The Hourglass by Tracey Rees

Tracy Rees follows last year’s wonderful historical novel Florence Grace with a more contemporary tale set in London and the lovely coastal town of Tenby in Wales. The dual time tale follows Nora in 2014; a burnt out Londoner approaching forty and in need of a change and teenager Chloe in 1950s Tenby; desperate to dance and experience the glamour and romance of adult life. Nora has impulsively left both her boyfriend and her admin job behind to follow a startling vision of a beach which she knows will bring her peace and help her sort out what she wants to do with life. While in the 1950s Chloe clashes with her older cousin and befriends Leonard a lonely young boy with a passion for photography. Nora has always felt drawn to Wales and so she visits Tenby and tries to understand why her mother left it behind and refuses to return. It’s left to the reader to work out the connection between the two characters and Tracy Rees does a wonderful job of overlapping and interweaving the two stories. The author has a gift for creating powerful and distinct character voices and reading a Tracy Rees novel is very much like sitting down for tea and a chat with an old friend. Well plotted and well written The Hourglass will make a wonderful summer read for

Fans of Lucinda Riley, Rosanna Ley, Rachel Hore or JoJo Moyes.

Published by Quercus on 4th May in paperback

This review originally appeared in Historical novels Review Issue 80 May 2017

View it online here https://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/the-hourglass/ 

The Phantom Tree by Nicola Cornick

Filled with romance, drama, mystery and intrigue The Phantom Tree is Nicola Cornick’s follow up to the hugely popular House of Shadows and once again the story is inspired by a real historical figure. The inspiration is Mary Seymour daughter of Katherine Parr; Henry VIII’s last Queen and her fourth husband Thomas Seymour. Mary’s mother died in childbirth and her father was executed for treason after which she disappears from historical records. Nicola Cornick uses this mystery of Mary’s life and death to weave an exciting tale of secrets, treachery and time travel. Alison is wandering the streets of modern day Marlborough when she sees a familiar face in a Tudor portrait. Although the shop owner is insistent that the portrait is of Anne Boleyn, Alison knows that it’s Mary Seymour and that it is a vital clue to finding out what happened to Mary and to her own son. The time slip tale is narrated by Mary in the Sixteenth century and Alison in the present day and is carefully handled as the secrets and stories twist and turn. With the help and occasional hindrance of handsome TV historian and writer Adam, Alison is determined to uncover Mary’s story. However, to do that she will eventually have to reveal her own secrets; her lost son; her chaotic childhood at Wolf Hall and her real identity. The two narrative threads are carefully handled and the story is a genuine page turner. Perfect for fans of Tracy Rees, Barbara Erskine and Kate Riordan 

Published by HQ

This review originally appeared in Historical Novel Review Issue 80 May 2017 and can be viewed here

https://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/the-phantom-tree/

The Secret Wife by Gill Paul

Gill Paul’s latest novel is an intriguing blend of two stories in two different eras. A young woman hides away at a cabin inherited from her great-grandfather in upstate New York; Kitty is reeling after discovering her husband’s infidelity and still mourning her parents’ sudden death. The cabin offers her a place to think, and she determines to learn more about the man she inherited it from.

Dmitri Malama is a Russian soldier recovering from an injury in 1914 at Tsarskoe Selo, where he is looked after by Grand Duchess Tatiana who, along with her mother and her sister Olga, is training as a nurse to help the war effort. Dmitri and Tatiana grow close and begin to exchange letters, and gradually we come to understand the connection between Kitty’s family and the Russian royal family.

The Secret Wife is an enthralling and page-turning story linking two intriguing women and the very different lives they lead. This book follows the characters’ journeys across the century from the horror of the First World War and the terrors of the Russian Revolution, to the émigré community of Berlin between the wars, and the hustle and bustle of the mid-century New York publishing scene. It is wonderfully researched and beautifully written. This novel will appeal to fans of Rachel Hore and Lucinda Riley and offers readers a perfect blend of romance and history.

