Tag Archives: Kitty Wilson

NEW BOOKS FROM THE CARIADS

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The Secret Sister by Jan Baynham, reviewed by Jane Cable

This beautiful book transported me not only to Sicily, but to mid Wales during the Second World War, and the claustrophobia of the small communities where everyone knew everybody else’s business. It is here the book starts, in 1943, when Italian prisoner of war Carlo meets Sara, who had been trapped in an abusive marriage.

The Secret Sister is unusual for a dual timeline because the whole wartime narrative is played out before the story moves on to 1968, but I can see it had to be this way for the story to work, and the author definitely made the right decision to do so. It is in this second part of the book that we travel to Sicily and Baynham brings the island to life in a wondrous whorl of colours, tastes and sensations. I was absolutely transported there and now cannot wait to visit the island.

I thoroughly recommend this emotional tale of family secrets and enduring love.

 

The Sea Sisters Swimming Club by Sue McDonagh, reviewed by Morton S Gray

Fran is a survivor and a woman cast adrift by a heart attack which cut short her police career. She is finding the adjustment to life outside of the force difficult and unsettling. She really doesn’t know who she is at the beginning of the novel. An opportunity to house sit by the sea in Wales offers her the chance to explore options for her future and rediscover her spirit.

Wyn is also wounded by life after an accident changed him forever both mentally and physically. He agrees to teach Fran to swim and they get ever closer, but he is hiding secrets of his own and has a needy ex-wife.

Enjoyed the references to the Art Hotel encountered in other Sue McDonagh books and the comradery of the sea sisters. I loved some of the secondary characters too – Elin, Gavin, Caitlin. And the novel made me want to enjoy coffee and cake by the sea, even if I don’t venture into the waves beyond paddling, but who knows I may get braver like Fran after being shown a glimpse of possibilities by this book.

A feel good, inspiring read which made me want to read more of Sue McDonagh’s novels.

 

The Lost Heir by Jane Cable, reviewed by Kitty Wilson

The Lost Heir is a dual timeline story that flits between Regency Cornwall and Cornish life in 2020. For the historical element, Jane Cable has taken her location and characters straight out of the Cornish Archives and built a world around them that you can absolutely believe to be true, or at the very least, wish it was.

Jane Cable meshes history, romance, and the supernatural and touches on subjects that are far from easy to write about, rape, the scandal of illegitimacy, the limitations placed on women in Regency times, the lockdowns of recent years; and yet each and every storyline is written with an insight and sensitivity that pulls the reader thoroughly into the world inhabited by these characters.

It is the descriptions of Cornwall however that set this book far above others of a similar vein. I was galloping across the cliffs with William, sat with Harriet as the oil-lamps flickered and I found myself escaping to this book whenever I had a few spare minutes, racing through the story desperate to know how Franny would resolve her situation, keen to know if the modern-day romance could possibly play out as I wished it to.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and if you too want to escape to Regency Cornwall, then I highly recommend that you do so with this beautifully captivating, insightful and evocative book.

 

 

 

 

CARIADS’ CHOICE: DECEMBER BOOK REVIEWS

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Catherine Miller’s The Crash, reviewed by Carol Thomas

It has been a while since I have read a book by Catherine Miller and so it was a treat to pick up The Crash and read it over a weekend. Despite its title and the tragedy that occurs, it is an uplifting read. The author deals with sensitive issues well, her characters are well-drawn and realistic.

The Crash is an emotional story of love, old and new, found in the most expected and unexpected of circumstances. The story is a reminder to seize every moment and enjoy time with those around you. I wanted all of the characters to be happy and to fulfil their dreams, and while this is not entirely possible, the author cleverly ensures the reader is left satisfied as a happy ending is achieved. If you are looking for an emotional page-turner, then I recommend this or any of Catherine Miller’s books.

 

Ritu Bhathal’s Marriage Unarranged, reviewed by Kitty Wilson

This book had so much more to it than a simple love story, it taught me things. It taught me a little more about Sikh culture (the novel is jam-packed with domestic detail that gave it such warmth) and as the characters travel from Birmingham to India, it taught me about their destination in a way that made me want to explore in a lot more depth. The author’s settings were was all so evocative, all my senses were stimulated at the vivid descriptions of sights, sounds, smells, tastes.

