What's Left of Me is Yours - Stephanie Scott

Description

A gripping debut set in modern-day Tokyo and inspired by a true crime, What's Left of Me Is Yours follows a young woman's search for the truth about her mother's life - and her murder.

In Japan, a covert industry has grown up around the wakaresaseya (literally "breaker-upper"), a person hired by one spouse to seduce the other in order to gain the advantage in divorce proceedings.

When Sato hires Kaitaro, a wakaresaseya agent, to have an affair with his wife, Rina, he assumes it will be an easy case. But Sato has never truly understood Rina or her desires and Kaitaro's job is to do exactly that - until he does it too well.

While Rina remains ignorant of the circumstances that brought them together, she and Kaitaro fall in a desperate, singular love, setting in motion a series of violent acts that will forever haunt her daughter Sumiko's life.

Told from alternating points of view and across the breathtaking landscapes of Japan, What's Left of Me Is Yours explores the thorny psychological and moral grounds of the actions we take in the name of love, asking where we draw the line between passion and possession.

Review

This is such a beautifully written novel. I am not one for flowery or descriptive writing, but this novel does not waste one word, they are all needed. I was savouring each and every one of them until the story took hold of me, and I found myself reading faster and faster, to know what the outcome would be.

I love books set in Japan and in particular Tokyo, so this was a winner for me from the start. It also introduced me to several new facts about Japan I didn't know such as the subject of the novel the "wakaresaseya" and the Japanese legal system. I found all of this so fascinating and an added bonus to the story.

The story is told in the present day by Sumiko and also retrospectively by her Mother Rina and the wakaresaseya Kaitaro. The book glides between the past and present, but does so in such a graceful way that you feel led by the hand, and not at sea as to where in time you are.

I held onto my own theory of what would happen in the story all the way through, until I could no longer close my eyes to the very sad truth. I think this story will continue to haunt me for a long time to come and will not be easily forgotten. 

I'm not sure how the author has managed to write such a work of fiction. Although the basis is a true crime; the level of passion and beauty exuded throughout is just astonishing for a first novel.

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars and my thanks to Random Things Tours for the invite to the blog tour. Also the beautiful hardback copy which I would encourage you to get, as it adds so much more to the enjoyment of reading the book.

Mentoring Mr Singleman - Kim Sancreed

I'm so pleased to be on the blog tour for this book today.

Description

A witty, off-beat romance set in Cornwall. New member of faculty Kate finds herself living below one of her colleagues in a converted engine house on the cliffs. Everyone can see they are made for each other, but he’s a little too in love with his surfing, and she’s a little too focused on her career. Under the merciless gaze of their students, Dave and Kate dance around each other through the highs and lows of a school term. Will they manage to get out of the way of their own happy ending?

Review

As the book cover says "A Cornish Romance" but I think this book is so much more and is slightly underselling itself. 

Mr Singleman is a teacher at a school in Cornwall, and a new teacher Kate catches his eye and part of his car! What ensues is an on off attraction between the two of them, the reader willing them to make a go of it, with plenty of dalliances making you doubt they could. 

A lot of the book is set within the school and with the attention to detail, it's more of a fly on the wall documentary about school life from a teachers perspective. If you are a teacher, I'm not sure you would want to read this, might be a busman's holiday, but I could be wrong. For me it brought back vivid memories of corporate management speak, training courses and of course mentoring. I loved Mr Singleman's very wry, intelligent and accurate observations on all of it. 

When I finished the book I found out the author had been a teacher, and really with the level of detail found within the book I thought they must have been. We don't just get the teacher speak though. There are the back stories of several of the pupils, and it was hit and miss throughout the book as to which side of the tracks each of them would end up on; as they all came from very different backgrounds. The school trip to London was really well written from the both the teacher and pupil perspective.

I loved all the teacher characters. I think my fave was Frances who is a little bit of a mother figure to the staff. Although I didn't like the Deputy Head who was a little creepy in more ways than one. The other thing I loved about the book was the setting and the descriptions of the Cornish land and seascape.

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. My thanks to the Book Collective for the ARC and the invite to the tour.

The House on Rectory Lane - Stuart James

Description

How much do you trust your neighbours?

Jake and Kate live in London but after an altercation with a stranger who threatens Jake with a knife, they take their son and move to a house in the woods.

