A Thousand Paper Birds by Tor Udall #bookreview

About A Thousand Paper Birds

After the sudden death of his wife, Audrey, Jonah sits on a bench in Kew Gardens, trying to reassemble the shattered pieces of his life.

Chloe, shaven-headed and abrasive, finds solace in the origami she meticulously folds. But when she meets Jonah, her carefully constructed defences threaten to fall.

Milly, a child quick to laugh, freely roams Kew, finding beauty everywhere she goes. But where is her mother and where does she go when the gardens are closed?

Harry's purpose is to save plants from extinction. Quiet and enigmatic, he longs for something – or someone – who will root him more firmly to the earth.

Audrey links these strangers together. As the mystery of her death unravels, the characters journey through the seasons to learn that stories, like paper, can be refolded and reformed. Haunted by songs and origami birds, this novel is a love letter to a garden and a hymn to lost things.

 

My review of A Thousand Paper Birds

 

This book, oh this beautiful book. From the sublime cover right through to the final words, my heart just ached. I honestly don't know how I can do this book the justice that it truly deserves with my bumbling review, but I'll do my very best.

 

The novel revolves around Audrey, a woman who dies suddenly. I honestly don't think I have ever read such raw, heartfelt and pure emotion before in such a poetic way upon the page, words that are tightly connected to the imagery, sights and smells of Kew Gardens. It is these gardens that unite all of the characters in this moving story. Those of Jonah, Audrey's husband, Chloe who befriends Jonah, Harry a park keeper and Emily, a little girl who is always seen at the gardens alone. All of these characters have their own unique story to tell, that help us to learn more about Audrey and what happened to her. The way that these stories weave themselves together is breathtaking and incredibly clever. 

Kew really is at the heart of this novel. I have only ever visited the gardens once, and that was over ten years ago. But I remember being absolutely blown over by its beauty and tranquility. The author has managed to capture the essence of Kew and I think that even if you have never been there, you really will get a vivid depiction of what it is like to slowly wander around the grounds. 

I can't really say much more without giving any spoilers away. I just wanted to share how magical this book is and of how it deals so beautifully with loss and grief. From the book's blurb you may be fooled into thinking that the novel is a somewhat depressing read, but this book is so full of hope, beauty and tells us how we are as humans, dealing with love, loss and relationships. 

I must also just mention the beginning of the novel. After reading the first few pages I knew that I would love this book. It quite literally took my breath away. I also had to put the book down for a little while before continuing to read. This was because the words were so powerful, so raw, the image that was created brought a tear to my eye. It is I feel, one of the most powerful openings to a book I have ever read. 

A Thousand Paper Birds is a stunningly beautiful, poignant and compelling read. My heart ached while reading it. I just felt so privileged to be able to gain insight into these characters lives, it really was a most intimate read. This is a book that I just know I will read again and again. I absolutely adore this book. 

 

A Thousand Paper Birds, published by Bloomsbury Publishing on 15 June 2017 can be found on Amazon here.

 

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an Advanced Review Copy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We've Come to Take You Home by Susan Gandar #bookreview

About We've Come to Take You Home

Samantha Foster and Jessica Brown are destined to meet. But one lives in the 20th century, the other in the 21st... It is April 1916 and thousands of men have left home to fight in the war to end all wars. Jessica Brown's father is about to be one of these men. A year later, he is still alive, but Jess has to steal to keep her family from starving. And then a telegram arrives - her father has been killed in action. Four generations later, Sam Foster's father is admitted to hospital with a suspected brain haemorrhage. A nurse asks if she would like to take her father's hand. Sam refuses. All she wants is to get out of this place, stuck between the world of the living and the world of the dead, a place with no hope and no future, as quickly as possible. As Sam's father's condition worsens, her dreams become more frequent - and more frightening. She realises that what she is experiencing is not a dream, but someone else's living nightmare...

My Review of  We've Come to Take You Home

We've Come to Take You Home is a poignant read about family, history, war and reconnecting with your past to form your future. I had no idea of what to expect when I started to read this debut novel. Was it a love story? An historical read? The genre I find very hard to define, even now once I have read it, but I loved this book for its ghostly themes of love and the past,  and strong female characters who both eloquently told their stories.

We've Come to Take You Home tells the story of two women, four generations apart. Although the stories appear to be separate, as I progressed through the book I realised that the two stories were linked in some way. Jess is living through the hardship of the First World War. Her father has been recently deployed and she needs to help support her mother and new baby brother. The depictions of war are harrowing and brutally honest. When Jess is forced to move to London to work as a maid of all jobs, my heart ached for her. She was thankful for a roof over her head and food in her belly, but at what cost? Was she truly living life?

We also read Sam's story, which is just as moving as Jess's, although in an entirely different way, there are similarities to what they are both going through. They are both young, they are having to adjust to life without a father, and they are both mature beyond their years. She lives in the present day with her mother and pilot dad. She has always seen things, people, that are not really there, and as we read her story , she shares with us the fact that she sees images of war. She sees war nurses attending the sick, the bombed out fields and the sick and dying soldiers. This happens to her without warning, she is simply sucked back in time, living via another person. This is obviously terrifying, but she keeps what she believes are visions to herself, as who would believe her? She has no idea why she sees such images, and neither do we.

This is such a clever story, and on paper you would think it could not possibly work. But, it does. Through both Sam and Jess we learn about what it must have been like for a normal, working class family to live through the hardship of war. Although this is the primary story, we also have Sam's struggle, in her trying to reunite her broken family. Her father is a pilot, and on the day that he leaves the family home, he is involved in an accident that leaves him in a coma. Sam has to deal with her father's critical condition, as well as having to learn to cope with the evolving relationship with her mother. 

This is a deeply moving book about the horrors of war, about family and of the important bond between father and daughter. It is beautifully written and the ending couldn't have happened any other way. I highly recommend this novel and look forward to reading more work by Susan Gandar. 

With thanks to the author who sent me a paperback copy for review purposes.

We've Come to Take You Home, published by Matador on 28 March, 2016, can be found in Amazon here.

About the author

Susan Gandar grew up surrounded by stories and storytelling.

