My Review for Welcome to Glorious Tuga by Francesa Segal read by Kristin Atherton

'Charlotte was alone in the jungle with a creep in Speedos'!

I switched between reading and listening to this one, simply because I had so much stuff to do in the garden and I really wanted to finish it. It was gorgeous, in fact no, it was 'glorious'! Charlotte takes up the position of tortoise researcher on the remote island of Tuga, where you can only come and go when the island is 'open'. Even then, only if there is a boat with enough berths to take you. For half the year, the island is 'closed'. The storms are too frequent for it to be safe for any ship to dock safely in Tuga. So if you're there, you're stuck - no matter what happens!

There are a lot of stories, interwoven into this book, each one unique in its own way, and I loved this. I enjoyed hearing about all the different characters and how they were surviving, living on such a small island, where everyone knows everyone else's business. I'm not sure if I'd like that, where do you go to escape?!

If you fancy a mash-up of The Durrells, James Herriott and a gorgeous sun-soaked island, then I'd recommend reading this, the first in a new series.  

Thank you to Vintage Books for the gifted copy of Welcome to Glorious Tuga by Francesca Segal.

About the Book

Passionate about conservation and fleeing an argument with her mother, newly qualified London vet Charlotte Walker has taken up a fellowship on the tiny South Atlantic island of Tuga de Oro to study the endangered gold coin tortoises in the jungle interior. She can claim the best of reasons for this year in paradise—What better motivation than to save a species?—but the reality is more complex. For Charlotte has secretly come to believe that she has her own connection to this remote and eccentric community, and she is finally determined to solve the mystery that has dominated her life.

But she will have little time for any of her declared or covert investigations. She is inconveniently attracted to the new island doctor. And not only do Tuga’s tortoises need attention but so too do the island’s dogs, goats, and donkeys—not to mention the islanders themselves, determined to win Charlotte over with cake and homemade jam until she relents and becomes vet to all their animals.

A complete, vivid world unto itself, Welcome to Glorious Tuga is a bewitching combination of warmth and humor. Immersive and uplifting, it transports the reader to an island that time forgot, bringing to life a cast of flawed, loveable people, like a contemporary James Herriot beneath the coconut palms.

About Francesa

Francesca Segal is an award-winning writer and journalist. She is the author of two critically acclaimed novels, The Innocents (2012) and The Awkward Age (2017), and a memoir of NICU motherhood, Mother Ship (2019). Her writing has won the 2012 Costa First Novel Award, a Betty Trask Award, and been longlisted for the Women's Prize.

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My Review for A Thousand Gates of Prayer by Michael Weiss

I was instantly transported to a small Japanese mountain village.

I went into A Thousand Gates of Prayer, completely blind. I'd read the synopsis a while ago when Michael asked if I'd read it, but I haven't read it since, and seeing as I can't remember what I did half an hour ago, I had no idea what it was about! So I dove straight in, and immediately I knew this going to be a story I loved. It's a beautifully written love story about a young Japanese girl who is finding her way into the adult world and the responsibilities that follow. 

It's not just the love that a young girl has for her first romance, it's also the love she has for the village she was born in and grew up in and how she wants it to remain the community space that she knows and loves and that supports her and her family. 

I fell in love with the writing, the characters, and the story. Michael Weiss swept me along as Miyuki climbed the mountain to the hot springs every day and I could easily imagine myself in amongst the mists and greenery of those mountainous paths that were just that little bit off the beaten track.

I would love if this book became something that future generations will read at school. It'll become a part of the curriculum, and young people will write assignments about the tranquility and love stories of this tiny Japanese village.

Thank you to Michael Weiss for the opportunity to read and review A Thousand Gates of Prayer.

About the Book

Miyuki, a humble and determined young woman from the quiet village of Hakone, spends her days steeped in tradition, helping her family make a living by crafting the region’s famous black eggs in the volcanic hot springs. Her life changes forever when she meets Masahiro, the heir to a wealthy Kyoto family. Despite their vastly different worlds, an undeniable bond forms between them, sparking a love that defies societal expectations.