Two things really stood out for me, the insightful, wise way that the author wove the family relationships, the love between these characters and the pressures that expectations can bring. I loved the relationships in this book; all were written in a way that you could really relate to and that drew you in.

I truly enjoyed Marriage Unarranged so am very pleased to know there is a second on the way.

 

Olivia Waite’s The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics reviewed by Jane Cable

I chose this book because I wanted to read a Regency lesbian romance for research purposes. I have to say the heat level was a little more than I would have liked, but that is a personal opinion and it certainly didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the book as I was able to skim over the passages I found at the same time over-steamy and a little bit tedious.

As well as being a love story, the book revolves around a young astronomer trying to make her way in the scientific world in Regency London. Of course a female undertaking serious academic work is way ahead of her time (Girton College, Cambridge was still more than fifty years away) and Lucy’s path is beset by problems, most of them created by powerful men, and I liked this feminist aspect of this story in particular.

 

Linda Corbett’s Love You from A-Z reviewed by Natalie Normann

I was in the hospital for three days, and this book was the perfect companion. I loved it from start to finish. The story is entertaining and easy to fall in love with. Jenna is such a strong character, working so hard to overcome a troubled childhood and keeping her dreams realistic. And then Henry comes into her life and Jenna begins to question her life choices. Perhaps she deserves better than what she has settled for.

It’s a well-written story that evolves quietly, but keeps you interested to the end. This also introduced me to a pet I’ve never had or met: guinea pigs. I see now that I have missed out on something special. This book gets full marks from me. I love romance novels like this, and I’m looking forward to the next book from this author.

 

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.

 

 

 

 

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!

 

 

 

 

 

CARIADS’ CHOICE: AUGUST 2022 BOOK REVIEWS

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Phil Rickman’s The Fever of the World reviewed by Georgia Hill

This is book 16 in the Merrily Watkins series featuring a beleaguered vicar and “Deliverance Consultant” – or exorcist – and set in the Welsh Marches. There’s a mysterious rockfall death, an examination of Wordsworth and his experiences as a young man in the Wye Valley, the odd Druid (a very odd Druid) and it’s all wrapped around with Covid’s cold, clammy hand. Phil has a cult-like following (I’m one) and his Merrily books are a fabulous and impossible to categorise mix of crime, the supernatural and folklore. Go read!

 

Jen Gilroy’s The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls reviewed by Jane Cable

I’ve been meaning to read this book for a long time and I enjoyed it so much I’m disappointed with myself for putting it off. It was absolutely delightful to escape to a small town community in the Adirondacks, the kind of place I suspect many of us have a secret hankering to live.

Jen Gilroy draws both the people and the place so beautifully, even the most minor of characters come alive in her skilled hands. I was pulled into Annie and Seth’s stories from the moment we meet them both. I knew they both had journeys to take and I knew how those journeys would end, but that’s the point of romantic fiction, isn’t it? No huge surprises, but a really interesting and emotional story that felt as though it was about real people. A place and a time to lose myself in with characters who become to feel like friends.

Not trying to be anything fancy, this is feelgood romance at its best.

 

Faith Hogan’s The Gin Sisters Promise reviewed by Morton S Gray

I loved Faith Hogan’s novel The Ladies’ Midnight Swimming Club and that was what attracted me to this title. Having finished this one, I’m off to find her other books.

A story full of love, pathos, family misunderstandings, secrets and laughter. Initially I wondered if I would cope with the three sisters’ storylines, but I soon became absorbed in their lives, loves and losses.

The book made me think about legacies and the family tangles and feuds we get into over the years.

I wanted each of the sisters to get their happy ever after and it seems their father did too. Definitely a thought-provoking novel which made me experience a wide variety of emotions from laughter to tears. Highly recommended.

 

Clare Marchant’s The Mapmakers Daughter reviewed by Kitty Wilson

Probably my favourite book of the year so far. Both timelines fully held my attention and I loved both Frieda and Robyn’s stories. Clare Marchant’s writing is so skilled that she takes you deep into the heart of Tudor London, all the senses stimulated and I really felt if I was there, hearing, seeing, smelling all that was going on around her characters. The detail she weaves though is not merely evocative, her books are so well researched that I learn things that I did not before and she always makes me want to dive into further research the minute I finish reading.

