Tag Fiction

One Perfect Summer by Lucy Coleman @emblabooks #NetGalley #romance #contemporaryfiction #bookreview

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I am delighted to share my review today of One Perfect Summer by Lucy Coleman. It has been a while since I have picked up a book by this author, she writes some fabulous books and her latest one is no exception.

My huge thanks to Embla Books who granted my request to read this title via NetGalley.

Summer doesn’t last forever, but can a perfect one change your life?

For successful estate agent Freya Henderson, life is all work and no play. But, when she crosses paths with carefree young surfer, Luke Stevenson, there’s no denying the attraction between them.

When Luke invites her to join him on a working holiday in France, it’s a real dilemma. Is it time to throw caution to the wind? Perhaps an enchanting summer fling with no strings attached would be a great way to de-stress and finally allow herself some fun.

As he takes her on a magical mystery tour of gorgeous locations among stunning châteaux, picturesque villages and sun-kissed vineyards, Freya can’t help feeling there’s something missing in her life… perhaps even a man like Luke.

But how well does she know him? Is he just looking for a summer adventure, or is he running away from something?

As the summer draws to a close, can Freya and Luke simply slip back into their old lives, or will they be left wondering ‘What if?’

Maybe this summer romance never has to end…

MY REVIEW

It has been far too long since I last picked up a book by this author. This one is a wonderful story with fabulous settings and some sumptuous foods.

Freya is in her 30s, but listening to her you would think she was a lot older. She is a partner in estate agents in Kent with her childhood friend. Together they have worked hard to get their business up and running and to make it successful. This means long hours and very little time for relaxation. Trying to relax, Freya starts to go to a gym where she meets Luke. He is a few years younger and seems so carefree, he could be mistaken for someone with no care in the world.

After getting to know each other, he finally asks how she would like to join him for two months on a working holiday in France. Being someone who is ordered, likes to have plans and wants to what she is doing the next moment, day, week or month ahead, Freay is unsure. Deciding that this could be a chance to take a much-needed break, Freya agrees. Things are sorted for her break and she joins Luke.

This was a wonderful story and one that took me around vineyards, farms, manors, markets and a quieter way of life. That doesn’t mean to say it was an amble around rural France, because Luke takes her around his friends’ properties. This is not the first time he has made this trip and it is a chance to catch up with his friends. They are all so welcoming of Luke and of Freya.

There is an undertone to this story and this is something that is consistent. What does Luke actually do, what is his past and why does he travel as he does? For Freya, it is her experiencing things that she is not in control of.

As they travel and work together they become close, while Freya struggles with the slight age difference and Luke is desperate to prove her wrong. Throughout the story, there is this tentative balance between friendship and something wanting to be more.

The story has a wonderful pace to it, the slower way of life but it still with plenty going on. I adored the different settings and the idyllic feel that the author managed to instil throughout the summer journey. Then the backdrop of the real world and being an adult with responsibilities for Freya. There are some good characters to meet and while they are not many they are wonderful and have a part to play in the story.

I adored this book and the story, it’s one of those stories that is heartwarming and was an absolute pleasure to read. If you are a fan of romance and contemporary fiction then this is one you should have a look at. I would definitely recommend it.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

No Time For Doubt by Robert Crouch @rcrouchauthor #crime #mystery #murder #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today of No Time For Doubt by Robert Crouch. I have read and enjoyed every book in this series and this latest one is the 10th. This one is another wonderful story and things are personal once again for Kent Fisher.

My huge thanks to Rob for inviting me to read and review this book. My review is my own and unbiased.

Can the wounds left by the past ever heal?
The decomposed remains of a murdered woman are found in a bedsit. Forced to confront a past he’s tried to forget, Kent Fisher discovers crimes that were brushed aside and hidden almost thirty years ago. Crimes that could destroy what’s left of his family.
When more murders silence those who know the truth, only one person remains to reveal what happened all those years ago.
Can Kent find her before the killer makes one final strike? Or will she die, taking the truth with her?

MY REVIEW

It is always great to pick up a new Kent Fisher book and this one is twisted, and devious and took me back into Kent’s past. If you have not read any of these books, I would suggest reading them in order, but they would work as stand-alone as the author does give background information.

Kent is a complex character and he has an interesting backstory, this is expanded upon in this latest book. As always Kent manages to find himself in an investigation, this one will test Kent more than some others have. He is still trying to sort out what he feels about Gemma while working out this latest murder and wondering what his future looks like.

