REVIEW: Love and Loss at the Beach Hotel by Francesca Capaldi

Love and Love at the Beach Hotel (The Beach Hotel #4) by Francesca Capaldi

Genre: Historical fictionn, Sagas, WW1

Read: 16th November 2024

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Published: 21st November 2024

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Can true love win the day?

Hetty Affleck is working as a maid at the prestigious Beach Hotel in Littlehampton. Her beau, Lorcan, is away at war and has recently stopped replying to her letters but she is determined to keep her spirits up. When she meets wealthy shipbuilder's son Victor Perryman, they pass the time of day and they both feel a connection but she can’t allow herself to think anything more of it - not only does she have Lorcan to think of, but she and Victor are divided by wealth and class.

Yet they meet again and Hetty is charmed and intrigued by Victor and his openness towards her. It becomes harder to ignore the attachment growing between them.

When Lorcan comes back on leave, Hetty is forced to face her true feelings. Who does she really love, and can that love conquer everything in its path?

MY THOUGHTS:

Can true love win the day...?

What a delight it is to return to the prestigious Beach Hotel in Littlehampton and the flurry of staff and guests there! And who doesn't love to be by the seaside? Even in a storm?

I have delighted in this series since it began following the stories of first Edie, then Lili, then Helen herself and now Hetty. I also enjoyed seeing some of the regulars continue to pop up such as the Major, a resident at the hotel, as well as much of the staff and those guests who pop in from time to time. 

The focus of this fourth installment is Hetty Affleck who works as head stillroom maid (I was most interested in what that actually entailed, having never heard of it before). She and one of the other staff members, Irish lad Lorcan Foley, had only just begun stepping out together when he enlisted thus joining the fight at the front. Their relationship had barely begun but Hetty agreed to write to him and he her.

After three long years, despite early forecasts predicting it would be over by Christmas, Hetty began to wonder if she was merely writing to keep his spirits up as what they had barely constituted as anything but friendship. Besides, any leave he had he'd returned home to Ireland rather than return to the Beach Hotel to see her. Didn't that say something about their relationship, such as it was?

Then his letters seemed to have stopped. Even on her birthday he failed to send her something as he usually did. Did that mean something had happened to him? Or had he simply decided to end their friendship? Hetty isn't sure how she feels.

When she meets wealthy shipbuilder's son Victor Perryman, they exchange greetings and pass the time of day but nothing more. And yet she feels a connection to him, like a bolt of electricity every time she is in his company. But she is just a maid serving him and his family whilst he is upper middle class, certainly not for the likes of her. Besides, she has Lorcan to think of. But the more she sees of Victor, the more she is charmed and intrigued by the handsome young man. And the more time they spend together the more the pair realise how alike they are and it soon becomes difficult to deny the growing attachment between them.

And then Lorcan returns suddenly on leave and Hetty is forced to face her true feelings. Who does she truly love? And can love conquer all the obstacles thrown in their path?

A truly delightful, heartwarming and emotional wartime saga that is such a wonderful read that I devoured it in one sitting, not wanting to leave Littlehampton and its inhabitants for one minute. I can't wait to see whose story we get to follow next and what the author has in store for us.

A heartwarming 5 stars!

I would like to thank #FrancescaCapaldi, #Netgalley and #HeraBooks for an ARC of #LoveAndLossAtTheBeachHotel in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Francesca has enjoyed writing since she was a child. Born in Worthing, Sussex, and brought up in Littlehampton, she was largely influenced by a Welsh mother who was brilliant at improvised story telling.

A history graduate and qualified teacher, she decided to turn her writing hobby into something more in 2006, when she joined a writing class.

​Writing as both Francesca Capaldi and Francesca Burgess, she has had numerous short stories published in magazines in the UK and abroad, as well as in anthologies. Four pocket novels have been published by DC Thomson, one of which, Danger for Daisy, is available as an ebook.

Her Welsh World War 1 sagas were inspired by the discovery of her great grandfather's war record.  They are published by Hera Books

​She is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and the Society of Women Writers and Journalists. 

Francesca currently lives on the North Downs in Kent with her family and a cat called Lando Calrission.

Social media links:

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REVIEW: Heartbreak at Harpers by Rosie Clarke

Heartbreak at Harpers (Harpers Emporium #8) by Rosie Clarke

Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas

Read: 1st November 2024

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Published: 2nd July 2024

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

It's the roaring 20s - a time of prosperity, optimism, and change...

Oxford Street, London 1926

Kitty Wilson, who, after losing her father, rejects the unsuitable suitor her mother has chosen. Abandoned by her mother, Kitty faces the challenges of navigating life alone. Amidst the turmoil, Kitty finds solace and support from friends, securing a promotion at Harpers Emporium. However, tragedy looms, threatening to shatter her newfound stability.

