Friday 30 November 2018

#BookReview The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid @tjenkinsreid @simonschusterUK

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?

Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.

Summoned to Evelyn's luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the '80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn's story near its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique's own in tragic and irreversible ways.

Written with Reid's signature talent for creating "complex, likable characters" (Real Simple), this is a mesmerizing journey through the splendor of old Hollywood into the harsh realities of the present day as two women struggle with what it means -and what it costs- to face the truth.


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Oh WOW! I have a new favorite author. THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO is the very first book I've read by Taylor Jenkins Reid, but I definitely want to read more! To say that this book really hooked me is an understatement. I had an ecopy of this book, but I also listened to the audio version while at work and I do hope I did a good job. It's not easy when you find books like this. Everything around you gets a bit fuzzy. I always think a really good audiobook should you leave you a bit exhausted. You have gotten so into the story that it feels like you know the characters personally. And, this book felt like this!

Also, the title. LOVED it because it tells the life of Evelyn Hugo, every man represents a part of Evelyn's life. However, there is one person that is constant in her life, the great love of Evelyn Hugo. And that person, well I don't want to give the story away so I won't say more than it's all so bloody tragic. In many ways is Evelyn Hugo's life just a fictional as her movies. I loved this book. One of the best I've read this year! Can't wait to read DAISY JONES & THE SIX!

Thursday 29 November 2018

#BookBlast The Burning House by Neil Spring @QuercusBooks @MillsReid11 @NeilSpring #BurningHouse

The Burning House by Neil Spring
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

'Neil Spring is Agatha Christie meets James Herbert' STEPHEN VOLK

It was a victimless crime...

Estate Agent Clara is struggling to make a sale. With her abusive ex-husband on the brink of finding where she's hiding, she needs to make a commission soon or lose her chance to escape.

Boleskine House on the shores of Loch Ness has remained unsold for years, and Clara is sure that an 'innocent' fire will force the price down. But the perfect crime soon turns into the perfect nightmare: there was a witness, a stranger in the village, and he's not going to let Clara get away with it that easily...


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Clara is on the run, she has started a new life and all she wants is to lie low. And, she needs to sell Boleskine House, but the price is too high. So, she thinks if she only could get the price reduced a bit, then everything will be fine. A small fire will do the trick. However, someone saw her, someone that has a plan for Boleskine House, and now he has a plan for Clara as well...

From blurb may the book seem like an ordinary thriller, but this is a Neil Spring book so when weird shit starts to happen was I not surprised. Delighted, but not surprised. I wouldn't say that the book scared me or anything. However, I was intrigued. I mean Boleskine House, that's one cool place with a lot of history. For instance, Alistar Crowley and Jimmy Page are two notorious owners. And Crowley, well he pretty infamous. I didn't know this before I started to read the book. I actually didn't reflect much on the blurb since all I saw was new Neil Spring book and I wanted to read it. I've read THE GHOST HUNTERS and THE LOST VILLAGE and I loved them both. So, getting a new book was a treat.

THE BURNING HOUSE is perfect if you love to read paranormal thrillers. As with the previous books, I have read is the writing fabulous and it was nice to read a story set in modern time. Neil Spring has become a favorite author of mine and I will read pretty much anything he writes. As long as I get delightfully dark stories of course.

I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!


Sunday 25 November 2018

#BookReview Vendetta by Iris Johansen @FreshFiction @StMartinsPress

Vendetta by Iris Johansen
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

With his dying breath, Carl Venable, head of the CIA task force on terrorism and Jude Brandon’s final link to terrorist ringleader Max Huber, gives Brandon a mandate: to keep his daughter, Rachel, safe at any cost. But Rachel Venable has a shocking, twisted past of her own, one that comes rushing back after her medical clinic in Guyana is attacked by Huber—the same man who murdered her father and kept her imprisoned for months. Brandon and Catherine Ling, Rachel’s longtime ally and fierce protector, are determined to keep Rachel out of danger, but she knows that it’s impossible to stay hidden when Max Huber wants you dead.

As Rachel and Brandon race against the clock to bring Huber down before he can orchestrate a nuclear explosion that will lay waste to the west coast, they also fight a growing attraction to each other – an attraction that could prove just as dangerous as Huber himself. In this gripping, fast-paced novel full of dark secrets and tangled lies, one thing is clear: everyone has a vendetta, no one will rest until they get their revenge.

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I've read several Iris Johansen books, but VENDETTA is the first I've read in the Catherine Ling series, not that I let that stop me. I love Iris Johansen's Eve Duncan series, so getting a chance to read a book in one of her other series was great.

READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!

Saturday 24 November 2018

#BookReview The Bridal Party by J G Murray @atlanticbooks

The Bridal Party by J G Murray
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sometimes friendship can be murder...

It's the weekend of Clarisse's bridal party, a trip the girls have all been looking forward to. Then, on the day of their flight, Tamsyn, the maid of honour, suddenly backs out. Upset and confused, they try to make the most of the stunning, isolated seaside house they find themselves in.

But, there is a surprise in store - Tamsyn has organised a murder mystery, a sinister game in which they must discover a killer in their midst. As tensions quickly boil over, it becomes clear to them all that there are some secrets that won't stay buried...


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THE BRIDAL PARTY was for me an excellent between books to read. You know, when you need something lighter and fast read? I've been reading pretty heavy stories and this one felt so good to read. I breezed through the story during a couple of hours. 

Now, first I want to say that the flashbacks didn't do much for me. I quickly realized what was going on and those flashbacks were hardly surprising. I did find the beginning of the book best when the gals arrived on Jersey for Clarisse's bridal party and the bride of honor is missing. And they are all confused to a lot of things. Like why have the costumes they have said to bring with them been changed...? As I said before I quickly figure out the plot, so I did skim read a bit to get to the end. It's like a murder mystery episode of any TV-series, the beginning, and the end is the best. As for the ending, I was not surprised, until I was surprised. And I liked it. Yup, excellent twist towards the end of the book. So, would I recommend the book? Yup, this is a perfect I-have-a-coupe-of-hours-to-kill-book and I'm alone in a dark house far, far from civilization ... muahahaha

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!

