November Books

These are my favourite reads from November:

Matthew FitzSimmons - Constance

Set around twenty years in the future, I found this an excellent read. The advances in technology are plausible, the world feels real. In this future, human cloning has become a reality. Constance D'Arcy (Con) wakes in a laboratory as a clone. The last she remembers is her twenty-four-year-old self attending an appointment for her latest 'upload' - a record of her body and her mind that takes place every month. But Con has no recollection of the last eighteen months between her 'upload' and the day she becomes conscious. Physically adjusting to life as a clone is tricky, especially as she shouldn't have been allowed to revive at all. Knowing that it means that her 'real' self is dead, Con escapes the lab into a hostile world. Many people think clones are an abomination, and it's just a struggle to survive. But she's determined to fill in the events of those missing eighteen months, and discover what happened to her old self. But who can she trust? In constant fear for her life, she follows leads, uncovering disturbing truths, as layer after layer of plot is revealed. Twists and turns abound, almost at each corner, as the leader is led along a thrilling journey with Con until she uncovers the final shocking reason for her existence. Brilliant.

Dr Gladys McGarey - The Well-lived Life: a 102-year-old doctor's six secrets to health and happiness at every age

This is an amazing non-fiction book. This incredible woman is still going strong at the age of 102. In the book she recounts episodes from her long and varied life, and how they have formed her way of living and working. Her philosophy of treating people is to teach them not to battle what life throws in their way, but approach it with love. She's healed many people that conventional medicine considered to be untreatable. She's also survived two diagnoses of different types of cancer, plus several other devastating experiences in her life. This is a book which gives a different way of looking at life's challenges, and how there can be other routes to wellness that conventional treatment has overlooked. Her so-called Six Secrets offer much food for thought.

Natasha Solomons - I, Mona Lisa

When I chose this novel, I thought it was going to be about the life of the subject of the Mona Lisa painting, Lisa del Giocondo. However, it turns out to be the story of the painting, sentient and able to communicate with her creator, Leonardo da Vinci. She can also speak to artists of genius, and over the centuries she interacts with, among others,  Michaelangelo and Picasso. Through her eyes we see the studio of her master, his assistants, the other artists who visit Leonardo plus nobility, popes, and royalty. Leonardo takes the portrait everywhere, treats her like a beloved daughter, confides in her. As the centuries pass, we follow her journey to France, see the court through her eyes, and discover how she ends up in the Louvre museum, where she experiences theft and concealment for her safety. I found myself drawn into the story of this enigmatic masterpiece of art, and how the author envisions the soul of the painted woman. A very different but intriguing novel which brings to life the world of the artist in vivid detail and the historic details of the existence of the Mona Lisa.

October books

My best reads from October are:

Jen Black - Fair Border Bride

Set in Tudor times in the borders between England and Scotland, this is an enjoyable historical romance. Alina is the daughter of a border nobleman, and it is her duty to marry well to form a beneficial alliance for her family. But a chance encounter at a nearby market town, when young Harry Scott saves her from an escaped bull, opens Alina's mind to another future. He's on a secret mission for his father, and can't reveal his true name, so she believes he's from one of the local reiving families. These are outlaws steal cattle and horses, and make life difficult for the wealthy of the area. Harry too is smitten by Alina, and his reckless trip to spy on her home leads him to imprisonment by her father. Harry and Alina must overcome separation, rivalry, and family hostility if they want to be together. This novel is full of adventure as hero and heroine struggle against the obstacles that threaten to keep them apart. 

Barbara Davis - The Echo of Old Books

Bookshop owner Ashlyn has a rare ability - she can feel the emotions of the people who previously owned the books she holds in her hands. When two anonymous books come into her possession from a house clearance, the intensity of the emotions associated with them takes her breath away. It's the same story in each book, written from two different points of view. Somehow the stories within them ring true, and she begins a journey to discover the identities of the authors. As she makes a connection with Ethan, who donated the books after his father's death, the novel dips in and out of the two mysterious books, and we begin to follow the love affair of the two unnamed protagonists. A fascinating novel, pulling the reader into this mystery and the intensity of the love, hurt and loss of the two authors of the old books, as well as Ashlyn's own story. Excellent.