Sally and Ben Harper face their own challenges. A decision by Ben regarding the restaurant, made without consulting his partner Jack Burrows, jeopardizes not only their friendship but also the stability of Harpers itself.

Meanwhile Beth Burrows becomes embroiled in some dangerous gangland dealings, raising fears for her family's safety. Can an unknown guardian angel emerge to shield them from harm? Yet, even in the darkest times, the bonds of friendship prove to be a beacon of hope.

Discover a tale of resilience, friendship, and unexpected alliances against the backdrop of a transformative era.

Perfect for fans of Lizzie Lane, Pam Howes and Dilly Court.

If you love this, try Rosie's other series - Blackberry Farm, The Trenwith Series, Dressmakers Alley and Mulberry Lane.

MY THOUGHTS:

Who doesn't love a Rosie Clarke novel? This is the eighth installment in the much-loved Harpers Emporium saga series which began with the suffragette movement some 16 years prior. Since then we have seen the store take off, been through the war, battled some losses and endured plenty of heartbreak. But all the while, the familiar camaraderie amongst staff where friendships were formed leaves us with that feel-good feeling long after the turn of the final page.

With each book comes new trials and triumphs along with some familiar and some new faces. Many have come and gone, most are mentioned in passing along the way if they don't feature due to having moved away, while we are introduced to some new characters.

Kitty Wilson is new to Harpers, having needed a job to help support her family since her father had an accident at work and was no longer able to earn a living. Her mother, having grown up with a certain kind of luxury, resents the fact they have been reduced to the lower working class barely able to make ends meet and living in a filthy end of town. She does nothing but complain all day long about her woes and what her life has been reduced to. She's loathe to accept the fact that Kitty has had to go out and work because where she comes from young women don't work but rather stay at home helping their mothers until they find a husband. 

When Kitty's father dies suddenly, rather than grieve for her husband Annie Wilson has just the ticket to get them out of the dire mess he had lumbered them with. Marriage to a prominent widower who is closer to forty than Kitty's twenty with two young children that need a mother. Joshua Miller has the means to give both Kitty and her mother a good home. He pays for her father's funeral, expecting the debt to be paid with her hand in marriage. But Kitty refuses. The man is a sleaze and makes her skin crawl. And so her mother abandons her, offering herself as a nursemaid to Miller's young children, thus living a life to which she was much more accustomed.

Despite her tragedies, she continues to thrive at Harpers, gaining promotion due to her forward thinking and initiative which has impressed Sally Harper. Finding herself in debt because she refused her mother's unsuitable suitor and her rent more then doubled by the very same man who was also her landlord, Kitty was offered a room at the Norton's and there she finds friendship and family with Alf, Larry and Mariah.

But Miller and Annie are far from finished with Kitty. The plans they have for her are so nefarious that when discovered, the pair meet their match in Sally Harper and Beth Burrows.

Alongside Kitty's story is that of those at Harpers. Sally and Beth feature the most prominently after Kitty, with their respective husbands Ben and Jack also sharing the focus. We also meet up with Jack's father (who seems to have undergone a name-change from Fred to Bert in this installment) and his wife Vera who are faced with challenges of their own.

A nice touch is the inclusion and mention of Dressmaker's Alley and the designs of Miss Susie which are sold exclusively at Harpers, mentioned throughout and of course as Ms Clarke's newest series.

As life moves on after the shadow of war, the roaring twenties bring a lot of new changes and challenges to their door. There is the workers' strike and even a gangland threat, adding even more uncertainty to this ever-changing world. And not everyone is embracing the change that the war has brought.

As the title suggests, there is plenty of heartbreak in this tale but there are also some happy moments as well. The strong bonds of friendship remain evident in their camaraderie and friendship and it's this that warms the heart, making it another enjoyable read. 

I cannot wait to see what Rosie Clarke has in store for Harpers next, as this series shows no sign of winding down. Although Mulberry Lane came to an end last year, I hope that Harpers continues for some time yet as it remains one of my favourite feel-good heartwarming saga series.

Overall, a light, easy read that is heartwarming and entertaining from start to finish. I devoured in one sitting after dinner last night, finishing before bed.

As always, a solid heartwarming 5 stars.

I would like to thank #RosieClarke, #Netgalley and #BoldwoodBooks for an ARC of #HeartbreakAtHarpers 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.

 

Social Media links:

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PUBLISHER:

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

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REVIEW: A Castaway in Cornwall by Julie Klassen

A Castaway in Cornwall by Julie Klassen

Genre: Historical fiction, Regency romance, Christian fiction

Read: 18th October 2024

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Published: 1st December 2020

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Set adrift on the tides of fate by the deaths of her parents and left wanting answers, Laura Callaway now lives with her uncle and his disapproving wife in North Cornwall. There she feels like a castaway, always viewed as an outsider even as she yearns to belong.