My father, John Box, was a film production designer, working on ‘Lawrence of Arabia’, ‘Dr. Zhivago’, ‘The Great Gatsby’, ‘A Man For All Seasons’ and the musical ‘Oliver’. Our house was always filled with people, usually eccentric, always talented, invariably stroppy, discussing stories. My mother put my father’s four Oscars to good use as toilet roll holders, doorstops and hat stands.

A major chunk of my childhood was spent loitering around on film sets. Who needs an ‘English education’ when you have the marble-dusted streets of downtown Moscow, ten miles outside of Madrid, to explore?

But then the years of ‘Who Will Buy My Sweet Red Roses’ came to a rather abrupt end. Reality knocked on the door in the guise of the Metropolitan Line to Shepherds Bush and the BBC. Working in television as a script editor and story consultant, I was part of the creative team responsible for setting up ‘Casualty’. I became known for going after the more ‘difficult’ stories at the same time successfully racking up viewing figures from 7 to 14 million.

I went on to develop various projects for both the BBC and the independent sector. The period I enjoyed most was working with Jack Rosenthal, a wonderful writer, on the series ‘Moving Story’ – ‘That’s a situation, a good situation, but now you need to make it into a story.’

Martin, my husband, was made an offer he couldn’t refuse and we left England to live in Amsterdam. ‘Ik wil een kilo kabeljauw, alstublieft’ will, if all goes well, buy you a piece of cod – I decided to concentrate on my writing rather than my Dutch pronunciation.

My debut novel, ‘We’ve Come to Take You Home’, set in the present and in 1918, a crossover aimed at the adult and young adult women’s popular fiction market, was published March 2016.

Keep Me Safe by Daniela Sacerdoti #bookreview

About Keep Me Safe

When Anna's partner walks away from their relationship, she is shattered. But it is her little girl Ava who takes it hardest of all. The six year old falls silent for three days. When she does speak, her words are troubling. Ava wants to go home. To a place called Seal. To her other mother.

Anna knows to unravel the mystery she must find Seal and take Ava there. She hopes this tiny island will unlock her daughter's memories. But could it also offer a new life...and unexpected love...for Anna too?

My review of Keep Me Safe

I love a good supernatural story with a twist of romance and Keep Me Safe delivered on both counts. This was such a comforting book to read, albeit with a bittersweet aftertaste. It just made me want to hug my little ones that little bit tighter and to be thankful for all the great things in my life, my husband included. This really is a life affirming book.

Anna is a working mum, a newly qualified nurse, and mum to six-year-old Ava. When her long term boyfriend, and Ava's fatter, Toby, suddenly decides to leave then to embark upon a new life in Australia, the lives of both Anna and Ava are turned upside down. The shock of what happens has a profound, negative impact upon Ava, psychologically, and it is during this time that she asks for her other mum. At a complete loss of what to do, Anna seeks help, but as nobody understands what has happened to her little girl, she decides to take matters into her own hands. It is only through Ava's happy drawings of an island where she can be seen standing with seals and a mystery woman,  that Ava seems to find any solace. So, after a search online, Anna finds the remote island of Seal, an island that resembles Ava's drawings, and decides that it would be the perfect place for a relaxing holiday, away from the stresses and strains of the past. 

Once they arrive on the island they find that their hotel reservation has not been booked properly online, and so they have nowhere to stay. It is at this point that fate intervenes and they meet Sorren, the son of the woman who owns a guest house on the island, who then offers them the spare guest room. From this moment on, Anna and Ava become part of island life.

This really is such a beautiful book. The imagery of the sea was so palpable. I could taste the salt on the wind and could smell the sea. It is hugely romantic, both in its depictions of maternal love, in finding that special someone, your soulmate, to spend the rest of your life with and in the island itself. What I also really enjoyed was the multiple first person narration in this book. This allowed me to fully understand the characters and to get a unique insight into who they were. Each voice was distinctive, and I feel that this alternating viewpoint was needed to get the most from this story.  The characters are also hugely engaging, all helping to add to the rich tapestry of the plot. 

This is a book about second sight, about trusting your gut instinct and of making those decisions in life that scare you witless. This is what Anna does for her daughter. She goes to Seal on a whim, as she wants to see her daughter happy once again, but what she gets is so much more from her visit.

I was also thrilled to learn that Keep Me Safe is the first book in a new series, and I look forward to reading the second instalment. If you love a romantic read that is blended with the supernatural and a lot of heart, then you'll love this book. I couldn't put it down.

With thanks to the publisher and Bookbridgr who sent me a hardback copy for review purposes. 

Keep Me Safe is published by Headline Review on 6 April 2017. The book is available to buy from Amazon here.

About the author

Daniela Sacerdoti is a phenomenon. Over one million copies of her novels have been sold in eBook, her debut novel Watch Over Me was the eighth bestselling Kindle book of all time in 2015 and she was also ranked as the eleventh top-selling Kindle author.

Daniela writes beautiful, haunting and bestselling fiction for adults (the Glen Avich series), young adults (the Sarah Midnight trilogy) and children. Her novels have been translated in twelve languages.

Daniela was born and raised in Italy. She studied Classics, then lived in Scotland for fourteen years, where she married and taught in a primary school. Daniela's children's book Really WeirdRemovals.Com was shortlisted for the Scottish Children's Book Awards. She has also written for the BBC.

Daniela, her husband and their two sons make their home in a tiny village in the Alps. To discover more about Daniela and her world, visit www.danielasacerdoti.com.

The New Beginnings Coffee Club by Samantha Tonge #bookreview

About The New Beginnings Coffee Club

Everyone deserves a second chance…don’t they?

Jenny Masters finds herself living the modern dream. Wife to a millionaire, living in a mansion and mother to Kardashian-obsessed ten-year-old April, there isn’t anything missing. Until, her whole world comes crashing down, forcing Jenny and April to leave behind their glittering life and start over with nothing.

 

With village gossip following her wherever she goes, she finds refuge and a job in the new coffee shop in town. As the days pass Jenny fears she doesn’t have what it takes to pick herself back up and give April the life she always wanted to. But with the help of enigmatic new boss Noah, and housemate Elle, Jenny realises it’s never too late to become the woman life really intended you to be!

My review of The New Beginnings Coffee Club

The New Beginnings Coffee Club is a delightful read that envelops you in a warm hug. This was just the book I was looking for after reading some very dark and disturbing stories. This novel is all about hope, and the fact that anyone can make a new start in life, no matter what the circumstances.