#BookReview Flowers over the Inferno by Ilaria Tuti @Ilaria_Tuti @orionbooks

Flowers over the Inferno by Ilaria Tuti
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In a quiet village surrounded by ancient woods and the imposing Italian Alps, a man is found naked with his eyes gouged out. It is the first in a string of gruesome murders.

Superintendent Teresa Battaglia, a detective with a background in criminal profiling, is called to investigate. Battaglia is in her mid-sixties, her rank and expertise hard-won from decades of battling for respect in the male-dominated Italian police force. While she’s not sure she trusts the young city inspector assigned to assist her, she sees right away that this is no ordinary case: buried deep in these mountains are whispers of a dark and dangerous history, possibly tied to a group of eight-year-old children toward whom the killer seems to gravitate.

As Teresa inches closer to the truth, she must also confront the possibility that her body and mind, worn down by age and illness, may fail her before the chase is over.


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I started to read this book last night and finished this morning. Such a fabulous and engrossing tale. I especially like Superintendent Teresa Battaglia, a woman in her mid-sixties. It's such a rarity to read a crime novel with an older female cop. And, I really really like that. She's such an interesting character. Another thing I really liked was her new inspector Massimo. They get off on the wrong foot, but as the story progresses do they start to have a better working relationship.

As for the case, so tragic so incredibly tragic. It's not often I feel sorry for killers. But, reading this story and especially the last part. Well, what can I say, the worst monsters are those in plain sight...

FLOWERS OVER THE INFERNO is a great crime novel. I've lately been looking for more European crime/thrillers to read. Especially set in Germany, France, Italy etc. And, now I can add Ilaria Tuti to the list of authors I want to read more by.

I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!

Friday 23 November 2018

#BookReview Dark Sky Island by Lara Dearman @laradearman @crookedlanebks

Dark Sky Island by Lara Dearman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An inspector and journalist join forces to uncover long-buried secrets, simmering resentments, and a chilling murder in a tiny, remote island in the English Channel.

The tiny island of Sark lies isolated in the dark waters of the Channel Islands. No cars are allowed. No streetlamps light its paths. It is the world’s only Dark Sky Island. This breathtaking patch of land seems the picture of tranquility—but at its heart lies a web of murder, deceit, and hidden danger.

When bones are discovered on Derrible Bay and an elderly resident is violently murdered, DCI Michael Gilbert from the nearby island of Guernsey is called in to tackle the case. With his department under fire, he needs to find the killer—and fast. Joining him is newspaper reporter Jennifer Dorey, whose father died in a mysterious drowning off the island. As Michael struggles to crack the case and Jennifer launches her own investigation, the island’s residents are left reeling and soon, their dark secrets begin to unravel threatening everything.

On an island steeped in superstition, where tales of hauntings and devil craft abound, Michael and Jenny race to discover the truth in Dark Sky Island, the second tantalizing installment of Lara Dearman’s Jennifer Dorey mysteries.


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For me was this book a bit of an upswing from the first one. Don't take wrong, I liked the first book. Loved that the story took place on Guernsey and I quite liked DCI Michael Gilbert and journalist Jenny Dorey. Storywise is this book superior. I found myself quite hooked and breezed through the book.

There is just something very special about a small island and brutal crimes. Closed communities with secrets and resentment against outsiders. And, on the island of Sark has boon been found and that will be the start of a very dark story. Whose bones is it? DCI Michael Gilbert and Jenny Dorey will both be on the island working. And, there are some really strange things going on there...

I especially liked that this book also brought up the death of Jenny's father. The suspicious death that Jenny has been working on. She has felt that there was just something wrong about it. How could Charlie have drowned? He was such so experiences when it came to boats. Perhaps this book will give Jenny closure...

DARK SKY ISLAND is a really, really good book and I'm looking forward to the next one in the series!

I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!

Tuesday 20 November 2018

#BookReview Do Not Disturb by Claire Douglas @MichaelJBooks

Do Not Disturb: Be careful who you let inside . . . by Claire Douglas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Could your dream home be your worst nightmare?

After what happened in London, Kirsty needs a fresh start with her family.
And running a guesthouse in the Welsh mountains sounds idyllic.

But then their first guest arrives.
Selena is the last person Kirsty wants to see.
It's seventeen years since she tore everything apart.

Why has she chosen now to walk back into Kirsty's life?
Is Selena running from something too?
Or is there an even darker reason for her visit?

Because Kirsty knows that once you invite trouble into your home, it can be murder getting rid of it...


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I love listening to thrillers at work. A truly great one that hooks me can make the working day much easier. DO NOT DISTURB started off great, I wanted to know more. What happened between Kirsty and Selene? What is happening in the house? Is it haunted or is just someone playing pranks? Or is there something sinister going on?

I will say that the first part of the book is the best when so much is unknown. Gradually did I feel that that the story was easy to predict. Still, I found it enjoyable much thanks to the mysterious things that happened in the house, sleepwalking, things moved around, the dead flowers found in the morning etc. However, everything is pretty much predictable, especially one thing concerning Selene *spoilers, can't discuss it* that took Kirsty and the rest AGES to figure out. The ending. I felt that the author tried to chock the readers and yes I did not expect that, but was I shocked? No. Was it a good ending? Yes. 

Audiobook verdict: Hannah Daniel worked fine with me. I would definitely listen to more books narrated by her. 

Would I recommend this book? Yes, but I recommend if you have the option to read LOCAL GIRL MISSING by the author instead.

Monday 19 November 2018

#BookReview The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker @PenguinUKBooks

The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The ancient city of Troy has withstood a decade under siege of the powerful Greek army, which continues to wage bloody war over a stolen woman: Helen. In the Greek camp, another woman watches and waits for the war's outcome: Briseis. She was queen of one of Troy's neighboring kingdoms until Achilles, Greece's greatest warrior, sacked her city and murdered her husband and brothers. Briseis becomes Achilles's concubine, a prize of battle, and must adjust quickly in order to survive a radically different life, as one of the many conquered women who serve the Greek army.

