tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39348735302875356752024-03-18T18:16:44.413+01:00LindyLouMac's Book Reviews LindyLouMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282788551449445133noreply@blogger.comBlogger608125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934873530287535675.post-73090051152634929782024-03-12T18:42:00.000+01:002024-03-12T18:42:41.369+01:00Escape to the Rome Apartment by Kerry Fisher<p> <img class="cover-width" itemprop="image" src="https://netgalley-covers.s3.amazonaws.com/cover320833-medium.png" /></p><p><br /></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><b>Ebook:</b> 271 pages </span> </span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Genre:</b> <span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Contemporary Romantic Fiction </span></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Publisher:</b> April 11th 2024 Bookouture</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Source:</b> Net Galley - On My Kindle</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>First Sentence:</b> Lainey's last letter was a gift and a guilt trip rolled into one.</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><b>Review Quote:</b><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666;">‘It has very positive messages about living your best life, but you have to work hard to find yourself and change it… The descriptions of Rome are amazing… I loved all the characters. A wonderful read.’ Goodreads Reviewer</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>My Opinion: </b> </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Although Kerry Fisher has published a long list of novels since 2012 I have only just come across her writing and this is the first one I have read. ‘Escape to the Rome Apartment’ came to my attention being an Italophile. It is Book 3 of a series The Italian Escape, however that made no difference to my enjoyment of this story, as it stood alone perfectly.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Sara the middle aged protagonist embarks on a journey of self-discovery whilst carrying out her deceased best friends last wishes. The descriptions of her time in Italy transported me back to Milano, Firenze and Roma once again. I felt I was there with her, every step of the way as the story developed.</span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">My love of Italy was definitely satisfied by this uplifting feel good read. Would recommend to lovers of romance and or Italy. Thanks to Net Galley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this novel.</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa;"></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><br /><b>Précis Courtesy of Goodreads:</b></span><br /><br /></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Sara’s eyes fill with tears as she reads the letter, her last words from her dearest ‘I’m buying you your freedom. You don’t need to ask your husband’s permission and you have to put yourself first for once. Have an incredible adventure before it’s too late for both of us…’Sara has lost her zest for life. Trapped sharing a house with her soon-to-be-ex-husband, with grown-up children who still need her but take her for granted, working in a job where her boss bullies her, the final straw is the heartbreak of losing her beloved best friend Lainey. But Lainey’s death could be the beginning of Sara’s new life… as the last gift Lainey gives to her friend is a sum of money and Sara travels to Italy, the scene of the pair’s youthful adventures, and scatters Lainey’s ashes on the beach at Portofino. For once, Sara decides to be brave. She quits her job, tells her family they can manage without her, and sets off on the trip of a lifetime. Swept up by new friends and relishing the freedom of being away from home in beautiful Florence, Sara finds herself drawn to Carlo. Handsome and charming, he is everything Sara finds it so hard to be carefree, impulsive, living in the moment without worrying about the future. And then Sara sees something she shouldn’t… and discovers a secret about Carlo that makes her question everything she thought she knew. Stuck at a crossroads in her life and her travels, she can’t face returning home yet, but nor is she brave enough to continue the challenge that Lainey set her. And then she meets an English woman who tells her about an apartment in Rome, that could just be the answer to everything…Return to the sunny streets of beautiful Rome with this heart-warming and romantic story about discovering your true path in life.</span></span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></span></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444;"><b><br />Author Profile</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> <img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1442659133p8/6907063.jpg" style="max-width: 625px;" /><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa;"></span></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="color: #444444;"> <b> </b></span><span style="color: #444444;"><b>Courtesy</b></span><span style="color: #444444;"><b> of Goodreads </b> </span></span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(55, 62, 62); color: #373e3e; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px 0px 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">For Biographical Information please visit the <b> <a href="http://www.kerryfisherauthor.com/about-me/">Kerry Fisher Website</a></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br />Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites.</span></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6907063.Kerry_Fisher">Goodreads Author Page</a>. </b></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(55, 62, 62); color: #373e3e; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <b> </b></span><b><a href="http://www.kerryfisherauthor.com/about-me/" style="caret-color: rgb(55, 62, 62); white-space: pre-wrap;">Kerry Fisher Website</a>. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kerryfisherauthor?fref=ts">Facebook Profile - Kerry Fisher</a></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><a href="https://twitter.com/kerryfswayne"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Twitter - Kerry Fisher Author</span></b></a><br /></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></p>LindyLouMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282788551449445133noreply@blogger.com0Italy41.87194 12.5673813.561706163821157 -22.58887 70.182173836178848 47.72363tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934873530287535675.post-3004082712363345322024-03-04T18:53:00.000+01:002024-03-04T18:53:31.935+01:00The Library by Bella Osborne.<p><br /></p><p> <img alt="The Library" class="a-dynamic-image a-stretch-horizontal" data-a-dynamic-image="{"https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81gYzuSbr-L._SY342_.jpg":[342,223],"https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81gYzuSbr-L._SY466_.jpg":[466,304],"https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81gYzuSbr-L._SY425_.jpg":[425,277],"https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81gYzuSbr-L._SY385_.jpg":[385,251],"https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81gYzuSbr-L._SY522_.jpg":[522,340]}" data-a-image-name="landingImage" data-old-hires="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81gYzuSbr-L._SL1500_.jpg" id="landingImage" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81gYzuSbr-L._SY522_.jpg" style="max-height: 449.841176px; max-width: 293px;" /></p><p><br /></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><b>Ebook:</b> 384 pages </span> </span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Genre:</b> <span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Contemporary Fiction </span></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Publisher:</b> Aria and Aries, Sept 2021</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Source:</b> My Kindle</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>First Sentence:</b> My name is Tom Harris and I am invisible.</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><b>Review Quote:</b><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111;">'It's hard to convey what a charming, affecting, uplifting and entertaining read it is' My Weekly</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>Favourite Quote: </b> </span></span></span> <span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818;">An embrace can be on many different levels but the basic sensation of emotional and physical warmth given freely by another is most noticeable when it is no longer there.</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Main Characters: </b>Tom, a youngster about to take his exams and Maggie a pensioner</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>My Opinion: </b> </span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">A delightful story about a friendship between a lively but only pensioner and a shy, grieving teenage boy. A chance meeting in the local village library leads gradually to a close bond between the two of them.</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The reader travels on an emotional journey with the protagonists Tom and Maggie as they both navigate, with each others help some personal issues.</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Throughly recommend this heart warming read, as it tackles recognisable themes that give it a wide appeal.</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><br /></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa;"></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><br /><b>Précis Courtesy of Goodreads:</b></span><br /><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915;">Two different generations. Two unusual people. Thrown together to save their local library.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915;">Tom is a teenager and blends into the background of life. After a row with his dad, and facing an unhappy future at the dog food factory, he escapes to the library. Tom unwittingly ends up with a bagful of romance novels and comes under the suspicion of Maggie.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915;">Maggie is a pensioner and has been happily alone for ten years, at least that's what she tells herself. When Tom comes to her rescue, a friendship develops that could change her life. As Maggie helps Tom to stand up for himself, Tom helps Maggie realise the mistakes of her past don't have to define her future.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915;">They each set out to prove that the library isn't just about books – it's the heart of their community.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915;">Together they discover some things are worth fighting for.</span><span style="color: #444444;"><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><br /></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa;"></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><b><br />Author Profile</b></span></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);"><br /></span> </span><img alt="Bella Osborne" itemprop="image" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1515853736p5/13164452.jpg" /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></span></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Courtesy</span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> of Goodreads </span></span></span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(55, 62, 62); color: #373e3e; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px 0px 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Bella has been jotting down stories as far back as she can remember but decided that 2013 would be the year that she finished a full length novel. Since then she’s written a number of best-selling romantic comedies and book club reads and won the RNA Romantic Comedy Novel of the Year Award 2022.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(55, 62, 62); color: #373e3e; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px 0px 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Bella's stories are about friendship, love and coping with what life throws at you. She likes to find the humour in the darker moments of life and weaves these into her stories. Her novels are often serialised in four parts ahead of the full book publication.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(55, 62, 62); color: #373e3e; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px 0px 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Bella lives in The Midlands, UK with her husband, daughter and a cat who thinks she’s a dog. When not writing Bella is usually eating custard creams and planning holidays.</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br />Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites.</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13164452.Bella_Osborne">Goodreads Author Page</a>. <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Bella-Osborne/author/B00Q1EPB8U?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_12&qid=1709571248&sr=1-12&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true">Amazon Author Profile</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/osborne_bella">Twitter Profile</a><br /></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.bellaosborne.com/about.html">Bella Osborne - Author Website</a>. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bellaosborneauthor/">Instagram Profile</a>. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BellaOsborneAuthor/timeline/">Facebook Author Page </a></span><br /></p>LindyLouMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282788551449445133noreply@blogger.com0England, UK52.3555177 -1.174319724.045283863821155 -36.3305697 80.665751536178846 33.9819303tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934873530287535675.post-29356637105095388542024-03-02T18:00:00.002+01:002024-03-02T18:02:03.828+01:00Broken Light by Joanne Harris<p> </p><p> <img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" loading="eager" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1677852777i/61414919.jpg" width="213" /></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Hardback</b><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;">: 420 pages</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b style="background-color: white; line-height: 23px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Genre</b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 23px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">: Contemporary Fiction</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b style="background-color: white; line-height: 23px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Publisher</b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 23px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">: Orion 2023</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b style="line-height: 23px;">Source</b><span style="line-height: 23px;">: Tywyn Public Library</span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b style="line-height: 23px;">First Sentences</b><span style="line-height: 23px;">: The first seven years of my <span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">life are</span> a blank. I don't remember a thing before that. Most children remember </span></span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">something of their early years, but not me.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b style="line-height: 23px;">Review Quote: </b></span> </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17);">'Blazes with anger and sorrow' MARIAN KEYES</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><b>My Opinion:</b> </span><span style="color: #444444;">Having been a fan of this author for many years I was looking forward to reading ‘Broken Light’. Joanna has I think a very individual style of writing that in my opinion doesn’t compare to anyone else, that I have read anyway.</span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">‘Broken Light’ is a cruel story about the invisibility of middle aged women. The menopausal protagonist has paranormal tendencies which makes for an intriguing and at times terrifying read.</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Strong and emotionally driven characters built around some important current issues in modern society discern this recommended read. A great choice for some lively Book Club discussion.</span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><b style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Précis Courtesy of Goodreads:</span></b></p><div style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">Bernie Moon is feeling invisible. She's given her life to other people - her husband, her son, her mother, her friends (not that she has any of them left). At 16, she was full of promise and power. Now, facing 50, she's a fading light.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">But when a young woman is killed in her local area, it sparks childhood memories of a talent she used to have, one long since hidden.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">She said she'd never use it again.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">She knows it could destroy not only her, but everyone around her.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">Bernie Moon is no longer invisible, but is everyone else ready for what she's about to become?</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Author Profile:</span></b></div><div style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><img alt="Joanne Harris" itemprop="image" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1411031584p5/9432.jpg" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 19px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Goodreads Author photo.</span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 19px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 19px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">About Joanne Harris (courtesy of her <a href="http://www.joanne-harris.co.uk/v3site/about/index.html" style="text-decoration: initial;">official website</a>)</span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 19px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 19px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(20, 20, 18); margin: 0px 0px 24px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Joanne Harris (OBE, FRSL) was born in Barnsley in 1964, of a French mother and an English father. She studied Modern and Mediaeval Languages at Cambridge and was a teacher for fifteen years, during which time she published three novels, including <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Chocolat</em> (1999), which was made into an Oscar-nominated film starring Juliette Binoche .</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(20, 20, 18); margin: 0px 0px 24px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Since then, she has written 19 more novels, plus novellas, short stories, game scripts,<em style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </em>the libretti for two short operas, several screenplays, a stage musical (with Howard Goodall) and three cookbooks. Her books are now published in over 50 countries and have won a number of British and international awards. She is an honorary Fellow of St Catharine’s College, Cambridge, has honorary doctorates in literature from the universities of Sheffield and Huddersfield, and has been a judge for the Whitbread Prize, the Orange Prize, the Desmond Elliott Prize, the Betty Trask Award, the Prima Donna Prize and the Royal Society Winton Prize for Science, as well as for the Fragrance Foundation awards for perfume and perfume journalism (for which she also received an award in 2017). She was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2022.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(20, 20, 18); margin: 0px 0px 24px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">She is a passionate advocate for authors’ rights, and was the Chair of the Society of Authors (SOA) for four years. She is currently a member of the Board of the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS).</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(20, 20, 18); margin: 0px 0px 24px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Her hobbies are listed in <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Who’s Who</em> as: “mooching, lounging, strutting, strumming, priest-baiting and quiet subversion of the system”, although she also enjoys obfuscation, sleaze, rebellion, witchcraft, armed robbery, tea and biscuits. She is not above bribery and would not necessarily refuse an offer involving perfume, diamonds, foreign travel or pink champagne. She works from a shed in her garden, plays in the band she first joined when she was 16, and lives with her husband in a little wood in Yorkshire.</span></p></div><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="line-height: 23px;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">The biographical information and photo used in this post are with thanks to the following websites, where you can also find more information about the author and her writing.</span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; line-height: 19px;"> </span></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Joanne-Harris/e/B000APFVNQ/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0" style="text-decoration: none;">Amazon Author Profile - Joanne Harris</a> <a href="http://joanne-harris.co.uk/" style="text-decoration: none;">Official Website - Joanne Harris</a> </span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; line-height: 19px;"> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9432.Joanne_Harris" style="text-decoration: none;">Goodreads Author Profile</a></span></span></span></p>LindyLouMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282788551449445133noreply@blogger.com0England, UK52.3555177 -1.174319724.045283863821155 -36.3305697 80.665751536178846 33.9819303tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934873530287535675.post-75115001127464402152024-02-29T17:53:00.001+01:002024-02-29T18:13:51.903+01:00One of the Girls by Lucy Clarke<p> </p><p> <img class="ResponsiveImage" loading="eager" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1645645171i/59456213.jpg" /></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #444444; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><b>Hardback: </b>434 pages<b> </b></span><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Genre: </b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Contemporary Fiction and Thriller</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Publisher: </b>Harper Collins 2022</span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Source: </b>Tywyn Public Library</span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>First Sentence: </b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Later, we would all remember the hen weekend for one reason: because of what happened the night of the beach fire.