Three Juliets by Minnie Darke

I am a big fan of Minnie Darke and so I was super excited when her new book was announced last year. I rushed out and bought it, I added it to my 20 Books of Winter list, I started it, but then other books got in the way and I put it aside. When I was creating my 20 Books of Winter list for this year, I added it back on the list again (along with two others I didn't get to read). The difference this year is that I actually read it! I am so glad that I did.

Claudie Miller is a very successful fashion designer who is a household name in Australia. She encourages people to make their own children's clothes using the patterns that she shares through the women's magazine that she works for. The most famous of these is the Juliet dress. 

For all her professional success, Claudie has faced and is facing big challenges. When she was sixteen, she got pregnant and was forced to give away her baby, leaving her both physically and emotionally scarred. Every year, she designs an outfit that would be suitable for the little girl she never even got to hold. The Juliet is one of the designs that she has made, and it is packed away in a secret box with the label "Now you are sixteen" alongside all the other items for each year.

When she learns that she has cancer, Claudie is determined that she will find her daughter before it is too later. As readers, we meet three young women, who all have a story to tell about their own version of the Juliet dress. Roisin, Mandi and Miranda were all born on the same day, and all three were adopted into their families, and live in different parts of Australia.

Structurally this is a very interesting book. Firstly, there are three timelines. We see what happened to Claudie as a scared young girl, whisked away to the country to hide her pregnancy and the associated shame. Fast forward to the 1980s and we meet all three young women as they navigate their own lives, particularly with questions in relation to who they are, and then we fast forward again to contemporary times where three versions of the Juliet are on display as part of an exhibition of the 25 most influential Australian dresses. In addition, there are multiple narrators (at least seven if I recall correctly), some of whom only have one or two chapters, but others who get a lot of page time. 

What Minnie Darke always does really well is write emotional, poignant stories with multiple viewpoints. There are very emotional themes underpinning the whole story, and yet it doesn't feel heavy. In fact, I closed the book with a very satisfied sigh, and then immediately went to order the one book that I haven't read by this author.

As I mentioned previously, this was one of the books on my 20 Books of Winter list. It also counts for Aussie Author August, the Big Books of Summer and Historical Fiction Reading Challenge. 

Rating 4.5/5

Sunday Salon: Aussie authors mini reviews

My reviewing goal for the last couple of years has been to review all historical fiction and all Australian authors I read. It turns out I am a bit behind on both of these! August is also Aussie Author August so today I am doing two mini reviews for Aussie books I have read recently! I was going to be doing three mini reviews, but I had so much to say about the third book that it became a full review which I will post later this week!

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConnaghey

Confession time. I am part of a read on a theme book club. There are times when we are choosing the next theme that I may nominate themes that would force me to read something I already have on my schedule. This month is one of those months given that this book was one that I chose to read for a GR Summer Challenge prompt. The theme that we chose was "environment" which I feel would probably work for any of Charlotte McConaghy's books

When a woman is washed up on the shore of Shearwater Island, an isolated island not far from Antarctica, it complete turns the lives of the four inhabitants upside down. Once upon a time, this was an island that was home to many researchers, but now it is just home to Dominic Salt and his three children Raff, Fen and Orly. They too are packing up to leave. Their last task is to take the essential seeds from the world's largest seedbank to save them. The rest are going to be left to Mother Nature. Shearwater is now too dangerous for human occupation with the sea levels rapidly rising. 

As Dom and his family nurse the woman, Rowan, back to health, she begins to notice that there are a number of things that don't make sense. He's lying to her, and she doesn't know what about. Then again, she hasn't been honest about why she was trying so hard to get to Shearwater either. There are layer upon layer of secrets that need to unravel before we get to the end of the book

All of the characters in this book are damaged by various events from their lives, and we see them trying to make sense of the world that they love as it is being torn apart by forces outside their control. There is grief, a lot of grief, anger, feelings of betrayal at what they are being asked to and so much more.

Charlotte McConnaghey is an author who I have wanted to read for a while. Now that I have read one of her books I am absolutely going to have to go and read them all. I will say I was quite surprised by the ending of this book. I hope they don't all end in a similar way.

Everyone in this Bank is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson

This is the fourth book in the Ernest Cunningham series and Ern and his partner Juliette find themselves at a private bank in a small country town. The reason they are there is that they have decided to set up a detective agency so that they can be paid for solving crimes. However, things take a turn when their visit to the bank turns into a hostage situation. It soon becomes clear that not everything is as it seems.

Given that they are all locked inside the bank, when a body is found, it is clear that someone inside the bank is a murderer, but who and why.

Right from page 1 we know that Ern has managed to get himself into another deadly situation. The question is, will he be able to survive long enough to tell us the whole story so we know exactly who the murderer was, and who stole what!

