Friends Elsie, Olive and Bree run a health and well being business together and it’s time to expand Healing Hands. They find the perfect place, a beauFriends Elsie, Olive and Bree run a health and well being business together and it’s time to expand Healing Hands. They find the perfect place, a beautiful old federation house, with lots of treatment space and endless possibilities.
Olive Atkins is Healing Hands dietitian, she sensible, practical and has everything under control. But she has a secret, she hasn’t told anyone and including her two business partners. Bree Vandenberg is Healing Hands Pilate’s instructor, she’s single and flits from one man to another. Her younger sister Winnie has a habit of disappearing, her parents worry constantly about her, she turns up on Bree’s doorstep, and will her parents have their hearts broken again? Elsie Parker is Healing Hands counsellor, she’s kind, compassionate and a caring step-mother to Johan and married to painter Frank.
The Three owners of Healing Hands are all very different, when tragedy strikes, what will happen to their friendship and will their business survive financially? All We Have Is Now is well written story and I cared about Olive, Bree and Elsie, it’s an emotional book to read and it made me cry. It’s about life, relationships, family, secrets, loss and finding a way and courage to carry on through really tough times. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, I'm very keen to read other books by Kaneana May and five stars from me. ...more
Newlyweds Arthur and Nell Spelman live in London and during the Blitz. Arthur comes from a long line of clock makers, his parents are from Germany andNewlyweds Arthur and Nell Spelman live in London and during the Blitz. Arthur comes from a long line of clock makers, his parents are from Germany and he was born in England. He wants Nell and baby Alice to go stay with her parents in the country and she’s rather stubborn and won’t leave her husband. One night in 1940 the German bombers are relentless, the Spelman’s house has taken a direct hit, Nell catches the first train to Oxfordshire to stay with her family and leaves Arthur behind in London. He assures her he will be fine, he can find somewhere safe to sleep and he’s needed at work. Arthur works at the Palace of Westminster, he helps maintain the clocks and keeps Big Ben chiming.
One night Nell receives an odd call from Arthur, something is wrong and he’s been arrested? Desperate to find out what has happened to her law abiding husband, she travels to London, Nell uncovers a sinister plot and it involves a major attack on a London landmark.
The Clockmaker’s Wife has a dual timeline, it seamless goes between WW II and the present day. The story is really interesting, it has many twists and turns, and uncovers eighty year old secrets.
Alice is staying in a nursing home in Westchester County, she fell, broke her hip and she's starting the lose her memory. Ellie’s mother has always been very vague about her life in England as a child, she didn’t get on with her father's second wife, when she met American Jeff they married, moved to the states and she didn't stay in contact with her English relatives. Ellie discovers a beautiful watch that belonged to her grandmother Nell, she died during WW II and she wants to find out what happened to her? Arriving in England she meets her Aunt Gillian, she’s her mother Alice's younger half-sister and she doesn’t know what happened to Nell.
Ellie begins to delve into the past and what she discovers is absolutely intriguing, The Clockmaker’s Wife is a very unique historical fiction story, it’s different and in an exceptional way. I really enjoyed reading about the clocks, famous London landmarks, Nell moving to Oxfordshire, her relationship with the Pott’s children and how determined she was to help Arthur and what she did for her country in its time of need. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, absolutely brilliant and five big stars from me. ...more
Beth Healey works in her parent’s village shop in Woodhampstead, getting orders ready and serving customers. Beth and her twin brother Ned have just tBeth Healey works in her parent’s village shop in Woodhampstead, getting orders ready and serving customers. Beth and her twin brother Ned have just turned eighteen, like all young men Ned signs up to fight for his king and country. Beth also wants to contribute to the war, others are doing their bit and her parents have very old fashioned ideas about what young ladies can do.
Beth secretly applies to join the Army Post Office’s new Home Depot on the Regent’s Park, and she can’t believe it when she’s offered a job. The postal service was of great significance during WW I and it handled over twelve million letters a week. Beth works in the damaged parcel department, she repacks and readdresses damaged parcels being sent to soldiers, it’s an important job and a very busy one.
