Book Synopsis:

There are no secrets that time does not reveal…

Bristol 1937
The year is 1937 and the country is still reeling from the abdication of King Edward the Eighth the year before.
His brother, the Duke of York has become King George the Sixth and will be crowned in May.
The country is on a high. Union Jacks are being dusted off and bunting is being made. Thelma, Jenny and residents of Coronation Close are all a buzz with planning the street parties and celebrations for the great day.
But behind every door shameful secrets and sins linger on Coronation Close, just bubbling to expose themselves…

My Review:

This was a very absorbing, entertaining read that I really enjoyed.

Firstly it was great to be back with the residents of Coronation Close who have started to feel like old friends. I loved the closeness of the residents and how they all seemed to come together against the odds. The author’s fabulous descriptions really brought the period to life for me and I often felt like I was actually there experiencing everything alongside the characters. I found myself wishing that I lived in Coronation Lane and was a part of their group.

As we are close to the coronation of Charles the Third I loved all the wonderful descriptions of King George’s coronation. It was fascinating to follow the events leading up to it and to experience all the build up to it alongside the characters. The descriptions of the street parties and the characters reaction to the coronation brought a smile to my face. It made me wonder if anyone will celebrate the same way this time round.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this fabulous series. The book was fairly fast paced and there always seemed to be something happening to keep my interest. Despite the many characters, I found it easy to follow all the different stories at once. I found it very interesting to find out more about life in the years prior to world war two, though it was quite poignant to realise how things might end up for some of the characters in future books.

Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for my copy of this book and publisher for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

About The Author:

Lizzie Lane has written over fifty books a number of which have appeared in the top thirty best selling paperbacks and the Heatseekers charts. Her pet interest is WW2, how little people carried on regardless against the biggest upheaval the world had ever known. She mentions at one stage about how it seemed Britain was sinking beneath the weight of weaponry and allied soldiers from all over the world.

Born and raised in Bristol, a number of her family were involved in the tobacco industry which at one time employed 13,000 people in the city. This is the inspiration behind her latest series, The Tobacco Girls which is set against those five years of war and follows their lives and loves, their hope for survival and better times to come.

Good morning everyone and happy weekend! I was lucky enough to get a copy of this beautiful book this week. It’s one of my most anticipated reads and I can’t wait to read it soon. This book also has stunning endpapers and some lovely writing when you take the cover off.

We’ve got some tired kids this weekend so we’re hoping for a quiet one. My youngest has a birthday party this afternoon and the other two are off with their grannie to see the new Mario movie. I’m hoping to read some more of Go As A River too which I’m enjoying so far.

Huge thanks to the publisher for sending me this beautiful finished copy.

What are you reading this weekend?

Book Synopsis:

Roach – bookseller, loner and true crime fanatic- is not interested in making friends. She has all the company she needs in her serial killer books, murder podcasts and her pet snail, Bleep.

That is, until Laura joins the bookshop.

With her cute literary tote bags and sunny smile, she’s everyone’s favourite bookseller. But beneath the shiny veneer, Roach senses a darkness within Laura, the same darkness Roach possesses.

And as curiosity blooms into morbid obsession, Roach becomes determined to be a part of Laura’s story – whether Laura wants her in it or not.

About The Author:

Alice Slater is a writer, podcaster and ex-bookseller from London. She studied creative writing at MMU and UEA. She lives in London with her husband and a lot of books. Death of a Bookseller is her first novel.

Book Synopsis:

From the author of The Coffin Club, a twisty psychological suspense about family secrets. 

How well do your family really know you?

Belle can’t wait to finally have her twins all to herself after their first term at university. But when Kit unexpectedly brings back her boyfriend Ivo, Belle has to welcome him into their home. Charming and confident, Ivo soon wins over the family, but Belle can’t shake a strange feeling. And when Ivo reveals he knows a lot more about Belle than he first let on, she realises his intrusion into their lives could destroy everything she has built. How far is Belle willing to go to protect her family and herself? 

My Review:

Twin Truths is a fast paced, atmospheric book that I couldn’t put down. It’s going to be a difficult book to review as I really don’t want to give anything away.

Firstly I really liked Belle and enjoyed following her throughout the book. Yes she’s made mistakes (haven’t we all) but I felt sorry for her family reunion being interrupted by an unexpected guest. Belle obviously loves her family and it put me on edge to see the lengths she’d go to protect them. Ivo was an interesting character who I loved to hate. I got bad vibes from him from the start and his actions chilled me as I realised what his plan was.