When Agamemnon, the brutal political leader of the Greek forces, demands Briseis for himself, she finds herself caught between the two most powerful of the Greeks. Achilles refuses to fight in protest, and the Greeks begin to lose ground to their Trojan opponents. Keenly observant and coolly unflinching about the daily horrors of war, Briseis finds herself in an unprecedented position to observe the two men driving the Greek forces in what will become their final confrontation, deciding the fate, not only of Briseis's people, but also of the ancient world at large.

Briseis is just one among thousands of women living behind the scenes in this war--the slaves and prostitutes, the nurses, the women who lay out the dead--all of them erased by history. With breathtaking historical detail and luminous prose, Pat Barker brings the teeming world of the Greek camp to vivid life. She offers nuanced, complex portraits of characters and stories familiar from mythology, which, seen from Briseis's perspective, are rife with newfound revelations. Barker's latest builds on her decades-long study of war and its impact on individual lives--and it is nothing short of magnificent.

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WOW! I was really impressed by THE SILENCE OF THE GIRLS. It's such a powerful story, brutal, haunting and so sad. I listened to the audio version and I have to admit that since this was the first book by Pat Barker that I've read so was I not expecting this experience. However, it didn't take me long to really get hooked and I was so sad for all the girls in this book. For how they are viewed as only spoilers of war. To be offered to the winners, while they watch how all the menfolk are being killed off.

It was especially nice to get Briseis story, and not Helen's who has been written so much about. I had no knowledge about Briseis before I read this book and just like Helen did men end up fighting for her. Achilles won her after a battle, but then after Agamemnon had to give up his prize did he demand Briseis from Achilles. And that ladies and gentlemen seriously pissed off Achilles. And then everything went downhill from that point, at least for Achilles. For Briseis has it been hard for a long time. No saying in whom to marry, and being forced to share the bed of the man that then killed your husband. Well, being a woman back then (or even now) is hard.

I definitely recommend reading (or listening to this) book!

Saturday 17 November 2018

#BookReview The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis @FionaJDavis @DuttonBooks @campbell_cass

The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In her latest captivating novel, nationally bestselling author Fiona Davis takes readers into the glamorous lost art school within Grand Central Terminal, where two very different women, fifty years apart, strive to make their mark on a world set against them.

For the nearly nine million people who live in New York City, Grand Central Terminal is a crown jewel, a masterpiece of design. But for Clara Darden and Virginia Clay, it represents something quite different.

For Clara, the terminal is the stepping stone to her future, which she is certain will shine as the brightly as the constellations on the main concourse ceiling. It is 1928, and twenty-five-year-old Clara is teaching at the lauded Grand Central School of Art. A talented illustrator, she has dreams of creating cover art for Vogue, but not even the prestige of the school can override the public's disdain for a "woman artist." Brash, fiery, confident, and single-minded--even while juggling the affections of two men, a wealthy would-be poet and a brilliant experimental painter--Clara is determined to achieve every creative success. But she and her bohemian friends have no idea that they'll soon be blindsided by the looming Great Depression, an insatiable monster with the power to destroy the entire art scene. And even poverty and hunger will do little to prepare Clara for the greater tragedy yet to come.

Nearly fifty years later, in 1974, the terminal has declined almost as sharply as Virginia Clay's life. Full of grime and danger, from the smoke-blackened ceiling to the pickpockets and drug dealers who roam the floor, Grand Central is at the center of a fierce lawsuit: Is the once-grand building a landmark to be preserved, or a cancer to be demolished? For Virginia, it is simply her last resort. Recently divorced, she has just accepted a job in the information booth in order to support herself and her college-age daughter, Ruby. But when Virginia stumbles upon an abandoned art school within the terminal and discovers a striking watercolor hidden under the dust, her eyes are opened to the elegance beneath the decay. She embarks on a quest to find the artist of the unsigned masterpiece--an impassioned chase that draws Virginia not only into the battle to save Grand Central but deep into the mystery of Clara Darden, the famed 1920s illustrator who disappeared from history in 1931.



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Oh wow listening to this book was such a great experience. THIS is just the kind of dual storyline book I love to read with two fascinating stories linked together by a painting. First, I just want to say that I got Beatriz Williams vibes while listening to this book. And I LOVE Beatriz Williams books, so that's a plus. Second, not setting one of the stories in the present time was fabulous. I have a deep love for both the 20s and the 70s and now I got them both.

THE MASTERPIECE is the very first book I have read by Fiona Davis and I'm very much eager to read the other books. I always loved books about artists and I loved getting to know more about Grand Central School of Art. I really liked Clara Darden who struggled to become an acknowledged artist. She had ambitions and really set out to achieve her dreams. Almost 50 years later is Virginia Clay drawn into the mystery of Clara Darden who disappeared in 1931. Virginia is newly divorced and has recently started to work in the information booth Grand Central. I loved reading about how this woman, who recently had some medical problem, a bastard of an ex and a daughter who causes her problem, finds a painting that will unravel lots of secrets.

Writing the review for THE MASTERPIECE makes me definitely eager to read more of Fiona Davis books. Luckily I have some to read. Also, Cassandra Campbell, the narrator did an excellent job! She has that kind of that makes me pick book after what she has narrated. So, I definitely recommend listening to this book! 

#BookReview A Borrowing of Bones by Paula Munier @MinotaurBooks @FreshFiction

A Borrowing of Bones by Paula Munier
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

First in a gripping new mystery series about a retired MP and her bomb-sniffing dog who become embroiled in an investigation in the beautiful Vermont wilderness

It may be the Fourth of July weekend, but for retired soldiers Mercy Carr and Belgian Malinois Elvis, it’s just another walk in the remote Lye Brook Wilderness—until the former bomb-sniffing dog alerts to explosives and they find a squalling baby abandoned near a shallow grave filled with what appear to be human bones. U.S. Game Warden Troy Warner and his search-and rescue Newfoundland Susie Bear respond to Mercy’s 911 call, and the four must work together to track down a missing mother, solve a cold-case murder, and keep the citizens of Vermont safe on potentially the most incendiary Independence Day since the American Revolution.

