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I was drawn to this book as I absolutely love books that are steeped in realism. As this one is based on a true story surrounding the 2004 Tsunami, I had high hopes that it right up my street.

Blurb:

December 26, 2004: The Indian Ocean tsunami has flooded great swathes of western Thailand.

Carl’s best friend and his wife are missing. He travels from London to Thailand to discover what has happened to them, only to learn there is nothing one man can do in the devastation the wave left behind. What started as an impulsive quest ends up with him examining the very essence of his being.

A unique combination of an action-packed quest for truth and a philosophical exploration of life’s deeper meaning, Breathe is a poignant, tense and intelligently written story that will have you contemplating its meaning and message long after you have reached the final page.

My thoughts:

There are so many brilliant things to point out about this wonderful book. Firstly, I loved the use of the past and present timeline to build tension, give a sense of the rapidly changing situation, and develop the characters, especially Carl.

There is a mix of quite long, descriptive chapters that deepen our understanding of characters and sense of place, alongside the quick fire chapters that reflect the fast moving tides being described. This made my head spin, but in a good way, and I found myself to be flying through this book at quite a pace, keen to follow Carl on his journey.

It is clear that Elena is an exceptional story teller. The descriptions of the devastation are vivid and haunting. It really brings to life again a horrific situation, which the author points out in her Afterword, the media were quick to forget, but had a long-lasting impact on the affected countries, so much so you can still see reconstructions taking place if you were to visit today.

This is a book with a poignant message about enjoying life, not taking it for granted, taking calculated risks and being appreciative of what you have. I have absolutely loved that Elena’s talent has made this a book easy to read and fly through in an addicted manner, despite the harrowing and upsetting subject matter.

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I was drawn to this book as in a past life 😂 I was a teacher of history, and piracy was my favourite topic to teach. Partly because of its rich Welsh connections, but also because it was a subject that somehow seemed to engage and interest everyone! The title suggests that this book will be about a voyage gone off course, or taken in a different direction, which of course intrigued me further.

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Blurb:

Anne is a headstrong young girl growing up in the frontier colony of Carolina in the early eighteenth century. With the death of her mother, and others she holds dear, Anne discovers that life is uncertain, so best live it to the full. She rejects the confines of conventional society and runs away to sea, finding herself in The Bahamas, which has become a nest for pirates plaguing the West Indies. Increasingly dissatisfied with her life, Anne meets a charismatic former pirate, John ‘Calico Jack’ Rackham, and persuades him to take up pirating again, and she won’t be left onshore. The Golden Age of Piracy is a period when frontiers were being explored and boundaries pushed. Wayward Voyage creates a vivid and gritty picture of colonial life in the Americas and at sea.

My thoughts:

It is a breath of fresh air to read such a detailed and wonderful book based mostly on two female pirates, as so much of what has been written and shared focuses on famous male pirates. It is clear that this is a book based on facts, and is well researched, but also showcases the writer’s ability to tell a good story.

I actually liked Anne from the being, and thought she was a well developed character. I liked how she quickly showed herself to be feisty, determined, independent, striking and intriguing. I was looking forward to following her journey, but I equally loved learning about Jack and ‘Mark’.

Through the characters of ‘Mark’ and Anne, the writer introduces the theme of the position of women. Anne appears to be ahead of her time in terms of her ambitions, and it is clear that Mary known as ‘Mark’ is aware of the limitations placed upon her, based on her gender alone, due to the society and time in which she lives.

This is a vivid, encapsulating and epic story which shows the highs and lows of piracy, as well as the extreme dangers and perils they face due to their lifestyle choice. I would recommend this to historical fiction fans looking who enjoy character driven stories!

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On today’s blog I’m excited to reveal the cover for a beautifully original historical fiction novel, due for release later this year.