So, the book rotated around Jenny, the protagonist, mother to April, who suddenly loses it all. Her whirlwind life, married to hunky millionaire Zach, isn't quite what it is cracked up to be and she soon finds herself forging a new life foe herself and her young daughter with the help of Noah and Elle. On paper, this would seem to be a superficial and lighthearted read, but there is much more to this book. This book is all about finding your identity, believing in yourself and knowing that life just finds a way... in the end.

I liked Jenny the instant I met her. The young Jenny, making cakes with her mother was delightful, and I soon realised that this essence of who she really is, had been obliterated by marrying Zach and his expensive and luxurious lifestyle. Throughout the book we see a gradual change come over her, as she begins to truly believe in herself. The same is also true for April. My heart broke when I read that this little girl was more interested in her makeup and designer clothes than playing and just being a 'little girl'. It was therefore delightful to see her 'be' a little girl once more.

My heart though truly belonged to Noah. How could I not fall in love with this man? He is kind, gorgeous and is a generally nice guy. Plus, he owns a coffee shop and knows everything that there is to know about this addictive bean. I love coffee, in fact it is probably safest to say that I am slightly addicted to it, so I really enjoyed the many coffee references that were dotted about this book. What I also found refreshing, was that Noah also had depth. He wasn't just the run of the mill 'hero'. He too had his own secrets and demons to face and completely surprised me with his back story.

The New Beginnings Coffee Club is a gorgeous treat of read and perfect for those long summer days. This book made me appreciate all the simple things in life, those things that I just take for granted. It also made me drink a lot of coffee while reading it... so win win! A thoroughly enjoyable  read! 

The New Beginnings Coffee Club published by HQ Digital on 5 May 2017, is available to buy from Amazon here.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an Advanced Reader Copy.

About the author

Samantha lives in Cheshire with her lovely family and a cat that thinks it's a dog. Along with writing, her days are spent cycling, willing cakes to rise and avoiding housework. A love of fiction developed as a child, when she was known for reading Enid Blyton books in the bath. A desire to write bubbled away in the background whilst she pursued other careers, including a fun stint working at Disneyland Paris. Formally trained as a linguist, Samantha now likes nothing more than holing herself up in the spare room, in front of the keyboard. Writing romantic comedy novels is her passion.

This Love by Dani Atkins #bookreview

About This Love

'Dani Atkins is the undisputed queen of fiction that packs a huge emotional punch, and this captivating story is another outstanding example' - heat

This Love is an emotional family drama for fans of Jojo Moyes and Dorothy Koomson, from the bestselling author of Fractured.

Sophie stopped believing in happy endings a long time ago, but could this love change all of that?

Sophie Winter lives in a self-imposed cocoon - she's a single, 31-year-old translator who works from home in her one-bedroom flat. This isn’t really the life she dreamed of, but then Sophie stopped believing in dreams when she was a teenager and tragedy struck her family.

So, to be safe, she keeps everyone at arm’s length. Sophie understands she has a problem, but recognising it and knowing how to fix it are two entirely different things.

One night a serious fire breaks out in the flat below hers. Sophie is trapped in the burning building until a passer-by, Ben, sees her and rescues her.

Suddenly her cocoon is shattered - what will be the consequences of this second life-changing event?

‘A beautiful romance with a twist’ – Woman

‘A brilliant story about loss and grief, but also love and friendship… Heartbreaking and thought-provoking, this is one of those novels you are still thinking about days later, wishing it hadn’t ended’ – Chicklit Club

My review of This Love

I loved this book! I love all of Dani Atkin's books, and I was excited to read this book. The very first book that I read by this author was The Story of Us a few years back, and I instantly fell in love with Jack, and then with Dani's writing. This author writes so effortlessly, that from the very first page I found myself immersed in the make-believe world, and I never wanted to leave. I really didn't want to stop reading this beautiful book, but at the same time I desperately needed to know what would happen to Sophie and Ben, it was a magical, emotional and heartbreaking read.

So, at the beginning of the book we are introduced to Sophie who is buying black dresses for a funeral. We have no idea why, as this is obviously in the future, but as in true Dani Atkin's style, all is revealed as the story progresses. I liked Sophie from the moment I met her. She is a woman in her early thirties, a loner, a woman who has narrowed her world to such an extent that only her best friend, who is married with two children, knows and understands her. Something terrible happened in Sophie's past that has a direct impact on who she is today, and it is this unfurling of the past that we are privileged to learn about.

This is a slow and enjoyable read, that really begins when Sophie finds herself trapped in her flat at night, as a fire envelops the floor below. It is Ben, a passer by, who saves her, and who ultimately changes her life. This is such a fabulous opening scene for any book. I read with baited breath as to how Ben would help her escape, and I knew from that moment on that something special had happened between them. A bond was formed.  I just loved the chemistry between them, and the way in which their relationship slowly grew. It was so incredibly natural.

All of Dani Atkins' books are about real women and real life situations, but she somehow manages to transform them into a magical and all consuming read. Sophie is the narrator of the story, it is her tale to tell, and I found myself living and breathing as her, understanding why she did what she did. This book is about her relationships, her relationship with her parents, her best friend and her blossoming relationship with Ben. This book is about trust and how we all have to take risks in life, to fully find out who we are and what we are capable of. 

This is a love story with deep roots. It is not a superficial read but one that is packed full of emotion. I loved these two characters with all my heart and I was so sorry when I read the final word. This is such a beautiful book.

This Love is published by Simon & Schuster UK on 23 March and is available to buy from Amazon.

About the author

Dani Atkins was born in London in 1958, and grew up in the suburb of Cockfosters. She moved to rural Hertfordshire in 1985, where she has lived in a small village ever since with her husband, two (now grown-up) children, one Siamese cat and a very soppy Border Collie.

Dani has been writing for fun all her life, but following the publication of her novels FRACTURED (published as THEN AND ALWAYS in the US) and THE STORY OF US in 2014, now writes for work. Her third novel, OUR SONG, was published in January 2016. PERFECT STRANGERS, a standalone eBook novella is available from December 2016.

