The Village Green Bookshop - Rachael Lucas

 

Description

The Village Green Bookshop is a heartwarming story of good books and good friends, by the bestselling author of The Telephone Box Library, Rachael Lucas.

'Gorgeously romantic and full of joy' - Cathy Bramley

'A gorgeous, big-hearted romantic read, full of characters you'll be rooting for. The perfect escapist read set in a beautiful Cotswolds village' - Tasmina Perry

'It is a warm gorgeous hug of a book with all the feels. I loved it' - Liz Fenwick, author of The Cornish House

Frustrated that she spends all her time as either a mum to a football-obsessed teenager or a wife to a workaholic husband, Hannah wants something for herself. When the chance comes to take over the Post Office in Little Maudley, a charming Cotswold village, Hannah grabs it with both hands.

But village life is not so picture-perfect after all: Hannah finds herself an outsider in this tight-knit community where the height of your hedge is a gossip-worthy subject. Even her idea to introduce a small bookshop to the Post Office causes a stir. At least Ben seems to have found his place as he joins the local football team, coached by ex-professional Jake Lovatt. But a shocking secret from their past threatens to uproot the new life they’ve made for themselves, and has drastic consequences . . .

Set in the same village as The Telephone Box Library and featuring some of the same much-loved characters, this is a charming, big-hearted novel from bestselling author Rachael Lucas.

Review

I loved The Telephone Box Library beyond words, this one seemed to lack the depth of the previous book.

This book is set in the same village as the previous book, and we get to revisit a few of the characters albeit some very briefly. All began well and I was enjoying being back in the village, but found that very little actually happened on this visit. 

There is a romance but this seemed more central to the book than the concept of the Bookshop in the Post Office, which is what drew me to the book, as well as having the same setting as the previous book. 

A pleasant enough read, but I was just disappointed that it felt like it was slightly rushed and not to the same quality of writing as the first book. 

I'm giving this book 3 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley for the ARC to review.

CWEN - Alice Albinia

 

Description

On an unnamed archipelago off the east coast of Britain, the impossible has come to pass. Women control the civic institutions. Decide how the islands' money is spent. Run the businesses. Tend to their families. Teach the children hope for a better world. They say that this gynotopia is Eva Levi's life's work, and that now she has disappeared, it will be destroyed. But they don't know about Cwen. Cwen has been here longer than the civilisation she has returned to haunt. The clouds are her children, and the waves. Her name has ancient roots, reaching down into the earth and halfway around the world. The islands she inhabits have always belonged to women. And she will do anything she can to protect them. This remarkable novel is a portrait of female power and female potential, both to shelter and to harm. What are we? Islanders or mainlanders, migrants or landowners, men or women, past or future? Or a mixture of them all? And how do we make sense of these islands we call home?

Review

An interesting read but not really for me. The concept of this book really intrigued me and I did find parts of it fascinating. It certainly opened my eyes to different worlds. 

The story of Eva Levi's work is told through a court case, which I found to be a little dry to read. The case to answer being at Eva appointed only women to key roles and marginalised men on the island. At times when a witness began to tell their story the book took on a more lively approach, and it was those parts I enjoyed the most.

Cwen is (I think) a mystical force that sees what happens on the island and in turn recounts her own tales from down the ages. I didn't care for this part of the book and it was interspersed within the pages of the court case. 

The book is a brilliant concept and certainly made me think. However I personally found it hard going to read and at times understand completely.

My thanks to Serpent's Tail for a proof copy of this book to review.

The Fine Art of Invisible Detection - Robert Goddard

Description

Tokyo, Japan
Umiko Wada has had enough excitement in life. With an overbearing mother and her husband recently murdered, she just wants to keep her head down. As a secretary to a private detective, her life is pleasantly filled with coffee runs and paperwork.

That is, until her boss takes on a new case. A case that is surrounded by shadows. A case that means Wada will have to leave Tokyo and travel to London.