There was at least one decision that Ernie makes that made me go.....huh? Why would he do that! Some days I feel sorry for Juliette, but I guess that she knows what to expect from Ern by now!

I had nominated this as one of my 20 Books of Winter. Hopefully by the time we put together next year's list there will be another Ernest Cunningham that I can read and enjoy!

20 Books of Winter: August recap and wrap up!

 

 
I made it! I have read all the books that I nominated to read for 20 Books of Winter and I still have a week to spare! 

Here's my list. Anything that is in purple is a book I read in June, green is one I read in July and the rest are what I read in 

Charlie's Last Angel by Maggie Christensen (review)

Secrets of the Italian Guesthouse by Sue Moorcroft (review)

Escape to the Turquoise Seas by Carrie Walker (review)

Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J Ryan Stradal (review)

The Three Juliets by Minnie Darke 

The Kings Jewel by Elizabeth Chadwick 

The Story Collector by Evie Woods

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (review)

The Maid by Nita Prose 

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon (mini review)

The Little Porto Book Club by Rebecca Raisin (review)

The Palace of Lost Virtue by Anthea Hodgson (review)

The Couples Retreat by Mercedes Mercier (mini review)

The Secret Dressmaker by Jenny O'Brien (review)

The Nile Cruise by Caroline James (review)

The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak 

First-time Caller by B K Borison

Seascraper by Benjamin Wood

Everyone in this Bank is a Thief by Benjamin Stevens

Careful, He Might Hear You by Sumner Locke Elliott (review)

This was an interesting mix of books, including brand new books, older books, three books that I had nominated to read last year but didn't get to, not to mention finishing War and Peace which was a big accomplishment!

Thanks to Anna(book)bel for hosting 20 Books of Winter/Summer! I look forward to participating again next year!

Blog Tour: The Little Porto Book Club by Rebecca Raisin

 

Viviane and her mother have recently returned to live in Porto after their life fell apart when her father died, and it was revealed that he had a secret family. However, since moving, Viviane hasn't really made any friends. In her mind, she doesn't really need to. She has her work as a copy editor, her books and her very annoying extended Portuguese family who keep on interfering in her business.

Viviane is a very ordered person. Her hair is cut perfectly, she dresses in a very specific outfit, she lives her life according to a very set schedule. However, her mother is worried about her isolation and so insists that she go out and meet people. Viviane's response made me smile broadly

"No, no, Viviane, I'm not sick. There's nothing to worry about, but I am getting on in age and would like you to make some friends who aren't fictional."

Secure in the knowledge that my mother's not about to leave this mortal coil, I'm happy to voice my displeasure at the ridiculous notion; being forced to make non-fictional friends. I don't see the point. Whodunnits provide all the necessary stimulus I need. The stakes are high, the detectives analytical, logical, using their great powers of deduction to land at a satisfying coda.

"I don't have time to make friends right now. I'm in the middle of a ten-book series and I've made a firm commitment to that each evening." I've read The Quill Chronicles multiple times. They're my comfort reads, as bolstering as a weighted blanket.

Despite her protestations, Viviane ends up agreeing that she will go to a cafe with the aim of having some social interactions, although Viviane has no intention of doing so. She finds a quiet little pastelaria  and settles in with her book, a coffee and a pastry before she is rudely interrupted by a handsome man named Tiago who happens to love the same author as she does! What a coincidence! 

As an aside, a lot of the initial interactions with Tiago made me smile. He has an allegry to almonds and so his opening gambit is to offer Viviane his pastry which it turns out could have almonds in it, and protests that he has his Epi-pen somewhere. My son has a tree nut allergy and I am sure he couldn't put his hands on his Epi-pen that is probably expired any way. Maybe he needs a Viviane to help keep him alive, which is the role that Viviane quickly assigns to herself for Tiago!

Viviane and Tiago agree to meet weekly, but the rules will be strict. Their time together will be spent reading...silently! Somehow though, more people begin joining in the silent bookclub, which of course, becomes anything but silent as the people get to know each other. There is Zephyr, the Australian Gen Z backpacker, and old Albert who clashes with her on just about everything, Thomas, who hides what he really likes to read inside the cover of a military history and Lucinda, who disappears after a few weeks with very clues as to who she was and what she might be doing. Together, the group must work out who Lucinda is and find her in order to hopefully prevent a terrible crime. The stakes are high!

I really enjoyed reading about Viviane and Tiago and their new friends. Viviane is very clever but does tend to be very determined which can sometimes lead to the clues that she has being misinterpreted. For all that she is observant, she also misses a lot of the clues about what is happening in her own world, both with Tiago and with her own mother.  I loved the way that the characters interconnected, and the bossy Portuguese mothers were a hoot!

I did enjoy the idea of a silent book club. As a result, I found myself contemplating whether it would work in our read on a theme book club. Half the time I have to wrangle them into talking about the books we read rather than just generally chatting about life, the universe and everything, so probably not!

