The Cuban Heiress - Chanel Cleeton

 

Description

In 1934, a luxury cruise becomes a fight for survival as two women’s pasts collide on a round-trip voyage from New York to Havana in New York Times bestselling author Chanel Cleeton's page-turning new novel inspired by the true story of the SS Morro Castle.

New York heiress Catherine Dohan seemingly has it all. There’s only one problem. It’s a lie. As soon as the Morro Castle leaves port, Catherine’s past returns with a vengeance and threatens her life. Joining forces with a charismatic jewel thief, Catherine must discover who wants her dead—and why.

Elena Palacio is a dead woman. Or so everyone thinks. After a devastating betrayal left her penniless and on the run, Elena’s journey on the Morro Castle is her last hope. Steeped in secrecy and a burning desire for revenge, her return to Havana is a chance to right the wrong that has been done to her—and her prey is on the ship.

As danger swirls aboard the Morro Castle and their fates intertwine, Elena and Catherine must risk everything to see justice served once and for all.

Review

Set on a cruise ship between New York and Havana this was a thrilling read.

I hadn't heard of the SS Morro Castle and at the end of the book there is a little info about it. I would refrain from looking into the ship until you finish the book as it could be a bit of spoiler. Despite the limited location so much happened in this book to keep me on the edge of my seat.

The book flips between the story of the two women Catherine and Elena. Each on the ship and each encountering their own obstacles to what they want to achieve. The strong female characters make for great reading and they aren't afraid to face up to whatever awaits them. We don't know the full story of either woman, but we learn as the story develops. Then as everything begins to slide into place I came to realise what a brilliantly told story this was.

There is romance in the book, but the thriller aspect was stronger. Without giving too much away the writing is very atmospheric and a few harrowing scenes told well.

I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley for the ARC to review. The book is published on 13 April 2023.

Romantic Comedy - Curtis Sittenfeld

 

Description

Life is (not)* a Romantic Comedy...

With a series of heartbreaks under her belt, Sally Milz - successful script writer for a legendary late-night TV comedy show - has long abandoned the search for love.

But when her friend and fellow writer begins to date a glamorous actress, he joins the growing club of interesting but average-looking men who get romantically involved with accomplished, beautiful women. Sally channels her annoyance into a sketch, poking fun at this 'social rule'. The reverse never happens for a woman.

Then Sally meets Noah, a pop idol with a reputation for dating models. But this isn't a romantic comedy - it's real life. Would someone like him ever date someone like her?

Skewering all our certainties about why we fall in love, ROMANTIC COMEDY is a witty and probing tale of how the heart will follow itself, no matter what anyone says. It is Curtis Sittenfeld at her most sharp, daring and compassionate best.

Review

Not too keen on this one until the last 25%!

I wanted to read this book based solely on the fact that it was written by Curtis Sittenfeld, as I loved Rodham. Unfortunately I found the first half of the book far too detailed to be enjoyable. The minutia of the off air production team for a comedy show at TNS was not appealing to me. We got to go through the writing, then the run through, then the show - too much. Unless you want to live vicariously through the book and experience real life comedy writing for live TV.

I wasn't really engaged with any of the main characters at this point. I did like the female friendships and some of the slick comedy lines, but I was struggling with it. I read advance reviews that said to stick with it as the second half was so much better. So I did.

Then came into the storyline Covid, so if you are uncomfortable about revisiting that time this might not be the book for you. I was ok with it but not with the dialogue being through emails. I am not a fan of this style of writing so the next 25% wasn't too good for me either but fared better than the first 50%.

Finally the last 25% of the book was pure genius and I loved it. I felt that I finally got the characters and was really engaged with the story. The writing is certainly intelligent and observational. I'm pleased I didn't stop reading, but I think a lot of readers may not get to that last 25% as the first half is so bogged down in detail.

I'm giving this book 3 out of 5 stars.

The book is published on 6 April 2023. My thanks to netgalley for the ARC to review.

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers - Jesse Sutanto

 

Description

The new must-read cozy crime mystery from the bestselling author of Dial A For Aunties Put the kettle on, there’s a mystery brewing…

Tea-shop owner. Matchmaker. Detective?

Sixty-year-old self-proclaimed tea expert Vera Wong enjoys nothing more than sipping a good cup of Wulong and doing some healthy ‘detective’ work on the internet (AKA checking up on her son to see if he’s dating anybody yet).

But when Vera wakes up one morning to find a dead man in the middle of her tea shop, it’s going to take more than a strong Longjing to fix things. Knowing she’ll do a better job than the police possibly could – because nobody sniffs out a wrongdoing quite like a suspicious Chinese mother with time on her hands – Vera decides it’s down to her to catch the killer.