The author really has nailed this one and there were more twists and turns, red herrings and misdirection. I will say that this is something that he does well, but this particular one seemed to take it up a notch. The murder victim comes with a whole load of questions and the answers do not come easily, when they do are they the answers Kent is looking for? He does have the help of Francis and Belinda and he does fall back on his contacts from his days working as an Environmental Health Officer.

As well as being an ex-environmental health officer, he also runs an animal sanctuary, it started small but then expanded and took on a different route. It has been run by various people and volunteers if you have read the previous books you will know how this has come about. He also solves murders and has done so since his time as an EHO, dead bodies and unhygienic premises seem to go hand in hand for Kent!

This story is intense for Kent and he does question what he knows against what he is discovering. He still needs to work out who is who, sort the truth from the lies and finally get to grips with what is going on. This one is a dangerous one for Kent and those around him and it has repercussions for many.

If you are a fan of crime and mystery books with a difference then have a look a this series, I have read and enjoyed each one and this is another that I would definitely recommend.

About the author…

Robert Crouch combined his love of murder mystery novels with his extensive experience as an environmental health officer to create a new kind of private detective.

Motivated. by desire for justice and fair play, Robert wanted to show how an ordinary person could solve complex murders. Inspired by Sue Grafton’s irreverent detective, Kinsey Millhone, Robert crafted an investigator who’s rooted in the classic whodunit, but firmly set in the contemporary world.

When he’s not creating complex mysteries, Robert can be found among the gentle hills and coastline of the South Downs with his camera.

You can find out more about Robert at his website, https://robertcrouch.co.uk, where you can also join his Readers Group for more news, insights and giveaways, including a free short story. 

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Leave No Trace by Jo Callaghan @JoCallaghanKat @simonschusterUK @RandomTTours #crime #thriller #bookreview

yvonnembee 5 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today of Leave No Trace by Jo Callaghan. This is the 2nd book in the Kat & Locke series and it is a fabulous series that mixes technology with police procedural and the mix is just brilliant.

My huge thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my copy of the book from the publisher Simon & Schuster UK.

DCS Kat Frank and AIDE Lock return in the provocative new thriller from the author of In the Blink of an Eye.

One detective driven by instinct, the other by logic.
It will take both to find a killer who knows the true meaning of fear . . .

When the body of a man is found crucified at the top of Mount Judd, AIDE Lock – the world’s first AI Detective – and DCS Kat Frank are thrust into the spotlight as they are given their first live case.

But with the discovery of another man’s body – also crucified – it appears that their killer is only just getting started. With the police warning local men to be vigilant, the Future Policing Unit is thrust into a hostile media frenzy as they desperately search for connections between the victims. But time is running out for them to join the dots and prevent another death.

MY REVIEW

After reading the author’s previous book, In the Blink of an Eye, I was eager to read the next book to see if it would be as thrilling as the first one, I have to say it was and I enjoyed this one just as much as the first.

Kat & Lock are two very different entities. DCS Kat Frank is in charge of the team, one of which is AIDE Lock, an artificial intelligence detective. While he is not able to perform some of the things that a human would, he can also do things a lot quicker when it comes to processing and searching databases and tech that is involved with running a case.

The author did a great job with the first book and gave some different perspectives and opinions, this book also follows those and also, more importantly, adds more to this. The idea of Lock working alongside a team of detectives as they investigate a crime is for the system to learn and adapt. Lock can be seen via a holographic projection.

The discovery of a body on the top of a mount that has been crucified is bad enough, but there are more details to add. These make the case unique and when another body is discovered some think there may be a link, but not everyone shares this view.

Being introduced to the team in the first book was good and the author has fleshed her characters out more, which sounds a little odd when one of them has no flesh as they are a hologram! However, she has added more details and given the reader a chance to get to know them and this is building a great sense of camaraderie between them.

There is a sense of time being important because Lock is being brought into an active case. He is also being seen by the general public properly so not only do the police force have to make sure things are done quickly, the politicians want a quick wrap-up to show that this way of investigating can be beneficial. There is no pushing Kat or the team into making a quick decision though, all things have to line up.

So with a mix of instincts and logic, this book provides two approaches to a crime and the investigation. Mixing crime fiction with a slight sci-fi feel but not one that is full of techno-speak so it makes for seamless reading.