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><b>Review Quote:</b><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"> </span></span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17);">‘An addictive sun-soaked thriller’</span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); font-style: italic;">MARIE CLAIRE</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Main Characters: </b>Lexi, Robyn, Fen, Bella, Ana and Eleanor</span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Setting: </b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">The<b> </b></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span>fictional island of </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">Legos</span><span> in Greece.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>My Opinion: </b></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Lucy Clarke writes destination thrillers and this time the setting is the fictional Greek island of Aegos. Right from the very first page the reader is made aware that there is going to be a murder. This keeps the tension utmost throughout the novel and definitely kept me guessing!</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">A hen party is taking place and each of the six protagonists, Lexi, Robyn, Fen, Bella, Ana and Eleanor take turns in narrating. Everyone is on edge and hiding secrets which are gradually revealed as events escalate over the weekend.</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Transport yourself to Greece, with sunshine, secrets and complex relationships plus a murder with this engrossing read.</span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><br /></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><b><br /></b><b>Précis Courtesy of Goodreads:</b></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" /><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span><br /></span></b><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">A twisty psychological thriller from internationally-bestselling author Lucy Clarke, <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">One of the Girls</i> is the delicious story of a bachelorette trip on a stunning Greek island... that ends in murder.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">It was supposed to be the perfect weekend away. Six very different women travel to a sun-soaked Greek island for a bachelorette trip, to celebrate Lexi’s upcoming wedding. From the glorious ocean views to the quaint tavernas and whitewashed streets, the vacation seems too good to be true. But dangerous undercurrents run beneath the sunset swims and midnight cocktails – because each of the women is hiding a secret. Someone is determined to make sure that Lexi’s marriage never happens – and that one of them doesn’t leave the island alive.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">Gripping, twisty, and full of sun-soaked suspense, this timely thriller examines the joys of female friendship…as well as the deadly consequences when a relationship goes wrong.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><b></b><br /></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><b><br /></b><b>Author Profile</b></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);"><b><br /></b></span></span><img alt="Lucy Clarke" itemprop="image" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1653477881p5/6905137.jpg" /> </span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></p><p style="border-color: rgb(229, 231, 235); border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.75rem 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Lucy Clarke, novelist, traveller and fresh air enthusiast is the author of eight destination thrillers. They include Waterstones Thriller of the Month, <span class="italic" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border-color: rgb(229, 231, 235); border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">The Castaways</span>, Richard and Judy Book Club pick, <span class="italic" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border-color: rgb(229, 231, 235); border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">One of the Girls</span>, and most recently, <span class="italic" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border-color: rgb(229, 231, 235); border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">The Hike</span>. Lucy's novels have sold over a million copies and are published in more than 25 territories worldwide.</span></p><p style="border-color: rgb(229, 231, 235); border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.75rem 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Lucy's thriller, <span class="italic" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border-color: rgb(229, 231, 235); border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">No Escape</span> (also published as The Blue) has been released as a major international show for Paramount+. Set in the Philippines, the seven-part series is directed by Hans Herbot (<span class="italic" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border-color: rgb(229, 231, 235); border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">The Serpent</span>) and stars Abigail Lawrie and Rhianne Barreto as best friends Lana and Kitty.</span></p><p style="border-color: rgb(229, 231, 235); border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.75rem 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span class="italic" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border-color: rgb(229, 231, 235); border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">The Castaways</span> has also been adapted for screen and was <span class="italic" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border-color: rgb(229, 231, 235); border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">The Guardian</span> Pick of the Week. BAFTA award-winner Sheridan Smith stars as Lori, and Celine Buckens plays her sister, Erin. The five-part thriller is available to stream on Paramount+.</span></p><p style="border-color: rgb(229, 231, 235); border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.75rem 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">When Lucy isn't away on research trips (the real reason she loves being an author!), she can be found writing from a beach hut on the south coast of England. She lives with her husband and their two children.</span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><b></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites.</b></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><b><br /></b><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/583406.Lucy_Clarke" style="text-decoration: none;">Goodreads Author Page</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lucyclarkeauthor/" style="text-decoration: none;">Facebook - Lucy Clarke</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lucyclarke_author/?hl=en" style="text-decoration: none;">Instagram - Lucy Clarke Author</a></b></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><br /></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></span><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span><a href="http://www.lucy-clarke.com/" style="text-decoration: none;">Officia</a><a href="http://www.lucy-clarke.com/" style="text-decoration: none;">l Author Website</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lucy-Clarke/e/B00A8WKQSG/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0" style="text-decoration: none;">Amazon Author Page</a></span></b></span></p>LindyLouMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282788551449445133noreply@blogger.com0Greece39.074208 21.82431211.736024081933245 -13.331938000000001 66.41239191806676 56.980562tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934873530287535675.post-53026953887804947412024-01-31T17:02:00.012+01:002024-01-31T17:14:16.499+01:00The House of Fortune # The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton<div class="separator"><p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <span style="color: #444444; font-size: medium;"> <img class="ResponsiveImage" height="400" loading="eager" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1644166204i/58560514.jpg" width="242" /></span></p></div><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b>Hardback</b>: 401 pages </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b>Genre</b>: Historical Fiction</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b>Publisher</b>: Picador 2022</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b>Source</b>: Tywyn Public L</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">ibrary</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b>First Sentence</b>: At eighteen, Thea is too old to be celebrating birthdays. </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b>Review Quote</b>: </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Clever and satisfying . . . Burton is an acute observer . . . A worthy sequel, mature and thoughtful ― Guardian</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b>My Opinion</b>: Having read and enjoyed 'The Miniaturist' back in 2016 I was keen to read this sequel.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">'The House of Fortune' takes the reader back to Amsterdam some eighteen years later. It is 1705 and Thea Brandt turns eighteen. It is time for the family to find her husband , who will help save the family from financial ruin. However Thea is a headstrong young woman and determined to control her own destiny.</span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">A character driven story, which showcases the difficulties women faced in this era, with the expectations forced upon them. If you liked 'The Miniaturist' I can recommend this sequel. In my opinion although you can read it without reading the previous novel you will find it makes more sense if you have done so. <br /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b>Précis Courtesy of Goodreads</b>:</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">The House of Fortune is the sequel to Jessie Burton’s million copy bestselling The Miniaturist. Set in the golden city of Amsterdam in 1705, it is a story of fate and ambition, secrets and dreams, and one young woman’s determination to rule her own destiny.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Thea Brandt is turning eighteen, and is ready to welcome adulthood with open arms. At the theatre, Walter, the love of her life, awaits her, but at home in the house on the Herengracht, winter has set in – her father Otto and Aunt Nella argue endlessly, and the Brandt family are selling their furniture in order to eat. On Thea’s birthday, also the day that her mother Marin died, the secrets from the past begin to overwhelm the present.</span></span></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Nella is desperate to save the family and maintain appearances, to find Thea a husband who will guarantee her future, and when they receive an invitation to Amsterdam’s most exclusive ball, she is overjoyed – perhaps this will set their fortunes straight. And indeed, the ball does set things spinning: new figures enter their life, promising new futures. But their fates are still unclear, and when Nella feels a strange prickling sensation on the back of her neck, she wonders if the miniaturist has returned for her . . .</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b>Previous Review</b>: <a href="https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogspot.com/2016/10/the-miniaturist-by-jessie-burton.html">The Miniaturist</a><br /></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b>Author Profile</b></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><img alt="Picture" height="318" src="http://www.jessieburton.co.uk/uploads/3/4/5/8/34587968/j-burton-headshot_orig.jpg" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; text-align: start; width: auto;" width="320" /></span></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: center;">© Vogue UK, Hugh Stewart</span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;">Jessie Burton is the author of four novels, </span><em style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; position: relative; text-align: justify;">The Miniaturist</em><span style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;">, </span><em style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; position: relative; text-align: justify;">The Muse</em><span style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;">, </span><em style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; position: relative; text-align: justify;">The Confession</em><span style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;">, and <em style="position: relative;">The House of Fortune</em>. She was born in January 1982 in the United Kingdom.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;" /><em style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; position: relative; text-align: justify;">The Miniaturist </em><span style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;">and </span><em style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; position: relative; text-align: justify;">The Muse</em><span style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;"> were </span><em style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; position: relative; text-align: justify;">Sunday Times</em><span style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;"> no.1 bestsellers in both hardback and paperback, </span><em style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; position: relative; text-align: justify;">New York Times</em><span style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;"> bestsellers, and Radio 4's </span><em style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; position: relative; text-align: justify;">Book at Bedtime</em><span style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;">. </span><em style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; position: relative; text-align: justify;">The Miniaturist </em><span style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;">went on to sell over a million copies in its year of publication, was Christmas no.1 in the UK, National Book Awards Book of the Year, and Waterstones Book of the Year 2014. In 2017 it was adapted as a two-part miniseries </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;">on </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;">BBC One</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;">, starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Alex Hassell and Romola Garai, screened over Christmas, and now available on DVD and streaming services. <em style="position: relative;">The Confession</em> was an instant <em style="position: relative;">Sunday Times </em>bestseller, and <em style="position: relative;">Radio 4 Book at Bedtime</em>. <em style="position: relative;">The House of Fortune</em> was a <em style="position: relative;">Sunday Times</em> no.1 bestseller in hardback, and the paperback was released in July 2023.<br /><br />Her novels have been published in 40 languages.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;">Jessie's first book for children, </span><em style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; position: relative; text-align: justify;">The Restless Girls</em><span style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;">, was published in September 2018, and <em style="position: relative;">Medusa, </em>her second<em style="position: relative;">, </em>in October 2021</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;">. <em style="position: relative;">Medusa </em>was shortlisted for the 2023 Carnegie Medal for Children's Writing. Her story 'Daphne and the Doughnuts' appeared in </span><em style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; position: relative; text-align: justify;">The Book of Hopes, </em><span style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;">a collection of children's stories published in 2020, from which all profits go to the NHS. </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;">As a non-fiction writer, she has written essays and reviews for </span><em style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; position: relative; text-align: justify;">The New York Times, </em><em style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; position: relative; text-align: justify;">Harpers Bazaar UK, The Wall Street Journal</em><span style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;">, </span><em style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; position: relative; text-align: justify;">The Independent</em><span style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;">, </span><em style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; position: relative; text-align: justify;">Vogue</em><span style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;">, </span><em style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; position: relative; text-align: justify;">Elle</em><span style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;">, </span><em style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; position: relative; text-align: justify;">Red</em><span style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;">, </span><em style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; position: relative; text-align: justify;">Grazia</em><span style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;">, </span><em style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; position: relative; text-align: justify;">Lonely Planet Traveller</em><span style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;"> and </span><em style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; position: relative; text-align: justify;">The Spectator</em><span style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;">. </span><em style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; position: relative; text-align: justify;">Harpers Bazaar US </em><span style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;">and </span><em style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; position: relative; text-align: justify;">Stylist</em><span style="caret-color: rgb(70, 70, 70); color: #464646; text-align: justify;"> have published her short stories.</span><span style="color: #444444;"><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" /><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></span><b><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7125422.Jessie_Burton" style="text-decoration: none;">Goodreads - Author Profile</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jessie-Burton/e/B00ON2E8D6/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0" style="text-decoration: none;">Amazon - Jessie Burton Page </a> <a href="http://www.jessieburton.co.uk/index.html" style="text-decoration: none;">Jessie Burton - Official Website</a>. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jessieburton/?hl=en&img_index=1">Instagram Profile</a></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></span><a href="http://www.picador.com/authors/jessie-burton" style="text-decoration: none;">Picador - Author Profile.</a></b></span></span></p>LindyLouMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282788551449445133noreply@blogger.com0Amsterdam, Netherlands52.3675734 4.904138924.057339563821152 -30.2521111 80.677807236178836 40.0603889tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934873530287535675.post-85089710280157321282024-01-19T13:32:00.000+01:002024-01-19T13:32:42.130+01:00Still Life by Sarah Winman<p> </p><p> <img class="ResponsiveImage" height="400" loading="eager" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1679162570i/57001545.jpg" width="246" /></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><b>Hardback:</b> 438 pages</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre: </b>Literary Fiction, </span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><b>Publisher:</b> 4th Estate, Harper Collins 2021</span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><b>Source:</b> Tywyn Library</span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b>First Sentences:</b> Somewhere in the Tuscan hills, two English spinsters, Evelyn Skinner and a Margaret someone, were </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">eating a late lunch on the terrace of a modest albergo.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><b>Review Quote:</b> <span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">"</span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17);">The sheer joy in [Winman's] storytelling is completely infectious. I've loved spending time with this unforgettable cast of characters in extraordinary times and places." </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17);">--Graham Norton</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17);"><b>Favourite Quote: </b></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24);">“Beautiful art opens our eyes to the beauty of the world, Ulysses. It repositions our sight and judgement. Captures forever that which is fleeting.”</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">My Opinion:</b><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> At last I got hold of a copy of 'Still Life', which I have been wanting to read for a long time. It was worth the wait as for the last five days I have been transported to Florence in my beloved Italy with a wonderful cast of characters. I did not want it to end.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">The main protagonists are Ulysses Temper and Evelyn Skinner. The novel revolves around the life of Ulysses from 1944 when as a young soldier he first meets Evelyn. A kindred spirit whose friendship influences his life over the next four decades.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Such a beguiling tale of a dynamic cast of characters which I highly recommend to everyone. Read slowly and savour this bittersweet story.