Category Archives: Book Reviews

CARIADS’ CHOICE: NOVEMBER BOOK REVIEWS

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Jill Steeple’s Maybe This Christmas reviewed by Carol Thomas

There’s much to like about this warm-hearted read, not least the lovely wintry setting. Jill Steeples has a great writing style that draws you in and makes you feel you’re among friends. Beth is a likeable, realistic character. The celebrity chef and love interest Rocco has plenty of appeal and a cute dog! As a romance, you know the stage is set for HEA from early on, but it is lovely to share the journey and the warmth of the ending. The supporting cast of characters has a mix of personalities who keep the story lively, and it is great that all get a mention in the final scenes. Overall, this is a perfect feel-good read.

 

Vicki Beeby’s A Wren’s Wartime Christmas reviewed by Morton S Gray

I loved being back on Orkney with the characters, Mary, Iris and Sally, who we first met in A New Start for the Wrens. I was reading this at a time when I needed to be absorbed by a story and this book was a sheer tonic whisking me away to Orkney. With just the right mix of mystery, intrigue and romance. I could imagine myself on the headland near the Wrens’ signalling station, smell the air and see the sea and the heather covered land. Orkney is now most definitely on my “to be visited” list.

I even sat and read this book in the middle of the day, which is unheard of for me. Can’t wait for the next episode to find out what happens to my favourite characters. Sheer tonic.

 

Anita Faulkner’s The Gingerbread Café, reviewed by Kitty Wilson

Having read A Colourful Country Escape, I was so excited to get my hands on this book because I just knew it would be packed full of humour and cosy Christmas cheer.

I was right. This book serves up all the Christmas warmth along with a hefty dollop of romance and a beautifully woven sense of community. I loved it!

Gretal and Lukas are deftly written characters, flawed and relatable and it is impossible not to cheer them on as a couple from the very first minute when Lukas Grinch-face inadvertently attacks Gretal with a Christmas tree.

The author weaves Christmas through every page, conjuring up the smells, sight, sounds and tastes of the season, making you desperate for gingerbread and spiced hot-chocolate as you read.

Add in the mysterious but utterly charming teenager Amber, the beautifully quirky shopkeepers of Mistleton, a swingy-bobbed villain in custom-made trainers and a ludicrously cute ferret and you have a perfect Christmas romance.

 

Glynis Peters’ The Orphan’s Letters reviewed by Jane Cable

This is the second Red Cross Orphans book and having enjoyed the first one so much I was looking forward to diving in. Having done so, I do recommend if you are new to the series you read the books in order.

Kitty Pattison’s war continues as she is shifted from pillar to post by the Red Cross throughout the early 1940s, normally in a different direction to her Canadian doctor fiancé, Michael. Many of the cast of characters from the first book are carried forwards, but there are some new faces as well and Peters captures the era very well.

I particularly like the way she does not sugar coat war in any way, and it was refreshing to have a heroine who suffers mental health issues arising from what she has to do and the things she sees, rather than simply displaying a stiff upper lip.

 

 

 

 

THE ECHOES OF LOVE – REVIEW AND INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR JENNY ASHCROFT

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Jane Cable reviews this fabulous historical romance

Where do I begin with this incredible book? With the sweeping love story at its gripping heart, or the impeccable historical research, or the phenomenal sense of place and time that had me living and breathing Crete in 1936 and during the Second World War? Or shall I just cut to the chase and tell you this will most likely be my book of the year.

In 1936, eighteen year old Eleni Adams returns from England to Crete to spend the summer with her Greek grandfather, something she has done every year since her mother died when she was a baby. But this summer is different; this summer she falls in love with Otto, the German boy staying in the villa next door, and I was as captivated by the breathlessness of young love, the intensity of feeling, as I was by the setting that made me feel as though I was really sitting above that cove near sun-drenched Chania.

But we all know our history, and in 1941 Crete was captured by the Germans. By that time Eleni is an SOE agent based on the island, and rather than leave she goes underground in the bombed out ruins of Chania to help to support the resistance. Meanwhile Otto is one of the first wave of fighters to be parachuted in; a reluctant Nazi, a man who stands against cruelty and reprisals, and of course the lovers’ paths cross once again.