Editor's Choice HNR 78

https://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/the-secret-wife/

The Saffron Trail by Rosanna Ley

This is the story of two women who for different reasons feel a connection to Morocco. Nell is grieving for her mother who died suddenly, in strange circumstances and Amy is a photographer; determined to remain aloof and independent. They meet at a cookery course in Marrakech. For Nell the course was a gift from her husband, a chance to explore Moroccan cuisine which has always held a fascination for her and to understand more about her Mother who had grown saffron on her farm in Cornwall. For Amy the trip is work she is illustrating a cookery book and organising an event showcasing the links between Britain and Morocco, but the trip is also a chance to find out more about her cousin Glenn, her Great Aunt Lillian's only child ,who went missing as a young man and the only clue to his whereabouts is a faded postcard with a Moroccan stamp. The two women instantly hit it off and begin to explore the city and its culture. The trip also gives both of them a chance to think about the next step in their lives. Nell is unsure about selling her Mother's farmhouse and Amy is not sure about her relationship with her boss. Interweaving the two central characters stories are the stories of Glenn in Morocco in the 1970s and Great Aunt Lillian looking back over her life. Rosanna Ley creates wonderful characters and writes beautifully about family, relationships, friendship and love. Perfect for fans of Rachel Hore and Kate Morton.

This review originally appeared on the review website of The Bookseller, We Love This Book see the original review HERE

Last Dance in Havana by Rosanna Ley Blog Tour Guest Post

I am delighted to be involved in the blog tour for Rosanna's newest novel Last Dance in Havana. Rosanna is an author I very much enjoy reading, she captures historical periods and exotic locations perfectly but most of all she creates wonderful, believable characters.

I asked Rosanna to tell me about some of her favourite literary destinations.



Rosanna Ley's Five Favourite Locations in Books

Italy – stunning and sensual – is my favourite country. (I’m writing about Sardinia at the moment and

loving it). Anthony Capella set his delightful novel The Food of Love in Trastevere, Rome. I fell in love

with the down town area of Trastevere the first time I visited the city. It’s bohemian, arty and

irresistable. It also sells the best pizzas in Rome.

Mary Anning had a talent for finding fossils in Lyme Regis in the early nineteenth century. Tracy

Chevalier brings Mary’s story alive in Remarkable Creatures and the Jurassic Coast is another

character in Chevalier’s novel - ancient, mysterious, and yielding historical treasures. I’ve written

about West Dorset many times and find the coastline inspirational. I live here! Lucky me...

I discovered another historical setting, 18 th century Bristol, when researching for Last Dance of

Havana. Philippa Gregory’s A Respectable Trade explores the devastating consequences of the slave

trade that existed there, through the eyes of well born Frances and her Yoruban slave Mehuru. I

chose Bristol as a setting for Last Dance because of its connection with the slave trade; my

contemporary characters live in houses very similar to those of the rich merchants in Gregory’s

novel. These days, Bristol, with its waterways and history is a vibrant and eclectic city.

What writer could resist the ‘cemetery of lost books’ and the sweeping story of Shadow of the Wind

by Carlos Ruiz Zafon set in Barcelona? I loved it. Barcelona is a city that you can’t forget and I

enjoyed researching the place for Bay of Secrets.

Finally, I’ve got to slip in Last Dance in Havana. Cuba is a fascinating location. The people are warm

and friendly and the weather and the music are hot. The history is turbulent, the crumbling colonial

buildings in Havana are picturesque and the beaches are to die for. What’s not to love..?

Last Dance in Havana is published by Quercus and available now.