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><b style="background-color: white;"></b></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;">Précis Courtesy of Goodreads: </span></b></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">Tuscany, 1944: As Allied troops advance and bombs fall around deserted villages, a young English soldier, Ulysses Temper, finds himself in the wine cellar of a deserted villa. There, he has a chance encounter with Evelyn Skinner, a middle-aged art historian who has come to Italy to salvage paintings from the ruins and recall long-forgotten memories of her own youth. In each other, Ulysses and Evelyn find a kindred spirit amongst the rubble of war-torn Italy, and set off on a course of events that will shape Ulysses's life for the next four decades.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">As Ulysses returns home to London, reimmersing himself in his crew at The Stoat and Parrot -- a motley mix of pub crawlers and eccentrics -- he carries his time in Italy with him. And when an unexpected inheritance brings him back to where it all began, Ulysses knows better than to tempt fate, and returns to the Tuscan hills.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">With beautiful prose, extraordinary tenderness, and bursts of humor and light, </span><i style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">Still Life</i><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);"> is a sweeping portrait of unforgettable individuals who come together to make a family, and a richly drawn celebration of beauty and love in all its forms.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;">Author Profile: </span></b></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><b> </b><img height="217" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1357479615p8/4197193.jpg" style="max-width: 625px;" width="320" /></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"> Courtesy of Goodreads</span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;">Sarah Winman (born 1964) is a British actress and author. In 2011 her debut novel When God Was a Rabbit became an international bestseller and won Winman several awards including New Writer of the Year in the Galaxy National Book Awards.</span></span></div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;">Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:</span></b></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Sarah-Winman/author/B005DITPQ4?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true">Amazon Author Page</a>. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4197193.Sarah_Winman">Goodreads Author Profile</a></span><br /></b></p>LindyLouMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282788551449445133noreply@blogger.com0Florence, Italy43.7695604 11.255813615.459326563821158 -23.9004364 72.079794236178856 46.412063599999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934873530287535675.post-75078619894215901612024-01-12T17:19:00.000+01:002024-01-12T17:19:09.265+01:00The Last Song of Dusk by S.D. Shanghvi<p> <img class="ResponsiveImage" loading="eager" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320458511i/51077.jpg" /></p><p><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Paperback:</b> 309 pages</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Genre: </b>Fiction, Historical Fiction, India,</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Publisher:</b> Orion, Phoenix 2005</span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Source:</b> A friend</span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b>First Sentence:</b> On the day Anuradha Patwardhan was leaving Udaipur for </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Bombay to marry a man she had not even met in the twenty-one years of her existence.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b>Review Quote: </b></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">“A cornucopia of life at full tilt and high colour . . . Shanghvi–who’s been compared to Arundhati Roy, Zadie Smith, and Vikram Seth–combines ribald humour with prose poetry.”</span></span></p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">–Sunday Oregonian</span></span><p style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">My Opinion:</b><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> I doubt this book is one I would have chosen to read, I did so as it was given to me by a friend. A very lyrical novel in style but be warned some of the scenes contain very </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">explicit content. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">The novel tells the magical and at times unrealistic story of the main protagonist Anuradha, after she leaves home as a young girl to marry a man she has never met. What kept me reading was the setting in 1920's India.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">If you are interested in novels set in India where you can learn some of the history of the country and become involved in the lives of the characters, then this is one you will enjoy.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Précis Courtesy of Goodreads: </span></b></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">“Set in 1920s India, this magical debut novel tells the story of beautiful Anuradha, whose songs are spellbinding, but whose fate is troubled.”</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">–Elle</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">When the astonishingly lovely Anuradha moves to Bombay to marry Vardhmaan, a charming young doctor, their life together has all the makings of a fairy tale. But when their firstborn son dies in a terrible accident, tragedy transforms their marriage into a bleak landscape. As the pair starts fresh in a heartbroken old villa by the sea, they are joined by Nandini, a dazzling and devious artist with a trace of leopard blood in her veins. While Nandini flamboyantly takes on Bombay’s art scene, the couple attempts to mend their marriage, eventually discovering that real love, mercurial and many-hued, is given and received in silence. Sensuous and electric, achingly moving and wickedly funny, The Last Song of Dusk is a tale of fate that will haunt your heart like an old and beloved song.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Author Profile: </span></b></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b> </b><img alt="Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi" itemprop="image" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1412689318p5/28708.jpg" /></span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); text-align: left;">Shanghvi was born in Juhu, Mumbai, India in 1977. He is an alumnae of Mumbai’s Mithibai College, and later pursued an MA in International Journalism at the University of Westminster, London, where he specialised in Photography in 1999.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); text-align: left;">He is an Indian author in English-language whose notable books include, The Last Song of Dusk and The Lost Flamingoes of Bombay. His book, The Last Song of Dusk, has been translated into 10 languages.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:</span></b></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Siddharth-Dhanvant-Shanghvi/author/B001K8SQ7A?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true">Amazon Author Profile</a>. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/28708.Siddharth_Dhanvant_Shanghvi">Goodreads Profile</a></span><br /></b></p>LindyLouMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282788551449445133noreply@blogger.com0India20.593684 78.96288-7.7165498361788458 43.80663 48.903917836178849 114.11913tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934873530287535675.post-63338357632767098932024-01-08T17:56:00.000+01:002024-01-08T17:56:16.045+01:00The Birdcage by Eve Chase<p> <img class="ResponsiveImage" loading="eager" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1634602029i/56796670.jpg" /></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><b>Ebook:</b> 400 pages</span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre: </b>Fiction, Suspense, Family Mystery, </span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Publisher:</b> Penguin April 2022</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Source:</b> My Kindle</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>First Sentences:</b> The snow is still falling, feathery flakes whirling in the golden light f the train window then sucked into </span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 14px;">the black. But the 14.04 London - Penzance keeps hurtling west, drawing Lauren closer to rock Point, the house she fled one summer's day twenty years before.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><b>Review Quote:</b> </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;">'Daphne du Maurier for the modern day'</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700 !important;"> </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-style: italic !important;">SUNDAY TELEGRAPH</span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444; font-family: verdana; font-size: 14px;">My Opinion:</b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 14px;"> </span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 14px;">This is the second title by this author that I have read and just like 'The Glasshouse' it is story of secrets centred around a family home.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 14px;">Rock Point is the family home of the Finch sisters, Flora Kat and Lauren. They share a father, the artist Charlie Finch but they all have different mothers. It is 2019 and the girls have been summonsed to the family home by their father as he has something he wishes to tell them altogether. It has been twenty years since they were all there together the summer of the eclipse when there was a horrendous event at the house. Ever since then the three girls have lived with the terrible memories and torment. It is now time for them all to learn from the mistakes the past and trust each other again.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 14px;">Full of secrets, great characters and an atmospheric setting 'The Birdcage' will appeal if you are a fan of family mysteries.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><b style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444; font-family: verdana; font-size: 14px;">Previous Review : <a href="https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogspot.com/2022/07/the-glass-house-by-eve-chase.html"> The Glasshouse</a></b></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Précis Courtesy of Goodreads: </b></span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Kat, Flora and Lauren are half-sisters who share a famous artist father - and a terrible secret.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Each has found their way of burying it. Over the years they've grown apart, and into wildly different lives. But an invitation to Rock Point, the Cornish cliff house where they once sat for their father's most celebrated painting, Girls with Birdcage, reunites them.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Rock Point is a beautiful, windswept place, thick with secrets, electrically charged with the one subject the family dare not discuss. And there is someone in the shadows watching the house, their every move. Someone who remembers the girls in the painting. What they did.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The sisters must unlock the truth to set themselves free - and find each other again.</span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Author Profile: </b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="http://www.evechase.com/uploads/1/5/5/5/15554248/editor/2305104.jpg?1588845977" imageanchor="1" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="218" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiTxUozyW0PQcIWEXDTDYG8TAdfmIYAwz-d_13Ix89g7JRMOMFmk4A9m49YhHKrJ2Y-Hs7xz8WfX7KiRDawOE5uRaXTQt0_s46bQazV17FHfAukGN3LTOXvUoTSziafpn3a7egSSMcyjzIGN4aX0nVXCEgo6OTZ_hTnOUl7_vqVhDEIFddVIu8pb-eoym13=s0-d" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="214" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;">Courtesy of <span style="background-color: white; text-align: right;">Clare Borg-Cook</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;">The following is what Eve has to say about herself on her <a href="http://www.evechase.com/all-about-eve.html" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;">Website</a>.</span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;">I write from a studio/shed in my townhouse garden in Oxford. A small space, it's perfect for cooking up bigger ones. I love to write about sprawling, dysfunctional families in curious, characterful settings. A crime usually beats at the heart of my books. As I love stories that envelope you in their world but also read at a page-turning pace, I try to write them too. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Married with three children. Owner of a very hairy golden retriever called Harry. </span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Studied English Literature at Manchester University and went on to do a post-grad in journalism. I once edited a street fashion magazine, </span><em style="background-color: white; position: relative;">Scene</em><span style="background-color: white;"> (no longer on the scene, or in existence) and wrote for many publications including </span><em style="background-color: white; position: relative;">Dazed and Confused, Punch, InStyle, Red, Marie-Claire, You </em><span style="background-color: white;">and national newspapers.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;"></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">I read all the time, happily hopping between authors and genres. My ever changing list of favourite authors include Maggie O'Farrell, Liane Moriarty, Kate Atkinson, Elizabeth Strout, Diane Athill, Donna Tartt, Lisa Jewell, Raymond Carver, Jane Austen, Kate Morton, Hilary Mantel, and Barbara Vine.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">I love hearing from readers. You really make all the hours writing away on my own worthwhile. Please drop by on Insta/Facebook/Twitter and say hello.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Thank you so much to those of you who've taken the time to read my books, review and blog about them. </span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Happy reading! </span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:</b></span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/evepollychase/" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;">Instagram Profile</a> <a href="http://www.evechase.com/all-about-eve.html" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;">Author's Official Website</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EveChaseAuthor/" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;">Eve Chase - Facebook Profile</a><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://twitter.com/EvePollyChase" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;">Twitter - EvePollyChase</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Eve-Chase/e/B01AKOSDWW?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1657620580&sr=1-1" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;">Amazon Author Page</a> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8934674.Eve_Chase" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;">Eve Chase - Goodreads Author Profile</a></span></span></p>LindyLouMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282788551449445133noreply@blogger.com0Cornwall, UK50.266047099999987 -5.052712521.955813263821142 -40.2089625 78.576280936178833 30.1035375tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934873530287535675.post-457182114597996882023-12-21T17:57:00.002+01:002023-12-21T18:05:49.522+01:00Night Train to Marrakech by Dinah Jefferies<p><b style="color: red;">Night Train to Marrakech, Daughters of War #3 by Dinah Jefferies.</b></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8065551666967516212" itemprop="articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 636px;"><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> <span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span><img class="ResponsiveImage" loading="eager" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1678331317i/62593836.jpg" /><span> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Ebook:</b> 464 pages in Kindle Edition </span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Genre:</b> Historical Fiction </span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Publisher:</b> Harper Collins June 27 2023</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444;"><b>Source:</b> My </span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Kindle</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">First Sentence: </b><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">The night train gathered speed, clanking and rattling, and the girl on the cusp of a new life </span></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">held her</span></span><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> breath.</span></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span><b>Review Quote:</b> </span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17);">A ‘gripping story of love, betrayal and danger’</span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); font-style: italic;">Woman’s Weekly</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Setting: </b>Morocco</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Series: </b>Daughters of War (#3) 'Night Train to Marrakech'</span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">My Opinion: </b></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Dinah Jefferies has been a favourite author of mine, since 2014 when her debut novel 'The Separation'. was published. Over the years she has transported me with her vivid descriptive prose to some wonderful locations, some which I have been lucky enough to visit and other places I now wish to see for myself. This time it was to </span></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Morocco</span></span><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">, somewhere I have been fortunate to visit and her descriptions are certainly evocative of my time spent there.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444;">The story continues as Vicky, one of the younger generation of the Baudin family, travels to Marrakech to meet her grandmother for the first time. A dangerous place in the </span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">sixties, the visit turns out to be quite an adventure. Bringing together protagonists from the earlier books this final volume of the trilogy reveals some long hidden family secrets.</span></span></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444;">As with the previous volumes in this trilogy, it is a captivating read that transports the reader to M</span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">orocco which I can recommend to anyone that enjoys an immersive read. It stands alone but I feel more enjoyable if you have read the earlier novels.</span></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><dt style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); display: table-cell; font-weight: bold; padding: 0.4rem 1.6rem 0.4rem 0px; width: 12.5rem;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /><br /><br /></span></dt><dd style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(79, 79, 77); display: table-cell; margin: 0px; padding: 0.4rem 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Links to Previous Reviews:</b><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><a href="https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-separation-by-dinah-jefferies.html" style="text-decoration: none;">The Separation</a>. <a href="https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-missing-sister-by-dinah-jefferies.html" style="text-decoration: none;">The Missing Sister</a>. <a href="https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogspot.com/2021/11/the-sapphire-widow-by-dinah-jefferies.html" style="text-decoration: none;">The Sapphire Widow</a>. </span><a href="https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogspot.com/2023/01/daughters-of-war-by-dinah-jefferies.html" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none;">Daughters of War #1</a><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span><a href="https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogspot.com/2023/03/the-tuscan-contessa-by-dinah-jefferies.html" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none;">The Tuscan Contessa</a> <a href="https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogspot.com/2023/04/the-hidden-palace-daughters-of-war.html">Daughters of War#2 The Hidden Palace</a><br /><br /></span></dd><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /><b>Précis Courtesy of Amazon:</b></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">MARRAKECH 1966</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Vicky Baudin steps onto a train winding through Morocco, looking for the grandmother she has never met.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">It’s an epic journey that’ll take her to the edge of Atlas Mountains – and closer to the answers she’s been craving all her life.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">But dark secrets whisper amongst the dunes. And in unlocking the mystery of Clemence’s past, Vicky will unearth great danger too . . .</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /><b>Author Profile: </b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b> </b><img alt="Image" class="css-9pa8cd" draggable="true" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FmSRWIGWIAAppfF?format=jpg&name=240x240" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; background: repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px;" /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><b> </b></span><b>Courtesy of Twitter Profile</b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Dinah was born in Malaysia and moved to England at the age of nine.</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">As a teenager she missed the heat of Malaysia, which left her with a kind of restlessness that led to quite an unusual life. She studied Fashion Design and went to live in Tuscany where she worked as an au-pair for an Italian countess. There was even a time when Dinah lived with a rock band in a ‘hippie’ commune in Suffolk.</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Although Dinah and her husband spent five wonderful years living in a small 16th Century village in Northern Andalusia, she's happy to say they now live close to her family in Gloucestershire along with two crazy Maine Coon cats.