Top Ten Tuesday: Rereads

 

Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's theme is Books I’d Like to Re-read (Share either your favorite books that you enjoy re-reading or books that you’d like to read again!) (Submitted by Becky @ Becky’s Book Blog)

I am not normally a re-reader so originally I was thinking that I would do something different this week and actually have a post started on a different theme where I have got 10 books selected. Then when I thought about it some more I did wonder if I could make it to a list of 10 books that I have re-read, and I could! I guess that means my next freebie post is pretty much already done! Yay for me!

Here are 10 books I have re-read.

Virgin River by Robyn Carr - I could actually include most of the Virgin River series in this post, with the exception of the last book which I still haven't read yet. I read all the original books in the series back in 2010-2011, and then proceeded to re-read the first 7 books in the series over the course of two weeks in 2012. Here is a post about the whole series and how it made me break several of my own rules

The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley -  I have re-read this book three times so far, twice by reading the book and once on audio with the most recent time being earlier this year, and I still loved it! Note the words so far. There is every chance I will read this again at some point. It is a bit odd though. I have other Kearsley books that I have loved but I haven't re-read any of those. Maybe I should. Here is my most recent post about this book 

Hogfather by Terry Pratchell - Listening to this in the lead up to Christmas has become one of my Christmas traditions over the last four years. I first read it back in 2007 which means that so far I have read it 5 times. 

The Secret History of Christmas by Bill Bryson - This is now part of my Christmas tradition too. I first listened to in 2023. I enjoyed it so much that I forced my husband to listen to it too so in the end I listened to it twice in a week. My original post about this book is here

Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas - Ah, Sebastian and Evie! What a book. What an author! I wish she was still writing. (my review)

The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta - Ah, Thomas Mackee, you break my heart. I have actually read a few of Melina Marchetta's books a couple of times but my favourite thing is to listen to the audiobook of The Piper's Son. I have listened to it five times now, including three times in about a month. It just affected me that much! I haven't listened to it for a few years now, but I have thought about listening to it again. 

Sylvester by Georgette Heyer - If I had to describe my idea of aural bliss it is Richard Armitage narrating Georgette Heyer's books. I have relistened to Venetia three times and Sylvester four times after initially reading it! (original review)

Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie - I had forgotten that I had re-read this one until I was searching through my blog looking for inspiration for this post. (My review)

Relish by Lucy Knisley -  I had read this years ago and then it was selected for Cook the Books a couple of years ago. I did enjoy revisiting it! (My Cook the Books post)

Poison Study by Maria V Snyder - Years ago I read and loved the first three books in the series. A couple of years ago I decided that it was time to read the whole series. I started by rereading the first two book and never got any further. One day I will read that whole series. One day! (my original review)

Are you a re-reader?

This week...

I'm reading

It's been another busy reading and blogging week! I feel like I have had a lot of different books in my hands and this list will confirm that!

I finished The Cryptic Clue by Amanda Hampson as I had to return it to the library. My review is here. This is the second book in the Tea Ladies series and I have already requested the third book.

I had to put Beartown by Fredrik Backman down in order to finish The Cryptic Clue. Once I picked it up again I was absolutely absorbed. This is one of my 20 Books of Winter and counts as a Big Book of Summer. It was a 5/5 read for me and I have already requested the next book in the trilogy.

Then I started a couple of books but I will need to go back to them again this week. I started The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl because of Paris in July.  I also started Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett, which is another of my 20 Books of Winter reads.

Once again, the library conspired against me and said I couldn't renew Secrets of the Huon Wren by Claire van Ryn so I read that. This was Claire van Ryn's debut novel, but I had already read her second book. I hope to have a review for this one up shortly.

In order to try to get in front of the library I then read Dallergut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee who is from South Korea This is also one of my 20 Books of Winter. It's a different read for me but I did like it enough to request the second book in the series. The idea is that in our sleep we all go to the dream store to purchase the dreams that we want. We then pay for them using our emotions. 

Finally, I started reading A Bakery in Paris by Aimie K. Runyan which is the current Cook the Books selection.

I did do a summary of the books that I read for June for the 20 Books of Winter . You can read my recap post here.

Bookish Travel

I did a fair bit of travelling through the pages of books during June. Here's some of the places I visited.

