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Posted on 10th January 2017 By Nicola

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shortbookandscribes

Published today! Today feels like one of those bu

Published today!

Today feels like one of those bumper publication days to me. These are the books I have that are being published today.

I've read Lovestruck, Summer at the Ice Cream Cafe and The Moon Gate (reviews up on my grid) and I'm currently reading The Interpreter which is excellent. I'm really looking forward to picking up The Three Graces, The People Watcher and Bad Summer People very soon too.

All in all it's a strong day for new books.

Congratulations to all the authors and thank you to the tagged publishers for the proof copies (and Transworld who aren't on here).
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#BadSummerPeople #SummerAtTheIceCreamCafe #Lovestruck #TheInterpreter #ThePeopleWatcher #TheMoonGate #TheThreeGraces #publicationday #publishedtoday #newbooks #booksread #historicalfiction #crimefiction #thrillerbooks #romance #shortbookandscribes

Ad/PR product. New review: The Moon Gate by Amanda

Ad/PR product. New review: The Moon Gate by Amanda Geard. Published by Headline on 8th June.
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Three timelines: 1939, 1975 and 2004. Each linked by the secrets of the past. Grace Grey leaves her home in London just before the outbreak of World War II to stay at Towerhurst, her uncle's home in Tasmania. A sickly sort of girl, she finds she's brought out of herself by Daniel, a young Irishman that she meets. In 1975 Ben and Willow Andrews inherit Towerhurst and Ben feels a need to uncover the reasons why. In 2004, Libby, Ben and Willow's daughter, leaves Tasmania to travel to London searching for answers about her father's death and what he was looking into before he died.
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A long-forgotten satchel and its contents captured my imagination from the very beginning of this book and I was utterly mesmerised until I turned the final page. The three very distinct timelines felt as though they were slotted together effortlessly and yet I know that to intertwine them so perfectly must have taken Amanda Geard a lot of planning to get right - and just to confirm, she absolutely got it right.
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This is a book that is very intricately plotted and shouldn't be rushed. It's well worth the extra time to become fully immersed in the plot. It's a lengthy read at just over 500 pages but a part of me wanted it to go on forever. I read a lot of books with more than one timeline and I invariably enjoy them, but The Moon Gate gave me a bit extra, it gave me a mystery that unfolded gradually with some lightbulb moments where I had to turn back to see how it all slotted together. I love a book that's like a complex jigsaw puzzle which isn't just handed to me already semi-completed. I also particularly enjoyed the ballads that form links between the timelines.
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The Moon Gate is a stunning piece of historical fiction. I could write so much about this book but all you really need to know is that if you love an involving, moving and beautifully written historical family drama full of intrigue and which pulls together threads that you can't even imagine can be connected then this is the book for you. It will be one of my favourites of this year.
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Thank you to the publishers for the proof.

Ad/PR product. New review: The Unbroken Beauty of

Ad/PR product. New review: The Unbroken Beauty of Rosalind Bone by Alex McCarthy. To be published on 15th June by Doubleday.
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The Unbroken Beauty of Rosalind Bone tells the story of a small village and the secrets of the people who live within it. Cwmcysgod is located in the Welsh valleys and the story is set in 2001. It begins with the tearaway Clements brothers setting fires that lead to consequences not just for them but for all those surrounding them.
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Rosalind Bone was a true beauty, desired by every man who saw her, but her beauty was a curse. She went missing years earlier leaving behind her sister, Mary, who went on to have a daughter, Catrin, who is entranced by the one photo that exists of Rosalind. The family mystery about what happened to her aunt is so intriguing for her.
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There are some really fascinating characters in this book, ones who shape the story and bring the village to life. There’s the local shopkeeper, Mrs Williams, who sees everything that happens, Dai Bevel, a village stalwart with lots to hide, and Mary herself, who never leaves the house and who dwells on the past.
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This novella reminded me of Claire Keegan’s writing, a sparsity to the style that tells the reader so much without being obvious about it. There’s a lot of darkness in the story that became gradually clear to me as I read between the lines and then later, when all was fully revealed it proved the plot to be a clever one with an intensity to the storyline and a melancholy feel to it. The writing is accomplished, compelling and vivid, and when coupled with the strongly-drawn characterisations it makes for an impressive debut from Alex McCarthy.
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Thank you to the publishers for the proof copy of the book.
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#bookreview #TheUnbrokenBeautyOfRosalindBone #novella #welshnovella #Welshbooks #booklover #booklove #fictionlove #fictionlover #booksofinstagram #ilovereading #ilovefiction #ilovebooks #shortbookandscribes