Every time I read a Rebecca Raisin book, I enjoy the way that she writes about food, books and locations and this book has all of those same elements. There were so many delicious sounding Portuguese foods, and we were taken to some of the key tourist sites in Porto as we read the book. I do think that this book is one of her best. I loved the location, the characters, and I smiled my way through the whole book! This was a 5/5 read for me!

Now, if you will excuse me. I need to go and find a little pastelaria, eat a Portuguese custard tart, plan my trip to Portugal, and then pick up my book. Sshhhhhh! I'm reading!

I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted at The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews and with the Bookish Books challenge hosted at Bloggin Bout Books.  This was a book that I nominated as one of my 20 Books of Winter and also counts for Aussie Author August. Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy.  Be sure to check out other stops on the tour below too!

Rating 5/5

The Little Porto Book Club

In a city full of stories, can she write her own…

Introvert and self-described whodunnit enthusiast Viviane has never much believed in living life outside of the pages of a book. But when her interfering mother insists that Viviane needs some friends who aren’t fictional, she decides to head into the beautiful bustling streets of Porto in search of her community.

What better place to start than by reading her favourite mystery in the corner of a little-known café? But when one, then two, and then outrageously six other people decide to join her silent book club Viviane realises that she is firmly out of her depth. There’s Thomas, a middle-aged man hiding his love for romance novels, Lucinda, a chic sixty-something with a penchant for Christie, and then there’s Tiago, the man of every romance novelist’s dreams.

But when one of these newfound friends disappears from the book club without a word, will the community come together to find their fellow lost soul, and will Viviane find love along the way…?

Purchase Links

UK - https://amzn.eu/d/0an1mkon

US - https://a.co/d/09BBX9Ol

AUS - https://amzn.asia/d/0gWivcP7

CAN - https://a.co/d/06QBhgxV

 

About the author


Rebecca Raisin is an internationally bestselling and RNA awards winning romance writer from Perth, Australia. Her books are set in stunning locations around the world providing a touch of escapism for her readers and those who like to partake in a spot of armchair travel from the comfort of their own home. Rebecca writes quirky heroines who haven't figured it all out yet but are perfectly relatable, flaws and all. You'll find themes such as friendship, love, new beginnings, food, wine and travel. She's known for writing books for book lovers.

Social Media Links –

https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaRaisinAuthor

www.twitter.com/jaxandwillsmum

https://www.instagram.com/rebeccaraisinwrites2/

Rebecca Raisin’s Exclusive Readers | Facebook



RebeccaRaisinWrites (@rebeccaraisinwrites) | TikTok

20 Books of Winter: July recap!

 

 

1 June was the beginning of the 20 Books of Winter reading challenge which this year is being hosted by Anna(Book)Bel. I really enjoyed participating in the challenge last year so I was looking forward to this year. Now, here's my progress after 2 months. I am actually pretty pleased with my progress. I only need to find time to read 4 books in August and 3 of those are for blog tours, so really I just have to figure out when I am going to read one book.

Here's my list, subject to change of course, and anything that is in purple is a book I read in June, and if it is green I read it in July.

Charlie's Last Angel by Maggie Christensen (review)

Secrets of the Italian Guesthouse by Sue Moorcroft (review)

Escape to the Turquoise Seas by Carrie Walker (review)

Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J Ryan Stradal (review)

The Three Juliets by Minnie Darke 

The Kings Jewel by Elizabeth Chadwick 

The Story Collector by Evie Woods

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (review)

The Maid by Nita Prose 

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

The Little Porto Book Club by Rebecca Raisin

The Palace of Lost Virtue by Anthea Hodgson (review)

The Couples Retreat by Mercedes Mercier

The Secret Dressmaker by Jenny O'Brien 

The Nile Cruise by Caroline James

The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak 

First-time Caller by B K Borison

Seascraper by Benjamin Wood

Everyone in this Bank is a Thief by Benjamin Stevens

Careful, He Might Hear You by Sumner Locke Elliott (review)

Blog Tour: The Nile Cruise by Caroline James

 

When widow Hattie Mulberry needs to get out of her charming country cottage while her bathroom is being renovated, she decides it is a good idea to go on a holiday, but where can she go? There are so many options. However, once she thinks about her favourite author, she knows where she wants to go. She is going to take a cruise down the Nile, following in the footsteps of Agatha Christie who is not only her favourite author but also an inspiration. Hattie works as a private investigator, but she is looking forward to a break from that.

Once onboard, Hattie meets a cast of other characters. There is Canadian Sylvie and her son Ezra who are travelling through Europe together. Whilst Sylvie has arrived safely in Egypt, her luggage has not, so it isn't long before she is borrowing Hattie's clothes. Ezra seems to be obsessed with the idea of curses and very reserved for a young man his age. Maybe it is to do with travelling with his mother?