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I know we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but we are all capable of it, and based on the elegance, beauty and simplicity of this one, it is definitely one I want to pick up and read. Here’s a little more about the book

Blurb:

A page-turning, emotional WW2 novel for fans of Barbara Taylor Bradford, Lucinda Riley and Kathryn Hughes

A view to the past…

When Izzie Dean’s beloved nan, Molly Blackshaw, passes away, Izzie returns to the Blackpool bungalow where she grew up, to say goodbye once and for all. When Izzie’s homecoming reunites her with her first love, Justin Swift, every emotion that Izzie has repressed since the day he broke her heart comes rushing to the surface. But then an unexpected discovery changes everything.

Between the pages of the battered secret diary Molly kept during WWII, Izzie discovers a story of love, heartbreak, and the incomparable hardship of life in a world at war. Reading her grandmother’s words soon puts her own story into perspective, and suddenly Izzie realises that the only thing holding her back from happiness, might be herself. Now she just has to convince Justin that they deserve a second chance at forever…

So if a heart-wrenching read about love, heartbreak and second chances is something you’re looking for, then pop this one on your wishlist 😍 I know I will be 💕

I am so excited to be involved in the blog tour for this original and thrilling book. This is a new to me author, but after reading I can’t wait to check out her back catalogue. I love the striking cover of this one, and the connotations of the title, suggesting closeness, possibly even romance or sensuality, but also death, despair or panic.

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Blurb:

How much could one phone call change your life?

‘Only you can save her. If she dies, it is your fault.’

When radio presenter, Casey Fallon, answers a call she assumes it is a prank. But then a woman’s body is discovered, and she finds herself up against a cruel and calculating killer who wants her to find his victims before they take their last breath.

Fifteen years ago, Casey was a key witness in the trial of serial killer, Steve Noakes, and her evidence helped put him behind bars for the murders of five women.

Someone remembers what happened that summer. Someone who is desperate for revenge. Someone who won’t stop until Casey has been punished.

‘You saved a life once. Can you do it again?’

The game is just beginning…

My thoughts:

I cannot find fault with this book. The opening line reads: “Most people think it is the disposing of a body that will get you caught.” This hooked me in immediately, and made me think I was reading from the perspective of a serial killer. As the narrative develops, this is clearly the case and I loved this change in narrative voice to bring the story to an even darker, more sinister and frightening place than the main narrative, which is told more from Casey’s perspective. I definitely feel like this gave the book a more tense feel, but also made it wonderfully original.

Casey is a great character. She is a hard-working, feisty and independent young woman, who continues to have dreams and aspirations for a more positive future despite her upsetting back story. The development of Casey’s character is brilliantly done in order to create a connection with her, and a sympathy for her.

I also loved the way the relationship between Finn and Casey was organically developed. Despite being key to the narrative, it did not feel forced at any point. It is clear there is a physical and sexual attraction, but also a deeper, more emotional understanding shared between them that allows for a solid connection, which in some ways brings lightness to the book, but also makes some of the key scenes more tense and dangerous.

This has definitely been an unpredictable read. I have had no idea where this one was going and my heart has been in my mouth as it has played out before me. The imagery is raw and visceral, and I felt it easy (in quite an eerie and haunting way) to picture even the most dark scenes of the book.

The ending is explosive and unexpected, and just when you think it’s all resolved, another twist is thrown into the mix and you’re completely off kilter again. I love this quote from the book, as it definitely highlights some of the key themes but also the gripping nature of Keri’s writing style:

“The real monsters had human faces and human voices and they could smile and laugh and talk to you, pretending everything was okay while they sliced you open with knives and taped up your nose and mouth to stop you from breathing.”

Overall, this has been an addictive and gripping tale about loyalty, anger and revenge, which has definitely kept me hooked throughout. I think if you have enjoyed A A Chaudhuri’s recent books, you will love this one. I have struggled to really enjoy similar books to this since reading A A Chaudhuri’s a few months ago, and this has definitely got me out of that reading slump. Within an hour of finishing this one, I had already lined up some of this author’s back catalogue to read next!