While wreckers search for valuables along the windswept Cornwall coast--known for its many shipwrecks but few survivors--Laura searches for clues to the lives lost so she can write letters to next of kin and return keepsakes to rightful owners. When a man is washed ashore after a wreck, Laura acts quickly to protect him from a local smuggler determined to destroy him.

As Laura and a neighbor care for the survivor, they discover he has curious wounds and, although he speaks in careful, educated English, his accent seems odd. Other clues wash ashore, and Laura soon realizes he is not who he seems to be. Despite the evidence against him, the mysterious man might provide her only chance to discover the truth about her parents' fate. With danger pursuing them from every side, and an unexpected attraction growing between them, will Laura ever find the answers she seeks?

MY THOUGHTS:

A touch of Poldark with a hint of du Maurier, this sweeping tale of one castaway to another is both atmospheric and captivating. It is largely set in my most favourite of settings - Cornwall. Though never having set foot on UK soil, let alone the rugged coastline of the nation's south westernmost county, I adore stories that are set amidst its rugged beauty.

Laura Callaway has lived with her parson uncle Matthew and his wife and daughter for near on ten years, ever since her parents left her for Jersey and never returned. But having not been born or bred in Cornwall, natives see her as an outsider of up-country lass, owing to her feeling somewhat a castaway in what should be her home. Uncle Matthew has always been welcoming but his wife, his second Mrs Bray, has not been. Her daughter Esela is like a cousin to her, if not related by blood, and yet Laura still feels as if she is just passing through.

Most days she walks the coastline and beaches in search of valuables that have drifted ashore from shipwrecks, collecting them and keeping them safe in the hope that she can reunite them with their owners or their kin. When one day a man is washed ashore, she collects him too before he comes to any harm from wrecker Tom Parsons or any preventative men, should he be a free-trader or on the run.

Laura takes him back to the house where she nurses him back to health and yet the mystery surrounding him grows. When he finally does wake, he is wary and does not speak, yet watchful of her every move. But as more items wash ashore and other news reaches her, Laura begins to wonder as to who the man really is.

As the mystery deepens, so does too their attraction for each other. And while she longs to see him return to his rightful home, evidence against him mounts and the militia come knocking on their door seeking his whereabouts. There is only one who could have betrayed them. And yet with danger pursuing them, Laura remains by his side and wondering will she ever find the answers she seeks and the love she desires?

This is my first read by Julie Klassen and I am surprised to discover she is not British, though has penned such a sweeping tale of heroism and love against the backdrop of the rugged Cornish coast and the Napoleonic war. I'm always a sucker for historical fiction in these parts with mystery, intrigue and love on the horizon. I like how she has incorporated the Christian faith into the story in subtle ways to make you stop and reflect on something similar in your own life.

A handful of scriptures are quoted throughout as is the reminder of a faithful and loving God, gratitude and blessings and silent prayer and praise to God for his faithfulness despite whatever trial one is faced with. The concept that God indeed listened and heard Laura's prayer, as well as Alexander's, and that the trials they each experienced were in preparation for something greater. Had their prayers been answered in the way they had hoped for in the beginning, they would have missed out on the greater reward God had in store for each of them. The same can be said for us. We think God doesn't hear us or answer our prayers because He doesn't answer them in the way we want Him to. That's because he has bigger plans for us. He is faithful and will answer our prayers...just not how we expect Him to.

A delightful historical fiction that will warm the hearts of historical romance fans and those who love stories set in Cornwall.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Julie Klassen loves all things Jane — Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. A graduate of the University of Illinois, she worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. Three of her books, The Silent Governess, The Girl in the Gatehouse, and The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, won the Christy Award for Historical Romance. The Secret of Pembrooke Park also won the Minnesota Book Award, and The Silent Governess was a finalist in Romance Writers of America’s RITA awards. 

Julie has also been honoured with the Midwest Book Award and Christian Retailing’s BEST Award. She enjoys travel, research, BBC period dramas, long hikes, short naps, and coffee with friends. 

Julie and her husband have two sons and live near St. Paul, Minnesota.

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REVIEW: The Telegram by Debbie Rix

The Telegram by Debbie Rix

Genre: Historical fiction, Wartime fiction

Read: 12th October 2024

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Published: 15th October 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

One message will change everything…

1915, London: Shaking, she opens the faded red front door and her heart races as the young boy on the steps holds out the telegram. The words swim before her. They can’t be true; this can’t be happening. Nothing will ever be the same again.