Other passengers include Peter, a sausage maker who lives in a make-believe world where he is a spy, and Gerald and his much younger, and very glamourous, wife Anushka. She likes to think of herself as an influencer and as such, she isn't really that interested in the history or the scenery, apart from thinking about how she can use it for her Insta photos. But behind the glamour, not everything is picture perfect, and they are not the only people on board who find themselves sharing their feelings and secrets with the people they just met.

Unlike Anushka, my favourite thing about this book is the various locations with the scenery and the excursions along with the associated history. I have long wanted to visit Egypt, but we haven't made it yet. Maybe some time in the next decade. Also on my list of things to do is a river cruise. We have done several ocean cruises, but never a river one. Maybe I can convince my husband to combine the two. 

Caroline James likes to bring characters from previous books back into the current book for another period in the spotlight, and in this book, it is Hattie that is the recycled character. She has previously starred in at least three other books. While I get that this is a boon for readers who have been reading her books for a long time, I have only come to her books in the last few years. As someone who prefers to read series in order, it is a bit uncomfortable for me not having read the previous stories, but in this case I was able to glean enough of the backstory, and to realise that the events in this book represent a new start for Hattie.

There are moments in this that are perhaps a bit over the top, but if you are looking for a fun, escapist read that takes you to some of the most iconic sites in the world, then this book ticks all the boxes. I will be interested to see where Caroline James takes her readers next! And which characters she brings back as well.

I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted at The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews. This was a book that I nominated as one of my 20 Books of Winter. Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy.  Be sure to check out other stops on the tour below too!

Rating 4/5

About the book

The Nile Cruise

Sail down The Nile this summer on a voyage of discovery…and just a little bit of mystery!

Will an adventure sailing The River Nile turn the tide for Hattie?

Hattie Mulberry is exhausted. Worn out from the demands of everyone around her, she’s long overdue a break. So, she decides to take a holiday – the adventure of a lifetime, following in the footsteps of her literary hero, Agatha Christie.

Before Hattie knows it, she’s embarking on a glamorous Nile cruise. Not only a voyage steeped in history and world-famous sights, but one where the passengers are almost as fascinating as the views from her luxurious cabin…

As the eclectic band of travellers journey between ancient temples and legendary tombs, guided by handsome Egyptologist Sam, secrets surface, desires awaken, and tensions simmer beneath the Egyptian sun.

Will the magic of moonlit nights on the Nile bring romance and renewal? Or will the infamous curse of Tutankhamun cast a shadow when least expected?

A gloriously escapist read full of sun, secrets and romance, perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Judy Leigh.

 

Purchase Link

https://geni.us/TNCK   The Nile Cruise

About the author

Caroline James is the celebrated author of later-life fiction, including THE CRUISE, the #1 best-seller that has captivated cruise ship passengers worldwide, earning its reputation as Girl Power for the Over-Sixties! Her eagerly anticipated follow-up cruise novels, include THE CRUISE CLUB, and THE ARCTIC CRUISE both hitting the Amazon Top 100 Kindle charts.

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, Caroline enjoys tranquil walks with Fred, her Westie, and writing and plotting her next novels in her Scottish retreat. 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

Books by Caroline James:

 

The Nile Cruise

The Arctic Cruise

Atticus Arnott’s Great Adventure

The Cruise Club

The French Cookery School

The Cruise

The Spa Break

Hattie Goes to Hollywood

Boomerville at Ballymegille

The Best Boomerville Hotel

Coffee Tea the Gypsy & Me

Coffee Tea the Chef & Me

Coffee Tea the Caribbean & Me

Jungle Rock

 

 

Social Media Links –

www.carolinejamesauthor.co.uk

Twitter: @CarolineJames12

Facebook: Caroline James Author

Insta: Caroline James Author

Blog Tour: The Secret Dressmaker by Jenny O'Brien

 

When Flora Toussaint was a young woman she found herself in the unhappy predicament of being pregnant to an older man.  After giving birth to twin girls, she reluctantly hands them over to their father and flees to Ireland with no intention of ever returning to France.

Fast forward 18 years, Flora is now working in a parachute factory in WWII when she is approached by British intelligence. They suspect the girl's father, famous couturier Lucien Lumineau, is a collaborator. More alarmingly, one of her daughters has disappeared.

Taking the opportunity to leave her unhappy marriage, Flora finds herself living in a room above a brothel, her nearest neighbour is a singer named Edith (as in Piaf) and she is tasked with finding out whether Lucien is indeed a collaborator. It also gives her the chance to find out what happened to her daughters. She had believed that Lucien was raising both of their daughters with his glamourous wife Sabine, but it turns out the truth was very different.