#lastnownextreads 📚 Last: #TheUnbrokenBeautyOf

#lastnownextreads
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Last: #TheUnbrokenBeautyOfRosalindBone by Alex McCarthy - a novella that put me in mind of Claire Keegan.
Now: #TheMoonGate by @amandageard - a beautifully written triple timeline historical fiction story.
Next: #TheInterpreter by Brooke Robinson - a courtroom drama.
📚
What are your Last Now Next reads?
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#TBR #booksread #CurrentlyReading #novella #histfic #historicalfictionbooks #courtroomdrama #lovereading #lovebooks #booksofinstagram #booklover #bookish #bookishreels #shortbookandscribes

May Reads 📚 Another good reading month for me w

May Reads
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Another good reading month for me with some really enjoyable reads and a mixture of genres. Thank you to all the tagged publishers for the proof/review copies (Coronation and Coronation Year were my own purchases).
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What was your favourite May book? Have you read any of mine?
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Books featured:

* Coronation by Paul Gallico
* The Unbroken Beauty of Rosalind Bone by Alex McCarthy
* Unsolved (formerly Unspoken) by Heather Critchlow
* Coronation Year by Jennifer Robson
* Tell Me How This Ends by Jo Leevers
* Lovestruck by Laura Jane Williams
* Palace Rogue by William Coles
* Summer at the Ice Cream Café by Jo Thomas
* The Letter Reader by Jan Casey
* Seahurst by S.A. Harris
* One Puzzling Afternoon by Emily Critchley
* The Minuscule Mansion of Myra Malone by Audrey Burges
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#booksread #Coronation #TheUnbrokenBeautyofRosalindBone #Unsolved #CoronationYear #TellMeHowThisEnds #Lovestruck #PalaceRogue #SummerAtTheIceCreamCafe #TheLetterReader #Seahurst #OnePuzzlingAfternoon #TheMinusculeMansionOfMyraMalone #MayReads #MayReads2023 #May2023Reads #historicalfiction #histfic #historicalfictionbooks #crimefiction #crimebooks #novella #Welshbooks #gothicbooks #royalbooks #royalfiction #shortbookandscribes

Ad/PR product. New review: Lovestruck by Laura Jan

Ad/PR product. New review: Lovestruck by Laura Jane Williams. Published by Century on 8th June.
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Becca Calloway has her life together. She co-owns a successful hair salon with her friend Carlos, and her other friend Jia-Li works with them too. The only thing missing is Mr Right and when they hold a manifestation session at the salon that is what she asks for. When her ex texts her shortly after it seems like a sign but Becca doesn’t know what to do. There’s unfinished business between them but should she answer the text or move on to a new man?
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If you’ve seen the film Sliding Doors you’ll understand the concept of Lovestruck. We see both scenarios and how each one pans out. I thought I knew which option I preferred but even then I was surprised by the turn the story took. I love this concept and it always fascinates me to wonder what would have happened if a different decision had been taken.
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Lovestruck is a light-hearted romance with a fresh and fun feel to it. I didn’t always remember whether something had happened in the timeline where Becca texts back or in the one where she didn’t, but somehow it didn’t matter too much that I couldn’t recall as the story flows really well anyway. I liked the characters, particularly the three main ones mentioned before, and I actually liked both of the potential Mr Rights too (even though I did have a favourite). It’s a fairly lengthy book but I read it really quickly. I found it an easy story to read, it kept me engaged and it felt charming and cute. Lovestruck is one for the romance lovers out there. I certainly enjoyed it.
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Thank you to the publishers for the proof copy (with stencilled and sprayed edges!) of the book.
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#bookreview #Lovestruck #lovestory #romancebooks #romance #romancefiction #slidingdoors #readersofinstagram #ilovebooks #booklove #ilovereading #ilovefiction #bookish #bookishlove #shortbookandscribes

