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BLOG TOUR REVIEW: The Saturday Place by Alice Peterson

Published March 14th, 2024 by Bedford Square Publishers
Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for the delightful The Saturday Place. Thank you Bedford Square Publishers for the invitation to take part in the blog tour and the gifted copy of the book.

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SYNOPSIS:

‘Uplifting, heartwarming and mouth-watering, The Saturday Place is the kind of book we all need now. A tale of friendship and food, it’s bursting with optimism and love. Charming.’ Veronica Henry, author of The Secret Beach

‘A tender story of hope, friendship and the power of community.’ – Emily Houghton, author of Before I Saw You

‘A warm, wise and really special book… I absolutely loved it.’ – Katy Regan, author of Little Big Love

Three perfect strangers who help each other to believe in love again

Holly’s husband died, and she’s lonely. She needs to do something to save herself, quickly. Next thing she knows she’s interviewing for a voluntary cooking job, surprised to be ambushed by a scruffy man who looks like he has a past.

Angus has messed up. He’s lost the respect of his family and has none for himself. If it weren’t for his brother and friend who run the café, he’d be sleeping on the streets. Angus is about ready to give up – until he meets Holly, who sparks something in him.

Then Lauren arrives from the homeless shelter. She came to London with nothing but an old train ticket, a teddy bear, and the clothes on her back. With no family, no home, no friends, she doesn’t know what love is. People scare her. She’s terrified of Angus and Holly. At first.

Each of them finds themselves in the Saturday café at a time when they need something to grab hold of. It might have to be each other…

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MY REVIEW:

“I didn’t appreciate fully, back then, that we can make plans, we can map out our lives, but often fate has other ideas.”

Holly has been adrift ever since the death of her beloved husband, Jamie. She is lonely and needs to find herself again, so she volunteers at Soul Food, a Saturday cafe that caters to those in need. It is there that she meets Angus and Lauren, two other lost souls looking to rebuild their lives again. The three of them become close and form an unlikely trio, helping each other learn to live and believe in love again. 

The Saturday Place is a gorgeous slice of life book full of heart, hope and healing. A story about how we may make plans but life has plans of its own that we can’t control. A story that reminds us of the importance of purpose, belonging, community and friendship. Alice Peterson explores topics such as grief, trauma and mental health with sensitivity and there’s a tender and compelling atmosphere that lingers over the pages. I lost myself in the story and didn’t want to put it down. 

“Sometimes it’s important to remind myself how lucky I am”

I think a big part of what makes this book so special is the characters. Peterson has created a cast of realistic and relatable characters who it is impossible not to love. You will cry, laugh and rage with them. But most of all you will be rooting for them as they rebuild themselves and their lives among their heartache. It was inspiring and really makes you appreciate the things you have in life. 

Uplifting, emotional, endearing and delightful, The Saturday Place is a comforting story that will stay with me. Highly recommended. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

From Amazon:
I have published two non-fiction books, and ten novels, including the critically acclaimed A Song for Tomorrow, and my bestselling title, Monday to Friday Man. My latest novel, The Saturday Place, will be published by Bedford Square Publishers in March, 2024.

My writing is romantic, powerful and emotional, and my storylines always include hard-hitting and thought-provoking themes, such as addiction and disability. My next novel touches on homelessness. My protagonists often have to overcome adversity, based on my own experience of a professional tennis career cut short at the age of 18 when I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. I have never played tennis again, a sadness that will always be with me, but I have very much filled that void with writing. I am drawn to true stories and aim to write with deep compassion, empathy and humour about issues that resonate with my growing readership and that I believe have the potential of reaching and touching millions more.

I live in west London where I am currently training to be a psychotherapist. My most favourite thing is walking my best buddy, my handsome Lucas Terrier, Mr Darcy, in the park.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Bookshop.org* | Amazon*
*All these links are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers taking part in the blog tour.

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2024 Squadpod Squadpod Recommends Squadpod Reviews Uncategorised

SQUADPOD REVIEWS: Small Hours by Bobby Palmer

Published March 14th, 2024 by Headline
Literary Fiction, Contemporary Fantasy, Contemporary Fiction

Today I’m sharing my review for the mesmerising Small Hours, which is one of this month’s SquadPod Featured Books. Thank you to Headline for sending me a proof in exchange for an honest review.

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SYNOPSIS:

‘Powerful’ JOANNA GLEN
‘Beautiful’ KATE SAWYER
‘A triumph’ JENNIE GODFREY

The eagerly awaited new novel from Bobby Palmer, author of the critically acclaimed debut Isaac and the Egg.

If you stood before sunrise in this wild old place, looking through the trees into the garden, here’s what you’d see:

A father and son, a fox standing between them.

Jack, home for the first time in years, still determined to be the opposite of his father.

Gerry, who would rather talk to animals than the angry man back under his roof.

Everything that follows is because of the fox, and because Jack’s mother is missing. It spans generations of big dreams and lost time, unexpected connections and things falling apart, great wide worlds and the moments that define us.

If you met them in the small hours, you’d begin to piece together their story.

‘A magical, comforting read that touches on father-son relationships, male mental health and the healing power of nature’ GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

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MY REVIEW:

“Things aren’t set in stone. The smallest creatures undergo the greatest transformations. We are all of us, always, in flux.”

He’s done it again! Just like Bobby Palmer’s extraordinary debut, Isaac and the Egg, Small Hours is a literary masterpiece.  Mesmerising and poignant, this book was like a balm for the soul that wrapped me up in a warm hug as I read. Told in lyrical, melodic prose, I was transfixed and lost myself in its pages. I never wanted it to end but also didn’t want to put it down. 