Connect with Dani on Facebook at www.facebook.com/daniatkinsauthor or on twitter @AtkinsDani

Paris for One and Other Stories by JoJo Moyes

About Paris for One and Other Stories

A collection of 11 unmissable short stories from the Number One internationally bestselling author of Me Before You and After You

'Lots to cheer about in Moyes' first collection of short stories. If you want romance, the title story and its hapless heroine Nell will give it to you in spades' Red

'Moyes somehow manages to break your heart before restoring your faith in love' Sunday Express

Nell is twenty-six and has never been to Paris. She's never even been on a romantic weekend away - to anywhere - before. Travelling abroad isn't really her thing. But when Nell's boyfriend fails to show up, she has the chance to prove to everyone - including herself - that she can be independent and intrepid. Alone in Paris, Nell finds a version of herself she never knew existed . . .

In the ten other stories, Jojo Moyes introduces us to a cast of strong, relatable women in the midst of their everyday lives. In Honeymoon in Paris, featuring characters from her bestselling novel, The Girl You Left Behind, Liv and Sophie - though decades apart - both find that marriage is only the beginning of their love stories. In Crocodile Shoes, a businesswoman's blossoming confidence emerges from a fateful changing-room mix-up. And in both Love in the Afternoon and A Bird in the Hand, two couples dance around the trickiness of long-time marriage. In this irresistible collection, readers will be whisked from elegant perfume shops to taxis to five-star hotel rooms and more.

My review of Paris for One and Other Stories

 



 

I shall start by saying that I am a huge fan of JoJo Moyes and have read nearly all of her books. I was therefore very excited when I found out that she had wrote a short story collection. I vowed last year to read more short story collections, and so Paris for One and Other Stories was a very much welcome treat, and it didn't disappoint.

 

What I love about this author is her ability to write about women, like me, in every day situations. She is able to give them a distinctive voice, which allows them to tell their own unique story. All are interesting, relatable and immensely enjoyable. So, this heartwarming collection is comprised of 11 short stories, and I enjoyed each and every one of them. 

 

Paris for One is the first story in the collection and I have to admit, my favourite. Here, we meet Nell, a twenty-six-year-old woman who has become somewhat stuck in life. She has a boyfriend, but forever seems to be alone. It is during her short break to Paris that she is finally able to find out who she is and what she really wants from life. The story is predictable and I pretty much guessed the ending, but for me that was part of the charm. What mattered was the journey that I was on with Nell as she discovered who she truly was.

 

These stories, as with all of JoJo Moyes writing, captivate the soul. They feel as if you are visiting an old friend, and I felt like I knew and had befriended all of these women. All of them had a different story to tell, those of heartache, love, friendship and daring heroines. These stories covered all of them. What I particularly liked was the theme of marriage, and love after a long marriage, a subject that is not often talked about in this genre of literature. We often read books about new romance and falling in love, so it made a refreshing change to explore romantic love within a long term relationship.

 

Paris for One and Other Stories really is the perfect book to curl up with one night, and to simply enjoy... just as I did. 

 

With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy.

Paris for One and Other Stories, published by Michael Joseph on 9 Feb, is available on Amazon here.

The One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr

 

 

About the One Memory of Flora Banks

 

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHO TO TRUST WHEN YOU CAN'T EVEN TRUST YOURSELF?
I look at my hands. One of them says FLORA BE BRAVE.

Flora has anterograde amnesia. She can't remember anything day-to-day: the joke her friend made, the instructions her parents gave her, how old she is.

Then she kisses someone she shouldn't, and the next day she remembers it. It's the first time she's remembered anything since she was ten.

But the boy is gone. She thinks he's moved to the Arctic.
Will following him be the key to unlocking her memory? Who can she trust?

 

 

My review of The One Memory of Flora Banks

 

The One Memory of Flora Banks has been on my 'to be read pile' for a long time, and so I was very glad when I eventually had the opportunity to read it. I absolutely adored this book. It was such a treat to read.

 

The story revolves around Flora Banks, a seventeen-year-old girl who has anterograde amnesia. This means that she can only retain information for a few hours, so she has to be constantly reminded of who she is, what she has done and what she needs to do next. Her life is a series of notes, reminders and she cannot live without her notebook, which is where her whole life is documented. On her hand thee is a tattooed message that states, 'Be Brave' and Flora lives her life by this mantra. She is brave, she is exceptional.

 

Although YA, it is not the typical young girl falls in love with boy YA story, it is different, believe me, you have to stick with the story until the very end. This is not about teenage love, this is a book about self discovery, it is a book about how Flora finds herself. When Flora remembers kissing Drake one night on the beach, who is also her best friend's boyfriend, her whole world begins to unravel and changes forever. Although the novel begins as one of teenage love and of new love, this novel is so much more.

 

Flora takes the bold decision to travel to Svalbard, in the Arctic, so as to find Drake. This part of the book I absolutely loved. I could see, smell and taste the Arctic with the author's vivid descriptions. This young girl, with no memory, managed to get herself there, living up to her motto, Be Brave. Flora does indeed manage to get herself safely to Svalbard and she finds that she is loved by many of the inhabitants there, namely those of Toby and Agi, who are fantastic characters, that we meet through Flora's viewpoint.

 

I will just mention that this novel is repetitive, we read many times that Flora 'kissed a boy' for example, but this repetition is needed. It is Flora telling the story, and through the use of repetition I felt like I was able to creep inside her head and live her life throughout the pages of he novel. Without this constant reputation, I really do feel that a vital part of Flora would have been lost to me. I needed to understand how her amnesia impacted upon her life, and the narrative repetitions helped me to do so.

 

The main themes running throughout this novel are those of, Who is telling the truth? and, Who can Flora trust? Throughout the novel I just knew that something was amiss, I just couldn't put my finger on it, so the ending came as a complete surprise.

 

The One Memory of Flora Banks is an exceptional novel for any age. It is a story of self discovery, adventure and of never giving up on life. The One Memory of Flora Banks was published by Penguin on 12 December 2016 and can be found on Amazon here.

 

 

  

About the author

 

Emily Barr worked as a journalist in London but always hankered after a quiet room and a book to write. She went travelling for a year, which gave her an idea for a novel set in the world of backpackers in Asia. This became BACKPACK, an adult thriller which won the WH Smith New Talent Award, and she has since written eleven more adult novels published in the UK and around the world. THE ONE MEMORY OF FLORA BANKS is her first novel for young adults. She lives in Cornwall with her partner and their children. Visit her website at www.emilybarr.com

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

The Gift Maker by Mark Mayes

About The Gift Maker

'Gifts ought to be free, but they never are. They tie you to the wishes of others. To your own sad expectations. To the penitentiary of your dreams.'