1943, London: Elizabeth Carmichael rushes out down the steps of her town house in her smart army uniform, daydreaming of her handsome fiancé posted miles away in the RAF, and determined to play her part in the war effort. Not looking where she’s going, Elizabeth collides with a tall man in the middle of the street. She instantly recognises him from a faded photograph from before the war. This chance meeting will change everything Elizabeth thought she knew about herself.

1960, London: Violet Carmichael wipes the dust from an antique writing desk, not expecting to find a hidden compartment, or the old diaries nestled inside. Peeling apart the yellowing pages, a story unfolds of a family devastated by two world wars and a man who risked his life for freedom and for love. It leads her to discover a telegram that will finally unlock a decades-old family secret…

Inspired by a true story, this is a heart-wrenching, page-turning and unforgettable story of the importance of family and the power of love and forgiveness. Fans of Kathryn Hughes, Kate Quinn and Kate Morton will be utterly gripped by this incredible historical fiction novel spanning WW1 and WW2.

MY THOUGHTS:

One message could change everything...

Spanning the decades, this tale sweeps across three timelines beginning in 1915 with the main story centred in 1943 before wrapping things up in 1959/1960. Whilst no one features predominantly as the main character, which seems a little puzzling at first but once things begin to slot into place we see the story is that of Charles Carmichael, the branches in his somewhat complex family tree and the secret he carries throughout his rather puzzling life. It's a secret that is only uncovered after he has gone though as the reader it's one we had suspected for the most part throughout...all but one tiny piece that became the catalyst for what was to become Charles' life of subterfuge. Intrigued?

1915: It's a beautiful day when the boy delivered the telegram into Tilly's trembling hands. Racing inside, she called to her mother to alert her to the arrival and reading out its contents sent her mother into floods of tears. Her beloved brother - "Bruv" as he was affectionately called - was missing presumed dead. And the in the coming days a letter followed, addressed to her parents written in Bruv's hand. A letter that told them little and gave nothing away yet changed their lives. Bruv was gone.

1943: A chilly day in London as Elizabeth Carmichael readies herself for her post in the War Office, assistant to Captain Valentine, a letch in Elizabeth's opinion who cannot keep his leary eyes or suggestive remarks to himself. She and her mother moved to Notting Hill a year before after much of the city had suffered the deluge of the Blitz and people were escaping to the country and safety. But her mother Madeleine saw an opportunity and built on it. It worked for her as she was posted close by in Whitehall and as a result could remain at home rather than doss in a billet, which were few and far between at any rate.

Elizabeth's eyes strayed to the two solitary photos that always took pride of place on the mantlepiece. Her father in his army uniform and her father holding baby Elizabeth. She never knew her father and whenever she pressed her mother for details, she always clammed up saying she was better off without him. All Elizabeth knew about the man she knew as Paddy was that he had gone to China and stayed there rather than return home. Her mother divorced him and the rest was a somewhat spotted history that Elizabeth failed to untangle.

So when she was walking home from the Tube one evening after work, she was shocked to see a man who resembled her father walk out of the house opposite theirs on Clarendon Road. She called to him "Padraig Carmichael?" The man stopped, turned and looked at her. He paled.

Charles Carmichael had left his past behind him, along with a trail of secrets. So when the pretty young woman stopped him outside his door he was speechless. He tried denying any knowledge but it was clear she was his daughter. She was the image of Madeleine, her mother and his ex-wife. And so the two began to meet and develop a relationship. His next conundrum was telling his wife Violet, who knew nothing of his past, except that he had been married briefly before. And even then only because she saw it on their marriage certificate. How was he to break the news of a daughter to her?

And so life begins to get a little more complicated for the man with so many secrets.

1959: At the age of sixty four, Charles Carmichael - a conundrum himself - peacefully passes away in hospital alone without his wife Violet by his side. And yet she kept his wishes for his funeral and his resting place to be in the village where he was born and grew up. But the man with so many secrets had left her with so many unanswered questions. His sister remained tightlipped and refused to tell her what she knew.

It's not until she is packing away Charles' things that she comes across his diaries, and travels down a rabbit hole and back to 1914 and 1915 where she meets the idealistic young Charles Carmichael in his prose. And as she reads, the pieces thus begin to fall into place and the secrets of Charles' life finally began to surface.

This was an interesting tale that I almost read almost in one sitting, leaving the final few chapters till the morning to finish. I wouldn't call it emotional and in a way it wasn't gripping either but it was intriguing. Something kept me turning the pages. I wanted to see how it would all end and learn about the secrecy that surrounded Charles' life for so long. What had lead to it and why? That was the biggest secret of all that was only unearthed in the final chapters. But it made everything make sense. Throughout the book we are given glimpses of Charles' early life in snippets and the secrecy surrounding his later years was an obvious given. It didn't take Einstein to work that one out but it was only confirmed at the end.