Small Hours is a story about a father, a son, and a fox. A story about family, estrangement, loss, grief, mental health, disillusionment, and new beginnings. Through Jack and Gerry’s strained relationship Palmer explores the father/son relationship from both sides. These characters are like chalk and cheese, and while I loved reading them both, I will admit that it was Gerry I had the softest spot for. Gerry is struggling with a memory problem that is never identified, but seemed to me to be like dementia and it was heartbreaking to read as he tried to grasp at disappearing memories or wandered through the world with no idea where he was or what was going on. Palmer’s research is clear in Gerry’s behaviours and thoughts. 

“Did other people find it easy? To ask things, to say things out loud? To grab the stalks of the thoughts in your head and to pull up their roots, to bring them out of the soil and into her sunlight?” 

Seamlessly blending literary fiction with fantasy, Palmer has taken the world we know and sprinkled in a little magic in order to help us understand ourselves and those around us a little better. It is so well done that I never once questioned that there was a talking fox or that the story was set in reality. I loved how Jack found a friend and confidant in the fox, and reading their scenes were some of my favourite parts of the story. Palmer’s decision to write the inner monologues of the humans and the fox in disjointed, poetic verses that mirror the way our own thoughts take shape was a stroke of genius. It added to the feeling of authenticity and made me feel like I was really getting a glimpse into their thoughts.

Soulful, uplifting, moving, and original, Small Hours is one of the most beautiful stories I have ever read and it will stay with me long after turning the final page. This is one of those books that you have to experience for yourself and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

BOBBY PALMER is an author and journalist whose writing has appeared in GQ, Esquire, Men’s Health, Cosmopolitan and more. He is co-host of the literary podcast BOOK CHAT with Pandora Sykes.

His debut novel, ISAAC AND THE EGG, was an instant Saturday Times bestseller, selling 50,000 copies in its first year of publication. A Prima and Woman & Home ‘Best Book of 2022’, the novel appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Open Book, featured as Guardian ‘Audiobook of the Week’, and was chosen by Dawn O’Porter as part of her ‘Dawn Loves’ book club with WHSmith.

Bobby’s second novel, SMALL HOURS, will publish in March 2024.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Bookshop.org* | Amazon*
*These links are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxx

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

Book Review: Idol by Louise O’Neill

Published May 12th, 2022 by Bantam Press
General Fiction, Thriller

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SYNOPSIS:


‘Follow your heart and speak your truth.’

For Samantha Miller’s young fans – her ‘girls’ – she’s everything they want to be. She’s an oracle, telling them how to live their lives, how to be happy, how to find and honour their ‘truth’.

And her career is booming: she’s just hit three million followers, her new book Chaste has gone straight to the top of the bestseller lists and she’s appearing at sell-out events.

Determined to speak her truth and bare all to her adoring fans, she’s written an essay about her sexual awakening as a teenager, with her female best friend, Lisa. She’s never told a soul but now she’s telling the world. The essay goes viral.

But then – years since they last spoke – Lisa gets in touch to say that she doesn’t remember it that way at all. Her memory of that night is far darker. It’s Sam’s word against Lisa’s – so who gets to tell the story? Whose ‘truth’ is really a lie?

‘You put yourself on that pedestal, Samantha. You only have yourself to blame.’

Riveting, compulsive and bold, IDOL interrogates our relationship with our heroes and explores the world of online influencers, asking how well we can ever really know those whose carefully curated profiles we follow online. And it asks us to consider how two memories of the same event can differ, and how effortlessly we choose which stories to believe.

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MY REVIEW:

Dark, unflinching, cryptic and compelling, Idol is an exploration of image, social media, our relationship with our idols, and the nature of truth and memory. The story centres around Samantha Miller, a social media influencer and lifestyle guru with three million followers that hang on her every word who has built a business empire on a foundation of encouraging positivity, being your best self, and her recovery from sexual assault and addiction. To promote her new number one book Sam writes an essay talking about her teenage sexual awakening with her best friend, Lisa. Until now she hadn’t told a soul and after the essay goes viral Sam learns that Lisa doesn’t remember the night like she does. As her reputation crumbles and she teeters on the brink of losing everything, Sam heads back to her hometown to try and convince Lisa to tell the truth. But which woman’s version is actually the truth?

Louise O’Neill has knocked it out of the park again with this thought-provoking and intelligent thriller. Skillfully written, intricately woven and cleverly plotted, I was not prepared for the bumpy ride this was about to take me on. This is one of those books where you are never quite sure what is real and what isn’t, who is a reliable character, and what is going to happen next. Sam is a very dislikeable protagonist. She’s self-centred, vain, image-obsessed and insecure. Even learning of her difficult past and the damage it has caused didn’t endear her to me and I never knew if I could trust her. This climate of distrust added to the feeling of suspicion and tension that ran throughout the story and I could never quite figure out what had really happened that night between Sam and Lisa. Every time I thought I’d got it figured out another twist would turn everything on its head, and my jaw hit the floor when everything was finally revealed.

O’Neill examines a variety of timely topics in this book, including the world of influencers and the disparity between the carefully curated social media posts and their real lives. She also explores truth and memory, asking if there is really only one ‘truth’? Or does the ‘truth’ depend on our perspective? And if two people remember the same event differently, does that mean there is more than one ‘truth’? It’s an unnerving thought as we like to believe that truth is finite rather than determined by perspective. Another topic she looks at is the stories we tell and what we choose to believe. We’ve all heard the saying ‘if you tell yourself a lie enough times you believe it’. But what does it actually mean if a person tells themselves a lie enough times that they become convinced it is real? And how does that affect those around them? I thought the way O’Neill explored this was particularly clever, though I won’t give any more detail to avoid spoilers.