I am loving this series and if you are looking for something with a twist as well as being an excellent crime thriller then this is a series you may well be interested in. It is a cracking read and one that I would definitely recommend.

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour…

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Crow Moon by Suzy Aspley @OrendaBooks #thriller #crime #debut #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today of Crow Moon by Suzy Aspley. When I saw this book a while ago I knew it was one I wanted to read so I pre-ordered the paperback. What a good decision that was as this is a wonderful, chilling and dark tale.

I also want to mention what an amazing cover this is ❤

A Martha Strangeways Mystery

Set in the fictional village of Strathbran (Glen of Ravens) in Stirlingshire, Scotland, an area steeped in folklore and impenetrable mists, Crow Moon features ex-journalist Martha Strangeways, who discarded her career when her young twins died in a fire. Stricken by guilt that she was not there to save them, Martha carries their remains in a matchbox and struggles to find purpose in her life … until she stumbles across the body of a teenager, strung up on a tree, with a poem about crows inked on his back. Martha is soon drawn into the investigation into his death, teaming up with DI Derek Summers when another teenager goes missing in the remote landscape. With a plot that becomes darker, ever-more paranoid and increasingly enthralling with each page, Crow Moon is also a moving tale of grief and an exploration of psychological damage.

MY REVIEW

This is a wonderfully atmospheric and eerie book. It has a fictional setting, but the author does a great job of describing it and the area, that she had me convinced it could be real!

The setting works so well for this story as the Crow Moon is on the 21st of March, it is the time of year when we are still in the cold of winter but seeing the dawn of spring. The days tend to be damp and overcast with foggy or misty layers. This time of year fits so well with the eerieness of the story and the folklore that has been woven in.

The main character is Martha, she had been a reporter but after her twins died she stepped away. Only when one of her son’s friends disappears does she become interested enough to start looking for her own clues. She thinks there is more to the disappearance, and her fear is palpable.

This is such a tense story that mixes the feel of a gothic thriller with a modern setting. The folklore is brought into play and a supernatural feel that sends shivers, the author uses this to great effect and it makes you wonder just how much truth there is behind the fiction!

The cast of characters is enough, for it was anyway. They had a role to play and there is an unknown character that appears in italics. I do love a mystery italicised cast member! The character of Martha has a fragility to her, but she is tough and when she believes in an idea she will follow it through. She does have the support of a DI Derek Summers, who is investigating the case and this makes for a great bit of teamwork, well when they share information that is.

While this is a story about death and grief it is also about moving on and taking a breath to make another step forward. Being stuck in a rut or routine, hiding away is all well and good, but sometimes you need something to steer you out. The author does this for Martha and as I got to know her I could see there is much more to learn.

This is the first book and one that lays down the basics of Martha, her family and those in her life. As the story progresses, the author takes darker and more mysterious turns adding a brilliant sense of nervous tension, with a sense of anxiety and stress as the story gains more intrigue.

If you are a fan of eerie thrillers then this is one for you, I adored the creepy feel and the psychological edge to this book. Brilliant debut novel and one I would definitely recommend.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Prima Facie by Suzie Miller @penguinrandom #NetGalley #play #contemporaryfiction #thriller #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today of Prima Facie by Suzie Miller. This is a brilliant book based on a play by Jodie Comer and is set in the law courts. It is a story that has a very important message to impart.

Prima Facie – based on the first impression; accepted as correct until proven otherwise.

My huge thanks to Random House UK for accepting my request to read this via NetGalley.

Based on the award-winning play starring Jodie Comer

‘This is not life. This is law.’

Tessa Ensler is a brilliant barrister who’s forged her career in criminal defence through sheer determination. Since her days at Cambridge, she’s carefully disguised her working class roots in a male-dominated world where who you know is just as important as what you know. Driven by her belief in the right to a fair trial and a taste for victory, there’s nothing Tessa loves more than the thrill of getting her clients acquitted. It seems like Tessa has it made when she is approached for a new job and nominated for the most prestigious award in her field. But when a date with a charismatic colleague goes horribly wrong, Tessa finds that the rules she’s always played by might not protect her, forcing her to question everything she’s ever believed in . . .

MY REVIEW

This story has been based on a play by Jodie Comer and is a brilliantly addictive thriller. Tessa has worked hard to get to where she is in criminal defence. She is not a public school graduate, or following in her family’s footsteps like some of her colleagues have.