Thank you so much to Rosanna and to Quercus and MidasPR for a copy of the book and a chance to be involved in the blog tour. I hope this inspires your reading and travel choices.
You can read my review of Rosanna's previous book The Villa HERE

The Nurse's War

The Nurse’s War is the second book in Merryn Allingham’s World War Two set series Daisy’s War which began with The Girl from Cobb Street and will continue with Daisy’s Long Road Home. Although this book is mid series it is relatively easy to read and pick up the thread of the story. Allingham gives us enough of the story so far to save confusion but not so much that the first book is simply re-hashed.  This book sees Daisy back from India and having trained as a nurse she has settled into a routine working at St Bart’s and living at the nurse’s home. She has begun to rebuild her life having found a friend in fellow nurse Connie and a vocation in looking after the many brave Londoners injured in the intense bombing of spring 1941. However Gerald, Daisy’s husband whom she had believed dead turns up demanding her help. Gerald has deserted and wants Daisy to get him false papers so that he can begin again in America. Daisy does her best to help Gerald relying once again on her old friend Grayson Harte. Allingham has written an engaging story with plenty of action and some interesting characters. Daisy’s determination to be self-sacrificing can become quite irritating at times although she usually redeems herself. If you like your villains dastardly and your heroes dashing then this is the book for you, romantic atmospheric and full of great period detail. This series is a must for fans of Emma Fraser.

This review originally appeared in HNR 73 see it online HERE

Set Me Free by Daniela Sacerdoti Blog Tour

I was thrilled to be invited to take part in the blog tour for Daniela Sacerdoti's newest Glen Avich novel. It's no secret that I am a huge fan of Dani's writing. Dani's newest book Set Me Free is now available in paperback and kindle edition and comes with a free recipe book.

Set Me Free is the third of Daniela Sacerdoti's Glen Avich novels set in the tight knit community of an Aberdeenshire Village. The books are loosely connected and have some recurring characters However they can be read as entirely stand alone novels and in any order. Believe me once you have discovered this author you will want to read more.
Set Me Free is the story of Margherita whose world is falling apart. Unable to have children of their own she and her husband adopted six year old Lara, a troubled but incredibly bright young girl and then a miracle happens Margherita gets pregnant but what should be a time of joy instead becomes a crisis as Ash; Margherita's cold and distant husband isn't sure he wants another child. Although they manage to patch things up for a time when Leo is three the cracks in their marriage become too huge to ignore on top of which Margherita is worried about Lara who is now fifteen and struggling with anger issues and bullying at school and online. Margherita asks Ash for a separation, desperate to find some space and time to think. She travels to Glen Avich where her Mum and Step-Dad run the local coffee shop. The village has a revitalising effect on both Lara and her Mum and they fall in love with the peace and quiet, the fresh air, the scenery and the people. But is Margherita ready to give her heart away again when she meets historian Torcuil Ramsay? and who is the mysterious boy that Lara has been seeing in secret? After a summer of rediscovering her love of baking and finding what she really wants you will be rooting for Margherita to make the right decision. An enchanting read from a wonderful writer. Daniela Sacerdoti goes beyond the boundaries of contemporary romance incorporating elements of magical realism and the supernatural. I defy you not to fall in love with the place, the characters and the writing.

Daniela was kind enough to answer a few questions for me, which I greatly appreciate.

Five Books that Inspired you

Many, many books inspired me but some stand out.

First and foremost, it has to be Anne of Green Gables by Lucy M. Montgomery, probably my favourite book of all time. It’s the story of an orphaned girl in Canada and the readers gets to follow her absorbing journey through life over six books as she grows up and gets married. Her story really touched me and has stayed with me ever since I first read the books.

The second book has to be Wuthering Heights – so beautifully written and immensely powerful; its images are burnt into my imagination.

I’m also really into Harry Potter – I’ve read all seven books and I think J. K. Rowling is amazing. Recently, at the Colombia Book Fair, I was asked who would I be if I were a character in the Harry Potter saga, and which house would I be in – my answers were Luna Lovegood, and Ravenclaw.

I was lucky enough to have my dad reading The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit to me when I was very young. I loved them and they stayed in my imagination forever – I would advise anyone to read them both!