But their budding romance is overshadowed by a looming a powerful construction project that threatens to destroy Hakone’s way of life and sever Miyuki’s ties to her ancestral home. Together, with the help of a fearless journalist, they uncover a web of corruption that runs deep into the heart of powerful institutions.

As they navigate resistance from their families, societal pressures, and the weight of their own fears, Miyuki and Masahiro must decide how far they are willing to go to protect the village, its traditions, and their love.

With themes of courage, sacrifice, and the timeless strength of love, A Thousand Gates of Prayer explores the infinite shades of human connection and the enduring beauty of standing for what truly matters. This is a story of love not just between two hearts but between people and the places they call home.

 

About Michael - by Michael

My story

For the past 50 years, I have lived in Israel, married to an incredible wife, and raising four wonderful children. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the cycle of hatred it perpetuates have been part of my reality almost since the day I was born. 

I realize that while I may not have the power to change this painful reality, I have the ability to offer a glimmer of hope for a better future, built on compassion and acceptance. Through my writing, I aim to send a small beam of hope, and a lighthouse for acceptance and understanding.

My focus is on contemporary love, something I feel our world is in desperate need of. Love in its purest and simplest form. Love as a foundation. Love as a way of living. I firmly believe that love can be the catalyst for change and hope in this world. 

My vision

My vision is rooted in the belief that every love story has the power to inspire, uplift, and connect readers on a profound level. I strive to showcase the beauty and resilience of love as it weaves through different cultures, offering readers not just an escape, but a journey into the heart of what makes us human. Whether it’s a tale of forbidden love in a remote village, a modern romance navigating the complexities of urban life, or a historical love story set against the backdrop of changing societal norms. My books reflect the infinite shades of love.

While I am focusing on my own books for now, my hope is to extend this vision and support talented yet disadvantaged authors from around the world. I dream of helping them bring their love stories to life, offering a platform for voices that can inspire, heal, and remind us of love’s beauty in all its forms. I believe that with your support, we can create a collection of novels that transcend borders and build bridges of empathy and caring.

Timeless Love Publishing 

My mission, through Timeless Love Publishing, is to bring the world closer together by sharing powerful, captivating love stories from every corner of the globe. I’m dedicated to curating and publishing novels that delve into the complexities of love in all its forms, set against the backdrop of diverse cultures, real-life challenges, and timeless traditions. I invite you to discover our world, one love story at a time.

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My Review for The Color Purple by Alice Walker, read by Alice Walker

The Color Purple is one of the most amazing, heart-breaking, and powerful novels I have ever listened to.

Chosen as February's book for our #classiclitbookclub, I did start to read the physical book, but the language was difficult, and I soon opted for the audiobook version, read by the author. This is the way I would 100% recommend anyone who isn't au fait with the African American vernacular English, broach the novel, as it will make a lot more sense and adds to the authenticity of the entire story. 

I especially loved the strength and tenacity of the female characters, as they grew in age, and confidence, eventually standing up to their male counterparts and becoming forces to be reckoned with, in their own right. 

The entire book is written as letters, initially from Celie to God and then from the sisters, Celie to Nettie and vice versa. I cannot express how much I enjoyed listening to this, and I will definitely be revisiting it, and I will probably be giving the physical book another try.

About the Book

The Color Purple is a classic. With over a million copies sold in the UK alone, it is hailed as one of the all-time 'greats' of literature, inspiring generations of readers.

Set in the deep American South between the wars, it is the tale of Celie, a young black girl born into poverty and segregation. Raped repeatedly by the man she calls 'father', she has two children taken away from her, is separated from her beloved sister Nettie and is trapped into an ugly marriage. But then she meets the glamorous Shug Avery, singer and magic-maker - a woman who has taken charge of her own destiny. Gradually, Celie discovers the power and joy of her own spirit, freeing her from her past and reuniting her with those she loves.

About Alice

Alice Walker (born February 9, 1944, Eatonton, Georgia, U.S.) is an American writer whose novels, short stories, and poems are noted for their insightful treatment of African American culture. Her novels, most notably The Color Purple (1982), focus particularly on women.