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I was drawn to this book by the bright and eye-catching cover. Cosy mystery is slowly becoming one of my favourite genres, and is probably my favourite genre to read in series form. I was also intrigued by the title, and wondered how the “banana devil cake” may fit into the story which appears to be about murder!

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Blurb:

With the murder of last year’s fête judge now but a hazy memory, the village of Elmesbury has retired to its former tranquil existence. That is, until a mysterious newcomer sets in motion a series of events that will see members of the W.I. crossing wooden spoons at dawn.

In the midst of preparing for her long-awaited engagement party, redoubtable village busybody Beattie Bramshaw not only finds herself embroiled in a one-woman campaign to save the elm tree from which the village gets its name, but also having to contend with an outbreak of unrest within her beloved W.I. group. Rivalry to win favour with the judge of this year’s fête has fuelled dissent within the ranks and, when two members are found dead in mysterious circumstances, suspicions run rife.

Confident the devil is not only in the cake but in the detail, Beattie determines to uncover the clues that will ultimately lead to the killer’s conviction. But can she solve the mystery before another member of the W.I. is picked off?

Banana Devil Cakeis a comedy crime caper in the style of Agatha Raisin and one that is guaranteed to lift your spirits. Prepare yourself for a tale of tea, cake and riotous goings-on from the author of Marrow Jam.

My thoughts:

I found this book to be engaging from the opening. The first line: “When viewed from the other side of the desk, Detective Inspector Grayson’s backside closely resembled a space hopper on spin cycle”, is humorous and light-hearted, but then there is mention of murder!

Miss Beattie Bramshaw at first reminded me of Janice from Friends. A character who re-appears at an inconvenient moment, a person who could talk the hind legs off a donkey, and the snorting were all reminiscent to me of this comedic character. However, she soon proves herself to be a multi-faceted character who is loyal, friendly, nosy but overall likeable.

I loved how the story was really interesting and well-developed, and I was hooked even though much of the opening on the narrative focuses on none other than the death of a tree!

Overall, this has been a fun and interesting read and Beattie is a fun an fiesty character who bounces off the page. I can’t wait to read more from this series!

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I was drawn to this book for a number of reasons. Firstly, the title suggests this book will be written in a diary style, and this is a firm favourite in terms of style for me, whether that be a memoir or a more fictional account of events. Also, it suggests that the book will provide some much needed escapism and take me to the unfamiliar yet bustling setting of of the city of Jaipur. Finally, the book is about a literary festival! Need I say more?!

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Blurb:

A brilliant, funny, and moving account of the characters that make festivals tick. There are the authors enjoying moments of adulation after years of creative isolation and the star-struck public allowed to mingle with their cultural icons.  And those in-between who are both author and fan as is the case of Rudrani Rana,  who attends one festival session after the other clutching a canvas bag which contains the labour of her life an unsubmitted manuscript written and re-written until only the sentence my body is a haunted house remains untouched.

Partly a love letter to one of the great literary shows on earth, partly a satire about the glittery set that throngs this literary venue year in year out, and partly an ode to the millions of aspiring writers who inhabit literary festivals, Jaipur Journals provides incisive insights into what makes a literary festival tick.

My thoughts:

The book provides wonderfully evocative and tantalising descriptive imagery from the offset, and this continues throughout. It was easy to imagine, or even feel, that I was in Jaipur and witnessing the literary festival myself.

This was helped by the use of 3rd person narrative, as we are not made to follow one specific person. The writer moves between quite a large cast of main characters, and provides insight into their inner thoughts and feelings, which of course is both inkeeping with the journal style, but also rather original and in my personal opinion, unexpected.

This is a fast moving narrative and this suits the fact that this is a short, quick and in some ways, easy read. It also reflects the bustling and hectic atmosphere of the popular and renowned literary festival. In this way, I think it suited the book, but there were times when I would have liked to have seen more focus on certain characters, and more character development.

Despite being quite a quick read, this book poses and in some ways answers, a lot of meaningful questions about the attitude, ambitions and motivations of writers, and the art of writing. It explores writing not only as an art-form, but also a political vehicle, and a vulnerable and cathartic form of self expression.