Finally, advice for new writers: To be very determined and not let themselves be discouraged by rejection and criticism. To work very hard and to be themselves, write from the heart and not pay heed to trends or to what the market wants at that given moment.
And last, but not least, to read a lot!


Thank you very much to Janne at Black & White Publishing for sending me a copy of the book for review.

Find out more about Dani and her books at her website http://danielasacerdoti.com/en/adult-fiction/ and her twitter @danisacerdoti

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

I read this for my book club and it was not the kind of book I would usually choose myself. However I really enjoyed it. I have a habit of judging books by their covers and this one really does not appeal. The significance of the lobster becomes clear early on in the story but it is not a major part of the plot so I'm curious as to why it was chosen. Anyway the basic premise is that Don Tillman; a geneticist at a top Australian University would like to find someone to share his life with. Don likes order and calm and rational thinking so he decides that a scientifically calculated questionnaire will help to narrow the search for the perfect woman. Don enlists the help of his (only) two friends womaniser Gene and his long suffering wife Claudia. One day Gene sends a striking young woman to Don's office, Don asks her out to dinner and Rosie accepts. Despite a few mishaps they have an enjoyable time and it turns out that Rosie needs Don's help to find her biological father. Despite the fact that Rosie is a complete mismatch according to his questionnaire Don starts to spend an increasing amount of time with Rosie reorganising even at times abandoning his previously rigorous schedule. This is a wonderful story about people, their quirks, realtionships, family, friendship and the search for love. A wonderful warm emotional read. Don is a fun character and Graeme Simsion's writing is incredibly well pitched. 

Published by Penguin The Rosie Project is out in paperback now and is part of the Waterstones Book Club.

Tips on Writing a Synopsis from Victoria Lamb

Historical Romantic fiction author Victoria Lamb shares some top tips on writing a synopsis on her blog below

http://www.victorialambbooks.com/2013/11/writing-imperfect-synopsis.html

Victoria's latest book His Dark Lady which I reviewed Here is now available in paperback

The Golem and Djinni by Helene Wecker

This a fabulous debut. An historical fantasy tale set in New York in 1899 in which the author conveys a strong sense of time and place. The author brings to life the many various neighbourhoods of turn of the century New York, the cold, the poverty, the overcrowding but also the customs and the habits and most importantly she brings alive the legends and the heritage as the two main characters are creatures of Arabic and Jewish mythology. The Golem is Chava a woman made from clay her purpose to serve her master in all things but when her master dies she is cast adrift and must find new purpose. Ahmad is the Djinni trapped for centuries in a copper flask and freed by a unwitting tinsmith. Each has their own separate beginning but the author seemlessly weaves together the disparate mythologies and unites the two characters who are hunted by a desperate and dangerous magician. This is a glorious and page turning escapist read perfect for fans of Susanna Clarke, Deborah Harkness and Carol Goodman.

Smuggler's Kiss by Marie-Louise Jensen

This is Marie-Louise Jensen's sixth novel for children. I have read all but one of her previous books and she never disappoints. If you enjoy strong heroines, historical settings and thrilling adventure then you will love her novels. Smuggler's Kiss delves right into the action with heroine Isabelle about to throw herself into the sea, we don't learn why until she reveals her story later on. However we do discover that Isabelle is rather a spoiled brat, rescued from the sea by smugglers they contemplate throwing her overboard but despite her haughty attitude she might prove useful after all. Forced to help with smuggling lace from France Isabelle finds admiration for the risk the smugglers take and the dangers they face and more than a passing interest in one smuggler in particular. Will Isabelle take the chance to escape, will she be discovered or will she find that the dangers are worth the risk for the chance of a smuggler's kiss. If you are a fan of Historical romance then you won't be able to put this book down. Perfect for fans of Mary Hooper, Eva Ibbotson, Victoria Lamb and Eve Edwards. Suitable for readers 10 and upwards.