Bold, twisty, topical and totally riveting, Idol is a brilliant thriller that I highly recommend.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Louise O’ Neill is from Clonakilty, in west Cork. After graduating with a BA in English Studies at Trinity College Dublin, she went on to complete a post-grad in Fashion Buying at DIT. Having spent a year in New York working for Kate Lanphear, the senior Style Director of ELLE magazine, she returned home to Ireland to write her first novel.
She went from hanging out on set with A-list celebrities to spending most of her days in pyjamas while she writes, and has never been happier.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Bookshop.org* | Amazon*
*These links are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Audio Books Beat the Backlist book reviews

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Daughters of Night by Laura Shepherd-Robinson

Published February 18th, 2021 by Mantle
Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Historical Mystery, Women Sleuths

Thank you to Mantle Books for my proof copy of this book.

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SYNOPSIS:

‘The best historical crime novel I will read this year’ – The Times

‘This is right up there with the best of C. J. Sansom and Andrew Taylor’ – Amanda Craig, author of The Golden Rule

From the pleasure palaces and gin-shops of Covent Garden to the elegant townhouses of Mayfair, Laura Shepherd-Robinson’s Daughters of Night follows Caroline Corsham as she seeks justice for a murdered woman whom London society would rather forget . . .

London, 1782. Desperate for her politician husband to return home from France, Caroline ‘Caro’ Corsham is already in a state of anxiety when she finds a well-dressed woman mortally wounded in the bowers of the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. The Bow Street constables are swift to act, until they discover that the deceased woman was a highly paid prostitute, at which point they cease to care entirely. But Caro has motives of her own for wanting to see justice done, and so sets out to solve the crime herself. Enlisting the help of thieftaker Peregrine Child, their inquiry delves into the hidden corners of Georgian society, a world of artifice, deception and secret lives.

But with many gentlemen refusing to speak about their dealings with the dead woman, and Caro’s own reputation under threat, finding the killer will be harder, and more treacherous, than she can know . . .

‘Spectacularly brilliant . . . One of the most enjoyable and enduring stories I have ever read’ – James O’Brien, journalist, author and LBC Presenter

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MY REVIEW:

“In the wrong hands, a secret is a weapon.”

Atmospheric and absorbing, this riveting historical crime story opens on a dark night in Georgian London when Caroline ‘Caro’ Corsham finds the bloodied and mortally wounded body of a woman she knows as Lucia, an Italian Contessa. Lucia’s fingers find Caro’s, she gazes into her eyes, and with her last breath she whispers, ‘He knows’. The police are initially quick to investigate but drop the case when they discover that Lucia is in fact Lucy Loveless, a highly paid prostitute. Caro is incensed. So, with the help of  thieftaker Peregrine Child, she sets out to solve the crime. Their investigation leads them into the darkest corners of Georgian society and gentlemen who refuse to talk for fear of sullying their reputation. Can Caro and Perry find the killer before they too are silenced?

Daughters of Night has been sitting on my shelf ever since I received the proof in early 2021 and I am so glad I finally got around to reading it. Laura Shepherd-Robinson is an exquisite storyteller, bringing Georgian London and its dark, shadowy underbelly to life in vivid detail. Her research is evident in the authenticity that runs throughout the book, making me feel like I’d been transported back in time. Exploring topics such as shame, lack of female agency, and the unrelenting exploitation and abuse of women, Shepherd-Robinson writes with compassion, but there is also a brutal honesty, and some of the scenes in this book are not for the faint hearted. 

The huge cast of characters felt reminiscent of Dickens which added to the authentic historic feel. The richly drawn and varied cast of characters leaped from the pages and I connected quickly with Caro and young Pamela, the latter breaking my heart in every scene. Evocatively narrated, I lost myself in the elaborate and intricate plot, my heart pounding as the mystery deepened and the many threads began to weave together to finally reveal the full shocking picture. 

A tense, gripping and intriguing historical mystery that is a must-read for anyone who enjoys this genre. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Laura Shepherd-Robinson was born in Bristol in 1976. She has a BSc in Politics from the University of Bristol and an MSc in Political Theory from the London School of Economics.

Laura worked in politics for nearly twenty years before re-entering normal life to complete an MA in Creative Writing at City University. She lives in London with her husband, Adrian.

Blood & Sugar, her first novel, won the Historical Writers’ Association Debut Crown and the Specsaver’s Debut Crime Novel award, was a Waterstones Thriller of the Month, and a Guardian and Telegraph novel of the year. It was also shortlisted for the Crime Writers’ Association John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger and the Sapere Historical Dagger; the Amazon Publishing/Capital Crime Best Debut Novel; and the Goldsboro Glass Bell; and longlisted for the Theakston’s Crime Novel of the Year.

Her second novel, Daughters of Night, was been shortlisted for the Theakston’s Crime Novel of the Year, the Goldsboro Glass Bell, the Capital Crime Fingerprint Historical Novel Award and the Historical Writers’ Association Gold Crown, longlisted for the Crime Writers’ Association Gold Dagger and was a Book of the Year in The Times, The i, and the Guardian.

Her third novel, The Square of Sevens, is a Sunday Times bestseller and available from all good bookshops now.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Bookshop.org* | Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Squadpod Book Club

SQUADPOD BOOK CLUB: The Lagos Wife by Vanessa Walters

Published February 29th, 2024 by Hutchinson Heinmann
Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Crime Fiction

Welcome to my review for the SquadPod Book Club book for March. Thank you Hutchinson Heinmann for sending me a proof copy.