Overall, this has been a wonderfully original and vibrant book, bringing to life the sometimes pretentious but also culturally diverse and exciting atmosphere of a literary festival.

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I was drawn to this book as I am getting more and more enamoured by historical fiction as the weeks and months go by. Thankfully, this book has been no different!

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Blurb:

In 1789 struggling writer Ben Dearlove rescues a woman from a furious Covent Garden mob. The woman is ill and in her delirium cries out the name “Miranda”. Weeks later an anonymous novel about the voyage of the Miranda to the fabled Great Southern Continent causes a sensation. Ben decides to find the author everyone is talking about. He is sure the woman can help him – but she has disappeared. It is soon clear that Ben is involved in something more dangerous than the search for a reclusive writer. Who is the woman and what is she running from? Who is following Ben? And what is the Admiralty trying to hide? Before he can discover the shocking truth Ben has to get out of prison, catch a thief, and bring a murderer to justice.

My thoughts:

I loved how the author set up the mystery and the main narrative really quickly, with the utterings of the vulnerable girl and the mystery of the anonymous book.

I found Ben to be a likeable and well-developed character, who I was rooting for from the beginning, having been given an ultimatum by his dad. I enjoyed going on this journey with him!

Lucienne laced the narrative with evocative, immersive and raw descriptions of the main settings of the book: London, Bristol and the “fair land”. I loved reading about the hustle and bustle of the cities, and the clash of elegance and poverty. I was already hooked on the story, so providing these sometimes detailed descriptions only peaked my interest further.

This is in many ways an insightful and informative historical fiction novel, which has been well-researched and almost written in an old fashioned manner, which in this case is rather a compliment more than anything.

Through some of the narrative devices in the book, including the excerpts from the mystery book and author themselves, the writer develops the historical narrative further by bringing into question issues around colonialism and slavery.

Overall, this has been an engrossing and well-written mystery by a talented author, and has been one of the most interesting and original pieces of historical fiction I have read in a long time.

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I was drawn to this book by the engaging and unusual cover, as well as the comparison to Adrian Mole as he remains one of my favourite fictional characters of all time.

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Blurb:

Preston, 1981. Maud, who is twelve and lives with her dysfunctional parents and her elder brother, spends a lot of her time in her bedroom writing letters to her favourite popstar, Tom Harding, the lead singer of a punk band called Horsefly.

No one really understands her or tries to and she thinks Tom just might have some answers to her many, many questions… 

My thoughts:

This book is definitely humorous, and the character of Maud bounces off the page, with all her positive and negative nuances. However, this book was actually, in places, much darker than I was expecting due to the comparison to Adrian Mole, and I actually found Maud to be more like Eleanor Oliphant. Unique, lonely and frustrated, she finds solace and relief in her communication with pop star Tom.

The style of this book is completely different to anything I’ve read before. It is written completely as letters, emails, text messages and phone calls, and despite my reservations that this might slow down the narrative, it actually develops at quite a pace, spanning two significant time frames in Maud’s life.

There are many important themes explored the book, including family, friendship (I really loved reading the banter between Maud and Sarah) and mental health.

The cliff hanger ending was a little unexpected but it left me feeling positive that Maud had made the right choices and that there may be a new, happier chapter coming in her life…

Overall, this is an engaging novel written in a completely original style, and I think fans of Eleanor Oliphant or epistolary style novels would enjoy this one.

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Regular readers of this blog will know I am a notoriously bad series reader. I might pick one up, then not read another for a few years, or read book 5 before I’ve read book 1…

However, I have been completely hooked on J E Rowney’s student midwife series, so I am very excited to be involved in the blog tour.

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Blurb:

Violet thought midwifery training was tough, but now she has to step out onto the ward as a newly qualified midwife. She’s standing on the edge of her new life, but taking the leap is harder than she ever expected.

Living on her own for the first time, while best friend Zoe starts to build a future with soon-to-be-husband Luke, everything is changing for Violet.