The characters weren't completely developed I felt with not a lot of depth to them. But they were still likable enough. I admit to Violet irritating me somewhat though I can't quite put my finger on why that is. Elizabeth I felt had more depth to her than most. It was interesting, if maybe not completely believable, how the two families bonded together, remaining across the street from each other until the end. Charles was difficult to connect with but I think that was intentional as those who knew him even found him an enigma, if not frustrating at times.

The book's description I found a little misleading as it felt as if it were a different book than the one I was reading.

I have only read one other book by this author, "The Secret Letter" which I absolutely loved so I was excited to dip into this one. It was enjoyable, a quick read that took about 5 reading hours, that kept me engaged till the end.

Four solid stars.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Debbie Rix has had a long career in journalism, including working as a presenter for the BBC. Her first novel, The Girl with Emerald Eyes was set around the building of the tower of Pisa and she has since released Daughters of the Silk Road and The Silk Weaver’s Wife. Debbie writes heartbreaking historical novels about love, tragedy and secrets.

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REVIEW: Rose's Fight by Rosie Clarke

Rose's Fight (The Trenwith Trilogy #3) by Rosie Clarke

Genre: Historical fiction, Post-WW1

Read: 19th September 2024

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Published: 7th September 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

The war has changed everything, but has it changed society enough?

London, 1917.

Rose Barlow has loved and lost. She has done her fair share during the war and seen her dreams shattered. As the British class system crumbles Rose is determined not to return to service at Trenwith Estate instead, she’s keen to pursue new opportunities and her own happiness now the war is over.

Luke Trenwith survived the war and has returned home as the next Trenwith Baronet. But the life he once accepted as his fate feels cold and empty. He is left wanting more.

But has the world changed enough to allow him to live his dream?

The war changed their world, but do Rose and Luke have the courage to carve out a new future that could shock society?

If you love this, have you tried Rosie Clarke's Mulberry Lane, Blackberry Farm, Dressmakers Alley and Harper's series?

Previously Published as Forbidden Love by Linda Sole

MY THOUGHTS:

The war has changed everything...but has it changed society enough...?

Rosie Clarke is one of my favourite authors and I eagerly devour every one of her sagas, whether they be a series or standalone, enjoying every sojourn with them. This is the third and final in the Trenwith Trilogy with the story this time centring on Rose, who we met at the beginning and have followed her since.

Although the book doesn't necessarily state what year it is, I can only surmise it is now 1919 with the Great War behind them having signed the Armistice on 11th November 1918. With that thought in mind, many young men are now returning from the Front whilst the memory remains of those who are not. 

Rose Barlow, former housemaid at Trenwith and now close friend of Sarah Pelham, had intended to take up studying nursing as a vocation after the war, having served as a VAD for its duration. A splendid VAD, she had the makings of a promising nurse. However, she married in secret to Canadian fighter pilot Rod Carne (and nurses were not permitted to marry). Then when Rod was killed shortly after their wedding, Rose was heartbroken.

Now the war was over, Rose had no intentions of returning to service. Besides, times were changing and the days of service were from another era. She decided to try her luck on the stage as she had always enjoyed singing and had an ambition to see where it could take her. Having lost her husband, she reverted to her maiden name for the stage and soon became something of a star.

But her heart remained at Trenwith and the childish crush she'd harboured for the son and heir to the Trenwith estate - Luke Trenwith. But she was a servant and there was a clear social divide that separated them. But those days were past, for the most part though for some they remained. Little did Rose know that Luke had shared those feelings she had and whilst societal rules dictated that he should marry someone with money and breeding and thus producing an heir, Luke could not help but be drawn to Rose.

And so they began a clandestine affair, declaring their love for each other and forsaking all others. Until Luke returned home and was thrust into an engagement with "the right sort of girl". How would Rose take the news that he was to marry someone else? She did not want to be his mistress and she deserved far more than that but how could he fulfill his duty and his promise to the woman he loved?

Has the world changed enough to allow Rose and Luke to follow their dream to be together? Or must they sacrifice each other for the sake of the social class divide?

There is so much packed into this tale of love and woe. I found I grew frustrated with Rose and her stubborn streak but then I guess that's how society carved out these women in those days. We are reunited with Sarah and Troy at Pelham and Louise and Jack in Paris, though Rose is still in the dark as to her brother's fate. How will she react should Luke tell her the truth? And how will society react to Rose and Luke being together? Or is it still too soon for them to cross the social divide? And then there is the biggest secret of all. How will it all end?