Ad/PR product. New review: Palace Rogue by William

Ad/PR product. New review: Palace Rogue by William Coles. Published by Legend Press and out now.
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Palace Rogue is based on the true story of the tabloid hack who got a job as a Queen’s footman at Buckingham Palace. As a former journalist at The Sun himself, William Coles writes authentically from the point of view of Kim, who infiltrates the palace to obtain a massive scoop and ends up causing a huge security scandal and working in close proximity to Her Majesty. This fictionalised version is absolutely hilarious as Kim doesn’t have that much to lose and doesn’t always toe the deferential line that a Queen’s footman ought to. Tales of ventriloquism featuring the Queen’s beloved corgis had me giggling out loud and some of the staff and their dealings with Kim were hilarious.
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I loved the below stairs (or in this case, above stairs) feel of the story too, with raucous parties, gin-quaffing and all sorts going on between the staff. Buckingham Palace sounds like quite the place to work and I also liked the finer details of life as a member of staff. Kim’s subterfuge forms part of the story but the other part is that of palace maid, Campion, a particular favourite of the Queen. Feisty, fun and quick-witted, Campion is a brilliant character whose story takes quite a turn. The two strands intertwine to make this is a fantastic read which satisfied my love of royalty and scandal. Unsurprisingly, there’s one member of the royal family who doesn’t come out of it too well (I’ll give you one guess) and tales of what went on behind their door were a bit hair-raising to say the least.
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This is such a fresh and funny read, with an unexpected thread of romance running through it. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect but what I got was a book that had a quite mischievous feel to it, was sharp and different, and which I found utterly compelling. I was pleased to see it’s the first in the Rogue series and I very much hope the next book is as good as this one.
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Thank you to the publishers for the review copy of the book.
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#PalaceRogue #bookreview #royalfiction #royalreads #royal #funnybooks #ilovereading #ilovefiction #ilovebooks #booklover #shortbookandscribes

The Company of Heaven by Catherine Fox ✨ I'm on

The Company of Heaven by Catherine Fox
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I'm on the blog tour today for this book and I'm sharing an extract on my blog (I'll put a link in my stories).
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Synopsis:
2020 and sadly the Tales from Lindford came to an end, but the pandemic did not, and neither did the lives of our valiant Lindchester community. Return to Lindchester once more with The Company of Heaven, the fifth in the beloved series of novels from Catherine Fox.

Valiantly written in real time in the midst of the pandemic, this entertaining book captures the difficulties of 2021 with heart, humour and insight. Perfect for Lindchester fans, it’s also the ideal novel for anyone seeking comfort and a way of understanding all that has happened.

In The Company of Heaven, we re-join our Lindchester friends on Easter Monday 2021, just as the third lockdown in our Covid winter of discontent draws to a close. The new paschal candles have been lit. The endless snowy ghastliness of January, February, and March are behind us now.

Shake out your wings and fly once more across the Diocese of Lindfordshire, as we launch out on Pandemic, Part II. We will catch up with old friends and make new ones. Skeletons will tumble from cupboards, and not everyone will behave themselves as well as they ought (this is Lindchester after all).

A twenty-first century Barchester that fans of Barbara Pym and the BBC’s Rev will love, this new volume in the Lindchester Chronicles is contemporary Christian fiction at its finest. Sharp-eyed, witty and compassionate, Catherine Fox once again helps us make sense of real-life events and challenges, while weaving through a series of heart-stopping storylines. The Company of Heaven will make you laugh, cry and leave you with hope that grace can be found even in the darkest times.
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#extract #bookextract #TheCompanyOfHeaven #BlogTour #shortbookandscribes

