Did You Ever Have a Family - Bill Clegg

Description

This book of dark secrets opens with a blaze. On the morning of her daughter’s wedding, June Reid’s house goes up in flames, destroying her entire family – her present, her past and her future. Fleeing from the carnage, stricken and alone, June finds herself in a motel room by the ocean, hundreds of miles from her Connecticut home, held captive by memories and the mistakes she has made with her only child, Lolly, and her partner, Luke.

In the turbulence of grief and gossip left in June’s wake we slowly make sense of the unimaginable. The novel is a gathering of voices, and each testimony has a new revelation about what led to the catastrophe – Luke’s alienated mother Lydia, the watchful motel owners, their cleaner Cissy, the teenage pothead who lives nearby – everyone touched by the tragedy finds themselves caught in the undertow, as their secret histories finally come to light.

Lit by the clarity of understanding that true sadness brings, Did You Ever Have a Family is an elegant, unforgettable story that reveals humanity at its worst and best, through loss and love, fracture and forgiveness. At the book’s heart is the idea of family – the ones we are born with and the ones we create – and the desire, in the face of everything, to go on living.

Review

When I began to read this book I immediately liked the style of writing. There is little description and it takes on an almost voyeuristic approach to observing the characters. I could see this working so well as a film, it seems very visual in the way it is written.

The book opens with someone seemingly unconnected to what happens - that is true for a few of the chapters, but in time all becomes clear.

Unfortunately I think for me, I read this book in chunks, I would recommended reading it in larger portions as I just kept losing the thread. The chapters are each the names of characters, and although there are some main players there are also minor characters that get introduced and sometimes reintroduced later and I had just forgotten about them. Each character tells the story from their perspective and sometimes their is a little back story too.

It's a clever book, well written but for some reason it just didn't resonate with me. Such a sad story - to one day have lost all of your family, particularly before one of them is about to marry. However,  I never really got the sadness from the writing.

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

London Stone - Nick Bydwyn

Description

Private Investigator Drake Sanders is having a difficult day. Not only has he been press-ganged by an old police colleague into investigating a murder that he is somehow the main suspect for, but he's been hired by two different people to search for an ancient artefact that doesn't appear to be missing. 

As business has been slow, he effectively agrees to do the same job twice, assuming that he might be able to plug a widening hole in his finances. As he digs deeper into both cases he discovers that his involvement may not have been as coincidental as it had first appeared. His investigations reveal that his employer’s intentions aren't as benign as they claim, that what he is searching for has a significance far beyond being an important historical curiosity. This is borne out when he begins to attract the attention of high-ranking officials, conspiracy theorists, burglars and hired thugs who all seem intent on hindering his progress. 

Figuring out he has been used to further some greater plot, he has to unravel fact from millenia-old fiction in order to unearth the truth about about an elaborate scheme that threatens to cost him not only his career, but quite possibly his life as well.

Review

When I began this book I was intrigued - seemingly unrelated events might be connected. How does a Private Investigator take the same job from two different people when they both want the same item?

The Private Investigator Drake Sanders is himself a great character in that he reads like a real person and gets himself into scrapes which realistically he doesn't get out of too well! The writing was at times a little too long winded and descriptive, when all I really wanted was action, and to get to the chase.

The scene was set well and all of a sudden it just didn't add up, but Drake Sanders didn't appear to be seeing the warning signs - surely I was not going to be able to second guess better than the Private Investigator. 

That is really where the book and me parted company - I read to the end but felt I had figured it out before Drake Sanders and he wasn't keeping up with me.

A good story but to me read a little like a 1970s movie.

I'm giving it 3 out of 5 stars.

My thanks go to Netgalley for an advance e copy of the book.

Truly, Madly,Guilty - Liane Moriarty

Description

The electrifying new novel from the international bestselling author, Liane Moriarty Despite their differences, Erika and Clementine have been best friends since they were children. So when Erika needs help, Clementine should be the obvious person to turn to. Or so you'd think. For Clementine, as a mother of a two desperately trying to practise for the audition of a lifetime, the last thing she needs is Erika asking for something, again. But the barbecue should be the perfect way to forget their problems for a while. Especially when their hosts, Vid and Tiffany, are only too happy to distract them. Which is how it all spirals out of control... 

Review

I've only read a few of Liane Moriarty's books but when this one came up for review I put it to the top of my TBR pile. Now I'm feeling a little disappointed as I don't think it is quite in the same league as her previous books have been.

So from the cover blurb we know that there is a BBQ and there is a distraction which is how it all spirals out of control. Several of the chapters are headed "The Day of the BBQ" to keep you on track with the skipping back and forth from present day to the past. The first line of Chapter 1 is "This is a story that begins with a BBQ". 