London, England
Nick Miller never knew his father, and was always told he wasn’t missing much. But when an old friend of his late mother says there are things that Nick needs to know about his parents, he can’t ignore it.

When a chance encounter brings Wada and Nick together, they couldn’t know the series of violent events set off by their investigations. And when they discover Nick’s father might have been the only witness to a dark secret forever buried, they realise there are some powerful people who will do whatever it takes to keep it that way…

 

Review

I loved it. Wada san is my new heroine.

Wada san is 47 years old from Tokyo and female. She's the unassuming heroine of this book. Working as an assistant to a Private Detective she is asked to go to London to pose as a lady who is unable to go herself. The man she is meant to meet never shows and so begins the mystery.

Meanwhile a Londoner who was also to meet the same man, finds him a no show too. Leading to Wada San and Nick Miller becoming involved in some great edge of your seat stuff. The Japanese angle brought so much to this book, despite being set mostly away from Japan. Pure escapism and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment. There were some comedic touches too, which I thought were a little reminiscent of the Bond films.

I found it to be cleverly written with an intriguing plot and wondering all the time how Wada san was going to get out of the different situations she found herself in. I was also wondering how all the different strands were ever going to come together, and when they did it was the perfect ending. Maybe even left open for a follow up? I'd certainly read it. 

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

The Ballynoon Friendship Circle - Pauline Morgan

 

I'm so happy to be on the blog tour today.

Book Blurb

After finding her dream cottage in a magazine whilst at the hairdressers, Edel Marston, a fifty-year-old retired teacher, makes the life-changing decision to relocate back to Northern Ireland after the death of her husband Ben. 

A rocky start with the neighbours and the knowledge of her past is a little too close for comfort, leaves Edel full of self-doubt. Her emotions have become a law unto themselves and she keeps wondering if she’s made the right decision.

After giving herself a good talking to, she decides to join a local over 50’s club, in a bid to embrace her new life. However, after meeting the friendly ladies of the self-proclaimed Stitch & Bitch group, she’s left with further feelings of uncertainty.

Realising quickly how gossipy these ladies can be, Edel finds herself keeping more and more secrets, especially when her relationship with one particular friend develops into something much more.

Ultimately, Edel has to decide whether to trust again and let all of these new people into her life, warts and all or go back to being lonely but safe and with her secrets intact.

Review

Do you want to escape to Ireland and live in a little gate house? - then this is the book for you.

Sometimes you just want a read that is down to earth and yet still a little bit of an escape from your everyday life, and this is what I got from this charming book. While it's not a chocolate box existence, the new life Edel is carving out for herself was one I found so intriguing and cosy. She's a crafter too so I loved reading about her projects.

Being a newcomer in a small village Edel is obviously ripe for the local gossips. When she joins the over 50s club she realises just how much gossip goes on and how hard she will have to work to avoid being the next one they talk about. I loved that this book was about a woman over 50 and also the banter that goes on between her and the other ladies.

There's a little romance too as Edel is not without her admirers in the new village. I really liked Edel, but she had so much self talk going on. At times I wanted to reach out to her and ask her to stop overthinking but also console her over the loss of her husband.

I don't do spoilers, but it so rare these days to read a book without some doom and gloom. There is one little bit of sadness, but all in all a nice read for these troubled times.

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

Author

The call to Pauline Morgan’s native Northern Ireland was too strong and, after a fascinating stint overseas, she recently relocated there. Pauline had some unique mystical experiences in various houses she lived in and, as a result, self-published the paranormal Special Houses. She has been a member of the Romantic Novelist Association and participated in their New Writers’ Scheme.  She attended a day course in Editing, tutored by author/mentor Morgen Bailey. 

Pauline is a member of Writers Ink, a multi-award winning www.writing.ie 

She has written short stories; published in Woman’s Way and Irelands Own iconic magazine. Pauline enjoyed entering Flash Fiction competitions and was long-listed at Kanturk Arts Festival. 