Late one night, Thomas Ruder receives a strange package: a small blue box. Another such item is delivered to his friend Liselotte Hauptmann. These 'gifts' will change their lives forever. In the far-off border town of Grenze, a play is to be performed at the Sheol Theatre. Reynard the impresario expects a very special audience. Thomas and Liselotte, together with their friend Johann, are drawn into Reynard's seductive web, as Daumen, the gift maker, must decide who his master really is. The Gift Maker is a story about identity, about fulfilling your dreams and becoming the person you always were ... at whatever cost.

My Review of The Gift Maker

The Gift Maker is a magical fantasy novel like no other, and I loved it. To try and define the genre that this book fits into is incredibly difficult. It is a fantasy novel, but it is also a magical fairy tale alongside a story of good and evil and of creation. It's an exceptionally clever novel, that uses poetic language, in a world so unlike our own.  This is a world where reality sits alongside magic. 

And just look at the cover. It is so beautiful.

The Gift Maker is other worldly, it remnded me of when I read Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake many years ago, and for some reason the film Dogville, popped into my mind while I was reading (which I loved).  The writing style is very different to the contemporary fiction of today, but I soon relaxed into the melodic dialogue and found myself immersed in this beautiful literary world. 

So, the story begins when Thomas is woken in the middle of the night by his landlady, who has a small box to give him. This has been hand delivered by a mysterious man with large hairy hands. Thomas is afraid of what is inside the box and so shuts it away in his bedside drawer. He tells nobody about this gift, not even his closest friend, Johann. He then finds out that a friend of his, Liselotte, whom he cares deeply about, has also received a strange box. She confides in him one evening about what is inside the box. Thomas is unsupportive of Liselotte's revelation, and as a result she dismisses him. He is despondent as he really wanted to be more than just friends. It is the following day that Liselotte disappears, leaving a note behind, simply telling Thomas that she has gone to Grenze. It is from this moment on that the book takes a dramatic turn, and the lives of these three friends is never the same again.

I can't really disclose any more about what happens after this, as it would give the entire plot away, and I really don't want to do that. All I will say is that the three friends go on their own separate journeys of self discovery, defined by the gifts that they receive.

What I loved about this book was the description of the faraway ghost town of Grenze. This is a place that I would never wish to travel to. For me, this tiny village represented the end of the world.

The Gift Maker is not an easy read, in the sense that it makes you think, it is a philosophical read with multiple interpretations available to the reader, depending upon their personal viewpoints and past experiences. This book can be interpreted in many different ways. For me, this book was about good and evil, how the world began and of that all consuming first love. This book is predominantly about self discovery and it asks the question:

Would you really do anything, no matter the cost, to fulfill your wildest dreams?

The Gift Maker is a breathtaking read of self discovery. It is a magical tale of love, morality and of doing the right thing. And as for the ending...well, it was completely unexpected but brilliant. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

The Gift Maker is published by Urbane Publications on February 23rd, and is available to buy from Amazon here.

With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy.

About the author

Before becoming a writer, Mark trained as an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He subsequently worked in theatre and television for several years, both in the UK and abroad. He has worked variously as a cleaner, care-worker and carer, salesman, barman, medical transcriptionist, warehouse worker, and administrator.

Mark has published numerous stories and poems in magazines and anthologies in the UK, Eire, and Italy, and in particular has had several stories published in (or accepted for) the celebrated Unthology series (Unthank Books). His work has been broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and the BBC World Service. He has been shortlisted for literary prizes, including the prestigious Bridport Prize.

In 2009, Mark graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in English (Creative Writing and Critical Practice) from Ruskin College, Oxford.

Currently living in South Wales, Mark is also a musician and songwriter, and some of his songs may be found here: HTTPS://SOUNDCLOUD.COM/PUMPSTREETSONGS

Among his favourite writers are: Jean Rhys, Franz Kafka, Anton Chekhov, and Christopher Priest.

The Gift Maker is his début novel and will publish spring 2017.

*Blog Tour* Mary's The Name by Ross Sayers - Review

About Mary's the Name

An eight-year-old girl and her granpa are on the run…

“When me and Granpa watched James Bond films, he told me not to be scared because people didn’t have guns like that in Scotland. That must’ve been why the robbers used hammers.”

Orphaned Mary lives with her granpa, but after he is mixed up in a robbery at the bookies where he works, they flee to the Isle of Skye. Gradually, Mary realises that her granpa is involved. And the robbers are coming after him–and their money.

Mary’s quirky outlook on life, loss, and her love of all things Elvis, will capture your heart. Full of witty Scots banter, Mary’s the Name will have you reaching for the hankies, first with laughter, then with tears.

Heart-warming and heart-breaking, this darkly comic debut is from a fresh voice set to become Scotland’s answer to Roddy Doyle.

‘Funny, smart, and full of heart’
HELEN SEDGWICK
Author of The Comet Seekers

‘Pacy and poignant, wee Mary leaves a big impression’
LIAM MURRAY BELL
Author of The Busker

My review of Mary's The Name

Well, firstly I am hugely honoured to be a part of the book tour for this truly amazing book. I loved this book. It is so very special in its depiction of examining the relationship between grandfather and granddaughter. I admit to having a tear in my eye during several events in this book.

Mary's The Name centres around an eight-year-old girl, Mary, who lives with her grandfather. Her parents died when she was only a toddler, and her grandfather took her in, bringing her up, so her grandpa is very much her dad. Mary is a little bit quirky, hugely intelligent beyond her years and fiercely independent. I did wonder at certain parts in the book if Mary was autistic, as she most certainly showed autistic traits, but whether this was intentional or not does not really matter, she is an interesting character who held my attention and whom I rooted for the entire way through the novel. I loved this little girl and everything she stood for. She is slowly growing up in the world and throughout the book we see this development in her social understanding of the world. The events that surround the robbery, shatter her idyllic illusion of the world, and we see the blinkers slowly being peeled back.