A Borrowing of Bones is full of complex twists and real details about search-and-rescue dog training that Paula learned through the training of her own dog. With its canine sidekicks and rich, dramatic story, this debut will be a must-have for mystery fans.


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Mercy Carr and her Belgian Malinois, Elvis, are out on their usual hike in the remote Lye Brook Wilderness when Elvis sniffs out a very unusual finding. A baby abandoned near a shallow grave filled with human bones. U.S. Game Warden Troy Warner and his search-and-rescue dog Susie Bear responds to Mercy's 911 call. Who left the baby there, and who's in the shallow grave?

READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!

#MiniReviews The Beast of Nightfall Lodge, Witness, Just Before I Died, The Patriot Threat and The Aftermath

The Beast of Nightfall Lodge: The Institute for Singular Antiquities Book II by Sa Sidor
My rating: 2 of 5 stars


The Beast of Nightfall Lodge: The Institute for Singular Antiquities Book II


A mysterious explorer hires a team of adventurers to join him in a hunt for a monstrous beast, in this rip-roaring sequel to Fury From the Tomb.

When Egyptologist Rom Hardy receives a strange letter from his old friend, the bounty-hunting sniper Rex McTroy, he finds himself drawn into a chilling mystery. In the mountains of New Mexico, a bloodthirsty creature is on the loose, leaving a trail of bodies in its wake. Now, a wealthy big game hunter has offered a staggering reward for its capture, and Rom's patron - the headstrong and brilliant Evangeline Waterston - has signed the team up for the challenge. Awaiting them are blizzards, cold-blooded trappers, remorseless hunters, a mad doctor, wild animals and a monster so fearsome and terrifying, it must be a legend come to life.


REVIEW

I have to admit that the cover and the fabulous blurb made me eager to read this book. Alas, I did not love the book as much as I had hoped I would do. I loved the idea of the book, about a monster terrorizing and killing people in the mountains of New Mexico and the prologue that takes place 30 years late really piqued my interested. However, I kind of struggled with the book. Partly it was interesting and partly very slow to get through. It did end on a high note. Fabulous albeit sad ending I must say.

Thanks for the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley!

Witness by Caroline Mitchell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Witness


To Rebecca it was a brave decision that led to her freedom from domestic abuse. To Solomon it was the ultimate betrayal.

It’s been ten years since Rebecca’s testimony saw Solomon locked away. Enough time for the nightmares to recede, the nerves to relax; enough time to rebuild her life and put the past behind her.

Then one day a phone rings in her bedroom—but it’s not her phone. Solomon has been in her home, and has a very simple message for her: for each of the ten years he has spent in jail, Rebecca must witness a crime. And, to make matters worse, she has to choose the victims.

Fail to respond and you get hurt. Talk to police and you die. Ready to play? You have sixty seconds to decide…

As the crimes grow more severe, the victims closer to home, Rebecca is forced to confront a past she had hoped was gone forever.


REVIEW

I've read a couple of books by Caroline Mitchell and this one worth reading. I do prefer stories where the culprit is unknown, which is not the case with this book. However, I do think that Mitchell has hit the nail when it comes to the terror of living with a dangerous man. I especially think that the part about Rebecca meeting Solomon for the first time felt like a predator out for a weak kill. Finding the prey's weakness and go for it. It was very chilling to read. The big twist at the end was not that surprising. I was expecting it to be honest. But, I enjoyed this story and I'm looking forward to reading more from Caroline Mitchell.

Just Before I Died by S.K. Tremayne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Just Before I Died


Why did you do that to me Mummy, don’t you love me?

Kath lives with her husband Adam and daughter Lyla in a desolate stone longhouse deep in Dartmoor National Park. She likes her life the moors are beautiful, if bleak and she counts herself as happy, even if they struggle with money, and work, and her daughter's shyness.

But one day Kath wakes up from a coma, with a vague memory of a near-fatal car accident. She hugs her daughter close, likewise her husband Adam. But there’s something wrong. Adam seems furious with her and Lyla is acting evermore strangely. They should be delighted to see her alive, snatched from certain death. But they won't meet her gaze

Then Kath learns that the car crash wasn't an accident, and her whole life collapses into a world of panic, and danger.


REVIEW

THE ICE TWINS is one of the best books I have ever read and the second book Tremayne wrote, THE FIRE CHILD was also good. So. of course, I had to buy this book when it was released. I love S.K. Tremayne stories and this was not an exception. The setting, Dartmoor is perfect for a story likes this about a woman that learns that the car accident she was in may have been a suicide attempt. She's just can't remember it since she has amnesia. And why is her husband acting strange? What really happened that day? Great book, can't wait to read more the next book by Tremayne.


The Patriot Threat
by Steve Berry
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Patriot Threat


The 16th Amendment to the Constitution is why Americans pay income taxes. But what if there were problems associated with that amendment? Secrets that call into question decades of tax collecting? In fact, there is a surprising truth to this hidden possibility.

Cotton Malone, once a member of an elite intelligence division within the Justice Department known as the Magellan Billet, is now retired and owns an old bookshop in Denmark. But when his former-boss, Stephanie Nelle, asks him to track a rogue North Korean who may have acquired some top secret Treasury Department files—the kind that could bring the United States to its knees—Malone is vaulted into a harrowing twenty-four hour chase that begins on the canals in Venice and ends in the remote highlands of Croatia.

With appearances by Franklin Roosevelt, Andrew Mellon, a curious painting that still hangs in the National Gallery of Art, and some eye-opening revelations from the $1 bill, this riveting, non-stop adventure is trademark Steve Berry—90% historical fact, 10% exciting speculation—a provocative thriller posing a dangerous question: What if the Federal income tax is illegal?


REVIEW

This book offers an interesting dilemma. What if there were some problems with the 16th Amendment? However, I felt that the story was pretty slow compared to previous books I've read in this series. I even liked the side story with Stephanie Nelle better than the story with Cotton Malone. I just found the Big Bad Guy, the North Korean dude to be a pretty boring nemesis. And Cotton's hunt for him and his daughter didn't rock my boat. I do love adventures thrillers with clues to be solved and that part of the book did I enjoy. I just hope that the next book will be better...