</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:</span></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7245062.Dinah_Jefferies" style="text-decoration: none;">Goodreads Author Profile</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DinahJefferies" style="text-decoration: none;">Twitter Profile</a> <a href="https://www.dinahjefferies.com/about/" style="text-decoration: none;">Dinah Jefferies - Official Website</a></span></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dinah-Jefferies/e/B00EZPPZEW/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Amazon Author Page</span></a></b></span></p></div>LindyLouMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282788551449445133noreply@blogger.com0Marrakesh, Morocco31.6225224 -7.98982579999999933.3122885638211557 -43.1460758 59.932756236178847 27.1664242tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934873530287535675.post-18347249576679020852023-12-09T16:02:00.000+01:002023-12-09T16:02:12.085+01:00The New Wife by JP Delaney<p> <img class="ResponsiveImage" loading="eager" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1677855142i/63045654.jpg" /></p><p><br /></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>Hardback:</b> 343 pages</span></span><b style="orphans: 2;"> </b></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444;">Genre: </b><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> Mystery, Thriller, </span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Psychological</span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> Fiction</span></span></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>Publisher:</b> Quercus, July 2023</span></span></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>Source: </b> Tywyn Public Library</span></span></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>Review Quote: </b></span></span></span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111;">Like Daphne du Maurier</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111;"> he sustains the ambiguity deftly and deliciously - </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111;">whenever a resolution looks imminent, a new development preserves the enigma</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111;"> ― </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-style: italic !important;">Sunday Times</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111;"><b>Favourite Quote: </b></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915;">Did any of us speak a word that day that was true, I now wonder? Perhaps those few words that weren't in English might have been the cold unvarnished truth - a brief instruction to the older woman on how she should respond.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444;"><b style="orphans: 2;">First Sentences: </b><span style="orphans: 2;"> In rural parts of Mallora, you still come across clusters of carob trees surrounded by high nets, open to the sky. These are es </span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">trampes, the songbird traps.</span></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="color: #444444; orphans: 2;">Setting: </b><span style="color: #444444; orphans: 2;">Mallorca</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #444444;"><b>My Opinion: </b> First discovered this author thanks to his earlier novel </span><b> <a href="https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogspot.com/2021/10/playing-nice-by-jp-delaney.html">Playing Nice</a> </b>being selected as a Richard and Judy Bookclub choice. Since then he has been on the list of authors I select when in the mood for a psychological thriller.</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Finn and Jess have just learnt that their father has died in Mallorca. He has lived there for many years and the farmhouse he lives in with his third wife, is his children's inheritance. Between them they decide that Finn should travel to Mallorca to take control of the situation. It does not work out as simply as the siblings had hoped though. Who is telling lies and who is telling the truth about the situation?</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Unpredictable as just when you feel you have worked out what is happening, along comes another twist! If you enjoy being kept guessing then this is definitely one for you. </span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Précis Courtesy of Goodreads:</span></span></b></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></b></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915;">When Finn Hensen gets a call from his sister Jess to say their father has died, neither is heartbroken. Their parents divorced many years ago, after which their father, Jimmy, continued to live a bohemian lifestyle in sun-soaked Mallorca, while his family returned to the UK.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915;">Ownership of his home, a beautiful but dilapidated farmhouse in the mountains, now passes to Finn and his sister. The only problem is that Jimmy recently remarried for the third time, and his new wife, Ruensa, is still living there.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915;">The pair agree that Finn should go to Mallorca and tactfully take possession of their inheritance. When he arrives, however, Finn is surprised to find that Finca Siquia has been completely transformed into a chic Mediterranean bolthole by Ruensa - along with her twenty-seven-year-old daughter, Roze. The Spanish police, meanwhile, are asking awkward questions about Jimmy's death . . . Are Ruensa and Roze the helpless victims of circumstance? Or will they stop at nothing to get Finca Siquia for themselves?</span></span></p><dt style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; display: table-cell; font-weight: bold; padding: 0.4rem 1.6rem 0.4rem 0px; width: 12.5rem;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></dt><dd style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(79, 79, 77); color: #333333; display: table-cell; margin: 0px; padding: 0.4rem 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></dd><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Previous Reviews: <a href="https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogspot.com/2021/10/playing-nice-by-jp-delaney.html">Playing Nice</a> <a href="https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogspot.com/2023/03/hardback-385-pages-genre-psychological.html">My Darling Daughter</a></span></b></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Author Profile : </span></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #444444;"> </span><span style="color: #444444; orphans: 2;"> </span><img alt="" class="img-responsive wp-image-531" height="300" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 400px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhkmbhiVWkMJO0jMsbCUAN2ZgxgLV17BZGTA6dqXif07zvmUt5S9_fNrU-J98zCsk4PKhMRhKG-1xFevp4niWb76ocICNl_u8R4mL4Mro6Lv0Pys8oRgHB_nErwYx85UJ4I8OqiL7xTMTOm_ug0L-w3h8yn-PvvM40u2m_ObiP-VkW0Hb9yya6UoZXikryvtHL3QDVT18fndG6Og51b3Dg2mUU=s0-d" srcset="http://www.jpdelaney.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/KRLP003-Otmoor-0596-2C-med-res-1-200x237.jpg 200w, http://www.jpdelaney.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/KRLP003-Otmoor-0596-2C-med-res-1-400x474.jpg 400w, http://www.jpdelaney.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/KRLP003-Otmoor-0596-2C-med-res-1-600x711.jpg 600w, http://www.jpdelaney.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/KRLP003-Otmoor-0596-2C-med-res-1.jpg 800w" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: #444444; orphans: 2; padding: 8px;" title="KRLP003-Otmoor-0596-2C-med-res" width="253" /></span></p><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Courtesy of Author Website</span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">JP Delaney is a British writer of psychological suspense. His novel THE GIRL BEFORE was an instant New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller which sold over a million copies in 40 countries. It was adapted by him for the BBC and HBO Max in 2021. His second thriller, BELIEVE ME, was also an international and Sunday Times bestseller, as were his subsequent books THE PERFECT WIFE and PLAYING NICE. His fifth psychological thriller, MY DARLING DAUGHTER, was published in 2022.</span></span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">JP Delaney has previously written bestselling fiction under other names. The Carnivia Trilogy, a series of three standalone but interlinked thrillers set in present-day Venice and written under the name Jonathan Holt, was published in more than 20 countries. </span></span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites.</span></b></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2;"><b><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></b></div><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="orphans: 2;"><span style="color: #444444;"><a href="http://www.jpdelaney.co.uk/?page_id=35" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;">Author Official Website</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/JP-Delaney/e/B01FY6MIRM/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;">Amazon Author Page</a></span></b><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></p>LindyLouMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282788551449445133noreply@blogger.com0Majorca, Balearic Islands, Spain39.6952629 3.017571211.385029063821158 -32.1386788 68.005496736178856 38.1738212tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934873530287535675.post-18034587562093611072023-12-07T16:44:00.000+01:002023-12-07T16:44:31.888+01:00From Venice with Love by Rosanna Ley<p> <img class="ResponsiveImage" height="400" loading="eager" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1590961162i/53712386.jpg" width="260" /></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><b>Ebook</b><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>:</b> 396 pages</span></span><b style="orphans: 2;"> </b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Genre: </b> Romantic Contemporary Fiction </span></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>Publisher:</b> Quercus 2020</span></span></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>Source: </b>My Kindle</span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b><span>Review Quote: </span></b></span></span></span></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Vicarious travel to Venice is always welcome, especially in these uncertain times. Perfect holiday reading, wherever you go ― The Lady</span></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b style="orphans: 2;">First Sentences: </b><span style="orphans: 2;">Joanna was hardly aware of the train leaving Waterloo station. She supposed she was in shock - if shock was the right word for what she was feeling.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; orphans: 2;"><span><b>Setting:</b> </span></span></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Venice (Italy), Italy, Lisbon (Portugal), Prague (Praha) (Czech Republic), Dorset, England (United Kingdom)</span></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>My Opinion: </b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #444444;"><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Rosanna Ley has written around </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">twelve</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> novels, I think. </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Including</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> this one I have read five of them since 2014. </span></span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Therefore not a regular reader of her work, but when I do read one it is always a relaxing read. I have already added her 2023 release ' The Forever Garden' to My Kindle.</span></span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">‘From Venice With Love’ is a story of two sisters whose lives have taken very different directions. Harriet has always lived at home on the family farm in Dorset, whilst Rosanna has lived a London lifestyle, until a recent upheaval in her life sent her home to rediscover herself. As a freelance travel journalist she combines an assignment with researching the background story to some old love letters, that have recently come into her possession. The story is rather fanciful in parts as Joanna’s imagination runs in overdrive at times, but then we all need to dream don’t we.</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">In conclusion, those who enjoy armchair travel along with some light romance will find this a pleasure to read.</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Précis Courtesy of Goodreads:</span></b></p><dt style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table-cell; padding: 0.4rem 1.6rem 0.4rem 0px; width: 12.5rem;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></dt><dd style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(79, 79, 77); display: table-cell; margin: 0px; padding: 0.4rem 0px;"></dd><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">With her marriage in danger of falling apart, Joanna returns home to the beautiful but dilapidated Mulberry Farm Cottage in rural Dorset, where her sister Harriet is struggling to keep the farm afloat and cope with their eccentric mother.</span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">When Joanna discovers a bundle of love letters in the attic, written by a watercolourist named Emmy, she is intrigued and sets out to discover Emmy's true story. Emmy's letters take Joanna to the picturesque alleyways and bridges of Lisbon, Prague, and the most romantic place of all: Venice - where a whole new magical world seems to unfold in front of her.</span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Meanwhile, back at Mulberry Farm Cottage, a mysterious prowler adds to Harriet's problems and interrupts her search for a perfect partner. Will she ever find true love? Where will Emmy's mesmerising pathway lead? And more importantly, will Joanna and Harriet be able to rescue the cottage and finally be able to rediscover their sisterly bond?</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Author Profile : </span></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span> </span></span><img alt="Rosanna Ley" itemprop="image" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1349213996p5/6213080.jpg" /></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Rosanna has written numerous articles and short stories for magazines, and her novels have been published in the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Norway, Hungary, Portugal, Lithuania, Denmark, Bulgaria, Turkey, Israel and the Czech Republic. All Rosanna’s titles are also being published by Quercus in the US.</span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Rosanna has worked as a creative writing tutor for over 30 years. She has led courses for colleges and universities in England, and runs her own writing retreats and holidays in the UK and in stunning locations in Europe. She has worked with community groups in therapeutic settings and completed an MA in creative writing for personal development in order to support this. She has also mentored and appraised the work of new writers.</span></span></p><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Travelling and cliff walking are two of Rosanna’s favourite things to do. She also likes tennis, swimming, reading, eating very dark chocolate and drinking Italian coffee (preferably in Italy…) She lives with her husband in West Dorset and her favourite writing place is anywhere with a sea view.</span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The biographical information and photo used in this post are with thanks to the following websites, where you can also find more information about the author and her writing.</span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Photograph and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:</b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RosannaLeyNovels">Facebook - Rosanna Ley Novels</a> <a href="https://rosannaley.com">Author Official Website</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RosannaLey">Twitter Profile</a> </span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/rosannaleyauthor/">Instagram - Rosanna Ley Author</a> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6213080.Rosanna_Ley">Goodreads Profile</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Rosanna-Ley/author/B00AFDQHPE?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true">Amazon Author Page</a></span><br /></span></span></p><p><br /></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #444444;"> </span><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></p>LindyLouMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282788551449445133noreply@blogger.com0Italy41.87194 12.5673813.561706163821157 -22.58887 70.182173836178848 47.72363tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934873530287535675.post-9704062624908622402023-11-29T13:46:00.000+01:002023-11-29T13:46:47.924+01:00Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu<p> </p><p> <img class="ResponsiveImage" loading="eager" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1672645942i/61108464.jpg" /></p><p><br /></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #444444; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><b>Paperback</b><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>:</b> 385 pages</span></span><b style="color: #444444; orphans: 2;"> </b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Genre: </b>Historical Fiction, Chinese History</span></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>Publisher:</b> Wildfire 2023</span></span></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>Source: </b>Tywyn Public Library</span></span></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>Review Quote: </b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17);">Tender and graceful, this vivid historical novel shows the cost of war while celebrating the resilience of the human spirit and the life-affirming gifts of storytelling. -- Eithne Farry ― </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); font-style: italic !important;">The Mirror</span></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: #444444; orphans: 2;">First Sentences: </b><span style="color: #444444; orphans: 2;">Tell us, they say, tell us where you're from. He is from walking and walking and walking.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444; orphans: 2;"><b>Favourite Quote: </b></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">“To tell a story is to plant a seed and let it grow.”</span></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: #444444;">My Opinion:</b><span style="color: #444444;"> </span><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">'Peach Blossom Spring' although fictional, the author's father was born in China, went to Taiwan as a youth and later to America. One day in the late nineties he told his family some of the stories that he had kept to himself for many years. Nearly twenty years later Melissa Fu took the notes she had taken that day and spun this remarkable story from them.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444;">Three generations of a Chinese family on a quest to find a home where they can feel safe. Spanning nearly seventy years, commencing with the Japanese conflict with China which started in 1937 and lasted until the end of WWII in 1945. Life was all about constantly fleeing from the </span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Japanese advance for Meilin and her young son, Renshu. The author gives us a scary and vivid picture of life as a refugee during this time. </span></span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Despite eventually building a new life there was always the constant fear of the Chinese regime.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">In conclusion this novel is a touching semi autobiographical and personal narrative that the author was motivated to write based on her father's memories. Recommended to readers of historical fiction and or an interest in Chinese culture.</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Précis Courtesy of Goodreads:</span></span></span></b></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">A "beautifully rendered" novel about war, migration, and the power of telling our stories, Peach Blossom Spring follows three generations of a Chinese family on their search for a place to call home (Georgia Hunter, New York Times bestselling author).</span></span></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">"Within every misfortune there is a blessing and within every blessing, the seeds of misfortune, and so it goes, until the end of time."</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">It is 1938 in China and, as a young wife, Meilin’s future is bright. But with the Japanese army approaching, Meilin and her four year old son, Renshu, are forced to flee their home. Relying on little but their wits and a beautifully illustrated hand scroll, filled with ancient fables that offer solace and wisdom, they must travel through a ravaged country, seeking refuge.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Years later, Renshu has settled in America as Henry Dao. Though his daughter is desperate to understand her heritage, he refuses to talk about his childhood. How can he keep his family safe in this new land when the weight of his history threatens to drag them down? Yet how can Lily learn who she is if she can never know her family’s story?</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Spanning continents and generations, Peach Blossom Spring is a bold and moving look at the history of modern China, told through the story of one family. It’s about the power of our past, the hope for a better future, and the haunting question: What would it mean to finally be home?