Despite traveling and long work days, Beth enjoys her new job, she makes friends with two girls employed in the same department, Milly Woods and Nora Benhams. By working and staying at her new friends houses overnight; Beth discovers life is very different in London, Nora comes from a well to do family and Milly is involved with the suffragette movement. At the Home Depot she also meets the attractive James Blackford, he’s of age and yet he’s not fighting in the war?
The Post Office Girls takes you back to 1915 and when women’s roles changed during WW I and it gives you an insight into life in England at the time. I enjoyed reading about the friendship formed between the three young women, they faced many challenges together and the important work they did. The mail service was extremely vital during WW I, receiving a letter boosted morale in the trenches and at home. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and four stars from me. ...more
Widower Reverend John Goddard accepts a job at the Wormley parish in Colchester, it's a change of scene for his teenage daughter Molly and a ten year Widower Reverend John Goddard accepts a job at the Wormley parish in Colchester, it's a change of scene for his teenage daughter Molly and a ten year son Jimmy. Molly’s very unhappy, she lost her mother Sarah a year ago, her father is struggling from the loss of his wife and his experiences during WW II.
Molly dreams of being a journalist, she spends a lot of time minding her brother Jimmy and he has downs syndrome. Jimmy's a sweet boy, he loves the country and he has a tendency to wander off. Christopher Waddington attends school in London, he returns home to the manor during school holidays and in the summer. Kit’s clever, funny and very kind to Jimmy. Kit takes them both out in his new row boat the Robin on the lake and Jimmy loves it.
Money has gone missing from one of the church accounts, being new Reverend Goddard is the main suspect and for his family everything starts to spiral out of control. One stormy night Molly decides to visit Kit late, her father and brother are asleep. The next morning Jimmy doesn’t come down for breakfast, he’s not in his bed and has he wandered off? The Police are called in, they search the area, they find no sign of Jimmy and of course they question Molly and Kit.
Years later Molly is an old lady, a successful children’s writer and still haunted by her little brother’s disappearance. Two police officers arrive to tell her they have found some bones in the bottom of the lake in Wormley, they request a DNA sample and Molly's sure they have finally found her little brother.
The story looks back at life in the village all those years ago, the legend of the medieval dragon, how fascinated Jimmy was by the ancient mystical tale and the events leading up to him going missing. The village had some interesting characters, dynamics and secrets, I really liked Eli Chadwick the local gravedigger and he was lovely man. I received a copy of The Secrets Of The Lake from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and four stars from me. ...more
Estelle Le Maistre is holding back the tears when she takes her twelve year old sister Rosie to the boat that will take her to safety in England, and Estelle Le Maistre is holding back the tears when she takes her twelve year old sister Rosie to the boat that will take her to safety in England, and she’s one of the lucky ones to leave Jersey. The English government decided the Channel Islands are of no strategic importance, they wouldn’t defend them and the Germans have no idea. Estelle stayed behind to help on her family’s farm, her grandmother Marnie Woods is getting older and they grow vital crops.
When the Germans arrive in Jersey, the locals are terrified and they immediately start enforcing new rules. A strict curfew, all weapons must be handed in, clocks are moved one hour forward, food is rationed and fishing is banned. Estelle and her Gran assume they should be fine on the isolated farm, until they have to billet a German Wehrmacht Officer and Captain Hans Bauer moves in. Now they feel like they can’t relax in their own home, talk freely and it’s odd having a German sleeping under the same roof.
Rosie is living in England with her Aunt Muriel, to cope with her homesickness her Aunt gives her a diary and in this she writes her thoughts and feelings. Muriel is a lovely lady, Rosie finds London big and crowded. The Blitz starts, night after night they endure the terrible bombing, devastation and get no sleep. Rosie misses her family, she just wants the war to end and so she can return home.
As time goes on life in Jersey becomes harder, items like clothes and shoes can’t be replaced and basic necessities are no longer available at the local shops. The German soldiers are everywhere on the island, it’s rather intimidating for the residents and it get worse. People are deported, Russian slaves arrive to help reinforce the defences along the coast, food and firewood become scarce, the locals and the Germans are cold and hungry. You realize the Germans are suffering as well, many are regular men, forced to serve in the army and not career soldiers.