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SYNOPSIS:

‘I was hooked right through to the shocking end’ BERNARDINE EVARISTO

‘An excellent read’ GUARDIAN

‘Beautifully written, immersive, thought-provoking’ MARIAN KEYES

‘Obsessed’ KERRY WASHINGTON

‘A shimmering success’ DIANA EVANS

THE PERFECT WIFE. THE PERFECT MURDER.

Nicole Oruwari has the perfect life: a handsome husband, a palatial house in the heart of Lagos and a glamorous group of friends. She left London and a troubled family past behind to become part of a community of expat wives.

But when Nicole disappears without a trace after a boat trip, the cracks in her so-called perfect life start to show. As the investigation turns up nothing but dead ends, her aunt Claudine flies to Nigeria to take matters into her own hands. As she digs into her niece’s life, she uncovers a hidden truth. But the more she finds out about Nicole, the more Claudine’s own buried history threatens to come to light.

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MY REVIEW:

“Shine your eyes. Nothing here is as it seems”

Nicole Oruwari left London to live in Nigeria with her husband, Tonye, and their two young sons. The glamorous couple seem to have it all and enjoy a privileged life until Nicole disappears one day following a boat trip. When the investigation provides no answers her estranged aunt, Claudine, flies to Lagos to search for the niece she raised like a daughter. But with the Oruwari family and their friends more concerned about their reputations than helping find Nicole, Claudine faces an uphill battle for answers. 

The SquadPod Book Club book this month transports us to the sandy shores of Lagos, immersing us in a compelling dual timeline mystery that is scattered with secrets and brimming with suspense. Multifaceted, rich with detail, and well-written, Vanessa Walters has drawn on her own experiences to offer us a glimpse inside the lives of the wealthy Nigerwives and exposes the murky world that lies beneath the glitz and glamour of the Nigerian elite. An ominous prologue sets the tense and forbidding tone of the story. But don’t expect quick answers as Walters makes the reader sweat, keeping them on tenterhooks from start to finish. I could never be sure where things were heading and every time I thought I knew she would surprise me with a curveball that took it in an unexpected direction. And that ending! OMG. I was NOT prepared. 

“You may not set out to end up disempowered, but perhaps one day you just wake up, and it’s too late; you’ve already got nothing.”

The story is narrated by Nicole and Claudine, moving seamlessly between multiple timelines as it dives deeper into their lives and unearths the secrets hidden there. We discover lives affected by trauma that left scars but also built resilience. Their emotions leap from the pages, with Claudine’s story being particularly powerful and moving. Walters also examines a number of different issues such as marriage, infidelity, motherhood, privilege, cultural isolation, post colonialism, trauma, racism and female agency. These are told through a lens I knew nothing about and it was fascinating to see these issues from a new perspective and learn more about life and cultural expectations in Nigeria. We all need a support network, so I understood why the foreign wives created theirs. The Nigerwives become almost like a surrogate family for one another, helping the women through everything from adjusting to their new home to escaping their husbands if they are abused, and being away from their own family the women are particularly vulnerable to domestic abuse. 

“Lagos was a strange place where friends and even family members lied about travel plans in case it led to them being kidnapped. Sometimes people concealed pregnancies or other exciting news for fear of spiritual sabotage. Also, keeping up appearances was paramount. People performed fake happiness on social media with loving photos and captions, showing off their holidays and material possessions. Didn’t she do the same thing?”

The setting for this story is so important that it is like a character in its own right. Life in Lagos is unique and completely different to what we know here in England. It is a conservative and Muslim country where single women are viewed with distrust, marriage gives you automatic respect, where the battle for women is feminism not racism, and the fear of kidnapping is very real. Walters explores this patriarchal and misogynistic society in detail, helping the reader understand the challenges faced by not only Nicole and Claudine, but even men such as Tonye, who live their lives constrained by tradition and fear of shame no matter their privilege. For me, these obstacles only made Claudine’s actions braver as she refused to acquiesce to their attempts at hushing up Nicole’s disappearance or stop searching for answers and I was rooting for her at every step.

A fascinating, intelligent and thought-provoking debut that I’d recommend. Add this to your TBR now!

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Vanessa Walters was born and raised in London and has a background in international journalism and playwriting and is a Tin House resident and a Millay Colony resident. She is the author of two previous YA books and The Nigerwife.

She currently lives in Brooklyn.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Bookshop.org* | Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxxx

Categories
book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2024

BOOKBREAK BOOK CLUB: The Women by Kristin Hannah

Published February 15th, 2024 by Pan Macmillan
Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Medical Fiction, War Story

Happy International Women’s Day! To celebrate, I’m sharing my review of the phenomenal The Women. Thank you to BookBreak for the invitation to take part in this book club, and to BookBreak and Pan Macmillan for the copy of the book.

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SYNOPSIS:

Soon to be a major motion picture!

‘Astonishing. Compelling. Powerful’ – Delia Owens, bestselling author of Where the Crawdads Sing

‘Stuns with sacrifice. Uplifts with heroism’ – Bonnie Garmus, bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry

‘Powerful’ – Matt Haig, bestselling author of The Midnight Library

From the worldwide bestselling author of The Four Winds, The Nightingale and Firefly Lane (a Number One series on Netflix),The Women is a story of devastating loss and epic love.

It would be the journey of a lifetime . . .

‘Women can be heroes, too’. When twenty-year-old nursing student, Frances “Frankie” McGrath, hears these unexpected words, it is a revelation. Raised on California’s idyllic Coronado Island and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing, being a good girl. But in 1965 the world is changing, and she suddenly imagines a different path for her life. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she impulsively joins the Army Nurses Corps and follows his path.