The story is told from Belle’s point of view with flashbacks to Belle’s past. The secrets and lies are slowly revealed as the tension slowly builds up until it becomes almost palpable. There is some truly nail biting action and some surprising twists that kept me guessing until the end. Just when I thought I’d figured it out, something would happen to send the story off in another direction. The ending was amazing and it was very satisfying to see everything come together.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author but I will definitely be reading more from her soon.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to the publisher for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Jacqueline (Jack) Sutherland worked in corporate PR and marketing for over twenty years. She began her debut thriller, The Coffin Club (Point Blank, 2022) when she signed up for the 2020 Faber Academy Write Your Novel course, which she described as the best thing she’s ever done. Jacqueline lives in Guildford with her husband and their four sons.

Good morning everyone and Happy Friday. I’ve been super lucky to receive some fantastic book post this week.

⭐Death Of A Book Seller by Alice Slater
⭐Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward
⭐Don’t Look Back by Jo Spain
⭐From Now Until Forever by Rowan Coleman
⭐Between Us by Mhairi McFarlane
⭐Vulcana by Rebecca F. John
⭐Chicken Wars by Adam Leigh

Two of these are for blog tours but the rest were surprise bookpost which is the very best type of book post. Even better my husband was back at work this week so I got to sneak it onto my shelves without him noticing hee hee.

I’m really excited to read all of these soon . Huge thanks to all the publishers for my copies it’s really appreciated!

Have you received any bookpost this week?

Book Synopsis:

Because Paris is always a good idea…

Years ago, Juliet left a little piece of her heart in Paris – and now, separated from her husband and with her children flying the nest, it’s time to get it back!

So she puts on her best red lipstick, books a cosy attic apartment near Notre-Dame and takes the next train out of London.

Arriving at the Gare du Nord, the memories come flooding back: bustling street cafés, cheap wine in candlelit bars and a handsome boy with glittering eyes.

But Juliet has also been keeping a secret for over two decades – and she begins to realise it’s impossible to move forwards without first looking back.

Something tells her that the next thirty days might just change everything…

My Review:

Thirty Days In Paris is a heartwarming, compelling read that was perfect for escaping from the chaos of the Easter Holidays.

Firstly I loved the author’s wonderful descriptions of living in Paris which made me feel like I was actually there walking the streets alongside the characters. It’s always been a bit of a fantasy of mine to live in Paris so I drank in all the little details of Juliet’s life there. I loved following her as she met up with old friends and dined out in Paris, eating some absolutely delicious sounding food.

The story is told in two different timelines; one following Juliet in the present day as she rediscovers her love of Paris and one flashing back to her time as an au pair when she was 20. I loved the way the author does this as it makes it easier to get to know Juliet and find out the reasons behind her return to Paris. I especially liked that Juliet is an older lady as I think her life experiences brought more to the story. The romance that develops is very sweet and I enjoyed watching it unfold. I had quickly grown fond of Juliet and wanted to keep reading to see if she got the happy ending I felt she deserved.

The story unfolds at a gentle pace but I didn’t mind this as I was so absorbed in the story. Unusually for me I didn’t have a preferred timeline and enjoyed following both stories equally. It was lovely to see Paris heal Juliet and to watch her create a new life for herself in the city. The ending was brilliant and, although I did guess how it would end, I thought it was a lovely way to end the book.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to the publisher for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

I’m Veronica – otherwise known as Ronnie – and I’m delighted you’ve found your way here!

I love to take my readers somewhere they might like to be, whether a gorgeous house in the countryside or on a seaside clifftop. There, my characters go through the trials and tribulation of everyday life, embroiled in situations and dilemmas we can all relate to. Love is at the heart of it, but all kinds of love, not just romantic: the love of friends and family, or a place, or a passion for what you enjoy (food, wine and books, in my case . . .)

My next book, Thirty Days in Paris, is set in the place I love best of all. Whenever I step off the train at the Gare du Nord I always feel as if I belong, even though I am not your typical Parisienne! But I love soaking up the food, the fashion, the art – everything! – and I’ll never tire of visiting. My dream is one day to have a little apartment, if only fora month, to live the Parisian dream. But in the meantime, I’ve given that dream to my heroine, Juliet . . . thirty days in a bijoux apartment near the Seine. What will she get up to?