</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Author Profile and Photo From Amazon: </span></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #444444;"> </span><img alt="Author Logo" class="square" data-feature="cf" data-testid="image" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/amzn-author-media-prod/su1h62jguchr1vfp3dqogjnc35._SX300_CR0%2C0%2C0%2C0_.jpg" /><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #444444;"> </span><span style="color: #444444;">Melissa Fu grew up in Northern New Mexico and has lived in Texas, Colorado, New York, Ohio and Washington. She now lives near Cambridge, UK, with her husband and children. With academic backgrounds in physics and English, she has worked in education as a teacher, curriculum developer, and consultant. She was the 2018/19 David TK Wong Fellow at the University of East Anglia. Peach Blossom Spring is her first novel. </span><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: #444444;">Photograph and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:</b> </span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Melissa-Fu/author/B092YYY95C?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true">Amazon Author Profile</a>. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18358637.Melissa_Fu">Goodreads Profile</a></span></b><br /></p>LindyLouMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282788551449445133noreply@blogger.com0China35.86166 104.1953977.5514261638211551 69.039147 64.171893836178839 139.351647tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934873530287535675.post-43575474355214778842023-11-28T18:18:00.000+01:002023-11-28T18:18:51.568+01:00Learned By Heart by Emma Donoghue<p><br /></p><p> <img class="ResponsiveImage" loading="eager" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1686575932i/62874041.jpg" /></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Hardback</span></b><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b style="font-size: large;">:</b><span style="font-size: medium;"> 323 pages</span></span></span><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444; font-family: inherit; orphans: 2;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span> </b></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Genre: </b>Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, LGBT,</span></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>Publisher:</b> Picador 2023</span></span></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>Source: </b>Tywyn Public Library</span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>Review Quote: </b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Her touch is so light and exuberantly inventive, her insight at once so forensic and intimate, her people so ordinary even in their oddities ― The Guardian</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>First Sentences: </b>My dear Lister, Last night I went to the Manor again.</span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444;">My Opinion:</b><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> The inspiration for this novel was Anne Lister, a real life person, whom I first came across as the character 'Gentleman Jack.' She is the protagonist in the television series of the same name, which I throughly enjoyed.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">This heart breaking story of the love between Anne Lister and Eliza Raine is from a much easier period in her life when she was just fourteen and at boarding school. It is an insightful depiction of their school life and what was expected of young girls in society at this time. Also we learn of life after school in Eliza's letters to Anne, some years later.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Emma Donoghue writes with an emotional intensity that draws me in and 'Learned by Heart' was no exception. The authors notes give the reader a great insight into just how much research was involved in writing this bitter sweet love story. I can recommend this compelling read to fans of the author, plus anyone interested in learning more about lesbianism in nineteenth century society. </span></span></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b>Links to Previous Reviews : <a href="https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/03/room-by-emma-donoghue.html">Room</a> <a href="https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-wonder-by-emma-donoghue.html">The Wonder</a> <a href="https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogspot.com/2023/02/the-pull-of-stars-by-emma-donoghue.html">The Pull of the Stars</a> <a href="https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogspot.com/2023/03/haven-by-emma-donoghue.html">Haven</a></b></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Précis Courtesy of Goodreads:</span></span></span></b></p><p><span style="color: #333333; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Eliza and Lister have never been this wide-awake in their lives, and the Slope, with its curtains drawn wide, is bright with starlight. They talk in whispers, not to disturb the maids who lie sleeping on the other side of the box room. The question Eliza’s been needing to ask swells like a great berry in her mouth, and all at once she’s not scared to let it out, not scared at all, not scared of anything . . .</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">In 1805, fourteen-year-old Eliza Raine is a school girl at the Manor School for Young Ladies in York. The daughter of an Indian mother and a British father, Eliza was banished to this unfamiliar country as a little girl. When she first stepped off the King George in Kent, Eliza was accompanied by her older sister, Jane, but now she boards alone at the Manor, with no one left to claim her. She spends her days avoiding the attention of her fellow pupils until, one day, a fearless and charismatic new student arrives at the school. The two girls are immediately thrown together and soon Eliza’s life is turned inside out by this strange and curious young woman.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Learned by Heart, Emma Donoghue’s mesmerising new novel, tells the heartbreaking story of the tangled lives of two women whose intense, and unlikely, relationship will change them for ever.</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Author Profile and Photo From Amazon: </span></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #444444;"> <img alt="Emma Donoghue" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjsd3K8s_6t8zMOP-Hu3kz_17qhK7KEuDartQqobhjsLMSMoyh4N5xC7DEjwgAc2z41-z1WjX9GJ6RiGB0tXabVTuk_CcTqJjfJ9U0MMXscJE8Q6QaUJPCqUADoJwj6KvkIlF_U5Wzlc-abj0_Mlh9xzPMg4T5v=s0-d" style="border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;" title="Emma Donoghue" /></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span face="Georgia, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 9.6px; text-align: center;">© Una Roulston 2021.</span><span face="Georgia, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 9.6px; text-align: center;"> </span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Born in Dublin, Ireland, in October 1969, she is the youngest of eight children of Frances and Denis Donoghue (the literary critic). She attended Catholic convent schools in Dublin, apart from one eye-opening year in New York at the age of ten. In 1990 she earned a first-class honours BA in English and French from University College Dublin (unfortunately, without learning to actually speak French). She moved to England, and in 1997 received her PhD (on the concept of friendship between men and women in eighteenth-century English fiction) from the University of Cambridge. From the age of 23, she has earned her living as a writer. After years of commuting between England, Ireland, and Canada, in 1998 she settled in London, Ontario, where she lives with Chris Roulston and their son Finn and daughter Una.</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b></b><br /></span></span></p><p><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Photograph and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:</b> </p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Emma-Donoghue/author/B000APG99G?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true">Amazon Author Page</a> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/23613.Emma_Donoghue">Goodreads Profile</a> <a href="http://www.emmadonoghue.com">Author Official Website</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EmmaDonoghueWriter/">Facebook Profile</a></span></b><br /></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://twitter.com/EDonoghueWriter">Twitter Profile</a> </span><br /></b></p>LindyLouMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282788551449445133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934873530287535675.post-52576951470939470392023-10-11T16:00:00.000+02:002023-10-11T16:00:15.824+02:00Thirty Days in Paris by Veronica Henry<p> </p><p><br /></p><p> <img class="ResponsiveImage" loading="eager" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1668796437i/63348617.jpg" /></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><b>Hardback</b><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>:</b> 372 pages</span></span><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444; orphans: 2;"> </b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Genre: </b>Contemporary Romantic Fiction</span></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>Publisher:</b> Orion Fiction 2023</span></span></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>Source: </b>Tywyn Public Library</span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>Review Quote: </b></span></span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17);"><span style="color: #444444;">'A perfect Parisian fantasy every woman will love' KATIE FFORDE</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>First Sentences: </b>Juliet stood in the middle of the kitchen, overwhelmed by its </span></span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">emptiness.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444;">My Opinion:</b><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> Veronica Henry is known for her escapist romantic, realistic and </span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">relatable</span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> stories. Her latest novel set in Paris was a delight to read.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">The protagonist </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Juliet is returning to Paris after a thirty year gap. The dual timeline enables the reader to fully understand and appreciate what happened to her all those years ago in Paris. She has now returned to address the past.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">This novel stirred my many lovely memories of Paris. Recommended to anyone that loves Paris and enjoys a feel good read. </span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Précis Courtesy of Goodreads:</span></span></span></b></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915;">Because Paris is always a good idea...</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915;">Years ago, Juliet left a little piece of her heart in Paris - and now, separated from her husband and with her children flying the nest, it's time to get it back!</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915;">So she puts on her best red lipstick, books a cosy attic apartment near Notre-Dame and takes the next train out of London.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915;">Arriving at the Gare du Nord, the memories come flooding back: bustling street cafés, cheap wine in candlelit bars and a handsome boy with glittering eyes.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915;">But Juliet has also been keeping a secret for over two decades - and she begins to realise it's impossible to move forwards without first looking back.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915;">Something tells her that the next thirty days might just change everything...</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Author Profile and Photo From Amazon: </span></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #444444;"> </span><img alt="Author Logo" class="square" data-feature="cf" data-testid="image" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/amzn-author-media-prod/ernusu3f36v0jl2e8spdp9mbdk._SX300_CR0%2C0%2C0%2C0_.jpg" /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">In the authors own words: </span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(55, 62, 62); color: #373e3e; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px 0px 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I'm Veronica - otherwise known as Ronnie - and I'm delighted you've found your way here!</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(55, 62, 62); color: #373e3e; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px 0px 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I love to take my readers somewhere they might like to be, whether a gorgeous house in the countryside or on a seaside clifftop. There, my characters go through the trials and tribulation of everyday life, embroiled in situations and dilemmas we can all relate to. Love is at the heart of it, but all kinds of love, not just romantic: the love of friends and family, or a place, or a passion for what you enjoy (food, wine and books, in my case . . .) </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(55, 62, 62); color: #373e3e; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px 0px 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">My next book, Thirty Days in Paris, is set in the place I love best of all. Whenever I step off the train at the Gare du Nord I always feel as if I belong, even though I am not your typical Parisienne! But I love soaking up the food, the fashion, the art - everything! - and I'll never tire of visiting. My dream is one day to have a little apartment, if only fora month, to live the Parisian dream. But in the meantime, I've given that dream to my heroine, Juliet . . . thirty days in a bijoux apartment near the Seine. What will she get up to?</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(55, 62, 62); color: #373e3e; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px 0px 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">A little bit about me: I live by the sea and head to the beach every day with my dog Zelda. I love cooking and discovering new restaurants on city breaks, with a bit of yoga to offset the calories. My biggest writing influences are HE Bates, Nancy Mitford, Jilly Cooper and any book that has a big rambling house and an eccentric family . . .</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b></b><br /><b>Photograph and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:</b></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B001HMPQD6?ingress=0&visitId=52800d1c-786f-4898-a9e3-f4042ada7a46">Amazon Author Page</a>. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/505129.Veronica_Henry">Goodreads Author Page</a>. <a href="http://www.veronicahenry.co.uk/index.php">Official Author Website</a><br /></span></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/veronicahenryauthor/">Instagram Profile</a>. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/veronicahenryauthor">Facebook Profile</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/veronica_henry">Twitter - Veronica Henry</a></span></b><br /></span></p>LindyLouMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282788551449445133noreply@blogger.com0Paris, France48.856614 2.352221920.546380163821155 -32.8040281 77.166847836178846 37.5084719tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934873530287535675.post-75348807104109241462023-09-27T12:46:00.002+02:002023-09-27T12:55:03.542+02:00Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent<p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> <img class="ResponsiveImage" height="400" loading="eager" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1677749819i/62322008.jpg" width="260" /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><b>Hardback</b><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>:</b> 362 pages</span></span><b style="orphans: 2;"> </b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Genre: </b>Psychological Thriller</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>Publisher:</b> Penguin Random House July 2023</span></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>Source: </b>Tywyn Public Library</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>Review Quote: </b></span></span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">'In Sally Diamond, Nugent has given us an astounding creation with a singular voice . . . an absorbing, twisty, compulsive psychological thriller with surprising humour and pathos' Sunday Independent</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>First Sentences: </b>'Put me out with the bins,' he said regularly. 'When I die, put me out with the bins.'</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b>My Opinion:</b> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Creepy and Brilliant writing in this original novel from Sally Nugent. This is the first book I have read by this author, but hopefully it will not be the last. </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> The storyline is creepy with people locked away for years against their will. We have all heard such real life stories I am sure! Brilliant is the author's </span>protagonist Sally Diamond, a character that comes alive on the printed page and will stay in your mind.</span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">A distressing story of the dark world of abuse and manipulative behaviour. Sally's story unfolds along side that of Peter. It is soon apparent that their stories will merge at some point. How they do so makes for a gripping narrative.</span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">A remarkable and extremely disturbing story that will haunt me for a long time. Highly recommend this 5* read.</span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Précis Courtesy of Goodreads:</span></span></b></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">Sally Diamond cannot understand why what she did was so strange. She was only doing what her father told her to do, to put him out with the rubbish when he died.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">Now Sally is the centre of attention, not only from the hungry media and worried police, but also a sinister voice from a past she has no memory of. As she begins to discover the horrors of her childhood, recluse Sally steps into the world for the first time, making new friends, finding independence, and learning that people don't always mean what they say.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">But when messages start arriving from a stranger who knows far more about her past than she knows herself, Sally's life will be thrown into chaos once again . . .</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b></b><br /><b>Author Profile and Photo From Amazon: </b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> <img alt="Liz Nugent" class="a-dynamic-image" data-a-dynamic-image="{}" data-a-image-name="primaryAuthorImage" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/amzn-author-media-prod/qtngs3df58qce9mjq6fgv6gvk3._SX450_.jpg" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" width="235" /></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(55, 62, 62); white-space: pre-wrap;">Liz was born in Dublin in 1967, where she now lives. She has written successfully for soap opera, radio drama, television plays, short stories and animation for children.
Liz’s first novel Unravelling Oliver was published to critical and popular acclaim in March 2014. It quickly became a firm favourite with book clubs and reader’s groups. In November of that year, it went on to win the Ireland AM Crime Novel of the Year at the Bord Gais Energy Book Awards and was long listed for the International Dublin Literature Prize 2016. She was also the winner of the inaugural Jack Harte Bursary provided by the Irish Writers Centre and the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Dec 2014. Her second novel, Lying in Wait, was published in July 2016 and went straight to number 1 where it remained for seven weeks. Liz won the Monaco Bursary from the Ireland Funds and was Writer in Residence at the Princess Grace Irish Library in Monaco in Sept/Oct 2016. In Nov 2016, Lying in Wait won the prestigious RTE Ryan Tubridy Listener's Choice prize at the Irish Book Awards.