Obviously to keep the suspense we don't know what happens at the BBQ for quite some time - a long time. I did begin to get a little irritated when I picked the book up and then saw the words "The day of the BBQ" - so when are we going to find out what happens at the BBQ.......

Just before we finally find out what happens I must admit my mind was going into overdrive, thinking of all types of things none of which completely prepared me for what does happen. There are a couple of back stories going on too, Clementine's audition, Erika's Mother and her childhood. I actually found these back stories a little more satisfying than the main premise of the book, but maybe that is because I felt the "Day of the BBQ" got stretched out a little too long and I became bored with it.

There is some very insightful writing and those bits I loved, where we got to the real core of the characters. There is a suspense, it keeps you guessing, but depending on how much patience you have you may not feel it's worth the wait.

If you love Liane Moriarty you will probably still want to read the book - but don't make this the first book of hers you read as the others are much better. 

I'm giving this book three out of five stars. My thanks go to Netgalley for an advance copy of the book.

We'll always have Paris - Sue Watson

I'm part of the blog tour for this book from Sue Watson. See my sidebar for all the tour stops.

Description

Does first love deserve a second chance?

When she was almost seventeen, Rosie Draper locked eyes with a charismatic student called Peter during their first week at art college, changing the course of her life forever. Now, on the cusp of sixty-five and recently widowed, Rosie is slowly coming to terms with a new future. And after a chance encounter with Peter, forty-seven years later, they both begin to wonder 'what if' . . .

Told with warmth, wit and humour, We'll Always Have Paris is a charming, moving and uplifting novel about two people; the choices they make, the lives they lead and the love they share.

Review 

Rosie is nearing 65 years old and her husband has just died, doesn't really read like the sort of book you think will draw you in. However it does in the most delightful way. 

We learn that Rosie thinks she's lived her life and is ready to settle for what remains of her life after the death of her husband. Fortunately for her she has a chance encounter with her first boyfriend from when she was just 17 years old. 

What follows could have been a little cliched, but it isn't, instead it's a beautiful heartwarming story. I especially liked how the character Peter turned out in the book. I must admit I spent most of the book thinking he was going to turn out to be a scoundrel and lead Rosie a merry dance.

There are lots of references to Rosie being 60 and what others - mainly the young and not so young think of that and how she should behave. I have lots of friends in their 60s and older so to me this does not seem "old" and certainly not someone who will in the near future be in need of "aids",  as one of Rosie's grown up daughters seem to think she will. In fact I thought 60 was the new 50!

I think for me the most poignant parts of the book are where Rosie realises that back when she was 17 her Mother (Margaret) was really only looking out for her best interests and not trying to take all the fun out of her life. Hindsight is such a wonderful thing and of course it can't be taught!

I think this book will be enjoyed by all ages as there are viewpoints from a range of ages in the book that people will identify with. A perfect relaxing read for the summer (or rainy days!) depending on where you are.

I'm giving this book 4 out of five stars.

My thanks go to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group for an advance copy of this book to review.
We'll Always Have Paris is out on 28 July 2016.

About the author:

Sue Watson was a journalist on women's magazines and national newspapers before working in a career in TV where she was a producer with the BBC. She has published six novels, her most well-known being Love, Lies and Lemon Cake. Originally from Manchester, Sue now lives in the Midlands and writes full time.

@suewatsonwriter

www.suewatsonbooks.com

Not If I See You First - Eric Lindstrom

Description

Parker Grant doesn't need perfect vision to see right through you. That's why she created the Rules: Don't treat her any differently just because she's blind, and never take advantage. There will be no second chances.
When Scott Kilpatrick, the boy who broke her heart, suddenly reappears at school, Parker knows there's only one way to react – shun him so hard it hurts. She has enough to deal with already, like trying out for the track team, handing out tough-love advice to her painfully naive classmates, and giving herself gold stars for every day she hasn't cried since her dad's death. But avoiding her past quickly proves impossible, and the more Parker learns about what really happened – both with Scott, and her dad – the more she starts to question if things are always as they seem.
Not If I See You First illuminates those blind spots that we all have in life, whether visually impaired or not.

Review

This is a YA book but don't let that put you off reading it at any age. I really enjoyed this book. 

To begin with Parker is blind but that isn't the mainstay of the book, its about so much more and in essence so grown up with all that she and her friends deal with.

For a lot of the book I forgot I was reading a YA book - obviously all the main characters are teens but the dialogue and emotions are so mature that I just forgot. There was only one part about a third of the way through where it did turn into a little like "Mean Girls" and I did think I am too old for this! But it was a blip because the slice of Parker's life we get to witness is really amazing.

Each morning Parker and her friend Sarah hold "Home Office" where they listen to people's problems and give advice. Except that Parker really lets loose with no holds barred "advice". I found this aspect of the book really interesting. Parker is also a runner - without a guide! Then there is the romantic side of Parker but I didn't feel it ever got immature or gushy in that respect, again it was a very mature outlook.