Australia 

Melbourne  - The Butterfly Women

Sydney - The Cryptic Club

America

Maine- The Mirror

Washington - The Diamond Eye

Michigan/New York - The Page Turner

Europe

England - The Silver Ladies Seize the Day, Once Upon a Thyme, The Storytellers

Scotland - Over the Seas to Skye, the Woman Who Got Her Spark Back

Ukraine/USSR -- The Diamond Eye

France  - A Secret Garden in Paris, French Rhapsody, The Girl from Normandy

Greece - The Island of Hope and Dreams, Not My Greek Wedding

Portugal - The Lost Story of Sofia Costello

The Cruise Club (visited several countries!)

Africa

Morocco - Half Truth

Best of June

In June I read 19 books and these 6 are the ones I rated as 4.5/5 reads. 

I'm watching

I finished watching Gary Barlow's Wine Tour: Australia. I will finish watching his South Africa show this week I think. 

I also re-watched The Three Musketeers: D'Artagnan this week. I originally watched it last year as part of the French Film Festival (and I posted about it here). I was surprised to see it on the normal movie channels on our cable provider as normally if I want to watch any foreign language films you have to go searching for it. 

Life


After 3 weeks, I still sound a bit husky but finally feel like I am getting better. 

We did have a busy weekend as our kids were down from Brisbane for the day on Saturday so Robert was being dad's taxi service driving all over the city while I cooked dinner. Then we had my sister and her family around for dinner on Sunday along with my mum who is over from Adelaide. 


Posts from the last week

20 Books of Winter: June

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge: July links
Paris in July 2025!

Paris in July/Top Ten Tuesday: Books with the Eiffel Tower on the Cover
Paris in July: Since the last Paris in July
The Lost Story of Sofia Castello by Siobhan Curham

Paris in July: Mini Movie Reviews
Blog Tour: The Cruise Club by Caroline James
The Cryptic Clue by Amanda Hampson
Weekend Cooking: In My Kitchen - June
Six Degrees of Separaton: Theory & Practice to Sisters of the Resistance

I've linked this post to It's Monday, what are you reading? as hosted by Book Date and Sunday Salon hosted at Readerbuzz

Six Degrees: Theory & Practice to Sisters of the Resistance

Welcome to this month's edition of Six Degrees of Separation, which is a monthly meme hosted by Kate from Books Are My Favourite and Best. The idea is to start with a specific book and make a series of links from one book to the next using whatever link you can find and see where you end up after six links. I am also linking this post up with The Sunday Salon, hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.

This month's starting point is Theory & Practice by Michelle DeKretser, winner of the 2025 Stella Prize.

I have only ever read one book by Michelle DeKretser and that was The Lost Dog which I read back in 2008. 

I could have picked one of many books with the word lost in the title. However, I decided to stick  with the dog theme so my next link is to To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis. This is a book that I did a buddy read/joint review with Aarti from Booklust many, many years ago and it was a 5/5 read for me. (Part 1 post and then final post)

The most recent book that I did a joint review of was The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak which was with Bree from All the Books I Can Read but I have already used that book a couple of times, which is my limit, and so I am going to go even further back and use another joint review that we did as my next connection. We read and discussed The Dressmaker of Yarrandarah Prison by Meredith Jaffe.  I gave this book a 5/5 rating back when I read it  in 2021 and still think that the cover of this one is stunning! Here is the first part of our conversation and here is the second.

When I checked my spreadsheet where I record all my reads, I noticed that right before I read that book I had another 5/5 read and that was The Warsaw Orphan by Kelly Rimmer. 

Kelly Rimmer has a new book coming out soon which is called The Midnight Estate. I am therefore going to use this as my link to The Tolstoy Estate by Steven Conte which is a book I gave a 5/5 rating to back in 2020.

I saw Steven Conte at the Williamstown Literary Festival back in 2022. In the same post where I talked briefly about that, I mentioned that I was reading Sisters of the Resistance by Christine Wells. This week I won a mug from Christine in a Facebook group I am in!

So there we have it. A couple of joint reviews, some 5/5 reads, and some WWII novels.

Next month, the starting point is 2025 Women’s Prize winner, The Safekeep by Yael Van Der Wouden.

Will you be joining us?

 

Weekend Cooking: In My Kitchen - June

Welcome to the first Saturday of the month where I usually share everything I have made over the previous month. 