She is invested in the truth of the law, which she believes in wholeheartedly. She does come across as very uncompromising in this as she sifts through all the evidence to discover any chink in the opposition’s cases. She is good and she has a point to prove, that she is as good as the rest of them and she can walk in the male-dominated halls of power.

The story is told from Tessa’s point of view and this means it gives an additional insight into how she works how she plans her questions and what she looks for when cross-examining. I found this interesting and it gave a brilliant insight into how the law system works.

It is when Tessa needs to rely on the system she believes in, she discovers what it is like to be sat on the opposite side. The story is told in a now-and-then format, it gives a brief history of Tessa’s home life and also her journey through law school and also when she gains her position in the chamber.

This is a well-paced story and while the first half of the book is getting to know Tessa, her family and friends, the second half becomes more of a thriller. It does have a psychological feel to it, I think this is due to the tactics that are used in the courts and how things turn when it is Tessa in the dock.

I thoroughly enjoyed this and I will say there are some triggers but these are done within the context of the story. This is one for those who like a thriller and fictional stories of life in London within the judicial system. It was a book that started well and then just kept me hooked right through to the end. It is one I would definitely recommend.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Shaking Hands with Elvis by Paul Carroll @paulcarrollink #darkfiction #speculative #humour #bookreview

yvonnembee 4 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today of Shaking Hands with Elvis by Paul Carroll. This is a brilliant dark fiction and at times, humorous book. It is not the first book I have read by Paul and it was a pleasure to read this one. The cover may look random, well I thought it did when I first saw it. It was only after I had finished the book I realised the significance of it.

My huge thanks to Paul for getting in touch about reading and reviewing this book. My thoughts, opinions and review are my own.

Check Out Any Time You Like at the Grand Euthanasia Hotel

NOW TAKING BOOKINGS…

When assisted dying is legalised following the government’s sell-off of the NHS, where does the killing stop?

The sick and the old no longer have to feel they’re a burden on society and a nuisance to their families, the nation’s healthcare budget is slashed at a stroke, and there is money to be made in offering ever more inventive ways to lawfully shuffle off your mortal coil.

When Geraldine, Dawn, Jeffrey and Woody, each having a different reason for giving up the ghost, book appointments for their final journeys, they discover not everything at Go Gently’s state-of-the-art Charon House clinic lives up to the brochure.

As the clock ticks down to their appointed hour, is it really the end of the line for the gang of four, or is there life in the old dogs yet?

MY REVIEW

What a fabulous book this is, a sort of dark fiction blended with speculative fiction and done to create such an amazing story. The author brings the idea of euthanasia into this story. The NHS is not as good as it was and a new bill has been passed to help those wanting to leave their lives on their own terms. Hence the reason for Charon House, a facility whereby those who can, choose a package so they don’t have to suffer their lives any longer.

The book is set around just a few characters and the author gently brings them together, allowing their stories to emerge and their reasons for wanting to “Go Gently” into the ether. Along with these, there is also a worker, some family, an owner and of course a government minister. Each character has a very good reason for being in the book as you will discover. The author brings various arguments for and against euthanasia into this story and also gives some other things that, while making sense, also allude to a much darker side.

There is a brilliant reference from The Eagles and as soon as I read it, it stayed with me throughout the book, ironic, on point and very suitable. Even now I am still humming it to myself.

The book gives food for thought and brings the idea of how euthanasia can be used. We often tell ourselves that we wouldn’t let an animal suffer and be in pain when referring to a loved one. The author uses this effectively in his book as an argument for and against. He also brings in some emotions, there are the obvious ones, but then there are also some that the characters suddenly become more aware of.

The story is one that I absolutely adored. Yes, I suppose it has that morbid sense to it as it does concern how people could potentially choose how they want to die. But it is also about more than that and this is something that emerges through the reading and getting to know the cast. There is also a wonderful dark humour nestled and I had to snigger and smirk on the occasions when it occurred.

This is one for those who like a book with something different, it is not fast-paced or a thriller as such, but moves along at just the right pace. There is so much more I want to express about the story and what happens, but that would just ruin it for others. It is a book that book clubs would be able to have a great discussion about. It is one I would definitely recommend.

About the Author…

Paul’s novels consistently let fly at the latest social trends in an entertaining mix of cutting observation, human drama, dark humour and compassion.

