Tag: Books On Tour

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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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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
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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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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.

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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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Books On Tour (Review): The Orphan’s Daughter by Sandy Taylor

A beautifully written story that packs an emotional punch, The Orphan’s Daughter just rocketed to the top of my favorites list. Set in 1920s rural Ireland, it is filled with rich detail and memorable characters. The author made everything (down to inanimate objects) come alive (more on that in a bit).

Amazon: http://bit.ly/2RTpHo1
Kobo: http://bit.ly/36YeVS1
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2vLhycR
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2tstj7e

One of the strengths of this book was the way the author circled back around to moments or thoughts. For example, the book starts with Nora and her friend Kitty grading a funeral. Their doing so illustrates the innocence of youth. Later in the book, when there is a personal loss, Nora realizes how much they did not consider the feelings of the mourners. The book is filled with moments like this, which showed real character growth.

Nora is a character one can naturally root for because she is just a good person. I enjoyed Nora’s interactions with people. I especially liked the exchanges with Kitty when Nora used a big word (“Grandad Doyle?” “The very man.”) That was a little detail, but it illustrated the closeness of the girls and the respect that Nora had for her grandfather (which arguably set her at least partially on her path mid-way through the book).

As to those inanimate objects coming to life? Seemingly innocuous items (a wall, a chair, a dress) have an impact on Nora’s life as much as a person might. While the objects can’t show emotion, they can undoubtedly evoke it. This is another aspect that I thought the author did very well. In a like manner, the town of Ballybun was a character in its own right. The author did a phenomenal job of describing rural Ireland so that the reader got a full picture of the town and its people.

There is real emotion throughout the book as well, and the author does a spectacular job of conveying the highs and lows as Nora experiences them. Her joy and sadness, her sense of wonder at finding something amazing, and her confusion when she can’t sort out her emotions are all detailed and completely natural within Nora’s personality.

Ultimately, the story is about love, loss, and the sacrifices that one makes. The tag line calls it “heartbreaking and unforgettable,” and both are true. I cried more than a few times (which rarely happens to me), and there were moments of beauty that will stay with me for quite a while. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up today.

Author Bio

Sandy Taylor grew up on a council estate near Brighton. There were no books in the house, so Sandy’s love of the written word was nurtured in the little local library. Leaving school at fifteen, Sandy worked in a series of factories before landing a job at Butlins in Minehead. This career change led her to becoming a singer, a stand up comic and eventually a playwright and novelist. 

@SandyTaylorAuth
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Books On Tour (Review): The Leaving Party by Lesley Sanderson

I am a fan of claustrophobic movies (The Shining and Misery are two of my favorites). I have always found books a little bit more challenging to get into (the irony is not lost on me that the two movies above were books first). It is difficult to maintain interest when the action all has to take place in one location. The author needs to be very creative with the atmosphere.

I am happy to report that The Leaving Party does an excellent job of this. Not only is the claustrophobic feeling achieved (everything takes place in a house), but the author goes a step further and juxtaposes the tension of the story with a going-away party.

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3aNeZXO
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2RuDpxD
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2O0iVdQ
Google Play: https://bit.ly/3aVn390

I liked how the author started with a murky prologue. Was it an event in the past, or something yet to come? How does it tie into the story? I had to go back and re-read the prologue a few times during the book to try to figure it out.

The story is told from alternating points of view between Ava and Lena, with the events of a past party interspersed. The action flows smoothly, and the switches are always natural; I never felt jolted out of the narrative.

I thought that the author’s exploration of friendship and the lengths people will go to for each other was especially fascinating. How can a person tell when a friendship crosses the line? Can friends always be trusted, even to the detriment of family relations?

What I appreciated most, however, was how the author threw in a few red herrings. I take notes when I read, and in looking over them to write this review, I noticed that I had at least four different solutions to a plot point affecting Ava. I changed my mind at least that many times depending on the details the author provided. I liked that I was kept off-balance.

I do think that there were a few things that could have used more depth, but overall it was a tightly written novel with tension and a few “that did NOT just happen” moments. I would certainly recommend it.

AUTHOR BIO

Lesley spends her days writing in coffee shops in Kings Cross where she lives and also works as a librarian in a multicultural school. She has lived and worked in Paris and speaks four languages. She attended the Curtis Brown Creative novel writing course in 2015/6, and in 2017 was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish fiction prize. Lesley discovered Patricia Highsmith as a teenager and has since been hooked on psychological thrillers. She is particularly interested in the psychology of female relationships.

www.lesleysanderson.com
https://www.facebook.com/lsandersonbooks/
https://www.instagram.com/lesleysandersonauthor/
https://twitter.com/lsandersonbooks
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Books On Tour (Review)-The Nowhere Girl by Nicole Trope

One of the most cleverly-crafted stories I have read in a while, The Nowhere Girl lives up to its tag line of a “gripping and emotional page-turner.”