A little bit about me: I live by the sea and head to the beach every day with my dog Zelda. I love cooking and discovering new restaurants on city breaks, with a bit of yoga to offset the calories. My biggest writing influences are HE Bates, Nancy Mitford, Jilly Cooper and any book that has a big rambling house and an eccentric family . . .

I’m excited to be on the Tandem Collective read-along for this fantastic sounding book. I’ve been hearing lots of good things about this author so I can’t wait to read this. I’m very intrigued by the ink that was included in the package and to see where it fits into the story.

Have you read this book?

Book Synopsis:

Writers are monsters. We eat everything we see…

In a windswept cottage overlooking the sea, Wilder Harlow begins the last book he will ever write. It is the story of his childhood companions and the shadowy figure of the Daggerman, who stalked the New England town where they spent their summers. Of a horror that has followed Wilder through the decades. And of Sky, Wilder’s one-time friend, who stole his unfinished memoir and turned it into a lurid bestselling novel, The Sound and the Dagger.

This book will be Wilder’s revenge on Sky, who betrayed his trust and died without ever telling him why. But as he writes, Wilder begins to find notes written in Sky’s signature green ink, and events in his manuscript start to chime eerily with the present. Is Sky haunting him? And who is the dark-haired woman drowning in the cove, whom no one else can see?

No longer able to trust his own eyes, Wilder feels his grip on reality slipping. And he begins to fear that this will not only be his last book, but the last thing he ever does.

Discover the new dark thriller from the bestselling author of The Last House on Needless Street

About The Author:

CATRIONA WARD was born in Washington, DC and grew up in the United States, Kenya, Madagascar, Yemen, and Morocco. She read English at St Edmund Hall, Oxford and is a graduate of the Creative Writing MA at the University of East Anglia.

‘The Last House on Needless Street’ (Viper Books, Tor Nightfire) was a Times Book of the Month, Observer Book of the Month, March Editor’s Pick on Open Book, a Between the Covers BBC2 book club selection, a Times bestseller, and is being developed for film by Andy Serkis’s production company, The Imaginarium.

‘Little Eve’ (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2018) won the 2019 Shirley Jackson Award and the August Derleth Prize for Best Horror Novel at the 2019 British Fantasy Awards, making her the only woman to have won the prize twice, and was a Guardian best book of 2018. Her debut Rawblood (W&N, 2015) won Best Horror Novel at the 2016 British Fantasy Awards, was shortlisted for the Author’s Club Best First Novel Award and a WHSmith Fresh Talent title. Her short stories have appeared in numerous anthologies. She lives in London and Devon.

Book Synopsis:

It was the tumultuous romance that scandalized the world: Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner fought, loved, and lived life to the hilt. Now their unbridled story is brought vividly to life by Heather Webb, the bestselling author of Meet Me in Monaco and The Next Ship Home.

In the golden age of Hollywood, two of the brightest stars would define–and defy–an era…

She was the small-town southern beauty transformed into a Hollywood love goddess. He was the legendary crooner whose voice transfixed the world. They were Ava Gardner and Frank Sinatra. Separately they were irresistible; together they were an explosive combination.

Ava’s star is rising just as Frank’s career–and public image as a family man–is taking a hit. Gone are the days of the screaming bobbysoxers and chart-topping hits. Ava, however, finds herself gracing the front page of every tabloid in America. Jealousy and cheating abound, and when the two succumb to their temperaments and their vices, their happiness is threatened at every turn.

As the pair ride the rollercoaster of success and failure, passion and anger, they both wonder if the next turn will be the end of their careers, and most devastating of all–the end of all they’ve shared.

A captivating novel with a star-studded cast spanning continents and decades, Strangers in the Night brings to life the most riveting love story of the twentieth century.

My Review:

I was a huge fan of Frank Sinatra when I was younger and used to love his musicals so this book instantly appealed. I loved being able to discover more about the man behind the legend.

The author does a great job of setting the scene so I felt like I was actually there experiencing everything alongside the characters. I absolutely drank in the wonderful descriptions of the era and the glamour that went with being a Hollywood star. The author has clearly done a lot of research into the era and I loved all the little details that made the story come to life.

I didn’t know much about Ava Gardner or her relationship with Frank Sinatra so I enjoyed learning more about it. Their relationship was definitely a bit turbulent and the author gives us a fly on the wall type glimpse into their marriage. It must have been hard for them both to maintain their relationship due to them both being at different times in their careers. Despite guessing how things end I was routing for the couple and hoping they would work things out.