Whilst working in the wardrobe department at the famous Moulin Rouge, Flora is able to use her skills as a seamstress to not only help maintain the gorgeous costumes but she also helps develop an ingenious way of delivering messages across enemy lines using a simple code. With the help of her Paris contact, a Paris wine merchant, she is able to work out her own complicated history and maybe find a future. It won't be without danger and challenges though! 

There is a lot that happens in this book, and at least two things that I was surprised by.  I was also a bit surprised when I realised that there was a character from the previous book, The Resistance Knitting Club which I reviewed here, that played a key role in this book. Don't let that worry you though. I didn't make the connection until I was looking to see if Tomas had appeared in the earlier book or not. 

I mentioned Edith Piaf but she isn't the only big name cameo to make an appearance. Lucien's work as a designer brings him into contact with the great, the good and the not so good in Paris!

I am already looking forward to the next book in this series. If I was to hazard a guess, I think the next book might feature Marguerette and it might feature crocheting! Of course, I could be wrong!

I am sharing this review with New Release Challenge hosted at The Chocolate Lady's Book Review Blog and the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge which I host here.  This is also one of the books I nominated for 20 Books of Winter. Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy. Be sure to check out other stops on the blog tour below.

Rating 4/5

About the Book

The Secret Dressmaker

Shelves of sequins in a kaleidoscope of colours. Bolts of silk and tulle against the back wall. The sewing room was the last place anyone had seen her daughter alive.

Northern Ireland, 1942. Flora Toussaint packs parachutes for the RAF, haunted by the twin daughters she was forced to give up eighteen years ago. When British intelligence shows her photographs of her girls – now young women in occupied Paris – her world shifts. One is safe. One has vanished. And their father, the celebrated couturier Lucien Lumineau, is suspected of collaborating with the Nazis.

Flora agrees to a dangerous mission: parachute into France, pose as a seamstress at the Moulin Rouge, and uncover the truth. Lodging above a brothel where Edith Piaf sings after hours and where Pablo Picasso still holds court, she mends costumes between shows, searches for any trace of her missing daughter between curfews, and circles closer to Lucien.

But Lucien isn’t the man she remembers. Neither is their history. And what Flora discovers will unravel everything she thought she knew – about Lucien, about her daughters, and about the night she gave them away.

A sweeping tale of wartime Paris, family secrets and impossible choices. Fans of Kate Quinn, Pam Jenoff and Kristin Hannah will be mesmerised by The Secret Dressmaker.

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Dressmaker-Jenny-OBrien-ebook/dp/B0GSVGSK36

https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Dressmaker-Jenny-OBrien-ebook/dp/B0GSVGSK36

About the author

Jenny O’Brien writes complex thrillers and heartbreaking historical fiction, as well as intriguing romances. Silent Cry, initially self published, topped the Amazon kindle chart in both the UK and the USA. Most of her books have followed suit.

Jenny has over 40 years experience as a qualified nurse. She turned to creative writing as a hobby when her children were born. Now, 20 years later, she's retired from the day job to focus on writing. She's currently working on the third book in the Threads Series.

Born in Ireland, she now lives in Guernsey with her husband and children.

Social Media Links – https://www.facebook.com/JennyOBrienWriter/

https://www.instagram.com/scribblerjb/

https://x.com/ScribblerJB

Blog Tour: Escape to the Turquoise Seas by Carrie Walker

 

Do you love an office rivals romance? With a twist? In this book the twist is that the rivals find themselves on a ship, competing for a huge PR account which will have a huge impact on their professional careers.

Kat Brennan is passionate about her job in PR. Her main client is Excalibur cruise lines. She can't believe it when she finds that Excalibur is making her company reapply for the right to continue their long standing business relationship. Of course, Kat is determined that they are going to win the competition, whatever it takes.

Leo Kendrick is the CEO of a rival agency, and he is just as determined that he and his team are going to do everything in their power to win that account! The thing is that Leo and Kat have a bit of a history. Fifteen years ago, they were both interns when they were starting out in PR, until Leo got the job that Kat wanted, and she is sure that there was underhandedness involved and she still holds a grudge.

The new Chief Marketing Officer at Excalibur has decided that the best way to provide inspiration to the two rival companies is for them to take an all expenses paid cruise on the new ship Esmerelda, along the Portuguese coast where the two teams have to experience everything that cruising has to offer.  It sounds glamorous, but the reality is anything but. The two teams are staying in bunk beds in crew accommodation, they are expected to take part in all of the activities whether they want to or not and by the end of the two weeks they have to come up with a winning strategy.

It wasn't all bad news though. Along the way the rivals got to experience some amazing sights and activities. But while Kat and Leo begin to spend more time together and to begin to fall for each other it doesn't take a lot for the fact that they are rivals to get in the way. For two people whose job is to communicate they aren't particularly good at it with each other. Mistrust and misunderstandings abound.