Her first poem Airborne, published on Pendemic.ie website March 2020 

Pauline has completed a women’s ‘fiction book called The Ballynoon Friendship Circle, her debut novel to be published by SpellBound Books in early 2021. Pauline is working on a standalone book Christmas novel. 

She engages with an extensive network of social writing groups on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.  

Pauline turns her incredible imagination into words to create beautiful stories in different genres. She has a relaxed style of writing, and her mentor describes it as heart-warming and cosy. Pauline never shies away from any given written tasks. 

Follow her at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paulinemorganachievingauthor/

Instagram: https://twitter.com/paulinemorgan56

Nearest Thing To Crazy - Elizabeth Forbes

 

So pleased to be on the Blog Tour today.

Description

Cassandra and a group of her friends enjoy Sunday lunch together on a perfect summer’s day. They’re pleased to welcome their glamorous new neighbour and novelist, Ellie, who has rented a house in the village to work on her book. She likes to place herself in the centre of her plots, she says, although it’s hard to see what she’ll find to write about in this quiet country backwater. As Ellie slots effortlessly into the village social scene, Cass begins to feel increasingly alienated from her friends and isolated from her family but, for the life of her, she can’t fathom out why . . .

Review

Scary doesn't really cover it...

The book begins with Cassandra and her friends from the village enjoying a Sunday lunch. Ellie arrives as the new person of interest in the village. Immediately drawing everyone in, from the way she dresses to the car she drives, she's no country bumpkin. Should the wives be worried she's after their husbands? Especially if they've strayed before.

What follows is the events that unfold told from the viewpoint of Ellie and Cassandra and also through the pages of Ellie's novel. All three are so believable, that how do you know what to believe? There is a saying that there are three versions of the truth.  Being mine, yours and the actual truth or in this case Cassandra, Ellie and the book Ellie is writing. The reader gets treated to all three concurrently within this book, and boy does it mess with your thinking.

My opinion of what was going on changed continually throughout the book. Cassandra is so down to earth and has a lovely house with a side line in gardening, but she holds a secret. Is Ellie her new friend? Or does Ellie want to take Cassandras place in the village life she loves? As we begin to see Ellie ingratiate herself with all her friends and take over her village roles? Is Cassandra dispensable to everyone she thought held her dear? I just had to get to the end to find out the truth, I hoped...

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. My thanks to the author and to Random Things Tours for the copy of the book to review.

The Summer Seekers - Sarah Morgan

 

Description

Kathleen is eighty years old. After a run-in with an intruder, her daughter wants her to move into a residential home. She’s not having any of it. What she craves – needs – is adventure.

Liza is drowning under the daily stress of family life. The last thing she needs is her mother jetting off on a wild holiday, making Liza dream of a solo break of her own.

Martha is having a quarter-life crisis. Unemployed, unloved and uninspired, she just can’t get her life together. But she knows something has to change.

When Martha sees Kathleen’s advert for a driver and companion to take an epic road trip across America, she decides this job might be the answer to her prayers. Travelling with a stranger? No problem. She's not the world's best driver, but it couldn’t be worse than living with her parents again. And anyway, how much trouble can one eighty-year-old woman be?

As these women embark on the journey of a lifetime, they all discover it’s never too late for adventure…

Review

I've read a few of Sarah Morgan's books and they never disappoint. 

The book begins with Kathleen, a mere 80 years old, tackling an intruder with a frying pan. What follows was very familiar to me, as her daughter Liza thinks she isn't safe living alone anymore and should look at moving. But, instead Kathleen decides she's going to travel on route 66 instead.

Kathleen is aware she won't be able to drive route 66 and so she enlists Martha to do the driving for her. Martha is a young divorcee who needs an excuse to get away and working for Kathleen is a golden opportunity.