An Island at War is inspired by real stories from author Deborah Carr’s own family who were living on Jersey during the occupation and in London during the Blitz. It’s a story about war, deprivation, brutality, inhumanity, courage and survival. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, a unique WW II story and four stars from me. ...more
London, 1941. Edie Cartwright had consumption as a child, it’s scarred her lungs and she’s very disappointed when Dr Grant declares her unfit for activLondon, 1941. Edie Cartwright had consumption as a child, it’s scarred her lungs and she’s very disappointed when Dr Grant declares her unfit for active service. Edie lost her job as a teacher at Brick Street School, it was closed due to the war and like everyone in her age group she wants to serve her country. Dr Grant suggests again about Edie moving to the countryside, her lungs would benefit from the clean air, they desperately need Land Girls, she completes the training course and she finds herself on the way to Cumberland.
The owner of Applefield Manor Mrs. Prudence Hewitt is waiting for her, she’s rather stern and not very welcoming. Edie will be helping the gardener Jack Graham around the estate and she will also be working for Sam Nicholson, caring for his sheep at nearby Larkstone farm. Matilda Liddell is the cook at the manor, she’s friendly and the others take one look at Edie’s slight build and they don’t think she will last two weeks. Edie proves them all wrong, yes she’s sore and tired to start off with and soon she’s feeling the best she’s ever felt and the horrible tight feeling in her chest has gone away.
Prudence isn’t happy when she informed two evacuees are going to being billeted with her and the children are from Bethnal Green. Agnes and James Cawthra arrive, the children are extremely underweight, small for their ages and James is mute. Edie and Matilda make the children feel welcome, it’s not long before Prue and Jack both find a new lease of life and really enjoy having the children around. When the children save a tiny puppy, they keep Coco hidden in the barn, he’s the first of many animals that join Pepper the black crow at Applefield Manor and the atmosphere around the place changes.
Edie’s Home for Orphans is a delightful story about Edie and her discovering how much she enjoys living in the country, looking after animals and being land girl. Her joy is infectious, her kindness thaws the coolest of hearts, including Mrs. Hewitt's and the slightly reserved sheep farmer Sam Nicholson's. I really enjoyed reading about the relationships and friendships in the story, the menagerie of animals and the kindness shown to the Italian POW’s.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review, a lovely wartime story by Gracie Taylor and five stars from me. ...more
Savannah Garret is determined to see her best friend’s killer go to jail, Jimmy Biloti is a dangerous man and despite him being locked up and she may Savannah Garret is determined to see her best friend’s killer go to jail, Jimmy Biloti is a dangerous man and despite him being locked up and she may never feel safe. The detectives working on the case assure her with her new look, identity, and moving to a country town and she will be perfectly fine. After a long bus trip she arrives in Blackwater QLD and makes her way to the pub. Here she meets her new boss Jacko, his daughter Jessie and Savannah's the pubs new barmaid.
Ash Sullivan has worked hard, he owns his own property Silverton Station and runs a chopper mustering business. He’s been very unlucky in love, years ago he had his heart shattered and he has no one to share his beautiful property with. All the single ladies in Blackwater have been trying to get his attention since he arrived and have had absolutely no luck. The accommodation at the pub is pretty basic and Ash has an empty renovated cottage on his property; he offers Savannah a place to live, here can she truly relax and feel safe? Ash and Savannah are very attracted to each other, she can’t tell anyone about her true identity and not even the man she falls head over heels in love with.
Savannah’s Secret is a story set in a small Australian country town, the local characters are likeable and extremely funny, and it has elements of romance, suspense and danger. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Harlequin Australia in exchange for an honest review and four stars from me. ...more
It’s been four years since Felicity Bell’s marriage ended, hers is a very unique situation and it’s been extremely hard. Her ex Sofia has started datiIt’s been four years since Felicity Bell’s marriage ended, hers is a very unique situation and it’s been extremely hard. Her ex Sofia has started dating Mike, her daughter Zoe is married to her childhood sweetheart and her son Toby has joined the Australian Air Force. Flicks on her own, emotionally she's struggling, she needs some space between her and Sofia and time to heal. An opportunity comes up to live and work as a taxidermist in the French Quarter of New Orleans for a couple of months and she accepts the job at Bourbon Street Taxidermy Art.
