Written Off - Paul Carroll

 

Description

With more people writing books than reading them, who’d be an author?

Four disparate, aspiring authors dream of getting their work published. As they strive for a breakthrough they are unaware that, in the world of traditional publishing, editors, agents and authors have enough problems of their own. The odds are stacked against success on both sides of the fence. The only person who seems to be doing well out of the writing game is the owner of The Write Stuff, a company selling ‘how to get published’ help to would-be authors.

Inevitably, all roads eventually lead to The Write Stuff’s annual weekend writing conference. As the wannabe wordsmiths attempt to scramble on the ‘up’ escalator to literary stardom, will they notice the tragic author of many years passing them in the other direction?

As the conference builds to an explosive climax, who’s going to start a new chapter in their life and who’s going to remain stuck on page one?

Review

Just brilliant - I really enjoyed this book as it was something a little different.

The book introduces us to four aspiring authors. The unfortunately named aging journalist Eric Blair, who maybe has a name to live up to before he's even written a word. Alyson who is already a writer of erotic fiction but wants to swap genres. Con who thinks he's the next great Irish writer and Bronte who is yet to write her opening chapter, but just knows she needs the Write Stuff conference to get her started.

What follows is a close up look at authors, agents and the publishing industry. Many times throughout the book I laughed out loud at the wry and acerbic humour. So many brilliant one liners. There are a few sub plots going on too. One is a real down to earth look at what might seem like harmless office fun until it's seen from a different view point.

All the characters felt believable and so did the settings, especially so when HR got involved. Throw in the established author, his agent and publisher and the whirring admin wheels of the Write Stuff conference with it's host Chapman Hall, and you have a front row seat to a fabulous sight. I think Chapman was my favourite character. He's a real wheeler dealer always looking for the next big literary money making scheme.

The book culminates in the main characters all being at The Write Stuff conference in a sort of Agatha Christie Manor House setting. Who will get a book deal? Who will find a new upcoming author? Who will keep their job? 

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. My thanks to the author for a copy of the book to review.

Mom's Perfect Boyfriend - Crystal Hemmingway

Description

Perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Maria Semple, a smart romantic comedy about mothers and daughters, told in an addicting, fast-paced style.

Crystal has trouble saying no to her lonely, single mother. For 25 years, it wasn't a problem. But when one small mistake leaves Crystal jilted, homeless, and unemployed, she has to move back in with the person who caused it all: her mother.

Soon Crystal is sucked into her mother's vortex, partying with boomers and hawking homemade marshmallows. Desperate for some independence, she hatches a foolproof plan: get an experimental android to play her mom's "perfect" boyfriend. It's only a matter of time before her mom finds out, and Crystal will never live down the hilarious and disastrous consequences.

A story told through emails, texts, and journal entries, Mom's Perfect Boyfriend is a humorous yet deeply honest portrayal of the complicated friendship between mothers and daughters. Sometimes the people we want to rely upon the least are those who can help us the most.

Review

A quick and easy read.

As a lot of the book is text and email there isn't a lot of reading on a page so it is quick to get through. The rest of the book is told through journal entries, which as one is the point of view of the daughter and one the Mother, you get to see both sides of the story.

A little far fetched that the Mother thinks the android is human - although if you watched "Humans" on tv I guess it could happen!  As only the daughter is aware of the android,  there are a few comical moments.

A book that is perfect for a beach/holiday read. 

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

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.