These are my favourite reads from November:
Kirsty Greenwood - The Love of My Afterlife
Delphie has lived a reclusive existence, unusual for a twenty-seven-year old woman. Suddently she finds herself in an ante-room for the Afterlife, in the presence of a most unusual being in the shape of a woman called Merritt. But even as she realises that she's dead, she meets the most attractive man she's ever encountered - and he's looking at her with love. When he's sent back to his life (as he's only under anaesthetic) Delphie can't believe that she would meet the Love of Her Life at that inappropriate moment! Merritt devises a plan to send Delphie back to Earth - and if she can find Jonah and he kisses her (intentionally) within seven days, then Delphie can have her life back. Revived and reprieved, she begins a frantic search for the man about whom she knows the bare minimum. At least he lives in London, but as she begins to recruit the workmates and neighbours she's never engaged with previously, she finds that it's a virtually impossible task. Humorous, tender and even outrageous at times, I found this to be an entertaining read, but with an underlying message about not wasting your life. There are lots of red herrings, lessons learned and even an unexpected twist at the end. Does Delphie find Jonah in the end? You'll need to read it to find out!
Nicola Cornick - The Other Gwyn Girl
Another of this author's novels about forgotten women from history, this time the elder sister of Nell Gwyn (the famous mistress of King Charles II). Rose was known to be a thief and married to a highwayman. But Nicola Cornick has delved behind the little that's known of her, and fashioned a sensitive and touching history for Rose. In this time-slip novel, we discover a connection between Rose and Jess, a woman from our own time. Jess is also eclipsed by her younger sister, Tavy, who is a television presenter and influencer. Following the end of a disastrous relationship to a fraudster, Jess is grateful to be offered the chance to live as caretaker for a historic manor house, Paradise Hall, which her sister is supposed to be 'making over' for the television cameras. While her famous sister is sleeping at a fancy hotel and jetting off to social events, Jess lives at the hall and wonders why she keeps seeing glimpses of a past time. When a historic skeleton turns up by the lake, she and the former owner of the hall, Ethan, begin to connect over their love of history as they search for its past. Intriguing, historically vivid, captivating, this book also has glimpses of present day characters from other of the author's novels. Thoroughly enjoyable as always.
Jenny Colgan - The Christmas Book Hunt
This was described on Amazon as a short story, but I would say that rather it is a novella. I know I can go to this author when I want to read an uplifting romantic story. This festive tale is a must for those who love books, and who like a feel-good romance. As Mirren's great aunt Violet only has a short time to live, she wants to make the old lady's final days as kind as possible. All Aunt Isobel desires is to find a special book that she had as a child, that connects her to the father she lost when she was young. Mirren knows that time is limited, so at the darkest time of the year she begins to search second hand bookshops for the rare book - if it actually exists at all. One of her first stops is at Philip Palliser's rare bookshop in the West End of London, where the owner's acquisitory instincts are engaged. He sends his downtrodden nephew Theo to follow Mirren on her hunt. If she does find the book, Theo's instructions are to pay her off for a fraction of its possible value. As Mirren's search widens to all corners of the British Isles, Theo latches on to her and persuades her that it's a coincidence that they're both on a book hunt. Is he a friend or a foe, and if she finds the book, will Mirren be able to keep it from his clutches? Full of lovely book references, bringing up the joy experienced by hunting for delicious finds in second hand bookshops, spiced with all the Christmas spirit of snow and festive accoutrements. A sensitive and satisfying read.