Also running through the book is the transcript of an interview from 1974, given by the man who, it becomes apparent, betrayed Eleni. A man who knew her well. A man who she trusted.

This book transported me absolutely, haunted my dreams, tore me apart, and put me back together again. It’s an absolute triumph, so I was delighted when Jenny Ashcroft agreed to tell me how, and why, she came up with the idea of the interview transcript.

 

JA: First of all, thank you so much for this wonderful review. I’m absolutely thrilled you enjoyed it! As for the transcripts, the idea for those actually came before the central idea for the book. Often when I’m trying to come up with something new, I’ll write scenes or bits of dialogue that spring into my mind, and one afternoon I found myself playing around with a prologue written in interview form.

I love historical documentaries, and just thought that the dynamic between a researcher and their subject could be a really rich one – especially if that subject is carrying some deep regret, or secret, from their past. So, I wrote a sample for my agent, she really loved it, and when, a couple of weeks later, I went back to her with my synopsis for The Echoes of Love, she was really enthusiastic about that too, but asked, ‘Is there any way you can get that transcript idea in?’ I thought there was, decided that they could work as being from a fictional BBC documentary commemorating the liberation of Greece, and that’s how the transcripts came to be woven through the text of Eleni and Otto’s story.

All very iterative, and I wish I could say that I knew from the start precisely what I was doing, but I never seem to know that with any book! For me, it really is the case that it’s only when I start to write that I come to realise where I want to go. But I’m so glad I did weave those transcripts in. They really did become such a core part of the story.

 

 

CARIADS’ CHOICE: OCTOBER 2022 BOOK REVIEWS

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Marie Laval’s Escape to the Little Chateau reviewed by Carol Thomas

With strong elements of gothic suspense threaded throughout, the storyline of this book went to dark and mysterious places I hadn’t expected. It was, however, an enjoyable read, and I found myself reading into the night as I didn’t want to put it down. There is a good sense of place and history, and the author brings the chateau and French countryside to life wonderfully. Fabien Coste and Amy were both strong, likeable lead characters, and I loved the puppy Fabien gifted Amy. I enjoyed the unfolding of the mystery and the range of characters introduced along the way. It is a great read to suspend reality for a while and let yourself be swept along by the revelations. I definitely recommend it but with an awareness that there are elements of threat.

 

Natalie Kleinman’s The Ghost of Glendale reviewed by Jane Cable

I always turn to a Natalie Kleinman book when I fancy a Regency comfort read, or trying to get into the mood for writing in the era myself. She is a mistress of the Regency romance in the spirit of Georgette Heyer and knows her genre inside out.

Talking of spirits, this book has one, with its own sad story to tell. It added an interesting extra dimension to the story, and to how Phoebe and Duncan’s own love story developed. A gentle read, with happy endings for all.

 

Jenny Kane’s Frost Falls At The Potting Shed reviewed by Kitty Wilson

I loved this book so much, Jenny Kane is an absolute master at creating heart-warming, cosy romantic escapism that you can’t bear to put down. The Potting Shed is a perfect setting and I want to go and visit, wander around the polytunnels and meet Maddie, Jake and Petra myself. In fact, the whole book is packed with relatable characters, as well as a very endearing hero, all of which come together to make Frost Falls at The Potting Shed a gorgeous, warm-hearted romance that shines a light on love, friendship and is the most wonderful festive read. Cosy, romantic perfection. I cannot wait for the next in the series!
Sue Moorcroft’s A White Christmas on Winter Street reviewed by Morton S Gray

I have read all of Sue Moorcroft’s books and didn’t think she could give me another favourite, but she has!!!

Really enjoyed A White Christmas on Winter Street. It has all the Christmas touches – lights, presents, cookies, but it has so much more besides. I soon got swept up in the worlds of Sky and Daz, both of whom became so real as I was reading.

Loved being back in the village of Middledip and enjoyed the mentions of familiar characters and places. It quickly becomes evident that Sky relates to young Wilf as she recognises some of the challenges he is dealing with. Sky has many issues from the past and recent past, but has not allowed these to dampen her generosity of spirit. Daz too finds it hard to refuse a person in need even if that is at a personal cost to himself.

Loved the story, loved the journey and want to get some Christmas solar lights already!

