June Books

 These are my favourite reads from June:

Michael Ball - The Empire

I wasn't sure what to expect from a Novel written by a celebrity - but I absolutely loved this. The story follows Jack who had been a prisoner of war during World War I. His parents died while he was a prisoner of war, but now he's home and decides to follow the advice his mother left him in a letter. She suggested that he should find Lady Lillian Lassiter, as the two women had known each other when they were young. Lillian is the widow of the owner of The Empire, an impressive Victorian theatre. Jack is immediately captivated by the theatre, and takes a job as stage doorman. An added attraction is Grace, assistant to the Theatre Manager, Mr. Mangrave. Jack is longing to get to know her better, but he's penniless and at that moment is also homeless. As he gets drawn into theatre life, Jack knows he's found his place in the world. But soon the Empire is in trouble as a rival begins to sabotage their business. Unable to hire their regtular acts, they have to come up with some alternative ideas. But there are more sinister undercurrents, and secrets to be revealed. Full of authentic backstage atmosphere, colourful characters and a great story.

Mary Ellen Taylor - The Brighter the Light

This intriguing dual-time novel is set in North Carolina. Ivy has returned to the Outer Banks, a chain of islands off the North Carolina Coast, to prepare her recently deceased grandmother Ruth's house for sale. The Seaside Resort, a holiday park run by Ruth's family, has already been sold to a local builder. Ivy left the area as a teenager to pursue her dream of becoming a chef in New York. She knows that while she's here she will have to face her ex-boyfriend Matthew, and her closest schoolfriend, Dani, and face the fact that she let them down. She also has to forge a new path herself, as she's lost her job. On the nearby beach, an old shipwreck has been uncovered by a recent violent storm, which locals believe is the portent of great change. As Ivy sorts through her grandmother's belongings, and the piles of stuff that had been rescued from the resort, she begins to uncover more about Ruth's past. We are led through scenes of Ruth's summer of 1950 at the Seaside Resort, when she's fifteen, when the wreck is also exposed on the beach. Ruth knows she's adopted, and daydreams about who her real parents are - could her mother be Carlotta, the glamorous singer who is performing at the Resort for a few weeks? Gradually as significant events happen in each timeline, the secrets are unravelled down the years. A novel that keeps the pages turning.

Travis Nelson - Sigrid Rides

This is a fascinating non-fiction book, the story of an American IT man living with his wife and two cats in London. The book is advertised as the story of a social media sensation, how Travis explored London by bike with his deaf Norwegian forest cat, Sigrid, accompanying him in her specially adapted cat-basket. But it goes deeper than that when we learn about Travis's story. There's more drama involved when the world goes into Lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic, and he has to face a difficult present and an uncertain future. He describes in detail how Sigrid began accompanying him on his bike rides, and how the videos he posted on social media went unexpectedly viral, bringing joy to so many others during difficult times. To me as a cat lover it was mesmerising, though I couldn't imagine taking any of my cats, present or past, out on a bicycle! Sigrid is certainly unique, and clearly enjoyed her excursions, not knowing how much she touched the hearts others. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

May Books

The books that I most enjoyed reading in May are:

Amanda James - A Stitch in Time

When history teacher Sarah meets attractive gardener John Needler, she has no idea how much her life is going to change. He tells her that she's a 'Stitch', someone who can be sent back in time to save the life of a person who is important to the future of humanity. John is a 'Needle', one whose job is to facilitate her missions and help her out if necessary. He's guided by faceless beings who also choose the candidates for Stitches. Sarah decides to take the plunge, as she's in a bit of a rut in her life, and feels she could do with some excitement. As she's whisked back in time and lives through a crucial time in the lives of other Sarahs, her knowledge of history and her intuition guides her to the people she's been sent to save. Her adventures are vividly depicted as we see her adapting quickly to her new circumstances - it's a page-turning read for anyone who likes history with a quirk. The heroine is feisty and opinionated, but warm-hearted and dedicated to completing her missions responsibly. But she also has a rebellious streak which eventually leads her into trouble, and she has some hard decisions to make about where her true feelings lie. Can she find a meaningful relationship for herself amidst all the chaos of her new calling, or must she choose to let it go to protect herself and others? A delightfully different novel. 

