The Staffymum's Book Nook: May 2021

Sunday, 30 May 2021

REVIEW: Rose's Ever After by Chrissie Bradshaw

Rose's Ever After (The Colliery Rows #2) by Chrissie Bradshaw

Genre: Historical fiction, sagas

Read: 24th May 2021

Goodreads

Amazon - UK

Amazon - US

Published: 11th May 2021

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Rose has a promising future stretching out before her until a cruel twist of fate seizes it. Will she overcome her heartache as she tries to build a new life? Rose returns to the safe haven of Linwood colliery and her warm-hearted family. As she settles into life in the colliery rows, Rose makes an astounding discovery and a long lost family member appears who makes demands on them all..

Chrissie Bradshaw’s emotionally gripping historical reads have a northern Catherine Cookson vibe with a modern attitude. ‘Rose’s Ever After’ follows on from ‘Rose’s Choice’ yet it can be enjoyed as a stand alone novel

Read ‘Rose’s Ever After’ to follow the twists and turns of Rose’s eventful life. Will the rugged path ahead, full of challenges, lead her to a new ‘happily ever after’?

MY REVIEW:

I'm excited to be taking part in the #BlogTour for Chrissie Bradshaw's captivating saga ROSE'S EVER AFTER.

When I saw this book was the second in a series, I quickly got my hands on the first one to read before delving into this one. I'm glad I did because, although ROSE'S EVER AFTER can be read as a standalone with enough backstory given to keep the reader up to date, I felt as if I was truly there when the preceding events actually took place having read them first hand as they happened. And this book, ROSE'S EVER AFTER, picks up where "Rose's Choice" left off.

It's 1955, and Rose and Danny are enjoying marriage and parenthood in their little flat above the bakery where Danny works as a manager. Still reeling from the surprise that her father and Danny's sister Grace had sprung on them at Christmas, they were even more shocked when a further surprise followed some months later when Rose guessed that Grace was pregnant. It seemed little Lily would have an aunty or uncle younger than her, and when Johnnie was born her father and Grace couldn't be happier. And Rose was delighted that her father was able to find love and contentment after the death of her mother Ginnie when she was just 14 years old.

Rose was also content in her life with Danny and little Lily and as much as she loved being a mum she still yearned for the freedom and fulfillment she got working with animals. When she meets Helen one afternoon by the River Aln and the two strike up a friendship, Helen invites her to Blackthorn Farm where she and her husband live with their children. Rose is in her element on the farm amidst the animals as Helen's daughter Jennifer introduces her to all the cows, chickens and horses. Soon after an opportunity arises for Rose to help out at Blackthorn caring for retired pit ponies and she cannot contain her excitement when she shares her news with Danny. She has missed working the animals since leaving her position at Campbell's Vets when she fell pregnant with Lily and this job would be perfect. Plus the extra wage will help them save for a deposit for their own house quicker. Everything just seems to be falling into place and Rose couldn't be happier.

New Years Eve and their sixth wedding anniversary is approaching and Danny has something special lined up to celebrate together with her father and Grace as neither were at each other's respective weddings. A moment in time that was to last forever as tragedy struck just five months later and Rose was left bereft and forced to return to Linwood once again. Unable to make the journey to Blackthorn farm, she had to let the position she loved so much go. But when one door closes another one opens, and it just so happened that Frank Maxwell Senior was in need of her veterinary skills as an assistant and together they published and updated edition of her Veterinary Assistant's Handbook which was now being used as text for training courses. It seems Rose just goes from strength to strength but for her she is just doing what she has to do to get by and provide for her children. Particularly as she has just discovered she is pregnant once again - with the child that she and Danny had put on hold until they were in their dream house.

When Frank senior decides it's time for him to retire, he calls his son Frank junior to take over the two surgeries. However Frank has a spoilt wife who doesn't want to move to Northumberland and wants to stay in Yorkshire near her family. So when they make the move, Marjorie spends the week in Yorkshire with her parents and comes north to spend the weekends with Frank. It's not ideal but something tells Rose that things are not all that rosy in that marriage. But that is not her business and she and Frank are just colleagues and friends. Frank and Rose go way back to her days at Morpeth Grammar School and if Danny hadn't stolen her heart, who knows where their fledgling romance would have taken them?

But life has a way of stirring things up as a face from the past comes knocking with revelations of their own. And just when Rose thinks she has found the missing link from her past, she is soon shocked to discover that maybe what she had been missing all these was just in her imagination.

Despite all her hardships and heartbreaks, Rose finds a seed of hope that brings with it new opportunities and challenges to give her a new purpose in life. But can she move on from the past and be happy again? Can she have the life and live the dream as well? Is it too late for Rose to find her happily ever after?

If I thought I enjoyed "Rose's Choice" then I loved ROSE'S EVER AFTER and I think reading the first one beforehand helped gain a better understanding of Rose and her family, enabling me to appreciate the second book more. I was thrilled to rejoin the Kellys and their friends in the Colliery Rows once more and watch them bloom. While I found Rose a little annoying at first in the first book, but in this one she has grown into a strong and determined young woman whose sense of duty robbed her of her dreams once before but returned to see them fulfilled this time round. Rose is from what I call the stoic generation who don't complain but just get in and do what has to be done. They lived through a war and still they remain standing. She is incredibly bright and hardworking which serves her well throughout life and her loyalty goes a long way. But life is harsh for the working class and my heart broke every time Rose came up against even more heartbreak. And yet, throughout it all, she never complained.

I love each of the characters in their own way which made ROSE'S EVER AFTER a pleasure to read. There wasn't that constant angst that made you dread what's coming next. Instead you were eager to discover what opportunities were around the corner. My heart was captured by Rose, her family and her friends as I hoped for better days ahead and for Rose for find happiness once and for all.

Chrissie Bradshaw cleverly wove significant historical events of the area into the story to bring it to life even more, such as the mine crash and that which buried and entire village school in which 160 children were killed. And despite the locale, there were times I felt ROSE'S EVER AFTER had a touch of "Call the Midwife" about it...though not with quite as many babies being born.