Ad/PR product. New review: Summer at the Ice Cream

Ad/PR product. New review: Summer at the Ice Cream Cafe by Jo Thomas. Published by Transworld and out in paperback on 8th June (eBook out now).
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Beca Valentino left her childhood home town in West Wales years ago but is now ready to come home. She manages to buy a house she always liked and decides to foster children. When she was young her Italian grandparents owned an ice cream café and Beca’s childhood memories are entwined with it so to see it’s been taken over and made into a wine bar really niggles at her. A chance situation, her Nonna’s old recipes and the help of friends, old and new, see Beca turning her hand to making gelato of her own.
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I absolutely adored this book, just completely loved it. Jo Thomas always sells me a dream in her stories but this one in particular felt like I was there with the characters and could so easily imagine the town, the beach, the whole set-up. I really enjoyed the ice cream making and the pop up café that Beca sets up. I found myself wishing it was real and I could stroll along the cliff path and stop for a delicious treat. There were so many delectable flavours on offer!
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It’s not all about the gelato though. This is Beca’s homecoming and it’s not always easy. Small town gossips struggle to accept her as a local but equally so, she’s not one of the incomers, the second-home owners from the city. Her old friend, Griff, is a big help to her and I thought he was a fabulous character. I also loved the boys Beca ends up fostering.
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The whole feel of this book was just delicious and I felt like I could have read on forever but all good things do need to come to an end. As always, I closed it with a sense of not only satisfaction, hunger and wanderlust, but knowing that I’d spent my time reading something that utterly captivated me and transported me thoroughly to my literary destination. Summer at the Ice Cream Café is actual perfection and I loved every bit of it.
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Thank you @beckyhunterbooks for the proof.
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#BookReview #SummerAtTheIceCreamCafe #feelgoodfiction #foodfiction #lovelybooks #walesbooks #pembrokeshire #ilovefiction #ilovebooks #ilovereading #booklover #booklove #bookish #shortbookandscribes

Some of my reviews from this month so far. I enjoy

Some of my reviews from this month so far. I enjoyed all of these books.

#CoronationYear #Coronation #Unsolved #OnePuzzlingAfternoon #Seahurst #TheLetterReader #booksread #bookreviews #shortbookandscribes

Ad/PR product. New review: The Letter Reader by Ja

Ad/PR product. New review: The Letter Reader by Jan Casey. Published by Aria and out now.
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The Letter Reader takes place during the Second World War and in 1967. The difference between the life of the protagonist, Connie, in each timeline is stark. In 1941 Connie joins the WRNS and is surprised when she is chosen to be a letter censor, being one person in a huge team that reads every letter posted and checks for not only sensitive information but also codes and secret messages.
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Jump forward to 1967 and Connie lives a dull life with her husband, Arthur, in Doncaster. Her only thrill is running to catch up with her younger neighbours for a chat and being invited to their coffee morning. Her life is completely stymied by Arthur’s control over her and whilst he is not a cruel man he likes everything done in a certain way to a certain routine, his mantra being that he did not fight in a war so his wife could……insert anything that Connie might possibly find fulfilling.
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This dual timeline work of historical fiction felt a bit different to me. I’d never really thought about the role of the letter censor but inevitably Connie finds that some letters she reads never leave her and in her stultifying life in Doncaster, knowing the outcome of what she read becomes almost an obsession for her. The exciting wartime work almost takes a back seat to what the book truly addresses: the control that Arthur has over Connie. I was longing for her to tell Arthur to take a running jump but a small part of me understood that perhaps there was more to it, not least a sign of the times the characters were living in and the long-lasting effects of fighting a war.
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I enjoyed The Letter Reader. I found it fascinating to read of Connie’s responsibilities in the WRNS and both timelines felt very real and well-portrayed. I really felt for Connie and was longing for a good ending to her story. I actually found myself moved by the conclusion and on the whole this was an engaging read.
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Thank you to the publishers for the review copy of the book.
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#bookreview #TheLetterReader #historicalfictionbooks #histfic #historicalfiction #warfiction #worldwar2 #shortbookandscribes