Zoe Thompson is happily married to Beau, they met in high school and she’s ready to start a family. She desperately wants to be a mother and Beau doesn’t seem as keen as her to make a baby and she shattered when she discovers why. She quits her job, packs a suitcase and catches the next plane to New Orleans. Flick loves her daughter, but when she arrives unexpectedly it throws her plans of having time to herself out of the window and she’s very concerned about her daughter’s behavior.
Felicity and Zoe meet Aurelia Harranibar and things don’t get off to a great start. She’s an artist, lives alone in the Garden District and needs some assistance. The three women become friends, Zoe helps Aurelia, and Flick’s very distracted by her spunky neighbor Theodore and is she ready to have a romantic relationship?
Rachael Johns has done it again, I read How to Mend a Broken Heart in a day and I really like Flick and the continuation of her story. The plot combines themes of heartbreak, lost love, self-discovery, a fresh start and romance and set in the spirited city of New Orleans. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley, its brilliant and five big stars from me....more
Josie Duval is a twelve year old Jewish girl living in Casablanca in 1941, Zoe Harris is staying in the same house in 2010 and their story has a dual Josie Duval is a twelve year old Jewish girl living in Casablanca in 1941, Zoe Harris is staying in the same house in 2010 and their story has a dual timeline. The two main characters are bound together when Zoe finds Josie’s diary, a trinket box, keepsakes, under the floor boards in one of the bedrooms and where they have been hidden for over seventy years.
Guillaume, Delphine, Annette and Josie, flee France when the German’s invade Paris, they eventually arrive in Casablanca, and here they hope to get visas, pass the medical checks and immigrate to America. Josie’s loves Casablanca, it’s warm climate, sights, culture, food, people, visiting the library and spending time with her new friend Nina. The whole process is slow and tedious waiting for a boat to take them to safety, the war is getting closer to Morocco, the Duval's money is running out, German soldiers arrive and the families scared.
Zoe and Tom Harris move to Casablanca for a fresh start, their marriage is struggling, other British expats live nearby and the wives make Zoe feel welcome. However, Zoe becomes captivated by Josie’s story, she wants to discover what happened to the Duval’s and did they make it to America? Zoe and Josie both meet interesting people while living in Casablanca, they both like to help others and feel a deep connection to the place. The story is tied together by themes of hope, friendship, grief, and the importance of storytelling in Moroccan culture and it's deep history.
The Storyteller of Casablanca will have you captivated from the very first page, a beautifully written story, I loved the main characters, Fiona Valpy weaves her magic once again, and what an emotional and unexpected ending. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, if you enjoyed the Beekeeper’s Promise and I can guarantee you will enjoy reading The Storyteller of Casablanca and five stars from me. ...more
London, November 1941. Woman’s Friend, Henrietta Bird has left the magazine and Emmeline Lake is excited to be once again involved with the advice coluLondon, November 1941. Woman’s Friend, Henrietta Bird has left the magazine and Emmeline Lake is excited to be once again involved with the advice column. Her dear friend Bunty is slowly getting over her injuries, she’s mourning the loss of her beloved William and she’s still Emmy’s number one supporter. Emmy’s boyfriend Charles Mayhew is stationed back in the UK, they don’t get to spend a lot of time together and are madly in love.
The Ministry of Information needs help to recruit women workers for the war effort and they want magazines to run government funded articles. Emmy comes up with the idea to interview women who have just started working at a munitions factory and she receives permission to visit Chandlers. Emmy's new friend Anne works at the facility, she’s a war widow and has two young children. She discovers the challenges women workers face, they work extremely long hours, and juggling shift work and motherhood during a war isn’t easy. Most married women needed to work, many struggled financially and they had no access to funded childcare. The managers at Chandlers considered child minding not their problem, workers families should help out and many women didn’t have relatives living close by.