I love the way that the writer almost accidentally referred to what for a blind person is a major thing - people moving things from where they normally are. The writing was really so sympathetic and understanding of what a blind person goes through that I thought they had more experience than is revealed at the end of the book in the acknowledgements.

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

My thanks go to Netgalley for a copy of this book to review.

The Lubetkin Legacy - Marina Lewycka

Description

From the bestselling author of A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian North London in the twenty-first century: a place where a son will swiftly adopt an old lady and take her home from hospital to impersonate his dear departed mother, rather than lose the council flat. A time of golden job opportunities, though you might have to dress up as a coffee bean or work as an intern at an undertaker or put up with champagne and posh French dinners while your boss hits on you. A place rich in language - whether it's Romanian, Ukrainian, Russian, Swahili or buxom housing officers talking managementese. A place where husbands go absent without leave and councillors sacrifice cherry orchards at the altar of new builds. Marina Lewycka is back in this hilarious, farcical, tender novel of modern issues and manners.

Review

I don't really like farces and misunderstandings, which even though they are obvious, no one seems to care about. So I wasn't sure I was going to like this book.  I requested it on the basis of Marina Lewycka's first book, which I never got around to reading and everyone raved about.

The plot is rather far fetched in fact it is probably further than out than that! I decided to just go with it and see what happened.

Berthold invites Inna to live with him and pretend to be his dead Mother. I must say that Inna was a fabulous character. It took me a while to understand her dialect - as she urged everyone to "it it" which I worked out to mean "eat it".

Inna played the part of Mother very well, despite being confused about who she was meant to be, in fact maybe she isn't confused at all but rather astute. Then there is the council official who she must convince that she is Berthold's Mother, can she do it?........

In amongst all of this are other characters with microcosms of life being displayed and dissected by the author. Each of the stories plays out on its own, but comes back to be a part of the story of Berthold and Inna.

A very clever book which has more depth to it than you maybe realise when reading it. Only afterwards did I look back and truly appreciate how insightful it was, whilst also being entertaining. 

Oh and those misunderstandings - seems some of them knew all along and were just going along with it so that helped with my need for order.

I am giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. 

My thanks go to Netgalley for a copy of this book to review.

The Girl You Lost - Kathryn Croft

Description
Eighteen years ago your baby daughter was snatched. Today, she came back. A sinister and darkly compelling psychological thriller from the No.1 bestselling author of The Girl With No Past. Eighteen years ago, Simone Porter’s six-month-old daughter, Helena, was abducted. Simone and husband, Matt, have slowly rebuilt their shattered lives, but the pain at losing their child has never left them. Then a young woman, Grace, appears out of the blue and tells Simone she has information about her stolen baby. But just who is Grace – and can Simone trust her? When Grace herself disappears, Simone becomes embroiled in a desperate search for her baby and the woman who has vital clues about her whereabouts. Simone is inching closer to the truth but it’ll take her into dangerous and disturbing territory. Simone lost her baby. Will she lose her life trying to find her? 

Review
This is the second book by Kathryn Croft that I have read and reviewed. You can find the review for The Girl With No Past here.

This book really caught my attention from the beginning - what happened?, who took Helena? and what relevance did Grace have to all of this? Lots of questions - no answers....

Unfortunately the characters themselves were a little wooden and one dimensional, but as I was racing through the book to find out what had happened it didn't really matter. I wasn't too bothered about getting to know the characters, just to find out what was going on. The author certainly keeps your attention throughout the book with lots of twists and turns.

Every time I felt the author had missed a point, or had made a continuity error, the next sentence cleared it up - it felt like I was keeping track of what was going on. Basically was the baby who had been abducted 18 years before still alive?

It is probably unfair to the author, but ever since reading "Fight Club" I will never let a novel make me think what it wants me to think! I'm always second guessing and deciding that is what the author wanted me to think, but I know better!  I have to say with this book I thought I knew who the perpetrator was, but I think probably it was the author leading me to think that in some double bluff kind of way.

Alongside the present day narrative there is a story being told from another perspective - a sort of flashback, except you have no idea who the character is. It's a little creepy as you feel this other story is closing in around Simone and she's going to be engulfed by it too. I admit to reading this parts of the book super quick as they are not for the faint hearted.

My only slight reservation with the book is that Simone seemed hell bent on putting herself in situations where no one knew where she was - I know she was not in a fit state of mind to be reasonable, but down right stupid did not seem to fit the character only the story line.

I'm not sure what I feel about the ending of the book - sad? happy sad? It's another little twist waiting for you to get to it!

I'm giving this four out of five stars. My thanks go to Netgalley for a free copy of this book to review.