I had big baking plans for June. The Lambs Ears Cook Book Club chose Emelia Jackson's latest book Some of My Best Friends are Cookies as the June selection, and I had selected a number of recipes to make as I already owned the book. But there is that saying about best laid plans and all that, and mine came crashing down when I got some kind of winter lurgy and I have been sick for the last couple of weeks. I am getting better but I sound terrible and when I cough...well... it's not pleasant.

So what did I make. 

The first thing that I decided to make from the book was traditional Scottish shortbread as it is Robert's favourite. I also saw that there was a variation which was Sour Cherry and Pistachio Shortbread. I have a bag of sour cherries in the pantry and so it was an opportunity for me to use some. I made both recipes from the same batch and both were delicious. I will make them again!

Speaking of pistachios, is it just in Melbourne, or is everyone going crazy for pistachios at the moment? Many years ago now, I had some friends come to visit us and we went to a night market and we had a conversation about why there was so much Nutella everywhere. Now, that conversation would be about pistachios. We recently had a new Costco open near us, and the thing that had everyone excited was a pistchio cheesecake. Now, I would love to try it but the reality is I can't justify buying one because we would never be able to eat it all, so it would be a waste.

That doesn't mean that I am averse to the pistachio craze. I mean, I used it in my own baking this month, and intend to make another recipe that has them as a garnish as well. And we did try these Pistachio Scrolls from our local cafe to see what all the fuss was about on their socials.

We did have a couple of very nice meals this month, before we got sick. It was my birthday in early June so we took a drive down the coast and had lunch at a beautiful winery which had great views and more importantly, great food! It was a pretty cold day, but it was still very enjoyable. I imagine this place is even more popular in summer.

We also had to take a quick trip up to Brisbane for our eldest daughter's 30th birthday celebration. We had dinner at a restaurant on the Skydeck at Star Casino, and the whole experience was exceptional. We were sitting outside on the deck, and it was a bit chilly but there were heaters which helped. The views over the city lights were fabulous, and the food....the food was spectacular. This is just some of the food which included a smoked carrot tartare, spanner crab served with tiny crumpets, a beautiful dry aged bistecca and a whole baked fish. 

Finally, I had to say farewell to my favourite pyjama pants this week. It's very sad. I had no option but to buy some super cute breakfast themed replacements, especially seeing as they were on sale!

52 Recipes Challenge

Here are the new recipes we tried this month.

Scottish shortbread

Sour Cherry and Pistachio Shortbread

Air-fried sweet potato cubes

Beef Casserole with Herb Dumplings

Given that we are halfway through the year, I thought I would see where we are up to with the 52 recipes challenge. If my count is correct, I think we have tried 23 new recipes this year so far. It does feel like it should be more, but it shouldn't be too hard to catch up. Famous last words

Weekend Cooking posts from the last month

In My Kitchen - May

Sticky Apricot Chicken Drumsticks

Everything is Indian by Justin Narayan

Blog Tour: The Girl From Normandy by Rachel Sweasey

Weekly Meals

Saturday - Takeaway
Sunday - Tuscan chicken pasta bake
Monday - Beef casserole with herb dumplings (new)
Tuesday - Tomato, Zucchini and Parmesan risotto
Wednesday - Pork Nachos
Thursday - Meatballs
Friday - Butter Chicken and Rice

I am sharing this post with In My Kitchen hosted at Sherry's Pickings.

Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page

The Cryptic Clue by Amanda Hampson

 

The tea ladies are back, and as usual trouble isn't far behind.

Each of the Tea Ladies books are set in a new year in the 1960s and this time it is 1966. After the events of 1965 which were covered in the previous book (my review), it is still a time of great change in the world of fashion, and this time we are not just talking about clothes. The owners at Empire Fashion are trying to find ways to cut costs whilst still allowing for their own whims, and so they are bringing in a fancy new coffee and tea machine. This will mean that Hazel Bates will no longer have a job. And it's not just happening at Empire Fashion. The new machines are appearing everywhere! It is time for all the tea ladies in the city to come together to fight for their jobs. After all, how will businesses remain productive if they don't get their tea breaks.