I feel I cannot put into words everything about this book. In fact I am stumbling over just what to say. I will say however that I hope Rose's journey does not end there and I hope to see her again in the near future.

I thoroughly enjoyed ROSE'S EVER AFTER and recommend it, as well as the first one "Rose's Choice", to fans of Catherine Cookson and Dilly Court alike.

I would like to thank #ChrissieBradshaw and #RachelsRandomResources and #VallumPublishing for an ARC of #RosesEverAfter in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Chrissie, 2016 winner of the Romantic Novelist's Association Elizabeth Goudge writing trophy, is a seasoned tea drinker who writes contemporary and historical family sagas.

Her latest is a compelling family saga, ROSE’S EVER AFTER. This is the second book in ‘The Colliery Rows’ series and follows on from ROSE’S CHOICE.

There is a spin off novella , THE UNWELCOME ANGEL that tells the story of the winter of 1944 in more detail.

Chrissie has always loved match-making a book to a reader. Writing the kind of book she loves to read takes this a step further. When Chrissie is not writing or reading, you will find her walking her dog on the beach, travelling or spending time with her family and friends. She would love to hear from readers.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

Thursday, 27 May 2021

REVIEW: A Good Mother by Sam Hepburn

A Good Mother by Sam Hepburn

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

Read: 20th May 2021

Published: 26th May 2021

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

I see my son’s scooter lying in the undergrowth. Time stands still. Where is he? Deafened by my own heartbeat, I keep looking but I can’t see him. This is all my fault. My punishment for the things I did, and the things I should have done.

All I ever wanted was to keep my son safe. I married the perfect husband, built the perfect home. I’ve tried to give Finn the life I never had.

Everything was going so well. Until now.

It’s just small things at first – a punctured tyre, an open gate that I'm sure I locked. But then I see the photograph of two young girls, and a night I’ve tried to forget.

I know I have to stop pretending that nothing is happening. I can’t escape the truth.

Someone knows my secret. But what do they want from me?

A gripping and suspenseful thriller with a jaw-dropping twist, fans of Friend Request, The Wife Between Us and The Girl on the Train won’t be able to put this down.

MY REVIEW:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Sam Hepburn's gripping domestic thriller A GOOD MOTHER.

This is my first read by Sam Hepburn and I have to say I'm impressed. Her calibre for the domestic thriller is up there with Shalini Boland and K.L. Slater in her ability to engage the reader and keep them turning the pages throughout. Not to mention a riveting plot line different from anything I've read before. Her characters are not perfect; they are as flawed as the rest of us, making the protagonist in A GOOD MOTHER someone readers can sympathise and identify with and asking ourselves the question "what would we do should we find ourselves in the same situation?"

Nicola Cahill grew up in foster care after the suicide of her mother when she was five years old, shunted from home to home before the system spat her our at 16 and left her to fend for herself. Caught up in the only world she was familiar with, her foray into adulthood was filled with hardships and desperate measures.

Until one day, something happened to turn her life around. She became a mother. And from that day on, Nicola vowed to be a good mother and protect her son at all costs.

Six years later, Nicola has put the past behind her and now lives in a gorgeous house on affluent Juniper Close with her perfect husband, a successful dentist at the practice where she works as a receptionist. Ian is wonderful with her son Finn, taking him under his wing spending time with him teaching him chess and even coaching his soccer team. The sight of the two of them together warms her heart. To think all that she has come from to where she is now, Nicci had never thought it possible.

But then strange and bizarre things start happening. A dead blackbird on her car. A gash in her car tyre. Glass sprinkled by an open gate that she had securely locked. But it's not until she receives the photo that she knows her troubled past has come back to haunt her. She thought she had left all that behind her...but she was wrong. Because not only is her marriage not as happy as it seems, someone knows her secret...and are now threatening to destroy her carefuly composed life. But worse than that...they will stop at nothing to get at what she values most in the world. Her son, Finn.

And when a face from Nicci's past comes knocking on her door, she knows then that the facade of lies she has built around her is about to come tumbling down. How far will Nicci go to protect her son? Can she keep the secrets of her past hidden? And what happens if it all goes wrong and her lies are uncovered?

An intense psychological read, A GOOD MOTHER is fast-paced from start to finish that I could not put down. It is told completely from Nicola's perspective, in both the past and present narratives, as her past is slowly revealed to the reader. It's easy to sympathise with Nicola as a product of an uncaring system that just chews people up and then spits them out, leaving them without support or the resources to fend for themselves. This in turn leads to a sad chain of events of exploitation and abuse that in the end also dumps them when they become a liability. How are those in the foster care system supposed to make anything of themselves without the proper resources or support? It's appalling. It's no wonder Nicci ended up the way she did in her early years...but it was Finn's birth that was her saving grace. From that moment on, she stepped up to make something better of herself while caring for her son.

But Nicci's life was never meant to be an easy one for though she had escaped the cycle of an uncaring system she unknowingly swapped one form of abuse for another. That being in her marriage to husband Ian who I saw from the beginning was coercive, controlling and manipulative although she thought herself incredibly lucky to have found him. And he reminded her of that fact almost every day whilst at the same time insidiously chipping away at her self esteem and confidence therefore making her completely dependent on him. He was abhorrent and completely unlikeable and I wondered throughout the entire story how he would get his comeuppance because, let's face it, the bad guys usually do.

While A GOOD MOTHER is a fantastic read that is addictive and compelling, it's also one of those books that you can't help but dislike just about every character. They are pretty much all selfish, keeping secrets and out for themselves. I went from sympathising with Nicci to wanting to throttle her sometimes, knowing she was just digging herself in deeper and deeper. But despite it all, she just went from strength to strength that in the end she kicked butt majorly and I was cheering for her all the way.

The brilliant twisty has a frisson of tension running throughout as Nicci's tragic troubled past intertwines with her present in ways even I didn't see coming! Everything is woven expertly together in a way that leaves you breathless. So many secrets, so many lies. A GOOD MOTHER is a good...no, a bloody brilliant read that will have you turning the pages into the night...and still leave you reeling.