Then we have the grandpa, who I also loved. OK, he does get himself involved in a robbery, when he has a little girl to look after, but ultimately he is a good man. A hard working man, and I couldn't help but like him, even though I should have disliked him for his thoughtless actions. I suppose we all do things in life that we are not proud of, those mistakes that we look back on and think, what was I thinking? So, I could forgive him, as his love for Mary was so evident on the pages as I read his story. I had to forgive him, there was  no other option.

The relationship between the child and their grandparent, I suppose, has been documented countless times in historic literature. Off the top of my head I can think of Great Expectations, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Little Red Riding Hood and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. But when  it comes to modern day literature, then this topic is discussed and written about on a much smaller scale, and less so when the granddaughter is involved. Therefore this book is like a breath of fresh air. It is so original, funny, quirky and at times heartbreakingly sad, but overall the story stays with you, it has an impact upon you, and you cannot help but feel for both Mary and her grandpa and the situation that they find themselves in.

This book is so very special. I have never read a book quite like it. The relationship between grandchild and granddaughter is a special one, and the author has managed to write down and capture the essence of this relationship, in a roller coaster ride of a journey. I think that it was also so very special for me, as it reminded me of my own childhood with my grandfather, now sadly long dead, and the special memories that this book evoked.

Mary's The Name is a  stunning debut novel, and I can't wait to read what Ross Sayers writes next.

With thanks to Cranachan Publishing who provided the paperback for review purposes.

Mary's The Name is published by Cranachan Publishing and can be found on Amazon here.

About the Author

Ross Sayers is a writer of Scottish fiction, and his debut novel, 'Mary's the Name', is released January 30th 2017.

Ross graduated from the University of Stirling in 2014, with a BA (Hons) in English Studies (first class), and graduated again in 2015 with an M.Litt in Creative Writing (distinction).

His stories and poems have featured in magazines such as Quotidian and Octavius, and his short story, 'Dancin' is currently used on West College Scotland's Higher English course.

You can tweet him @Sayers33 or see more of his writing at rosssayers.co.uk.

Love Connection by Camilla Isley

Above Love Connection

 

Gemma's at the airport, staring at two plane tickets to two different cities. Two different weddings. Two different futures. She's at a crossroads.

Be maid of honor at her best friend's wedding or crash her ex's?

Gemma's decision, unknown to her, hinges on a delayed flight and a chance meeting. Now her life is about to go down two parallel tracks--will Gemma fly toward a life with her first love or a future with a man she's not even met yet?

In concurrent storylines, Gemma lives out the consequences of each journey. Different stories unravel with unpredictable outcomes for Gemma and her loved ones. As the alternative realities run their course, humor and romance intertwine raising questions about fate and chance. Will these parallel universes converge? Is true love meant to be? Is everyone destined to have a soul mate? Or are one's cards just a choice away from reshuffling?

Love Connection is a romantic comedy about one woman, life's infinite possibilities, and the destiny that lies beyond two different choices. First Comes Love is a series of interconnected romantic novels. However, each book in the series can be read as a standalone novel.

 

My review of Love Connection

 

Love Connection is a romantic story with a very distinctive voice. So, at the beginning of the book we meet Gemma who is sat at the airport bar, clutching two plane tickets. One will take her to her best friend's wedding, as she is the Maid of Honour, and the second will take her to her ex's wedding. As she sits and contemplates which direction she should go in, I sat and wondered what decision she should make, not knowing which was the right one.  Should she follow her heart or give up on her dreams? So, I was delighted when I was given the opportunity to follow her on both journeys.

 

I am a hopeless romantic at heart, and I do believe in fate and serendipity. I also believe in soul males, and that we all have that special someone who has been made just for us. Therefore this was my perfect novel. It very much reminded me of Sliding Doors, with the two parallel lives, but that is really where the similarly ended. This was such a clever device to use, as I wondered throughout the entire novel what the ending would be for each Gemma in her alternative universe. I wasn't disappointed.

 

What completely amazed me in this story, is that I did not become confused with the two storylines. They are told in alternating chapters, so Maid of Honour Gemma, and then ex boyfriend Gemma. The two storylines are very easy to keep track of with this structure, and I never found myself thinking, which Gemma am I reading about now? More importantly though, the two stories were almost stand alone reads. It really did feel like I was reading two very different novels. I must also write a little bit about how much I loved Gemma. Yes, this is a romantic read, but this is not a story about a weak willed woman. She is a strong and independent woman who is also highly educated. As a lawyer, she is not afraid to speak her mind and fight for what she believes in, and I really admired this trait in her.

 

This novel is very hard to review without giving away major plot spoilers, and I don't want to do that. All I will say is that this book is hugely romantic and that if you love your romance novels and handsome leading men, then you won't be disappointed. I highly recommend Love Connection as a fun and entertaining read that will tug at your heart strings.

 



With thanks to the author who provided a digital review copy of the book.  

 

You can buy Love Connection from Amazon here

 

 

About the author

 

Camilla was born in 1984. She's an engineer who has always had a vivid imagination and a more creative approach to life. After working in a corporate job for some years, she left everything to follow her husband around the world in a new adventure. Upon finding herself with loads of free time for the first time in a long while, she decided to begin pouring some of her fantasies into words...

Sweet Home by Carys Bray

About Sweet Home

 

Meet the little boy who believes in miracles.

Meet the mother who loves to bring babies home from the newborn aisle of her supermarket.

Meet the husband who carves a longed-for baby out of ice as a gift for his wife.

Meet the widow who is reminded of romance whilst standing at the kitchen sink.

In this prize-winning short story collection, Carys Bray weaves together moments of joy, heartache, sadness and unwavering love as told through seventeen very different notions of home.

 

My review of Sweet Home

 

*I listened to the Audible version of this book*

 

Sweet Home is a collection of 17 short stories that all revolve around the central theme of love. But to describe these stories in such a simplistic way does not do them justice. These stories are about the heartache that parents face, those nagging doubts that plague our every day rituals and those dark, dark secrets that none of us ever want to tell. This collection of short stories is honest, fresh and makes you stop and think about life.

 

I love listening to audio books, they keep me company while I am ironing, walking into town and when hovering up copious amounts of Cheerios. But with this book, I could not do anything else. I simply had to sit, sip my coffee and listen. I needed to absorb the words, to fully understand what the narrator was telling me. This book had my undivided attention.