Hazel, Irene and Betty also join together with a couple of other tea ladies including the formidable sounding Mrs Li to try and figure out a couple of other mysteries as well save their jobs. Irene's good for nothing husband has sent her a cryptic letter from jail just before he dies suggesting that he might have left her something. Problem is Irene can't work out what the heck he was talking about. There are also some odd things happening up at the local Catholic church too. It's a lot to keep track of. 

If I asked you to think of an iconic image for Australia, chances are that you would think of one of a couple of places. One of those would likely would be Sydney Harbour with the Sydney Harbour Bridge on one side and the Opera House on the other. Looking at it now, it's hard to believe that the decision to build the Opera House was very controversial in itself  at the time and that the building project was beset with issues. The Danish architect who designed the now iconic building even left the project before it was completed and returned to Denmark.

This controversy provides a backdrop to the story, especially when Hazel meets a man who is connected with the project. After her heartbreak in the last book, she's not really ready to meet someone new, but sometimes things happen. I also really enjoyed that Hazel is working on herself and learning to do something which has previously held her back. 

It really is the characters who carry these books. I love Hazel who is the person that draws everyone together even if it is around some of her unusually flavoured home made wine, and Irene makes me laugh a lot. A lot of the time there is a degree of silliness around the things that happen to Irene, such as when her everyday hat gets stuck on her head, but it provides a balance to the rest of the story. I also was in turns amused by and then felt sorry for her trying to work out how the new decimal currency works which was introduced in early 1966. Poor Irene tries very hard to get ahead but her very nature gets in the way of herself!

This is another great entry in this series. I already have the third book out from the library. After I have read that one I will just have to wait impatiently for each new book as it comes out. 

I am sharing this review with the Foodies Read challenge hosted at Based on a True Story, with Weekend Cooking and with the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge, both of which I host! 

Rating 4.5/5

Blog Tour: The Cruise Club by Caroline James

Welcome on board the Diamond Star! The sun is shining, the drinks are flowing, and the sightseeing is amazing.

This is the second book from author Caroline James set on board the Diamond Star. I hadn't read the first book, The Cruise, but it didn't really matter as it appears that the story is set on the same ship but with only a couple of crew members returning as characters, one of which was the old style comedian Dickey Delaney. I was surprised in a good way to see Sid and Fran from The French Cookery School (
which I reviewed here) pop up on the cruise on holidays

Carmen Cunningham is an author who has had one successful cosy mystery novel published. She has a contract for two more, but the words just aren't coming. She also has a very difficult and demanding mother, Betty, who is really, really horrible to her the vast majority of the time. One day, Carmen sees an advertisement for a Mediterranean cruise where there is a special guest. Her author hero Ruskin Reeve is going to be on board and leading writing workshops. Thinking that maybe this might help her writing so she books! Of course, as soon as Betty finds out she is insistent that she too will go on the cruise and must be in the cabin next to Carmen. Poor Carmen. Every time her mother bashes on the wall with her walking stick she is expected to react immediately.

Once on board, we meet a variety of characters from Dickey to the drag queen Melody, who don't initially like each other which is tricky seeing as they are sharing a backstage dressing room. We meet Ruskin who has his own reasons for coming on the cruise, Theo a famous TV chef, Holden who is an American gentleman and a few other characters.  

When mystery author Ruskin initially meets Carmen he pretty much dismisses her, which might say something about him but it also reflects how Carmen feels about herself. She dresses in boring, drab clothing, hasn't had her hair done in forever and hides behind her big glasses. However, colourful Fran gets hold of Carmen and helps give her a makeover, and magically, Carmen begins to shine. Of course, her mother does her best to knock that shine off.

For the crew on the Diamond Star, things start to get a bit problematic when there are a series of jewellery thefts on board. Can the author of mysteries figure out who the thief is before they have to alert the authorities and cause panic on board?

My favourite things about this book was the ports that the boat stops in at. It visits places like Rhodes, Crete and Malta. There was also a description of the ship passing through the Corinth Canal, which as a smaller ship it was able to do, although I don't think cruise ships go through there too often, regardless of their size. All of the places describe made me wish I could go on a Mediterranean cruise now.

We enjoy a cruise. Together we have been on two. The first was to the Caribbean and then recently to Japan. Separately we had done the Pacific Islands. One thing I don't remember seeing much of were the upside down pineapples which apparently mean that you are up for some "good times" if you get my drift. Maybe they were there but I just wasn't seeing them.