Patricia Wilson - Villa of Secrets

This dual-time family novel was a riveting read for me. Set on the Greek island of Rhodes, Naomi has her hands full looking after her elderly grandmother, Bubba, who is recovering from a stroke. Meanwhile she misses her husband, Costa, who's working on a cruise ship, and her two sons who are off at university. Naomi's younger sister Rebecca lives in London and is estranged from the family, who disapprove of her Austrian husband. But Bubba is determined to shake things up by having Naomi send Rebecca a shocking parcel, followed by a diary from her wartime experiences. As Naomi reads the diary, her grandmother - real name Dora - comes to life as a sixteen-year-old Jewish girl who ends up fighting to end the war in the hope that her family can be saved from the Nazi work camps. Dora had to grow up quickly, and perform desperate deeds in her quest for survival and for peace. In modern times, as Rebecca also begins to read the diaries, the two sisters become connected again. Both Naomi and Rebecca must reach deep into their hearts to rebuild their love and find a way to restore their family's legacy, while they learn to see their beloved grandmother in a new light. Many shocking secrets emerge while they strive to build their own future. A fascinating story which has roots in stories from real life. An excellent read.  

Maggie O'Farrell - The Marriage Portrait

This is a beautifully written novel, a reimagining of the story of Lucrezia, a noblewoman of Florence who becomes Duchess of Ferrara in 15th century Italy. She's only fifteen when she marries Duke Alfonso, who is twenty seven. He was originally engaged to her elder sister, Maria, who died - but to preserve the alliances, the Duke requests Lucrezia to take her place. The novel opens when Lucrezia is sixteen, staying with Alfonso at one of his hunting lodges, far from the main court. She gets a sudden, certain feeling that he intends to have her killed. Her story is built by flashbacks to her life growing up in Florence. Lucrezia is unlike her brothers and sisters, a gifted artist who sees into the very heart of the things she loves to paint. Through the author's detailed and descriptive prose, we see the world through this special young woman's eyes, feeling her every emotion, living her fears and joys. We watch her develop from innocent young bride into an intuitive woman as the caring mask of her handsome husband crumbles to reveal the darkness of his true nature. We are pulled into every essence of this era in Italy, so beautifully depicted. The reader is kept in suspense as she lives in the fear of his ultimate power over her. There's a clever twist at the end that gives the novel an extra special magic. 

April books

 My favourite reads from April are:

Christina Courtenay - Highland Storms

I've read and enjoyed this author's Viking time-slip novels, but this is the first of her Scottish historical romances that I've investigated. It's a boy-meets-girl romp in the past, but with plenty of historical authenticity. Following the 1745 Jacobite rebellion, Brice's Scottish father took the family to safety in his mother's country, Sweden, where he's grown to adulthood. When Brice's intended bride jilts him in favour of his brother, he returns to his boyhood home in Scotland to take over his duties as its Laird. His father signed over the castle to him years earlier to prevent it being confiscated. The land should be thriving, but it soon becomes clear that the estate is being robbed. Arriving incognito, Brice meets Marsali, the young housekeeper who is the illegitimate daughter of the previous Laird, his father's cousin. Courageous Marsali is troubled by the unwanted attentions of the the factor, Seton. Determined to buy back his own estates that he lost following the rebellion, the factor employs desperate measures to try and do away with the new Laird. Brice, meanwhile, is seriously attracted to Marsali. While misunderstandings abound, Seton strives to free himself of Brice and force Marsali under his will. Plenty of action, historical background and matters of the heart. Well-written and entertaining.

Dodie Bishop - The Violin Maker's Wife

This is an interesting and imaginative re-telling of the life of Katarina, daughter of an Austrian military commander living in Cremona, Italy. The 18th Century is vividly brought to life as the girl begins violin lessons with young Giuseppe Guarneri, son of a local violin maker. As Katarina falls in love with music and the violin, her heart is also engaged by the brilliant boy who is just a few years her senior. They find a deep bond in their love of music, but Katarina's father has other ideas for her future.Giuseppe's violin-making talent soon flowers into something exceptional. When Katarina is of marriagable age, she's introduced to a young Austrian from her father's regiment, Johannes Horak. They become good friends, and she accepts his proposal of marriage, knowing it's an excellent match. She travels to his home to be prepared for marriage by his mother, as her own died when she was small. But her fiancee's family frown upon women performing music. She will have to give up so much to make this marriage. But a surprise visit on the day of her wedding turns everything on its head. A wonderful story imagined by the author from the bare bones of Katarina's life that are historically recorded, as she throws over convention for a marriage founded in deep love. The novel is written in an engaging way that plunges the reader into the era. An enticing novel for someone like me who is a musician, but also excellent for fans of history and vivid storytelling.