 

These stories speak to the soul. We hear from a boy who is coping with the death of his sister, the woman who buys babies from the supermarket, the woman who yearns for  a baby after a miscarriage and the old woman who builds a house out of sweets and shortbread. All of these stories are very different, all with their own unique tale to tell, but all revolve around love. The love for a son, a daughter, mother, father. The central theme is that of unconditional love.

 

I loved each and every single story, but a few really stood out to me, I think because they spoke to me on some unconscious personal level. It was while I was sat in Sainsbury's café, sipping coffee before I needed to hop on the bus home, that I listened to the story about the mother of a child with Asperger's syndrome. I had to stop drinking my coffee so that I could fully immerse myself in the words. My youngest son has autism, and so from the very beginning of the story I knew that her son was autistic, before even being told. I listened to how she felt, her struggle to make

her son feel accepted and her fight for others to accept him as he was. One scene in particular, where she describes a note pinned to the classroom wall had me choking back tears. A picture of her little boy had been pinned up, while underneath it said that he had Asperger's syndrome. I understood why the mother thought this was so very cruel and rejoiced when she made the teacher in question, take it down.

 

I also felt emotional when listening to the story about the dad who was trying to bring his son back from the depths of drug addiction. His vivid descriptions of the little boy that his son used to be nearly broke my heart. Images of my two little boys flooded my mind.  Who knows how our children will end up?

 

What I don't want to convey is the feeling that these stores are somehow depressing, because they aren't. Although many deal with loss and the insecurities that all parents feel, in listening to these thoughts and feelings, you actually bond with the person who is telling the story. You realise that the thoughts and feelings that you have yourself, are actually ok, that they are human. You realise that it is ok to talk about these feelings, and this is the main point that I want to get across. This book is hugely uplifting. It restores hope. There are also many funny parts in these stories, especially in the descriptions of the children and what children get up to. I was remanded of my own childhood growing up in the north of England, and fond memories came flooding back to me.

 

Sweet Home really is a treat of a book.  I highly recommend it. It gest a whopping 5 stars from me.

 

Sweet Home is available on Audible and Amazon.

 

 

About Carys Bray

 

Carys Bray's debut collection SWEET HOME won the Scott prize and selected stories were broadcast on BBC Radio Four Extra. Her first novel A SONG FOR ISSY BRADLEY was serialised on BBC Radio Four's Book at Bedtime and was shortlisted for the Costa Book Awards and the Desmond Elliott Prize. It won the Utah Book Award and the Authors' Club Best First Novel Award. Her second novel THE MUSEUM OF YOU was published in June 2016.

Carys has a BA in Literature from The Open University and an MA and PhD in Creative Writing from Edge Hill University. Her story 'Codas' will be published in HOW MUCH THE HEART CAN HOLD: SEVEN STORIES ABOUT LOVE in November 2016. She is working on a third novel.

Holiday with the Mystery Italian (Harlequin Romance) by Ellie Darkins

About - Holiday with the Mystery Italian

Winning the ultimate prize

 

Since the accident that paralyzed him, Italian tycoon Mauro Evans vowed to embrace life. So when he stars in a dating show for charity, picking prickly journalist Amber Harris as the winner to take on holiday is a challenge he can't resist!

 

In Amber's experience, relationships equal pain, so she's determined to ignore her attraction to charismatic Mauro. But his bravery and strength threaten to tear down her defenses, giving her a new Christmas dreamringing in the New Year with wedding bells!

 

My review of Holiday with the Mystery Italian

 

 It has been a long time since I have read a Harlequin Romance story, and so when I was offered the chance to read Holiday with the Mystery Italian, I thought to myself, why not? You just know that when you read a Harlequin Romance, that you will enjoy a light, romantic and fun read, and this book certainly lived up that expectation. But the great thing about this book, is that it was also a book with depth and so much more than a light romantic read. I'll try and explain why.

 

Firstly, we have Amber, a journalist and a woman who has vowed never to get involved with a man, ever again. Ah, I thought to myself, so she will be wooed by Mauro and succumb to his charms. But I had assumed incorrectly. This character is a lot more complex that I first expected, and I found myself enjoying her determination, witty repertoire and the fact that she loved her career. She is a strong and independent woman, with a past that she wants to keep hidden. I therefore found her very interesting and wanted to know more about her past and how it had shaped her future.

 

Then we have the rather lovely Italian, Mauro, a Paralympian. Now, as a leading man in a romantic novel, he was a very different kind of leading man, partly because of the fact that he is in a wheelchair. But what I really loved about this book was the way in which disability was discussed between the characters and how it was portrayed by the author. As a reader, I was not made to feel sorry for him, neither did Amber, as that would have made me stop reading immediately. I am very prickly when it comes to how disability is conveyed in books, and I feel that the issue of a leading man, who just happens to be in a wheelchair, was both refreshing and very well written.

 

So yes, Mauro, I have to admit that I fell a little bit in love with him. A caring, kind and very good looking man. But what I loved most about him was the fact that he could see straight through Amber's pretence and the wall that she had built up around herself. He intrigued me and I couldn't' wait to see what would happen romantically between them.

 

This book is perfect as a cosy Christmas read that will most certainly give you that feel good factor. If you love Harlequin Romances, but want something a little bit different, with  a lot of heart and backbone to the story, you can't go far wrong with Holiday with the Mystery Italian. I loved it!

 

Holiday with the Mystery Italian is published  on 6th December by Harlequin Romance. It is available to buy from Amazon here.

 

With thanks to the author and publisher for an Advanced Reader's Copy.

 

About the Author

 

Ellie Darkins spent her formative years devouring romance novels, and after completing her English degree she decided to make a living from her love of books. As a writer and editor her work now entails dreaming up romantic proposals, hot dates with alpha males and trips to the past with dashing heroes. When she’s not working she can usually be found at her local library or out for a run.

 

The Food of Love by Amanada Prowse

About The Food of Love

A loving mother. A perfect family. A shock wave that could shatter everything.

Freya Braithwaite knows she is lucky. Nineteen years of marriage to a man who still warms her soul and two beautiful teenage daughters to show for it: confident Charlotte and thoughtful Lexi. Her home is filled with love and laughter.

But when Lexi’s struggles with weight take control of her life, everything Freya once took for granted falls apart, leaving the whole family with a sense of helplessness that can only be confronted with understanding, unity and, above all, love.