If you are looking for a quick, easy and fun escapist read which takes you on a journey through the Mediterranean this is a book for you. There's humour, romance, some interesting characters (good and bad), a bit of a mystery and more. 

I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted at The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews. Be sure to check out other stops on the tour shown below. Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy. 

Rating 4/5

About the Book

The Cruise Club

Because the best adventures are still to come…

Escape to the sun with the #1 bestselling author of The Cruise in a feelgood romcom full of romance, fun and mischief, which will sweep you away to the azure waters of the Mediterranean with every turn of the page…

Set sail on the Diamond Star for sunshine, romance – and just a little bit of mischief…

Cosy crime writer Carmen Cunningham is in trouble. Her inspiration has vanished, her deadline is looming, and her meddling elderly mother Betty consumes her every waking moment. Hoping to revive her creativity, Carmen books a dream cruise, featuring workshops with her literary idol, Ruskin Reeve. It’s the perfect plan – until Betty insists on tagging along…

However, as the Diamond Star sails through sun-soaked ports and magical Mediterranean islands, Carmen finds the escape she needs as she discovers new friendships, and unexpected sparks with the grumpy, but charming, Ruskin.

But mischief is afoot on board the ship, with talk of items going missing and a secret club that’s got everyone talking… Will the cruise reignite Carmen’s writing muse or plunge her into the biggest plot twist of her life? Because, as she's about to find out, anything can happen at sea…

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/CruiseK

About the Author 

Caroline James is the celebrated author of later-life fiction, including THE CRUISE, the #1 best-seller that has captivated readers and cruise ship passengers worldwide, earning its reputation as Girl Power for the Over-Sixties! Her eagerly anticipated follow-up novel, THE CRUISE CLUB, is set to make waves when it launches in 2025.

Caroline’s vibrant storytelling stems from her colourful career. Before becoming a full-time writer, she carved out a fascinating path in the hospitality industry, owning a charming country house hotel and a lively pub. As a media agent, she worked closely with celebrity chefs, giving her an insider’s perspective on the glitz, glamour, and grit of the culinary world. When she finally turned her focus to writing, she discovered her true calling, penning best-selling novels that have garnered her legions of fans.

When she’s not writing in Venus, her holiday home on wheels, Caroline enjoys tranquil walks with Fred, her lovable Westie, and swims in a local lake. As a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the SoA, ARRA, and the Society of Women’s Writers & Journalists, Caroline is a passionate advocate for the written word and a champion of life-long creativity.



Social Media Links –

www.carolinejamesauthor.co.uk

X: @CarolineJames12

Bluesky: CarolineJamesAuthor

Facebook: Caroline James Author

Insta: Caroline James Author

TikTok: carolinejames494

Paris in July: Mini movie reviews

Yesterday I shared a list of most of the French-ish things that I have done over the last 11 months. On the list were a number of movies which were either set in Paris or are French films. I shared links to a couple of them, and I thought I would share several mini reviews for some of the others. Shout out to Erin from Still Life, with Cracker Crumb and Lisa from Boondock Ramblings who hosted the Springtime in Paris movie event earlier this year which encouraged me to watch several of these movies.  

I do plan to write a couple of full reviews for some of the other movies but let's see how we go.

How To Steal a Million

What a fun movie! It starred the beautiful and ethereal Audrey Hepburn and Peter O'Toole, who was very handsome as a young man.  The premise is that Audrey Hepburn's father is a serial art forger. He agrees to hand over a famous statue to display in a museum without realising that he has agreed to have the piece authenticated. If it is tested, then it will be revealed as a fake then he will be found out. Hepburn's character then enlists the help of a man she caught stealing a painting from her own house (or so she thought) and hijinks ensue. The movie had such charm and naivety. I couldn't help but think if the movie was made today how very different it would be! 