Her writing is taut and deftly woven, everything moves the story on, informs the reader and weaves together a truly spellbinding story. The jeopardy she creates had me gasp out loud, my heart pounding with fear – all whilst safely tucked up in my own bed, such is the skill with which she writes. Honestly, I thought this book was flawless and I suspect it will remain one of my favourites for years to come. Absolute perfection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CARIADS’ CHOICE: JULY 2022 BOOK REVIEWS

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Nita Prose’s The Maid reviewed by Kitty Wilson

This is my favourite audiobook in ages. I absolutely loved it and found myself racing through it over the course of a weekend, deliberately choosing activities that meant I could keep listening. A delightful heroine surrounded by a fab cast of characters, you cannot help but fall in love with Molly the maid as she navigates a world full of social cues, clues and language that she doesn’t always understand. On the surface this is a simple whodunnit with a neurodiverse detective heroine, but it’s also a witty, refreshing look at society, how we communicate and what we prioritise. Highly recommended.

 

Lynne Shelby’s Rome for the Summer reviewed by Carol Thomas

What a lovely, uplifting read! I read the novel on holiday; it was the perfect book to relax and unwind with. Kate was a likeable heroine, her family were wonderful, and her newfound life and love interest in Rome was perfect. For a novel filled with artistic fervour, Jamie was the ideal hero; his passion for both the art exhibited in Rome and that created by his hand was evident throughout. The insights into the past worked well, and I enjoyed discovering more about Kate’s Italian girl (depicted in a painting). Overall it is a lovely escapist read that will whisk you off to Rome for the Summer, fill you with warmth and leave you with a big satisfied smile.

 

Anne Booth’s Small Miracles reviewed by Jane Cable

I can absolutely see why this book is published under Random House’s Vintage label, because it is just that. Quaint, charming and a little old-fashioned, not just because it is set in 1995; it transports the readers back to simpler times, before the world was glued to its mobile phone.

Set in an English catholic convent down on its luck, the book follows the remaining three nuns, the local priest and a small cast of parishioners and friends, as after a modest lottery win, a series of other ‘small miracles’ begin to occur.

Although I quite enjoyed the journey, there was something missing from the book for me. I wanted it to be either funnier, or tug at my heart-strings more, and I had problems relating to the three main characters. However if you yearn for fiction akin to the Miss Read books, this may very well be exactly to your taste. It was in no way a ‘bad’ book (whatever that is), just not for me.

 

Bella Osborne’s A Wedding at Sandy Cove, parts 1 and 2 reviewed by Morton S Gray

I have loved all of Bella Osborne’s books and wasn’t surprised that I loved this one too. I sat and read the first part of Ella’s story in one sitting and didn’t want it to finish. Can’t wait for the next part.

Like Ella, I was a bridesmaid numerous times and never thought I would be a bride, but to work in the bridal industry must make that thought even harder. Love her cat and her friends, who can see her flaws but want the best for her.

Easy to read, easy to relate to, left me wanting more …

Part two of A Wedding at Sandy Cove didn’t disappoint and I found myself laughing and even shouting at my kindle, so I guess that means I was involved in the story!

Ella’s adventures continue. I’m glad I wasn’t at her friend’s hen party event but there is plenty to read about and I even spat my mouthful of tea out at one point when I laughed totally unexpectedly!

Waiting for Part Three…

 

 

 

PUBLICATION DAY SPECIAL: THE LOVE EXPERIMENT BY KITTY WILSON

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Sometimes I fall in love with a book instantly, and sometimes it takes a little while. This was one of the latter, but let me tell you, by the final chapters I was laughing and sobbing at more or less the same time, which isn’t the best of looks in a busy Starbucks branch.

The premise of The Love Experiment is deceptively simple; Lily won’t date – even staying the night after a hook up is too much like commitment, and Jay can’t date – he’s promised his sister he won’t in an attempt to show her that changing the habits of a lifetime is possible. But there the cliches end.

All the characters, large and larger than life, are drawn with an incredible eye for detail and a roundness that is often missing in romantic comedy. They were real and will stay with me for a very long time. And laugh? Did I mention a fair chunk of the action is set in a drag club? The names of the artists alone was enough to make me cackle. And don’t even get me started on the harpist…

This book is laugh out loud funny while at the same time dealing with serious issues and the horrendous scars they leave. The more I came to know about Lily’s past the more I ached for her to be able to move forwards. The more I understood what made her the way she is. The more I wanted to be her friend.