As green and inexperienced as the young men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction of war, as well as the unexpected trauma of coming home to a changed America. Frankie will also discover the true value of female friendship and the heartbreak that love can cause.

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MY REVIEW:

“Women can be heroes,too…The idea of it was like an earthquake, an upending of her sheltered view of the world, of herself.”

Oh, my heart. This is how you write historical fiction. Phenomenal, breathtaking and immersive, this book stole my heart, broke it, and then pieced it back together. And when I was finished it left a part of itself behind in my soul forever. It is truly a masterpiece.

The Women is a story of friendship, love, self-discovery and war that is told by Frankie, a twenty-year-old nurse from California who joins the Army Nurse Corps and goes to serve in war-torn Vietnam. At first she is overwhelmed by the stark and horrific reality of the conflict, but with the help of her new friends, Ethel and Barb, Frankie soon adjusts and becomes one of the best combat nurses in the field. But when she returns to the US after her service, Frankie no longer recognises herself of her country and finds herself facing a new battle. One that she will need the help of those around her to win. 

Kristin Hannah is an author who has been on my radar for many years. I own almost all of her books but have somehow never got around to reading any of them. So when I was offered the chance to read her latest book with the BookBreak book club I jumped at the chance. Why did I leave Hannah’s books languishing on my shelves for so long? I have to prioritise reading her backlist after being swept away by this beautiful novel. Hannah is a masterful storyteller who knows how to draw the reader in with evocative descriptions that bring history to life, richly drawn characters who you feel an instant connection with, and riveting plotlines that will make you laugh, cry and rage. And I couldn’t get enough. I lost myself in the story and couldn’t stop reading, devouring the second half of the book in just one sitting and reading late into the night as I had to know the end of Frankie’s story before I could even think about sleeping.

Two things are vital for good historical fiction: great characters and authentic details. This book has them both in spades. Let’s talk about the characters first. Frankie is a wonderful protagonist who I immediately felt a connection with. She’s fierce but flawed. And she’s relatable; someone I could imagine being friends with. And I loved her friendship with Ethel and Barb. Their dynamic was fun to read and an example of the kind of true friendship we all want. They were really there for each other, even after coming home, and I loved how they would all drop everything for the others if they needed them and how they knew what their friend needed even when she herself  had no idea. 
Now, let’s discuss the details. This book is rich in historic detail and the author’s meticulous research is evident in those finer points that give it authenticity. The Vietnam War is a time I didn’t know a lot about so I also found it to be very educational. And while it is undoubtedly beautifully written, Hannah never shies away from the brutal realities of war and there are many raw, agonising and heart-breaking scenes. Hannah also asks hard-hitting questions about the war, examining the protests that were happening back in the USA and how veterans were treated when they returned home. This led into a heart-rending exploration of PTSD that was written with truth and compassion. All of these darker moments are balanced out by more jovial topics and scenes that remind us we can find light even in the darkest of times and how others can help us to find it when we can’t do that for ourselves.

Powerful, moving and achingly real, The Women is an astonishing piece of historical fiction that I can’t recommend highly enough. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Kristin Hannah is the award-winning and bestselling author of more than 20 novels. Her newest novel, The Women, about the nurses who served in the Vietnam war, will be released on February 6, 2024.

The Four Winds was published in February of 2021 and immediately hit #1 on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Indie bookstore’s bestseller lists. Additionally, it was selected as a book club pick by the both Today Show and The Book Of the Month club, which named it the best book of 2021.

In 2018, The Great Alone became an instant New York Times #1 bestseller and was named the Best Historical Novel of the Year by Goodreads.

In 2015, The Nightingale became an international blockbuster and was Goodreads Best Historical fiction novel for 2015 and won the coveted People’s Choice award for best fiction in the same year. It was named a Best Book of the Year by Amazon, iTunes, Buzzfeed, the Wall Street Journal, Paste, and The Week.

The Nightingale is currently in pre-production at Tri Star. Firefly Lane, her beloved novel about two best friends, was the #1 Netflix series around the world, in the week it came out. The popular tv show stars Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke.

A former attorney, Kristin lives in the Pacific Northwest.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Bookshop.org* | Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxx

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: The London Bookshop Affair by Louise Fein

Published February 29th, 20204 by Harper 360
Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, War Story, Urban Fiction

Today is my stop on the blog tour for this moving story, Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part, and to Louise Fein and Harper 360 for the gifted proof.

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SYNOPSIS:

From the bestselling author of Daughter of the Reich, an historical drama set in London about a bookshop involved in an espionage network.

“An utterly atmospheric and completely compelling read!” —Julia Kelly, international bestselling author of The Lost English Girl

Two courageous women. One astonishing secret. A world on the brink of war.

London, 1962: The world is teetering on the brink of nuclear war but life must go on. Celia Duchesne longs for a career, but with no means or qualifications, passes her time working at a dusty bookshop. The day a handsome American enters the shop, she thinks she might have found her way out of the monotony. Just as the excitement of a budding relationship engulfs her, a devastating secret draws her into the murky world of espionage.

France, 1942: Nineteen-year-old Anya Moreau was dropped behind enemy lines to aid the resistance, sending messages back home to London via wireless transmitter. When she was cruelly betrayed, evidence of her legacy and the truth of her actions were buried by wartime injustices.

As Celia learns more about Anya—and her unexpected connection to the undercover agent—she becomes increasingly aware of furious efforts, both past and present, to protect state secrets. With her newly formed romance taking a surprising turn and the world on the verge of nuclear annihilation, Celia must risk everything she holds dear, in the name of justice.