Paris Blues

Paris Blues stars Paul Newman, Sidney Poitier, Joanne Woodward and Diahann Caroll, with a guest appearance by the great Louis Armstrong. The story is about two American musicians who live in Paris. They meet two American women who have come to Paris on holidays and they quickly fall in love. I hadn't heard a lot about this movie but I did enjoy it for a number of reasons. Firstly, Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward were married in real life so it was fun seeing them together on screen. Secondly, it was interesting to see the way that the race question was addressed in this movie. If you had of asked me to name a movie which starred Sidney Poitier which addressed issues relating to race I would have said Guess Who's Coming to Dinner or To Sir With Love. This movie looked at how different the experience was for Poitier's character living as an African American in Paris compared to what it would have been in America at the time. Another point of interest for me was seeing Paris itself. Yes, there was glamourous side of Paris, but this movie was made in 1961 and there were evident signs of the destruction of Paris during WWII. For example, there was a scene where they visit what looks like a market, and the market is set up amongst some runs. 

Hugo

Hugo was a more recent movie (made in 2011) but set in the 1930s. It surprised me that this movie was made by Martin Scorcese. I always associate his name with more violent movies but this was a very sweet movie which was based on the book The Invention of Hugo Cabaret by Brian Selznick.

In this movie orphaned boy Hugo lives in a train station in Paris, keeping the clocks wound up as he was taught to do by his uncle before he disappeared. He is trying to fix an automoton that his father had found at a museum, in the hope that he would get one final message from his dad. In order to survive and get the parts that he needs he steals from various stores in the train station, which brings him to the attention of the station policeman. If I had one criticism it is about the police man, but otherwise it is a great cast that brings a lovely story to life.

There were so many layers to this movie, which at its core is about the power of imagination and in particular the magic of movies. 

The Intouchables

The Intouchables is about a young unemployed man named Driss who just needs someone to sign his paper to say that he attended for a job interview and was unsuccessful so he can get his unemployment benefit. The job is to look after a man named Philippe who is a quadriplegic. No one is more surprised than Driss is when he is offered a trial period. Philippe is an aristocrat who lives in an amazing house in Paris, Driss grew up in the projects. Philippe loves classical music and expensive art. Driss grew up living off his wits and getting by however he could. What sets Driss apart from everyone else is that he doesn't see Philippe as just a quadriplegic man, he sees him as a man. A man who used to love extreme sports, a man who now has an accessible van to move around in but has a very expensive, fast car just sitting in the driveway.

The movie is a touching look at care and compassion and about seeing the best in each other, and it is even more touching given that it is based on a true story I am so pleased to have watched it now. 

Omar Sy is excellent as Driss!

Here's the trailer

Siddonie in Japan

Siddonie in Japan is a very quiet movie about an author who goes on a book tour to Japan. However, the ghost of her husband starts to appear to her as she begins to have feelings for her publisher. She visits some of the same places we went to in Japan. Only difference....there were no crowds! Here's the trailer

Have you seen any of these movies?

The Lost Story of Sofia Castello by Siobhan Curham

 

Sometimes when you pick up a book you just know straight away that it is really going to work for you! This is one of those books. I was hooked by the end of the prologue and basically couldn't stop reading from that point on!

Ghostwriter Lily Christie wants to continue to write for a living, but she is a bit disheartened after her last couple of gigs with people who barely cared about the story that they were telling even though it was their own story! She could do with a break. When she is contacted by her agent with a request for her to write a new book, she is a little bit surprised by the secrecy surrounding it. Having been presented with a Non Disclosure Agreement:

"Go on then, put me out of my misery - who's the client?" I ask as I sign it, praying I won't be disappointed. 

"Sofia Castello," she replies enigmatically

I frown. "The singer."

"Yes!" She smiles.

"The singer who sang "Ocean Longing"?" I ask, certain I must be mistaken.

"The very one."

"But it can't be." A shiver runs up my spine. "She's been dead for years!"

The book then follows Lily to Portugal where she meets the enigmatic Sofia who both wants to tell her story but also wants to keep her secrets. It's a difficult path for Lily who knows that Sofia isn't telling the whole truth . She doesn't understand why Sofia would specifically request Lily as a ghostwriter but then not be willing to be honest.

As far as the world is concerned, Sofia died in a plane accident during WWII when the plane she was travelling in was shot down by the Germans. Prior to her death, Sofia had a meteoric rise to stardom. Originally from a small fishing village in the north of Portugal, Sofia moved to Lisbon when she was 16 and became a varino, selling fish while dressed in colourful costumes. What set Sofia apart from the other varinas? Her ability to make up witty songs about her fish. One day, a man from a bar offers Sofia a chance to sing in his bar, and thus, from these humble beginnings a star is born. Right from the beginning though, the story of who Sofia is has been blurred between what the public knows and what the truth is. Soon, Sofia is working with major record companies, recording songs that will soon become anthems for Portugal during these troubled times.