British women had a personal interest in the war, they all had family members fighting and wanted to do their bit! In, Yours Cheerfully Emmy’s doing what she does best, writing heart felt stories for Woman’s Friend magazine and supporting the women of England. I absolutely loved Dear Mrs. Bird and A.J. Pearce has done it again and Yours Cheerfully will have you cheering for Emmy, Bunty, Charles and her friends. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, an absolute delightful story to read and five stars from me....more
Astra Davies has recently lost her parents, she moves to London to live with her Aunt Elinor and cousin Toby. Financially, her circumstances are grim,Astra Davies has recently lost her parents, she moves to London to live with her Aunt Elinor and cousin Toby. Financially, her circumstances are grim, she needs to curb her spending and rent out Hensley the family estate. Her Aunt points out the obvious solution to her problem, to get married, Astra isn’t keen to give up her independence and become a decoration on a man’s arm. She has the support of her friends, Joyce and David, they invite her to parties, weddings, country gatherings, and they cheer her up and give her a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy.
It's hard for Astra to forget about her money problems, she had no idea about her parents financial woes and she’s left to sort out the mess. Her father invested money in a company called Vandemark, it makes tires and Freddie Ponsonby-Lewis is in charge. Astra’s business partner likes a drink, has trouble making conversation and she’s determined to make both Freddie and Vandemark successful. A payment is made every month to a place called Rosedale, she has no idea why and it’s a big family secret.
Astra meets Jeremy Harris the Earl of Dunreaven, they have a lot in common, both have lost their parents and he owns a crumbling estate called Midbourne in Sussex. A person is making Astra’s life miserable, trying to ruin her reputation, and she’s worried the Earl will find out, the only man to make her heart flutter and talk about bad timing.
Set in England in the 1930’s, A Bright Young Thing takes you from London’s drawing rooms, to the country estates of the English nobility and to the fashion show rooms of Paris. Astra Davies is smart, funny, kind and she deserves to live happily ever after, with a certain Earl and to create a beautiful garden together at Midbourne. The story was interesting and it gives you a glimpse into upper crust English life, thanks to NetGalley for my copy and four stars from me. ...more
Nancy Hadley, is horrified to catch her husband of thirty six years Roger cheating on her with Claire Sanford and on their sailboat the Bucephalus. ShNancy Hadley, is horrified to catch her husband of thirty six years Roger cheating on her with Claire Sanford and on their sailboat the Bucephalus. She’s absolutely furious, she’s had enough and she wants a divorce. Roger isn’t keen to hand over a single dime, not only is he a cheater and he’s tight as well. With the support of her friends Ruthie, Judy and Lois she’s determined to make her own way and she buys her own boat the Gypsea and moves into her floating home with her cat. Nancy has no idea that Bayside Development is planning to ruin the natural harbor and the place she now calls home.
Nancy knows Roger well, he loves to win and his ego is as big as his head. She challenges him to compete in a 125 mile boat race called the Border Dash Race and from Newport Harbor to Ensenada Mexico. The winner gets want they want, in Nancy she gets her divorce and the Bucephalus. Nancy has prepared her all women’s team, she’s listened to advice, lighten her boat and has a strategic plan to win.
Beware The Mermaids is a story about Nancy seizing her moment, letting go of all the things that have held her back in the past and one of them being Roger. She’s a smart and determined women with a wonderful supportive group of girlfriends and they make a great boat crew. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, a girl power read and four stars from me. ...more
Ruthie Midona is in her mid-twenties, she’s worked as an office assistant at the Providence Luxury Retirement Villas for six years and she lives in a Ruthie Midona is in her mid-twenties, she’s worked as an office assistant at the Providence Luxury Retirement Villas for six years and she lives in a cottage on the property. Dedicated to her job, Ruthie is efficient and extremely hard working. But, she’s living a life of a much older person, she dresses like an old lady and a very frugal one. Melanie Sasaki starts working with Ruthie as a temp, she’s determined to change Ruthie’s single status and the way she dresses.