Perfect for fans of domestic thrillers and fans of Shalini Boland, K.L. Slater, Sheryl Browne and Ruth Heald.

I would like to thank #SamHepburn, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #AGoodMother in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Sam Hepburn read modern languages at Cambridge University and, after a brief spell in advertising, joined the BBC as a General Trainee. She worked as a documentary maker for twenty years and was one of the commissioners for the launch of BBC Four. Since then, she has written several books, including psychological thrillers Gone Before and Her Perfect Life, and novels for young adults and children. She won the 2017 CWA Margery Allingham Short Story award and has been nominated for several other prestigious prizes, including the CILIP Carnegie Medal for her YA thrillers.

Sam has worked and travelled widely in Africa and the Middle East, and is a trustee of the Kenyan’s children’s charity, I Afrika. She now lives in London with her husband and children.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Bookouture by following them on these social media accounts.

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

REVIEW: The Playdate by Victoria Jenkins

The Playdate by Victoria Jenkins

Genre: Domestic thriller, Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 21st May 2021

Published: 21st May 2021

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Arranging the playdate was easy. Child’s play. Preparing the house was more difficult. It was only now she realised how many photographs there were: the picture-perfect unit. Wife, husband, child. All of it a lie.

I made a new friend at playgroup today. She’s different from the other mothers. She feels like someone I can trust. Someone I can confide in.

But there are some things I can’t tell her. Things I can’t tell anyone.

Because I have a secret that no one else knows. One that still haunts my dreams, wakes me up in a cold sweat at night.

Even another mother would never understand. Unless, of course, she’s hiding something too…

MY REVIEW:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Victoria Jenkins gripping new thriller THE PLAYDATE.

Victoria Jenkins has stepped into the foray of psychological and domestic thrillers after the success of her Detectives King and Lane series, with THE PLAYDATE being her fourth thriller thus far. I've always enjoyed her books and, although this one didn't hit the mark for me as much as her previous two, it was still an exciting and compelling read.

From the beginning we meet two very different mothers. Dani is a young single mother to screaming tantrum wielding Layla living with her own mother Caroline whilst training to be a hairstylist. Adele is an older woman living a much more affluent lifestyle - husband, perfect house - with 21 month old Ivy, a beautiful placid child. The children are as different as the mothers.

But both women are harbouring secrets.

Feeling isolated and lonely, Dani is thrilled when she meets Adele at playgroup held every Friday morning in the church hall and it isn't long before the two women become fast friends. She finds Adele easy to confide in, even if she is more her mother's age than her own, opening up about Layla's father and the recent troubles that have been plaguing her. It seems someone has begun a smear campaign against her from threatening mail to emails about detailing her past. And the only person Dani can think of to be behind it is her ex's wife. The wife she knew nothing about when she began seeing him. Who else would hate her this much? Added to that are her struggles with Layla. The child throws the most epic tantrums, screaming the place down if she doesn't get her own way. What is she doing wrong?

Adele is sympathetic to her new friend. It's not easy being a young single mother...particularly to a spirited willful child. And then to be faced with posters all over town with your photo on and emails revealing your past, she can't help but feel sorry for her...almost. For Adele has her own troubles at home where Callum is bitter and controlling. When he discovers she has taken Ivy out, he is livid. She knows the rules - she is NOT to go out with Ivy. But Adele needs those playgroup days. And so she asks Dani and Layla around for a playdate. But first, she must prepare the house, packing away the photos that are on display of the picture-perfect family - husband, wife and child. For it is all a lie. Then Dani sees the bruises on Adele's back before she has a chance to hide them. It seems Adele's life is not quite as perfect as it appears.

Then at the playground with Adele and Ivy one day, Dani has words with one of affluent mums from playgroup with whom she'd had run-ins with before. And it only takes a fraction of that minute for Layla to disappear...and for Dani's world to come crashing down.

There is honestly not much more I can say about this book without giving too much away. It is a cleverly written thriller of smoke and mirrors where nothing is as it seems.

THE PLAYDATE is told through the alternating perspectives of Dani and Adele. The reader knows that both women are keeping secrets but exactly what are those secrets? As the story unravels and the truth is revealed, do the pieces of the puzzle really fit together...or is it another illusion?

Beginning as a slow burn my interest never waned throughout and as the pace picked up I raced through the pages in an attempt to unravel the mystery. The closer I got, the truth was suddenly clear. But what was the endgame and how will it all turn out?

A domestic thriller with a clever twist, THE PLAYDATE is an addictive read from start to finish. Victoria Jenkins is certainly spreading her wings in this genre. Having read all four of her thrillers, I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next!

I would like to thank #VictoriaJenkins, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #ThePlaydate in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Victoria Jenkins is a Welsh author who has made a name for herself writing the highly popular Detective King and Lane series of novels. The first novel in the series was “The Girls In The Water” that Jenkins first published in 2017 and is an Amazon UK top 30 bestseller, and top 5 bestseller in the Amazon US chart., to much critical acclaim and popularity among crime fiction fans.

The series of novels features Detective Constable Chloe Lane and Detective Inspector Alex King, who are the lead investigative characters that solve some mysterious murders in their hometown.

Her first psychological thriller, The Divorce, was published in July 2019. The second, The Argument, was published December 10th 2019 and The Accusation was published June 9th 2020. Her latest novel, The Playdate is out now.

Victoria lives with her husband and daughter in South Wales, where her series of crime novels featuring Detectives King and Lane is based.

Social Media links:

Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Bookouture by following them on these social media accounts.

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Sunday, 23 May 2021

REVIEW: Rose's Choice by Chrissie Bradshaw

Rose's Choice (The Colliery Rows #1) by Chrissie Bradshaw

Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas, Post war

Read: 22nd May 2021

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 17th July 2020

★★★★ 4.5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Rationing, bombing, disease and pit disasters are part of Rose Kelly’s World War 2 childhood. When the spirited coalminer’s daughter discovers a family secret, she makes a choice that overshadows her teenage years. Rose tries to make the most of post-war opportunities but family tragedy pulls her back to a life in the colliery rows. She relinquishes her bright future for domestic duties because her family comes first.

