REVIEW: The Lost Heir by Jane Cable

The Lost Heir (Cornish Echoes Dual Timeline Mystery #2) by Jane Cable

Genre: Historical fiction, Dual timeline

Read: 6th August 2023

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Amazon

Published: 11th August 2023

★★★ 3 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Cornwall, 2020

At the beginning of lockdown, teacher Carla Burgess needs to make some changes to her life. She no longer loves her job, and it’s certainly time to kick her on-off boyfriend into touch. But then, while walking on the cliffs she meets, Mani Dolcoath, a gorgeous American with a dark aura.

Mani is researching his family history, and slowly their lives and their heritage begin to entwine. The discovery of a locked Georgian tea caddy in the barn on her parents’ farm intrigues Carla, but then she starts to see orbs, something that hasn’t happened since her grandmother died. They terrify her and she’ll do anything to outrun them, but will she lose Mani’s friendship in the process?

Cornwall, 1810

Harriet Lemon’s position as companion to Lady Frances Basset (Franny) perfectly conceals the fact they are lovers. But when Franny is raped and falls pregnant their lives are destined to change forever.

The one person who may be able to help them is Franny’s childhood friend, William Burgess, a notorious smuggler. But he has secrets of his own he needs to protect. Will his loyalties be divided, or will he come through?

MY THOUGHTS:

Two centuries separate Carla and Harriet … but will something shift to bring their stories together?

I have been eagerly awaiting this book and anything with Cornwall has me immediately drawn in. I wasn't totally disappointed but with the present day timeline set during the lockdown, the constant mention of COVID, panic buying and all that went with it kind of dampened my excitement a little. I was over COVID and all its drawbacks at the time...I didn't need reminding of it again. lol

However, that aside, the story is a sweeping dual timeline tale incorporating the present day 2020 with the past regency era of 1810. The two timelines are expertly woven together through present day Carla and Harriet in the past. Carla researches family trees while the past characters lived the history that the present day could now only read about.

I didn't like the supernatural aspect, as I am not a fan of these in novels. 

Not a bad read but given I've read two by this author and I wasn't overly grabbed by either tale, I don't think I will read her again. 

I would like to thank #JaneCable, #Netgalley, #SapereBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TheLostHeir in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Jane Cable writes romance with a twist for Sapere Books, and The Forgotten Maid her first novel set in her adopted county of Cornwall. She is lucky enough to have been married to the love of her life for more than twenty-five years, and loves spending time outdoors, preferably close to the sea on the wild and rugged north Cornwall coast.

She also writes emotional women’s fiction as Eva Glyn, published by One More Chapter.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Inheritance by Samantha Hayes

The Inheritance by Samantha Hayes

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic thriller, Domestic drama, Suspense

Read: 6th August 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 8th August 2023

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

I thought he took my secret to the grave. But the truth can’t stay buried forever…

In the wake of my darling husband’s death, I am so lucky to have my three beautiful, grown-up daughters by my side at our holiday home in Scotland. We need some time together, to recover from the shock. But I also need to set some things straight about their beloved father…

I’ve always known this house was the perfect place to bury secrets – remote, isolated, surrounded by nothing but miles of dense forest.

But this time I’m not here to hide more of my lies. I’m here to expose one.

I promise everything I’ve ever done has been to protect my daughters. I just hope they understand that too…

By the end of the trip, nothing will ever be the same again. I knew revealing the truth about the inheritance would have consequences, but I could never have imagined we wouldn’t all survive it.

And now the truth is out, am I in danger too…?

A totally gripping psychological thriller from an Amazon No1. bestseller that will have your head spinning and your jaw on the floor with every twist. Fans of The Housemaid, Gone Girl and The Family Upstairs won’t be able to put this down!

MY THOUGHTS:

I thought he took my secret to the grave...But he left it in his will...