I must say, this was my least favourite of the three books with the first one being my favourite. Though I was happy with the outcome nonetheless. Having said that, I still enjoyed this wonderful tale and reuniting with old friends and some enemies again. 

As always, I look forward to the next Rosie Clarke novel.

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.

 

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter SignUp | BookBub | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

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

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REVIEW: The Orphan with No Name by Shirley Dickson

The Orphan with No Name by Shirley Dickson

Genre: Historical fiction, WW2

Read: 15th September 2024

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Published: 19th September 2024

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

England, 1942: ‘Will I ever find my mammy or daddy?’ She looks up, her bright blue eyes full of unshed tears, but the kind nurse gently says, ‘Sweetheart, if you can’t remember your own name, I don’t think you’ll ever find them…’

Waking up in a rickety hospital bed, the sweet ten-year-old girl with soft blonde hair and flushed cheeks is lucky to be alive. But all she can remember is the screech of the air raid siren. The nurses call her ‘Rosie’, and hope someone will save her. But no one does, and without a family, she is taken to Blakely Orphanage in Scotland under the supervision of the strict Miss Black.

The only glimmer of hope is her new friend Alice and the two lost girls decide to become make-believe sisters. They help each other through the long, hard hours with Miss Black standing over them as they work in silence, wondering if they will ever escape.

One day, Rosie watches a beautiful woman in a pretty dress and a tall, handsome man step through the gates. Her heart squeezes as she hopes they might be her mammy and daddy. But Rosie’s heart shatters when they take the hand of a little boy and leave the orphanage.

Slowly, Rosie begins to piece together the mystery of her past despite Alice telling her they don’t need any adults. But if she does find her mammy and daddy, will she remember them? And will she ever have a happy family again – or is there more heartache to come?

From the bestselling author of The Orphan Sisters comes a page-turning and unputdownable World War Two story of a little girl who loses everything and her journey to finding a place she can call home. Perfect for fans of Lisa Wingate, Nadine Dorries and Diney Costeloe.

MY THOUGHTS:

Welcome back, Shirley Dickson! It has been so long since the author has released a book I had begun to wonder where she'd got to. But her latest book has arrived to deliver a wonderful yet heartbreaking tale that will warm you from the inside out and keep you snuggled until you turn the final page.

I have read all of the author's books and I love how she incorporates something or other into each of her books to link them without being a series. In this case, it is Blakely orphanage, which evacuated to Scotland after the orphanage itself suffered a hit in an air raid.

The story begins in South Shields once again as we meet the little girl who survived an air raid when so many others were killed but her injuries meant that she had no memory of who she was, her name or where she came from. The nurses called her Rosie and after being shifted from the children's ward to the women's ward, Rosie is sent north to Scotland to Teviot Hall where Blakely orphanage now resides. The journey is both unfamiliar and frightening as Rosie watches South Shields disappear from view and into unfamiliar territory.

At he orphanage, run under the strict hand of Miss Black, Rosie befriends the spiky Alice who herself was a foundling left on the doorstep of the old Blakely orphanage almost 14 years before. The orphanage is the only thing Alice knows but she is approaching the age where she will soon leave to go into domestic service. With a huge chip on her shoulder, Alice is unruly, spiky and argumentative at almost every turn. But Rosie brings a calmness to Alice and the two become inseparable...make believe sisters.

Rosie dreams of recovering her memory and finding what became of her parents and why they never came looking for her, which is a bone of contention with Alice who harbours nothing but resentment for the woman who abandoned her on the cold doorstep without a second thought.

The two girls are unlikely friends and while they all suffer under Miss Black's harsh rule, kindness soon comes to the orphanage. First, in the way of the visiting American airmen who wish to sponsor the orphans and then in Miriam, Miss Balfour, who has been with the orphanage for many years. When an accident sees Miss Black housebound to recuperate, the orphanage gets a new lease of life under Miss Balfour's caring hand. But there is always the shadow of Miss Black's imminent return.

This is a moving tale from start to finish in Shirley Dickson's trademark way and I couldn't put it down until I turned the last page, reading it in one day. It is naturally predictable but in a good way and ends with that feelgood sense you have when finishing a wonderfully emotional story. 

I hope it's not another three years before Shirley Dickson brings out another as I love her books and can't wait for the next one. If you like Lindsey Hutchinson, you will love Shirley Dickson.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Shirley Dickson was born and grew up in the seaside town of South Shields. She left school at fifteen and can’t remember a time when she didn’t write. She entered her first short story competition in ‘School Friend’ when she was eleven. After Shirley retired from auxiliary nursing, she was able to devote her time to writing.

After living in various locations, she settled under the big skies of Northumberland and has lived with her husband in the same house for over forty years. Shirley has three daughters and four grandchildren and likes nothing better than family gatherings.