But will family ties get in the way of her dreams?

MY REVIEW:

I love to discover new authors, though I'm not sure my evergrowing TBR list is, particularly in my favourite genres. And Chrissie Bradshaw is a new one for me. Hailed as a northern Catherine Cookson, I was excited merely at that prospect as Cookson is one of my all time favourites and couldn't wait to delve into the story. And I wasn't disappointed...though I found her style to be very different from Cookson and in a way considered the salutation a little misleading. Still ROSE'S CHOICE is a beautiful coming of age story fraught with love, loss and tragedy.

Opening with the birth of Rose in 1934, the first child to her parents John and Virginia (Ginnie) Kelly, this prologue is in the third person perspective of father John, now a proud and doting father to his new daughter whom he promises will go far beyond the Colliery Rows.

Ten years later, it's 1944 and Rose has twin brothers two years her junior, Stanley and David. Their father is a pitman at Linwood Colliery whilst their mother keeps the home fires burning with the help of Mary-from-next-door on occasion. War has been raging across Europe and Britain for five years now and with each scream of the air raid siren, they run for cover to the Anderson shelter wishing the war was over.

Rose loved school and her secret wish was to do something with animals. So when Danny Dodds brought her a barely alive pup just weeks old with a crushed tail and injured paw, she didn't think twice as she and her best friend Lottie ran to catch the bus to Ashington and seek out a vet. There they were ushered to Maxwell's Vet where Mr Maxwell saw to the little pup whilst the two girls waited with his receptionist. When the siren screamed, they took cover in the surgery's cellar shelter and helped with invoices and paperwork. When the all-clear sounded, Mr Maxwell informed them that the pup was very young and should still be with its mother so he would keep it for a while to ensure it got the best care. Rose would loved to have a pet but her mother claimed allergies so it was out of the question.

Before Christmas came that year a different kind of angel paid a visit to the rows. An unwelcome one they called "the strangling angel" also known as diphtheria. Many came down with it and yet life went on in the rows. As Rose was approaching secondary schooling, her teachers thought her incredibly bright and believed she was eligible for a scholarship to a posh girls school in Morpeth. All she had to do was sit an entrance exam and pass to qualify. On the day of her practise exam, another boy Douglas Fletcher was also sitting for a scholarship to the boys school. He had told his mother he didn't feel well that day, but she had assured him it was just nerves and ushered him along to his exam. When Rose had completed hers she looked over and saw that Douglas appeared to be asleep but feared much worse. He was whisked away to the isolation hospital with diphtheria. Three days later, Rose woke with a horribly sore throat and knew she had it too and she was sent to the isolation hospital as well, where she spent Christmas with the other sick children.

Weeks later, Rose was well enough to return home to complete her recovery but was saddened to learn that Douglas has succumbed to the disease. She felt for his parents as he was their only child. But there was more to come. As she had been in isolation, she had also missed the entrance exam for the scholarship. But after her teachers had talks with the school and, she suspected her father had a hand in as well, the school then sent a letter to her parents inviting them to bring Rose for an interview. Before she knew it, Rose had been accepted into Morpeth Girls High School where she would remain until she was at least sixteen but also with the opportunity to further her education another two years and even university. This is what her father wanted for her. This is what Rose wanted for herself. A chance to to fulfill her dreams.

And then tragedy struck. Diphtheria had not finished sweeping the rows and taking whoever was in its path. And before the Kelly's could rejoice with Rose's good news, they would at first be mourning.

It was 1945 and the war was over at last. Come September, Rose began at Morpeth Girls High and life began to go back to normal again. And then...her parents had news. Her mother was expecting again. As was Mrs Fletcher, Douglas' mam. Rose didn't know whether to be thrilled or not. There was barely enough room in their cottage as it is. And given her age, her father wanted her mother to have the baby in hospital but her mother was against the idea. She'd had all her babies at home and she was having this one at home. She made all the arrangements with Mary-from-next-door and when she went into labour while her father was on shift, her mother left her in charge while she went next door to Mary's to have the baby. Throughout the night Rose was worried that the midwife wouldn't arrive in time and when she noticed a dark shadowy figure enter Mary's late at night she knew it wasn't the midwife. Which caused her to worry more. But the next morning her mother presented them with a new baby boy called Terence and Rose immediately fell in love with her new little brother. She tried to question Mary about the goings on the night before but Mary brushed her concerns off as her imagination.

But three years later as she left her schoolfriends after a game of tennis, Rose saw something that even she couldn't believe to be true. And it forced her to question everything she ever knew. For the next few weeks she was riddled with guilt, questions and confusion...as well as anger towards her mother. When cornered with questions, she told her mother what she saw and what she believed to be true. And so her mother told her the truth...and swore her to secrecy. She must never tell her father or her brothers for it would tear their family apart.

And so Rose had a choice. To keep the secret or destroy her family.

And then when tragedy strikes the Kellys again, Rose leaves school and gives up her dreams for the domestic life she never wanted. She was so close to exams and gaining her certificate but her duty was to her family. But what happens when the secret her mother kept from them, the secret she made Rose keep, comes out and threatens her family once and for all?

A story of heartbreak, tragedy and loss, ROSE'S CHOICE is a beautiful story that is also about coming of age and finding love. Beginning at the tail end of the war and into the years thereafter, we follow Rose in her journey from a girl into a young woman. Kind and compassionate yet strong and stubborn, she knows what she wants to do with her life and does her level best to do it despite caring for her family as well. But there are secrets and there are choices that she must make. But Rose is also loyal and knows the wrong choice can have devastating effects. So what will she do?

Set in the North East of England coal mining community, ROSE'S CHOICE is fraught with tears, tribulations, forgiveness, love, loss and laughter. A coming of age story of friendship and family. A journey from war to survival to the discovery of love. Brimming with wonderful characters and a community spirit that would not be broken, ROSE'S CHOICE is a wonderful reflection of working class life in a coal mining community.