Amazon: https://geni.us/B07ZRPQVS7Social
Apple Books: https://apple.co/36dNS5M
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2Wy1uV1
Googleplay: http://bit.ly/2N5oKa5

From the very first chapter, it is apparent that there are going to bad things that occur during the story, and this is undoubtedly the case. One of the strengths of this book is the author’s unflinching look at domestic abuse and its long-lasting effects.

(While the emotional impact is strong, and I felt that even as an observer, it should probably be mentioned that the descriptions of physical and child abuse are graphic and sometimes detailed. They may be extremely disturbing to some readers).

The author made a bold choice in being so descriptive, but the detail catalyzes the story. Some events can occur only because of the detailed memories that arise for both Alice and Molly.

I do not want to belabor this point, because I do not want to give anything away. The plot is tightly woven, and to mention anything more would lessen the impact of the story. The author deftly switches between Alice and Molly in the present and Margaret (their mother) in the past.

There are moments of heartbreaking sadness and deep-seated anger, despair, sacrifice, and hopefulness – honestly, the full gamut of emotions are touched upon throughout the plot. I thought that the author did an incredible job of accurately portraying the feelings of all of the characters.

I felt sympathy for all of the female characters at one point or another, although Molly’s attitude after she received certain news rubbed me the wrong way. I understand her feelings, but there were a few thoughts that I found to be troubling.

 I did think that the book ended a tad abruptly. The build-up and uncovering of the family secrets were done well, but it all seemed accelerated at the end and then it just…wrapped up. I would have liked it to be a little more even at the end, but I was still satisfied with it.

I would highly recommend this book, with a warning that the subject matter is disturbing, but treated with dignity and respect.

AUTHOR BIO

Nicole Trope went to university to study Law but realised the error of her ways when she did very badly on her first law essay because-as her professor pointed out- ‘It’s not meant to be a story.’ She studied teaching instead and used her holidays to work on her writing career and complete a Masters’ degree in Children’s Literature. After the birth of her first child she stayed home full time to write and raise children, renovate houses and build a business with her husband.


The idea for her first published novel, The Boy under the Table, was so scary that it took a year for her to find the courage to write the emotional story. Her second novel, Three Hours Late, was voted one of Fifty Books you can’t put down in 2013 and her third novel, The Secrets in Silence, was The Australian Woman’s Weekly Book of the month for June 2014.
She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NicoleTrope/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicoletrope

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Books On Tour (Review): The Forgotten Wife by Emma Robinson

I am an active reader. Whenever I pick up a book, I hope to find something that I can grasp onto that will give me a more profound understanding of character motivations or (at the very least) I hope to learn something new. A character might go through an experience that I can relate to, or have a familiar attitude. In the case of historical fiction novels, it might be details about a little-known event.

Sometimes, however, I learn something more profound about myself that I did not expect. That was the case as I read The Forgotten Wife.

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Kobo: http://bit.ly/38v5L0e
Apple Books: https://apple.co/30NEYJU
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2Ro4NNz

On the surface, it is the story of two women who find strength in each other as they transition from being new neighbors to good friends. I liked how each of the women, Shelley and Lara, were fully realized characters with distinct personalities. I appreciated how the author crafted their introductions so that the reader got to know the women gradually (as they did with each other). It made me feel like I was a third party to their friendship, not just an outside observer.

I also thought the author did a fantastic job of keeping the realism in the women’s stories, again, rolled out naturally as one would divulge in a new friend. Both women had revelations and realizations about each other and themselves as they opened up to each other. But this is where it got interesting for me.

I have been fortunate never to have experienced either of the events that affected these women, which allowed me to read their stories without becoming emotionally involved. That’s not to say that I didn’t empathize with them, because I absolutely did. But I did not have the background that would have hit me on a deeper level. I have read comments on this book where people were bawling their eyes out or so emotional that they had to stop reading for a time.

I found that this stopped me in my tracks. After thinking about it for a while, I realized that I was one of the people who Shelley and Lara both knew. The person who was aware of what happened to them, but didn’t have a personal connection to the event itself.

This struck me as strange because I still felt for them. I enjoyed being a part of their bonding (loved the clothing scenes) and experiencing their joy  (see what I did there?) and sadness.

I’m not doing a good job of describing this. Let me see if I can summarize it better.

The author made me feel like I was experiencing the growth of their friendship right along with them, but with a bit of detachment from the deep emotions they both went through.

I find that to be an exciting talent of the author. It is difficult to make people care about characters they have little in common with, but this author succeeded. I was rooting for both women, even as I had no real affinity for either one.

Still not sure I did a great job of explaining my thoughts. But I did thoroughly enjoy this book and loved seeing both women overcome their hurdles and (hopefully) move on to happier times. I also found out something about myself: that a personal connection to a book doesn’t always happen in the same manner and doesn’t have to be deep and meaningful to lead to the enjoyment of said book.

Author Bio

Emma Robinson is the author of five novels about motherhood and female friendship including The Undercover Mother.