The Aftermath by Rhidian Brook
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Aftermath


Set in post-war Germany, the international bestseller The Aftermath by Rhidian Brook is a stunning emotional thriller about our fiercest loyalties and our deepest desires. In the bitter winter of 1946, Rachael Morgan arrives with her only remaining son Edmund in the ruins of Hamburg. Here she is reunited with her husband Lewis, a British colonel charged with rebuilding the shattered city. But as they set off for their new home, Rachael is stunned to discover that Lewis has made an extraordinary decision: they will be sharing the grand house with its previous owners, a German widower and his troubled daughter. In this charged atmosphere, enmity and grief give way to passion and betrayal.

REVIEW

I want to watch The Aftermath the movie, so of course, I started by reading the book. And, I must say that I quite enjoyed this story about a British family moving into a house with a German widower and his daughter after WW2. Both families have lost much during the war and now they have to live under the same roof. The ending felt a bit abrupt, but I quite enjoyed the writing and the story. Now I'm ready for the movie!

Monday 12 November 2018

#BlogTour A Light of Her Own by Carrie Callaghan @hfvbt @CarrieCallaghan

A Light of Her Own by Carrie Callaghan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A Light of Her Own by Carrie Callaghan

Publication Date: November 13, 2018
Amberjack Publishing
Hardcover; 320 Pages
Genre: Fiction/Historical/Biographical

In Holland 1633, a woman’s ambition has no place.

Judith is a painter, dodging the law and whispers of murder to become the first woman admitted to the prestigious Haarlem artist’s guild. Maria is a Catholic in a country where the faith is banned, hoping to absolve her sins by recovering a lost saint’s relic.

Both women’s destinies will be shaped by their ambitions, running counter to the city’s most powerful men, whose own plans spell disaster. A vivid portrait of a remarkable artist, A Light of Her Own is a richly-woven story of grit against the backdrop of Rembrandt and an uncompromising religion.


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A LIGHT OF HER OWN is the story about two women. Judith is a painter, and the very first woman to be admitted to the prestigious Haarlem artist's guild. Her best friend Maria is the daughter of Frans de Grebber, who Judith learned painting from. Maria is also Catholic, living in a land where the faith is banned.

A favorite book (and movie) of mine is GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING. So, guess I was intrigued when I learned about this book. About women painting in a time I thought there were just male painters. I just had to read the book. And, what an interesting story. Yes, this is a fictional story, but Judith Leyster really was admitted to the prestigious Haarlem artist's guild and it's not that far-fetched that she knew Maria. I greatly enjoyed reading about Maria and Judith in this a world with great religious antagonisms, not to mention a world where women painters was an anomaly. Another thing that I quite enjoyed was that the scheme initiated by Haarlem's powerful men that will affect both Maria and Judith's lives.

I quite enjoyed this book and this is definitely a book to read if you are interested in art or just want a well-written historical fiction.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

About the Author

Carrie Callaghan is a writer living in Maryland with her spouse, two young children, and two ridiculous cats. Her short fiction has appeared in Weave Magazine, The MacGuffin, Silk Road, Floodwall, and elsewhere. Carrie is also an editor and contributor with the Washington Independent Review of Books. She has a Master’s of Arts in International Affairs from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

For more information, please visit Carrie Callaghan's website and blog. You can also connect with her on Facebook,  Twitter and Goodreads.

Blog Tour Schedule


Monday, November 12 

Tuesday, November 13 
Review at A Bookish Affair

Wednesday, November 14 
Interview at A Bookish Affair

Thursday, November 15 
Review at Broken Teepee

Friday, November 16 

Sunday, November 18 

Monday, November 19 

Tuesday, November 20 

Wednesday, November 21 

Friday, November 23 

Monday, November 26 

Tuesday, November 27 

Wednesday, November 28 

Thursday, November 29 
Interview at Passages to the Past

Friday, November 30 

Monday, December 3 
Review & Interview at Reading the Past

Tuesday, December 4 
Review at 100 Pages a Day

Wednesday, December 5 
Review at I'm Shelf-ish

Thursday, December 6 
Interview at Let Them Read Books

Friday, December 7 
Review at Pursuing Stacie

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour we will be giving away 2 signed hardcovers of A Light of Her Own! To enter, please see the Gleam form below.
Giveaway Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on December 7th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to US residents only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

A Light of Her Own

Sunday 11 November 2018

#BookReview Skendöda (Suspended Animation) by Louise Boije af Gennäs (SWE/ENG)

Skendöda by Louise Boije af Gennäs
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

SWEDISH REVIEW

Vad är du villig att betala för makten över ditt eget liv?

Sara har bestämt sig för att återvända till Stockholm från Örebro, trots de märkliga och traumatiska händelser som präglat hennes första höst i huvudstaden. Mer på sin vakt än någonsin byter hon till ett jobb inom konsultbranschen och flyttar till en ny stadsdel i hopp om att de ansiktslösa förföljarna ska lämna henne i fred.

Men den mardrömslika utpressningen tar snart vid där den slutade. Omgiven av finansvärldens korruption och maktspel måste Sara ställa sig frågan: finns det överhuvudtaget någon hon kan lita på?

I Motståndstrilogin skildrar Louise Boije af Gennäs den lilla människans kamp mot makten. Det är en nervkittlande lek mellan verklighet och fiktion, där ingenting är som det verkar och där sanningen kan komma att förändra allt. Del 1, Blodlokan, utkom i januari 2018, och del 3, Verkanseld, kommer i januari 2019.
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Vilken spännande bok! Jag gillade verkligen första boken i serien där vi lärde känna Sara som just hade förlorat sin far. Hon upptäcker att hennes pappa har arbetat med att avslöja korruption inom den svenska staten och att hans död kan ha var något helt annat än en olycka.

I denna bok försöker hon än en gång gå vidare i livet efter händelserna i föregående boken där flertalet nära till henne dog samt att mannen hon älskade visade sig inte ha rent mjöl i påsen. Bokens handling är väldigt brutal och jag är i vanliga fall inte så känslig av mig med vissa sekvenser i denna bok var svåra att ta. Sara får stå ut med mycket i boken och även om jag misstänkte hur allting skulle sluta så förminskar det inte faktumet att detta är en hemskt bra bok!