 

 

 

 

 

‘Little Cat and Friends’ : Book Series a ‘Purr-fectly’ Wonderful Way to Help Children Struggling to Read

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‘My daughter loves these books. From the moment they were in her hands she was excited. I have read them to her numerous times now.’ Catherine Yardley. 

Author Anna Emilia got her first cat at the age of thirty. The special relationship that ensued was the inspiration behind her series, ‘Little Cat and Friends’, which is both an ode to her cat Molina and also a vital addition to any educator’s playbook. Anna struggled with reading as a child, and she is uniquely aware of how children learn and crucially, what keeps their attention.
little cat and friends book

Utilizing a variety of fonts and colours, the books contain simple, child-like conversations and questions, designed to help parents address a number of topics, from siblings to adoption and more. They are also just plain fun to read, with words that jiggle up and down, whimsical illustrations and stories that will delight children and parents alike.

Synopses:

‘The Little Cat’
The Little Cat has a new Mummy and a new home. Join her as she gets herself into some tricky situations while exploring her new surroundings. She’s so excited. Will she ever be able to settle down and go to sleep? This simple and appealing story will delight young children, especially those with a new pet.

‘Making Friends’

Little Cat has a new Mummy and a new home. Now she needs to go outside and make some friends. Will she find any? Follow Little Cat’s adventures as she looks to explore her new world and finds out what her new name will be. Will she like it? A simple yet delightful tale about exploring, meeting new people, gaining confidence and making friends.

‘Tiny Kitten’
Molina is surprised when a new brother arrives. She decides she won’t like him and is very sad until she helps Mummy choose his name. When her friends come to visit, they love her brother. Will she learn to love him too? A charming story about dealing with change and how first impression aren’t always right.

“When I struggled to read, there weren’t a lot of tools out there to help,” says Anna. “These books would have been an absolute treat for me. For any parents who have children with dyslexia or other learning difficulties, I suggest using your child’s own pet or perhaps a favourite toy as a reading buddy. This helps build confidence. I also think that as you read to your children, you should consciously make mistakes. Explain to your children that making mistakes is absolutely okay – and it’s a natural part of reading and of life. This will help your child realize that their own mistakes aren’t the end of the world. In fact, they might start to relish the effort of learning to read. Once you take away the fear of failure, they will feel so much more confident and happy – just like Little Cat!”

Readers – both big and small – have been entranced with the series since its inception.

“A beautiful book, The Little Cat is absolutely loved by my 3 year old boy Emile. Utterly charming and beautifully illustrated, it is an everyday bedtime story book in our household,” writes Delphine.

Ben agrees, writing, “All my children love the stories and the pictures, very colourful and easy to read, they can’t put the books down!”

All three books in the ‘Little Cat and Friends’ series are available now from Waterstones, Amazon, and all leading bookshops as well as the author’s own website:

https://www.littlecatandfriends.com/shop/

Anna Emilia is passionate about helping children become confident with reading. Her series, ‘Little Cat and Friends’ was born from her own struggle with reading as a child, and from the love she has for her own cats.

 

How to Get the Quality Health Care You Deserve: Insider Tips Straight From a Medical Professional

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Although I am lucky enough to live in the UK I have always been fascinated by the American healthcare system. Not good fascinated, but WTF fascinated. It blows my mind that a country like America has people who are too poor to receive proper medical care. In the UK the National Health Service is free at the point of use. It’s free to see a doctor, have an operation, whatever you need. All you pay for is dental care. Which is probably why other countries think British people have bad teeth, some people can’t afford dental care. I digress, this book really spoke to me. I have family in America and I have always had a love for the country.

That is why I love this book. It puts the power back into the hands of the people. It saves both money and lives. I commend Dr. David Wilcox for writing it. It is comprehensive and full of knowledge. I recommend this book to my American cousins. It is an essential to navigate America’s complicated, health care system.

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Everyone needs health care at some point in their lives. Understanding the risks and benefits of procedures, making sense of medical bills, and interacting with insurance companies are all lessons we have to learn on the fly — and often when we’re already shouldering the stress of battling an illness ourselves or helping a loved one.

After 28 years in the health care field, Dr. David Wilcox has seen enough to realize that proactive patient education can actually have a life or death impact.