Ad/PR product. New review: Seahurst by S.A. Harris

Ad/PR product. New review: Seahurst by S.A. Harris. Published by Salt Publishing and out now.
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Seahurst opens with a sinister prologue set in 1286 which gives an insight into what is in store for the reader. Then the modern day storyline begins in which Evie and her son leave Canada and Evie’s controlling partner behind and head to the Suffolk coast to spend New Year with her half-brother Luke at Seahurst, the house their father built around ancient ruins. Bizarrely, there’s no sign of Luke when they arrive and his absence soon sets the scene for more sinister happenings. Something ancient is out to get them!
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Seahurst is an eerie and chilling story. There were quite a few times that I shuddered and I’m surprised I didn’t have weird dreams whilst I was reading it. Evie and Alfie stay at the house and the fact that Luke is missing is not the only strange thing to happen to them there. The whole place gave me the creeps and the stormy weather outside added another layer of anticipation and tension.
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I found this to be an extremely atmospheric and creepy read with an unfolding sense of mystery and apprehension throughout. SA Harris does an excellent job with her books (I can recommend Haverscroft also), conveying so well the sense of a place you really wouldn’t want to visit. The plotting is tight and the writing is taut. I found this to be a book that required concentration as Harris sometimes feeds information into the story and then explains it later, but I was rewarded with an unsettling story that gripped me and a setting that felt as much a character as any of the others. Seahurst is an excellent gothic read.
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Thank you to @richardson_helen and @saltpublishing for the review copy and the place on the #BlogTour .
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#bookreview #Seahurst #creepyreads #grippingreads #unsettlingreads #gothicfiction #gothicfictionbooks #readersofinstagram #booklover #ilovefiction #ilovebooks #booklove #lovereading #lovefiction #lovebooks #shortbookandscribes

Ad/PR product. New review: One Puzzling Afternoon

Ad/PR product. New review: One Puzzling Afternoon by Emily Critchley. Published 25th May by Zaffre.
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If a book is described as being for fans of Joanna Cannon and Elizabeth is Missing (by Emma Healey) then I’m pretty certain I’m going to want to read it. One Puzzling Afternoon very much fits into this description.
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The scenes swap between 2018 and 1951. In the 2018 storyline Edie is 84 and becoming more and more confused. One day, she gets a glimpse of her friend, Lucy, who disappeared when they were both 15 in 1951. Edie knows that the mystery of what happened to Lucy was never solved and she knows that now is the time for her to find out.
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Edie narrates both timelines and it’s clear that in 2018 she’s getting very muddled. Emily Critchley does an amazing job at portraying this both sympathetically and truthfully. The inner workings of Edie’s mind are all there on the page and because of this she’s unreliable. This is where the 1951 timeline fills in all the blanks and interweaves perfectly with Edie’s current situation to gradually give us the full picture of what happened in the run-up to Lucy’s disappearance.
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The images of Edie’s youth are so evocative of the early after-war years and I was transported back to a time when so much was still on ration. Edie’s mother holds séances and tells fortunes to make ends meet and Edie’s home and school life were described so well that the 1950s just came alive.
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One Puzzling Afternoon is a beautiful book, poignant and moving, with Edie’s memories fluttering away one by one, irretrievable as they go. I love a dual timeline story, especially when there’s a mystery involved, and the mystery in this book is a clever one. This is an extremely accomplished debut adult novel that really hit the spot for me. I loved it.
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Thank you to the publishers for the proof copy of the book.
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#bookreview #OnePuzzlingAfternoon #dualtimeline #dualtimelinenovels #booksofinstagram #booksread #ilovefiction #ilovebooks #booklover #booklove #bookish #bookishlove #shortbookandscribes

11th May publications...... maybe. 📚 This stack

11th May publications...... maybe.
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This stack is books that I thought were being published today but I only realised yesterday that my current read, One Puzzling Afternoon, is now being published on 25th May which does at least mean I'll have read it early for once. I'm loving what I've read so far.
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I've read Unsolved (formerly Unspoken) which was brilliant, and reviewed it earlier today.
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I'm really looking forward to reading all of the other books which look fabulous. Congratulations to all the authors and publishers and thank you for the review copies.
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#Unsolved #CallTime #TheLostDiaryOfSamuelPepys #TheLetterReader #TheCassandraComplex #OnePuzzlingAfternoon #newbooks #publicationday #shortbookandscribes