Overall I loved this book and can’t wait to read more from the author. I thought this book was very gripping and I soon found myself unable to put the book down as I was so invested in the story. I highly recommend this to any Frank Sinatra fans or anyone with an interest in the golden Hollywood era.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to the publisher for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Heather Webb is the USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of nine historical novels, including Strangers in the Night, The Next Ship Home, and up and coming, Queens of London. In 2015, Rodin’s Lover was a Goodread’s Top Pick, and in 2018, Last Christmas in Paris won the Women’s Fiction Writers Association STAR Award. In 2019, Meet Me in Monaco was selected as a finalist for the 2020 Goldsboro RNA award in the UK, as well as the Digital Book World’s Fiction prize. To date, Heather’s books have been translated to seventeen languages. Check her website for more details on release dates and book club visits.

Book Synopsis:

Winner of the Bath Novel Award 2020

When lonely and socially isolated translator, Gareth, takes up traditional Japanese archery in 1990s Bristol, he learns that to study Kyudo is to reach out, to another culture, another time, other people… But when one of them reaches back, two lives that should never have touched become strangely entangled.

In wartime Tokyo, Tanaka Mie finds herself wandering the burned-out ruins of her dead parents’ fire-bombed home with only hazy recollections of how she survived. Setting out on a hike to a mountain village shrine, away from the charred city, she begins a life to which she is not sure she is entitled, a life which feels like living on the other side of the sky.

To visit the past or the future, even in imagination, is to change it. But it is also to be changed.

The Arrow Garden is a delicately-wrought tale of truth, selfhood, and acceptance, which transcends time in its lyrical exploration of what it means to live.

My Review:

The Arrow Garden is a beautifully written, intriguing timeslip book which I really enjoyed.

I love timeslip novels, especially if part of it is based in WW2 so this book instantly appealed to me. I have to admit to enjoying the historical timeline slightly more as it was fascinating to learn more about war time in Japan. I really felt for Mia as I watched her try to come to terms with everything she had lost. It was heartbreaking to see her having to rebuild her life and struggle with the guilt she obviously feels about surviving.

The inclusion of Kyudo, a form of Japanese archery, was very interesting as I hadn’t realised there was more than one form of archery before reading this book. I enjoyed learning about it and how the practice fitted into Japanese tradition. It was really beautiful to see how it helps heal Gareth and gives him a new lease of life.

The two timelines complimented each other nicely and I enjoyed getting to know the two characters as the story went on. The change between timelines was quite quick which took a bit of getting used to but once I had I felt it made the two timelines seem more connected to each other. The ending went a different way to what I was expecting and was very emotional. This is definitely a story that will stay with me.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to the publisher for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Brought up to value thinking and making equally, Andrew’s first degree was in English Literature and Fine Art. He also holds an MA in Visual Culture at Bath Spa University. A lifelong interest in aspects of Japanese culture led to an extended trip in 2011 in the aftermath of the tsunami, assisting and observing participants in Shinto rituals of horseback archery.

The Arrow Garden is his first novel. Early drafts were longlisted for the Bridport Prize and The Bath Novel Award, before winning the BNA outright in 2020.

Andrew lives in Bath, England. When not writing he is to be found riding strange bicycles or, very occasionally, practicing traditional Japanese archery.

Book Synopsis:

Welcome to Cinnamon Gardens, a home for those who are lost and the stories they treasure.

Cinnamon Gardens Nursing Home is nestled in the quiet suburb of Westgrove, Sydney – populated with residents with colourful histories, each with their own secrets, triumphs and failings. This is their safe place, an oasis of familiar delights – a beautiful garden, a busy kitchen and a bountiful recreation schedule.

But this ordinary neighbourhood is not without its prejudices. The serenity of Cinnamon Gardens is threatened by malignant forces more interested in what makes this refuge different rather than embracing the calm companionship that makes this place home to so many. As those who challenge the residents’ existence make their stand against the nursing home with devastating consequences, our characters are forced to reckon with a country divided.

Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens is about family and memory, community and race, but is ultimately a love letter to storytelling and how our stories shape who we are.

My Review:

Chai Time At Cinnamon Gardens is a beautifully written, heartbreaking and powerful read that will stay with me for a long time.

Firstly I absolutely loved Maya and enjoy following her throughout the book. She’s such a warm, funny character and I was immediately drawn to her after reading about her wonderful vision for Cinnamon Gardens where everyone was welcome. There are lots of very different people in Cinnamon Gardens and I enjoyed getting to know them all slowly and learning more about their pasts.