Soraya M. Lane - The Last Correspondent

This World War II novel about the trials and adventures of women news correspondents is exciting and detailed. In1943, American Danni is convinced she's as good as any male news photographer, and keeps up with her English writing partner Andy as they join soldiers at the front line. Ella, meanwhile, reports in the USA under a male pseudonym until her identity is discovered and she loses her job. Despite her trepidation, this spurs her to head to London to make a name for herself. Andy's sister Chloe also aspires to follow her own dream, to rekindle her love affair with Gabriel, who she met during a pre-war modelling assignment in Paris. She's determined to find a way to join him in occupied France, but is unaware of the dangers she might face and how the War may have changed him. As D-Day approaches and both Danni and Ella defy the stunting rules about female correspondents staying away from the action, the three women's stories gradually become entwined. The horrors of war and the courage of women like them is brought vividly to life in this fast-paced story of love, loss and fortitude. The author reveals that the three heroines were inspired by the real women who went to war in those challenging times. Riveting.

September books

My favourite reads from September are: 

Jenni Keer - Secrets of Hawthorne Place

This is a dual-time novel which is refreshingly different. Two identical houses, built hundreds of miles apart, that have a strange connection;the secret love of a Victorian architect for a married woman; plus a modern day young woman who seems to be stuck in her teenage persona and unable to grow up, until family hearbreak and an eerie discovery force her to take responsibility for her own life. Molly is a flawed heroine, immature and selfish. But as she learns basic life skills and finds that she's thinking of others rather than herself, she begins to develop her own talents in researching the history of her grandfather's house. Alongside the story the reader also gets a fascinating insight into  Arts and Crafts architecture. It's a coming-of-age story with a difference, with a lot of fun as well as emotional depth. 

Diana Gabaldon - Go Tell the Bees that I am Gone

This is the ninth novel in Diana Gabaldon's 'Outlander' series. I'm including it in my favourite reads because I'm a long-time fan of the books, but I wouldn't recommend anyone to read it without having finished the previous eight novels, as you need knowledge of so much back story to fully appreciate it. Yet again it's full of her vivid historical detail, as Clare and Jamie's story continues during the American War of Independence, while their pre-knowledge of historical facts affects their lives and choices. We also see further development of the lives of the next generation: the families of their daughter Brianna and her husband Roger, plus Jamie's adopted son Fergus and his family, as well as Jamie's son William. Yes, it's a long book, possibly too long as she lingers over so many (amazing) historical details. However, it's sweeping, informative, and somehow magnetic, keeping my attention throughout its 1300 or so pages.

Jen Wheeler - The Light on Farallon Island

A fascinating debut novel from this American author. In mid-19th Century, Farallon Island off San Francisco is a remote place, reached only by a treacherous boat journey. Here the lighthouse is tended by a group of three keepers, who live there with their families. But it's also the site of a bizarre - and lucrative - harvest each year. A group of men called the 'Eggers' arrive from the mainland and spend weeks gathering the eggs of the seabirds known as 'murre' (we call them guillemots). Just before the egg gatherers arrive in 1859, Amelia steps on to Farralon Island to take up the post of teacher to the six children of the keepers. She's assumed her friend Lucy's name, hiding a dreadful secret and hoping to escape the nightmares of her past life. But her meeting with the Eggers' supervisor, Will Sisson, turns out to be a fateful one. As she embraces life on this wild and remote island, Amelia finds that her emotions are stirred, but fear lurks in unexpected places, and she discovers that she's not as safe from her past as she would have liked. Captivating, raw, realistic, full of harsh realities on the edge of mysticism, I found I couldn't put down this novel with all its unforseen twists and turns.

August books

These are my favourite reads from August:

Rowan Coleman - The Girl at the Window

An excellent, tenderly written novel with historical connections and ghostly threads. Trudy has returned with her eight-year-old son Will to seek solace in her childhood home. Ponden Hall is in Yorkshire, near the Bronte sisters' home village of Haworth, and is believed to be the inspiration for Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights. Trudy is overwhelmed with grief because Abe, her doctor husband, has been lost on one of his humanitarian trips in the jungles of Peru. But she needs to face her mother who has always kept her at arm's length. Will misses London and his beloved father. As the three of them begin an edgy and raw existence together, Trudy meets Marcus, an attractive local historic buildings expert who's captivated by Ponden and eager to help with its restoration. As Trudy bonds with the house again, ghosts of the past resurface, including Ponden's Bronte connection. There are wrongs to be righted, and hearts to mend. The story is captivating as all the layers of the past and their influence on the present are uncovered. Beautifully written.

James Maxwell - A Girl from Nowhere

Taimin grows up on an unforgiving two-sun planet. When his parents are brutally murdered by rovers when he's a boy, he suffers injuries that lame him permanently. His aunt Abi raises him alone and teaches him how to survive. When he's nineteen he tames one of the big four-legged wherries, which he's able to ride so he can range further. The land is peopled with other hostile sentient beings apart from humans. Years later, when Abi is killed by the warlike bax humanoids, Taimin decides to head off to search for the mythical White City. There, humans are rumoured to live in luxury and ease, and he believes they would be able to heal him. On the way he encounters other humans also searching for the city, and meets the girl Selena for the first time. She's a powerful farcaster, though untrained. They strike up a bond, but Selena's powers mean that many seek to own her, and they are  torn apart. But what is the truth that lies behind the white walls of the city? The two young people must strive to find each other, and in their search they grow to learn that all is not what it seems in this barren land. The author has created a fascinating world filled with interesting characters, and an intruiging plot.