Ad/PR product. New review: Unsolved by Heather Cri

Ad/PR product. New review: Unsolved by Heather Critchlow.
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I’m a sucker for a podcast novel. I’m not sure why as I never listen to podcasts but I find them a really fascinating focus for a crime novel.
🎙️
In Unsolved, Cal Lovett is the presenter of a true crime investigative podcast in which he tries to find out what happened to people who have gone missing. When Cal was a child his older sister, Margot, disappeared and it’s clear that it is this that is driving his need to help others who are missing loved ones. He decides to investigate a missing woman in Scotland and heads there to look into what happened 35 years earlier.
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Unsolved is a truly gripping read which I flew through. There’s something about the combination of the cold case in Scotland, the modern day podcast and Cal’s own experience that makes for the perfect crime novel. The writing is sympathetic towards the loved ones of the missing women, the desire to know what happened fighting against the need not to know, and it gave me lots to think about as well as being a rollicking good suspense. I loved the red herrings and the plot twists, and the small-town Scottish setting, where everybody knows everybody else and not much happens to excite a young woman yearning for more.
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I’m really pleased that this is the first of a trilogy featuring Cal Lovett. He’s a character with depth, lots bubbling away under the surface, and the ending of Unsolved made me eager to know what happens next. This is a brilliant debut novel, tense, dark and beautifully written.
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Thank you to the publishers for the proof copy of the book.
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#bookreview #Unsolved #podcast #podcastbooks #podcastfiction #crimebooks #crimebooksofinstagram #crimefiction #crimebooklover #shortbookandscribes

New review: Coronation by Paul Gallico. Published

New review: Coronation by Paul Gallico. Published by Bloomsbury and out now.
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2023 is not the first time I’ve read Coronation by Paul Gallico. I first read this story about Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953 back in 2012 and as King Charles III was about to be crowned I couldn’t resist a reread. I found it just as lovely the second time around.
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It’s a short book at around 150 pages but it’s packed with atmosphere, and the highs and lows of a momentous day for the Clagg family, a working-class family from Sheffield. Given the choice of travelling to London for the day for the coronation or having their annual two weeks in Morecambe, they decide to go for the once in a lifetime trip to London. They manage to get a special spot to watch the procession whilst imbibing champagne and being waited on, something that for Violet and Will, their two children, Johnny and Gwenny, and Violet’s mother, Granny Bonner, is an unimaginable treat. Unfortunately, things don’t go to plan on the day and all the way through I was wondering if the day could be salvaged or not.
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The story is very evocative of an era when what seem like simple pleasures to us now were not so easy to come by. It’s crammed with patriotism, the dreams and hopes of the children, and the weight of failure on the adults, Will in particular. Happily, it ends on a nice note and I found myself smiling quite a lot towards the conclusion. With well-drawn characters who I could picture trudging the streets of London with their excitement ebbing away, and a reminder to try and see the joy in even the most trying situations, Coronation is a gentle delight of a read.
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#bookreview #Coronation #coronation1953 #London #histfic #historicalfictionbooks #historicalfiction #royalfiction #royalreads #ilovefiction #ilovebooks #Sheffield #booklover #booklove #bookishlove #bookish #shortbookandscribes

New review: Coronation Year by Jennifer Robson. Pu

New review: Coronation Year by Jennifer Robson. Published by Headline and out now.
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It’s London in 1953: Coronation Year. The book begins on 1st January with Edie Howard, the owner of the Blue Lion hotel, looking forward to the year ahead but knowing it’s going to be hard work. She needs to turn around the Blue Lion’s fortunes and as it has a coveted position right on the Coronation procession route she knows she has something unique to offer potential guests.
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The Blue Lion is a brilliantly drawn establishment (the illustration at the beginning is also quite literally brilliantly drawn). It has residents who live there all the time, along with people who come to stay for shorter lengths of time for holidays. I found it really easy to imagine the look, the feel, the smell of the hotel, the wonderful breakfasts that Cook manages to make, even though so much is still on the ration, and the quite eccentric residents in situ about the place.
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Edie Howard is only one of the three main characters. The others are Stella Donati, a young Italian photographer taking her first job as such at Picture Weekly, and James Geddes, a talented artist of Scottish/Indian heritage which doesn’t always get him the best reception in 1950s England. The stories of the three characters are woven together perfectly and I found them such engaging creations.
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At the heart of the book is a plot to spoil everything that Edie has worked for and it adds a touch of intrigue and excitement to the storyline that mostly revolves around planning for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. I was transported completely to 1953 London, the difficult after-war years mingling with the growing excitement of a new Elizabethan age.
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Coronation Year was everything I hoped it would be and more besides. It’s absolutely my favourite kind of historical fiction, based around some real events, with a royal theme and several different strands coming together. This is my first book by this author but I do also have The Gown and looking at her other books I think I’d like them all. I do hope for more royal stories in the future too. I absolutely adored this book which utterly captivated and delighted me.