Walker was the eighth child of African American sharecroppers. While growing up she was accidentally blinded in one eye, and her mother gave her a typewriter, allowing her to write instead of doing chores. In an interview with The New York Times in 1983, Walker described her parents as “both storytellers. They always spoke with metaphorical richness.” When she was eight years old, Walker was sent to live with her grandparents for a year in rural Georgia. In a TimesTalk interview in 2015, she remembered them both as “so kind, so giving,” but they had had a turbulent past caused by her grandfather’s alcohol use. Her grandfather eventually recovered from alcoholism and changed his life for the better. (During her TimesTalk interview Walker said that this experience led her to wonder “how could people who were so wonderful, when I knew them, be terrible when I didn’t know them?” Her wondering led her to write The Color Purple, because she “had to show what happened to them and why they were like that,” describing the experience of writing the novel as a form of “reclamation.”).

Walker received a scholarship to attend Spelman College, where she studied for two years before transferring to Sarah Lawrence College. After graduating in 1965, Walker moved to Mississippi and became involved in the civil rights movement. She also began teaching and publishing short stories and essays. She married Melvyn Rosenman Leventhal, a white Jewish civil rights attorney, in New York City in 1967, after which they moved to Mississippi, becoming the state’s first legally married interracialcouple. In her introduction to a collection of her journals, Gathering Blossoms Under Fire (2022), Walker wrote: “There was a long tradition of white men having Black mistresses in the South. That was not going to be my path. So I proposed to Mel, and he happily obliged. Apart from our love, it was important politically for us to be legally married.” They had one daughter, the writer and feminist activist Rebecca Walker, but their life in Mississippi was isolating and lonely, as Walker recorded in her journals. The family was subject to threats from the Ku Klux Klan, and Leventhal was often away working on legal cases involving civil rights throughout the state. The couple divorced in 1976.

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My Review for As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh read by Rasha Zamamiri

"It reminds me that as long as the lemon trees grow, hope will never die".

I have seen this book reviewed many times over on Bookstagram and I love a story that educates and entertains me, and As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow, certainly did this.

I listened to it as an audiobook, read by Rasha Zamamiri and it was haunting. Whilst the majority of us are living free lives, enjoying vacations and being able to travel anywhere we want to, there is still a war continuing in Syria that has been going on for 13 years! I cannot even begin to imagine what that must be like to live through.

As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow is an absolutely incredible story with beautiful imagery, but it’s so sad. I’m sure the war in Syria is something that many people will be aware of, yet many won’t know to what extent it has affected and is affecting the people of that country. No one actually wants to leave all that they know and get on a boat to sail to who knows where. They do it because they have no choice if they want to stay alive.

Salama is our protagonist and an amazingly strong female character who is working hard to try to find a way for her and her pregnant sister-in-law to escape her beloved, yet war-torn country. Does she make it? You need to read it for yourself to find out.

As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow is classed as a YA book but is definitely a book which should be read by everyone, regardless of age.

About the Book

Salama Kassab was a pharmacy student when the cries for freedom broke out in Syria. She still had her parents and her big brother; she still had her home. She had a normal teenager’s life. 

Now Salama volunteers at a hospital in Homs, helping the wounded who flood through the doors daily. Secretly, though, she is desperate to find a way out of her beloved country before her sister-in-law, Layla, gives birth. So desperate, that she has manifested a physical embodiment of her fear in the form of her imagined companion, Khawf, who haunts her every move in an effort to keep her safe. 

But even with Khawf pressing her to leave, Salama is torn between her loyalty to her country and her conviction to survive. Salama must contend with bullets and bombs, military assaults, and her shifting sense of morality before she might finally breathe free. And when she crosses paths with the boy she was supposed to meet one fateful day, she starts to doubt her resolve in leaving home at all. 

Soon, Salama must learn to see the events around her for what they truly are—not a war, but a revolution—and decide how she, too, will cry for Syria’s freedom.