In this compelling and heart-wrenching new work by bestselling author Amanda Prowse, one ordinary family tackles unexpected difficulties and discovers that love can find its way through life’s darkest moments.

My Review of The Food of Love

 

The Food of Love is a poignant, heart wrenching, page turner of a book. Once I started to read, I could not stop. I read this book a few days ago, but I still find myself thinking about the characters and what happened to them. They crawled under my skin, and they are not quite yet ready to let go. Needless to say, I loved this book.

 

The story focusses on an ordinary family, a couple who have been married for nineteen years, and their two teenage daughters. They are a family like any other, and this is what struck me the hardest while reading this book. This family could be my family. I have been married for the same amount of years and I have two boys, albeit much younger. But it is the normality that struck me, and that this normality can be shattered at any moment.

 

Amanda Prowse is an extraordinarily skilled storyteller, in that she can very easily turn the tables on the ordinary and domesticated perfect life. All of the characters within this book have to face some harsh realities, and face up to their weaknesses. In particular, I empathised with the mother in the story, Freya Braithwaite, most probably because she is nearer my age, and a mother. As a mother, I feel like I have to always do the right thing, say the right thing and be the backbone of the family, I very rarely ask for help, and I saw all of these characteristic in Freya. It was throughout the book that she had to question those characteristics, and how she and her family could support her daughter, Lexi.

 

This book is obviously about eating disorders, a taboo that very rarely gets talked about, mainly I feel because there is little understanding. I hold my hands up and state that I know very little abut eating disorders. But now that I have read The Food of Love, I have more understanding about how eating disorders impact both the individual and their family.

 

The Food of Love is such an important book, and I feel that every mother, daughter, auntie and grandma should read this book. No, scrap that, EVERYONE should read this book. It raises the issue  in a sensitive and empathetic manner; of what it means to have an eating disorder, of how it effects the individual and of how that individual and family can gain support.

 

This is a book about love, honesty and the importance of family. I highly recommend it. Everyone needs to read this book.

 

The Food of Love is published on Dec 1st by Lake Union Publishing.

 

With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an Advanced Redder Copy 

           

About Amanda Prowse

 

Amanda Prowse likens her own life story to those she writes about in her books. After self-publishing her debut novel, Poppy Day, in 2011, she has gone on to author twelve novels and six novellas. Her books have been translated into a dozen languages and she regularly tops bestseller charts all over the world. Remaining true to her ethos, Amanda writes stories of ordinary women and their families who find their strength, courage and love tested in ways they never imagined. The most prolific female contemporary fiction writer in the UK, with a legion of loyal readers, she goes from strength to strength. Being crowned ‘queen of domestic drama’ by the Daily Mail was one of her finest moments. Amanda is a regular contributor on TV and radio, but her first love is and will always be writing. You can find her online at www.amandaprowse.com, on Twitter @MrsAmandaProwse, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/amandaprowsenogreaterlove.

Single by Christmas by Rosa Temple

You’ve heard the saying, ‘opposites attract’ haven’t you? Well meet 27 year old Alex Marshall, a party girl with a penchant for free flowing Prosecco, and her devilishly handsome scientist boyfriend, Charlie, who loves jazz and dinner for two.

Alex and Charlie are together for 11 blissful months until Alex goes out of town and does something she will later regret. Was she drunk? You bet. Does she want Charlie to know? Well what do you think?

With the couple about to spend their first Christmas together will Charlie be the forgiving kind or will Alex be Single by Christmas?

This is a feel good, Christmas novel with very few mince pies, not much snow and absolutely no mistletoe – just a couple of best friends, a sociopathic nemesis and a lot of drinking.

My review of Single by Christmas

Single by Christmas begins on Christmas Eve, with Alex Marshall sitting outside a church waiting for her boyfriend Charlie. I loved the opening of this book. It made me winder why she was sitting alone and what would happen next. The real story begins on the first day of December, a month before, with us following Alex through all of December until we come full circle to where she is sat on the bench outside the church.

I really enjoyed this book, although Alex frustrated me, and at times annoyed me. She was not an easy character to like, but it was through her faults that I began to understand her, and ultimately begin to like her.

The story goes that Alex has been dating her scientist boyfriend, Charlie (who I fell in love with instantly) for eleven months. They met and started dating on New Year's Eve. This in itself is the perfect romantic perquisite to any romantic story. However, it is after she makes a trip to Scotland, that is shrouded in secrecy, that her life begins to unravel around her and begins to lose the love of her life. Did I feel sorry for her at this point in the book? Sadly not. I firmly believed that she had brought on all of her troubles by herself, most of which were fueled in a drunken haze. But as the story progressed, my understanding for her behaviour grew and, I began to emphasise with her and then simply wanted her to be happy.

What makes this book so funny though is the number of misunderstanding that take place. In fact the entire book is built upon miscommunication and misunderstandings, as is so much of life. Nobody's life is perfect or runs smoothly, and we are reminded of this while reading Alex's exploits. I think that is why I liked this book so much. It is not your typical warm and fuzzy Christmas read, as it tells a much deeper and raw kind of story - but one that will make you laugh and feel good about life.

Rosa Temple has a very distinctive writing style that is fresh, fest paced and witty. If you want to read a Christmas romantic comedy that is a little bit different - then this is the one for you. You won't be disappointed.


Single by Christmas is available to buy from  Amazon here 

About Rosa Temple

Rosa Temple began writing romantic comedy and chick lit novellas, short stories and books because of her passion for what she calls the 'early chick lit films', like: Sabrina, Barefoot In the Park and Breakfast at Tiffany's. She honed her skills as a ghostwriter, gaining experience writing romance novellas and book series, with sweet themes as well as steamy novels for adult readers.

She now specialises in contemporary romance but prefers to write chick-lit and romantic comedies.
So far, Rosa has published romantic comedy novella, Sleeping With Your Best Friend and the full length novel, Natalie's Getting Married, is published on 14th March 2016.

Rosa Temple is a Londoner and is married with two sons. She reads a wide range of Women’s Fiction and all its sub genres. She is a reluctant keep fit fanatic and doer of housework and insists that writing keeps her away from such strenuous tasks. She spends her days creating characters and storylines while drinking herbal tea and eating chocolate biscuits.

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