 

“Entering the American healthcare system, one has to have a basic knowledge of it to be safe,” he said during a recent interview. “Medical errors are the third leading cause of death. Not a lot of people know that.”

 

In his new book, How to Avoid Being a Victim of the American Healthcare System: A Patient’s Handbook for Survival, Dr. Wilcox offers information, facts and tips that can help patients and family members navigate through the morass.

 

“I have seen some alarming situations that nursing school never prepared me for,” Dr. Wilcox said. “Not being prepared and knowledgeable means you will have little control over the health care you receive.”

 

His goal in writing this book was to level the playing field, enabling consumers of health care to understand how to avoid getting caught in the systemic net.

 

In his own words, Dr. Wilcox’s book explores “what to do if you have to go to a hospital, how to handle an insurance company’s claim denial, how to find an alternative to high-priced prescriptions and why the current pay-for-fee system is inadequate. You will also discover the direction the healthcare system needs to move in, to holistically care for you, the patient … information that the health care entities would prefer you didn’t know.”

 

Dr. David Wilcox is an Amazon international bestselling author and health care professional who believes proactive patient education enables those accessing the healthcare system to be better partners in their health care. He also believes that everyone has the right to access the American Healthcare System safely. A Doctorate-prepared nurse who also holds a Master’s in Health Administration and is Board Certified in Nursing Informatics, Dr. Wilcox has nearly three decades of health care experience as a bedside nurse, hospital administrator and in health care information technology, which has helped him to develop his unique perspective on the American Healthcare System. For more information, please visit https://drdavidwilcox.com/.

 

How to Avoid Being a Victim of the American Healthcare System: A Patient’s Handbook for Survival

Publisher: Here for You Publishing

ISBN-10: ‎ 0578878364

ISBN-13: ‎ 978-0578878362

Available now at https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578878364

 

Top Books To Read Now

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The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston

This is one of my favourite romance novels EVER now. It’s funny and sad, heartbreaking and heartwarming. A definite five-star read. 

Florence Day is a ghost-writer with one big problem. She’s supposed to be penning swoon-worthy novels for a famous romance author but, after a bad break-up, Florence no longer believes in love. And when her strict (but undeniably hot) new editor, Benji Andor, won’t give her an extension on her book deadline, Florence prepares to kiss her career goodbye.

Although when tragedy strikes and Florence has to head home, the last thing she expects to see is a ghost at her front door. Not just any ghost, however, but the stern form of her still very hot – yet now unquestionably dead – new editor.

As sparks start to fly between them, Florence tells herself she can’t be falling for a ghost – even an infuriatingly sexy one. But can Benji help Florence to realise love isn’t dead, after all?

If you fell in love with Beach Read, The Love Hypothesis and The Hating Game, this laugh-out-loud romance packed with sizzling chemistry will give you all the feels!

The Serial Killer’s Daughter by Alice Hunter

A sequel to one of my favourite books of 2021, The Serial Killer’s Wife. This is just as good, twisty, compelling and full of depth. It’s impossible to put down. 

Is murder in the blood?

In a sleepy Devon village, a woman is taken from the streets. Local vet Jenny is horrified. This kind of thing doesn’t happen here.

But it’s not the first time she’s been so close to a crime scene. The daughter of a prolific serial killer, she’s spent her whole life running from who she really is.

And the crime is harrowingly similar to those her father committed all those years ago…

But she’s not her father’s daughter.

Is she?

All That’s Left Unsaid by Tracey Lien

A beautifully written and evocative debut. It’s original and shows that Tracey Lien is truly one to watch. 

They claim they saw nothing. She knows they’re lying.

1996 – Cabramatta, Sydney

‘Just let him go.’

Those are words Ky Tran will forever regret. The words she spoke when her parents called to ask if they should let her younger brother Denny out to celebrate his high school graduation with friends. That night, Denny – optimistic, guileless Denny – is brutally murdered inside a busy restaurant in the Sydney suburb of Cabramatta, a refugee enclave facing violent crime, and an indifferent police force.

Returning home for the funeral, Ky learns that the police are stumped by her brother’s case. Even though several people were present at Denny’s murder, each bystander claims to have seen nothing, and they are all staying silent.