Susanna Scott - The Winterfell Stone

Annie has taken a year off from her stressful job, and has rented a cottage in the Yorkshire village of Winterfell. The place gets its name from the local standing stone, which has a rich and ancient history connected to the villagers. But they're prevented from approaching the stone, situated on land owned by a local farmer. Annie is fascinated by the story, and as the weeks go by, becomes caught up in the villagers' campaign to gain access. She also discovers that there's a lot more to the locals than she originally thought. There are all her elderly neighbours, plus the starchy librarian, Minerva, and the deliciously attractive local university professor, Kit. But Annie has the habit of putting her foot in it, and first meetings don't always go well. Written with humour and kindness, this is a warm and satisfying read.

July Books

My three best reads from July are:

April Taylor - Dangers of Destiny

This is a fascinating novel, set in an alternative Tudor timeline, in which Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII's son did not die. Anne is still married to Henry, and has fought off the Seymour family's bid to oust her in favour of Jane. But Henry lies gravely ill, and it's clear to local apothecary's assistant and trainee elemancer Luke Ballard that it is not natural. He's sent to investigate the matter by the elder elemancers, with the help of his contact in the Queen's entourage, Gwennlian. They begin a dangerous investigation to try and uncover the source of the evil that threatens the King. As matters take a more serious turn, Luke must take on more responsibility and learn to become adept in good magic. He's assisted by his greyspring, a magical being in the form of a dog, who is his constant companion. This alternative history adventure is brilliantly woven to its conclusion as the culprits are exposed. I found the opening a little confusing, but once I was into the book I couldn't put it down. Full of colourful  and believable historical detail, I love novels that investigate 'what if...?' and also the twists of the supernatural. 

Shirley Dickson - The Outcast Girls

Two girls from very different backgrounds end up working on a farm during World War II. Sandra was brought up in an orphanage, and her only surviving relative is her brother, Alf, who is now serving in the army. As the novel opens, she's working as a live-in servant for a local professional family in South Shields, but she's treated as a drudge. Through the help of an older friend, she has the opportunity to escape and begin life as a Land Girl in Northumberland. But Sandra is ashamed by the fact that she's illiterate. She has to rely on the kindness of the few friends that know her secret. When working on one of the farms, she meets fourteen-year-old Frieda. The young Jewish girl was evacuated to England by her parents before the war began, and she has no idea what happened to them. Horriffic stories of the fate of Jewish people are beginning to filter through from the Continent, and Frieda worries about them constantly. Moreover, her younger brother jumped ship when they were being evacuated from Germany, and she feels guilty that she didn't manage to bring him to England with her. Sandra and Frieda begin to form a special friendship. Through love and heartbreak, they find that their bond is a support as each goes through the trials of growing up in a time of War. A tenderly written saga.

Teresa Driscoll - Her Perfect Family

A University graduation ceremony; a shot fired; one of the graduating students in a coma. Right from the start this novel is riveting. As the story unfolds, we discover that every character has secrets. Flashbacks to the former lives of Gemma, the victim, and of her parents, Ed and Rachel, unfold as each new revelation brings a further shock. Why was Gemma targeted? Could it have something to do with her parents' pasts? Or what about her former boyfriend, Alexander? Local ex-policeman turned Private Investigator, Matthew, finds himself caught up in the whole incident right from the start. But when his own family appear to be targeted, he begins to question if he's doing the right thing in becoming involved. As the twists and turns escalate, the book becomes impossible to put down. An excellent read.

June books

These are my favourite reads from June:

Elena Collins - The Lady of the Loch

Leah has been through a troubling time, so her sister Zoe encourages her to apply for her dream job, as caretaker of a historic Scottish castle. Zoe agrees to join Leah as co-caretaker as she can continue working from home. But she finds Ravenscraig spooky and at times chilling. Leah on the other hand falls in love with the place and its surroundings immediately. There's something strange about the deserted wing which houses the chapel. As the story unfolds, we're drawn centuries into the castle's past, when Agnes is a serving maid in the time of King Robert de Brus. She falls in love with daring Highland warrior, Cam. He is often away fighting secretly against the English king, Edward Longshanks, who aims to subdue the Scots. It's a bitter war, bringing hearbreak to many Scots. The stories of Agnes, Leah and Zoe eventually are woven together as each seeks to follow her heart, and find the solace of fulfilment at last. Intriguing, historically detailed, with the Scottish scenery of 14th and 21st Centuries brought vividly to life. 