Aside from writing, Liz has led workshops in writing drama for broadcast, she has produced and managed literary salons and curated literary strands of Arts Festivals. She regularly does public interviews and panel discussions on all aspects of her writing.</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b></b><br /><b>Photograph and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:</b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.liznugent.com">Author Official Website</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Liz-Nugent/e/B01BPF0MBU/ref=aufs_dp_fta_an_dsk">Liz Nugent - Amazon Page</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/lizzienugent">Twitter Profile</a> </span></b></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7467121.Liz_Nugent">Goodreads Profile</a></span><br /></b></p>LindyLouMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282788551449445133noreply@blogger.com0United Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597327.067817163821154 -38.592223 83.688284836178838 31.720277tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934873530287535675.post-73879896831005929842023-09-14T18:47:00.000+02:002023-09-14T18:47:49.058+02:00The Impossible Truths of Love by Hannah Beckerman<p><br /></p><p> <img class="ResponsiveImage" loading="eager" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1617847121i/56469856.jpg" /></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="color: #001000;"><b>Paperback</b><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>:</b> 282 pages</span></span></span><b style="color: #001000; orphans: 2;"> </b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Genre: </b> Fiction</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>Publisher:</b> Lake Union Publishing 2021</span></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>Source: </b>Tywyn Public Library</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>Review Quote: </b></span></span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">“WONDERFUL. I read The Impossible Truths of Love by Hannah Beckerman in one gulp. The intrigue at this book’s heart genuinely ‘got’ me.” —Marian Keyes, Author. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>First Sentence: </b>The baby in the cot </span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">beside her cries, shattering the silence.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><b>My Opinion:</b> </span></span></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;">Just like her previous novel 'If Only I Could Tell You' that I have read by this author she has once again written a thought </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">provoking novel that is full of grief. Yet somehow I still found myself wanting to know more.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">A dual timeline story with Nell telling us her story 'Now' and her mother Annie relating her story of 'Then' 35 years ago. The storyline pivots on Nell's father's declaration to her, causing her to probe into childhood memories that have aways haunted her.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">A highly emotional storyline, which is not always an easy read. Recommend doing so though if you can cope with your emotions whilst reading. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Previous Review: <a href="https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogspot.com/2022/01/if-only-i-could-tell-you-by-hannah.html">If Only I Could Tell You</a></span></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></b></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Précis Courtesy of Goodreads:</span></span></b></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915;">From bestselling author Hannah Beckerman comes a moving story about memory, secrets, and what it really means to feel that you’re one of the family.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915;">When Nell’s father makes a deathbed declaration that hints at a long-held secret, it reignites feelings of isolation that have plagued her for years. Her suspicions about the family’s past only deepen when her mother, Annie, who is losing her memories to dementia, starts making cryptic comments of her own.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915;">Thirty-five years earlier, Annie’s life was upended by a series of traumas—one shock after another that she buried deep in her heart. The decisions she made at the time were motivated by love, but she knew even then that nobody could ever understand—let alone forgive—what she did.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915;">As the two women’s stories unravel, a generation apart, Nell finally discovers the devastating truth about her mother’s past, and her own.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915;">In this beautifully observed and emotionally powerful story of identity, memory and the nature of family, Hannah Beckerman asks: To what lengths would you go to protect the ones you love?</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b></b><br /><b>Author Profile and Photo From Amazon: </b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> <span style="caret-color: rgb(55, 62, 62); color: #373e3e; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><img alt="Author Logo" class="square" data-feature="cf" data-testid="image" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/amzn-author-media-prod/dlfd4a1m8fr22ijfptt4qesa7e._SX300_CR0%2C0%2C0%2C0_.jpg" /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(55, 62, 62); color: #373e3e; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Hannah Beckerman is a bestselling author and journalist whose novels have been translated into more than a dozen languages worldwide. She is a book critic and features writer for a range of publications including The Observer and the FT Weekend Magazine, and has appeared as a book pundit on BBC Radio 2 and Times Radio. She chairs literary events across the UK, interviewing authors and celebrities, and has judged numerous book prizes including the Costa Book Awards. Prior to writing her first novel, Hannah was a television producer and commissioning editor for the BBC, Channel 4 and the Discovery Channel, and for two years lived in Bangladesh, running a TV project for the BBC. She now lives in London where she writes full-time.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #373e3e; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Her <a href="http://www.hannahbeckerman.com/about-me">About Me</a> on her Website makes an interesting</span> read. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #373e3e;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b></b></span></span><br /><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">Photograph and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:</b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B00J1ZUU3M/about">Amazon Author Profile</a> <a href="http://www.hannahbeckerman.com">Official Website - Hannah Beckerman</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hannahbeckerman">Twitter Profile</a><br /></span></b></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/hannahbeckermanauthor/">Instagram Profile</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HannahBeckermanAuthor/">Facebook Profile</a></span></b><br /></p>LindyLouMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282788551449445133noreply@blogger.com0England, UK52.3555177 -1.174319724.045283863821155 -36.3305697 80.665751536178846 33.9819303tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934873530287535675.post-38017111792148313152023-09-11T17:56:00.000+02:002023-09-11T17:56:23.577+02:00Fair Rosaline by Natasha Solomons<p> <img alt="" class="ImageVideoCarousel__image__KnnTC" data-feature="af" data-testid="image" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 840px) 32vw,(max-width: 1500px) 32vw,480px" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61mmLGuT0wL._AC_CR0%2C0%2C0%2C0_SX480_SY360_.jpg" srcset="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61mmLGuT0wL._AC_CR0%2C0%2C0%2C0_SX269_SY202_.jpg 269w, https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61mmLGuT0wL._AC_CR0%2C0%2C0%2C0_SX410_SY308_.jpg 410w, https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61mmLGuT0wL._AC_CR0%2C0%2C0%2C0_SX480_SY360_.jpg 480w, https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61mmLGuT0wL._AC_CR0%2C0%2C0%2C0_SX615_SY462_.jpg 615w, https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61mmLGuT0wL._AC_CR0%2C0%2C0%2C0_SX960_SY720_.jpg 960w" style="max-height: 360px;" width="260" /></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="color: #001000;"><b>Hardback</b><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>: </b>335 pages</span></span></span><b style="color: #001000; orphans: 2;"> </b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Genre: </b>Historical Romantic Fiction</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>Publisher:</b> Bonnier Books UK 2023</span></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>Source: </b>Tywyn Public Library</span></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>Review Quote: </b></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111;">Lovers of Shakespeare's most adapted tragedy will not be disappointed by Solomons' subversive counter-narrative.</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-weight: 700 !important;"> </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111;">Vivid, turbulent and compelling</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111;">. ― </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-style: italic !important;">The Independent</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>First Sentences: </b>The funeral was held at dawn and little more than an hour after Madonna Emelia Capulet passed out of this world. Rosaline trailed behind their, disconsolate with loss.</span></span></span></p><p style="orphans: auto; orphans: auto; orphans: auto; orphans: auto;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">My Opinion:</b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> Natasha Solomons is not an author whose novels I know much about, having only </span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">prior</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> to 'Fair Rosaline' read one other and that was in 2011, 'Mr Rosenblum's List'. I selected this novel to read as I was fascinated by the following comment in the book blurb. 'A subversive, powerful </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: medium;">untelling of Shakespeares's best-known tale, narrated by a fierce, forgotten voice: this is Rosaline's story.' The author goes on to explain in the novels notes that although we know of Rosaline's existence in Romeo and <span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Juliet, she never appears in the play and we only hear about her existence as 'Capulet's fair niece' and that it is in order to seek her there that Romeo attends the masquerade.</span></span></p><p style="orphans: auto; orphans: auto; orphans: auto; orphans: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: medium;">I suppose I always thought of Romeo and Juliet as describing ill fated romantic love. However in this shrewd retelling Rosaline is the one person who is prepared to fight back against Romeo and expose his penchant for vulnerable young girls. This novel places Rosaline as the protagonist and also gives us a chance to see the controlling side of Romeo's character. It is a devastating tale that feels so credible and I will never see the play in quite the same way again.</span></p><p style="orphans: auto; orphans: auto; orphans: auto; orphans: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Highly recommended. This clever uptake on a famous Shakespearian tale makes for a very compelling read.</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><b>Previous Review: </b> </span><a href="https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogspot.com/2011/08/mr-rosenblums-list-by-natasha-solomons.html"><b>Mr Rosenblum's List</b></a></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></b></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Précis Courtesy of Goodreads:</span></span></b></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915;">Was the greatest ever love story a lie?</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915;">The first time Romeo Montague sees young Rosaline Capulet he falls instantly in love.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915;">Rosaline, headstrong and independent, is unsure of Romeo's attentions but with her father determined that she join a convent, this handsome and charming stranger offers her the chance of a different life.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915;">Soon though, Rosaline begins to doubt all that Romeo has told her. She breaks off the match, only for Romeo's gaze to turn towards her cousin, thirteen-year-old Juliet. Gradually Rosaline realises that it is not only Juliet's reputation at stake, but her life.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915;">With only hours remaining before she will be banished behind the nunnery walls, will Rosaline save Juliet from her Romeo? Or can this story only ever end one way?</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915;">A subversive, powerful untelling of Shakespeare's best-known tale, narrated by a fierce, forgotten voice: this is Rosaline's story.</span><b><br /></b><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b></b><br /><b>Author Profile From Amazon: </b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> <img alt="Author Logo" class="square" data-feature="cf" data-testid="image" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/amzn-author-media-prod/m5b0lja6kiiob2h8p32skospnd._SX300_CR0%2C0%2C0%2C0_.jpg" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;" /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(55, 62, 62); color: #373e3e; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px 0px 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Thank so much for visiting my amazon page! Here are a few things about me. I've always worked as a writer more or less. After University I completed an MPhil in Eighteenth century literature at the University of Glasgow and then began a doctorate researching Women’s Romantic Poetry and the Domestic Muse.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(55, 62, 62); color: #373e3e; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px 0px 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Unfortunately, I became un-stuck on a chapter on Verse Letters and so began writing my first novel as way of avoiding correcting the footnotes. My entire career to date has been an extremely elaborate form of avoiding that tricky chapter… </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(55, 62, 62); color: #373e3e; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I still love research and writing immersive fiction and hate footnotes. I live in Dorset, in a thatched cottage with my husband -- the award winning children's writer David Solomons – and our children and Labrador, Mr Bingley. Sometimes David and I write screenplays together. Then we argue about them. </span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /><b></b><br /><b>Photograph and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:</b><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3161782.Natasha_Solomons">Goodreads Author Profile</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/natashasolomons">Twitter - Natasha Solomons</a>. <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B003AWC1MU/about">Amazon Author Profile</a><br /></span></b></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/natashasolomonsauthor/"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Instagram - Natasha Solomon's</span></b></a><br /></p>LindyLouMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282788551449445133noreply@blogger.com0Verona, VR, Italy45.438384199999987 10.991621517.128150363821142 -24.1646285 73.74861803617884 46.1478715tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934873530287535675.post-2233000940054827932023-09-07T18:12:00.000+02:002023-09-07T18:12:42.004+02:00It Ends at Midnight by Harriet Tyce<p><br /></p><p> <img class="ResponsiveImage" height="400" loading="eager" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1661349942i/62071383.jpg" width="266" /></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="color: #001000;"><span><b>Hardback</b><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>: </b>328 pages </span></span></span></span><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #001000; orphans: 2;"> </b></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Genre: </b>Psychological<b> </b>Fiction</span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>Publisher:</b> Wildfire, Headline 2022</span></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>Source: </b>Tywyn Public Library</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>Review Quote: </b></span></span></span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111;">Full of twists and turns. An unpredictable, unforgettable read. ― </span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-style: italic;">Woman's Weekly</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">First Sentences: </b><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">The fox hates fireworks. While they're going off, she'd rather keep herself hidden, </span></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">curled</span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span> up </span>in a<span> bush somewhere</span><span> quiet.</span></span></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; orphans: 2;"><b>My Opinion:</b> I have read and enjoyed both of Harriet Tyce's previous novels, so was keen to read 'It Ends At Midnight'. The level of suspense was such that I could not put it down and finished within a day!</span></p><p></p><div style="orphans: 2;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The main protagonist is Sylvie an ambitious young Barrister with her sights set on becoming a judge. The mystery revolves around a secret that Sylvie shares with her close friend Tess. Circumstances cause the secret and lies they have told for years to start to unravel. At times it does get rather dark and complex, but this is surely, in this case, what keeps the reader turning the pages.</span></div><div style="orphans: 2;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="orphans: 2;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Recommended to anyone that appreciates a well written psychological thriller.</span></div><div style="orphans: 2;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="orphans: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p><b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Previous Review: <a href="https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogspot.com/2020/04/blood-orange-by-harriet-tyce.html">Blood Orange</a> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3296931837">The Lies You told</a></span></span></b></p><p><b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Précis Courtesy of Goodreads:</span></span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /></b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">It's New Year's Eve and the stage is set for a lavish party in one of Edinburgh's best postcodes. It's a moment for old friends to set the past to rights - and move on. </span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The night sky is alive with fireworks and the champagne is flowing. But the celebration fails to materialise.</span></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Because someone at this party is going to die tonight.</span></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Midnight approaches and the countdown begins - but it seems one of the guests doesn't want a resolution.</span></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">They want revenge.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"></span><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"></b><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">Author Profile:</b><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><b></b><br /></span> <img alt="Harriet Tyce" itemprop="image" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1533048017p5/17596411.jpg" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><span face=""Amazon Ember", Ember, amazon_ember, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(55, 62, 62); color: #373e3e; white-space: pre-wrap;">Harriet Tyce was born and grew up in Edinburgh. She graduated from Oxford in 1994 with a degree in English Literature before gaining legal qualifications. She worked as a criminal barrister for ten years, leaving after having children. She completed an MA in Creative Writing – Crime Fiction at UEA where she wrote Blood Orange, the Sunday Times bestselling novel. It was followed by The Lies You Told, another Sunday Times bestseller. It Ends At Midnight has just been published to critical acclaim. She lives in north London with her family and two dogs. </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"></b><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"></span><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"></b><i style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"></i><u style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"></u><sub style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"></sub><sup style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"></sup><strike style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"></strike><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"></b><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">Photograph and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:</b><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"></span></b><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></b><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" /><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Harriet-Tyce/e/B07L7VCD5J?ref_=dbs_p_pbk_r00_abau_000000" style="text-decoration: none;">Amazon Author Page</a> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17596411.Harriet_Tyce" style="text-decoration: none;">Goodreads - Author Profile</a> <a href="https://www.harriettyceauthor.com/about" style="text-decoration: none;">Harriet Tyce - Author Offical Website</a></b><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" /><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></span><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><a href="https://twitter.com/harriet_tyce" style="text-decoration: none;">Twitter Account - Harriet Tyce</a>.</b></span><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/harriet_tyce/">Instagram - Harriet Tyce</a></b></span></p>LindyLouMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282788551449445133noreply@blogger.com0United Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597335.027777941917378 -38.592223000000004 75.72832405808262 31.720277000000006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934873530287535675.post-55043808962814106892023-09-06T14:01:00.000+02:002023-09-06T14:01:17.185+02:00A Secret Garden Affair by Erica James<p> </p><p> <img class="ResponsiveImage" loading="eager" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1677852783i/61424775.jpg" /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Hardback</b><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">: 405 pages</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Genre: </b>Romantic Fiction, Family Saga, Historical Fiction,</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Publisher:</b> Harper Collins 2023</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Source: </b> Tywyn Library</span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">First Sentence:</b><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> Libby Mortimer was not the running away sort, she really wasn't, but having been </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">given the</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> chance to escape London with all its cruel reminders of romantic </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">fairy-tale weddings, she couldn't get away fast enough.</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Setting: </b>Suffolk, England</span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b>Review Quote:</b> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">‘A wonderfully compelling family drama… Warm, escapist and utterly uplifting’ Sunday Express</span></span></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>My Opinion: </b> </span><span style="color: #444444; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Erica James is one of my long time favourite authors for a guaranteed agreeable read. Once again she has not disappointed me. ‘A Secret Garden Affair’ is a dual time-line story with delightful characters and a plot that draws the reader in immediately. Mainly set in an old Manor House with beautiful gardens of which the descriptions are wonderful. It is widely known among her fans that Erica James has a tremendous love of gardening. Her inspiration for this novel stemmed from curiosity about garden designers.