Theodore is the son of Jerry Prescott the owner of Providence and he’s very different to his successful businessman father. Teddy’s a bit of a rebel, he rides a motorbike, he has no fixed address, has long hair and lot of tattoos. He’s a tattoo artist, he needs to earn some cash and starts working as a personal assistant for a couple of rich quirky ladies living at the retirement village. Ruthie doesn’t think Teddy stands a chance and Renata and Aggie have had as many personal assistants as Teddy has had addresses in the last year.
Much to her horror, Teddy moves in next door to Ruthie and sets about proving her wrong. He picks up dry cleaning, cuts up burgers into bite size pieces, wears silly costumes and does it all with a dazzling smile. Teddy’s rather good looking, he’s charming and he starts to get under Ruthie’s perfect skin. When she discovers that Jerry is considering selling Providence, Ruthie is horrified and is Teddy as nice as she thought?
Second First Impressions is a wonderful entertaining story, I was hooked from the start and I loved all the characters. Ruthie is so sweet, she became more confident, less uptight and she blossomed. Teddy’s totally an inked spunk, he’s funny, kind and the perfect person to ruffle Miss. Ruthie’s feathers. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, it’s the first book I have read by Sally Thorne, it wont be my last and five stars from me. ...more
Hadley needs to leave her abusive marriage to the very controlling Frank Torelli, her family isn't safe and she’s planned her escape. Her teenager dauHadley needs to leave her abusive marriage to the very controlling Frank Torelli, her family isn't safe and she’s planned her escape. Her teenager daughter Mattie has just started testing her boundaries, this worries Hadley and she also looks after her nephew Skipper and he has special needs. Grace Herrick works for Frank as his assistant, her husband Jimmy’s a soldier, he’s away serving in Afghanistan and they have a four month old baby Miles. Grace is a stressed new mother, Miles has colic and she’s literally running on empty. She’s worked really hard on a deal for months and Frank cheats her out of her commission. This makes her mad, what is she going to do, she's broke, hungry and Miles doesn't stop crying?
Both women find themselves at Frank’s business one Friday night, they bump into each other and they desperately need money and Frank must have some stashed somewhere? Due to a series of unexpected events things quickly escalate, in the tradition of Thelma and Louise we now have Hadley and Grace two women on the run and with three children. They begin a mad dash across America with Frank’s money, they had no idea it was obtained by him illegally and trying to stay one step ahead of the FBI, police and the media.
Hadley, Grace, Mattie, Skipper and little Miles become really close, when it looks like they will be caught, Hadley and Grace do everything they can to protect their new family unit and outsmart everyone. Hadley and Grace is a feel good story, I adored the characters, except Frank of course and I didn’t want them to get caught and I really didn’t want Grace to get into trouble. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, a story full of action and adventure and four stars from me. ...more
May Marshall returns home to Keswick Virginia, with her new husband Byrd Craig and she’s traveled all the way to France and to end up marrying the boyMay Marshall returns home to Keswick Virginia, with her new husband Byrd Craig and she’s traveled all the way to France and to end up marrying the boy she lived next door to as a ten year old girl. America is going through tough economic times, and May’s struggling to keep her father’s Keswick farm and business afloat. They grew fruit and vegetables, once they made and sold jams and bottled produce. May has two young children, with the help of Delphina her father’s maid, she juggles looking after her disabled father, caring for her children and she has a new idea to adapt her fathers failing business. Using the produce they grow on the farm, some of her father’s equipment and help from an employee Blue. She has a plan to make, and sell homemade candy and chocolates. Her husband Byrd works in Washington, he’s not keen on his wife’s idea, and May doesn’t listen to him.
The Syke's family live in Boston in a rundown tenement building, Roy resides with his son Walt, daughter Dorrit and his wife Augusta passed away four months ago. The Syke's follow the Christian Science Beliefs, and they don’t believe in medical treatment and sixteen year old Dorrit has never seen a doctor. Dorrit’s has a beautiful soul, she’s wonderful with young children, and she sews beautifully and loves to read Nancy Drew stories. Dorrit suffers from anxiety, she’s rather quiet, shy and spends her free time at the library.