What a tangled web the Hunters weave - with the ingenious help of Samantha Hayes at the helm! Once again she delivers a thriller filled with nuance and innuendo that by the end will have us tied up in knots. And while I know is renowned for delivering slow burns, sometimes I wish they didn't take so long to get to the point. I was itching with frustration that the big secrets was on the cusp of being revealed when something else came along and the story took another tangent... But like all of Hayes' thrillers, I know that if I stick around, it's completely worth it in the end. Anyone else that took 40% until it got really interesting, would be ditched, but with Hayes I know I'm not going to be disappointed. That she has something up her sleeve bound to shock, surprise and wow by the book's end.

There are so many subplots within the main story that it is easy to lose track of what we're all here for - the main event. But each thread is then cleverly woven back to the main story and its characters therein. I wasn't confused in any way, but some might find the subplots distracting. But they each play a part in the bigger picture.

The Hunters are all gathering together at the family lodge in Scotland, which had been left to their late father Ray by his parents upon their deaths long before they were born. Kirk View Lodge was renovated by Ray and Connie early in their marriage and had long been a haven to the family over the years. Now Ray has gone and Connie is bringing her girls back together with their families for a reunion at Kirk View Lodge for ten glorious days.

But Connie has an ulterior motive for bringing them together now. Ray's will has been executed and its contents revealed...and Connie knows that she must now reveal the secret she never thought she would have to. But as her girls - Kate, Darby and Bea - settle into the lodge, Connie doesn't know where to begin. But it's Theo, Darby's teenage stepson, who notices the most with his all-seeing eyes as he watches everyone from the sidelines. He seems to be an angry kid intent on messing with everyone, not knowing quite where he belongs. I got my measure of him fairly quickly with the few subtle glances he stole along the way but he also picked up on things within the family that no one else seemed to.

It's not until an invite extended to a nearby neighbour for dinner that things begin to get heated amongst the family. Theo notices right off the cuff, whilst the others are either indifferent or just puzzled. Connie is flustered as a face from her past returns, though not as friendly as it once was. Meanwhile, Kate suspects her husband Adrian is having an affair with her sister Darby and even Connie suspects much the same. Admittedly, so does the reader. But what is really going on between them?

After the somewhat dramatic prologue, so it begins with Part One in which the story unfolds through the alternating narratives of Connie, Kate, Darby, Bea and Theo. We get each of their perspectives and how each of them feel after the passing of their patriarch, Ray, some months prior. Throughout the entire section of this story, it is alluded to a secret that Connie has and that it will all come to light in Ray's will if she does not reveal its contents first. We are privy to the various subplots and nuances of each of the characters as Hayes deftly builds up a picture of the family's dynamics.

Things start to get interesting in Part two as the story rewinds back forty years to when Connie and Ray are younger and newly married. Although the couple have a home on a farm in Lancashire, the setting is entirely at Kirk View Lodge in Scotland, which they were currently renovating. And then Connie falls pregnant. Afterwhich we see what nobody else sees behind the closed doors of a marriage. We see the Ray that no one else see. Through his narrative, which alternates with the younger Connie's, we see a side to him that had not previously been painted and we get a little insight into the secrets in their marriage. And it is not a pretty picture.

But it's Part three when things really pick up and the layers of secrets that Hayes has deftly put in place slowly start to peel away as secret after secret is revealed. The events that follow are both mad and a little twisted. While I had a niggling as to what the secret may be, there was still a piece of it that remained elusive. And when it was revealed, the picture became clear and I'm like "of course!" whilst figuratively slapping myself on the head. The action is really ramped up in the final pages as the truth is finally revealed and all its secrets are uncovered...even if some are blind to its truth. And then there is that ending which comes with a sting in the tail for a couple of characters. Just brilliant.

Overall, another deftly woven plot of intricate family secrets and the complexities of family dynamics by Hayes. Always worth the slow build to get there in the end.