About Zoulfa

Zoulfa Katouh is a Canadian writer with Syrian roots. A trilingual pharmacist, currently pursuing a master’s in drug sciences, Zoulfa is the first Syrian author to be published in both the US and the UK in the young adult category. When she's not talking to herself in the woodland forest, she's drinking iced coffee, baking aesthetic cookies and cakes, and telling everyone who will listen about how BTS paved the way. A dream of hers is to get Kim Nam-joon to read one of her books. As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow is her debut novel.

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My Review for The Berlin Wife's Resistance by Marion Kummerow (German Wives Book 3)

I love this series from Marion Kummerow. The Berlin Wife’s Resistance is the third book in the German Wives series and we start this book as we finished off the second, where Julius and Edith are at the Swiss border hoping to escape Germany to begin a new life.

Once again, I had my heart in my mouth throughout the entire book. Just what was in store for the families that were simply trying to stay alive in the country of their birth? A country that no longer wants them and will go to the utmost atrocities to rid Germany of these people, by any means necessary.

Marion Kummerow always researches her books brilliantly, and this one was no exception. I always learn something new when reading one of her novels and as I closed the cover on this one I was blown away by the attitude of the women who tried to save their families.

I recommend that you read this series in order to enable yourself to get the full story, and if you enjoy historical fiction and in particular a war story, then I hope you’ll enjoy this one too.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review The Berlin Wife’s Resistance by Marion Kummerow.

About the Book

The soldier looks her dead in the eye, his weapon raised. “You must leave now,” he warns. But this is her last chance to save her husband, and she won’t be silenced…

1943. Fleeing Germany had been Edith Falkenstein and her Jewish husband Julius’s last hope, selling their remaining precious possessions to make the gruelling journey. But to their horror, they are turned away at the Swiss border. Devastated, they return to the tiny Berlin apartment they share with other Jewish families, with its peeling wallpaper and bare kitchen cupboards. It is a world away from the heady glamour of their lives before.

Edith’s worst fears come true when Julius is brutally arrested and imprisoned alongside thousands of other Jewish men, destined for the camps. When she hears the news, Edith feels her heart crack wide open with unbearable grief.

But then she hears of women gathering outside the prison in their hundreds—wives and mothers from every walk of life whose relatives have also been taken. They are united by a single, desperate wish. She links arms with the woman next to her and takes up the chant.

Standing among these brave women offers Edith a flicker of hope. But can they really save their loved ones? And as Edith faces the lines of German soldiers with cold savagery in their eyes, will she pay the ultimate price for this small act of courage?

An absolutely unputdownable, heartbreaking and hopeful story of love and courage. Fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, My Name is Eva and The Nightingale will be swept away by this book based on incredible true events.

About Marion

Marion Kummerow was born and raised in Germany, before she set out to “discover the world” and lived in various countries. In 1999 she returned to Germany and settled down in Munich where she’s now living with her family.

Inspired by the true story about her grandparents, who belonged to the German resistance and fought against the Nazi regime, she started writing historical fiction, set during World War II. Her books are filled with raw emotions, fierce loyalty and resilience. She loves to put her characters through the mangle, making them reach deep within to find the strength to face moral dilemma, take difficult decisions or fight for what is right. And she never forgets to include humor and undying love in her books, because ultimately love is what makes the world go round.

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My Review for All in Monte Carlo by Anna Shilling

I wasn’t sure about this book when I started reading it, but it just got better and better, although I’m not sure I’ve read anything like this before! After I finished it, I did a bit of Googling, and although I knew before I started that it was based on true events, I didn’t understand how the book worked.

So basically, Anna Shilling is a pen name for four women living in Monte Carlo. They tell their stories of betrayal, and setting up a book club to act as a cover whilst they put everything to rights! The characters are fictional, but the events, landmarks, hotels and casinos are true.

Much of the story seems completely over the top and melodramatic, but I think that’s how Monte Carlo works. It’s all wrapped up in its own little bubble, without any idea what is going on in the outside world, away from Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Michelin-starred restaurants!