Dani Atkins - Always You and Me

This is a wonderful exploration of a love triangle, tender and heartfelt. When Lily's growing up, she meets moody but emotionally fragile Josh, who is fostered by her neighbours. The two develop a deep friendship. They never acknowledge anything deeper until the neighbours move away, taking Josh with them. On the point of his departure, their attraction bubbles to the surface, but he still leaves, with no promises to keep in touch. As the years go by she hears nothing from him. Then she meets Adam, loving and kind, and they fall in love. Surprisingly they bump into Josh and the friendship ignites once more. Despite Josh's presence in her life again, Lily knows that Adam is the man who can give her everything, especially a secure relationship and a family. But life doesn't turn out the way they had planned. A big quarrel with Josh on the eve of her wedding leaves her feeling let down. Several years later, Adam tells her she must go to Josh and find out the real reason for this. What hasn't he told her? While Lily's heart is breaking, she finally sets out to find Josh. When the truth of the past is finally revealed, she has some difficult choices to make. I was totally engaged throughout the whole novel, experiencing Lily's conflicting emotions as she goes through this journey of discovery. A beautiful novel.

March books

These are my best reads from March:

Anita Abriel - The Life She Wanted

This American historical novel was absolutely captivating. In the early decades of the twentieth century, Pandora's father is a former tennis professional. But after suffering an injury in World War I and his wife's desertion, he's been earning his living as a coach to the family of rich real estate family. Pandora grows up almost as a member of the family, and the children of the house, Archie and Virginia, are her best friends. It seems natural to assume that Archie's friend will propose to her, and the life she wants as a rich woman and aspiring fashion designer will fall into her lap. When her hopes are dashed, it looks like she'll have to learn to type and get a boring secretarial job after all. Suddenly a new vista opens up, and her dreams seem to be coming true at last. But all is not as it seems. As everything begins to fall apart, Pandora has some difficult decisions to make, and her rash mistakes threaten to destroy her desired future and hurt the people she loves most. A wonderful snapshot of a seminal time in American history, when prohibition still reigns, where women are striving to escape from subjection to men, and society has strict rules that only the most courageous dare to challenge.Wonderfully drawn characters - an absolute jewel of a novel.

Victoria Connelly - The Way to the Sea

Cate has fled from her abusive husband with her young daughter, Eliza. Her friend Allie has found her a job as housekeeper to Charles, a palaeontoligist who lives on the Dorset coast. Charles is disconcerted by her unexpectedly bringing a child to the house, but agrees to a trial month. Eliza is unlikely to be noisy, as she hasn't spoken for months following an unnamed trauma. As the three of them begin a tentative co-existence in the old house, Cate and Eliza begin to appreciate the fascination of fossils while treading carefully with their reclusive new employer. As the secret of the locked room and its tragic meaning for Charles unfolds, the three of them begin a healing journey together. But danger is always at the back of Cate's mind, and the sorrow at her daughter's continuing silence. Have they really escaped their nemesis - and will Charles ever recover from the tragedy in his past? A sympathetically written story, with a dramatic finish.

Lauren Forry - The Launch Party

A murder mystery set on the moon - a novel that includes sci fi and crime, two of my favourite genres! I just had to dive into this and I wasn't disappointed. In the near future, ten people are selected from a lottery to be the first ever guests at the luxury Hotel Artemis, also the first hotel to be built on the moon. Among them is London Met detective, Penelope, who entered the competition to take her away from the guilt of a failed case that she believed was her fault. The other nine are from different parts of the globe, varying in ages and career. It's disconcerting when they arrive to find that there are no staff in the hotel, and the two PR women who took care of them on the space flight have vanished along with the returning space ship. When one of the guests is found dead the next morning, it's clear that it's murder. Penelope inevitably becomes the chief investigator while they send a distress call to Earth, which will take days to elicit a response. She recruits former investigative journalist, Tanya, to assist her. Any of the other hotel guests could be the perpetrator. As the mystery deepens and danger lurks at every corner, it's compounded by the fact that they are in a sealed container in space, with no backup from the authorities on Earth. Good characterisation, a gripping tale, and all the science reads as plausible to me, though I'm not an expert! 

February books

My favourites this month are:

Daisy James - Escape to the Hummingbird Hotel

This is a new author for me, and I shall certainly look out for more of her feelgood novels! Abi is unexpectedly left a property in Corfu by her aunt, whom she'd never met because due to a mysterious family estrangement. Following a disastrous romance, Abi decides to take a holiday there to deal with selling the property. The money would mean she could buy her dream cottage in England and pursue her ideal career as a botanist. The Hummingbird Hotel is not at all what she expected, nestled in the Corfu countryside next to an extensive vineyard. It's a place for retreats, enriching courses and relaxation. She finds herself immediately on the wrong foot with the vineyard's owner, Nico. As Abi begins to fall in love with the peace and beauty of the island and make friends with the locals, she's also finding her emotions are being stirred by the handsome Nico who seems to have some troubling issues in his past. Abi begins to question her intention to sell the hotel, realising it would cause many problems for the people she has grown to care for. But if she stays, will it be the end of her own dreams? Atmospheric, and a wonderful escapist read during the dark months of a British winter.