I would like to thank #SamanthaHayes, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheInheritance in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Samantha Hayes grew up in a creative family where her love of writing began as a child. Samantha has written eight thrillers in total, including the bestselling Until You’re Mine. The Independent said “fantastically written and very tense” while Good Housekeeping said “Her believable psychological thrillers are completely gripping.” Samantha’s books are published in 22 languages at the last count.

When not writing, Samantha loves to cook, go to the gym, see friends and drink nice wine. She is also studying for a degree in psychotherapy. She has three grown-up children and lives in Warwickshire.

Social Media links:

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REVIEW: Digging for Victory at Rookery House by Rosie Hendry

Digging for Victory at Rookery House (Rookery House #2) by Rosie Hendry

Genre: Historical fiction, WW2, Sagas

Read: 29th July 2023

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Amazon

Published: 27th July 2023

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Spring has arrived and it’s time to Dig for Victory… 

March 1941

After Flo Butterworth loses everything in Manchester’s Christmas Blitz, she decides to leave the area and join the Women’s Land Army. Putting the past firmly behind her, she arrives at Rookery House in Norfolk hoping for a new start and a chance to do the gardening work she loves. 

The grip of war has intensified and growing more food is vital to keep the nation going. Thea buys an extra field to grow crops, and in the village, her sister Prue leads members of The Mother’s Day Club and Women’s Institute as they take on a derelict allotment. Meanwhile the construction of a nearby aerodrome disrupts village life and brings even more new residents to Rookery House, including Hettie’s difficult sister, Ada. With Rookery House now bursting at the seams, will it still be the happy home it’s always been?

When an enemy plane crashes nearby, Flo must help German airmen who might have been directly responsible for her family loss. She quickly finds that her heart-breaking past cannot so easily be forgotten. Can she do the right thing? And will her new friends help her move on towards a brighter future?

A heart-warming and uplifting novel following the much-loved characters from the award-winning Mother’s Day Club.

MY THOUGHTS:

Can new friends help her face an uncertain future...?

Oh, what an absolute joy it is to return to Rookery House and the village of Great Plumstead. I have spent just a day with them but it feels more like a lifetime of friendship and love, embraced in the warmth of Hettie's kitchen. Although this is book 2 in this series, the village, Rookery House and it's occupants were introduced to us in the Mother's Day Club books, of which there are also two. There was a novella last Christmas and I am pleased to note that there is to be another this Christmas. And I can't wait to rejoin everyone at Rookery House once again.

After Flo Butterworth loses her family in the Manchester Christmas Blitz, she flees to the only place that felt like home - in Lancashire with her grandparents. There she comes to the decision to join the Women's Land Army and do what she loves best. Working in the fresh air on the land. This is how she can contribute to the war effort - not by typing letters or taking shorthand.

In Great Plumstead, the village is bursting at the seams with all the goings on what with the Mother's Day Club, the WI, the WVS, the big house having been turned into a hospital...and now even more changes are afoot. Thea has come to the decision to purchase five more acres behind her own property at Rookery House upon which she intends to sow even more crops and branch out into keeping pigs and rabbits for meat production whilst still maintaining their existing land, Primrose the cow for milk, butter and cheese and the chickens for eggs. And with this new purchase, Thea realised that she would need some full time help and approached the Land Army about enlisting a Land Girl for the task. Enter Flo.

When Flo arrived in Great Plumstead she came with the baggage she intended to keep firmly packed away. But she didn't realise she would be living in a house with a family and would have preferred a hostel with other girls so she didn't run the risk of getting attached to anyone, lest the past come back to haunt her. But once at Rookery House, all her defences soon came down once in the warmth of Hettie's kitchen and welcome heart of what truly was a home. Rookery House was full to bursting but everyone moved like a well-oiled machine and worked well together, both in and out of the house. And soon Flo's knowledge of the land was put to good use, not just at Rookery House, but in the village as well.