Christy Lefteri - The Beekeeper of Aleppo

Nuri and his wife Afra are Syrian refugees, seeking to stay in England. Nuri misses his work as a beekeeper in Aleppo, but the hives are long gone, and his friend and mentor, Mustafa, has already been given residence in England. Nuri looks back on how he and Afra managed to escape the civil war back in their home country. It has been a harrowing journey, especially as Afra is now blind. Beautifully written, evocative, shocking and uncomfortable at times, we discover the reasons for Afra's blindness, and see the emotional damage that both she and Nuri have suffered. A book that stirs up many questions, and much compassion in the reader as we see the sort of events that people like Nuri and Afra have lived through in their search for peace and safety. Interesting also to read the author's afterword about how she came to write the novel.

Louise Douglas - The Lost Notebook

In Brittany, France, Mila is looking after her stepsister's daughter, Ani, following the tragic death of the girl's mother, Sophie, in a boating accident. Ani's father is also missing. Mila longs to get back to her life as a writer in the UK, feeling inadequate in her role as carer for her young niece. But an encounter with an eldelry travelling woman, Gosia, changes the course of the summer. Gosia is found dead shortly after, and Mila suspects her death was not natural, as the authorities insist. The notebook that she had seen in the old woman's caravan is missing, and no-one except Mila seems to find this important. Then the lead archaeologist on a local dig, Professor Perry, becomes the centre of a scandal which involves the investigation agency of Ani's grandmother. As the situation becomes more dangerous and involved, Mila finds herself torn between her wish to return to her old life, and her growing feelings of responsibility for motherless Ani - and her need to uncover the secrets of the past and bring a killer to justice. As always, Louise Douglas weaves a tale of intrigue and suspense, while the characters strive to find a resolution for their own personal dilemmas. 

May Books

The books which I have enjoyed reading in May are:

Mike Gayle - All the Lonely People

Hubert is an eighty-three year old widower, living in Greater London. The highlight of his week his daughter Rose's telephone calls. But as she's in Australia and worries about him, he's made up three imaginary pensioner friends to hide the fact that he barely leaves the house and can't face talking to others. He knows he'll have to find some friends before she comes to visit, but doesn't know where to start. Then single mum Ashley moves in next door. Despite his attempts to stonewall her chattiness, his innate kind nature surfaces and he finds himself helping her out. As more people begin to come into his life, we learn more about Hubert's past, his trials coming to England from Jamaica in the 1960s, his dear wife Joyce, and why he's so lonely. A tender and heartfelt novel which explores human kindness as well as people's brokenness and how love shapes our lives. At the same time it is heartbreaking as well as uplifting.  

Lesley Pearse - You'll Never See Me Again

In the final years of World War I, Betty's husband Maritn has been invalided out with shell shock so bad that he doesn't even recognise her. But her overbearing mother-in-law Agnes has taken over his care and only sees Betty as a worker to support the three of them. On a stormy night, Betty makes an impulsive decision to fake her own death. She knows Agnes will take care of Martin, and feels that the situation would have destroyed her. Changing her name to Mabel, she falls on her feet with a position as a maid of all work with a kind employer. When her employer's death means she must find another situation, she embarks on a journey that expands her horizons, bringing fulfilment as well as heartbreak, physical danger, poverty and despair. But the past doesn't stay hidden forever, and she knows that inevitably she must face up to what she has done. Another excellent historical tale by this fine author, vividly and intricately woven.

Marius Gabriel - Goodnight Vienna

In 1937, Katya reluctantly abandons her university medicine course in Glasgow and heads for Vienna for the sake of her family. Her Russian emigre parents in England have been living beyond their means for many years, and now they're destitute. But a rich Viennese businessman, Thorwald Bachman, has to pay handsomely for Katya to be governess to his motherless and troubled daughter, Gretchen. The twelve-year-old seems to be uneducatable, and finds emotional connections difficult - but she has a wonderful musical talent on the piano. Despite herself, Katya becomes attached to the girl, and begins to form a bond with her. Thor himself is larger than life, kindly, generous and honourable, his home open to many thinkers and talented people. As the Austrian capital moves toward the darkness of a Nazi takeover, there is danger for Katya and for the people she has grown to love. The essence of Vienna and its history are vividly drawn, the characters full of life. Katya's experiences are breathtaking and heart-stopping, and I couldn't wait to turn each page. Excellent.