Determined to uncover the truth, Ky tracks down and questions the witnesses herself. But what she learns goes beyond what happened that fateful night. The silence has always been there, threaded through the generations, and Ky begins to expose the complex traumas weighing on those present the night Denny died. As she peels back the layers of the place that shaped her, she must confront more than the reasons her brother is dead. And once those truths have finally been spoken, how can any of them move on?

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell

Written with fierce brilliance, this is a story you won’t forget.

The Marriage Portrait is a dazzling evocation of the Italian Renaissance in all its beauty and brutality.

Winter, 1561. Lucrezia, Duchess of Ferrara, is taken on an unexpected visit to a country villa by her husband, Alfonso. As they sit down to dinner it occurs to Lucrezia that Alfonso has a sinister purpose in bringing her here. He intends to kill her.

Lucrezia is sixteen years old, and has led a sheltered life locked away inside Florence’s grandest palazzo. Here, in this remote villa, she is entirely at the mercy of her increasingly erratic husband.

What is Lucrezia to do with this sudden knowledge? What chance does she have against Alfonso, ruler of a province, and a trained soldier? How can she ensure her survival.

The Marriage Portrait is an unforgettable reimagining of the life of a young woman whose proximity to power places her in mortal danger.

Before I Do by Sophie Cousens

Another outstanding novel from Sophie Cousens, who is turning into the romance writer of our generation. She can’t put a foot wrong and this is another stunner. A must read. 

What would you do if the one that got away turned up the night before your wedding?

Audrey is marrying Josh; steady, dependable Josh, the love of her life. They share a flat and a bank account, and it’s the only relationship that Audrey’s ever had that feels like something she can put her trust in. But romance should be full of fireworks, and as the big day approaches, Audrey’s found herself wondering if Josh really is ‘the one’.

So, when Josh’s sister Miranda arrives at their rehearsal dinner with Fred – Audrey’s ‘What If?’ guy, the man she met six years ago and had one amazing day with but never saw again – Audrey can’t help but see it as a sign.

Surely Fred’s appearance the night before Audrey is due to get married can’t be a coincidence. And when everything that could go wrong with the wedding starts to go wrong, Audrey has to wonder: could fate be trying to stop her from making a huge mistake?

The Winter Garden by Alexandra Bell

Beautiful and full of wonder. 

Welcome to the Winter Garden. Open only at 13 o’clock.

You are invited to enter an unusual competition.

I am looking for the most magical, spectacular, remarkable pleasure garden this world has to offer.

On the night her mother dies, 8-year-old Beatrice receives an invitation to the mysterious Winter Garden. A place of wonder and magic, filled with all manner of strange and spectacular flora and fauna, the garden is her solace every night for seven days. But when the garden disappears, and no one believes her story, Beatrice is left to wonder if it were truly real.

Eighteen years later, on the eve of her wedding to a man her late father approved of but she does not love, Beatrice makes the decision to throw off the expectations of Victorian English society and search for the garden. But when both she and her closest friend, Rosa, receive invitations to compete to create spectacular pleasure gardens – with the prize being one wish from the last of the Winter Garden’s magic – she realises she may be closer to finding it than she ever imagined.

Now all she has to do is win.

Coming in November…

Desert Star by Michael Connelly

Everyone knows I am a huge fan of Michael Connelly. I have never been disappointed in one of his books and I love his Bosch series. And…this one is my favourite Bosch book ever. He just keeps getting better and better. The prose, the story, the brilliant characters. Can Michael just give me an ounce of his talent please? He has plenty to spare. Utter perfection. Preorder now. 

SOME CRIMES YOU CAN’T FORGET.
Detective Renée Ballard is given the chance of a lifetime: revive the LAPD’s cold case unit and find justice for the families of the forgotten.
The only catch is they must first crack the unsolved murder of the sister of the city councilman who is sponsoring the department – or lose everything…

OTHERS YOU CAN’T FORGIVE.
Harry Bosch is top of the list of investigators Ballard wants to recruit. The former homicide detective is a living legend – but for how long?
Because Bosch has his own agenda: a crime that has haunted him for years – the murder of a whole family, buried out in the desert – which he vowed to close.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU KNEW WHO DID IT?
With the killer still out there and evidence elusive – Bosch is on a collision course with a choice he hoped never to make…

 

What are you reading?