Roy wants to travel to Washington DC, during the summer of 1932 to camp and march with over 20,000 war veterans who want president Hoover to pay their war bonuses early. He takes Dorrit with him, the plan's to go for ten days, and during the chaos Dorrit and her father are separated. Dorrit’s alone for the first time in her life, like many people at the time she starts traveling the rails, she has to have her wits about her and she has with her father’s tool box. Dorrit finds herself in Keswick Virginia, she’s sick, a kind May helps her and tries to find out what happened to her father. May can see what a wonderful person Dorrit is, together they make a winning team, and both have dreams and aspirations.
All In Good Faith is set during the American Depression, the story is about hope, kindness, compassion, helping others, finding joy in life and during the difficult times. An inspirational story, it's well written, uplifting and five big stars from me. Thanks to NetGalley, Edelweiss and Liza Nash Taylor for my copy and I highly recommend reading the book. ...more
Seventeen year old Maggie Franklin grew up in Alabama with an alcoholic father and her poor mother was once a prostitute. Hubert Wiggins is a respectaSeventeen year old Maggie Franklin grew up in Alabama with an alcoholic father and her poor mother was once a prostitute. Hubert Wiggins is a respectable young man, her childhood friend, he works hard and goes to church. His parents are lovely, Leroy his father is a minister and his mother Clarice would make the ideal grandmother. Hubert has prospects, he’s quite the catch and they marry.
Hubert has a secret, one he needs to keep hidden and marrying Maggie is the perfect cover. In fact Hubert and Maggie seem to be the ideal married couple and when baby Claude comes along they become a happy family. Maggie loves her son, her only child and she adores on him. When Claude falls in love with Daisy Compton, she totally unsuitable and Maggie isn’t happy. She’s never looked forward to having to share her son with another woman and let alone a floozy like Daisy. Maggie has the perfect job working for the kind and generous Mrs. Dowler, when her employer’s brother moves in with her, Maggie knows he’s going to be a problem and make her life difficult.
Maggie’s a woman who needs to be in control, so when everything starts changing in her relationships with her son, Mrs. Dowler and Hubert and things begin to get out of hand with Maggie's behavior. This is when my interest in the story started to decline along with the books plot and I’m sorry to say I found it all a bit far fetched for me. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and I can only give it three stars. ...more
Eleanor is married to world war one hero Edward Hamilton and they have a four year old daughter Mabel. The Hamilton's live in a beautiful home in the Eleanor is married to world war one hero Edward Hamilton and they have a four year old daughter Mabel. The Hamilton's live in a beautiful home in the English countryside, they own a London apartment and are well off. Edward’s a professor, he’s interested in psychology and the science of eugenics. For me this was a rather controversial topic, using Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest, adults and children would be put into categories and it also involves more controversial ideas and practices.
Both Edward and Eleanor believe in eugenics and for Eleanor she has a personal reason for her beliefs. When Mable starts having funny turns, she goes blank, mentions a lady she sees during her episodes and Eleanor puts it down to her being tired. Mabel she has a fit, the Hamilton’s can’t ignore their daughter’s condition, they seek medical advice and she’s diagnosed with epilepsy.
Edward’s very concerned about his career, Eleanor’s in shock, and she has no idea how limited and horrible the treatment was for epileptics in the 1920’s. This cause’s immense tension in the couple’s relationship, when Eleanor discovers Edward has been keeping a secret from her for over twelve years and she starts to question his honesty and his beliefs. Eleanor's desperate to help her daughter, she loves her and the doctor treating Mable won’t listen to her at all, and she comes up with a plan and is determined to save her.
To be honest, half way through The Hidden Child, I wasn’t sure I could finish the book, I found the whole idea of the science of genetics and eugenics horrifying, the medical treatment and attitudes towards children especially distressing. However I continued reading the story, I can understand why Louise Fein included these topics in the book, it was well written and you certainly question the ideas, morals and medical treatment at the time. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and five stars from me. ...more
The Postmistress gives you a look at life in Greenhill in Lancashire and just before the start of world war two. Vicky Parrot runs the post office, SyThe Postmistress gives you a look at life in Greenhill in Lancashire and just before the start of world war two. Vicky Parrot runs the post office, Sylvia Barker owns the haberdashery shop and Violet Pegg’s the local school teacher.