The characters are diverse and live different lives. From businesswomen to models, to magazine editors, with one thing in common, they all live in Monte Carlo, where men seemingly have the upper hand, women go shopping and dogs are carried around in handbags!

This book is fun, busy, conniving and eye-opening and definitely worth a read. It has been left wide open for a sequel, and it seems there are many more tales to come out of Monte Carlo.

Thank you to Troubador Publishing and Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review All in Monte Carlo by Anna Shilling.

About the Book

Four women, four ways to revenge… 

A Monaco insider reveals what life is like in the world's richest and most secretive enclave, where revenge is best served with a glass of champagne. 

Wedged between Southern France and the Mediterranean Sea, the miniature principality of Monaco is a place for aspiration, for comic extremes and for outrageous personalities. Where a businesswoman gets her favourite Chanel suit flown in by private jet. Where Hôtel de Paris serves breakfast to a drunken socialite in a prison cell. Where two Gucci-clad women are behind a string of burglaries. 

Against a backdrop of cocktails on superyachts, looking fabulous and feeling empty, this tongue-in-cheek tale revolves around four relatable women who meet by chance in Monte Carlo. After sharing their tales of betrayal, they set up a book club as a cover while they settle each other’s scores. But revenge, like life, doesn’t always go to plan…

About Anna

Anna Shilling is the collective pen name for four women who lived in Monte Carlo. A magazine editor, an aristocrat, a UHNW businesswoman and a private banker formed a book club and shared funny, shocking tales together about life in the principality. The magazine editor wove a fictional plot from their tales into this novel.

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My Review for Unpredictable Winds by Thomas T Chin

When I was contacted by the author, Thomas Chin, to ask if I would consider reading and reviewing a copy of his debut novel, Unpredictable Winds, I didn’t know what to expect, but wow, what an amazing book with a beautiful story. 

Unpredictable Winds begins at the outbreak of WWII in Shanghai, China, and whilst WWII is predominantly in the background, the story focuses on the civil war, which ended in 1949 with Communist control and how the characters in the story are affected by this.

Ultimately, this is a complicated love story with many twists and turns and a case of - Will the man get the girl? The author conveys such exquisite imagery throughout the book as the story spans tragedy, heartbreak, love and death.

I’m sure many of Thomas Chin’s readers will know little or nothing about the culture of which he writes so beautifully, and I was definitely amongst them. I may have done a small amount of Googling as I read the book, as I was so interested in what he was writing about and my husband got bored with me asking questions! I learnt about the change from nationalism to communism in China in 1949. Something I knew nothing about before and it made me research a little more.

One of the many topics in the book that intrigued me was Confucianism. Something else I had heard of but knew nothing about. This is what Google told me - Confucianism believes in ancestor worship and human-centred virtues for living a peaceful life. The golden rule of Confucianism is “Do not do unto others what you would not want others to do unto you.” Maybe we should all take a leaf out of Confucius’ book. The world might be a less violent and happier place.

I would highly recommend Thomas Chin’s debut novel to anyone with an interest in historical fiction and I would love to read more from this author.

Thank you to Thomas Chin for the opportunity to read and review Unpredictable Winds.

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My Review for The God of Good Looks by Breanne McIvor

It’s taken me a while to write the review for this because I didn’t really know what to put and, I’m sorry to say, that it put me into a reading slump, which I rarely experience. I think I did actually enjoy it, but it was far from what I expected and it took me a long while to get my head around what was going on - probably my fault and not the author’s, though. 

However, after checking out some reviews and seeing that others were loving it, I decided to bite the bullet and throw myself back into the book on a sunny day in the garden. It did get better, but it could have gotten better much faster in my opinion.

The God of Good Looks is written from a dual perspective: Obadiah, the employer and Bianca, the employee. Obadiah is a douchebag the first time he meets Bianca, but instantly becomes this amazing guy when she begins to work for him - not a believable enough story for me. However, Obadiah hasn’t had the upbringing he would have people believe, and a lot of the story is all about ‘poor old Obadiah’.

For me, there was far too much about Trinidad and Tobago, politics and politicians than was necessary. I understand what the author was trying to do, in bringing it to the forefront of people’s minds, but it detracted from what could have been an amazing story about an amazing young girl.