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REVIEW: The Butterfly Garden by Rachel Burton

The Butterfly Garden by Rachel Burton

Genre: Dual timeline, Historical fiction

Read: 21st July 2024

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Amazon

Published: 28th June 2024

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

A gripping and beautiful tale of love, loss and secrets. Perfect for fans of Rachel Hore, Lorna Cook and Kathryn Hughes.

1963: When Clara Samuels buys Butterfly Cottage, she knows the scandal she’ll cause. A single woman buying property is not the ‘done thing’, especially not in a village like Carybrook. But Clara has been in love with Butterfly Cottage, and its garden, since she used to play there before the War. And when she reconnects with her childhood friend James, her decision feels serendipitous. But the true scandal is yet to come, because within six months, Clara will leave England under mysterious circumstances, and Butterfly Cottage will stand empty for more than 50 years.

2018: No one is more surprised than Meredith when she’s bequeathed a cottage by a great aunt she’d never heard of. She hopes, briefly, that the inheritance could be the answer to her financial problems. But when she arrives in Suffolk, she is shocked to discover a man is already living there. A young gardener, who claims he was also bequeathed half of Butterfly Cottage.

As the pair try to unravel their complicated situation, they unearth a decades old mystery involving Clara, the garden, and a stack of letters left unread for over 50 years…

MY THOUGHTS:

Can a secret from the past change hr future...?

It was the stunning cover that initially drew me to this book. That and the whimsical title which conjured up thoughts of a delightful tale hidden therein. Therefore I simply HAD to read it. And boy, am I glad I did!

I have struggled to find any connection or interest in many books the last couple of months but this one just blew me away that I didn't want to put it down and I devoured it in one sitting!

London 2018: Meredith thought she had everything she wanted. Her dream job as a hairdresser running her own salon, a nice flat in Clapham and a fiance she couldn't wait to marry. But then a grenade was set off in the midst, blowing it all to smithereens. Suddenly she had no fiance, struggling to pay the rent alone on their shared flat and her business was falling apart as the debts mounted.

Then she gets a call from a solicitor. She has inherited a cottage in Suffolk from her great-aunt Clara. A great-aunt she never knew existed until now. But with this windfall, Meredith could see a light at the end of her tunnel in which the sale of this cottage could be the answer to her troubles. But the solicitor told her to wait until she saw the cottage before she made any decisions. And with that, Meredith believed he was keeping something from her. The question was, what exactly?

Making her way up to Suffolk, a county she had no idea where it was having lived in London all her life, she got lost along the way before finding herself outside Butterfly Cottage in the sleepy village of Carybrook. And there she finally discovers what the solicitor had been keeping from her. Suddenly the answer to getting her out of debt didn't seem so within reach as she had thought. She knew it was too good to be true.

But the question remains, why would a great-aunt she had never met do this? Why even make this bequeath if there was so to be such a condition attached to it? And where has this great-aunt been all her life? She'd never even heard of her before. The only person who could shed any light is her father but she's not seen him since her 18th birthday almost half a lifetime ago, disappearing from her life altogether. And yet she feels he is the only one who could give her the answers she seeks...but how will she go about finding him when? Where would she even start?

Carybrook 1963: Schoolteacher Clara Samuels returns to the village where she grew up when her older sister Esther informs her that Butterfly Cottage, somewhere that held a special place in Clara's childhood, is up for sale. Having inherited a tidy sum from her parents that has been held in trust and gathering interest since, Clara has the means to by the cottage outright...which she does, despite it not being the done thing for an unmarried woman to make such a purchase.

Clara enjoys her independence and she loves Butterfly Cottage, especially the garden which holds many special memories alongside her childhood friend James who lived there at the time. Despite James and his family having moved away soon after war broke out, Clara and James continue to write to each other for the next nine years before his letters disappeared altogether. Clara often wonders what happened to her childhood friend and why he stopped writing.

It's one night at a dance with some friends that a face from the past brings everything back - from the grass stains on her dress to the butterflies and bees in the butterfly garden. Suddenly the years are washed away in a flurry of words, laughter and memories. And Clara, who has prided herself on being driven and independent, will suddenly find her life is about to change in ways she never thought possible.

As the two timelines collide, Meredith does her own soul searching as she finds the answers where she least expects them. And she's also in for one more surprise which will answer all her questions as Meredith begins to unravel the mystery of her great-aunt Clara and the answers surrounding Butterfly Cottage.

A truly delightful tale that I read long into the night simply because I didn't want to leave. I was so immersed within the storyline I wanted to stay there and stay there I did until the final page. I didn't mind that I predicted the direction it almost from the beginning. In fact I rather enjoyed discovering if I was right or not.