The parish had finally seen fit to grant the WI with a space in the village allotment, though it came with its own set of problems. Having been previously owned by an elderly woman no longer able to to maintain it, it had been left to rack and ruin with brambles, nettles and overrun with weeds heavily rooted in its soil. The WI were determined to "Dig for Victory" and create a profitable place to grow vegetables they can all use to sell at the markets. Flo's knowledge of horticulture learned from her grandfather gave the women a good start and idea on how to best make use of their land and their crops.

But that wasn't all to change in the village. It seems an aerodrome was to be built on the outskirts and everyone who lived in the vicinity their houses were being requisitioned by the government for the project. They had four weeks to move out and find other lodgings. Not an easy feat in the middle of a war with evacuees fleeing to the countryside and all places once vacant were now full to bursting. Including Rookery House. But still, they made room for one more in the form of Hettie's older sister whose home of forty seven years was to be bulldozed to make way for the runway. She came with her own set of problems and Hettie wondered if they had taken on a little bit more than they could in this case.

Then with the news that even more things were becoming rationed, the women put their heads together to come up with a plan to "make and mend"...making the best of a bad situation. Is there nothing the women of Great Plumstead cannot do?

I thoroughly enjoyed my time back with everyone in the village, it was like coming home to old friends. I really didn't want my time there to end and I'll surely be counting down the weeks until the Christmas publication comes out. It is so easy to become involved in village life as you lose yourself in the pages with the characters and their lives. I thoroughly recommend reading this series and although this is the second book of this series, the village and its characters are introduced in a previous 2-book series which I recommend beginning first.

1. The Mother's Day Club

2. The Mother's Day Victory

3. A Wartime Welcome at Rookery House

4. A Wartime Christmas at Rookery House

5. Digging for Victory at Rookery House

The next book which the author acknowledges at the end to be coming a few months will be "A Christmas Baby at Rookery House". And I cannot wait. Of course it is no secret whose baby it is having read this book and quite honestly I saw that bit of news coming a long time before it was even announced. Still, while these types of saga stories can be predictable in part there is also a little unpredictability about them also. And either way, my enjoyment is never spoilt because of it. This book, as with all the others, is such a delightfully easy read with such short snappy chapters to keep the pace moving that I really didn't want my time in Great Plumstead to end. And I cannot wait to return in a few short months time.

Another wonderful installment to this easy heartwarming series that I highly recommend.

I would like to thank #RosieHendry, #RookeryHousePress and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #DiggingForVictoryAtRookeryHouse in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Rosie Hendry lives by the sea in Norfolk with her husband and children. A former teacher and research scientist, she's always loving reading and writing. She started off writing short stories for magazines, her stories gradually becoming longer as her children grew bigger.

Listening to her father's tales of life during the Second World War sparked Rosie's interest in this period and she's especially intrigued by how women's lives changed during the war years. She loves researching further, searching out gems of real life events which inspire her writing.

When she's not working, Rosie enjoys walking along the beach, reading and is grateful for the fact that her husband is a much better cook than her. 

Social Media links:

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REVIEW: The Lodge by Miranda Rijks

The Lodge by Miranda Rijks

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 28th July 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 26th July 2023

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

It’s so quiet at the lodge. But if you listen very hard, you can hear the screams.

Anna has rebuilt her life after a toxic relationship with her obsessive, controlling ex, Clayton. She's finally found happiness with her fiancé, Joel, a veterinarian in the running for a dream job on a game reserve in South Africa.

When Joel is asked to interview at the luxurious safari lodge, Anna is delighted to be invited too. But her exotic holiday takes a sinister turn when she discovers that toxic ex Clayton is also a guest at the lodge.

 

Clayton seems happy with his new girlfriend, but Anna isn’t buying it. She doesn't believe in coincidences, and her gut tells her that Clayton is here for all the wrong reasons.

 

And she’s right. Because what Clayton has planned is beyond her worst nightmare. She escaped him once before – but this time he’s prepared the perfect trap.

 

The Lodge – the shocking psychological thriller from the best-selling author of The Visitors and What She Knew.