Faith Hogan - The Bookshop Ladies

I always enjoy Faith Hogan's novels. This is another set in her fictional Irish seaside town of Ballycove, and I spotted one or two characters from her previous books. In The Bookshop Ladies, American Joy has recently lost her Parisian art dealer husband. On his deathbed he shocked her by revealing that he has a daughter. This is heartbreaking for Joy, as the two of them were childless. She discovers that he's left his daughter Robyn a painting, which on impulse she decides to take to her in Ballycove. She finds the young woman to be lacking in confidence and pining with unrequited love. Robyn also has no idea of her origins. Before Joy can reveal who she is, a misunderstanding leads her to become a volunteer in the old bookshop that Robyn has just taken over. Against all the odds, Joy takes to her husband's daughter, and realises that she can help her with the dilapidated and financially failing bookshop. But when Robyn's mother Fern arrives in a state of despair, it is inevitable that secrets will be revealved. All three women are caught up in the life of the bookshop, and soon their long-held ideas about life, love, friendship and family are challenged. Warm-hearted and uplifting.

Diane Saxon - The Good Twin

This English thriller had me hooked. Twins Summer and Skye lost their mother due to a brain haemorrhage not long before they were due to go to university. Summer bows to her father's wish to defer her place and stay at home to help their twelve year old sister Jade in the aftermath of this tragic event. But her twin Skye takes chooses to go to university. When Summer disappears with no warning, the family concludes she must have run off, unable to cope. They don't realise that she's been taken, and is being held prisoner. The novel unfolds in two timelines, and from two points of view. We see Summer in her prison, suffering at the hands of her attacker who is only known as L.J. Then seven years on, we see her family beginning to move on. Jade is at university, Skye has her own flat and a dog, and a failed relationship. But most importantly, it's their father's wedding day, to Martha. At the last minute before they leave for the church, Skye answers a call to their house phone, and the torment of her twin's disappearance bursts back into her life. High in suspense, the reader is pulled along in a breathtaking ride as clue after clue begins to surface, and danger stalks Skye as well as her twin. Compelling right to the last page.

January books

My best reads from January are:

Shari Low - One Year After You

The novel follows a dramatic day in the lives of three people in Glasgow. It's the anniversary of Tress's husband Max's death, and her son Buddy's first birthday. She's determined to make it the best day possible for her little boy, and not associate it with anything dark. Noah was Matt's best friend, and remains Tress's constant support and friend. But they have another bond - Matt's death revealed that he and Noah's wife Anya had been having a long-term secret affair. Anya survived the accident, but Noah and Tress have had to come to terms with their betrayal. Tress's friends are trying to persuade her to begin dating again, and she's wondering whether it's time to take the plunge. Meanwhile Odette is a sixty-nine year old actress, stalwart of the local soap, The Clydeside. Now she's been written out of the show, shooting her final scenes that day. On her mind is the guilt of a bad deed she did as a young woman, and she's determined to try and put things right. Tress recently started work as a designer on the set. As Tress, Noah and Odette's stories begin to collide, old and new problems surface and bring the day to a dramatic climax, when nothing will ever be the same again. An intricate story, with many dramatic twists, sympathetically written. Very enjoyable.

Joy Ellis - Guard her with Your Life

Detective Sam has struggled to come to terms with his daughter being taken away to Greece by his ex-wife, Julia. T his surprise, Julia unexpectedly arranges for Zoe to come over to stay with him for a while. Excitedly he waits at Heathrow airport for the ten-year-old's arrival. In the hubbub of the airport he hugs the little blonde girl who's handed over to him by the air hostess. But when he looks into her face, he realises that this child is not his daughter. As a message comes through from Julia, warning him, "Guard her with your life", he takes the child home and begins a bizarre situation where he's pretending this girl is his daughter to everyone around him. What has happened to Zoe? As he and his brother get dragged into a dangerous situation, it becomes clear that the unknown little girl is in real jeopardy. Fleeing for their lives, they leave London, and Sam has to use all his policeman's expertise to protect them, while his police partner, Terri, also gets caught up in the mystery. A thrilling read, with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader on the edge of their seat.