This book has a deeper side to it as a few difficult subjects are discussed within the book which I wasn’t expecting. Through a series of flashbacks we learn more about the characters experiences in the Sri Lanka civil war which I found very interesting as I didn’t know much about it before. It being war there are also some truly heartbreaking stories involved too which were very emotional to read about. I loved learning more about the Tamil culture, traditions and some of the lovely sounding food they eat. It’s made me very interested in learning more about it and I’ve bought myself a cookbook to attempt to make some othe food mention in the book. The author also discusses racism in this book and the absolutely devastating effect of can have on people.

I thought this book was fairly fast paced and there always seemed to be something happening to keep me reading. The story is told from multiple points of view which I enjoyed as it was great to get to know all of the characters individually. There are a few mysteries running throughout the story which I enjoyed trying to solve and helped keep me absorbed in the story. There is a wonderful sense of community and warmth in this story which was great to read about. I found myself wishing I could be part of this lovely nursing home as it seemed such a great place to be.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to the publisher for my digital copy of this book, though as you can see I also purchased my own copy as I knew it was a story I would want to share.

About The Author:

Shankari Chandran was raised in Canberra, Australia. She spent a decade in London, working as a lawyer in the social justice field. She eventually returned home to Australia, where she now lives with her husband, four children and their cavoodle puppy, Benji. In January 2017, she published her first book with Perera-Hussein, called Song of the Sun God. Her second book, The Barrier, was published in June 2017.

Book Synopsis:

In 1944 in war-torn Dubrobvnik Branko Milisic holds his newborn daughter Safranka and wishes her a better future. But while the Nazis are finally retreating, the arrival of the partisans brings new dangers for Branko, his wife Dragica and their new baby…

As older sister to two half-siblings, Fran has always known she has to fit in. But now, for the first time in her life Fran is facing questions about who she is and where she comes from.

All Fran knows about her real father is that he was a hero, and her mother had to flee Dubrovnik after the war. But when she travels to the city of her birth to uncover the truth, she is devastated to discover her father was executed by the partisans in 1944, accused of being a collaborator. But the past isn’t always what it seems…

My Review:

I’m a huge fan of this author so you can imagine my excitement when I was invited onto the blog tour for this her latest book. Once again the author has written an emotional, absorbing read that I really enjoyed.

Firstly one of the things I always love about this author is her way of describing the locations she sets her books in. The descriptions are always so vivid and really allow me to see the setting in my mind’s eye. I hadn’t heard much about Croatia so enjoyed visiting it alongside the characters. I’m a huge fan of historical fiction set in the second world war, especially if it teaches me something new about the period, so I knew straight away I was going to love this book. It was very interesting learning more about the history of Croatia and what happened there during the war.

The story is told in two timelines one set in 1944 and the other 2010. I loved following Fran as she tries to discover more about her father and what happened to him during the war. She was such a real character and I warmed to her instantly, wanting her to succeed. The author doesn’t hold back from telling the truth about the reality of war which helps bring the story to life and make it seem more realistic.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read more from this author. I was quickly drawn into the story and into the lives of the characters. There always seemed to be something happening to keep my interest and I soon found it hard to put down as I cared about the characters. The two timelines compliment each other really well and I liked how the reveals happened naturally without any huge leaps. I loved the ending and closed the book sad to leave the wonderful characters behind. I definitely want to visit Croatia soon.

Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and to the publisher for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Welcome to my author page and thank you for taking the time to visit. I love to write emotional women’s fiction inspired by beautiful places and the stories they hide. My passion is to travel (when possible, of course), but luckily I find inspiration can strike just as well at home or abroad.

My last holiday before lockdown was a trip to Croatia, and the country’s haunting histories and gorgeous scenery have proved fertile ground, driven by my friendship with a tour guide I met there. His wartime story provided the inspiration for The Olive Grove and his help in creating a realistic portrayal of Croatian life has proved invaluable. My second and third novels set in the country, An Island of Secrets and The Collaborator’s Daughter are dual timelines looking back to World War 2. My books are published by One More Chapter, a division of Harper Collins.

I am also inspired by the work of my own favourite authors, who include Victoria Hislop, Rosanna Ley, Angela Petch, Jenny Ashcroft and Elizabeth Buchan.

Although I am Welsh I am now happily settled in Cornwall, and I’m lucky enough to have been married to the love of my life for more than twenty-five years. I also write as Jane Cable.