However other people's reviews for this are outstanding so get yourself a copy and judge for yourself. Just because it wasn't my cup of tea, doesn't mean it won't be yours.

Thank you to Penguin Fig Tree for the opportunity to read and review a copy of The God of Good Looks by Breanne McIvor.

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My Review for To Dream of Shadows by Steve N Lee

Good luck reading this without sobbing your heart out! I love historical WWII fiction and this is nothing like anything I have ever read before. From start to finish, it is simply amazing. Loosely based on true events, it is everything I could ever hope for in a book. It is heart-warming, heart-wrenching, emotional, horrific, and an absolute love story.

There were many times throughout the book when I just couldn’t believe what I was reading. I was angry at Rudi (Heinz), a German SS officer. I was scared for Inge, the eighteen-year-old Jewish woman who often should probably have kept quiet but who was forever sticking up for her camp mates. I haven’t read a book in a while that kept me hooked from page one, right the way through to the end. I had no idea how it was going to end, and what was going to happen to our mismatched couple. I wanted to turn the pages fast, so I found out what was going to happen and I wanted to turn them slowly because I didn’t want this wonderful story to end.

If WWII fiction is your thing, then I cannot recommend To Dream of Shadows enough. I promise you will not be disappointed. If you haven’t read anything like this before and you want to dip your toe in to the historical fiction water, then give this a try. 

Thank you so much to Steve N Lee for providing me with the opportunity to read and review a copy of To Dream of Shadows. It will definitely be included in my most favourite books on 2023.

Book Description

She will save hundreds of lives. But can she save her own?

Inspired by a previously untold true story.

1943. 18-year-old Czech, Inge is torn from her family and imprisoned in some godforsaken hellhole. There, she suffers month after month of torturous labor while praying for liberation by the Allies. But rescue never comes. And her dream of surviving the war dies.

Heinz, an SS Sergeant, has been force-fed the Reich's poison since childhood, but nowadays, he covertly helps prisoners.

So when a random act of kindness thrusts Inge and Heinz together, they can't resist being drawn to one another. Unable to deny their feelings, they dare to dream of a future, a life — together.

But their relationship does not go unnoticed. For Inge and Heinz, falling in love becomes a death sentence. And not just for them, but for all those they care about.

Unless…

Inge makes an unthinkable sacrifice.

Set during history’s darkest hour, “To Dream Of Shadows” is an epic tale of compassion, sacrifice, and the strength of the human spirit.

Discover one of the most heartwarming, heartbreaking, and heroic tales of the Holocaust. Discover “To Dream Of Shadows”.

Author Bio

Apart from animals and writing, Steve’s passion is travel. He’s visited 60 countries and enjoyed some amazing experiences, including cage-diving with great white sharks, sparring with a monk at a Shaolin temple, and watching a turtle lay eggs on a moonlit beach. He’s explored Machu Picchu, Pompeii, and the Great Wall of China, yet for all that, he’s a man of simple tastes — give him an egg sandwich and the TV remote control, and he’ll be happy for hours!

He lives in the North of England with his partner, Ania, and two black cats who arrived in the garden one day and liked it so much, they stayed. Graciously, the cats allow Steve and Ania to stay in 'their' house.

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My Review for The Cuban Daughter by Soraya Lane

Written across two timelines, The Cuban Daughter is set both in London and Cuba, following Esmeralda in 1950 and Claudia in the present day. Claudia sets out to discover what happened to her great-grandmother in Cuba in 1950 and just how she came to be in London.

I was entranced by The Cuban Daughter from start to finish, and I loved Soraya Lane’s writing about Cuban history and culture, and the time-warp concept of the entire country. Cuba is definitely somewhere I’d love to visit at some point.

I love a story that warms my heart, and this didn’t disappoint. Too much information will spoil this for you, but honestly, if you love historical fiction, learning about another country’s background and the warm feeling that a book can give you, then I would highly recommend this book.

