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.