What follows is the story of Kathleen and Martha on route 66 and the discoveries they make about each other and life along the way. Meanwhile Liza is back in England making a few discoveries herself and the book switches between the different storylines in an effortless and very readable way. There is much, much more to the story and of course a little romance, but I'll leave that for you to discover yourself.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and looked forward to diving into it's pages as the author took me away to both route 66 and Cornwall, it was wonderful. Kathleen is a force to be reckoned with, having a very acerbic wit to her, and Martha isn't far behind either. The dialogue was so well written and very believable. I think I need to store up some of Kathleen's one liners for later in life myself!

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

This book will be published on 27 May 2021.

Sew on the Go - A Maker's Journey - Mary Jane Baxter

 

Thrilled to be on the Blog Tour today...

Description

● Have you ever dreamed of quitting your job and setting off on the open road to pursue your creativity? In 2016, Mary Jane Baxter did exactly that. ● Sew on the Go is an inspiring road trip and a practical guide to crafting wherever you find yourself, and is packed with easy, step-by-step instructions for craft.


● From decorating your own budget conscious bolthole, to achievable projects including clothes and fashion accessories, beautiful gift ideas and child-friendly makes, this book is the ideal companion for those who dream of devoting more time to their craft.

In 2016, Mary Jane Baxter quit her job at the BBC, rented out her flat and headed for the hills. Her home for the next few months was an upcycled 1986 Bedford Bambi campervan with a top speed of 60mph. She raided skips for vintage wallpaper and scoured second-hand emporiums to source stylish vintage accessories, creating her own travelling craft studio, packed with everything necessary for crafting on the road. She then set off around Europe searching for inspiration, travelling from Belgium right down to the Cinque Terre in Italy then around France and up to Scotland. Armed with her trusty hand-cranked Singer, she spent a summer sewing on the go. Like creatives the world over, she decided to see where her travels would lead her and returned with a head full of new projects. Fortunately, there’s no need for you to give up your job, wave goodbye to your family and rent out your house in order to reignite your own creativity; Mary Jane has done all the hard work for you. Sew on the Go is her guide to carving out more creative space in your life.

Review

A travel book combined with instructions for beautiful and different makes - what's not to love!

If like me you sew and also love to read about travelling, then you will be as entranced by this book as I was. When travelling is seen through the eyes of a creative person it tells a whole different tale and one that resonated with me. Whilst a market stall selling old odds and ends and materials may be just that to some, in the pages of this book the descriptive writing had me standing right there looking at all these treasures with envy. Then the suggestions and instruction for making them into something else entirely was just brilliant.

Then there's the milliner's workshop up for sale which the author gets an invite to go and see - reading about it was wonderful, being there must have been heaven. Interwoven into this is an insight into the author's former BBC career (which had nothing to do with crafting) which was so very interesting. The places described from polished floors to art deco features and the treasures found had me thinking all that was missing was to have Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly dressed fabulously there too.

The author undertook her journey through Europe in a wallpapered campervan.  Whilst a lot of the book is very idyllic and waxing lyrical over haberdashery and milliners items, she also lays bares some of the pitfalls of travelling alone and in an ill equipped camper van. No toilet, running water or air conditioning made for some discomfort at times. It's told in such a genial way that it felt like a catch up with an old friend.

The book is also accompanied by some beautiful photographs of the trip and the makes described in the pages of the book. If I had one tiny gripe it would be that I would have preferred them to be interspersed within the book rather than all at the end. Edited to say - I have now received a copy of the book and the photos are indeed within the pages rather than at the end as with the mobile version I reviewed

That doesn't stop me from giving this very unique book 5 out of 5 stars. My thanks to Random Things Tours for the ARC to review.

The book will be published on 27 May 2021.

About the Author 

Mary Jane Baxter used to work as a BBC news correspondent and producer. In 2016, she set off on a crafting adventure across Europe in a mobile studio. She is the author of Chic on a Shoestring and The Modern Girl’s Guide to Hatmaking, and has presented on fashion and craft for the BBC, most notably bartering her sewing skills for board and lodging in a series of films for Newsnight. She lives in London and is available for interview, events, and to write pieces on commission. @maryjanemakes