MY THOUGHTS:

It’s so quiet at the lodge...but if you listen very hard, you can hear the screams...

Could a thriller get any more atmospheric? Any more claustrophobic? Any more creepier than THE LODGE? Maybe so, but in a place where the wild animals are not the only predators it certainly made it one very thrilling read. I've lost count of the amount of Rijks thrillers I have devoured but this one has to be one of the most chilling. It brings to mind the movie with Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas "The Ghost and the Darkness" - and that same sense of isolation tinged with danger.

I was drawn in from the very first page and was soon so absorbed that nothing and no one was going to stop me until the I swiped the very last page. The entire read was filled with tense moments that I was wondering how it was all going to pan out. And while the story was largely predictable there was still some part of it that wasn't...and that made the tension doubly palpable. I'm not sure I could have stayed sane in Anna's shoes while at the same time I was frantically waving my flashing baton to warn her of what I could clearly see coming from a mile off.

Two years ago, Anna was in a toxic relationship with suave and handsome charmer Clayton who was also controlling to the point of obsession. After she broke off their engagement, he would not take no for an answer and popped up everywhere she was. Outside her flat, her work, her mother's house, even following her in his car. He would send her flowers, order gifts, make dinner arrangements, make nuisance phone calls from an unlisted number. Anna was at her wit's end that she ended up moving abroad.

Now she has rebuilt her life and found happiness with Joel. Although he proposed after three months, she made him wait six months before she gave him her answer after the train wreck of her last relationship as she didn't want to find herself in the same situation again. But Joel is nothing like Clayton. He is kind and compassionate, a vet who specialises in large animals. And they are busy saving for their wedding.

All that is about to change when Joel excitedly informs Anna that he has been headhunted for a veterinary position at a game reserve in South Africa - a secret dream of his. They have been given an all-expenses paid trip for the unique experience and for Joel to be interviewed for his dream job. But Anna is hesitant. She hates flying and it's so far away...from everything. A fact that is only reinforced when they step off one plane only to step onto a smaller five seater plane that flies them another hour away. They are greeted by Ntando, a tracker who works at the reserve, who then drives them another half an hour to the reserve and the lodge where they will be staying. The absolute middle of nowhere.

But Anna has to admit...the lodge and its surrounds are stunning. The luxurious tents with the subtle privacies of a hidden shower and free standing bath. The cooling swimming pool. And those stunning views. And then they meet the other guests - two other couples staying to help launch this new game reserve ready for paying guests. And Anna's heart stops. No. It can't be. But it is. Clayton. But he's supposed to be dead. What is he doing here? Could it just all be a coincidence or a sinister plot to get her back?

But Anna doesn't believe in coincidence. She knows Clayton...and she knows he is there for a reason and that it cannot be anything good.

I remember reading on Miranda's instagram some time back when she was in South Africa and her pondering about it being the perfect setting for a thriller. I was like...um, yeah...not a fan. But oh em gee!! Did it work?! The setting of the game reserve really gave the reader that sense of isolation. And in a real "locked room" sense despite being out in the open. I mean, how could she leave? She had arrived by air and didn't know how to escape. Not only that, she was surrounded by predators but despite the lions, snakes and other wild animals that could tear you to shreds should you cross their path, it seemed that the human kind proved to be the most dangerous of all.

The story unfolds predominantly through Anna's narrative both in the past and the present as we are lead through step by step of her train wreck of a relationship with Clayton in which he pretty much railroaded her into. As the twists started, so too does the necessary suspension of belief for it to work. And crazily enough, it kind of does in a weird way. But then our villain is just a little bit loopy and the setting merely adds to the delusional factor. But then despite this, it just works so well. Rijks has that knack of making it work even when it seems ludicrous. 

I honestly didn't think I would enjoy a book set in the wilds of Africa, but boy did I enjoy it! I devoured it in five hours in one sitting! No way was I stopping for sleep or anything. I was seeing it through the bitter end. It was a wild ride, a little predictable but sometimes not. The chapters are also relatively short and snappy, keeping the pace moving along nicely.