SKENDÖDA är en förträffligt bra bok, till och med bättre än BLODLOKAN och jag längtar efter att läsa Verkanseld som kommer nästa Ã¥r!

Tack till Bookmarks förlag för recensionsexemplaret!

ENGLISH REVIEW

What are you prepared to pay for the right to your own life? 

Sara has decided to return to Stockholm from Örebro, despite the strange occurrences that happened during her time there the previous fall. She's on her guard and changes her job to one in the financial world och move to a new suburb in hope that the faceless stalkers will leave her alone. 

However soon her life takes a nightmarish turn once more. She's surrounded by corruption and power games and soon she must ask herself, who can she really trust? 

This book is the second book in the resistance trilogy by Louise Boije af Gennäs. 

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Oh boy, this is one thrilling book! I really liked the first book in the series, where we got to know Sara, who had just lost her father. She discovered that her father was working on revealing corruption in the Swedish state and his death may.

In this book, she's trying to move on after the death of several close people in her life not to mention discovering that the man she loved was not who she thought he was. The book is very brutal, some pretty horrible things happen and I'm not usually squeamish, but even I found some events tough to take in. Sara has to deal with a lot and even though I expected how it all would end in this book did it not diminish the fact that it's a bloody great book.

SKENDÖDA (Suspended Animation) is an engrossing book, even better than the first one and I can't wait to read the last part in the trilogy that will be released next year.

Thanks to Bookmarks förlag for the review copy!

Saturday 10 November 2018

#BookReview The Little Shop of Found Things by Paula Brackston @FreshFiction @StMartinsPress

The Little Shop of Found Things by Paula Brackston
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

A new series about a young woman whose connection to antiques takes her on a magical adventure, reminiscent of Outlander.

New York Times bestselling author of The Witch's Daughter Paula Brackston returns to her trademark blend of magic and romance to launch a new series guaranteed to enchant her audience even more.

Xanthe and her mother Flora leave London behind for a fresh start, taking over an antique shop in the historic town of Marlborough. Xanthe has always had an affinity with some of the antiques she finds. When she touches them, she can sense something of the past they come from and the stories they hold. So when she has an intense connection to a beautiful silver chatelaine she has to know more.

It’s while she’s examining the chatelaine that she’s transported back to the seventeenth century. And shortly after, she's confronted by a ghost who reveals that this is where the antique has its origins. The ghost tasks Xanthe with putting right the injustice in its story to save an innocent girl’s life, or else it’ll cost her Flora’s.

While Xanthe fights to save her amid the turbulent days of 1605, she meets architect Samuel Appleby. He may be the person who can help her succeed. He may also be the reason she can’t bring herself to leave.

With its rich historical detail, strong mother-daughter relationship, and picturesque English village, The Little Shop of Found Things is poised to be a strong start to this new series.


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Xanthe has a special gift. When she touches antiques she can sense something from the items past. So, when Xanthe is at an auction and sees an old chatelaine she feels the tingle of connection. She must have it and learn of its story. Little does she know, there's a link between the chatelaine and the new store she and her mother have just bought. Nor does she know that a ghost will forever change her life.

READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!

Friday 9 November 2018

#BookReview Morden i Baronville (The Fallen) by David Baldacci @davidbaldacci @Bokfabriken (SWE/ENG)

The Fallen by David Baldacci
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
SWEDISH REVIEW

Morden i Baronville är den fjärde delen i Baldaccis serie om FBI:s utredare Amos Decker.

Amos Decker, utredaren som inte glömmer något, följer med sin vän Alex Jamison till småstaden Baronville för att hälsa på Alex familj. Men semestern varar inte länge. Plötsligt står grannhuset i brand, och till sin förfäran upptäcker Decker två kroppar i huset. Branden är inte dödsorsaken.

Decker och Jamison bestämmer sig för att undersöka detta närmare men stöter på motstånd direkt, både från den lokala polisen och från invånarna. Morden visar sig vara toppen på isberget, och händelserna i Baronville verkar ha kopplingar till något större. Vad är det egentligen som döljer sig bakom småstadsidyllen? Och hinner Decker ta reda på sanningen innan fler oskyldiga drabbas?


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Amos Decker och Alex Jamison besöker Alex syster i Baronville, Pennsylvania. De är där för att fira Alexs systerdotters födelsedag, men de kommer knappast dit innan Amos ser något fel i huset bredvid. Då går allt åt helvetet!

Det är allt du behöver veta om historien. Det och att många kommer att dö, staden är fylld av hemligheter och det viktigaste av allt, det går inte att lita på någon!

MORDEN I BARONVILLE fängslande mig från början till slut. Det är något mystiskt Baronville och allt Amos måste göra är att räkna ut allt och hålla sig själv och de omkring honom levande. Jag gillade verkligen bokens miljö, den en gång blomstrande staden är nu döende. Människorna som lever där har förlorat hoppet och tar till droger för att överleva vardagen. Det vilar en känsla av undergång över Baronville och något är hemskt fel där. En sak säkert, och det är några människor kommer ångra att Amos Decker bestämde sig för att följa med Alex till Baronville...

Boken var svår att sluta läsa och det överraskande mig inte då Baldacci alltid skriver thrillers som fängslar och fångar mitt intresse. Det här är bok fyra i Amos Decker-serien, men de är alla fristående så att du utan några problem kan läsa detta utan att ha läst de föregående tre böckerna.

Tack till Bokfabriken för recensionsexemplaret!

ENGLISH REVIEW

David Baldacci returns with the next blockbuster thriller in his #1 New York Times bestselling Memory Man series featuring detective Amos Decker--the man who can forget nothing.

Amos Decker and his journalist friend Alex Jamison are visiting the home of Alex's sister in Barronville, a small town in western Pennsylvania that has been hit hard economically. When Decker is out on the rear deck of the house talking with Alex's niece, a precocious eight-year-old, he notices flickering lights and then a spark of flame in the window of the house across the way. When he goes to investigate he finds two dead bodies inside and it's not clear how either man died. But this is only the tip of the iceberg. There's something going on in Barronville that might be the canary in the coal mine for the rest of the country.