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">The protagonists of the story are Elfrida, the owner of Larkspur House and a prestigious garden designer in her time. Bess her long time servant, friend and confidant and the latter’s great niece Libby. It is the stories of Elfrida and Bess in the past that in the eighties timeline come together, with so many enigmas which Libby discovers when past and present merge. Libby has grown up spending many happy times at Larkspur House as their guest and it seemed the obvious place to flee to when her heart is broken.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Highly recommended to lovers of romantic escapism at its best.</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Précis Courtesy of Goodreads: </span></b></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">July 1981. As the country prepares to celebrate Prince Charles’ wedding to Lady Diana, Libby wants to be as far away from royal wedding fever as possible.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Having caught her own fiancé in bed with her best friend just weeks before they were due to marry, she’s fled London for the comfort of the Suffolk countryside.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">At Larkspur House, with its magical garden created by renowned garden designer and one-time socialite Elfrida Ambrose, and its comfortingly familiar kitchen presided over by Libby’s great-aunt Bess, she hopes to find a way to put her life back together.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">But for lifelong friends Bess and Elfrida, Libby’s arrival has stirred up the ghosts of the past. And before they can help her rebuild her shattered future, they must confront their own unspoken secrets, lost loves, and tragedies…</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Author Profile: </b> </span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> <img alt="Erica James holding her novel, Gardens of Delight in one hand, and the Romantic Novelist of the Year award in the other hand." class="alignright wp-image-3718 size-large" height="213" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px" src="https://www.ericajames.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Erica-James-wins-Romantic-Novelist-of-the-Year-in-2006-560x372.jpg" srcset="https://www.ericajames.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Erica-James-wins-Romantic-Novelist-of-the-Year-in-2006-560x372.jpg 560w, https://www.ericajames.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Erica-James-wins-Romantic-Novelist-of-the-Year-in-2006-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.ericajames.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Erica-James-wins-Romantic-Novelist-of-the-Year-in-2006-768x511.jpg 768w, https://www.ericajames.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Erica-James-wins-Romantic-Novelist-of-the-Year-in-2006-272x182.jpg 272w, https://www.ericajames.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Erica-James-wins-Romantic-Novelist-of-the-Year-in-2006.jpg 1200w" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; background: white; border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px;" width="320" /> </span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> <b>Courtesy of Authors Website</b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">In the author's own words from her website.</span></b></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I grew up on the south coast of England with never a thought in my head as a child that I would one day be an author. But somehow, I’m now the author of twenty-four bestselling novels, with recent Sunday Times Top Ten bestsellers including Swallowtail Summer, Coming Home to Island House, Letters from the Past, and Mothers and Daughters. With sales of over five million around the world, including a No. 1 in Norway, I’m told that my books are loved by readers looking for beautifully drawn relationships, emotionally powerful storylines and evocative settings. </span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">In 2006 my novel Gardens of Delight won the Romantic Novel of the Year award and in 2020 I received the Nielsen Silver Award for sales of over a quarter of a million copies for both Love and Devotion and Tell it to the Skies. </span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I live in Suffolk and travel as often as time permits to see my eldest son and his family in the US and my youngest son in Japan.</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Photographs, Trailer and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:</span></b></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.ericajames.com/" style="text-decoration: none;">Erica James - Official Website</a>. <a href="https://www.ericajames.com/" style="text-decoration: none;">Erica James - Twitter</a>. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/the_ericajames/" style="text-decoration: none;">Instagram - Erica James</a><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15513.Erica_James" style="text-decoration: none;">Goodreads Author Profile</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Erica-James/e/B001HPGRUE/ref=aufs_dp_mata_dsk" style="text-decoration: none;">Erica James - Amazon Author Page</a>. <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Erica-James/e/B001HPGRUE/ref=aufs_dp_mata_dsk" style="text-decoration: none;">Erica James - Facebook</a></span></p>LindyLouMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282788551449445133noreply@blogger.com0Suffolk, UK52.1872472 0.9707800999999999223.877013363821156 -34.1854699 80.49748103617884 36.1270301tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934873530287535675.post-28558750709896225132023-08-31T19:24:00.000+02:002023-08-31T19:24:23.200+02:00Pitching Up by Deborah Aubrey<p> <img class="ResponsiveImage" loading="eager" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1677851550i/59530026.jpg" /></p><p><br /></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Paperback:</b> 331 pages </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444;">Genre:</b><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Humorous Contemporary Fiction</span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Publisher: </b>Independently Published 2021</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Source:</b> Tywyn Public Library</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444;"><b>First Sentences:</b></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> It suddenly occurred to Faye that she wasn't sure where they were headed. Brian had, of course, told her at </span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">some point but she hadn't paid much attention</span></span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444;">My Opinion:</b><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444;"> </b><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">I probably would not</span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> have picked this book to read, had it not been recommended by one of the </span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">librarians. A successful recommendation as I enjoyed it and found myself laughing out loud. A good laugh was just what I needed.</span></span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Basically a story about a weekend on a campsite in the Cotswolds, where the campers in residence were all looking for relaxation in their own way. However it turns into a camping trip like no other with some interesting and hilarious situations arising!</span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">I shall certainly be on the look out for the sequels. They say laughter is the best medicine and this really did deliver the laughs and will appeal to campers and non-campers alike.</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><dt style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table-cell; padding: 0.4rem 1.6rem 0.4rem 0px; width: 12.5rem;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b>Précis Courtesy of Goodreads: </b></span></span></dt><dd style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; display: table-cell; margin: 0px; padding: 0.4rem 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></b></span></dd><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">A thoroughly entertaining read with a wonderful cast of charismatic characters in caravans who romp from one dramatic catastrophe to another. Touching, captivating, and very, very funny.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">A group of strangers pitching up on a Cotswold caravan site, looking for rest and relaxation but instead encountering starvation, sleep deprivation, dehydration, motorbikers, drunken yummy-mummies, the police, shredded feet, unexpected nakedness, curries, the great loo run, and a line dancing barbecue. Oh, and the creepy guy in a tent at the bottom of the field.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">It was a camping trip like no other and it would change all their lives.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">A charismatic cast of characters that you’ll fall in love with. It’s about friendship, the kindness of campers, and the heart-warming humor of people getting on each other’s nerves.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">You’ll be so emotionally exhausted after reading this you’ll need a holiday to recover.</span></span></p><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Author Profile: </span></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b> </b></span><img alt="" class="_about-the-author-card_carouselItemStyles_authorImage__3jKLX" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/amzn-author-media-prod/ouvtnvb5sfblo7uv6cjegqv3dp._SY600_.jpg" width="308" /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(55, 62, 62); color: #373e3e; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px 0px 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Born and lives in Birmingham, UK. Whilst raising three sons I sold short stories to national magazines, including Woman’s Weekly, People’s Friend, Take a Break and, oddly, Motor Caravan World. I also ran a successful online blog, Brummie Blogs, for many years, and a weekly piece for the Sunday Mercury newspaper as Brummie Broad. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(55, 62, 62); color: #373e3e; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px 0px 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I've worked as a city centre secretary, personal assistant and 'temp', and utilise this vast experience in my writing (office staff of Birmingham, be afraid, be very afraid). I ran a transcription business at home for 16 years, before flinging caution to the wind to become a full-time writer.</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span id="quote_book_link_55934177" style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #444444;"></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><b>Photograph and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:</b></span></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B098THZH69/about">Amazon Author Page</a>. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21666360.Deborah_Aubrey">Goodreads Page</a>. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/debbie.aubreyauthor">Facebook - Debbie Aubrey - Author</a></span><br /></b></span></span></p>LindyLouMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282788551449445133noreply@blogger.com0Cotswold District, UK51.794968 -1.883893723.484734163821152 -37.0401437 80.10520183617885 33.2723563tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934873530287535675.post-87195827424304209992023-08-30T15:47:00.000+02:002023-08-30T15:47:11.727+02:00A History of Burning by Janika Oza<p> </p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> <img class="ResponsiveImage" loading="eager" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1661417267i/61941260.jpg" /></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Hardback:</b><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> 393 pages </span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Genre:</b> Historical Fiction </span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Publisher: </b>Chatto and Windus 2023</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Source:</b> Tywyn Public Library</span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">First Sentences:</b><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> The last day Pirbhai spent in Gujarat was ignited by a sun that could not last. The heat was a dry beast, scorching the fields yellow as gora hair.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b>Review Quote: </b></span><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">An ambitious, powerful read, it will transport you through time and across the globe, with a story that you won't forget ― Glamour, </span></span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>My Opinion:</b><b> </b></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">‘A History of Burning’ is a debut novel taking its inspiration from historical events in India, East Africa, England and Canada between 1898 and 1992. The author has obviously used her imagination, but has also done extensive research. Some events and chronology have been altered or compressed for the sake of the storyline. Wow, what a story!</span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">A multi generational family saga, following Pirbhai and his descendants, from the time Pirbhai, at just thirteen years of age is coerced into labouring on the railway in India. He meets and marries Sonal, and they have three daughters, Latika, Mayuri and Kiya. Parents, children and grandchildren disperse across the world as they flee the brutality of life in Uganda.</span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">A moving story full of trust and determination in the family’s ability to survive all that life throws at them. An ambitious intense novel that I can recommend to anyone that wants to learn more about this period in history from the Indian/Ugandan point of view.</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><dt style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); display: table-cell; font-weight: bold; padding: 0.4rem 1.6rem 0.4rem 0px; width: 12.5rem;"></dt><dd style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); display: table-cell; margin: 0px; padding: 0.4rem 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></dd><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Précis Courtesy of Goodreads: </b></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Tricked aboard a boat to East Africa, Pirbhai is only thirteen when he is forced by the British into labouring on the railway. Under sweltering heat, hungry and frightened, he commits a terrible act just to survive.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">He will never tell a soul, even when he meets Sonal, a fierce, loving woman with whom he starts a family in hope of a better life. But their granddaughters come of age in a divided nation. Latika falls headlong into the student protest movement, Mayuri's ambitions take her far from home, while Kiya's friendship with a Black Ugandan boy threatens them both.</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Finally forced to flee, the family scatters across the world. They take with them a favourite rolling pin, a handful of photos, and a secret - that one day, will help them find each other again.</span></span></p><div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><br />Author Profile: </b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span> </span><img alt="" fetchpriority="high" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/86674f_76839cbac60a4439a048ab123fc0da2e~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_666,h_866,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/86674f_76839cbac60a4439a048ab123fc0da2e~mv2.jpeg" style="height: 433px; object-fit: cover; object-position: 50% center; width: 333px;" /> </span></p><p class="font_7 wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: none; border: 0px; line-height: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: none; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: none; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="font_7 wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: none; border: 0px; line-height: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: none; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: none; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Janika Oza is a writer based in Toronto.</span></span></span></p><p class="font_7 wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: none; border: 0px; line-height: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="font_7 wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: none; border: 0px; line-height: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: none; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: none; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">She was the winner of a 2022 O. Henry Prize for Short Fiction and the 2020 Kenyon Review Short Fiction Contest. She has received fellowships and support from VONA, Tin House, One Story, the Millay Colony, the Toronto Arts Council, the Ontario Arts Council, and the Canada Council for the Arts. </span></span></span></p><p class="font_7 wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: none; border: 0px; line-height: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: none; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: none; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="font_7 wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: none; border: 0px; line-height: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: none; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: none; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Her debut novel, <span class="wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: none; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="wixui-rich-text__text" href="https://www.grandcentralpublishing.com/titles/janika-oza/a-history-of-burning/9781538724262/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="background: none; border: 0px; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span class="wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: none; border: 0px; font-style: italic; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A History of Burning</span></a></span>, was published in May 2023</span></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span><span id="quote_book_link_55934177" style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><b>Photograph and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:</b></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22660423.Janika_Oza">Goodreads Profile</a>. <a href="https://www.janikaoza.com/about">Janika Oza - Official Website</a>. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/o.janika/">Instagram Profile</a><br /></b></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><a href="https://twitter.com/JanikaOza"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Twitter Profile</span></b></a><br /></span></span></p>LindyLouMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282788551449445133noreply@blogger.com0India20.593684 78.96288-7.7165498361788458 43.80663 48.903917836178849 114.11913tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934873530287535675.post-79100194519774913822023-08-23T16:22:00.002+02:002023-08-23T16:24:11.141+02:00Promise Me by Jill Mansell<p><br /></p><p> <img class="ResponsiveImage" loading="eager" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1674589673i/61203325.jpg" /></p><p><br /></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><b>Hardback:</b> 391 pages </span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre:</b> Contemporary Romantic Fiction </span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><b>Publisher: </b>Headline 2023</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><b>Source:</b> Tywyn Public Library</span></p><p><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b>First Sentences:</b></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> 'How much?' The old man ahead</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> of Lou at the supermarket </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">checkouts was </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">glaring in disbelief at </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">the female</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> cashier.</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><b>Review Quote: </b><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17);">This heartwarming new read from the queen of the feelgood romcom is the perfect thing to curl up with on a wet afternoon ― </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); font-style: italic !important;">Good Housekeeping</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><b>My Opinion: </b> Jill Mansell has to be one of the most prolific writers of heart-warming love stories. By my count ‘Promise Me’ is her 34th, of which I have read just under half of them. The first one was back in 1998 and prior to this one, I was shocked to discover the last one was fifteen years ago. Yes I keep a record! I have no idea why it has been so long as I have always enjoyed her novels. On a recent visit to my local library I was delighted to find her latest novel and home it came with me.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">‘Promise Me’ finds Lou, recently made jobless and homeless accepting a live in housekeepers position for extremely grumpy Edgar in a beautiful Cotswold location. The storyline concentrates on the relationship between Lou and Edgar with plenty of other well portrayed characters introduced along with their own stories, that all link together to make for an uplifting read.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">A gentle and compassionate story, recommended for the feel good factor from one of the Queens of the genre.</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><dt style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); display: table-cell; padding: 0.4rem 1.6rem 0.4rem 0px; width: 12.5rem;"></dt><dd style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); display: table-cell; margin: 0px; padding: 0.4rem 0px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></dd><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><b>Précis Courtesy of Goodreads: </b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">One minute Lou is happily employed, with a perfect flat. The next, her home and job have gone. Suddenly she has to start over.