Born and brought up in Leeds, Paul has a degree in English Language and English Literature from the University of Manchester, and worked in PR for many years before becoming a full- time author. Paul lives in Altrincham, Greater Manchester.

A marketing gamekeeper-turned-poacher, Paul is to be found peering behind the curtains of ‘the next big thing’ when he’s not writing.

Shaking Hands with Elvis (2024) is Paul Carroll’s fifth novel, following Don’t Ask (2021), Trouble Brewing (2017), Written Off (2016) and A Matter of Life and Death (2012).

Many thanks for reading my post,a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Dark in Different Ways by J.D. Patterson @_JD_Patterson @SpellBoundBks @Tr4cyF3nt0n #thriller #psychological #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today of Dark in Different Ways by J.D. Patterson. This is a fabulous thriller that is set mainly in Australia and the first for me to read anything by this author.

My huge thanks to Tracy at Compulsive Readers for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my copy of the book from the publisher – SpellBound Books.

There are dark secrets beneath the Australian sun…His troubled past behind him, Thom is happy living in Sydney with his lover, Craig and dreams of being a journalist.

When the death of a teenager causes a riot, Thom thinks he’s found his perfect story. But when he starts asking questions, he attracts the attention of Rob Morton, a corrupt detective with something to hide. Before long, he’s ensnared in a twisted game of cat-and-mouse with the psychopathic Morton, who will go to appalling lengths to stop him.

In mortal danger – and with his new life unravelling – Thom finds he can trust no-one. Not even himself. In a high-stakes world where he doesn’t belong, what can he do to survive?

Tense and atmospheric, Dark in Different Ways is a haunting odyssey through the murkier side of Sydney.

MY REVIEW

Thom moved to Australia to study journalism there. It was a way of escaping his past and giving himself some distance from the ideologies that initially got him into trouble in the UK. Now in Sydney, he is living with Craig and is doing well for himself. He comes across a story about the death of a teen involved in a riot. Thinking this could be something, Thom decides to follow it up and finds himself in a whole lot of trouble in a country that he is only just starting to understand.

This was such a good book and one that soon became one that I could not put down. A fabulous thriller that has a great psychological edge to it as there are so many mind games that the author has brought into this story. While it is the story of Thom and what he thinks is right, it is also about his naivety and, what some may call, his recklessness.

It is when he becomes the focus of Detective Rob Morton’s eye that things start to become more twisted, devious and dangerous. It makes for an addictive and adrenalin-fuelled read.

Thom is one of those characters who feels like he is doing the right thing when he decides to delve into the story of a dead teenager, but he doesn’t realise that there are so many things he just doesn’t understand. He thinks he is an adult but his 20-odd years haven’t really equipped him for what he finds himself in the middle of.

The author has done such a good job of giving Thom security with his partner Craig and in some ways, this makes him naive as Craig is a lot older and more worldly wise. It is a bit of an eye-opener when Thom starts to doubt what he knows and suddenly he finds himself, not the truthful wannabe-journalist, but someone who does not understand or see the bigger picture.

When he does start to learn what is going on, he realises the danger he is actually in.

This is a dark and brilliant psychological thriller that twists and weaves through Sydney. It is a brilliant book to introduce me to this author and I will be looking forward to reading a lot more. It is one I would definitely recommend.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

The Actor by Chris MacDonald @MichaelJBooks #fiction #mystery #thriller #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review of The Actor by Chris MacDonald. This is a dark psychological thriller that delves into the method style of acting and has a mystery from the past.

My thanks to Penguin Random House and Michael Joseph Books for granting my request to read this title via NetGalley.

TO ACHIEVE GREATNESS, HE MUST SACRIFICE EVERYTHING…

Discover 2024’s most original new thriller, a story of glamour, secrets and obsession…

At long last, Adam Sealey has an Oscar within reach. Working with his controversial former mentor, Jonathan, he’s given the performance of a lifetime, and he almost believes it might be worth the cost.

Because Adam subscribes to “the method”. It’s the secret that the world’s greatest actors swear by – digging into their darkest, most personal traumas to bring a role to life.

And Adam’s greatest trauma is worse than most. Back in drama school, he had to choose between a girl he loved and the success he craved. What he did that night is his darkest secret.

And then he gets a message: someone knows. And if they tell, everything Adam’s worked for will come crashing down.

MY REVIEW

This is a very dark thriller, but not one that has a fast pace. It is an amble through the life of actor Adam Sealey. The story flicks back and forth between past and present and gradually fills in the answers to the questions that have been building.