Faced with a stonewalling local police force, and roadblocks put up by unseen forces, Decker and Jamison must pull out all the stops to solve the case. And even Decker's infallible memory may not be enough to save them.

**********

Amos Decker and Alex Jamison are visiting Alex sister in Baronville, Pennsylvania. They are there to celebrate Alex's niece's birthday, but they hardly get there before Amos sees something amiss in the house next door. Then, everything goes to hell!

That is all you need to know about the story that and that there will be dead bodies, lots of secrets and the most important thing of all, never trust anyone!

THE FALLEN is an action filled book that thrilled me from the beginning until the end. There is a deep dark mystery hidden in Baronville and all Amos has to do is figure out it all, and keep himself and those around him alive. I loved the setting in this book, this once glorious town that now is filled with junkies and forlorn people. There is definitely something wrong with the city, but what? One thing for sure, and that is some people will regret that Amos Decker decided to tag along with Alex...

Personally, did I find this book to be hard to put down, then again that's what I expected from this book since Baldacci always writes heart-pounding, page-turning thrillers. THE FALLEN is book four in the Amos Decker series, but they are all stand-alone so you can without any problems read this without having read the previous three books.

Thanks to Bokfabriken for the review copy!

Tuesday 6 November 2018

#BookReview Lost Lake by Emily Littlejohn @MinotaurBooks @FreshFiction

Lost Lake by Emily Littlejohn
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

An enthralling, atmospheric new novel from the author of acclaimed debut Inherit the Bones, featuring Colorado police officer Gemma Monroe.

On a bright Saturday in early spring, Detective Gemma Monroe responds to a missing person call at Lost Lake, near the small town of Cedar Valley, Colorado. With its sapphire waters and abundance of wildflowers, the lake is a popular camping destination in the summer. But for now, ice still grips the lake and snow buries the flowers.

When Gemma arrives at the shore, she meets three friends who have been camping there: the fourth of their group, Sari Chesney, has disappeared in the night without a trace. Sari is an assistant curator at the local museum, which is set to host a gala that night--a project she's worked on for months and would never intentionally miss. As Gemma begins to understand the complex dynamics of the supposedly close-knit friendship group, she realizes that more than one person is lying to her--and that the beautiful, still waters of Lost Lake may hide more terrible secrets . . .


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A young woman goes missing at Lost Lake, near the small town of Cedar Valley, Colorado. Detective Gemma Monroe is called in and at the lake, she meets the camping party who is missing its fourth member, Sari Chesney. Sari seems to have disappeared without a trace. But, would a woman who is a dedicated assistant curator at the local museum just take up and leave, or is it foul play?

READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!

Monday 5 November 2018

#BookReview Ett delat mysterium (The Mystery of Three Quarters) by Sophie Hannah (SWE/ENG) @sophiehannahCB1

The Mystery of Three Quarters by Sophie Hannah
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

SWEDISH REVIEW

När Hercule Poirot återvänder hem efter lunch en dag finner han en arg kvinna som väntar utanför hans ytterdörr. Hon kräver att få veta varför han har skickat henne ett brev som anklagar henne för mordet på Barnabas Pandy. En man som hon inte känner eller någonsin har träffat.

Poirot har själv aldrig hört talas om Barnabas Pandy och har inte anklagat någon för mord. Gripen av händelsen går han in, bara för att finna att han har ännu en besökare som väntar på honom. Det visar sig vara en man som påstår sig ha fått ett brev från Poirot den morgonen som anklagar honom för mordet på Barnabas Pandy.

Ett delat mysterium är Sophie Hannahs tredje deckare med den omisskännlige Hercule Poirot i huvudrollen. I detta finurliga mordmysterium får vi återigen möjlighet att följa Agatha Christies mest klassiska karaktär i en gåta som inte lämnar någon oberörd.


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Jag älskar Poirot TV-serien med David Suchet. Jag har emellertid aldrig läst en Poirot-roman innan jag läste denna. En bok som inte ens är skriven av Agatha Christie. Det är nog bra att jag inte har läst de ursprungliga romanen eftersom jag inte har något att jämföra med. Men jag måste säga att jag var imponerad av historien. Humor, mysteriet och att försöka ta reda på vem skickade breven innan Poirit listade ut det.

Jag kunde verkligen se David Suchet som Poirot framför mina ögon under berättelsens gÃ¥ng och jag var verkligen fängslad av berättelsen och bokens stil tilltalande mig. Jag gillar särskilt början när Poirot anklagas av flera personer för att vara författare till flera brev som hävdar att just han/hon var en mördare av en man som heter Barnabus Pandy. Poirot tog allt i strid (inte) och försökte snabbt förklara att han inte alls var den som skrev breven vilket inte var lätt dÃ¥ de var sÃ¥ upprörda att de knappt lyssnad pÃ¥ honom. Och dÃ¥ mÃ¥ste han själv försöka ta reda pÃ¥ vem som skrev breven och om nÃ¥gon dödade stackars Barnabus Pandy.

Denna bok fick mig inte bara att vilja läsa de två tidigare böckerna av Sophie Hannah, nu vill jag också läsa böckerna av Agatha Christie. Detta är en riktigt bra bok och jag rekommenderar det varmt!

Tack till Bookmarks förlag för recensionsexemplaret!


ENGLISH REVIEW 

The world's most beloved detective, Hercule Poirot--the legendary star of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Expressand most recently The Monogram Murders and Closed Casket--returns in a stylish, diabolically clever mystery set in the London of 1930.

Hercule Poirot returns home after an agreeable luncheon to find an angry woman waiting to berate him outside his front door. Her name is Sylvia Rule, and she demands to know why Poirot has accused her of the murder of Barnabas Pandy, a man she has neither heard of nor ever met. She is furious to be so accused, and deeply shocked. Poirot is equally shocked, because he too has never heard of any Barnabas Pandy, and he certainly did not send the letter in question. He cannot convince Sylvia Rule of his innocence, however, and she marches away in a rage.