Overall, it was an atmospheric, fun and fast read that was also claustrophobic and chilling and oh so addictive. A thoroughly entertaining outing with Rijks once again.

I would like to thank #MirandaRijks, #Netgalley, #InkubatorBooks and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #TheLodge in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Miranda Rijks lives in West Sussex, England, with her husband, their musician daughter and black Labrador. ‘The Obituary’ was her first psychological thriller. She has also written a psychological thriller series featuring Dr Pippa Durrant, a psychologist and specialist in lie detection, who works alongside Sussex police getting embroiled in some scary stuff!

After a degree in Law, Miranda worked in marketing in London and Eastern Europe before setting up businesses in the horticultural, leisure and retail sectors. Along the way, she got a masters in writing and wrote the self-help book, ‘How Compatible Are You?’ and biography, ‘The Eccentric Entrepreneur’. In 2018, Miranda wrote ‘Don’t Call Me Brave’, a novel very loosely drawing upon her experiences of having a rare bone cancer.

She feels extremely lucky to be living the dream, writing psychological thrillers full time! 

Miranda loves connecting with her readers, so feel free to drop her a line.

Social Media Links:

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REVIEW: The Wishing Well by Natalie Kleinman

The Wishing Well by Natalie Kleinman

Genre: Historical fiction, Regency romance

Read: 3rd August 2023

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Amazon

Published: 5th May 2023

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Is Harriet ready to face her future?

England 1818

Ever since the deaths of her fiancé and her father, Harriet Lambert has thrown herself into the management of her family’s estate to cope with her grief. Though time has eased her sorrow, she has had little opportunity to once again pursue romance.

But when she is called on to accompany her younger sister, Amabel, to London for her introduction into respectable society, Harriet finds herself caught in a flurry of social engagements. And when she meets Major Brew Ware at a soirée, the two form an immediate connection.

Having experienced tragedy at an early age, Brew understands the significance of Harriet’s loss. With their shared interests and honest approach, their friendship continues to flourish as the season wears on.

Though no man has turned her head since she lost her fiancé, Harriet is aware that her affection for Brew is growing stronger. And as she tentatively considers her future, she must now decide whether she is prepared to take another chance on love…

THE WISHING WELL is a historical romantic tale set in Regency England, with a spirited and courageous heroine at its heart.

MY THOUGHTS:

This is the third of Natalie Kleinman's regency romances I have read and once again it is a heartwarming tale that is an easy read, moving at a gentle pace. There really isn't a lot to say about the story because, while they are wholly enjoyable and a perfect way to while away a few hours, they are also predictable. But that isn't a bad thing. Sometimes you are comforted in knowing what's coming. That's the beauty of these gentle reads.

Harriet Lambert has had her season. She came out, met and became betrothed to John Downing after a short courtship in which both had fallen madly in love. Unfortunately, it was at the time of the Napoleonic War in France and no sooner had they become engaged than she had lost him on the battlefields at Waterloo. And then in the months after that lost also her beloved papa.

Now three years have since passed, the war has ended and the time has come for Harriet's younger sister Amabel (which I thought was a typo at first) to experience her first season and coming out ball. Along with their mother Louisa Lambert, the sisters make their way from their country estate in Kent to the capital where dresses are ordered, bonnets are purchased and arrangements are made for Amabel's coming out to society. 

At one of the first soirees, the sisters meet lifelong friends Major Brew Ware and Gil Carstairs, having returned from France after the former making his fortune after the war's end. It isn't long before Gil has won the heart of young Amabel and Brew finds himself a gentle companion in Harriet. Whilst Amabel and Gil are as obvious in their devotion, Brew and Harriet aren't at all sure of the other's feelings.

Added to this is Brew's family drama. He and his father have been estranged for some fifteen years and with his sister also in London to make her coming out debut, it seems he is to cross paths with his father once again. 