Propulsive and illuminating, The London Bookshop Affair is a gripping story of secrets and love, inspired by true events and figures of the Cold War.

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MY REVIEW:

“This will remain a mystery unless Celia can find a way to unravel it.”

Atmospheric, gripping and emotive, The London Bookshop Affair is a dual timeline novel set against the backdrop of World War 2 and the Cold War. A story of courageous women, old secrets and love, we follow Celia and Jeannie, two women connected by a long-buried secret who find themselves caught up in the cloak and dagger world of espionage. There is mystery, intrigue, cover-ups, lies, betrayal and romance that are all woven together to create a compelling story that had me hooked. 

I’m a huge history lover, so I’m a sucker for a historical fiction book, and as a big fan of Louise Fein’s last novel, The Hidden Child, I couldn’t wait to read this one. Well written, multi-layered and evocative, I loved how Fein brought the past to life through the small historic details, making me feel like I’d stepped inside a time machine. I could picture 1940s London with its dark, dank heaviness, air raid sirens, food shortages and oppressive fear in the air. In the 1960s I could see the bleak housing, devastation left over from bombings, smell the smoky pubs and cafes and hear the rock music. And in the bookshop where Celia works I could smell the old books and see the dust motes flying in the air. The novel is based on actual historical events, primarily focusing on the threat of nuclear war that lingered over the world at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Special Operations Executive and their secret missions during World War Two. I know very little about the Cold War and knew nothing of the SOE, so I found it to be a very interesting and educational read. 

Against this backdrop of real events were our two heroines, Celia and Jeannie, who leapt from the page in vivid technicolour. These two brave women were fascinating to read and I enjoyed viewing important historical events through the personal lens that their stories provided. The secret that links them was heartrending and there were many times I was near tears while reading. There is also a third narrator: Septimus, a mysterious American who begins a blossoming romance with Celia. I enjoyed watching their relationship grow, though I admit that, like Celia, I wasn’t sure if Septimus could be trusted. But Celia must decide who and what she can believe in, the tension palpable and keeping me on tenterhooks until the big reveal. 

I highly recommend this moving and suspenseful story to anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction. And don’t miss the author’s note at the end of the book which provides a fascinating insight into the real life people and events that inspired the book.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

From Louise’s Blog:
For just about as long as I could read, I have wanted to be an author.

Much of my childhood, when not pretending to be a pony or on my bike, was spent with my nose in a book, or escaping the mundane of everyday life in the vastly more interesting world of my imagination. 

I have always loved to write and as I grew into adulthood, I wrote stories, diaries and poetry. Writing was always just a hobby, as I needed to earn a living and I never once considered it could be a career.

After I finished university, I took some time out to travel, qualified as a lawyer and worked in finance. Life became busy with a career, husband and three children and I had little time for writing. But the bug wouldn’t leave me alone. I used the train journey home from work to scribble ideas, the beginnings of novels, stories and poems. I took an evening class in creative writing at the CityLit and thought one day. 

One day came when I saw an advertisement for a master’s degree in creative writing, aimed at writing a first novel at St. Mary’s University, London. I went home and told my husband with a sigh how much I would love to sign up for that course. Go for it, he said. By this time I was running my own consultancy business, and after realising he wasn’t joking, I didn’t hesitate. I’ll give myself a year, I thought, certain I could get a novel written in that time, and then go back to my job. 

Of course, the year turned into a few, but the result was People Like Us (Daughter of the Reich in the USA) and I’ve not looked back. I’m incredibly lucky in that I have a supportive spouse and am now able to write full time around family commitments. 

I live in Surrey with my family, two naughty cats, and small dog Bonnie, who is the best writing companion I could ask for. Always at my side when I write and she listens most patiently when I need to talk through a tricky plot problem. 

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Bookshop.org* | Amazon*
*These links are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxx

Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers taking part in the blog tour.

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Blog Tours Book Features book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: The Collapsing Wave (The Enceladons Trilogy, Book 2) by Doug Johnstone

Published March 14th, 2024 by Orenda Books
Science Fiction, Suspense, Adventure Fiction

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for The Collapsing Wave. Thank you to Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part and to Orenda Books for the gifted proof.

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SYNOPSIS:

Ava, Lennox and Heather make contact with alien Sandy and head for a profound confrontation … The awe-inspiring, exquisitely moving sequel to The Space Between Us, as seen on BBC Two’s Between the Covers.
 
_________________
 
Six months since the earth-shattering events of The Space Between Us, the revelatory hope of the aliens’ visit has turned to dust and the creatures have disappeared into the water off Scotland’s west coast.
 
Teenager Lennox and grieving mother Heather are being held in New Broom, a makeshift US military base, the subject of experiments, alongside the Enceladons who have been captured by the authorities.
 
Ava, who has given birth, is awaiting the jury verdict at her trial for the murder of her husband. And MI7 agent Oscar Fellowes, who has been sidelined by the US military, is beginning to think he might be on the wrong side of history.
 
When alien Sandy makes contact, Lennox and Heather make a plan to escape with Ava. All three of them are heading for a profound confrontation between the worst of humanity and a possible brighter future, as the stakes get higher for the alien Enceladons and the entire human race…
 
Sequel to the bestselling The Space Between Us, The Collapsing Wave is an exquisite, epic first-contact novel, laced with peril and populated by unforgettable characters, and the awe-inspiring book we all need right now…

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MY REVIEW:

“How can you explain the depths of humanity to something like Sandy or Xander? The conspiracies, hatred and anger, the violence, deviousness and dishonesty.”