Shaken, Poirot goes inside, only to find that he has a visitor waiting for him -- a man called John McCrodden who also claims also to have received a letter from Poirot that morning, accusing him of the murder of Barnabas Pandy...


Poirot wonders how many more letters of this sort have been sent in his name. Who sent them, and why? More importantly, who is Barnabas Pandy, is he dead, and, if so, was he murdered? And can Poirot find out the answers without putting more lives in danger?

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I love the Poirot TV series with David Suchet. However, I have never actually read a Poirot novel until I read this one. Which isn't even written by Agatha Christie. It's probably good that I haven't read the original novels since I have nothing to compare with. But, I must say I was impressed with the story. The humor, the mystery and trying to figure out who sent the letters, before Poirot did.

I could really see David Suchet as Poirot before my eyes all through the book and I was utterly charmed by the story and the writing. I especially like the beginning when Poirot is accused by several people on being the author of several letters claiming that just he/she was a murderer. He took it all in stride (not) and quickly tried to explain that he was not at all the one that penned the letters. Although they didn't want to believe him and hardly listened to his explanations. And, then, of course, he had to try to find out who wrote the letters and if anyone killed poor Barnabus Pandy.

This book not only made me want to read the previous two books by Sophie Hannah, now I want to read the books by Agatha Christie as well. This a truly great book and I recommend it warmly!

Thanks to Bookmarks förlag for the review copy!

Sunday 4 November 2018

#BookReview The Sentence is Death by Anthony Horowitz @AnthonyHorowitz @arrowpublishing

The Sentence is Death by Anthony Horowitz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Death, deception, and a detective with quite a lot to hide stalk the pages of Anthony Horowitz's brilliant new murder mystery, the second in the bestselling series starring Private Investigator Daniel Hawthorne. 

‘You shouldn’t be here. It’s too late… ’

These, heard over the phone, were the last recorded words of successful celebrity-divorce lawyer Richard Pryce, found bludgeoned to death in his bachelor pad with a bottle of wine – a 1982 Chateau Lafite worth £3,000, to be precise.

Odd, considering he didn’t drink. Why this bottle? And why those words? And why was a three-digit number painted on the wall by the killer? And, most importantly, which of the man’s many, many enemies did the deed?

Baffled, the police are forced to bring in Private Investigator Daniel Hawthorne and his sidekick, the author Anthony, who’s really getting rather good at this murder investigation business.

But as Hawthorne takes on the case with characteristic relish, it becomes clear that he, too, has secrets to hide. As our reluctant narrator becomes ever more embroiled in the case, he realises that these secrets must be exposed – even at the risk of death…


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I've not read THE WORD IS MURDER, book one in this series, but I definitely want to after reading this one!

To be honest didn't I know a damn thing about the story before I started to read/listen to this book (yes I tend to mix it when I have the chance, listen at work, read and listen at home). And to find that Anthony Horowitz has written two books with himself as a character was a great joy (such a fun idea). He's like Private Investigator Daniel Hawthorne's own Watson. Although, their working relationship is a bit strained. Anthony isn't even sure he likes Hawthorne that much. I, however, find both of them enjoyable.

Anyway, there has been a murder and Anthony and Hawthorne is out to find out the truth. Anthony also struggles with an episode of Foyle's War (love that series, this book made me wanna rewatch it). As a new reader to this series was this my first encounter with the characters, and I loved getting to know them. And just like Anthony do I want to know more about Hawthorne. I had a blast reading this book and I although I saw one of the big twists a mile away did I really love the ending of the book!

THE SENTENCE IS DEATH is definitely a book that I recommend and I can't wait to read the first book and the third book when it's published!

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley!

Saturday 3 November 2018

#BookReview Marilla of Green Gables by Sarah McCoy @SarahMMcCoy @WmMorrowBooks @FreshFiction

Marilla of Green Gables by Sarah McCoy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A bold, heartfelt tale of life at Green Gables . . . before Anne: A marvelously entertaining and moving historical novel, set in rural Prince Edward Island in the nineteenth century, that imagines the young life of spinster Marilla Cuthbert, and the choices that will open her life to the possibility of heartbreak—and unimaginable greatness

Plucky and ambitious, Marilla Cuthbert is thirteen years old when her world is turned upside down. Her beloved mother has dies in childbirth, and Marilla suddenly must bear the responsibilities of a farm wife: cooking, sewing, keeping house, and overseeing the day-to-day life of Green Gables with her brother, Matthew and father, Hugh.

In Avonlea—a small, tight-knit farming town on a remote island—life holds few options for farm girls. Her one connection to the wider world is Aunt Elizabeth “Izzy” Johnson, her mother’s sister, who managed to escape from Avonlea to the bustling city of St. Catharines. An opinionated spinster, Aunt Izzy’s talent as a seamstress has allowed her to build a thriving business and make her own way in the world.

Emboldened by her aunt, Marilla dares to venture beyond the safety of Green Gables and discovers new friends and new opportunities. Joining the Ladies Aid Society, she raises funds for an orphanage run by the Sisters of Charity in nearby Nova Scotia that secretly serves as a way station for runaway slaves from America. Her budding romance with John Blythe, the charming son of a neighbor, offers her a possibility of future happiness—Marilla is in no rush to trade one farm life for another. She soon finds herself caught up in the dangerous work of politics, and abolition—jeopardizing all she cherishes, including her bond with her dearest John Blythe. Now Marilla must face a reckoning between her dreams of making a difference in the wider world and the small-town reality of life at Green Gables.


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I've seen tv-versions of ANNE OF GREEN GABLES, but I have never actually read the books. However, that didn't stop me from wanting to read this book about Marilla Cuthbert, before Anne came into her and Matthew's lives.

Marilla Cuthbert is only thirteen-years-old when her whole life is turned upside down. Her beloved mother dies in childbirth and she's suddenly the one responsible for all of the tasks of a farm wife: cooking, sewing, and overseeing Green Gables. Of course, she has her brother Matthew and her father Hugh, but the loss of her mother will stay with her for the rest of her life. As she grows up, Green Gables is her main focus, but friends and family will draw her out into the world. And, she will even find that there may be someone out there who could be more than and a friend...

READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!