So while Amabel and Gil are love's young dream, neither Harriet nor Brew were seeking love. And yet they find it in each other.

A heartwarming read as regency romances always tend to be. The characters were well developed and interesting...especially the man with the vivid striped waistcoats...lol It was refreshing not to have someone plotting against anyone and aside from one bad apple that made a small appearance it was just a really satisfying read.

I must say, mail in those days (considering they had to go by horse mail coach) makes a far quicker journey than it does today going from one county to another, when I have trouble sending something two suburbs away!

I would like to thank #NatalieKleinman, #Netgalley and #SapereBooks for an ARC of #TheWishingWell in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Natalie’s passion for reading became a compulsion to write when she attended a ten-week course in creative writing some sixteen or so years ago. She takes delight in creating short stories of which more than forty have been published, but it was her lifelong love of Regency romance that led her to turn from contemporary romantic fiction to try her hand at her favourite genre. Raised on a diet of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer, she is never happier than when immersed in an age of etiquette and manners, fashion and intrigue, all combined into a romping good tale. She lives on the London/Kent border, close to the capital’s plethora of museums and galleries which she uses for research as well as pleasure. A perfect day though is when she heads out of town to enjoy lunch by a pub on the river, any river, in company with her husband and friends. 

Natalie is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association, the Society of Authors and the Society of Women Writers and Journalists.

Social Media links:

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REVIEW: The Cornish Rebel by Nicola Pryce

The Cornish Rebel (The Cornish Sagas #7) by Nicola Pryce

Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas, Regency

Read: 28th July 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 3rd August 2023

★★★ 3 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Cornwall, 1801.

In the wake of her mother's death, Pandora Woodville is desperate to escape her domineering father and finally return to Cornwall. Posing as a widow, she safely makes it across the Atlantic, bright with the dream of working at her Aunt Harriet's school for young women. But as Pandora is soon to learn, the school is facing imminent closure after a series of sinister events threatened its reputation.

Acclaimed chemist Benedict Aubyn has also recently returned to Cornwall, to take up a new role as Turnpike Trust Surveyor. Pandora's arrival has been a strange one, so she is grateful when he shows her kindness. As news of the school's ruin spreads around town, everyone seems to be after her aunt's estate. Now, Pandora and Aunt Harriet must do everything in their power to save the school, or risk losing everything.

However, Pandora has another problem. She's falling for Benedict. But can she trust him, or is he simply looking after his own interests?

MY THOUGHTS:

Can she trust the man she loves...?

The seventh book in the Cornish Saga series, THE CORNISH REBEL is the second one I have read and can be done so as a standalone. If you love Poldark, then you are bound to enjoy this series though it does differ a little it still has that same Cornish feel that Poldark fans would now be missing. Though no one can compare to Aidan Turner as the delectable Ross Poldark.

Cornwall, 1801 is also a time of change as we move into the Regency era and with comes modernisation in the form of turnpike roads and chemical discoveries. But there is still a long way to go in the more forward thinking of a hundred years plus to come and women were still very much second class citizens in what is predominantly a man's world.

This tale is set around a girls school, St Feoca for Young Ladies, and thus bringing forth a wealth of forward thinking women. Something that was almost unheard of at the time. The school is under threat of closure but through the perseverance of one woman and her niece they are determined to keep it open. Believing that education should be available to everyone, not just the rich, so too their desire to help the more poor disadvantaged girls.

But as the story progresses, will Pandora follow her heart or her head? Will she pursue her own dreams or those of others?

I didn't enjoy this one as much as the previous tale. Whether that is because it is part of a series or it just didn't grab me or the unformatted style of the book which did make it hard to follow, I'm not sure. It is still an entertaining read and the setting is atmospheric and stunning in the Cornish landscape. There is plenty of action to keep readers entertained.