It’s their dream home, or so they think until people in the village warn them they shouldn’t have come.

Their neighbours are strange and when Kate sees a face at the window, the family realise they might be in danger.

When they find a tape hidden in the loft of the house, a video recording of the previous family who once lived there, it chills them to the bone.

They soon realise that the family living there before them have disappeared and they too could now be next.

What is the mystery surrounding the house on Rectory Lane?

Jake and Kate are about to find out…

Review

I'm going to start with the ending first and say "wow" just "wow" - I never saw it coming and it just blew me away. It is worth reading this book for the last line alone!

So, before the end what happens? Well Jake and Kate move with their son Sean to a house in the countryside from their fast paced London life. Everything seems idyllic until a few people warn them that they should leave and go back to where they came from. Do these people just not like incomers? Or is it something more sinister?

After a few seemingly unconnected events, which actually made me think it was getting a little incredulous, the book takes a very scary turn. The writing had me on the edge of my seat and I worried I would have a nightmare, but I couldn't keep my eyes open to finish the book. 

There is some very descriptive writing which made me wince and turn away from the book in horror. A couple of scenes where the writer plays with reader and I was racing ahead to see which way the action was going to go. Then as I said previously came that ending and I can't stop thinking about the whole book now. Just what is the mystery surrounding the house on Rectory lane?

I'm giving this book five out of five stars. My thanks to Bloodhound Books for an ARC to review.  

The Princess of Felling - Elaine Cusack

Absolutely delighted to be on the blog tour for this wonderful book today.

Description

The Princess of Felling describes Elaine’s childhood and adolescence growing up on Tyneside in the 1970s and 1980s. The book pays homage to her home town of Felling on Tyne and is an extended, loving letter to her late parents.

This illustrated poetic memoir features a Foreword by Michael Chaplin, photographs of Felling taken in summer 2018 by Rossena Petcova and unique maps by poet and artist Steve Lancaster.

The book contains reminiscences by Felling folk plus guest appearances by Nick Heyward, David Almond, Tracey Thorn, Sir Kingsley Amis, The Reverend Richard Coles, Lady Elsie Robson, U.A. Fanthorpe, Gyles Brandreth and more.

The Princess of Felling by Elaine Cusack resonates with readers of all ages. As actress and Felling lass Jill Halfpenny says in the book, “Reading Elaine’s stories and poetry takes me back to my childhood in Felling and all of the smells, sounds and tastes of that time. Her words allow me to remember things that I didn’t know I’d forgotten.”

Review

I was attracted to this book as as her reminisces are from part of my past too. This book is a brilliant slice of important social history that deserves to be recorded and preserved. Elaine's unique voice adds a a delightful and enchanting nuance to the reading. It echoes of a lost time that is so familiar to me.

Some of things that I fondly remember that she recalls are the Hamlyn Children's Bible, Nick Heyward and Haircut 100 (the first band I ever saw live) and Echo and the Bunnymen who I also saw live. Watching Dave Allen with her Dad which I also did.

At the front of the book Elaine has a picture of her and her Dad in a photobooth, I have several of those exact same posed photos! So many details in the book may not be from your geographical area but there are many you will recall and identify with. Such as trimphones, penpals and the post being delivered twice a day.

I'm not from the North East as Elaine is, but I am from a mining town and a saying she quotes from her Mother took me right back to my childhood. "look at the state of you, you look as if you've been working down the pit". I have not heard that said for so many years and had completely forgotten it until I read it in print.

It was so interesting to read of Elaine's life, I was just a little bit jealous of her claim to fame with TV programme The Tube. I hadn't realised it was filmed in the North East. Also to read about her family and friends, I will admit to shedding a tear as I finished the book which I eeked out over several weeks as I didn't want to devour it one sitting. 

I'm giving this book five out of five stars and my thanks to Elaine for a copy of the book to review. Also to Random Things Tours for the invite.

Elaine Cusack

Find out more about Elaine’s writing and forthcoming gigs by visiting www.dipdoomagazoo.wordpress.com, www.ticketsource.co.uk/cusackmansions and by liking her Elaine Cusack writer page on Facebook.

