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.