Jeff Wheeler - The Invisible College

I find the worlds of this fantasy author absolutely fascinating. This is the first book in a new series, set in a different universe from most of his previous books. This is a world which is like the early twentieth century, but where technology runs from magic. Human beings were given this magic in the distant past by a mysterious race called the Aesir, who are cold-loving beings and have long hibernation cycles. But every so often they awaken and wage a war with humanity, their old alliance long forgotten. Robinson is a talented sorcerer, a researcher and professor at the Invisible College, where young people are taught magic. The key to magic is sounds, with music paramount. The Aesir have in the past released plagues on the human race which cause deafness, and eighteen-year-old McKenna is one who has suffered this fate. But she's supremely intelligent, and a talented lip-reader. She believes that one day she will have the ability to weave magic. Her parents employ Robinson to teach her how to improve her speech, and she's certain that this will be the key to her learning magic. As the Aesir awaken and a new war begins, Robinson and McKenna's relationship deepens. But someone is stalking him to the death, and McKenna suffers an accident which leaves her with strange sensations. Plenty of mystery, adventure, and magical imagination, this is another of Jeff Wheeler's novels that I couldn't put down.

December books

Happy New Year! My favourite reads from December are:

Raynor Wynne - Landlines

This non-fiction title is the third book in Raynor Wynne's Salt Path series. I was totally gripped by the first book. It told how she and her husband, Moth, lost their home at the time he was diagnosed with a serious chronic illness, and the power of the outdoors to reverse his symptoms. I bought this memoir without realising it was book three - I'll need to read book two now! In Landlines, Ray and Moth are living on their Cornish farm, but his symptoms have begun to progress. To add to the problem, it's the end of Lockdown and everyone is living with the spectre of the Covid pandemic. Ray begins to wonder if another long trek could work its magic again on her ailing husband. Moth's hesitant and skeptical, suspecting he's on a downward spiral. But he can't resist the lure of the trail, and somehow they manage to organise a trip to the northern-most parts of Scotland, where they aim to walk from Caithness to Fort William. Trials and tribulations abound, people are wary of strangers because of the ongoing virus fears, and it doesn't quite pan out the way they intended. But they keep on walking... The couple's love of the outdoors and nature is inspiring, and Ray's thoughts on the loss of wild spaces and the effects of humans on the natural world are insightful and meaningful. Another inspiring and riveting read.

Suzanne Fortin - The Dance Teacher of Paris

A dual-time novel set in present day and during World War 2. In Paris in 1942, Adele and her father run a dance school, keeping alive her mother's memory. In the dark time of the Nazi occupation of the city, it's a welcome release for the children. To Adele's dismay, her sister Lucille has become involved with Peter, a Nazi officer. Lucille claims that he's going to leave his wife and marry her. As the occupying force tightens its grip and the deportation of Jewish families begins, Adele realises that she must fight the evil and protect the innocent, no matter what the danger to herself. The modern part of the story focuses on Fleur, orphaned young, and brought up by her French grandmother. Lydia is now in her eighties, and every year she visits Paris on her own to reminisce. But this year she aks Fleur to accompany her, to discover about her grandmother's past. When they arrive in the city, Lydia is upset when she finds an old ballet shoe attached to a railing. Attractive antiques dealer, Didier, offers to help them investigate the source of the shoe. But Fleur doesnt know whether she can trust him, as he believes that Lydia can lead him to a priceless missing painting. In different centuries, two women seek to protect the people they love, and to search for the future they desire. Excellent historical atmosphere, drama and romance all combine to make a thoroughly good read.

Jenny Colgan - Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop

Carmen works at McCredie's traditional bookshop in Edinburgh, part of a picturesque row of shops in a historic part of the city, just below the castle. But times are hard, and all the shops are feeling the pinch. Carmen is nursing a broken heart, as Oke, the love of her life, has returned to his native Brazil and is working somewhere deep in the rainforest, out of communication - or else he's ghosting her. Carmen is so hard up that she's staying with her sister Sofia, who's on maternity leave, but who wants Carmen's room to house a full-time nanny for her four children when she returns to her high-powered job. To make matters worse, local entrepreneur Jackson McClockerty is buying up many struggling businesses and turning them into tacky souvenir shops. He has his eye on the shop where Carmen works. As Christmas approaches she has to come to terms with new challenging living arrangements, and with the realisation that Oke's not coming back. Delving into the secrets of the old bookshop she aims to find a new way of keeping its wonderful atmosphere and keeping it a source of wonder and joy for different generations, including her nieces and nephews. The people she thought she knew reveal hidden depths as snow begins to fall on Scotland's capital. A colourful and imaginative read with enjoyable characters, this novel celebrates the love of tradition and the magic of books.