I didn’t realise that The Cuban Daughter was part of a series until I read someone else’s review, but this absolutely doesn’t matter and can be read as a standalone novel for sure. I am adding The Italian Daughter to my TBR list and looking forward to Soraya’s next novel, which will apparently take us to Greece.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review The Cuban Daughter by Soraya Lane.

Description

A totally unforgettable and heartbreaking page-turner full of family secrets (The Lost Daughters Book 2)

Cuba, 1950: As Esmeralda moved past Christopher, her breath stilled as he caught her finger in his. It was only a split-second, their fingers intertwined in a hold so brief that no one could have possibly noticed, but it told her everything she needed to know. He didn’t just come to see Cuba. He travelled all this way to see me.

London, present day. When Claudia discovers that her grandmother was born at Hope’s House, a home for unmarried mothers, everything she thought she knew about her family is shattered in an instant. Looking down at a faded family crest, she is determined to discover how it can possibly relate to her grandmother. Soon Claudia learns that the crest belongs to the Diaz family, once one of the wealthiest dynasties in Cuba. Impulsively Claudia books a ticket to Havana, feeling sure in her heart that she will be able to uncover her family’s true story.

Arriving in the bustling and vibrant city she meets a young man named Mateo, a chef who loves nothing more than to cook his family’s recipes. As they get to know each other over dinner, Mateo says that his grandfather worked for the Diaz family and he too wants to uncover what happened.

But when they arrive at the Diaz family home, they find it completely abandoned as if preserved in time from the 1950s. It’s not long before they uncover a heartbreaking story about Claudia’s family and of a young woman who was forced to leave behind everything she’d ever known in search of true love.

As Claudia becomes closer to Mateo, will her family’s story of bravery and sacrifice inspire her to follow her own heart to Cuba? Or will the tragic love story force her home?

An utterly gripping and heart-wrenching novel about family secrets, lost loves and new beginnings. Perfect for fans of Santa Montefiore, Lucinda Riley and Victoria Hislop.

Author Bio

Soraya Lane graduated with a law degree before realising that law wasn't the career for her and that her future was in writing. She is the author of historical and contemporary women's fiction, including the #1 Kindle bestselling novels The Last Correspondent and The Secrets We Left Behind.

Soraya lives on a small farm in her native New Zealand with her husband, their two young sons and a collection of four legged friends. When she's not writing, she loves to be outside playing make-believe with her children or snuggled up inside reading.

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My Review for The Man Without Shelter by Indrajit Garai

I was approached by the author’s assistant, who asked if I would like to read a copy of The Man Without Shelter. The synopsis sounded like something I would enjoy and so I agreed. 

Lucy and Arnault are the main characters. Lucy is a lawyer, with a promising future ahead of her and Arnault has recently been released from prison and is now living on the streets of Paris. Through various situations, their lives become linked and the story progresses.

Overall, The Man Without Shelter is a good book. I enjoyed both Lucy and Arnault’s stories and with Arnault in particular; the author described, in detail, how he progressed as he left prison and I enjoyed his story.

That being said, the book could definitely have done with a final edit. There were quite a few grammatical errors, and it appears that English isn’t the author’s first language. I’m not sure whether the book was written in English or whether it has been translated, however, for me, it didn’t flow as well as it could have done. I would suggest a re-edit to address these issues and the few storyline anomalies.

Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read and review a copy of The Man Without Shelter by Indrajit Garai.

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My Review for American Stonehenge (The Adventures of Jimmy and Andrew #1) by Mike Goldstein

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This is a pretty awesome book and the first in the Jimmy and Andrew adventure series. Jimmy is a young lad who has always wanted a dog, and so, for his ninth birthday, his Dad takes him to the rescue centre and Jimmy chooses Andrew - or rather Andrew, chooses Jimmy!

Written as a children’s book, this will easily entertain and educate adults, too. I certainly didn’t know about some things Goldstein writes about, in particular, the Egyptian history he explains in great detail, through Andrew (yes, the dog)! As we travel on Jimmy’s adventures, if there are words or situations that he doesn’t understand, these are explained to him and consequently, any kids reading the book will learn lots of new stuff too.