I loved reading about Portugal. It is one country I haven't been to in Europe but it is on the list. I just don't know when. We also enjoy a cruise so I could be convinced that a trip on the Esmerelda would be an amazing trip, although I would much prefer different cabins from those that Kat and Leo had to share with their respective co-workers.

This is the fourth book in the Holiday Romance series, and Kat really relies on her friends who have featured in the previous books. I have actually only read the third book, Escape to the Northern Lights (my review), but I have more on my Kindle waiting for the time when I want to escape to somewhere new! I am also keeping an eye out for whatever new books Carrie Walker comes out with! Yes, I am a fan!

I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted at The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews. It was also one of the books I nominated to read for the 20 Books on Winter. Thanks to the publisher and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy. Be sure to check out other stops on the tour below too!

Rating 4/5

About the book

Escape to the Turquoise Seas

Kat Brennan has always been the work-hard, play-harder type, navigating single life in London and the chaos of her job at Northstar PR. So when Excalibur Cruises invite her aboard to pitch for their account, she jumps at the chance to prove to her boss she's indispensable... and to finally relax a little.

But the last person she wants to get stuck on a boat with is industry hotshot Leo Kendrick, the CEO of rival agency Amplify – and Kat's nemesis. When Leo bagged a coveted marketing internship 15 years ago, Kat vowed never to let him win anything again. She is not about to break that promise, even if Leo has become a distractingly attractive opponent.

As the Esmerelda sails the seas, from the Azores to Lisbon via Madeira, the two agencies must battle it out to present the best pitch. But in such close quarters, the sea might not be the only thing rocking the boat…

PERFECT for fans of:

Forced proximity

Enemies-to-lovers

Workplace romance

A dash of spice

Beachy destinations

Purchase Link - https://amzn.eu/d/0eUS4oNt

About the author

Carrie Walker is a Brummie born rom-com lover with a lifelong passion for travel. She has lived in a ski resort, by a beach, in the country and the city, and travelled solo through Asia, South America and Europe. Her own love life was more com than rom until she met her husband a few years ago and settled down with him and her dog Ziggy in a small pub-filled village in Essex.

Social Media Links – https://www.carriewalker.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/carriewalkerauthor/

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 short reviews

Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week the theme is Books I Want to Read by New to Me Authors (Share books from your to-read list that are written by authors you’ve never read before.)

I am going rogue today (again!) and sharing one to two sentence short reviews of books I have been meaning to review that I have read so far  this year but not yet done so!

The Goldsmith's Wife by Jean Plaidy - Read this for the Childhood Favourite theme at my F2F book club. It's been years since I read a Plaidy but it was still so good! And a really interesting story about Jane Shore, a woman who was the mistress of a king and yet ended her life in poverty. Read this for the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge. (5/5 read)

The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters - This book is set in 1930s US and Canada, and tells the story of a young indigenous girl who disappears one day while her family is working as berry pickers. We hear of her life but also that of her brother who was the last person to see her. Incredibly moving. A 5 star read for me. Read this for the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge. (5/5 read)

We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida - I don't really like cats. I am more of a dog person, but I don't mind reading about cats in books, particularly in Japanese books where there is often a twist in the tail (see what I did there?).  I read this one for the Goodreads Spring Challenge. (4/5 read)

We'll Prescribe You Another Cat by Syou Ishida - I think that you might not quite understand what is going on here unless you read the first book in the series. The third book comes out soon and I will be reading it! Both of these books count for the Books in Translation and Speccy Fic Challenge. The translator for both books was E (4/5 read)

Past the Shallows by Favel Parrett - I borrowed this book at least 10 years ago and so when my rerad on a theme book club had a book you borrowed from someone as the theme, it was finally time to read it. Set in Tasmania, it looks at a family whose mother has died and how that event has impacted the father and three sons. I really enjoyed this one and will more from this author, eventually. This is an Aussie author and the book counts for the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge. (4.5/5 read)

The Astral Library by Kate Quinn - I have loved Kate Quinn's historical fiction novels. This one is a complete change in direction. It is set in the Boston Library where a young woman find the way to live inside books. It was good, but not as good as the historical fiction. Will be interested to see where Kate Quinn goes next. This book counts for the Speccy Fic Challenge, Bookish Books and New Release Challenges (4/5 read)

The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan - This was another book club read. This time the theme was Mothers and Daughters. I haven't read Amy Tan for many, many years and I liked this one a lot. It counts for the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

The Paradise Pact by Anita Heiss - I have met Australian author Anita Heiss a number of times and really like her. She is smart, opinionated, and passionate about her indigenous identity. These traits showed in the characters in this book but I didn't really connect with the story as well as I would have liked. This qualifies for the New Release challenge(3.5/5 read)

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon - I feel like Ariel Lawhon is an author I should have read before now, but I haven't. I will read more from her now. I really liked that this book was based on the life of a midwife who lived in the 1800s, and tells the story of what happens in a small town when a body is found trapped under the ice in the frozen river. I read this for the Goodreads Spring Challenge and for the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge. Even though this is a short review, this book counts as a Big Book of Summer at 448 pages long. (4/5 read)

The Couples Retreat by Mercedes Mercier - This is a book that I read for a recent book club retreat that I attended. This book was set on Kangaroo Island and features a newbie police officer who is pulled into a murder investigation at a luxurious house on the island. I liked it. It isn't my normal genre but that's one of the good things about book clubs right? This counts for the New Release Challenge and was one of the books I nominated for 20 Books of Winter.  (3.5/5 read)

Phew! I feel a bit caught up now! 

Have you read any of these books? 

Blog Tour: Secrets of the Italian Guesthouse by Sue Moorcroft (includes UK giveaway)

 

The last trilogy from Sue Moorcroft featured three sisters living in Scotland on the Isle of Skye. Her new trilogy, of which this is the first book, again features three sisters but this time it is set on the shores of beautiful Lake Como

Jade was raised by her grandparents after being basically abandoned by her parents. Through out her life she has had nothing to do with either of her parents. One thing that she did know that under Italian property law, her father would have been the rightful heir of the guesthouse that Jade and her grandmother had run for many years. Jade has poured her whole career into the guesthouse, so it is a relief to find out that her father has foregone his right to inherit.

Fast forward many years, and the time has come. With Jade's grandmother's passing, Jade expects to inherit everything. It is therefore a complete shock when she finds out with her two half-sisters that she never even knew existed. Her grandmother knew about Rosalie and Erin and made provisions for them, even though she never met them.

Jade is standoffish with the two women as she realises that she is going to have to come up with a new plan for her future. Erin was raised by her mother and never knew their father either whereas Rosalie's mother had died when she was young but was raised by their father. With their different personalities and history, it is easy for feelings to be hurt, intentionally or not. 

If navigating new familial relationships where everyone is on edge isn't difficult enough, Jade's first love, Leo, is back in town. Sixteen years previously Leo had devastated Jade by announcing he was moving to England and just expected to go with him. Heartbroken, Jade said no, and so that was it. But now Leo is back after his relationship, which was both romantic and business, disintegrated in spectacular fashion. He is now at a loose end trying to work out what to do next.

I really enjoyed that Leo had his own storyline, and that he wasn't just there to be the love interest. His family also played an important part in the story. His parents had long been friends to Jade and her grandmother, so they provide support, but their lives are also changing. They are now semi-retired with Leo's brother taking over the management of running their own boutique hotel. Is there a place for Leo back in Italy or will he return to England to forge his new life?

As always Sue Moorcroft brings the setting to life on the page through the scenery, the food, the vibe. While I have visited Italy a couple of times, I have never made it to Lake Como and she had me wishing that I could visit there to see the amazing beauty for myself. 

There are two more books in the Italian Legacy series, one for each of the remaining sisters. I am looking forward to learning more about their stories, and seeing how this cobbled together family can truly unite and make up for all of the lost years!

I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted at The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews. It was also one of the books I nominated for the Twenty Books of Winter. The theme for my read on a theme book club this time is Secrets, so given the title even has the word in it, this will be one of my book club selection. Thanks to the publisher and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy. Be sure to check out other stops on the tour below too!

Rating 4/5

About the Book

Secrets of the Italian Guesthouse

Two sisters she's never met
A first love who's impossible to forget...

For Jade, life in Lake Como is la dolce vita. Until her beloved grandmother passes, leaving Jade not just the family's bustling guesthouse to run, but two life-changing secrets to confront...

The pensione hasn't just been left to Jade, it's also been inherited by her sisters - who she had no idea existed. As Erin and Rosalie arrive in Italy, Jade is forced to face the heart-wrenching prospect of sharing her last remaining tie to the woman who raised her.

Jade is desperately trying to hold on to the past, but there's one person she would prefer to leave firmly behind: her first love, Leo. He's back in the city that is filled with the memories they once made together. But as Jade fights to take control of her future and her heart, why do all cobbled roads lead back to Leo?

Lose yourself in the first, utterly romantic novel in a brand-new trilogy, filled with new beginnings and second chances. Perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Milly Johnson.

Purchase Link - https://geni.us/ItalianGuesthouse

About the Author


Sue Moorcroft is a Sunday Times bestselling author. Her novels have reached #1 on Kindle UK and Top 100 on Kindle US, Canada, Germany and Italy. She’s won the Goldsboro Books Contemporary Novel of the Year, Readers’ Best Romantic Novel award, two HOLT Medallions and the Katie Fforde Bursary. She’s the president of the Romantic Novelists’ Association.

Her novels, short stories, serials, columns, writing ‘how to’ and courses have appeared around the world.