I would not have ever come across this book had it not been for the second one in this series. Before reading "Rose's Ever After", I wanted to enjoy Rose's story from the start and I am glad I did. I read it in one day and though it was a little slow to begin with, once the secret became a secret Rose inadvertently discovered the story gained momentum and I could not put it down.

Although it is different to Catherine Cookson, those who enjoy Cookson as well as Dilly Court and authors alike, are sure to enjoy ROSE'S CHOICE. I have no hesitation in recommending to fans of similar types of tales in the historical fiction genre.

I would like to thank #ChrissieBradshaw and #VallumPublishing for an ARC of #RosesChoice in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

Friday, 21 May 2021

REVIEW: The Marriage by K.L. Slater

The Marriage by KL Slater

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

Read: 15th May 2021

Published: 20th May 2021

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Ten years ago he killed my son. Today I married him.

Ten years ago my darling son Jesse was murdered and our perfect family was destroyed. My strong, handsome boy, so full of life, became a memory, a photo I carried with me everywhere.

But today I’m finally close to finding happiness again. My ash-blonde hair has been curled into ringlets. Carefully placed white flowers frame my delicate features. The small, drab chapel has been prettied up with white satin, and there are tiny red hearts scattered on the small table where I will soon sign the register with my new husband.

The man who killed my son.

My friends and family can’t understand it. My neighbours whisper in the street whenever I walk past. How can I love a man like Tom?

They don’t really know me at all…

The most unputdownable psychological thriller you’ll read this year from the bestselling author K.L. Slater. If you love The Wife Between Us or Gone Girl, you’ll be totally hooked on The Marriage.

MY REVIEW:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for K.L. Slater's exciting new thriller THE MARRIAGE.

Would you marry the man who killed your son?

Ten years ago, Bridget Wilson's world collapsed when her 18 year old son Jesse was killed with one punch by his best friend Tom Billinghurst. The pair had been ejected from a local nightclub for aggressive and violent behaviour, taking their grievances outside. But then suddenly, Jesse was unconscious on the ground and Tom was in handcuffs. What lead two young men who had been best friends for most of their lives to argue so publicly? What lead Tom to throw the one punch that would change his life forever?

Unbeknownst to them, their altercation was witnessed by elderly dog walker Mavis who often walked her dog Harry late at night which helped with her insomnia, therefore allowing her to sleep upon her return. She saw the boys, recognised them but didn't want to get involved. She hurried away and called the ambulance knowing one would be needed in any event, hanging up before her details could be taken. No one ever knew of the part she played or what she saw that night.

Due to the fact that Tom was an amateur boxer, the judge and jury decided he was best placed to cause significant damage with a single punch , his fists being considered a lethal weapon, and therefore found him guilty. He was sentenced to ten years in prison.

As part of coming to terms with what he did, Tom took part in a restorative justice programme, bringing the victim's families and the perpetrator together to find peace and move forward. Bridget also signed up to the programme and together she and Tom exorcised their demons of the past, finding forgiveness and friendship in one another. But as their visits increased beyond the programme, Bridget and Tom fell in love and six months before his release, they married in a simple ceremony in the prison chapel.

Now Tom has served his time and is preparing for his release. As expected, his mother is also preparing for his homecoming. She has found him a two bedroom flat nearby, bought him new clothes and even lined up a job for him at the library where she used to work. Jill is in her element when she is in control. But Tom knows it's all going to hit the fan as soon as he tells his parents of his marriage.

And then the whispers begin. Everyone has an opinion on Tom and Bridget's marriage and therefore plenty to say about the match. Tom's parents, Jill's best friend Audrey and even Jesse's former girlfriend Coral who had been six months pregnant at the time with the now 9 year old Ellis. Nobody is happy with the marriage and aren't afraid to tell them. While Jill, Tom's mum, will stop at nothing to expose Bridget and what she is trying to do to her family. But this marriage is just the start of a tangled web of secrets woven into events both past and present that have the capacity to derail all those involved...and beyond.

But the question on everyone's lips - besides the 20 year age gap - is why would you marry the very person who ended your own son's life? His best friend, no less. Does Bridget really love Tom? Or has she a hidden agenda? Has she found the perfect way to move on? Or has she set herself up in a carefully laid plan to get the ultimate revenge on her son's killer?

Told in multiple perspectives - Bridget, Tom and Jill (mainly) as well as Audrey, Ellis, the police and even Mavis - THE MARRIAGE has a wealth of intriguing characters that each bring their sides of the story to the table. Some have secrets while others merely want to expose those secrets. From the start, the reader will most likely assume the obvious motives of each character...but Kim, true to form, instead takes us on a journey tangled with lies, secrets and illusions.

THE MARRIAGE probably has one of the most daring and provocative plot lines I have ever read. Not only was Bridget twenty years Tom's senior, not only was she the mother of the boy he killed, but she was an ever present figure throughout his childhood as his best friend's mother! It is so twisted and so creepy it made my skin crawl. My spidey senses were tingling over the whole scenario whether Bridget was up to something or not. The whole concept is just wrong on so many levels...but gosh, it made for brilliantly twisted reading! And I loved it! Even if it was a tad creepy...

A deliciously disturbing tale, THE MARRIAGE is a treasure trove of secrets and web of mysteries that lead right back to the night of Jesse's death and turn everything on its head.

I read this book in one day. It is that addictive. Despite the whole creepy undertone of Bridget and Tom...together...married...eewww...I just couldn't stop turning the pages, finishing around 3am! I just had to know if what I suspected was true...and it was. But it didn't ruin the story in any way because I love guessing and working out what's what and then seeing if I'm right or not in the end. It's the enjoyment in the ride that the author takes me on...and boy, was this one hell of a ride!

And then there is that ending. The ultimate twist that takes everything up a notch, that is worthy of Shalini Boland, and makes the entire tale worth it in the best possible way. One of the best twists sure to leave you shocked and satisfied in perfect synchronicity that I have read in a while.

A definite step up from her recent offerings which, although still enjoyable, didn't pack the punch that this one did. Ladies and gentlemen, Kim Slater is BACK!!

So make a date for the wedding of the year and ensure you're a guest at what is truly a most extraordinary, explosive and memorable story.