It’s six months since the events of book one in The Enceladon Trilogy, and things aren’t looking good for Lennox, Ava and Heather. Ava is nervously awaiting the outcome of her trial for murder, while Lennox and Heather are being held in New Broom, a makeshift US military base where they are subjected to experiments alongside Enceladons the authorities have  managed to capture. When Sandy contacts them for the first time in months, they make a plan to escape, leading to a confrontation that will impact the future for all of humanity.

Somehow this was even better than book one! It jumps straight into the action, succinctly catching the reader up on the extraordinary events of book one and filling in the gaps of what’s happened since. After sharing such a profound experience, the bond between Lennox, Heather, and Ava is stronger than ever, as is their bond with Enceladons, and we are taken on an even more remarkable journey alongside them. I wondered how they’d escape from a place that doesn’t officially exist and is run by a man drunk with power. It was terrifying, and my heart shattered as humans and Enceladons were subjected to his barbaric experiments. But what is most frightening is how plausible it all feels, and I was cheering them on while hoping for the downfall of others. 

Doug Johnstone really can do no wrong in my eyes. This storytelling master had me in his thrall and I was completely immersed from the start; devouring the book in under a day. Exquisitely written, multi-layered and fast-paced, danger and tension radiate from every page, and I was on the edge of my seat as I tried to predict what would happen next. But it isn’t only entertaining and really makes you think as Johnstone explores topics such as prejudice, humanity, and the power of connection. Examining how humans treat anything that is new or different, he reminds us that our way might not always be best and that there is much we can still learn. 

Breathtaking, moving, nerve-shredding and addictive, The Collapsing Wave is an outstanding instalment in an unmissable series. The only problem now is I have to wait impatiently for its conclusion.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Doug Johnstone is the author of Fourteen novels, including The Great Silence, the third in the Skelfs series, which has been optioned for  In 2021, The Big Chill, the second in the series, was longlisted for the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. In 2020, A Dark Matter, the first in the series, was shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year and the Capital Crime Amazon Publishing Independent Voice Book of the Year award. Black Hearts (Book four), was published in 2022, with The Opposite of Lonely (book five) out in 2023. Several of his books have been bestsellers and award winners, and his first science fiction novel, The Space Between Us, was a BBC2 Between the Covers pick. He’s taught creative writing, been writer in residence at various institutions, and has been an arts journalist for twenty years. Doug is a songwriter and musician with five albums and three EPs released, and he plays drums for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers. He lives in Edinburgh.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Orenda Books | Waterstones* | Bookshop.org* | Amazon*
*These links are affiliate links

********

Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxxx

Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers taking part in this tour.

Categories
book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: The Space Between Us (The Enceladons Trilogy, Book 1) by Doug Johnstone

Published March 16th, 2023 by Orenda Books
Science Fition, Mystery, Suspense

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SYNOPSIS:

When three people suffer strokes after seeing dazzling lights over Edinburgh, then awake completely recovered, they’re convinced their ordeal is connected to the alien creature discovered on a nearby beach … an adrenaline-soaked, deeply humane, life-affirming first-contact novel from one of Scotland’s most revered authors…
 
**Selected for BBC 2 Between the Covers 2023**
 
‘All the drive, curiosity and wonder of his crime and mystery novels … science fiction gains a new author’ Derek B Miller
 
‘If you read one life-affirming book this year, make sure it’s this one’ Nina Pottell, Prima
  
‘The main characters, their lives and their struggles, are portrayed very vividly. I was straight into this, just like a thriller’ Ivo Graham on Between the Covers 
 
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
 
Connecting will change everything…
 
Lennox is a troubled teenager with no family. Ava is eight months pregnant and fleeing her abusive husband. Heather is a grieving mother and cancer sufferer. They don’t know each other, but when a meteor streaks over Edinburgh, all three suffer instant, catastrophic strokes… 
 
…only to wake up the following day in hospital, miraculously recovered. 
 
When news reaches them of an octopus-like creature washed up on the shore near where the meteor came to earth, Lennox senses that some extra-terrestrial force is at play. With the help of Ava, Heather and a journalist, Ewan, he rescues the creature they call ‘Sandy’ and goes on the run. 
 
But they aren’t the only ones with an interest in the alien … close behind are Ava’s husband, the police and a government unit who wants to capture the creature, at all costs. And Sandy’s arrival may have implications beyond anything anyone could imagine…
 
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
 
‘This had all the makings of a film … such relatable characters. Writing a story about a mixed-race boy in the care system and two women so brilliantly is so impressive’ Sunetra Sarker on Between the Covers

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MY REVIEW:

A trio of strangers are brought together in extraordinary circumstances in the first book of The Enceladon’s Trilogy. This is a book that’s way outside of my comfort zone, so I’d put off reading it for a while. But I’m a big fan of Doug Johnstone’s writing and I have heard so many great reviews for this book that I decided to finally take the plunge and read it for myself.

Lennox is a troubled teen without any family. Ava is eight months pregnant and trying to escape her abusive marriage. Heather has terminal cancer, is grieving her daughter and feels she’s nothing to live for. What starts out as another ordinary day in their lives becomes something exceptional, starting with a meteor that streaks over Edinburgh and causes them to have catastrophic strokes. When they wake up in hospital the next day they are somehow fully recovered. No one can explain it. 
The group then learns that an octopus-like creature has been recovered, washed up on the shore near where the meteor was. Could an extraterrestrial force be behind what happened? They set out to find out, starting with rescuing the creature, who they call ‘Sandy’. But they aren’t the only ones after Sandy and must stay one step ahead of the police, a government unit and Ava’s furious husband. 