I absolutely love dual timeline stories and this one is reminiscent of Lorna Cook and I just loved being in the sleepy Suffolk village and surrounded by all those butterflies and fragrances of the butterfly garden.

A well written unforgettable tale that draws you in from the very first page in such a way you won't want to leave...even after you've turned the last page.

A 5 star read I highly recommend. Especially to those who love dual timeline tales, Lorna Cook and Kathleen McGurl.

I would like to thank #RachelBurton, #Netgalley and #BoldwoodBooks for an ARC of #TheButterflyGarden in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Rachel Burton is the bestselling author of historical timeslip novels The Secrets of Summer House, The Last Party at Silverton Hall and The Mystery of Haverford House. Her latest book, The Butterfly Garden will be released in July by Boldwood Books.

She has previously written romantic comedies which you can read about here.

Rachel was born in Cambridge and grew up in a house full of books and records. She has read obsessively since she first realised those black squiggles on the pages that lined her parents’ bookshelves were actually words and it has gone down in family history that any time something interesting happened, she missed it because she had her nose in a book.

After reading for a degree in Classics and another in English Literature she accidentally fell into a career in law but her love of books prevailed as she realised that she wanted to slip into imaginary worlds of her own making. She eventually managed to write her first novel on her lunch breaks.

She is obsessed with old houses and the secrets they keep, with abandoned gardens and locked gates, with family histories and surprising revelations, and with the outcomes of those surprises many generations later.

She lives in Yorkshire with her husband, a variety of cats and far too many books. By writing novels she now has an excuse for her head being forever in the clouds.

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REVIEW: Louise's War by Rosie Clarke

  

Louise's War (The Trenwith Trilogy #2) by Rosie Clarke

Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas, WW1

Read: 12th June 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 2nd June 2024

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Caught between enemy lines – can they survive?

1914, Hampshire

Jack Barlow has a dream. For generations his family have been in service at Trenwith Estate. If he can survive the ravages of war, he’ll return home to build his own mechanic business and become master of his own destiny.

Louise Saint-Claire, is battling against the odds to run her family farmhouse in German occupied France after her abusive husband is taken prisoner by the Germans. She is determined to survive this brutal and bloody war.

But fate throws Jack and Louise together when she finds the wounded British soldier and she decides to risk everything to keep him safe

What chance can one woman and one man have when caught between the French Resistance and the German army?

Previously Published as Love and War by Linda Sole

MY THOUGHTS:

Caught between enemy lines...can they survive...?

Rosie Clarke is one of my favourite authors. I simply devour every one of her sagas, whether they be a series or standalone, and I enjoy every sojourn with them. LOUISE'S WAR is the second in the Trenwith Trilogy and takes us across the Channel and into enemy territory as war continues to rage in Europe.

This tale begins just after war is declared and the men are shipping out to "see the world" as the propaganda posters told them. What they didn't say was the cold and muddy trenches in which they would be serving most of their time whilst the officers were kept warm and dry in better quarters.

It's the men on the ground who do the grunt work and it's here that young Jack Barlow finds himself after joining up, having worked as a groom for the Trenwith estate alongside his sister Rose who was in service as Sarah's lady's maid in the first book. Jack has endured rigorous training and has caught the attention of a drill sergeant who sees fit to make Jack's life as difficult as possible. But when he thought he was sending Jack on a menial task an opportunity arose instead giving him a chance to make a difference. He is employed as a driver for Captain Martin who oftentimes enters enemy territory or takes them close to the Front where both men find themselves dicing with death to make it back alive. When one such mission goes awry, Jack finds himself alone and abandoned in a foreign land with nothing but the clothes on his back and no memory of who he is and what he is doing there.

Louise Saint Claire sees the bedraggled soldier loitering on her property, she fears he will bring unwanted attention and so she hurries to help the young man before he is seen. Louise has battled her own war for years married to a brute of a man who had recently been taken prisoner by the Germans and she knows not if he is alive or dead. She nurses Jack back to health but his memory fails to return. But she must keep him hidden, for if anyone gets wind that he is staying there she may find herself in a world of trouble. For she lives in German occupied territory.

There is so much more to this tale of two people who shouldn't be together in wartime. It enhances the story first told in book one "Sarah's Choice" and paves the way for the final in the trilogy "Rose's Fight". We rejoin those we met in the first book, though some do take more of a back seat this time round as it is Jack and Louise's story as well as a little of Rose's.

I look forward to reading the final book in this trilogy in the coming months and what awaits Rose in her time as the focus.

As always, I love Rosie Clarke's storytelling and transporting me back to that era.

I would like to thank #RosieClarke, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #LouisesWar 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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