Vicky’s run off her feet, working at the post office and looking after her sick father Arthur and her ungrateful brother Henry. Dr Roger Buckley comes in every day and I think he’s interested in more than buying stamps for his correspondence. Sylvia has her hands full with looking after her flighty daughter Rosie, her husband Archie's a horrible man, her niece Claire comes to stay and she has a positive influence on Rosie. Through the interaction between the three main characters you discover both Vicky and Sylvia have secrets, Violet is still writing to her childhood penfriend in Canada and he may be sent to England?
I hope the next book continues on with Vicky, Sylvia and Violet’s stories during WW II and the series certainly has potential. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and three stars from me....more
Vicky Hall has just finished university, she’s excited to be graduating and looking forward to the ceremony. When her mum calls to tell her she want bVicky Hall has just finished university, she’s excited to be graduating and looking forward to the ceremony. When her mum calls to tell her she want be able to make it, Vicky feels let down, her mum has remarried, and has two younger children Emily and Joey. Vicky has never met her father, she feels like her mother favors her younger children, she's disappointed and then she gets mad. Vicky goes on a holiday to Corfu in Greece with her friend, her mum sends her a message asking when she’s coming home and she ignores it.
Vicky meets William Cottingdale, he’s house sitting a villa in Greece and when she falls pregnant they return to England. The young couple stay with William’s parents Barbara and Derek and Vicky still doesn’t contact her mum to let her know she's back. When little Theo is born, Vicky's a nervous new mother and Barbara offers to help. Before she knows it Barbara has taken over, things get out of control and Vicky leaves the house when Theo's two. She doesn’t return, Barbara has deliberately made Vicky feel like she has failed as a mother, she has told Theo she’s his Mamma and poor Vicky has no idea. By leaving she has given Barbara, exactly what she’s wanted and Vicky has lost her son.
Vicky's working at Applewood Farm, owners Caro and Gilbert Campbell have employed her to help run their accommodation business and they become much more than her employers. With the guidance of Caro, Gilbert and their son Fergus, Vicky gains her confidence back, she’s given the opportunity to raise her son, it’s not going to be easy to make up for the six years she has lost, it's a huge change for Theo and with the help from the Cambell's, mother and son eventually form a bond.
The Mother I Could Have Been is a story about Vicky being young and vulnerable and Barbara taking advantage of her. Vicky made mistakes, she should have kept in contact with her mother, she judged her too harshly, and she was very immature. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, the story was a little far fetched and three stars from me....more
Callie Di Giacomo parents died when she was ten, she grew up in foster care in Texas, a solicitor contacts her on her twenty first birthday, she’s shoCallie Di Giacomo parents died when she was ten, she grew up in foster care in Texas, a solicitor contacts her on her twenty first birthday, she’s shocked to discover she’s adopted, and she’s been left a house in Italy. Callie arrives in Montevino looking for answers, she’s given the keys to a villa, and it’s her inheritance from her birth mother. She expected a rundown property, the villa is clean and has been well looked after. She meets the grounds keeper Tommaso Carpentieri, she discovers she has an aunt Flora and she’s been taking care of the house.
Why did Callie inherited the villa and not her aunt, she finds a diary in a wardrobe, it belonged to a woman called Elisa, and she hopes to find some answers between the pages? It’s about life in Montevino during WW II, Italy was divided by those who supported Mussolini and and others who were involved in the local Italian resistance. Elisa was a doctor, she married her childhood sweetheart Leo Bordet and she’s Callie’s great-great-grandmother.
Montevino is a small place, they don’t forget what happened in the past and many people don't like Flora Stella? Callie’s aunt's a naturopath, she owns a business in town called Passiflora and she’s a rather prickly person. The only relative Callie has in the world, is a bitter and difficult woman. Slowly, Callie pieces together her mother’s past, she uncovers a shocking secret and it makes sense why Callie was born in America and put up for adoption.
The Italian Villa, is a dual timeline story, where family traditions and secrets have been kept due to complicated relationships, and what happened in Montevino during World War Two. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, it's well written by Daniela Sacerdoti and five stars from me....more
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