A Question of Standing: The History of the CIA by Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones

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Like many people I have always had an interest in the history of intelligence. Espionage has always fascinated me, never mind the CIA itself. So I jumped at the chance to review A Question of Standing: The History of the CIA. I was not disappointed. 

This is a comprehensive and thoroughly researched history of the CIA. It is engaging, fair and thoughtful. This was released in time for the 75th anniversary of the CIA and it covers not everything, but enough to get the whole picture, right up to the present day. This book is an impressively enjoyable read. Few people could take this subject and write a book that is so easy to read. I loved this book and I will certainly be keeping it on my bookshelf for future reference. As a serial declutterer, there is no higher honour I can bestow.

A Question of Standing: The History of the CIA by Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones (August) – A Question of Standing deals with events that have shaped the history of the first 75 years of the CIA. Unsparing in its accounts of dirty tricks and their consequences, it values the agency’s intelligence and analysis work to offer balanced judgements that avoid both celebration and condemnation of the CIA.

A Question of Standing: The History of the CIA is available here.

CARIADS’ CHOICE: SEPTEMBER 2022 BOOK REVIEWS

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Lynne Francis’ A Maid’s Ruin reviewed by Susanna Bavin

This thoroughly engaging and enjoyable story follows the fortunes of young Molly Goodchild, a dairymaid whose life is one of unrelenting hard work. She dreams of better things, but this doesn’t mean she isn’t a practical person, well versed in the demands of everyday life and family responsibilities.

I was enormously fond of Molly. She is a naturally strong character who shows both determination and tenacity in the face of adversity, but at the same time, her youth and inexperience make her vulnerable. I found her utterly believable and I rooted for her all the way.

This emotional and dramatic story is set in Georgian times and Lynne Francis has filled the pages with period detail and beautifully written descriptions of the various settings. A lot of research has gone into this book, adding vibrancy, immediacy and depth to the telling.

This is the coming-of-age story at its best.

 

Sandy Barker’s The Dating Game, reviewed by Jessie Cahalin

What happens when a journalist goes undercover on a reality show?

I absolutely loved The Dating Game. Abby is a wonderful character guiding the reader through her hilarious observations of the world of reality television. This smart, witty character exposes the micro-politics behind the scenes. This is a romance novel with so many twists and turns you’ll be dizzy, and you’ll giggle your way to the end. Besides entertaining me, this was an astute observation on reality TV culture. The novel is jam packed with wit, sensitivity and humour. I could not put this novel down! A perfect beach read, and I wanted to book a holiday in Sydney by the end.

 

Jules Wake’s The Wednesday Morning Wild Swim reviewed by Carol Thomas

This was a fun, feel-good read with a cast of wonderful characters. I enjoyed the setting and the unfolding romance between Ettie and Dominic. There was plenty of humour; I even laughed out loud at times. I loved Ettie for her moments of candour, albeit she was also prone to the odd little white lie. The characters were from a broad age range, leading to realistic and funny interactions and a community feel. I enjoyed the blossoming friendship of the wild swimmers and getting to know what spurred them to need their swim. It was also great to check in with returning characters from The Saturday Morning Park Run, a book I also greatly enjoyed. While I was a little unsure about the set-up for the penultimate scene, I welcomed the happy ending. Overall, it is escapism that will make you smile!

 

Josie Lloyd’s Lifesaving for Beginners reviewed by Jane Cable

There was nothing I didn’t love about this book. How often do you read that in a review, but it isn’t a phrase I use often and I really mean it.

The stories of the five women who meet on Brighton beach to swim during the pandemic are wound seamlessly together to make a cohesive whole. Maddy, whose marriage and Instagram-perfect lifestyle have fallen apart; Helga the elder stateswoman who refuses to accept the limitations of her advancing years; Claire, the wife and mother who feels she has become invisible; Dominica struggling with grief; and Tor who is afraid to tell her family about the woman she loves.

This is a book about the power of friendship and the ability to move on. There is no one central shared ‘quest’ and really no central character. Their stories blend and twist together in such a powerful way I found it impossible to put down.