Nobody spills the tea like this amateur sleuth.

Knives Out meets Kim’s Convenience for anyone who loves solving mysteries by Richard Osman and Janice Hallett, and watching Death in Paradise and Midsomer Murders.

Review

An enjoyable and amusing read.

I was drawn to this book title and the fact that it involved the owner of a tea shop. Not much other than Vera finding a dead body in the tea shop happens in the tea shop though, as Vera only has one customer!

Vera is 60 - described as elderly - so if you identify with that age group you may think differently. Otherwise I loved Vera, she is a no nonsense straight talking lady with firm ideas about what needs to be done. She's not too clued up on police procedure though, evident from her actions when she discovers the dead body. However, Vera thinks otherwise and is determined to help the police, who in her opinion don't have a clue.

One by one Vera makes a list of suspects and then befriends them. She cooks for them, match makes for them and generally takes over their lives, but in a nice way. There are plenty of descriptions of the teas Vera makes, but it was the food that I found intoxicating. I just need Vera to pop round and make it all for me. 

Very funny at times and then at others a little sad. I felt it dragged a little in the middle,  and wondered why the story was meandering so much. Of course a few more things get revealed along the way and the ending was just ingenious. 

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

Violeta - Isabel Allende

 

Description

One extraordinary woman.
One hundred years of history.
One unforgettable story.

Violeta comes into the world on a stormy day in 1920, the first daughter in a family of five boisterous sons. From the start, her life is marked by extraordinary events, for the ripples of the Great War are still being felt, even as the Spanish flu arrives on the shores of her South American homeland almost at the moment of her birth.

Through her father's prescience, the family will come through that crisis unscathed, only to face a new one as the Great Depression transforms the genteel city life she has known. Her family loses all and is forced to retreat to a wild and beautiful but remote part of the country. There, she will come of age, and her first suitor will come calling.

In a letter to someone she loves above all others, Violeta recounts devastating heartbreak and passionate affairs, times of both poverty and wealth, terrible loss and immense joy, and a life shaped by some of the most important events of history: the fight for women's rights, the rise and fall of tyrants and, ultimately, not one but two pandemics. Through the eyes of a woman whose unforgettable passion, determination, and sense of humour will carry her through a lifetime of upheaval, Isabel Allende once more brings us an epic that is both fiercely inspiring and deeply emotional.

Review

Such an interesting story spanning 100 years.

The book is written as a fictional autobiography of Violeta. She is telling the story of her life to someone; who at first, we do not know who this person is. The writing as always is so very beautiful by this author.

I was mesmerised by the story which begins with the Spanish flu epidemic. It was certainly educational as well as a good story. That is until the politics began and I lost some interest for a while. Fortunately the characters who come in and out of Violeta's life are interesting and I read on wanting to know what became of them.

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

The Station Road Sewing Circle - Lou Lewis

 

Description

Nosey Neighbours, Vigilantes or Community Assets? Read these charming tales and you decide!
Thirteen stalwart and like-minded women meet weekly as a Sewing Circle to publicly portray their dedication to knitting, needlework and all things stitched. Nothing, could be further from the truth.
Bessie the Law learns that there has been a serious outbreak of litter all over Pembroke town. She calls upon the Sewing Circle members to quickly expose the young culprits. How deep will they have to dig to find the real criminal who aims to make money out the town’s discarded rubbish?
A member of a respected family in the town is accused of poisoning her sister. Bron the Books steps out of the library and engages the Sewing Circle to prove her friend’s innocence. Will they need to take a closer look at the so-called treasured family pets to uncover the real poisoner?
Megan the Signals alerts the Sewing Circle to an auction fraud involving her grandmother’s antique chairs. They arrive too late to save the family keepsakes. Will a pair of fake heirlooms and a crockery crashing intervention be enough to spring their trap on the unscrupulous dealer?
How can the Station Road Sewing Circle possibly solve these mysteries without revealing their identity?

Review

A wonderful collection of charming and intriguing short stories.

Set in Wales these stories are a flashback to a more gentler and easier time, when life was simpler. When all it took for minor wrong doings to be sorted out was a word in the ear by the local Policeman. This is where Bessie the Law comes in as her husband is a Policeman. Each of the women in the circle have a  moniker determined by their husbands profession. Not very PC these days - but this is the 1950s.

Each tale was a joy to read. One in particular concerning antiques reminded me of the TV series Lovejoy - if anyone can remember that! The tales are like little puzzle to solve or let the ladies of the circle do it for you.

Although the circle is more of a cover for the ladies to meet and protect their town, there are sewing references!

I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. My thanks to Pigeonhole for the staves to read this book.