Can Violet adapt and adjust, or will anxiety get the better of her?

“Starting Out” – the new book from the world of “Lessons of a Student Midwife”.

My thoughts:

It’s quite difficult to put my finger on why I love and enjoy this series so much, but I can’t find anything negative to say about it, really.

The main characters of Violet and Zoe are endearing and realistic. Zoe is a teacher like me, so I enjoy that link, and I like reading about Violet’s experiences as a midwife.

The use of inner monologue is great as we get to see Violet’s vulnerabilities and how she overcomes them. In this book, it is very clear that Violet is struggling to adapt to the challenges and pressures of being a qualified midwife, but actually the person who puts the most pressure on her is Violet herself. I found this aspect of the story really relatable as when I got my first permanent job in teaching, I thought I could kick back and relax a bit, but then I realised, much like Violet does, that this is actually the start of a long and important career, so you want to get off to a good start.

I personally would have liked to see more scenes where we see Violet’s work life in action. For example, the breast feeding scene I found really interesting as the writer explored different ways to reacting to the situation and the importance of confidence. Everyone is told this is a natural and important part of the journey, and the job, but actually it requires a certain level of confidence to ensure success.

Overall, this has been easy, quick but thought provoking read that explores important issues including making and maintaining friendships, overcoming confidence battles and adapting quickly to new situations. I would definitely recommend this series to people looking for something that is fiction, but reads almost like a non-fiction memoir or diary. It is a lovely series and one that I look forward to continuing in the future!

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I am so excited to be involved in the blog tour for this heart-warming, funny and brilliant book. I was drawn to this book as Victoria’s previous release, Sun, Sea and Sangria, was one of my favourite books of 2020. Also, I love the idea of setting the story around a book club, and I enjoy books that explore the highs and lows of motherhood.

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Blurb:

Three friends, three single mums, one quest to find love…

It’s 8:30am and I’m already utterly exhausted. My son has lost his football boots, my daughter is ready for school dressed only in her vest and knickers, and of course, my 1-year-old has filled his nappy for what feels like the tenth time this morning.

As for my husband? He’s decided marriage doesn’t suit him, and well… buggered off.

All hope of ‘me time’ has but dwindled to sipping half a glass of wine whilst shouting after the kids. But everything is about to change.

I’m taking control of my life! I’ve joined… a book club.

Yes, I know what you’re thinking. ‘Wow… live a little.’ But my fellow book clubbers, Amanda and Janey, are my lifelines. They understand the daily struggle because they’re mothers too.

And in between the prosecco, Doritos and googling everything about Mr Darcy on SparkNotes, they’ve convinced me to go on a date with my boss.

A single mum of three looking for romance… what could possibly go wrong?

A gloriously funny and relatable read for anyone who just needs a little more ‘me time’. Fans of Why Mummy Drinks and Has Anyone Seen my Sex Life? will snort with laughter at this utterly hilarious and heart-warming read.

My thoughts:

I’ll be honest that I had high expectations about this book, and somehow Victoria Cooke has managed to produce something that has far exceeded them.

I have found this book completely compelling and struggled to put it down, almost swallowing it down in one big gulp.

The characters in this book are vibrant, real and relatable. I loved Stephanie’s insights into the reality of motherhood, and I loved seeing Edward’s strength, but also his vulnerabilities. Stephanie is a hard-working, loving, homemaker who wants nothing more than for her to children to have the happy childhood she missed out. This character development and darker element of the story ensures that the reader has complete sympathy for Stephanie and is really rooting for her, and her children’s happiness.

The theme of friendship is huge in this book. It is clear that once the book club is established, the women involved know that they have each other’s backs and it gives them a confidence to take risks and make quite significant life choices, or changes.

This has been a wonderfully heart-warming book about fresh starts, friendship and family, and one that I have absolutely loved reading. I would definitely recommend this author to fans of Milly Johnson and Mary Jayne Baker. I can’t wait to read more by this author!

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