I would like to thank #NicolaPryce, #Netgalley, #AtlanticBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TheCornishRebel in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Nicola Pryce trained as a nurse at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London. She loves both literature and history, and has an Open University degree in Humanities. She's a qualified adult literacy support volunteer and lives with her husband in the Blackdown Hills in Somerset, UK. She and her husband love sailing and together they sail the south coast of Cornwall in search of adventure. If she's not writing or gardening, you'll find her scrubbing decks.

Nicola's books are set around 1793-1800 amongst the shipbuilders and merchants living on the south coast of Cornwall. With Britain at war, there is the continual threat of invasion and a constant vigil for French spies. Nicola's first novel was Pengelly's Daughter, followed by The Captain's Girl, The Cornish Dressmaker, The Cornish Lady and A Cornish Betrothal with The Cornish Captive published in January 2022.

Nicola is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and The Historical Writers Association.

Social Media links:

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REVIEW: The Girl in the Photo by Sam Carrington

The Girl in the Photo by Sam Carrington

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 31st July 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 20th July 2023

★★★★ 3.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

Her child is missing. And she’d do anything to find her…

Every Friday Mercy Hamilton goes to the same supermarket. She doesn’t go to buy groceries, instead, she shows a fading photo of a little girl to anyone who’ll look – begging for help to find her daughter.

One Friday, Erica Fielding comes across Mercy, and touched by her story, Erica agrees to help.

As Erica is drawn deeper and deeper into Mercy’s life, she discovers there is no record of Mercy’s daughter. In fact, there’s no record of a child at all.

But who is the girl in the photo if not Mercy’s missing daughter? And what danger will Erica find herself in by pursuing the truth?

The pulse pounding psychological thriller that will leave you totally breathless. Perfect for fans of Gone Girl, Lisa Jewell and Shari Lapena.

MY THOUGHTS:

You think you know who she is…You’re wrong…

I really don't know where to start. This is essentially such a sad sad story. It is heartbreaking in more ways than one. It is about the loss of a child, mental illnes, IVF sand yet so much more. There is not a lot I can say without giving anything away so I will just keep it brief.

Erica is lonely married woman struggling to conceive and in her marriage. She journals on Instagram sharing her struggles where she is an inspiration to many. Whilst at home, her marriage crumbles. She has rehearsed over and over what to say to her husband Jamie to end their marriage and yet she can't bring herself to say the words. And every evening he returns home from his work as a forensic psychologist working with prisoners as grumpy as ever. It's clear things are taking a toll on their marriage.

Every Friday, Mercy Hamilton goes to the same supermarket. But she doesn't buy groceries. Instead she shows a fading photograph of a little girl to anyone will look begging for help to find her daughter. She has become a nuisance to staff and shoppers alike but one Friday Erica is there and is aghast that no one will take her seriously. Touched by Mercy's story, Erica agrees to do all she can to help. But not all is at it seems.

The police are aware of Mercy. But there's never been a record of a missing child matching the description of the girl in the photo. In fact, there's no record of the child at all. Everyone believes Mercy to be suffering from some kind of delusional disorder. So what exactly can Erica do? The closer the two women get, the closer Erica comes to uncovering the disturbing truth.

The story was an incredibly slow burn and took some time to build. A little too slow for my liking but I stuck it out and was rewarded. There is so much to this story that I can't even begin to reiterate without inadvertently letting something slip. I really didn't see the twist coming but when it did I was like wow...but saddened at the same time.

Overall, an enjoyable psychological thriller that was a little too slow to start but came together nicely. A compelling tale.

I would like to thank #SamCarrington, #Netgalley and #AvonBooks for an ARC of #TheGirlInThePhoto in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Sam Carrington lives in Devon with her husband and three children. She worked for the NHS for 15 years, during which time she qualified as a nurse. Following the completion of a Psychology degree she went to work for the prison service as an Offending Behaviour Programme Facilitator. Her experiences within this field inspired her writing. She left the service to spend time with her family and to follow her dream of being a novelist. 

Social media links:

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