Portugal was a neutral country during WWII, but that doesn't mean that Lisbon wasn't a hot bed of political activities from spying to German agents hunting down Jewish refugees and more. With Sofia's growing public profile she is able to attend events where she becomes useful for what she can learn and share. She also becomes friends with a young German girl, which brings her great joy in the friendship but they are both in danger.

It isn't only in Portugal that Sofia's fame is growing, and so she is sent to London to put on a show to help raise morale. There, Sofia falls in love with a man who she knows very little about, other than that he does important war work. Even here, the line between truth and untruths is very fine. Who can Sofia trust? Maybe just her musical partner?

I loved this book! There were twists and turns all along the way. There were some things that I saw coming but there were also a couple of reveals that I didn't!

The modern storyline which is set in the year 2000 was interesting too, with Lily using the time in Portugal to really take stock of her life, but the real star of the show was Sofia's story. I didn't think that the Lily's story really needed the nice little bow that was presented in the epilogue, but I do understand why the author chose to finish the book that way.

The sights, sounds and food of Portugal came to life as well. I could really do with a Portuguese custard tart right about now just thinking about this book! And the description of the air raids on London that Sofia witnessed were so well done.

I have read a number of Siobhan Curham books now, and I have liked them all. Sofia Castello's story will stick with me for a long time and I think it is Curham's best book yet! I loved it from the very beginning to the end

I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted at The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews, with the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge which I host, and with Bookish Books challenge hosted at Bloggin' Bout Books. This also counts for my read on a theme book club where the current theme is War. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the review copy. 

Rating 4.5/5

Paris in July: Since the last PiJ

Whilst we choose to focus on all things French during July, I am afraid I cannot limit myself to just one month. My obsession with all things French is all year round!

Here is most of what I have seen, read or done since the last Paris in July.  I am planning to share some mini reviews of some of the movies in the next few days!

 Umami (film) - stars Gerard Depardieu and is about a French chef who goes to Japan.

A French Country Escape by Jennifer Bohnet - My review

The President's Hat by Antoine Laurain

Bernadette (Madame President) (film) - Catherine Deneuve as Bernadette Chirac

Falling for Provence by Alison Roberts - My review

The Resistance Bakery by Siobhan Curham - My review

Doing French lessons

Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel by Rebecca Raisin - My review

One Winter at the French Chalet by Mandy Baggot - My review

The Little Provence Book Shop by Gillian Harvey - My review

Widow Cliquot (film) - My review

Beauty and the Beast - Saw the musical version - yes, it is set in France

Visited the French Christmas market 

Visited the Empress Josephine's Garden exhibition which was on at the Australian Maritime Museum in Fremantle.

Stuck in Second Gear by Carmen Reid - My review

Midnight in Paris by Gillian Harvey - My review

The Paris Chapter by Victoria Walters - My review

The Paris Bookshop for the Broken Hearted by Rebecca Raisin - My review

The Paris Dancer by Nicola Rayner - My review

From Provence with Love by Alison Roberts - My review

Jane Austen Wrecked My Life (movie) - A wannabe French author wins a week at a Jane Austen writing retreat

Honeymoon Crashers (movie) - A bit of fun

Under a Riviera Moon by Helen McGinn - My review

The Marching Band (movie) also known as My Brothers Band

Secrets Beneath a Riviera Sky by Jennifer Bohnet - My review

Mrs Harris Goes to Paris (movie) - A delight no matter how many times I watch it

How to Steal a Million (movie)

Paris Blues (movie)

Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris by Evie Woods

The Untouchables (movie) - Why did it take so long for me to watch this one.

The Madamoiselle Alliance by Natasha Lester (My review)

Chocolate Eclairs- my Weekend Cooking post

Les Miserables Arena show including French dinner

Macarons class - my Weekend Cooking post

Siddonie in Japan (movie)

A Secret Garden in Paris by Sophie Beaumont

French Rhapsody by Antoine Laurain

The Girl From Normandy by Rachel Sweasey - My review

I feel like I might have missed a couple of things but that's most of them!