Adam trained as a method actor, which involves getting into character and remaining in character, this is something his tutor Jonathan wants. To feel what the character feels and then express it to the audience so they believe the character and the actor are one person. This involves going deep into Adam’s self and exploring his fears and his emotions. This is something that involves laying yourself open, and being vulnerable and not everyone agrees with the extremes that Adam or some others will go.

The story goes back to when Adam was a student, learning the trade and the different styles of acting, movement and skills required to be an actor. It is through these sections that you realise and start to learn how destructive this style of acting can be. It does have tragic consequences.

The present-day is one that Adam is looking forward to, being short-listed for an Oscar is a dream and something that actors aspire to. This also involves more media coverage, interviews and appearances, one of which involves him going back to the college where he learnt his acting trade.

This is a thriller that gradually increases in tension and suspense. Having the answers slipped in over the course of the book makes the story intriguing. Trying to please his tutor and get some form of recognition from him involves Adam going to some interesting extremes and lengths. What makes this a psychological thriller is the way Adam is manipulated and it is this process that makes it such an intriguing and multilayered read.

The author does a fabulous job with Adam and shows the murky and vitriolic world behind the scenes and the glamour of the screen and its stars.

This is one for those who like a slower thriller and one that is very much character-led. A wonderful book with some disturbing scenes. It is one I would recommend reading.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin @MadelineMMartin @RandomTTours @Harpers360UK #historicalfiction #history #WWII #bookreview

yvonnembee 3 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin. This is a stunning story of friendship, a love of reading and doing what you can in the face of danger and death. Set in Poland during WWII.

My huge thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for my copy of the book from the publisher, Harpers 360 UK.

A heartwarming story about the power of books to bring us together, inspired by the true story of the underground library in WWII Warsaw, by the New York Times bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in London.

All her life, Zofia has found comfort in two things during times of hardship: books and her best friend, Janina. But no one could have imagined the horrors of the Nazi occupation in Warsaw. As the bombs rain down and Hitler’s forces loot and destroy the city, Zofia finds that now books are also in need of saving.

With the death count rising and persecution intensifying, Zofia jumps to action to save her friend and salvage whatever books she can from the wreckage, hiding them away, and even starting a clandestine book club. She and her dearest friend never surrender their love of reading, even when Janina is forced into the newly formed ghetto.

But the closer Warsaw creeps toward liberation, the more dangerous life becomes for the women and their families—and escape may not be possible for everyone. As the destruction rages around them, Zofia must fight to save her friend and preserve her culture and community using the only weapon they have left—literature.

MY REVIEW

This is a stunning book to read and one that shows how determination and something like a book can lift a person’s spirit. It is set in Poland during the invasion of Hitler in WWII. Zofia is the main character and she is a reader, a lover of books and as the invasion comes she works in the library. She is involved with removing books from the shelves that do not fit with Hitler’s idea of what a good book should be. The desecration of manuscripts, fiction and non-fiction books, textbooks, artefacts and other things that did not fit with his ideology were destroyed.

The story is one that revolves around books and also people. Books are a great way to escape real life and these became a lifeline for some who had everything taken from them. With little food, if any, not always anywhere to live, and no escape from the ghettos, forced labour or concentration camps, books were a valued commodity. A book could remove the reader for a short time and give them something else to focus on if for only a few moments.

Zofia’s best friend is Janina, a Jewish girl, they have grown up together and share a love of books and have their own book club prior to the invasion. When Janina and her family are forced into one of the ghettos, Zofia tries hard to keep in touch with her friend.

These two girls and their love of books is something that is shared by many others. They put their lives in danger by lending banned books out to readers, and start to amass their own collections. It is a life-threatening thing to possess a banned book, but it also leads both girls on to something far more dangerous.

If you are thinking that a book is just paper with words, then you would be wrong. I had been aware of books being important to people during WWII and so when I saw this one I knew that there would be some truths behind it. The author does mention this at the end of this book and it makes for interesting and sombre reading.

The story of Zofia and Janina is one that shows how people had to adapt to this new threat. Standing up to it was not an option if you wanted to live. Being angry at the new regime was something that could not be shown. But having something as simple as a book could give a reprieve and also a sense of hope. The way books were kept from destruction was a way of revolting against Hitler and also gave people the hope that these books would then once again be back where they belonged, in a Polish library.

the story tells of the brave people who fought in the Polish underground, and how Girl Guides and Scouts did their part to help with what they could, putting themselves at risk and in danger.