I would like to thank #KLSlater, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheMarriage in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

After years of trying to get published and never getting further than the slush pile, Kim went back to university at the age of 40 where she gained a first-class honours degree in English & Creative Writing and an MA in Creative Writing with distinction.

Kim's first adult psychological thriller for Bookouture, ‘Safe with Me’, actually started life as a dissertation on her English & Creative Writing degree in 2010. She says" he creepy voice of Anna came to me strong and insistent . . . she wanted to be written, she wouldn’t go away. I’m so glad I listened!"

Kim first became published writing Young Adult fiction for Macmillan Children’s Books under the name Kim Slater. Her award-winning YA debut, SMART, started life as a short story for her MA in Creative Writing in 2012.

Kim is now a full-time writer. She has a daughter and two stepsons and live with her husband Mac in Nottingham and Yorkshire.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

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REVIEW: The Lost Sister by Kathleen McGurl

The Lost Sister by Kathleen McGurl

Genre: Historical fiction, Dual timeline, Contemporary fiction, Chick lit

Read: 14th May 2021

Published 12th May 2021

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

Three sisters. Three ships. One heartbreaking story.

1911. As Emma packs her trunk to join the ocean liner Olympic as a stewardess, she dreams of earning enough to provide a better life for both her sisters. With their photograph tucked away in her luggage, she promises to be back soon – hoping that sickly Lily will keep healthy, and wild Ruby will behave. But neither life at sea nor on land is predictable, and soon the three sisters’ lives are all changed irrevocably…

Now. When Harriet finds her late grandmother’s travelling trunk in the attic, she’s shocked to discover a photo of three sisters inside – her grandmother only ever mentioned one sister, who died tragically young. Who is the other sister, and what happened to her? Harriet’s questions lead her to the story of three sister ships, Olympic, Titanic and Britannic, and a shattering revelation about three sisters torn apart…

Don’t miss the latest novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Secret of the Chateau. Perfect for fans of The Beekeeper’s Promise and The Forgotten Village!

MY REVIEW:

I'm excited to be taking part in the #BlogTour for Kathleen McGurl's heartbreaking tale THE LOST SISTER.

Three sisters. Three sister ships. One heartbreaking story.

Oh my word! THE LOST SISTER is a compelling dual timeline tale with one family at its heart tragically torn apart both in the past and present. Spanning more than 100 years, family dynamics are explored between sisters and the yearning for independence fraying the bonds that hold them all together. Tension is rife within each household plagued by children leaving home, those left behind, duty, obligations, a wealth of misunderstandings, health issues and decidedly strong personalities. And despite the passage of time, while some things change some things remain the same.

Southampton 1911: Ever since she was 4 years old and experienced the ferry crossing to the Isle of Wight, Emma Higgins has had a love for the sea. So when the White Star Line introduces its new liner Olympic and is looking for new staff, Emma leaves her mundane job at a local hotel and signs up as a second class stewardess for the liner's maiden voyage. Excited at the prospect of taking to the sea, she cannot wait to share her news with her mother and two sisters.

As the oldest, Emma has always felt responsible for helping support her family since their father died when she was 14 and they ultimately had to leave the Isle of Wight and return to Southampton. Ma was a seamstress who took in laundry and sewing jobs to keep them going but as her eyesight began to fail, Emma's wages were needed more and more. The middle sister Ruby also worked at the same hotel and when Emma shared her news, instead of being happy for her, she became resentful that she was to be left behind to do Emma's chores as well as her own while her sister lived it up on the high seas. One of the chores was to help their mother with her younger sickly sister Lily who, after a bout of tuberculosis as a young child, has never fully recovered taking ill at oftentimes. Ma and Lily are, of course, thrilled at Emma's new adventure wishing her well and looking forward to her return and all the stories she'll be able to tell. Ruby instead rebelled, staying out most of the night and even taking up with local married man Harry Paine giving her a reputation...as well as her family by association. She refused to be held back by the mundane existence she was living, looking for excitement wherever she could find it.

Emma thoroughly enjoys the maiden voyage to New York on Olympic, making new friends Violet and Mary as well as a potential love interest in Martin. The work was hard but rewarding as she took in the sights and enjoyed the feeling of freedom on the seas. Upon returning home, she was full of stories of her experiences sharing them with her family, although Ruby remained consistent in her absence. Quickly signing on for the next voyage with her new friends, Emma enjoyed life as a stewardess on Olympic. There was even news that two more sister ships were to follow - Titanic and Britannic. Each voyage was about three weeks in duration afterwhich she would be home for another week or two before sailing again.

The following year 1912, Ruby turned 18. So when her relationship with Harry had fallen apart, she was understandably devastated, but decided to follow in her older sister's footsteps and sign on to become a stewardess. Emma made a promise to her Ma that she would look out for her sister so when they went to sign on they were to do so on Olympic. But then Emma spied Martin and while her back was turned, Ruby went and signed on to Titanic. Inevitably, Emma had to change her sign on to Titanic in an attempt to keep her word, much to Ruby's annoyance who was fiercely independent and wanted to go alone.

But as history goes, Titanic never made it to New York...and as fate would have it, neither would Ruby it seemed. Emma was devastated with the downing of Titanic and the loss of so many people. An image that would remain with her forever. She vowed then never to take to the seas again.

2019: Seventy year old Harriet Wilson is clearing out her attic when she comes across an old sea trunk that had been her grandmother's when she worked as a stewardess on Olympic. Believing it to be locked, she is surprised when her daughter Sally unlatches and opens it, revealing a hundred year old memories buried deep within. In the trunk amidst the moth-eaten uniform and her grandparents' wedding photo was another photo she had never seen before. One of three young girls on the cusp of womanhood. Harriet recognises a younger version of her grandmother but the remaining two are strangers. And yet they all look so alike there could be no denying that they are sisters. But her grandmother spoke of only one sister - surely she didn't have another?