Lily’s backstory and what happened to her as a teenager really got to me. So much so I had to ask Kitty Wilson why she decided to shape her character that way:

Thank you. Lily is far from my usual heroine and is polished, successful and on the surface has it all but, underneath, is a scared young girl desperate for a sense of control.

When I was creating her, I initially wanted to highlight women’s health, I know so many women with periods that are completely incapacitating[1] and yet I haven’t seen it mentioned often in novels. That was my starting point but, as an author, it is hard not to be shaped by the things around you. As I wrote the first draft, the discussion of women’s safety was at its peak with the subsequent growth of Everybody’s Invited illustrating how schools and universities were often far from the places of safety that every parent hopes. This awareness worked its way into Lily’s story and when her body changes as a teen, things take a dark turn as name-calling in school morphs into something more sinister.

I did consider carefully whether these themes should be included but they are so frequent in women’s lives it felt wrong to cut them, so Lily was born, a high achiever who is privately carrying the weight of gynaecological issues and a related history of childhood bullying. These two things then shape all her life decisions; decisions that on the surface look like they are healthy, empowered choices but are actually indicators of deep-rooted scars.

But I love a happy ending – I write romance after all – and adore weaving through the joys in our lives, and hopefully The Love Experiment brings many, many moments of light and laughter to brighten Lily’s path as she learns to defeat the dark and open herself to life and love at its fullest.

 

 

[1] One in ten women in the UK have endometriosis and another one in ten have PCOS. https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/information

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos/

 

 

 

 

CARIADS’ CHOICE: JUNE 2022 BOOK REVIEWS

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Rachel Hore’s One Moonlit Night reviewed by Jane Cable

An interesting mixture of a Second World War story and family mystery, the more I read of One Moonlit Night the more it intrigued me.

With her husband Philip missing in action after Dunkirk, Maddie is bombed out of her London home and her only safe option seems to be to take her daughters to the house in Norfolk where Philip grew up. But Knyghton holds its own secrets, including the reason why Philip rarely spoke of it and never took her there.

The characters are beautifully drawn and their reactions to the new arrivals complex, convincing and very much of their age.

Although told mainly from Maddie’s point of view, the story is interspersed with Philip’s dangerous journey across France to escape the German occupiers and return to his family and this adds contrast and an extra layer of tension.

 

Jan Baynham’s Her Nanny’s Secret reviewed by Carol Thomas

I have read and enjoyed the author’s previous books, so I was looking forward to this one; it didn’t disappoint. The female lead, Annie, was likeable from the start, and her emotional journey enthralled me both in WWII and the 1960s. Every character was well-drawn, and every setting transported me in time and place. As the end of the novel drew near, I was desperate for a happy ending, and I loved how the author achieved that without compromising the characters or the lives and emotional ties they had built since the start of the novel. As always with this author, the characters have stayed with me even after the final page was read. It is a compelling read with a wartime romance, enduring love, lies and a search for the truth.

 

Melissa Fu’s Peach Blossom Spring reviewed by Kitty Wilson

I listened to this as an audiobook and absolutely loved every second. A sweeping epic of a novel, it had me thoroughly emotionally invested as Mei Lin struggles to survive China at a time of huge upheaval, escapes to Taiwan with her son and has to begin her life again with very little support and danger around every corner. An evocative and skilfully written book that will stay with me for a very long time, and that I intend to buy in paperback so I can revisit it again in the future.

 

Nicci French’s The Unheard reviewed by Jill Barry

Whether or not you’ve read novels by this writing partnership, you’ll swiftly be drawn into a masterclass of crime writing. Poppy’s estranged parents are doing their best to make sure their little daughter isn’t upset by being ‘shared’ between them. But mum Tess starts to notice worrying indicators after Poppy’s been staying with her dad. It’s a measure of how clever the writing is that I became convinced demonic possession could be involved.

Tess’s concerns lead her to contact the police, confiding in an already stressed and overworked female detective who really doesn’t have much evidence to convince her anything is wrong. Tess, seeing worryingly violent drawings her daughter produces becomes convinced Poppy has witnessed something of a dark nature. But without proof, the police are becoming sceptical of Tess’s suspicions. And who or what is to blame?

And the moral is? Beware who you invite into your home.