I am so glad I finally read this book. With a large cast of characters and intricate storyline, it took me a bit of time to get into it, but once I did I was hooked and on the edge of my seat as they tried to stay one step ahead of the people chasing them and get Sandy to safety. I loved the characters in this book. Lennox, Ava and Heather are fantastic characters and compelling narrators, each having a charisma that draws you in and makes you care about them. I loved the camaraderie that they built with each other and Sandy and I was rooting for them at every step, cheering for them to succeed in evading capture and finding a safe place for Sandy. And, speaking of Sandy, they are a richly drawn and fascinating character, feeling so real that I believed their existence was possible. I adored their bond with Lennox and their scenes together were my favourite moments in the book. The eclectic cast of background characters are all equally well-written and help provide a lot of tension and drama along the way, with Ava’s husband standing out in particular as the biggest villain of the story. I hated that man. 

This book is yet more proof of what a masterful storyteller and writer Doug Johnstone is. Anything he turns his hand to is phenomenal and I’m going to read it. I was so relieved to have book two waiting to be read when I finished this one as I was left desperate to know what happened next. My review for that book will be posted as part of the blog tour tomorrow. 

Exhilarating, tense and addictive, this is a brilliant start to what promises to be an exciting new series. Even if this doesn’t sound like your usual kind of book I recommend giving it a try. It might surprise you like it did me. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Doug Johnstone is the author of Fourteen novels, including The Great Silence, the third in the Skelfs series, which has been optioned for  In 2021, The Big Chill, the second in the series, was longlisted for the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. In 2020, A Dark Matter, the first in the series, was shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year and the Capital Crime Amazon Publishing Independent Voice Book of the Year award. Black Hearts (Book four), was published in 2022, with The Opposite of Lonely (book five) out in 2023. Several of his books have been bestsellers and award winners, and his first science fiction novel, The Space Between Us, was a BBC2 Between the Covers pick. He’s taught creative writing, been writer in residence at various institutions, and has been an arts journalist for twenty years. Doug is a songwriter and musician with five albums and three EPs released, and he plays drums for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers. He lives in Edinburgh.

*******

BUY THE BOOK:

Orenda Books | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These links are affiliate links

********

Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxx

Categories
book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Squadpod Squadpod Reviews

SQUADPOD REVIEWS: The Murder After The Night Before by Katy Brent

Published February 1st, 2024 by HQ
Mystery, Dark Comedy, Satire, Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Contemporary Romance, Adventure Ficiton

Today I’m sharing my review for the fierce and funny The Murder After The Night Before, which is one of the Squadpods Featured Books in February. Thank you HQ for my gifted copy of the book.

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SYNOPSIS:

From the author of How to Kill Men and Get Away With It, don’t miss this wickedly witty and utterly addictive novel, perfect for fans of Bella Mackie, Dawn O’Porter and Killing Eve.

Something bad happened last night.

I’ve woken up with the hangover from hell, a stranger in my bed, and I’ve gone viral for the worst reasons.

But I can’t remember a thing…

My best friend Posey is dead. The police think it was a tragic accident. I know she was murdered.

There’s only one thing stopping me from dying of shame. I need to find a killer.

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MY REVIEW:

Molly wakes up with the hangover from hell, no memories of the night before, a stranger in her bed, and has gone viral for all the wrong reasons. And it only gets worse when her best mate and flatmate Posey is found dead. The police write it off as a tragic accident, but Molly is sure Posey was murdered and sets out to find proof. The problem is, she still can’t remember what happened the night before.

This book was quite the ride! As a fan of dark comedy thrillers such as Sweetpea and  Over My Dead Body I knew I was going to love this one. But what I didn’t expect was to devour it so quickly, how timely it would be, or how Katy Brent would leave my jaw on the floor with her unexpected twists. Opening with Molly waking up after the night she can’t remember, it jumps straight into the action and never lets go, taking the reader along for the ride beside Molly as she tries to piece together what happened the night before and who killed her best friend. It feels claustrophobic, like the walls are closing in on Molly and her world keeps shrinking as she’s increasingly alone and scared to leave the house, and there’s a climate of distrust and suspicion lingers over every page as Molly tries to figure out who she can trust. 

Brent explores some sensitive and timely topics in the book, using black humour throughout to lighten the mood. This is a story that will make you feel every emotion: heartache, rage, fear, joy, laughter. But it is never heavy or bleak and instead makes you feel the many emotions those topics should make you feel. These topics are explored alongside the mystery of Posey’s death, something that I think helps alleviate some of the weightiness of the topics. I liked that Brent included excerpts of some of the tweets surrounding both Molly’s viral incident and Posey’s death at the beginning of each chapter as it felt like I was reading a true story rather than fiction. I was completely invested in both storylines and read on tenterhooks as I tried to figure out what had really happened. 

Molly is a fantastic protagonist. She’s feisty, chaotic, volatile, sloppy and destructive. Quite frankly, this girl is a hot mess. But behind her brittle and spiky veneer is a damaged, fearful young woman who is all alone and I wanted to hug her and tell her it would be ok. She is also the epitome of an unreliable narrator as she can’t even trust her own memories, something that made her even more likeable to me as you know she’s not deliberately being duplicitous. I loved this character and was rooting for her at every step. 

Fast-paced, fierce, darkly funny, and unflinching, this addictive thriller is a must-read. Just make sure you clear your schedule before you start. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Katy is an author and award-winning journalist from the UK. She has worked on newspapers, magazines and websites since 2005, writing about popular culture. How To Kill Men and Get Away With It is her first novel.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Bookshop.org* | Amazon*

********

Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxx

*These links are affiliate links