Her fifth novel – The Forgotten Wife – will be out in January 2020.

When she is not writing, Emma is an English teacher and lives in Essex with a patient husband and two children who are an endless source of material.

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Books On Tour (Review): The Perfect Sister by Sheryl Browne

Talk about a page-turner! This book was full of several twists and turns, right up to literally the last page. Trust me; you don’t want to miss this one.

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Kobo: http://bit.ly/2tEc8zM
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2Ro7ui9
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2vjrnhW

The author tells the story from alternating points of view of multiple characters. In spite of the constantly changing focus, the narrative runs smoothly. The shifts always make sense in the story and the changing perspectives give the reader more insight.

I thought the author did a fantastic job of keeping multiple balls in the air, illustrating how much Claire (the main character) had to juggle to maintain some semblance of normality. Not only was she dealing with her father whose dementia symptoms were increasing, but her husband also was non-supportive (to say the least)…and she still had a four-year-old daughter to keep safe.

The action took off almost right from the beginning, with important people and events rolled out gradually in the course of the story. There were no “gotcha!” moments that came out of left field; everything had a purpose. However, the twists were good ones and always occurred at just the right moment.

I will admit, some passages were difficult for me to read, but that is only because the author treated dementia with such care and detail. My father went through a similar decline, so a lot of memories were dredged up. As hard as that was at times, it also caused me to have more sympathy for Claire as I remember the strain that caring for Dad put on both my mom and me.

Claire’s vulnerability (borne from sheer exhaustion) makes it difficult for her to tell up from down and her emotional responses to events felt real and raw. The sudden appearance of someone with a shared past doesn’t help matters, especially when that person’s motives are questionable at best.

Without giving too much away (I hope), the author tackled the current hot topic of “believe every victim” with a deft hand in a way that fit the narrative. The blind trust we tend to put on one person’s retelling of events was on stark display, and how easy it is to manipulate people in this manner should make people think carefully.

I thought it was an excellent book with a timely perspective and lots of good psychological twists. You won’t be disappointed.

AUTHOR BIO

Sheryl Browne writes psychological thriller and edgy contemporary fiction. A member of the Crime Writers’ Association, Romantic Novelists’ Association and awarded a Red Ribbon by The Wishing Shelf Book Awards, Sheryl has several books published and two short stories in Birmingham City University anthologies, where she completed her MA in Creative Writing.

www.sherylbrowne.com
https://www.facebook.com/SherylBrowne.Author/
Twitter: @SherylBrowne
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Books On Tour (Review): Her Daughter's Cry by M.M. Chouinard

I read a lot, as those of you who have followed me for a while can tell.  Many of the series are crime or psychological thrillers. Over time, I have found a few favorite characters, and I get more excited when a new book in the series is released. M.M. Chouinard’s Detective Jo Fournier is one of those. Even though it’s only the third book, there are several reasons I like her so much.  

Amazon: https://geni.us/B081RQX56RSocial
Apple Books: https://apple.co/338xC3h
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2KHLATk
Googleplay: http://bit.ly/2s7LSfW

I appreciate that Jo is a fully-realized character, and the author does a fantastic job of balancing Jo’s work and personal life. Everything about her seems real. In the last book, she had to deal with her dad’s cancer. The curveball she gets thrown in this book is a real doozy. The thoughts she ponders and some of her concerns made her more relatable in this book (at least to me) because we are of a similar age, and I could understand her thought process.

In spite of the complications, she still gives total focus to the case at hand, which is realistic as well. And this case is a good one. It starts as a simple memory loss/Jane Doe (even though she is covered in blood – so maybe not so simple). But it quickly becomes apparent that there is more depth to the case than there initially appears to be.

I liked the structure and varying points of view the author used. There were no indicators on the individual chapters to tell whose perspective it is from, but it was always evident. I think the narrative flowed smoothly without the abrupt changes from person to person.

Another reason this worked is that the book is divided into sections. Part One is mostly establishing the case and is from Jo’s point of view. Part Two switches to the Jane Doe – and this is where it gets interesting. We learn a lot more background since she focuses on trying to track down her memories. There are a few interspersed chapters from another perspective, but I’m not going to give that one away.

The second half of the book picks up speed as clues are followed (both by the Jane Doe and by Jo and her squad). It turned into a page-turner, especially since I was waffling about who the culprit actually was. That’s another strength of the author: giving just enough information that I questioned what I already knew.

Her Daughter’s Cry was a great read, and I would recommend the whole series (just to get caught up).

Author Bio

M.M. Chouinard’s first fiction story was published in her local paper when she was eight, and she fell in love with Agatha Christie novels not long after. While pursuing a Ph.D in psychology and helping to found the first U.S. research university of the new millennium, the stories kept rattling around inside her skull, demanding to come out. For sanity’s sake, she released them. She’s currently at work on her seventh novel.

Website: www.mmchouinard.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mmchouinardauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/m_m_chouinard
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