Alias Emma - Ava Glass

 

Description

Emma Makepeace is about to spend the longest night in her life.

She's on her first operation with shadowy organisation The Agency and is assigned to track down a man wanted by the Russians and bring him in to the safety of MI6. When she identifies her target, Michael, in the northern reaches of Camden town in the late hours of the night, she realises that in order to get him to safety, she needs to reach MI6 by dawn. The only problem? It's on the other side of London and the Russians have eyes everywhere. If spotted, Emma and Michael will be killed.

What follows is an exhilarating chase across London's criss-cross streets, the Regent's Canal, a hidden underground river and finally, as dawn breaks, a painstakingly tense crossing of the Thames.

But what sort of reception awaits them? Who can be trusted? And why do the Russians seem to be ahead of them every step of the way?

KILLING EVE meets JAMES BOND in the first novel of the ALIAS EMMA series: a thrilling, cinematic page-turner starring the most likeable and resourceful of heroines.

Review

A great fast paced read.

Emma Makepeace is newly qualified and undercover in a quiet shop in London. That is until she gets a call that her services are needed for a much more important job. She has to protect a man wanted by the Russians, the only thing is he isn't convinced he's in danger and, wants no part of her protection. The first part of her assignment then is to change his mind.

Once Emma convinces Michael he is in danger the action really takes off. I was then surprised by the book taking a backward look at how Emma became an agent and her career so far. This happened a few times and at first was an irritant until it all came together and added so much more to the this cat and mouse chase.

Just how can two people become invisible in a city covered in cameras and outwit their predators, who seem to be one step ahead of them all the time? 

Emma reminded me of Purdy (Joanna Lumley) from the Avengers - she is a feisty, so resourceful and, it was a joy to read her exploits. It can be difficult to read action scenes and them not be confusing or boring, but I was in no doubt throughout this book what was happening. The book certainly kept me on the edge of my seat.

I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley for the ARC to review.

The Tea Ladies of St Jude's Hospital - Joanna Nell

 

Description

Three unlikely friends. One chance to save the community. It might just be the perfect blend....

The Marjorie Marshall Memorial Cafeteria is at the heart of St Jude's Hospital. Staffed by successive generations of dedicated volunteers, for over fifty years the beloved cafeteria has been serving up a kind word and sympathetic ear along with tea and scones.

Hilary, the stalwart Manageress, has worked her way up through the ranks; Joy, the latest recruit, is driving Hilary mad by arriving late every day; and seventeen-year-old Chloe, the daughter of two successful surgeons, is volunteering in the holidays and bemused by the older women.

But when they discover the cafeteria is under threat of closure, the unlikely trio must put aside their differences. As they realise the secrets and sorrows they have in common, the women grow closer - but can they bring the community together and save the day?

Full of wisdom and warmth, The Tea Ladies of St Jude's Hospital is a gorgeously poignant, hilarious story about unlikely friendships, growing old disgracefully, and coming together to save the things we love...

Review

I just loved it.

When you just want to read a heartwarming story, no complicated plot, just immerse yourself in another world - then this is the book to read.

I really related to so much in this book, despite it being set in Australia (which I forgot about until half way through) so many things resonated with me. The volunteer hospital experience is one I am familiar with and the author got it spot on, including the career volunteers!

We meet Hilary, Joy and Chloe as they are all volunteers for different reasons at the hospital cafe. They all have a different backstory and the relating of these made me care about them all so much more. Each character is so well defined and the differing ages really made this so realistic too. I also applaud the author for making the older women social media savvy too.

Everything is beginning to settle down for Hilary with her new staff when the cafe comes under threat from closure. This is when the three ladies really begin to rally together and form a team to fight everyone that's against them, despite efforts from others to undermine that.

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley for the ARC to review.