is a heartwarming, joyous festive read, perfect for winter nights and twinkling lights! ...more
I have read this as the first of my epic long Readalong with @theupstartcrows2023 on Instagram.
It took me a little while to get back into the groove oI have read this as the first of my epic long Readalong with @theupstartcrows2023 on Instagram.
It took me a little while to get back into the groove of reading Shakespeare. This play shows him working on lots of things that would come to define his later works, cross dressing, misidentification, funny servants/sidekicks, people falling in love immediately with the wrong person etc It does also throw up some controversiality, as at the end **spoiler here** Proteus threatens to rape Silvia, then Valentine minutes later is going to give her back to him, it’s all a bit weird and in all honesty I just didn’t like it much. It leaves a bad taste in the mouth somewhat and I need to do a bit more reading around to get to the bottom of the meaning of this part of the play. So I may come back and review this review in light of that!
Well, it’s the end. You only have to know the date to realise this, as this superb trilogy comes to a close and we reach thePompeii October 24th AD 79
Well, it’s the end. You only have to know the date to realise this, as this superb trilogy comes to a close and we reach the conclusion of Amara’s captivating story.
Amara is now in Rome, separated from her lover Philos and her daughter Rufina, who are in Pompeii. She is with her patron Demetrius living close to the seat of power, the emperor Titus. And although Amara has risen high, she is still threatened by her former life in the wolf den.
Her secret is known by her former brothel keeper Felix, betrayed to him by his now wife and her former friend Victoria, written into his will and is why she pays each month for his silence. If this is found out her world will collapse around her.
I loved being back with these characters, especially Amara and Britannica, the writing really gets you inside their heads and I was rooting for them both.
‘the ring Demetrius gave her when he first brought her to Rome. It is solid silver, stamped with a leaping hare, the symbol of sexuality and fertility.’
Packed with exquisite details, the level of research in this book is something else. But it is the power of the story that will really captivate you.
“Earthquake,” says one of the slaves helping to unload the vessel which carried her from Misenum. “Two days ago.”
There is so much emotion in this book, attached to characters that we have grown to love, the grumbling presence of Vesuvius at the edges of our vision as we read, a malignant shadow hanging over the story. I felt quite tense reading this one, entranced by the writing, gripped by the story and yet not wanting it to be over.
‘Britannica has the strength, the fearlessness, the unbridled fury she has always wanted for herself, and unlike Amara, unlike every woman here, this woman has the power to make men feel afraid.’
When the climactic eruption comes, I held my breath, the detail is incredible, the fear is palpable and Elodie Harper has created something very special. My heart was thumping to know how anyone would survive and the threats didn’t stop!
No.” Philos grips her by the shoulder. “This is not where you die. Think of everything you have already survived.’
A breathtaking conclusion to a powerful trilogy, saving the best til last; I will miss this!...more
‘Forget about hunting for the past. It’s gone. Think about the world that’s coming in.’
We are back getting down and dirty with the Essex Dogs. Last we‘Forget about hunting for the past. It’s gone. Think about the world that’s coming in.’
We are back getting down and dirty with the Essex Dogs. Last we saw them after the battle of Crécy, some of their number lost and now they march for Calais for their King, Edward III. Transported back to the 14th century by Jones, it’s tough, dirty and blood soaked. I really love that it’s a proper story, well rooted in history, some of the characters are real people, Hugh Hastings really did have some sort of weird ginger wig which tickles me, but it is the Dogs that make it; the camaraderie and friendship is key to the whole thing. Jones knows his stuff, obviously, but it is the storytelling for me that is most captivating, medieval war in all its gory glory and had me hooked. It makes you feel like you are really there in the thick of it all.
‘They believe they rule everywhere and everyone. But there are other men behind them, who make it possible for them to play their games.’
I’m lucky enough to have tickets to see Dan Jones speak at Toppings in October and after reading this, I can’t wait! ...more
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