This is a story of how people fought back. A story of friendship and determination while putting their own lives at risk and that of their families to do what is right. A stunning story from start to finish and if you are a fan of historical fiction in Europe then this is a book to have a look at. It is one I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Madeline Martin is a New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author of historical fiction and historical romance with books that have been translated into over twenty-five different languages.

She lives in sunny Florida with her two daughters (known collectively as the minions), two incredibly spoiled cats and a man so wonderful he’s been dubbed Mr. Awesome. She is a die-hard history lover who will happily lose herself in research any day. When she’s not writing, researching or ‘moming’, you can find her spending time with her family at Disney or sneaking a couple spoonfuls of Nutella while laughing over cat videos. She also loves research and travel, attributing her fascination with history to having spent most of her childhood as an Army brat in Germany.

Check out her website for book club visits, reader guides for her historical fiction, upcoming events, book news and more: WEBSITE

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Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

The Book of Beginnings by Sally Page @HarperCollins #fiction #historicalfiction #contemporaryfiction #NetGalley #bookreview

yvonnembee 4 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for a very special book. The Book of Beginnings by Sally Page is an amazing story that blends, friendship, mystery and a cemetery together to create a story that I adored everything about.

My huge thanks to Harper Collins for accepting my request to review this title via NetGalley.

From the author of the phenomenal bestseller The Keeper of Stories, comes the next uplifting story of how the most unexpected friendships are forged in the most unlikely of places . . .

Jo Sorsby knows she is hiding from her past when she steps in to look after her uncle’s stationery shop. Glimpsing the lives of her customers between the warm wooden shelves, as they scribble notes with fountain pens and browse colourful notebooks, distracts her from the life she has left behind.

Yet far from home, Jo feels adrift . . .

When she meets Ruth, a vicar running from a secret, and Malcolm, a septuagenarian struggling to write his first book, she realises that she isn’t alone.

It’s the beginning of a friendship that can transform Jo’s life . . . if only she can let them in.

MY REVIEW

Occasionally you come across a story that is quiet, mesmerising and totally addictive. The Book of Beginnings is just such a book, it is beautifully written and one that completely wraps you up in the story of the characters.

Jo is taking over the running of her Uncle’s stationary shop, it has a mix of stationary and other odds ‘n sods. Jo loves stationary and spent many happy childhood days in this shop. With her Uncle being diagnosed with dementia she decides to turn this shop into a proper stationary shop. She gets to know her two neighbours, a tattooist and an optician and also meets some interesting characters. The two main ones are Ruth and Malcolm, both very different in their mannerisms and the way they look at life.

Jo soon finds herself becoming friends with them and together they embark on a journey. Not a journey in the physical sense as such, but one that leads them to make some wonderful discoveries about themselves. In the process of this, Malcolm has a side project and this is a brilliant idea and involves some of the people buried in Highgate Cemetary. In bringing this aspect into the story, the author not only provides a historical slant but also gives the characters something to bond over.

This is a stunning story and one that captivated me from the first few pages. In some ways, this story is about people who come together and get to know each other. But it is also so much more than that, the author has created such a warmth within her characters. There is a bit of mystery to all of them and some honest advice is given when needed. This trio are simply brilliant together given the differences in age, past histories, beliefs and life experiences. But together they just work and they work so well.

There are family and friends that come and go, this is more for Jo rather than Ruth or Malcolm, but again with having two good friends beside her Jo is able to see things from a different perspective.

I adored this book so much and it was one of those books that just wraps you up in its pages. Stunning story, with memorable characters and an absolute pleasure to read. I would highly recommend this one.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

After studying history at university, Sally moved to London to work in advertising. In her spare time she studied floristry at night school and eventually opened her own flower shop. Sally came to appreciate that flower shops offer a unique window into people’s stories and she began to photograph and write about this floral life in a series of non-fiction books. Later, she continued her interest in writing when she founded her fountain pen company, Plooms.co.uk.

In her debut novel, The Keeper of Stories, Sally combines her love of history and writing with her abiding interest in the stories people have to tell. Sally now lives in Dorset. Her eldest daughter, Alex, is studying to be a doctor and her younger daughter is the author, Libby Page. Both are keen wild swimmers.

Many thanks for reading my review, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx