Month: February 2020

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Books On Tour – The Tuscan Girl by Angela Petch

I thought that this would be a run of the mill WWII historical fiction novel, but it turned out to be one of the more unique stories I have read lately. Told from multiple points of view, the author does a fine job of creating an entire picture of the characters’ lives.

Amazon: http://bit.ly/2SJ0Tzx
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2wsYa4x
Apple Books: https://apple.co/37IgSSW
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2P8YkVt

I can’t stress this part enough, because by having chapters that cover the same periods but from differing character’s experiences, the entire storyline is more holistic, which in turn makes it much more emotional. The reader gets to dig down into motivations and the effects of the war on personalities and general outlooks on life.

As in other books that cover the era, I thought that the parts set in WWII Tuscany were the most interesting, except for Massimo’s experiences in England. I have mentioned that I love learning something new from novels in this genre, and the Italian POWs in England certainly fit the bill. I especially liked Molly’s attitude about relationships. I thought that it echoed Florian’s in that they were both trying to find a little piece of sanity and normalcy in the craziness of war.

I liked Alba’s contemporary story, as well. Although I felt the catalyst for her returning to Italy was a tad much, I understand why the author chose to make it that emotional. I found her and Lucia to be very similar in many ways. I also liked that it was not a usual romantic, “everything will be okay in light of what she learned” story. The strength she found was admirable.

There were a few times that it seemed as if there was too much going on to keep straight. As a result, there were a few plot lines that felt more rushed than they should have been, with Quinto’s standing out the most. However, if one believes in karma and the universe’s tendency to achieve balance, he was vital to the overall arc of the other’s stories.

I’ll admit the end got me, and I read the last few chapters through tears. By that time, all of the plotlines and various stories converged, and there were satisfying conclusions. This not a story in a traditional linear sense, but the world created by the author is memorable and leaves an impact.

Author Bio

I’m an award winning writer of fiction – and the occasional poem. Every summer I move to Tuscany for six months where my husband and I own a renovated watermill which we let out. When not exploring our unspoilt corner of the Apennines, I disappear to my writing desk at the top of our converted stable. In my Italian handbag or hiking rucksack I always make sure to store notebook and pen to jot down ideas. The winter months are spent in Sussex where most of our family live. When I’m not helping out with grandchildren, I catch up with writer friends.  

https://angelapetchsblogsite.wordpress.com/
@Angela_Petch  

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Books On Tour (Review): When We Were Brave by Suzanne Kelman

I loved A View Across the Rooftops because it was my “gateway” historical novel that got me hooked on the genre. I was therefore very excited to see the second book of this type by Suzanne Kelman. I am extremely pleased to say that there is no sophomore slump here – it’s another winner! In fact, the author has outdone herself, as this is even better than her first one.

Writing a historical novel can be tricky because there is a delicate balance to uphold. It should be informative without being too much like a history lecture, but should also contain emotion and actions that are compatible with the era. Not to mention that history can sometimes be dry, and feelings and facts don’t always go together.

This author has succeeded again, as the characters are realistic and jump off the page. There are both historical and contemporary storylines and they mesh perfectly. Sophie (in the present) has suffered some terrible personal losses when a picture in an exhibition catches her eye, as the woman in the picture looks a lot like her mother. Intrigued and needing a project to focus on, she decides to find out more about the history of the woman in the snapshot.

Her investigation opens up the world of WWII France and England, and this is where the novel came alive. Vivienne (Vivi to her friends) is a member of the SOE, a British Spy Organization. She goes to France to help the Resistance fight the Nazi occupation. If that doesn’t intrigue you, I don’t know what else I can say because that had me hooked right in from the start.

What follows is Sophie tracking down Vivi’s story, and trying to determine how everything went wrong for Vivi, leading the family to never talk about her. I don’t want to say much more (loose lips and all), but Vivi is one of the most interesting characters I have ever read about, and I loved everything about her journey.

I have mentioned before that I love to learn something new from a historical novel, and this fits the bill perfectly as well. I knew about the French Resistance, but not about the Prosper Network in particular. The author did an excellent job researching and relaying the information in the course of the narrative without breaking the storyline.

Honestly, I can’t say enough good things about this book, but I don’t want to give it away. You really need to experience Vivi’s story and Sophie’s investigation on your own. Trust me on this one; if you like historical novels, you will not be disappointed with this one.

Author Bio

Suzanne Kelman is a 2015 Academy of Motion Pictures Nicholl Finalist, Multi-Award-Winning Screenwriter and a Film Producer. As well as working in film she is also an International Amazon Bestselling Fiction Author of the Southlea Bay Series – The Rejected Writers’ Book Club, Rejected Writers Take the Stage and The Rejected Writers’ Christmas Wedding. Born in the United Kingdom, she now resides in Washington State. 

Twitter: @suzkelman
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Books on Tour (Review): Our Last Letter by Liz Trenow

I have had a difficult time trying to place this book. It is not historical fiction in the strictest sense (in my opinion). Maybe historical with a touch of romance? Or maybe it is a story about pre-WWII Suffolk England that follows two unique individuals as their paths cross and uncross.

Let’s go with that.

I found the underlying plot to be fascinating. The invention and establishment of what we have come to know as radar were very interesting, and it is evident that the author either has a background or did copious amounts of research because there was extensive detail. It is a tribute to the author’s ability that all of the ins and outs of a complicated scientific system were described in a way that a layperson could not only understand it but also grasp its importance.

I also liked the main characters, which helped a lot. I think Vic was a bold choice that could have veered into a preachy mode about acceptance and tolerance. Fortunately, the way Vic handled such moments in his life allowed for his character to shine through. I thought Kath was also unique because she grew up thinking that she wasn’t anything special, but found through hard work that she was much smarter than she (or anyone else) had ever given her credit.

The plot was woven between Vic and Kath in a way that felt natural and really traced the path of wartime communications. I did think that it reached a point, however, that it seemed as if the author felt the need to rush on. What once contained great detail was rushed into letters back and forth. I understand why the author did it for the sake of the plot, but it felt abrupt and it took me a minute to switch gears.

All in all, it was a good book. I learned a lot about the importance of radar and its usage during WWII. With two winning characters driving the plot forward, one couldn’t help but root for them. I would recommend this book.

Author Bio

Liz Trenow is a former journalist who spent fifteen years on regional and national newspapers, and on BBC radio and television news, before turning her hand to fiction.

She lives in East Anglia with her artist husband, and they have two grown up daughters and two beautiful grandchildren.

Author Social Media Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LizTrenow
Website: liztrenow.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liztrenow/
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Blog Tour (Review): Temporary Wife Temptation by Jayci Lee

Every so often, amid psych thrillers and crime procedurals, I need a brain break. You know, the equivalent of watching reality television. That’s what I got with Temporary Wife Temptation (and that’s a good thing).

Honestly, there is nothing profound to talk about here. There are the usual tropes (business associates, opposites, etc.). But everything is described in a way that makes it easy to understand where the characters are coming from – there is no guesswork needed.

I liked Natalie’s motivation, as that was slightly unusual. It showed the depth of her caring and gave her some dimension. I also liked how Garrett was a little torn between Korean traditions and his life. It was like he knew what was expected, and wanted to comply, but also wanted to pave his way.

In fact, that was one thing that made this book different from many others of the same genre; I thoroughly enjoyed learning some Korean customs and expectations.

This was a quick read for me and gave me exactly what I needed when I needed it. I’d recommend picking it up.

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Books On Tour (Review): The Italian Villa

As I mentioned a few reviews ago, I have been on a bit of a historical fiction kick lately. I have learned a lot about little-known events, and I find the stories to be a nice break from crime procedurals and psychological thrillers. Most of the ones I have read so far are WWII, but I don’t think I could ever get tired of that setting.

Amazon: http://bit.ly/2Sxfrkx
Kobo: http://bit.ly/3bniZhP
Apple Books: https://apple.co/37bPAEc
Google Play: http://bit.ly/37hmvXM

I was excited to come across The Italian Villa because (according to the cover) it contained both Italy and WWII. While the first half of that is undoubtedly right, I feel like the WWII historical romance claim is a bit misleading.

That’s not to say that the story wasn’t appealing. Who couldn’t root for an orphan who discovers a whole different life in a small Italian town? The events that led to this skimmed along and served their purpose. I did feel that it happened a little bit fast, so I didn’t get a good grip on Callie from the very start – only that she was an orphan. I did get to know her better once she was in Italy, though, and her journey was heartwarming.

The contemporary scenes far outweigh the WWII scenes, which is why I have a little bit of an issue with this being called a WWII historical romance. That’s not to say that there isn’t any, because there is. It just takes the form of diary entries that Callie reads when she needs a break from the issues at hand.

For this reason, I didn’t get the full scope of Elisa’s romance/story. It is difficult to get caught up in diary entries because they are very static. I think the author did a fine job of trying to convey Elisa’s story, and there were times when I felt her emotion. But if the author was trying to parallel Elisa’s story with Callie’s, that didn’t work for me.

The other thing I found interesting was that it doesn’t appear that Montevino exists in Italy. A caveat: I am a history-lover, and have studied multiple periods extensively. If I read about something, it is my nature to look it up to find more information. So, this next part might just be unique to me.

In my Google searches, I did not find anything historic about Montevino. The only mention I could find was a vineyard in the Sierra Foothills of California. I understand that the author was possibly trying to be representative of what happened in many small Italian towns during the rise of Mussolini, but it was odd not to have an actual event or location to build the story around.

I did think that the author did a good job of illustrating the evils of fascism, especially as evidenced by Elisa’s parents’ attitudes. They were accurate and astute in their observations.

For what the book actually was, I thought it was a good read. However, if you are looking for an honest to goodness historical romance, diary entries might not be enough for you.

Author Bio

Daniela Sacerdoti is a phenomenon. Over one million copies of her novels have been sold in eBook, her debut novel Watch Over Me was the eighth bestselling Kindle book of all time in 2015 and she was also ranked as the eleventh top-selling Kindle author.

Daniela writes beautiful, haunting and bestselling fiction for adults (the Glen Avich series), young adults (the Sarah Midnight trilogy) and children. Her novels have been translated in twelve languages.

Daniela was born and raised in Italy. She studied Classics, then lived in Scotland for fourteen years, where she married and taught in a primary school. Daniela’s children’s book Really WeirdRemovals.Com was shortlisted for the Scottish Children’s Book Awards. She has also written for the BBC.

Daniela, her husband and their two sons make their home in a tiny village in the Alps. To discover more about Daniela and her world, visit www.danielasacerdoti.com.  @DanielaSacerdo3
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialDanielaSacerdoti/

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Blog Tour (Review): The Harlech Beach Killings by Simon McCleave

Book series are interesting to me. Individual books in a series can be read as standalones, as the author drops enough references to understand past events without having to read the previous books. Other series require full knowledge of earlier books to understand the current plot. The Harlech Beach Killings fell somewhere in the middle for me.

The story itself was stand alone, and it was a pretty good one. I liked how the investigation unfolded; it was natural and seemed true to real-life police work (i.e., following leads, making connections between victims and suspects, etc.) The focus of the investigation (murderous drug dealers) is always a timely one as well.

There were also a few twists along the way that propelled the narrative. I thought the author waited almost too long for one of them, as it was a good one, but came about very late in the story. That’s a risky maneuver, as it seemed a little contrived by that point. There were clues to it earlier, however, the reader just doesn’t know that they’re clues. (How’s that for cryptic?)

I also appreciated the two seemingly disparate investigators. Both Ruth and Nick had their personal demons to deal with as they pursued the case. But this is where the narrative faltered for me. Having both characters with such albatrosses (alcoholism and a missing person) seemed forced – almost like the author was trying to make them more interesting.

I didn’t think they both needed the embellishment. I will say, though, that everything I know about UK police work I know from reading novels. Someone with the severity of Nick’s issues would not last long on a force, or (at the very least) would be put on desk duty for repeated violations. Maybe it’s different in the UK? And I never quite got where Ruth’s personal life fed into her police work. I prefer it when the two have a bearing on each other, and I never got that feeling here.

I think that’s why this book was in between a “standalone” and a “must read in order” for me. Maybe if I had read the first book, I would have had a better grasp of Ruth, which might have improved my perspective.

Regardless, it was a good book. I’m just not sure that I got everything I could have out of it. My suggestion would be to read the first book before this one to avoid any confusion.

About Simon McCleave

Simon McCleave was born in South London.

When leaving University, Simon worked in television and film development. He was a Script Editor at the BBC, a producer at Channel 4 before working as a Story Analyst in Los Angeles. He worked on films such as ‘The Full Monty’ and television series such as ‘Our Friends In The North’. 

Simon then became a script writer for television and film. He wrote on series such as Silent Witness, Murder In Suburbia, Teachers, Attachments, The Bill, Eastenders and many more. His film, ‘Out of the Game’ for Channel 4 was critically acclaimed – ‘An unflinching portrayal of male friendship.’ (Time Out)

‘The Harlech Beach Killings’ is his second novel.

Simon lives in North Wales with his wife and two children.

Social Media:

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Books on Tour (Review): Has Anyone Seen My Sex Life? by Kristen Bailey

It has been a long time since I literally laughed out loud at a book, but this one had me giggling at the most inopportune times. Believe me; it was much needed and much-warranted laughter.

I thoroughly related to Meg, as I think that every woman of a certain age will. It is so easy to get caught up with life and forget about the essential things (like keeping up relations with your hubby). Meg gets a wake-up call in the most hilarious (and somewhat shocking way) when something…let’s say, “unique,” is delivered to her house.

Seriously, this is one time that I am NOT going to give up this spoiler because I about died during this scene, and I would hate to ruin it for anyone else.

Suffice to say that this event kicks off a series of events that make Meg realize how much she has neglected over time. Some of the scenes work, and some seemed a little bit forced, but they all felt natural (although a little bit on the crazy side at times).

I thought that Danny was a sympathetic character as well. I could also relate to having the responsibility of one job while having a talent and desire to pursue something else. I think that is what actually made all of the scenarios work for me; both characters were relatable, and I couldn’t help but root for them to figure it all out.

I also have to mention their kids who are well-detailed and real characters (not just caricatures of kids), with a special shout-out to Eve who has some of THE best lines in the entire book.

A fun read with relatable characters is sometimes hard to find but that’s precisely what you’ll find with this book. Don’t miss it.

Author Bio

Mother-of-four, gin-drinker, binge-watcher, receipt hoarder, enthusiastic but terrible cook. Kristen also writes. She has had short fiction published in several publications including Mslexia & Riptide. Her first two novels, Souper Mum and Second Helpings were published in 2016. In 2019, she was long listed in the Comedy Women in Print Prize and has since joined the Bookouture family. She hopes her novels have fresh and funny things to say about modern life, love and family.

You can find out more about her at her website: www.kristenbaileywrites.com.
You can also find her on Twitter (@mrsbaileywrites), Instagram (@kristenbaileywrites) and Facebook. 

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Books on Tour (Review): The Forgotten Girls by Lizzie Page

As far as epic WWII stories go, this one ranks right up there. A lot of ground is covered as the story winds its way through the waning days of WWII, London, and contemporary Spain. Sound disparate? Don’t worry, it does all link together.

AMZ: https://geni.us/B081JTJ8SPSocial
Apple Books: https://buff.ly/35hyBPZ
Kobo: https://buff.ly/2KyLhKt
Google Play: https://buff.ly/35bO0kR

The 1944-ish London segments focus on Elaine, a typist who gets caught up in a whirlwind romance with the “it” photographer of the period, Robert Capa (a real-life person). The Spain segments deal with a family who may (or may not) be descendants of Elaine and Robert (or Pinky and Bobby as they refer to each other).

I thought that the WWII portions were exceptionally well-done. The author did a phenomenal job of portraying the hardship felt by many Londoners but also captured the excess and frivolity of the artistic/journalistic segment of society. This was a compelling juxtaposition of attitudes, even more so because Elaine straddled the line between the two.

I also liked how the author did the necessary research to weave real events from Capa’s life into the narrative – this added a dash of realism into the narrative and was very effective.

I found the Spain segments to be less exciting and read those faster to get back to the 1944 action.  I understand why the author used these segments, and the “mystery” of the family ties did link the two plot lines together. But I did not think that the Jenny/Paul problem, and Jenny’s contentious relationship with her mother, really did the story much justice.

Regardless, I did learn a lot about the clerical girls and found their jobs to be fascinating. I can only imagine how difficult their jobs would have been. In fact, I found myself thinking that the title referred more to them than to the two little girls on the cover.

That was definitely one thing that stood out about this book; the author took special care to highlight the unsung heroes and heroines of WWII London – those who had no choice but to “Keep Calm and Carry On” even in the face of the Blitz, Doodlebugs, and ongoing uncertainty.

And I thoroughly got caught up in Elaine and Robert Capa’s romance. I would recommend this book for that storyline alone.

Author Bio

Lizzie loves reading ALL the books and has always loved reading the adventures of women in the past so it seemed natural to her to write historical fiction.

She lives with her family by the sea in South East England. And with her dog. She enjoys traveling and lived in Japan for several years. Lizzie has had lots of different jobs from waitressing and teaching to admin and bingo-calling – but being a writer is her absolute favourite.

She’d love to hear what you think of her books – feel free to send her a message on twitter @LizziePagewrite or on FB or leave a review on amazon.

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Blog Tour w/ Review: Been There, Married That by Gigi Levangie

Straight to the point: this is the second book I have read in the past four days where the premise is interesting, but the main character is annoying and impossible to get behind.

I liked the setting and I did get a good hit of juicy “behind-the-scenes” insight to Hollywood lifestyles. The author’s real-life experiences feed a good portion of that, and these parts of the story rang true, as I used to read all of the celebrity gossip magazines. A lot of what was described in the book felt familiar.

In that regard, I think the characters were accurate as well. The narcissism, the lack of compassion, the groupthink…all hallmarks of a stereotypical Hollywood type of person. I didn’t dislike the characters for that reason – their nature was reflective of their environment.

I think that type of personality does not curry favor with me (one reason I no longer read the gossip mags) and that is part of what I didn’t like about Agnes. She was one of “those people,” even though she proclaimed she wasn’t, and that made it hard to root for her.

I could relate to her on a theoretical basis, as I would with any middle-aged character: trying to be a good wife (with “good” being relative), raising kids, keeping the husband happy, etc. That part of her I didn’t mind. It was the Hollywood part of her that made her unsympathetic to me.

I also struggled with the writing style. It jumped all over the place and switched directions quickly. The narrative did not flow at all. It made me feel twitchy and unsettled because there wasn’t a groove to it. To be fair, others may not have a problem with this style at all, but it was difficult for me.

Overall, it was an okay book with a decent backstory and is a sharp satire on that lifestyle, but ultimately, the writing style and annoying main character made it a not so fun read for me. I would still recommend it, however, because others may have a completely different experience with it.

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COVER REVEAL: The Secret Admirer (Natalie Ward #6) by Carol Wyer

If you read this series, you’ll know that book five was a helluva gut punch. And if you’re like me, you have been eagerly awaiting book six! Well, at least part of the wait is over. The cover and description have been released.

So, without further ado….

Pre-order it here!

As if the cover wasn’t enough, check out this description.

The Secret Admirer: An absolutely gripping crime thriller (Detective Natalie Ward Book 6)

‘I tried to talk to you today but you snubbed me and walked away. It wasn’t wise to give me the brush-off, Gemma. I can be a truly good friend but I also make the perfect enemy.’

Sasha’s eighteen-year-old daughter Gemma was all she had in the world. Sasha fell pregnant with Gemma when she was still at school, and the two are as close as sisters. So when Gemma’s burned and broken body is found, Sasha’s world ends. What kind of person would want her beautiful daughter dead?

Leading the case is Detective Natalie Ward, scarred by her own recent tragedy. When she finds a note in Gemma’s diary from a ‘secret admirer’, she moves quickly, determined to un-mask them. But interviews with Gemma’s devastated ex-boyfriend, and her charismatic teacher, who has been seen embracing his student far away from the classroom, don’t give Natalie the answers she’d hoped for…

And then the case takes a devastating, personal twist. CCTV footage reveals Natalie’s estranged husband David followed Gemma home every evening the week before she died.

Natalie is forced to put personal feelings aside and follow procedure, even though she can’t believe David could be guilty. But when Gemma’s housemate is found murdered, Natalie thinks the killer could still be at large. Is she right to trust her instincts about David and can she discover the truth before another precious life is taken?

Grippingly fast and nail-bitingly tense, The Secret Admirer will have you flying through the pages long into the night. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott and Karin Slaughter.

And there you have it. I am even more excited than I was before!

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