Despite the fact that she should be clearing out boxes so she could downsize, Harriet couldn't help but investigate further. With the help of her friend Sheila, the two women check the 1911 census records to establish whether or not there were indeed three sisters. This in turn leads her to sign up to Ancestry.com and begin researching and building her family tree. And when Sheila informs her of an exhibition in Southampton on Titanic, the two women attend and are shocked to discover names they now recognise on both the survivors and the deceased lists. Who'd have thought that Harriet's family was linked to Titanic?

In the midst of Harriet's new interest in genealogy, is her grandson's battle with leukemia and her fifteen year estrangement with younger daughter Davina. Harriet wishes nothing more than to be reunited with her independent wayward daughter and her two granddaughters whom she has never met. But Davina only contacts Harriet on her terms, blocking her number and never revealing where they are. Desperate for just a bit of her daughter, Harriet is resigned to just accepting the snippets that Davina offers. It is all incredibly one-sided and unfair to keep the blame going on for fifteen years...with Harriet's husband going to his grave without ever seeing their youngest daughter again or meeting his two granddaughters.

And then, Sally's son Jerome takes a turn for the worse when the chemotherapy he'd been on didn't work and all that's left now is a bone marrow transplant. So in the midst of all this, Harriet must juggle Sally, Jerome, Davina's sporadic calls, packing up her house, moving to a new one and continuing the journey of her family's past. But will she find all that she is looking for? And can the sins of the past repair those of the present?

An engrossing story from beginning to end, THE LOST SISTER sweeps you away to another time and into the history of Titanic and her two lesser known sisters, Olympic and Britannic. Kathleen McGurl has meticulously researched the history of these liners interspersing them with a fictional tale of three other sisters around the same time. The journey she takes us on is as emotional as it is heartbreaking through her wonderful cast of characters. Her depiction of Titanic's demise was breathtaking as well as poignant as one of the most famous events in history is interwoven with this book's own tragic tale.

In addition, a character featured in this story Violet Jessop was actually a real person who, as a stewardess and later a nurse, did in fact survive the disastrous Titanic and Britannic sinkings, her memoirs posthumously published and influencing McGurl in that which was to become THE LOST SISTER. It brings an essence of reality to the story that some of which that took place within these pages really did happen.

Of the alternating timelines, it is Emma's story I was more captivated with rather than Harriet's although that indeed became interesting the deeper she delved into the past. I found the similarities between Ruby and Davina as frustrating as each other. Both women were strong-willed and fiercely independent refusing to be held back by duty or obligation. I found Ruby's view of Emma to be similar to that of Davina's of Sally - bossy, being the main aspect. Is it because Emma and Sally were the eldest and therefore felt more responsible while Ruby and Davina were the second children and rebelled against conforming to anyone's idea of how they should behave?

Whilst THE LOST SISTER is a powerful tale of tragedy, loss and regrets it also one of reconciliation, hope and forgiveness. Ensure you have a box of tissues handy when reading this because you will need them. And while I did guess a couple of the hidden surprises in this story it didn't alter my opinion of it. My ratings and opinions are based on my overall enjoyment and those that tug at my heartstrings generally win favour without a doubt.

THE LOST SISTER is a beautiful tale that is an enjoyable and easy read with dual timelines that parallel nicely. It is one of those stories that will remain with you long after you have turned the last page.

Recommended for those who love dual timelines. For fans of Lorna Cook, Fiona Valpy, Suzanne Kelman and Suzanne Goldring.

I would like to thank #KathleenMcGurl and #RachelsRandomResources and #HQStories for an ARC of #TheLostSister in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Kathleen McGurl lives in Christchurch, UK, with her husband. She has two sons who have both now left home.

Kathleen always wanted to write, and for many years was waiting until she had the time. Eventually she came to the bitter realisation that no one would pay her for a year off work to write a book, so she sat down and started to write one anyway. Since then she has published several novels with HQ and self-published another. She has also sold dozens of short stories to women's magazines, and written three How To books for writers.

After a long career in the IT industry she became a full time writer in 2019. When she's not writing, she's often out running, slowly.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

Thursday, 20 May 2021

REVIEW: Nellie's Heartbreak by Rosie Clarke

Nellie's Heartbreak by Rosie Clarke

Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas, WW2

Read: 13th May 2021

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 5th May 2021

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

A new stand-alone saga set in Yorkshire around out the outbreak of the second world war and the unlikely relationship between a master and servant.

As a small child, Nellie Pearce was always dreaming but sensed her mother’s rejection.

Abandoned and sent into service at Beaumont House at an early age, Nellie is lost and alone until she meets the unpredictable and reclusive artist, Lucas Harrington and falls in love with him.

This unlikely association between master and servant is encouraged by Lucas’s gentle natured Aunt Alice as Lucas sees something unusual in Nellie and is compelled to paint her.

Broken promises lead to inevitable heartbreak and Nellie flees Beaumont House in disgrace for London.

Alone again, Nellie must learn to live and fend for herself and her new-born child.

Can Nellie win a second chance of happiness and can she solve the mystery of her mother's tortured past?

Was previously published as ALL THEIR DAYS in Hardback by Linda Sole

MY REVIEW:

I'm excited to be taking part in the #BlogTour for Rosie Clarke's heartbreaking new saga NELLIE'S HEARTBREAK.

There's nothing I love more than delving into an historical saga tale that sweeps me away to another time and place. And NELLIE'S HEARTBREAK is no exception. Set on the cusp of the outbreak of war from the Yorkshire dales to London, this sweeping tale takes readers through all sorts of emotions from sorrow to love and heartache to hope. Told in the first person by Nellie herself, the reader is able to feel as she feels, cry and she cries and love and she loves.

The story begins in 1935 in a small Yorkshire village with young Nellie Pearce about to embark on a journey she never expected to take. The eldest of two children to mother Rose and father Sam, Nellie also had a little brother named Bob whom her mother doted on adoringly whilst having nothing but contempt for her daughter. Nellie could never understand why her mother appeared to hate her so much, taking any pleasure Nellie found in life and souring it with her harsh words and doling out chores she knew Nellie hated. But it was her granddad Barnes with whom she loved to spend time on his allotment sowing vegetables to feed the family. They were by no means poor but as a working class family, they were comfortable.