Buy your copy in person from selected outlets including Hexham’s Cogito Books, Felling Volunteer Library, Newcastle Central Library, Happy Planet Studio and Gallery in Whitley Bay and online from Elaine’s publisher www.limelightclassics.com

The Little Teashop in Tokyo - Julie Caplin

Description

Grab your passport and escape to a land of dazzling skycrapers, steaming bowls of comforting noodles, and a page-turning love story that will make you swoon!

For travel blogger Fiona, Japan has always been top of her bucket list so when she wins an all-expenses paid trip, it looks like her dreams are coming true.

Until she arrives in vibrant, bustling Tokyo and comes face-to-face with the man who broke her heart ten years ago, gorgeous photographer Gabe.

Fiona can’t help but remember the heartache of their last meeting but amidst the temples and clouds of soft pink cherry blossoms, can Fiona and Gabe start to see life – and each other – differently?

Review

I always love these Julie Caplin books as they give you a chance to go somewhere you dream of visiting. Except this time I have been to Tokyo - so was it going to live up to the real thing? I admit to waiting a couple of times to see if there were any rooky mistakes, as Japan is unique and it would be easy to spot something that didn't fit in. I can thankfully say yes it did live up to my experience . All the descriptions of the travel and the Japanese customs were so true to my own trip that I felt like I was there all over again. 

The book follows Fiona who wins a trip to Japan. Whilst there she will be mentored by a famous Japanese photographier. Except that the mentor can't make it and instead someone she embarrassed herself with long ago called Gabe takes over the role. So begins a little bit of a cat and mouse story - with no spoilers from me as to whether the cat catches the mouse.

Some wonderful characters in this book - especially the Japanese ladies who I would love to meet. Hakura elegant and understated in her own unique way together with her lovely daughter and headstrong grand daughter. Julie has captured perfectly the generations in Japan. Also there is Yumi the petulant and spoilt  former muse of her mentor Gabe. I really didn't like this character at all, wanting to tell her she had made her bed and she needed to go lie in it!

The lovely easy style of the book makes it a great read even if you've never been to Japan. The journeys and sights around Tokyo are so descriptive you will feel like you are there, or make you want to go again.

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. My thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins for the ARC.

A Cat-Shaped Space - Milly Johnson

Description

Once upon a time some mad fool asked author Milly Johnson if she would consider publishing her poetical performance works. She roped in her old mate Stu Gibbins to illustrate iconic pieces such as ’The Trollop of Scunthorpe’ and ‘The Menopause’ and lo and behold, they put together a collection of verse which is by turn touching, humorous and mildly shocking if your sensitivities are easily offended.
But most importantly, the reason this book exists is to raise funds for Yorkshire Cat Rescue, which will receive every single penny of the profit.

Review

I love Milly's books but hadn't really thought about getting this poetry book as I thought it would just be about cats. How wrong I was! Yes, there are cats but there is also a poem about Gin Goggles, one about the menopause and so much more. If you want a good laugh out loud, then this is the book to get. Plus it's for a good cause too. I bought mine as a hard copy from Yorkshire Cat Rescue and it was signed too.

Seven Lies - Elizabeth Kay

Description

It all started with one little lie . . .

Jane and Marnie have been inseparable since they were eleven years old. They have a lot in common. In their early twenties they both fell in love and married handsome young men.

But Jane never liked Marnie's husband. He was always so loud and obnoxious, so much larger than life. Which is rather ironic now, of course.

Because if Jane had been honest - if she hadn't lied - then perhaps her best friend's husband might still be alive . . .

This is Jane's opportunity to tell the truth, the question is:
Do you believe her?

Review

This book is so cleverly written, it puts me in mind of Fleabag with the audacious dialogue, and I did have that character in my head when I read about Jane. 

A very dark tale and yet because of the style and Jane's telling of the lies, it all seemed a little acceptable! You know from the blurb that Marnie's husband is dead - just how that comes to be felt a little drawn out to begin with. But the author is drawing you in a little at a time until bang! You are hooked.

Never knowing whether Jane is telling us the truth or not - she is all about telling us the lies - I didn't like her very much. Then we discover more about Jane and how she came to be where she is in life and it was all so sad.

My thoughts ran from fear to favour throughout the book for Jane and by the end when I got to the seventh lie, my heart was in my mouth. I hardly dare read it, a bit like watching a scary film through your fingers. It really was edge of the seat stuff. With the final twist revealed the scales fell from my eyes - but you need to read it without that advantage so I will say no more.

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars and my thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review.