Social Media Links –

Amazon page: Sue Moorcroft

Audible page: Sue Moorcroft

Website: www.suemoorcroft.com

Facebook author page SueMoorcroftAuthor

Twitter: @SueMoorcroft

Instagram: @SueMoorcroftAuthor

Linked in: Sue Moorcroft

Link Tree: linktr.ee/SueMoorcroft

Bookbub: SueMoorcroft1

Giveaway to Win a signed copy of Secrets of the Italian Guesthouse and a Sue Moorcroft pen (Open to UK Only)

*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome. Please enter using the Gleam box below. The winner will be selected at random via Gleam from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

Win a signed copy of Secrets of the Italian Guesthouse & Sue Moorcroft pen (UK Only)

Classics Club Spin: Careful, He Might Here You by Sumner Locke Elliott

When I put together my classics list, I deliberately went in search books that were considered Australian classics and included them as part of my list. One of my choices was this book, Careful, He Might Hear You by Sumner Lock Elliott. When the spin landed on this as the selection I was pretty happy. I had no idea, though, that I would love this as much as I did.

I am not sure that this author is one that I knew particularly much about, although I had heard of the movie version of this book which was made back in the 1980s. Apparently Elliott was a very successful writer and well known in the US. This book, which came out in 1963, was very autobiographical and also very successful, winning the 1963 Miles Franklin prize which is our top literary prize.

Our story opens with a glimpse into the life of a young boy named PS, so called because he was a postscript to his deceased mother's ridiculous life. Sinden died shortly after his birth, and with his father being perennially off searching for gold, his Aunt Lila and Uncle George are raising him as requested by his mother before she passed 

They live a very modest lifestyle, but there is a lot of love and Sinden is fondly remembered as Little One. When PS and his aunt go to visit her grave they refer to it as the The Little Garden, planting flowers but never mentioning that it is his mother's final resting place. It might be more whimsical as opposed to truthful, but PS is happy and secure.

When Aunt Vanessa turns up, PS's life is gradually turned upside down. Vanessa was sent to England at a young age to be a companion to a relative and so the life she leads is very different to that of her sisters. Vanessa believes that she too has a mandate to care for PS. In her eyes, this means providing him with the very best of everything including education, elocution correction to get rid of his terrible Australian accent, piano lessons, a big house, and impressive toys. These are all things that the humble Lila and George can not possibly provide

Ultimately this leads to a bitter custody battle over the bewildered little boy who just wants to go home and who doesn't really understand what it going on.

Whilst this is PS's story, we also get glimpses into the past lives of the sisters, including Sinden who was a writer who had received critical claim but not financial success. We also meet the father, Logan, who is irresistible to the sisters and who, ultimately, absconds from all responsibility for his son. One of the fun things for me was that Logan comes from Bacchus Marsh which is just up the road from me. 

Ultimately though, this is a quintessentially Sydney book. We catch the ferry across the harbour and the train to various locations, we feel the heat and witness spectacular summer storms and so much more. It is also a Depression story, with particular reference to the impact of the world financial situation on ordinary Aussie families.

This is a long book, coming in at 495 pages. It was very readable and I read it in a couple of days. I just had to pick it up to read and see what happened next at every opportunity My emotions ebbed and flowed with the story, and I recognised some of the bewilderment that PS felt from my own childhood experiences when my parents divorced. 

Bring on the next Aussie classic!

This book was one of the books I nominated for 20 Books of Winter and counts for the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge, the Big Books of Summer (hosted by Sue at Book by Book and Melinda from A Web of Stories) and also fits my read on a theme book club theme which is Secrets.

Twenty Books of Winter: July recap

 

1 June was the beginning of the 20 Books of Winter reading challenge which this year is being hosted by Anna(Book)Bel. I really enjoyed participating in the challenge last year so I was looking forward to this year. Now, here's my progress after 1 month. I am actually pretty pleased with my progress, having completed 9 of my nominated reads in June!

Here's my list, subject to change of course, and anything that is in purple is a book I read in June!

Charlie's Last Angel by Maggie Christensen (review)

Secrets of the Italian Guesthouse by Sue Moorcroft 

Escape to the Turquoise Seas by Carrie Walker 

Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J Ryan Stradal

The Three Juliets by Minnie Darke 

The Kings Jewel by Elizabeth Chadwick (started)

The Story Collector by Evie Woods

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (review)

The Maid by Nita Prose 

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

The Little Porto Book Club by Rebecca Raisin

The Palace of Lost Virtue by Anthea Hodgson (review)

The Couples Retreat by Mercedes Mercier

The Secret Dressmaker by Jenny O'Brien

The Nile Cruise by Caroline James

The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak 

First-time Caller by B K Borison

Seascraper by Benjamin Wood

Everyone in this Bank is a Thief by Benjamin Stevens

Careful, He Might Hear You by Sumner Locke Elliott