Coronation Ready 👑 I think I'm all set for the

Coronation Ready
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I think I'm all set for the Coronation today. I have:
🇬🇧 My Coronation official souvenir programme.
🇬🇧 Coronation themed reading.
🇬🇧 Coronation buns.
🇬🇧 Coronation ale (actually my partner's 😉).
🇬🇧 My Long Live the King Coronation jigsaw from @theoriginaljigsawco.
🇬🇧 A flag to wave!

I'm reading Coronation Year by Jennifer Robson at the moment and I LOVE it! I've actually read Coronation by Paul Gallico before but I thought it was a good time for a reread. The Coronation Party looks right up my street too.
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Will you be watching the Coronation?
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Ad/PR product. New review: Tell Me How This Ends b

Ad/PR product. New review: Tell Me How This Ends by Jo Leevers. Published by Lake Union and out now.
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Tell Me How This Ends is a charming debut novel which had many qualities that I enjoy in a book. What mainly attracted me was the plot with Henrietta listening to and transcribing people’s life stories, often those who are terminally ill. So many stories are forgotten and I love the idea of memories being recorded to make life story books. The other side of the plot is that of Annie who is telling her story to Henrietta. She’s never been able to get over the disappearance of her sister many years earlier and Henrietta turns into a bit of a detective on her behalf.
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The two main characters are such well-drawn creations. Henrietta is very formal, very precise and very awkward and I had to smile at her behaviour and the way she speaks to people. I loved her little smelly dog, Dave! There’s a lot lying under the surface with her though, and her interactions with Annie draw much of it out into the open. Annie has such a sad story and something about her touches Henrietta and her tenacity is just what is needed to try and find the ending to Annie’s life story. The two strands are intertwined beautifully.
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This is a book full of heart. It’s sad in many ways, but ultimately it’s also uplifting. I really enjoyed the mystery element and how that particular plotline unfolded, along with the gradual but long overdue blossoming of Henrietta. It’s a story of friendships, family and finding your place in the world. I’ll be looking out for more from Jo Leevers as this is such a strong debut with a quirky yet relatable storyline and characters that I couldn’t help but love.
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Thank you @fmcmassociates for the place on the #BlogTour and for arranging my copy of the book.
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Ad/PR product. New review: The Brink by Jamie Fewe

Ad/PR product. New review: The Brink by Jamie Fewery. Published by Legend Press today!
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The Brink begins with married couple, Dan and Anya, starting two days of mediation to help them have a more holistic approach to their impending divorce. The idea behind this is to help them agree the terms of their split in a friendly manner, ‘agree’ being the key word here. There are chapters set in the present and then we go back in time to what led them to split up, how they met, their wedding, children and other pivotal moments from their shared life.
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This book is an anatomy of a marriage. It considers all the ways that a couple are familiar with each other and how, no matter what happens, that can’t be taken away. Dan and Anya are intrinsically linked, even more so because they have children together. Now they are at the brink of ending it all, going through everything with a fine-toothed comb means they both start to look at their divorce in a different way and question whether what they are doing is the right thing. As Dan says when they talk about how he knew exactly what to order for Anya from the curry house, it’s intimate knowledge, unique to them.
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I really enjoyed The Brink. I’m not sure why but I was expecting something a bit more light-hearted, perhaps comedic, but this book was more of an in-depth look at a relationship and everything that can go wrong….and right. Dan and Anya are well-drawn characters, and I could understand their actions even if at times I didn’t agree with them. They felt very real and relatable, and the ups and downs of life are portrayed really well. This book felt a bit different, a love story told in reverse.
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Thank you to the publishers for the proof copy of the book.
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