I googled American Stonehenge, and it really exists, although in New Hampshire, not Washington State. Something else that I wasn’t aware of but loved reading about.

Think Enid Blyton’s Famous Five, meets Harry Potter with some aliens thrown in and you’ll have a good idea of what you’ll be getting with American Stonehenge. Immerse yourself in Jimmy and Andrew’s world and enjoy the journey. I’m looking forward to the next adventure for them both.

Thank you to Mike Goldstein for a gifted copy, in exchange for an honest review.

 

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My Review for Take it Back by Kia Abdullah

⭐⭐⭐⭐ This has been sitting on my shelf for a while, and I finally had a few days free to read it. Kia Abdullah was recommended to me by a friend, and the author is such a great find. Take it Back is my first step into Kia Abdullah’s world, and what a rollercoaster of a world it is. Full of triggers such as rape, racism and discrimination, this book won’t be for everyone, but I was fully immersed from beginning to end. From one page to the next, I was torn as to who was telling the truth and right up until the very end, Take it Back was full of twists, turns and WTF moments that just kept me reading on and on.

If you enjoy a book that is full of darkness and you just aren’t sure what is going to come next, then I would highly recommend this. I’ve mentioned the triggers, so you have been warned. Go in at your own risk. I already have another Abdullah sitting on my shelf and I can’t wait to see what that one brings.

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My Review for The Woman Outside the Walls by Suzanne Goldring

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Never before have I read anything that will stay with me as much as The Woman Outside the Walls. Never before have I read a book where the protagonist was on the ‘wrong side’ and spent the rest of her life essentially running.

This little old lady who cleans at the church, makes the most amazing cakes and is the ideal neighbour, has a history that she doesn’t want anyone to know about because she feels incredible fear and guilt.  

Written across multiple timelines, Suzanne Goldring’s latest novel will send you on a hugely emotional journey. I was shocked, horrified and disgusted but also sympathetic, understanding, and pleased that Anna’s story was finally being told. 

If you enjoy reading historical fiction and you have an open mind (and stomach) then check out The Woman Outside the Walls. Incredibly educational and a story that will stay with you for a long time.

I am lucky enough to be a part of Books on Tour for this book, so thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of The Woman Outside the Walls.

Book Description

I always knew it would come out one day. They are finding everyone who has stayed hidden. They would have come to me in the end.

Hamburg, 1942 Seventeen-year-old Anna knows she can never tell her proud parents the truth about where she is going. She must hide the fact that she is pregnant, that the father of her unborn child is dead and that she is on her way to a special maternity home, where her baby will be given to a perfect family. She tells herself that this is the best solution. She doesn’t expect to feel the rush of love for her beautiful baby boy in the white blanket, or the devastation when he is snatched from her, never to be seen again.

Desperate to forget her grief, she sees an advert for a secretary in a prison, far away in the east. Days later, she leaves Hamburg, travelling eastwards by train, feeling as if a whole new life is about to begin. It is the biggest mistake she will ever make.

London, 2016 Ninety-year-old Anna sits on the edge of her bed, hands trembling, eyes brimming with tears, as she looks at the picture of the soldier in the newspaper. Her friends and neighbours know her as a kindly old lady who bakes cakes and always has time to listen to their troubles. They don’t know about the hated green uniform she burned, the memories of the prisoners she tried to help and the bombed and blackened city she once called home. But now the time for a reckoning has come, will revealing the truth free Anna or destroy her?

A gripping read that will break your heart and have you hooked, perfect for fans of The Alice Network, The Nightingale and My Name is Eva. The Woman Outside the Walls will take you on an emotional journey and show you that in war, even when you are on the wrong side, you can still do the right thing…

Author Bio

Following an eventful career as a public relations consultant, specialising in business and travel, Suzanne Goldring turned to writing the kind of novels she likes to read, about the extraordinary lives of ordinary people. Whether she is working in her thatched cottage in Hampshire or her seaside home in North Cornwall, Suzanne finds inspiration in the secrets hidden by everyday life.

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