Tide Book 2 of The Sarah Midnight Trilogy

I am currently reading this book which is a follow up to the fantastic Dreams. I adore Daniela's writing style and I have been eagerly awaiting this release. It's finally here, officially published tomorrow February 21st but already available in some stores. Check out my facebook badge below I am so excited about this book I have made the cover my profile pic. I will be reviewing this as soon as I can.

Click on the Daniela Sacerdoti tag on this post to see my reviews and other posts about Daniela's books.

Updates, Challenges and Stacks of Books

Just a quick update on some of the reading challenges I set myself this year. I am approaching my target of reading 100 books this year and I still have a month and a bit to go so I'm quite happy about that. However I failed miserably with my Summer reading challenge as I was distracted by buying far too many new books and by receiving an unprecedented amount of books for review. If you have asked me to review a book and still haven't seen a review posted, I am truly sorry, I have been completely swamped but I will do my best to review everything I have been sent as soon as I can. Here is a glimpse at just some of the books I have been sent and haven't got around to yet.

Some great Irish Titles I shall be reading/reviewing soon

A.B. Wells Housewife with a Half-life (abwells.com)
Mary McCarthy After the Rain (Poolbeg)
Donal Ryan The Spinning Heart (Doubleday Ireland/Lilliput Press)
The Istanbul Puzzle Laurence O'Bryan (Avon) (not pictured)

Some Fab Literary titles

Maggie O'Farrell Instructions for a Heatwave (Tinder Press)
Melissa Harrison Clay (Bloomsbury)

Some Fantastic Historical Fiction

James Wilde Hereward The Devil's Army (Random House part of the historical reading challenge)
Kate Williams The Pleasures of Men (Penguin)
Gaynor Arnold After Such Kindness (Tindal Street Press)
Catherine Jones Wonder Girls (Simon & Schuster)

An enormous stack of Sci-Fi and Fantasy titles

Sarah Silverwood the Double-Edged Sword (Indigo)
Cat Patrick Revived (Electric Monkey)
Elizabeth Norris Unravelling (Harper Collins)
Kim Curran Shift (Strange Chemistry)
Cassandra Rose Clarke The Assassin's Curse (Strange Chemistry)
Sean Cummings Poltergeeks (Strange Chemistry)
Gwenda Bond Blackwood (Strange Chemistry)
Melissa de la Cruz Wolf Pact (Atom)
James Treadwell Advent (Hodder)
Kady Cross the Girl in The Steel Corset (Mira Ink)
Kate Johnson The Untied Kingdom (Choc Lit)
G. Willow Wilson Alif the Unseen (Corvus)
Tamara Ireland Stone Time Between Us (Doubleday)
Jo Walton Among Others (Corsair)

And Finally a general pile including some great Crime, Romance and Sci-fi. Spot the book I accidently put into this pile. I cannot wait to get stuck in but it may take me some time.

Also some new discoveries I have recently made and which I love are
Lee Carroll Black Swan Rising and The Watchtower
Carol Goodman Incubus and Water Witch
Sarah Moss Night Waking
Elly Griffiths Ruth Galloway Series
Amanda Stevens The Restorer
Cathryn Constable The Wolf Princess

The Villa by Rosanna Ley

The Villa is a wonderful, page-turning beach read. An intelligent and romantic tale of three generations of women, each character is a unique creation and Rosanna Ley manages to slip fluidly between the thoughts and concerns of grandmother Flavia, her daughter Tess and granddaughter Ginny. When Tess unexpectedly inherits a villa in Sicily it could be just the new start she needs, For Flavia it stirs up memories of the village she left behind and for Ginny it's time alone to think about her future and what she really wants. Rosanna Ley is a wonderfully talented writer who will appeal to fans of Cathy Kelly, Rachel Hore and Rosamunde Pilcher. I can't wait to read more from this author.