If Only I Could Tell You by Hannah Beckerman

 

‘If Only I Could Tell You’ is not a novel that I can say I enjoyed, as it is about a family that face one tragedy after another, quite harrowing. There is absolutely nothing positive about it and I found it an upsetting read. I am glad that I did read it, but had I realised in advance just how tragic it was I may not have done.

Told from the perspective of each of the three main characters, Audrey and her daughters Jess and Lily. The storyline is very traumatic as not only has Audrey been diagnosed with terminal cancer, but also her daughters have been estranged for many years. Their children are not even allowed to meet up with each other. Audrey’s last wish is that her family should be reconciled before her death.

Well written and worth reading if you feel you can cope with the reality and tragedy.

The Missing Sister by Dinah Jefferies

Dinah Jefferies is a favourite author of mine because she transports me to locations that come alive on the page. 'The Missing Sister' is a poignant story, set in Burma, which felt particularly genuine to me. Probably because I have had the good fortune to have travelled to this very special country, now known as Myanmar. The writing is so realistic and atmospheric that I felt I was there.

Belle Hatton, the protagonist has taken a job in a nightclub there, with the ulterior motive of investigating the disappearance of her sister in Burma some twenty five years previously. The story is very emotional and complex, with plenty of intrigue to keep the reader guessing.

Dinah Jefferies has written another novel that is so evocative in terms of period and place that I would recommend it to fans of historical romantic fiction.

Coming Home to Island House by Erica James

I have been reading and enjoying the novels of Erica James since 1996. I therefore consider myself a long-time fan of her style of escapism. Heart-warming, romantic stories which often tend to be emotional roller coasters. 

‘Coming Home to Island House’ is no exception, with a period story, set just prior to the start of World War II, which is full of engaging characters. Island House is the family home of Jack Devereux and it here that he and his wife a successful author, Romily Temple, are when he is taken ill in the summer of 1939.  His estranged family are summoned home and discover after his death that to meet the terms of his will, they must reconcile their differences. Far from an easy ask for siblings that have spent a lifetime not getting on, plus discovering they now have a stepmother!  A family divided but united by the trials and tribulations they face as they suffer heartbreak and loss thanks to the horrors of war. 

 In conclusion this is a heart rending story with great character portrayals. Recommended for those that enjoy escapism, plus with this novel a good sense of historical background.

The Sapphire Widow by Dinah Jefferies

 

                                    

I enjoy the writing of Dinah Jefferies and I am catching up with her back catalogue at the moment, she provides escapism and transports me to another world.

This time to Ceylon in the nineteen thirties with a story of hope and love after a shocking betrayal. The settings are vividly described and the reader is transported to the ramparts of Galle and the cinnamon plantation in the hills.

The protagonist Louisa Reeve is The Sapphire Widow of the title, the daughter of a gem trader. Her businessman husband Elliot dies suddenly in mysterious circumstances and she discovers that her marriage was not as happy as he led her to believe. 

Dinah Jefferies obviously puts a lot of effort into her research and her novels are always wonderfully evocative of the places and period she is writing about Recommended to anyone who is a fan of historical romantic fiction and those that enjoy learning more about life in exotic locations.