Then came Nellie's 15th birthday in the summer of 1935. A day she knew she would be leaving school despite her teachers declaring how smart she was and that she should continue her studies to become a teacher. But her mother had other ideas for her. Upon arriving home from school on her last day, Nellie was surprised to find a flash car parked out front of their little cottage and thought the worst...that something had happened to her granddad. But as she ran into the kitchen she was greeted by the sight of her mother with two women, one of whom she knew to be Miss Alice Harrington from up Beaumont House. The other was the housekeeper Mrs Jermyn. It seems her mother was so eager to see the back of her that she'd packed up Nellie's things and arranged for her to go into service with the Harringtons.

Nellie's life at Beaumont House began in earnest as she shared the attic room with parlourmaid Iris and the two became good friends. But on her first day she was thrust into the one job she hated most - laundry. Even when she was at home she loathed it though she still helped her mother on wash days but the soda caused her skin to itch making the task an even harder one to endure. Now her heart sank as Doris regaled her with the task of doing laundry every day. It was as she walked through the unkempt garden near the summer house that she encountered the master's son Lucas Harrington. He appeared angered at her intrusion and she was frightened by the scarred face of the man. But after a war of words, they fell into a companionable conversation in which Nellie revealed her reasons for loathing the task from which she'd escaped. If Nellie thought anything was to come of it, she certainly never expected Miss Alice to switch her duties to assisting Cook, Mrs Jones.

Relieved to be away from the laundry Nellie thrived under Cook's hand as she learnt the basics of cooking before taking on the more adventurous tasks. Cook was fair and working together they formed a friendship that was to see them through what was to come. But when Nellie's presence was thus requested by Mr Lucas in his studio for an hour on a daily basis, the only person to get her nose out of joint was Doris who became bitter and spiteful at the favour Nellie seemed to have lavished on her.

Every day Lucas would work at drawing, sketching and painting Nellie...but not allow her or Miss Alice to see his work until it was complete. During the hour for which she sat for him, Nellie and Lucas formed a kind of friendship of sorts...if there were such a thing between master and servant. And slowly Nellie found herself falling in love with Lucas despite knowing how impossible it would be given the gap in their classes. But still she couldn't help that little flutter she felt each time that she saw him.

Meanwhile, Nellie knew she had to go home sometime but after the cruel way in which her mother had sent her away she was in no hurry to...although she missed her Da, granddad and Bob. So when Alice greeted her with the news that her granddad was ill she spared no further thought as she hurried home as quick as she could. But sadly her beloved granddad passed before she could reach him in time, though he tried to hang on for her. It was after his death that her mother dealt her the cruelest blow yet...one that sent her hurrying back to Beaumont House with no thought to return for a long time to come.

As the years passed, Nellie grew from the naive young girl she'd been into a young woman. Her childhood friend Tom Herries continued to deliver supplies to Cook as well as hankering after Nellie. He'd long since told her years before that he was going to marry her but Nellie just laughed at him knowing she could never think of Tom in that way. And yet still he called for her, taking her to dances and making promises that he would continue to make money and that one day he would be rich and be able to offer her everything she deserves. But Nellie's heart belonged to another. Lucas Harrington.

Soon everything at Beaumont House changes and Nellie finds herself in a predicament she never thought possible. With Miss Alice in France with Lady Amelia and Mrs Jones now living in Bournemouth with her sister, Nellie had no one she could talk to. Certainly not her mother and to confide in her father would only bring her shame she could not bear to see in his eyes. So instead she packs herself off to London where she struggles for a time until she meets Maud Bristow who gives her a job in her tearooms and offers her a room in her flat above the shop. The two women become best of friends and as war breaks out and rationing begins, Nellie uses her expertise to come up with some tasty and interesting treats for customers using what they can. Mrs Jones had given her her old recipe books when she left Beaumont House and using those as well as her experience of working class meals, Nellie was able to make a success of their new and refined menu according to rationing.

On a much needed break to visit Mrs Jones in Bournemouth, Nellie relaxes with her old friend until a face from her past returns. Lucas Harrington. And with him the promises of a life together. But first, he had something he had to do but could not tell her about it. Despite having her heart broken by Lucas before, Nellie succumbs once again...only to have her heart broken again. Lucas disappears and she doesn't see or hear from him when she needs him the most. For when she returns to London, he whole world is shattered once again.

For Nellie, it seems her life has become a series of tragedies, and despite knowing the reception she will get she makes the decision to return home to Yorkshire. But how will her mother receive her now? She has hated her all of her life so that's hardly going to change in a hurry, is it? And not having heard from her father for some time, Nellie begins to fear what awaits her at home?

There is so much sorrow and heartache in this book one would begin to wonder whether Nellie would ever find happiness and contentment. But then that's what makes historical fiction sagas so real, so raw and so enjoyable to readers. Although the time period is from 1935 and into the 40s, the story had a Downton-esque feel about it...even a Victorian quality. I guess it is the whole upstairs downstairs thing that gave it that atmosphere and it wasn't until war began that the reality of the time became absolute. I really enjoyed the friendship between Miss Alice and Nellie which reminded me of Lady Mary and Anna in Downton Abbey...although I found Miss Alice far more likeable than Lady Mary.

NELLIE'S HEARTBREAK is a fabulous story that historical fiction fans will love. It is captivating and absorbing from the first page until the last. I have no idea if this is the start of a new series but if not it suffices quite well as a standalone.

I would like to thank #RosieClarke aka #LindaSole and #RachelsRandomResources and #BoldwoodBooks for an ARC of #NelliesHeartbreak in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Rosie Clarke has been writing for several years and has written under various names for a variety of publishers. She lives in Cambridgeshire, is happily married and enjoys life with her husband. She likes to walk in the Spanish sunshine and eating out at favourite restaurants in Marbella is a favourite pastime, but writing is her passion.

Rosie loves shoes, especially those impossibly high heels you can buy and has a gorgeous pair of Jimmy Choos but can't wear them so they sit on the mantlepiece.

Rosie also writes under the name of Anne Herries and Linda Sole.

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