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">The last thing Lou wants is to move to a tiny Cotswolds village. She certainly doesn't intend to work for curmudgeonly eighty-year-old Edgar Allsopp. But Edgar is about to make her the kind of promise nobody could ignore. In return, she secretly vows to help him fall in love with life again.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">Foxwell is also home to Remy, whose charm and charisma are proving hard to ignore. But Lou hasn't recovered from the last time she fell for a charmer. She needs a distraction - and luckily one's about to turn up.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">Secrets never stay hidden for long in Foxwell, nor are promises always kept. And no one could guess what lies ahead...</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><b><br />Author Profile:</b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></p><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"> <img alt="Jill Mansell" itemprop="image" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1272239183p5/23625.jpg" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" /><br /><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span id="quote_book_link_55934177" style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24);"></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24);">Jill Mansell lives with her partner and children in Bristol, and writes full time. Actually that’s not true; she watches TV, eats fruit gums, admires the rugby players training in the sports field behind her house, and spends hours on the internet marvelling at how many other writers have blogs. Only when she’s completely run out of displacement activities does she write.</span><br style="background-color: #fefdfa;" /><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><b>Photograph and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:</b></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Jill-Mansell/author/B001JS3W3O?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true">Amazon Author Page</a>. <a href="https://jillmansell.co.uk">Jill Mansell - Official Author Website </a> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/23625.Jill_Mansell">Goodreads Author Profile</a><br /></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/OfficialJillMansell">Facebook - Jill Mansell</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JillMansell">Twitter Profile</a>. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jillmansell/">Instagram Profile</a></span><br /></p>LindyLouMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282788551449445133noreply@blogger.com0Cotswold District, UK51.794968 -1.883893723.484734163821152 -37.0401437 80.10520183617885 33.2723563tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934873530287535675.post-91578427893602258012023-08-21T16:27:00.007+02:002023-08-21T16:35:32.363+02:00The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell<p> <img class="ResponsiveImage" height="400" loading="eager" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1673660015i/61028421.jpg" width="261" /></p><p><br /></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Paperback: </b> 431 pages </span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Genre: </b>Mystery,Thriller </span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Publisher:</b> Century, Penguin, Random House 2022</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Source:</b> Tywyn Public Library</span></p><p><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b>First Sentences:</b> 'Jason </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Mott?' 'Yes. Here. That's me.' I stare down at the young man who stands below ankle-deep in the mud of the banks of the Thames.</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Review Quote: </b><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17);">'A sheer </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17);">PLEASURE </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17);">to read' Harriet Tyce: Author</span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>My Opinion:</b> </span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I have been wanting to read this much anticipated sequel to ‘The Family Upstairs’ ever since I read it last year. Lisa Jewell is apparently not a fan of sequels so rarely writes them. Thankfully she decided to do so this time as she has produced a cracker of a continuation, tying up all the loose ends surrounding the Lamb family.</span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">A complicated plot with the children from the previous novel now grown up, but living with terrible mental scars from their childhood. Told over several timelines via the viewpoints of the main protagonists, Rachel, Lucy and Henry the story unfolds with an excellent finale.</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">A stand alone novel because the author provides references back to the prequel throughout. However I personally would recommend you read ‘The Family Upstairs’ first for a more rounded experience of this intense thriller. Highly recommend to fans of the genre.</span></p><dt style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); display: table-cell; padding: 0.4rem 1.6rem 0.4rem 0px; width: 12.5rem;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></dt><dd style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table-cell; margin: 0px; padding: 0.4rem 0px;"></dd><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Links to Previous Reviews:</b> <a href="https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogspot.com/2019/04/then-she-was-gone-by-lisa-jewell.html" style="text-decoration: none;">Then She Was Gone</a> <a href="https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogspot.com/2021/04/she-was-gone-by-lisa-jewell-paperback.html" style="text-decoration: none;">Watching You</a> <a href="https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-house-we-grew-up-in-by-lisa-jewell.html" style="text-decoration: none;">The House We Grew Up In.</a> <a href="https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-family-upstairs-by-lisa-jewell.html" style="text-decoration: none;">The Family Upstairs</a> <a href="https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogspot.com/2023/02/the-night-she-disappeared-by-lisa-jewell.html">The Night She Disappeared</a></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><br />Précis Courtesy of Goodreads: </b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">LONDON. Early morning, June 2019: on the foreshore of the river Thames, a bag of bones is discovered. Human bones.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">DCI Samuel Owusu is called to the scene and quickly sends the bag for forensic examination. The bones are those of a young woman, killed by a blow to the head many years ago.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">Also inside the bag is a trail of clues, in particular the seeds of a rare tree which lead DCI Owusu back to a mansion in Chelsea where, nearly thirty years previously, three people lay dead in a kitchen, and a baby waited upstairs for someone to pick her up.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">The clues point forward too to a brother and sister in Chicago searching for the only person who can make sense of their pasts.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">Four deaths. An unsolved mystery. A family whose secrets can't stay buried for ever ...</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><br />Author Profile:</b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></p><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/amzn-author-media-prod/1508ggif82n70aeuno8d5umcti._SX450_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="450" height="233" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/amzn-author-media-prod/1508ggif82n70aeuno8d5umcti._SX450_.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; background: repeat white; border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></div><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></p><p><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span id="quote_book_link_55934177" style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24);"></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;">Lisa Jewell is an internationally bestselling author of successful novels, including, Then She Was Gone, I Found You, The Girls in the Garden, and The House We Grew Up In. Her debut novel in 1998 Ralph’s Party, was an instant bestseller. In total, her novels have sold over 2 million copies across the English speaking world. Her work has also been translated into sixteen languages. Lisa lives in London with her husband and their two daughters.</span><br style="background-color: #fefdfa;" /><br style="background-color: #fefdfa;" /><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;">For more biographical information check out her </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/93504.Lisa_Jewell" style="background-color: #fefdfa; text-decoration: none;">Goodreads Profile</a><br style="background-color: #fefdfa;" /><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;">Photograph, Trailer and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites.</span><br style="background-color: #fefdfa;" /><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lisa-Jewell/e/B001IO9ULM?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_4&qid=1650017057&sr=1-4" style="text-decoration: none;">Amazon Author Page</a> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/LisaJewellofficial" style="background-color: #fefdfa; text-decoration: none;">Lisa Jewell - Official Facebook Page</a><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_Jewell" style="background-color: #fefdfa; text-decoration: none;">Wikipedia - Lisa Jewell</a><br style="background-color: #fefdfa;" /><br style="background-color: #fefdfa;" /><a href="https://twitter.com/lisajewelluk" style="background-color: #fefdfa; text-decoration: none;">Twitter Profile</a><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"> </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/93504.Lisa_Jewell" style="background-color: #fefdfa; text-decoration: none;">Goodreads Author Profile</a></span></p>LindyLouMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282788551449445133noreply@blogger.com0England, UK52.3555177 -1.174319724.045283863821155 -36.3305697 80.665751536178846 33.9819303tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934873530287535675.post-84045049402697868502023-08-19T17:49:00.000+02:002023-08-19T17:49:55.564+02:00The Officer's Wife by Catherine Law<p><br /></p><p> <img class="ResponsiveImage" loading="eager" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1679694255i/123800314.jpg" /></p><p><br /></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Paperback:</b> 311 pages</span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Genre:</b> Historical Fiction</span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Publisher: </b> Boldwood 2023</span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Source: </b> Tywyn Public Library </span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>First Sentence: </b>The beach was hers: the water, blue and wide, waves cresting in the salty air.</span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>My Opinion: </b></span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Catherine Law is a new author to me and I just happened to come across 'the Officer's Wife on</span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> a recent library visit. As someone who </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">swears</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> to never judge a book by its cover, I have to admit it was the cover that attracted me!</span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">A love story set in WWII England, where the protagonist Viv Miles, an </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">American Heiress newly arrived almost instantly falls in love. A whirlwind romance and a wartime marriage mean that Viv's life changes dramatically as she finds herself with many trials and tribulations to cope with. The coincidences within the story are central to Vivi having to find immense strength of character to enable her marriage to survive.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">If you are a fan of love stories set in WWII then this is one for you.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Précis Courtesy of Goodreads:</b> </span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">1939 - American heiress Vivi Miles falls for naval officer Nathan as soon as she arrives in England. And, under the threat of war, they marry in a whirlwind before he leaves to join his ship.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">When Nathan returns from Dunkirk injured, he is distant, aloof, and no longer the man Vivi fell in love with. But it's not just because of his brutal experiences of war. Nathan has a secret and Vivi suspects it's linked to the mysterious evacuee at the secluded house in the woods on his Kent estate.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">As war continues to rage, Vivi battles her own grief and loneliness, and tries to find out the truth of the girl's identity, uncovering a scandal from the past.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">Is her love for Nathan strong enough to survive?</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><b>Author Profile</b></span><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> </span><img alt="Author Logo" class="square" data-feature="cf" data-testid="image" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/amzn-author-media-prod/c57073cv9b5of0kj81747vl2jc._SX300_CR0%2C0%2C0%2C0_.jpg" /></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> <span style="caret-color: rgb(55, 62, 62); white-space: pre-wrap;">CATHERINE LAW was born in Harrow, Middlesex, in 1965 she now lives ten minutes from the sea in Margate. She started her career as a secretary at the BBC in the days of manual typewriters and carbon copies before moving into the world of glossy magazines, where she worked as a sub editor for over 30 years. And, ever since she was a little girl, she’s had her nose in a book and scribbled stories.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(55, 62, 62); white-space: pre-wrap;">Her novels are set in the first half of the 20th century, in and around the First and Second World Wars, inspired by the tales our mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers tell us, and the secrets they keep.</span> </span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Photo and words courtesy of Amazon and Goodreads</b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:</b></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B0034PD2H6?ingress=0&visitId=392bda48-329b-45eb-b415-c63894f18d55&store_ref=ap_rdr&ref_=ap_rdr">Amazon Author Profile</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/AuthorCathLaw">Twitter Profile</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/catherinelawbooks">Catherine Law Books - Facebook</a><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/catherinelawauthor/">Instagram Profile</a>. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18027925.Catherine_Law">Goodreads Author</a></span><br /></p>LindyLouMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282788551449445133noreply@blogger.com0Kent, UK51.2787075 0.5217254000000001222.968473663821158 -34.6345246 79.588941336178848 35.6779754tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934873530287535675.post-65294569426363721252023-08-14T18:49:00.000+02:002023-08-14T18:49:17.714+02:00The Pavilion in the Clouds by Alexander McCall Smith<p> </p><p> <img class="ResponsiveImage" height="400" loading="eager" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1653237489i/61146115.jpg" width="260" /></p><p><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></b></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444;"><b>Paperback:</b> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444;"> 245 pages</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Genre:</b> Historical Fiction</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Publisher: </b>Polygon 2021</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Source: </b> Tywyn Library - Book Club Choice</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444;"><b>First Sentence: </b>This began in 1938, in what was then </span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Ceylon, in a bungalow halfway up a hill.</span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b>Review Quote: </b> </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111;">'</span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17);">The ever fecund Alexander McCall Smith continues to surprise as well as please... This is one of the most enjoyable of his many enjoyable novels'. </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17);">Allan Massie ― The Scotsman</span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">My Opinion: </b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">'The Pavilion in the Clouds' is a stand alone novel from the prolific author </span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Alexander</span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> McCall Smith. Most well known I </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">believe</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> for his series 'The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency' of which I have only ever read the first one back in 1998 when it was published. I doubt </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">therefore that if this title had not been our Book Club Choice this month that I would have read it. The Sri Lankan (still Ceylon at the time)and St Andrews settings both appealed to me and the author creates the atmosphere of the locations perfectly.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">The storyline hinges around three females, Bella Ferguson, Virginia Ferguson and Lavender White. Bella is the young daughter of the tea plantation owner, where the story is set, and his wife Virginia. The latter's strained relationship with Bella's governess Lavender causes tensions and misunderstandings between the three of them.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">An easy gentle read about the dramatic tensions that rise and surround life in the colonies. Worth a read if you have an interest in this period.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Précis Courtesy of Goodreads: </span></b></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">It is 1938 and the final days of the British Empire. In a bungalow high up in the green hills above the plains of Ceylon, under a vast blue sky, live the Ferguson family: Bella, a precocious eight-year-old, her father Henry – owner of Pitlochry, a tea plantation – and her mother Virginia. The story centres around the Pavilion in the Clouds, nestled in idyllic grounds carved out of the wilderness. But all is not as serene as it seems. Bella is suspicious of her governess Miss White’s intentions. Her intuition sparks off her mother’s imagination, and, after an unfortunate series of events, a confrontation results in a gunshot ringing out through the valley.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">Years later, Bella, now living back in Scotland at university in St Andrews, is faced, once again, with her past. Will she at last find out what happened between her father and Miss White? And will the guilt she has lived with all these years be reconciled by a long-overdue apology?</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><b>Author Profile</b></span><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> <img alt="Alexander McCall Smith" class="a-dynamic-image" data-a-dynamic-image="{}" data-a-image-name="primaryAuthorImage" height="200" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61ij24jDDnL._SX450_.jpg" width="134" /> </span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24);">Alexander McCall Smith is the author of the international phenomenon </span><em style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24);">The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series</em><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24);">, the </span><em style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24);">Isabel Dalhousie Series</em><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24);">, the </span><em style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24);">Portuguese Irregular Verbs series</em><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24);">, and the </span><em style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24);">44 Scotland Street series</em><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24);">. He is professor emeritus of medical law at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and has served on many national and international bodies concerned with bioethics. He was born in what is now known as Zimbabwe and he was a law professor at the University of Botswana. He lives in Edinburgh Scotland, married to a doctor and has two daughters. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #444444;">Photo and words courtesy of Amazon and </span><span style="color: #444444;">Goodreads</span></span></b></p><p><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:</span></b></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B001BOPZXG?_encoding=UTF8&node=266239&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=author-sidecar-rank&page=1&langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader">Amazon Author Page</a>. <a href="https://www.alexandermccallsmith.co.uk/biography/">Authors Official Website - Biography</a>. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=alexander%20mccall%20smith">Facebook Profile</a><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><a href="https://twitter.com/McCallSmith"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Twitter Profile</span></a><br /></p>LindyLouMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282788551449445133noreply@blogger.com0Sri Lanka7.8730539999999989 80.771796999999992-20.437179836178846 45.615546999999992 36.183287836178842 115.92804699999999