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
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
Joanna lives alone in the woods of Vermont, the sole protector of a collection of rare books; books that will allow someone to walk through walls or tJoanna lives alone in the woods of Vermont, the sole protector of a collection of rare books; books that will allow someone to walk through walls or turn water into wine. Books of magic. Her estranged older sister Esther moves between countries and jobs, constantly changing, never staying anywhere longer than a year, desperate to avoid the deadly magic that killed her mother. Currently working on a research base in Antarctica, she has found love and perhaps a sort of happiness. But when she finds spots of blood on the mirrors in the research base, she knows someone is coming for her, and that Joanna and her collection are in danger. If they are to survive, she and Joanna must unravel the secrets their parents kept hidden from them - secrets that span centuries and continents, and could cost them their lives ...
I have to say I got hooked on this within the first few pages. I was intrigued by the premise, there’s mystery, threat and some glorious fantasy.
“Wherever you are, you must leave on November 2 and keep moving for twenty-four hours, or the people who killed your mother will come for you, too.”
It was a slow burn to start with as I tried to get my head round the characters and what was happening. Books that are magic, with scribes who write them with their blood, people who hear magic as a hum of a bee hive, power, sinister creepy houses and a smattering of love too.
‘The other hand was resting on the book, forefinger still pressed to the page as if holding his place. A last smudge of vivid red was slowly fading into the paper and Abe himself was mushroom-white and oddly shrivelled……She had not yet understood that it was the book itself that had killed him;’
It’s a big sprawling behemoth, it felt initially like it could go in any direction and then once you get to the reveal of sorts and the characters join up, I was hooked and raced to the end.
‘there was that mirror in Snow White, the one that told the evil queen about the fairest in the land … but was that kind of magic just fairy-tale shit, or was it real life?’
There is good old jeopardy which is fab and I certainly won’t look at a mirror in quite the same way again! A very good read and I’m thinking there may be more to come! ...more
‘Adeline read the words, and then read them again. Married? Married? Her mother was getting married for a fourth time?’
Adeline, clinical psychologist ‘Adeline read the words, and then read them again. Married? Married? Her mother was getting married for a fourth time?’
Adeline, clinical psychologist and writer of a hugely successful advice column cannot believe her mother is getting married..again! Her mother Catherine Swift is a highly successful romance writer but all is not well in the world of romance, Catherine has plans which will shock her readers. Adeline, it seems can’t stand her mother and really doesn’t want to go to the wedding. On the other hand Cassie, her half sister is really excited by the news and looks forward to returning to Corfu. But none of them are prepared for the secrets and pain that will be revealed as they gather on Corfu for a wedding.
‘It’s time she modelled herself on one of her heroines.’
I really loved this book, yes it’s romance but never write off a romance. They often deal with some really difficult themes and Summer Wedding is no exception. Morgan deals with these deftly and sensitively and it really works in the story. The mystery groom, I had already worked out but it was fun to read the reactions of Adeline and Cassie, it’s a little bit of an understatement to say they are both knocked for six! The fallout conversation was written so well and I loved how the sisters drew together.
‘Men so often hold the power, but not this time.’
I really loved how the author wove in the experience of being an author to the story, I felt it really added to the narrative - conversations cannot be deleted, how a chart position can affect you, it was a very revealing insight I thought.
‘The idea of being paid to do what she loved was exciting, until she’d figured out that her advance would only cover her rent and food for two months.’
Although there are tough themes to negotiate, there is also love and hope and it will make your heart sing and long for the Sun of Corfu!
I’m definitely going to be reading more Sarah Morgan books!...more
‘Immortalised Queen Survive.’ As a child, Gruoch's grandmother prophecies that she will one day be Queen of Alba and reclaim the lands of her Pictish k‘Immortalised Queen Survive.’ As a child, Gruoch's grandmother prophecies that she will one day be Queen of Alba and reclaim the lands of her Pictish kin. When, many years later, she is betrothed to Duncan, the heir-elect, the prophecy appears to come true. Determined to never to be as powerless as her parents, Gruoch leaves behind her home, her family and her friend MacBethad, and travels to the royal seat at Scone to seal her fate. But when a deadly turn of events forces Gruoch to flee Duncan and the capital, Gruoch finds herself at the mercy of an old enemy. Her hope of becoming Queen all but lost, Gruoch does what she must to survive, until she is given a choice: live a long, peaceful life but fall into obscurity, or seize her chance for vengeance and a path back to the throne.
‘You will be greater than all of us. You will be immortalised.’
This book is simply amazing! I loved Gruoch, as a young girl she is feisty and headstrong, trying to find her place in the world but all the time aware of her destiny. This land is painted beautifully in words, the imagery is strong and evocative and I was totally absorbed into the story of the future Scottish Queen.
‘The battle is won, little one,’ I whispered over him. ‘Now watch me win the war.’
As the tale unfolds, Gruoch must betray those who love her, fight for herself and her future and transforms herself into the strong and fearless woman who inspired Shakespeare’s most famous Queen. It is so gripping, I was entranced by this one!
‘When shall we meet again? In thunder, lightning or in rain? When the chaos has come and gone, When the battle’s lost and won. There shall we meet MacBeth.’
Powerfully told, I couldn’t stop reading and was utterly under its spell. A masterful piece of writing! ...more
When I was young, I remember watching a film about the Argonauts and in it, Perseus was played by Harry Hamlin. He was a golden boy, a hero and could When I was young, I remember watching a film about the Argonauts and in it, Perseus was played by Harry Hamlin. He was a golden boy, a hero and could do no wrong. We believe what we are told and what we see and this is what I thought, Perseus meant gold and meant hero.
Unsurprisingly there are different sides to the same story and this book is a dazzling and brilliant interpretation and retelling of events, the women of these stories front and centre and Perseus as the title suggests merely a shadow.
We meet Danae, his mother; she raises her son, telling him the story of his birth and his ‘father’ Zeus who came as a golden shower of rain. …..first mistake? Let your son think he is a god.
‘She had seen what men could do. She had to push away the memory of their blank faces, nailing board after board as she pleaded for her life. No son of hers would be so heartless.’
We meet Medusa, his foe; Unsurprisingly she is not an actual monster, the Gorgons are just women who have left other tribes under threat to themselves in most cases. They live quietly and help others where they can. I found this part of the story really engaging and different. We are so influenced and conditioned by what we read that we don’t stop to think of the alternative stories and I’m saying this as a woman!
‘Each day the world gives birth to another wronged woman,’ Medusa said quietly.’
And we meet Andromeda, his wife, a true survivor. We see Perseus for the massive man baby he is; selfish, cruel and childish.
‘Though her mouth was silent her heart screamed, with sorrow for the woman whose head was stolen, and with terror for herself.’
The power of women changes through this book, from subservient Danae, to Medusa, wiser, but in the end too trusting; to Andromeda, who learns to wield her power for her use. These women were survivors, enduring all manner of horrors and it is their tale, not Perseus’ which we should remember.
‘Silence was strength when it was all she had, but words would be her true power.’ ...more
I’ve said it before but DS George Cross is just a fantastic character and one of my all time favourite detectives. Diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum DiI’ve said it before but DS George Cross is just a fantastic character and one of my all time favourite detectives. Diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder he can be blunt and socially awkward but he solves cases and sees things that others don’t. DS Ottey is his partner and facilitates this ability whilst also trying to help him negotiate his social faux pas. Their relationship is the glue to this fantastic series:
‘How long have you been here in this community, Father?’ Ottey asked. ‘At St Eustace’s? Gosh, over sixty years now. Before that I was at Prinknash Abbey.’ ‘Near Gloucester,’ Cross monksplained, needlessly, to Ottey. ‘You must have seen a lot of change in that time,’ Ottey continued, ignoring her partner.’
As the title suggests, the titular monk is our victim. Brother Dominic reported missing and then found murdered quite brutally in a wood near to the monastery. But who would kill a monk?
‘Cross couldn’t imagine why such a fate would befall a man who had made the decision to withdraw himself from everyday life and devote himself to one of contemplation and prayer. What could possibly provoke someone to do this to a monk?’
Cross is tenacious in his investigation and dots all the i’s and crosses all the t’s. I love his attention to detail. The plot appears to meander much in the way a real investigation must do and I love the pace of this but it is complex, as facts come to light we follow this pair on their journey to unmask a killer.
‘An emotional reaction to a crime scene was an unnecessary distraction.’
It’s a tightly woven plot with plenty of twists and turns. I spotted one or two but not all which is the genius of Sullivan. I think this series of books would be TV Gold personally, let’s hope it gets made!
The Mysterious Case Of The Alperton Angels - Janice Hallett
Bodies are found in a warehouse in a suicide pact associated with a cult called the AlpertoThe Mysterious Case Of The Alperton Angels - Janice Hallett
Bodies are found in a warehouse in a suicide pact associated with a cult called the Alperton Angels. Their leader is now in prison convicted of the killings. Now years later Amanda Bailey is tasked with writing a true crime book about the episode with a new spin on the case. What happened to those who survived and in particular the baby who is just about to turn 18?
This is an interesting format which the author is known for, I have to say I really enjoyed it and it piqued my interest. It feels very cat and mouse, 2 steps forward and one step back and it feels in real time following Amanda’s emails and WhatsApp messages between herself and various other characters involved with the Alperton Angels case. Something was niggling me all the way through, I found it difficult to trust the characters with conflicting information being thrown in to wrong foot you as a reader. I did struggle with the formatting initially but as I understood how it worked I soon found it to be gripping and totally addictive and I was reading this at every little opportunity that I got.
‘A murder club. Don’t pull the face I know you’re pulling right now.’…..’A murder club. Quirky-looking girls and guys with beards.’
I liked the character of Amanda, she was clever and feisty and her relationship with Oliver was funny. There was a lot of humour through the book which I enjoyed. It is a long read and seemed a bit convoluted at times but as you read through, these twists and turns unravel to reveal their meaning which is integral to the book.
A tightly plotted and complex mystery which I loved!...more
One hot summer day, stuck in traffic on her way to pick up the cake for her daughter's sixteenth birthday party, Amazing Grace Adams - Fran Littlewood
One hot summer day, stuck in traffic on her way to pick up the cake for her daughter's sixteenth birthday party, Grace Adams snaps. She doesn't scream or break something or cry. She simply abandons her car and walks away. Today she'll show her daughter that no matter how far we fall we can always get back up again. Because Grace Adams was amazing. Her husband and daughter once thought so. They and the world might have forgotten. But Grace is about to remind them ...
‘She speaks five languages yet she could not find the vocabulary to articulate her heart sickness, to negotiate their grief.’
I loved Grace from the very first page, in the sweltering heat as Grace walks away from her car, I just knew I was going to love her! She has more brains than I’ll ever have, gifted, anxious, terrified, an amazing linguist, a brave superwoman and a little bit broken perhaps -within a few pages I just felt I knew her.
‘Quietly, calmly, she has taken the bolt-cutters to social convention. She has set herself free.’
As the book progresses we jump back and forth in time unravelling the story of Grace, Lotte and Ben. I found this a bit tricky at times to place, due to the format I was reading but it still flows well. I also found it a hard read at times, I think because I have had teenage kids, the thought of some of the issues got to me and so I read this in segments over a longer period than I would usually.
‘It’s impossible to tell where the perimenopause stops and she begins, and she’s asking herself who she would be if it wasn’t for these chemical enemies raging through her body,’
However the characterisation is wonderful, you can feel the tension mounting as Grace’s day progresses, it’s an emotional maelstrom and incredibly vivid to read.
‘‘That’s not rage, darling. That’s your fear, your grief exploded.’ She pinches her fingers together, then springs them apart so that her empty hands are stars.’
I think there was just one conversation that I really loved and that was the kindly lady who buys her a drink and tends her wounds, worldly wise and truthful- it’s beauty in word form.
‘I know you feel like no one sees you,’ the woman says, and her breath is sweet, like lilac. ‘I’m here telling you, I see you.’
It is a book about words and languages and the power of words that are spoken and even more so those that are not. That even though we have these words we cannot sometimes articulate how we feel. It’s total and literally visceral heartbreak come the end, this book has taken me on an absolute rollercoaster of emotion and I urge you to do the same. ...more
This book is just simply a little bit of Christmas joy!
Cleo has managed The Little Knitting Box in NYC for 4 years and it has been in Cleo’s family foThis book is just simply a little bit of Christmas joy!
Cleo has managed The Little Knitting Box in NYC for 4 years and it has been in Cleo’s family for nearly four decades. She made an escape to New York from her old life in England but then she gets a letter that tips her world on its head and puts the future of the shop in jeopardy. Dylan has been trying to pick up the pieces of his life as a stay-at-home after his marriage broke down and his mother passed away. He just wants to give his kids stability and love this Christmas. But when he meets Cleo, he begins to see it’s not always so easy to move on, especially when his ex seems determined to win him back. Cleo and Dylan realise life is rarely black and white, and both have choices to make and as the snow starts falling will it be a Happy Christmas at The Little Knitting Box?
I’m a knitter of sorts so I loved the setting of this story and the knitting speak. It feels warm and almost tactile to read with the descriptions of the different wools or yarn. The characters of Cleo and Dylan are fabulous, there are twists and turns and ups and downs for these two. But sparks fly between them and I was rooting for the pair of them from the start.
Relationships can be tricky, there is baggage, kids and exes to contend with and this story melds all this together we ease. Dylan and Cleo are clearly meant to be together but there are obstacles, Prue, Dylan’s ex is a large one, totally manipulative and one you will love to hate! If only they’d talk to each other properly!! But we’ve all been there, those conversations in your head that you have second guessing every little thing, I recognised so much and so many feelings rang true. And ooh - the little twist bringing Cleo and Prue together, I LOVED that, unexpectedly brilliant, but the outcome of that meeting leads to something that you will have to read to find out…
‘She knew she’d regret it if she didn’t make Christmas at the Little Knitting Box the best one ever. Christmas was her thing. She loved it. Always had and always would.’
There is hope and grief and love and joy, twinkling lights and snow - everything you could ask for really, plus it’s made me want to reach for my knitting needles again!
Well this book is just outstanding, I have written so many little notes on what I loved, it’s difficult to get theThe Whalebone Theatre - Joanna Quinn
Well this book is just outstanding, I have written so many little notes on what I loved, it’s difficult to get them to coalesce into a proper review. So you will have to excuse me if it gets a bit rambling!
Cristabel Seagrave has always wanted her life to be a story, but there are no girls in the books in her dusty family library. For an unwanted orphan who grows into an unmarriageable young woman, there is no place at all for her in a traditional English manor. But from the day that a whale washes up on the beach at the Chilcombe estate in Dorset, and twelve-year-old Cristabel plants her flag and claims it as her own, she is determined to do things differently. Cristabel and her siblings, Flossie and Digby, scratch together an education from the plays they read in their freezing attic, drunken conversations eavesdropped through oak-panelled doors, and the esoteric lessons of Maudie their maid. But as the children grow to adulthood and war approaches, jolting their lives on to very different tracks, it becomes clear that the roles they are expected to play are no longer those they want.
There are so many things to love and be captivated by in this book. Firstly, the setting; the house at Chilcombe is old and crumbling, as the house creaks into life, I felt I was walking it’s wonky corridors too. It still has the glamour and parties we associate with the time, but like an old dinosaur lumbers on. It puts me in mind a bit of Swallows and Amazons, kids adventuring in their minds and IRL whilst the parents seems oblivious to them, there is a freedom for them and yet there are constraints too, what they are born to do or be. Girls to be wives and boys to be heirs.
Secondly and most importantly for me are the characters. I just felt I could see this book and the characters with an immediacy that does not often happen when reading but I was IN this book straight away.
The 3 year old Christabel is an absolute delight, I love her stomping about with a stick and hiding her little treasures in her pockets and under her pillow. She is brave, obstinate and inquisitive and is just joyous - one of my favourite written characters ever!
‘she keeps fragments of various sticks, several stones that have faces, and an old picture postcard of a dog owned by a king which she found under a rug and named Dog.’
Betty and Maudie, the lady’s maid and nanny are wonderfully realised and as with minor characters are often far larger in their influence than you think.
‘Maudie, why are all the best characters men?’ Maudie closes the book with a clump. ‘We haven’t read all the books yet, Miss Cristabel. I can’t believe that every story is the same.’
We are also introduced to Flossie ‘the veg’, who develops a quiet strength and fortitude that holds the siblings together.
‘When the vegetable baby was christened (Florence Louisa Rose Seagrave – Cristabel’s suggestion of ‘Cristabel the Younger’ sadly ignored)’
And with Digby, the youngest, a gang of three they make.
Whilst the actual adults are wrapped up in their own selfish lives, the children put on plays in their Whalebone a theatre and as time progresses we see them grown and age with their inner turmoil and fight to adulthood and beyond.
‘She is small and hard as a periwinkle. Just an empty shell taking her pain from place to place, hunched over it like a miser.’
As a reader I found myself lurching from laughter to heartwrenching conversations- the one between Christa and Digs before he goes to war really got me. So much happens in this book, it is a masterpiece in historical fiction, really powerful, drawing you in, connecting you to the characters and entwining you with their fates.
‘If she could look her loss in the face, what shape would it be? What colour? Bright blue. Sky blue. Hope blue. A love as big as the sky. How bright and fierce it is. How impossible to extinguish. To think of it gone feels like screaming.’
I think it is the characters as children who I can’t forget and I’m still thinking about. They are raw, honest and truthfully written, they are what I remember of childhood and what I have seen in my own children; they are bright and funny and just come alive. For this alone I would give all the book prizes but the whole book contains such beautiful writing, it is richly evocative and compelling and is fully deserving of all the accolades it will surely receive.
England. 1469. A fortunate marriage will change history. A scandal could destroy everything... Margaret Paston, A Marriage of Fortune - Anne O’Brien
England. 1469. A fortunate marriage will change history. A scandal could destroy everything... Margaret Paston, matriarch of the Paston family, knows that a favourable match for one of her unruly daughters is the only way to survive the loss of their recently acquired Caister Castle. But as the War of the Roses rages on, dangerous enemies will threaten even her best laid plans. Margery Paston, her eldest daughter, has always strived to uphold the Paston name and do her mother proud. But when she loses her heart to a man below her station, she must make a terrible choice: will she betray her family and risk everything for a chance at true love? Anne Haute, first cousin to the Queen, is embroiled in a longstanding betrothal to Sir John Paston, the eldest son and heir to the Paston seat. But despite his promises, Anne can't help but doubt that he will ever keep his word and make her his wife... In the midst of civil war, each of these women must decide: Head or heart? Love or duty? Reputation- or scandal?
What I love about Anne O’Briens books is that they are based in historical fact. The Paston’s existed, they wrote a lot of letters and their lives are documented incredibly for us. Margery Paston and the families bailiff Richard Calle really did have a ‘love affair’ and they married in secret much to the Paston’s despair. This is told so beautifully, these feel like real people, my heart went out to them. I also really felt for Anne Haute, trapped into a ‘marriage’ with Sir John Paston who is frankly a bit of a drip! The machinations of the medieval marriage market were something to behold that’s for sure! These womens lives; Margaret, Margery and Anne are told in rich detail, I also loved the stories of Elizabeth and Gilly. What a bunch of strong women these were, their lives were real, love, desire, loss and war were all part and parcel of the times. I was totally immersed in this book and couldn’t put it down!
‘Were all Paston women, even if they discovered love, fated to experience loss and heartbreak?’
A wonderful piece of historical fiction, richly woven, utterly entrancing and keeps you reading, if you haven’t discovered these books yet, please pick one up, they are worth it! ...more
Jack Treadwell is back from the war and tries his luck at The Empire theatre for a job. He walks right into the job of doorman and meets and is entranJack Treadwell is back from the war and tries his luck at The Empire theatre for a job. He walks right into the job of doorman and meets and is entranced by Grace, the theatre manager in all but name. Pretty soon they are backs to the wall trying to save the theatre from the clutches of Joe Allerdyce, who wants it for his own. But little do they know there is more trouble in store for The Empire family, the stage is set for high drama and maybe a little bit of love too.
Well this book from Mr Michael Ball was just a revelation! Pitch perfect, full of glamour, riveting, entertaining and kept me totally entranced.
‘It seems to me that some skulduggery is afoot. Would you agree, young man?’
It really is a glorious read, the characterisation is wonderful, the details as you would expect from theatre legend Ball are immaculate and it is just so engaging and entertaining. I was rooting for Jack and Grace from the off and booing Joe Allerdyce from my sofa, although I did come to love him and was booing Edmund instead…why are villains always called Edmund?
‘I do love a good crisis. Come on then, my little cherubs.’
Such a compelling read, this will be a perfect Sunday evening drama for sure. You can smell the greasepaint, feel the joy and hear the music as you read, there is so much going on; dodgy dealings, long lost loves, secrets and lies and everything in between, it’s BRILLIANT!
Take a bow Mr Michael Ball, this is joyous, here’s hoping for a few encores! ...more
DS George Cross is just one of those characters that you fall in love with. To me he is unique in fiction, perfect for a police procedural and stickleDS George Cross is just one of those characters that you fall in love with. To me he is unique in fiction, perfect for a police procedural and stickler for routine and following the evidence. Having Asperger’s Syndrome part of Autistic Spectrum Disorder
‘And that is why we put up with him and, if I’m being completely honest, love him – just a little bit, despite ourselves.’
The Ex mayor of Bristol, Peggy Frampton is found dead at her home in what is intially thought to be a burglary gone wrong. It soon comes to light that this is more complex than first thought and it is in fact premeditated murder. Peggy was an agony aunt and there are soon a plethora suspects for Cross and Ottey to investigate.
What I love about this series is George himself. His lack of social awareness due to his diagnosis but also his attempts to try to rectify this are so so well done. He is a brilliantly endearing character. The supporting cast are wonderful and I just love the dynamic between Cross and Ottey and the buffoonery of Carson the DCI.
There are many twists and turns in what is a really satisfyingly good read. I live the unravelling and we see how George ticks and how his persistence pays off. I also found the side story of the relationship with his father really wonderful too.
Aurora Storm, Uber famous pop star is caught in a clinch that was innocent but causes a storm on social media. Desperate to distract from the story shAurora Storm, Uber famous pop star is caught in a clinch that was innocent but causes a storm on social media. Desperate to distract from the story she asks for help from Nick Morgan, a man she trusts to pretend to be her boyfriend. Nick is still carrying a torch for her from the couple of weeks they spent together the previous year and he jumps at the chance to help her and make the most of being thrown together.
Aurora joins Nick and his family for festive celebrations and is caught up in the romance of it all, but can she turn her back on pop stardom for village life? And can Nick prove that happy endings really do happen in only 2 weeks?
‘A couple of weeks pretending to be in love with the only woman I know who’s been able to get close enough to you to break your heart,’
Oh I just squeaked and rubbed my hands together with glee over this. I sort of had the picture of what may happen and I WANTED it too! I was not disappointed! This is a totally christmas-tastic book full of snow, joy and is so festive! I’ve said it before, this genre often contains difficult themes woven in to a wonderful love story and Sarah Bennett really hits the mark. A fabulous cast of characters, loads of romance, the sea. It is just luscious!!
Beautifully festive and full of joy, many, many stars to this one!...more
I just loved the set up for this, it felt a bit like an old school Fred and Ginger film in a way, you could see how the characters were laying themselI just loved the set up for this, it felt a bit like an old school Fred and Ginger film in a way, you could see how the characters were laying themselves open for mishap with hilarious, yet very romantic consequences!
‘They shared a long look that made her feel as if he saw every single thing she was hiding. Knew every single thing she wasn’t saying.’
Clemmie Alice and Ross are siblings, who have each other’s backs but bicker at the same time! All heading to the family home in Scotland for Christmas they meet to decide what they do and don’t want their parents to know. Clemmie has a secret she wants no one to know, Alice doesn’t want her parents to know she may be getting married but doesn’t want kids, Ross , well, he has made up a girlfriend, Lucy, from the cover of a magazine. Meantime the real life Lucy is heading to the same house to try to bag a marketing deal with Ross and ends up stranded at the Scottish home and bingo we have the perfect Christmassy romantic will they/won’t they set up!
I loved the characters in this one, all just right, it’s full of laughter and romance and of course snow. I swung from smiles and laughter to having a lump in my throat, that’s what family and love and Christmas does to me! Oh Clemmie and Fergus my heart! Really these were my 2 favourite people in this book. The others are all great but it was these two who really squeezed my heart. I am such a sop but I just adore this genre, I never thought I would but it is such a tonic, an escape and a joy!
‘She was twenty-seven years old, and she’d loved Fergus Maclennon for at least twenty three of those years.’
And then this:
“Your child is always your child, no matter how old they are. You want the best for them.’
More sobbing! How is it that words written by someone you don’t know and have never met can do this to your emotions, it’s amazingly powerful stuff!
Oh, And Nanna Jean is an absolute Queen!
The ideal Christmas read, what a winner!!
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Thanks so much to Sarah Morgan, HQ stories and Netgalley for my copy of this book to read ...more
I haven’t visited Hedgehog Hollow before, it is a small world, with a lot of characters to get to grips with but Jessica kindly gives a character listI haven’t visited Hedgehog Hollow before, it is a small world, with a lot of characters to get to grips with but Jessica kindly gives a character list at the beginning. You might think that this is going to be a light fluffy read but as is often common in this genre there is more than that. Yes this is a wonderful hug in a book, and the characters are lovely, warm people that you would love to go for coffee with but there are challenging themes too and that is what I really like about them!
I love the setting of this book, I can easily picture it and I especially love the characters of Sam, Fizz and Terry. Bless Fizz, she has had a tough time, there are relationship fall outs and also I would say a trigger for abuse so beware but it is dealt with in a very sensitive way. There is also romance, love, babies and of course Christmaaaaas! I hadn’t realised this was the last in the series so I need to go back to the start and follow all these lovely people!
Emotional, so heartfelt and uplifting, it’s the perfect start to my Christmas reading! ...more
1746 - We meet one Charles Ignatius Sancho; this is the fictionalised account of his life. A real young black man living in Georgian Britain, born on 1746 - We meet one Charles Ignatius Sancho; this is the fictionalised account of his life. A real young black man living in Georgian Britain, born on a slave ship in the middle of the Atlantic into a life of slavery. Through his diaries he tells us his tale, how he learned to write and educate himself and escaped to live on the streets, dodging slave catchers and living in fear. His life is a rollercoaster of emotion and he rises to meet the King, writes and plays music, is friends with David Garrick, has his portrait painted by Gainsborough, became the first Black person to vote in Britain and lead the fight to end slavery.
This is an incredible story, you wouldn’t believe one person could pack so much into their life! A story of desperation and loneliness, a story of fear and also a story of love and hope. I found this book enlightening, captivating and enthralling. My interest was really piqued and I went down a few rabbit holes reading about these real people and their lives, this stuff really did happen to Sancho! I especially liked the segments of letter writing between Sancho and Anne and the contrasts between life in London and on the plantation. A lot made me feel quite saddened and just disgusted with how Black people were not treated as people. It was also a learning experience for me, I found out a lot I did not know. This is the great thing about reading both fiction and non fiction, you can broaden your horizons, educate yourself and sometimes walk in the footsteps of real people.
Let Sancho’s voice speak to you, read this one!...more
Emily Hendrickson is tired of being the wedding guest and never the bride, currently enduring what seems like the worldThe Forever House - Rachel Dove
Emily Hendrickson is tired of being the wedding guest and never the bride, currently enduring what seems like the world’s longest engagement, she just wants her happy ever after. Bumping into her childhood sweetheart Calvin Albright, her world is knocked off balance. Having been recently widowed, Calvin has returned to the quiet town of Hebblestone for a fresh start with his son Isaac. Isaac can see how lonely his dad is – and decides to help by uploading a video to his blog in search of a new girlfriend for his dad, he convinces Emily to use the local paper to make the video viral and sift through the potential candidates. They get more than they bargained for and a little bit of love at the same time!
What can I say about this book except joy, joy and more joy!
People can get a bit weird about reading romance books and I have to admit I used to be one of them. I think it was because in the 80’s it all seemed a bit twee and heaving bosoms, plus I wasn’t a grown up, I hadn’t experienced life and the knocks it brings. Now, I just love a contemporary romance. Yes, there is love but it is woven into a great story, often with difficult themes, but mixed with warmth and laughter, it’s a recipe for a great read!
This book has to be one of my favourites, I just guzzled this one down in a day! The setting in Yorkshire is fabulous, I could really picture it, the characters are wonderfully heartwarming, there are so many laugh out loud moments and I spent a large proportion of my reading time with a huge smile on my face! There are nods to Notting Hill (one of my fave romcoms), all the recipe elements are there to make a wonderfully tasty read!
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Thanks so much to the Squadpod, Rachel Dove, Netgalley and HQ stories for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review....more
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