Vicious Circle (Hector Cross Book Two) by Wilbur Smith

 

Vicious Circle (Hector Cross Book Two) by Wilbur Smith.

Published 28th June 2018 by Zaffre.

From the cover of the book:

He'll stop at nothing to protect the ones he loves.

Hector Cross is under siege. After a lifetime of making enemies, Cross has settled down, but it seems someone missed the memo. When his life is turned upside down in a brutal attack, Cross recognises the handiwork of a terrorist organisation from his past and swears vengeance.

But as he follows the trail across the globe a new more terrifying battle begins. For there are worse things in Cross's world than terrorist kidnappers. Can he save those he loves - or will he pay the ultimate price?

The Second Hector Cross Thriller, following on from Those in Peril.

***********

Ex-SAS operative, and security expert, Hector Cross is back! He has settled into retirement at the side of his new wife, oil tycoon, Heather Bannock, and they are looking forward to the the birth of their first child. But their comfortable life is interrupted in the most traumatic way when Heather becomes the target of a vicious gang.

The brutal attack has all the hallmarks of the work of the terrorist cell Hector and his Cross Bow team came up against in the first book in the series, Those in Peril, when they undertook a dangerous mission to rescue Heather's daughter, Cayla - but surely they have all been wiped out? Hector must travel the globe once more to find out who is responsible for the ambush on Heather, and he will stop at nothing until he serves the culprits his own brand of justice...

This second instalment in the gripping Hector Cross series begins a few months after the very satisfying reckoning that Hector and the Double Cross team previously engineered against a dastardly terrorist cell, and their army of pirates, in Somalia. Hector believed that their Somali enemies had all been killed, bringing the relentless blood feud to an end, but now he is not so sure. Hector calls on his team for aid and in doing so Wilbur Smith cooks up a new thrilling adventure that takes us back to Abu Zara, to the heart of Mecca, to the mean streets of Texas, and eventually to deepest darkest Africa via a horrible episode in South America. 

Smith does an excellent job of building tension for the greater part of this book, and keeps you turning the pages as Hector and the gang find themselves in increasingly sticky situations on the trail of the bad guys. There are some very unexpected twists, which I cannot share for fear of massive spoilers, but suffice to say that the truth behind this new campaign of violence makes this much more of a mystery/family drama story than the first book. 

Smith takes some bold storytelling decisions to bring all the ambitious threads together. About half-way through, he suddenly throws in a 'book-within-a-book' scenario, which takes you sideways into some distressing Bannock family history, in order to direct the plotlines towards the very exciting Cross Fire shoot-em-up conclusion. This is an intriguing aside, but it does counteract the pace which has built up by this point in the story, which is a shame. I think some of the more bizarre banana republic shenanigans and debauched scenes, which Smith seems to revel in, could have been cut here to bring the story back on course a bit quicker, but fortunately the tempo steps up again once Hector and co reappear.

My favourite thing about this book is the way the Cross Fire team come back together and set about planning the demise of the evil villains at the root of all the disturbing trouble. It was great to see some old friends back in the thick of it, especially Russian firebrand Nastiya, who is such a great character, and there are some new faces mix things up nicely.   

Smith has an impressive knack of carrying you through his gloriously contrived finales with action-packed skill, leaving you on a very entertaining high, and he achieves this once again in Vicious Circle. He also drops in a cracking hook at the very end to take you into the final book in the trilogy, Predator... I cannot wait to see what happens next.

Vicious Circle is available to buy now in multiple formats.

Thank you to Zaffre for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review, and to Compulsive Readers Tours for recruiting me for #TeamWilbur.

About the author:

Wilbur Smith was born in Central Africa in 1933. He became a full-time writer in 1964 following the success of When the Lion Feeds, and has since published over fifty global bestsellers, including the Courtney Series, the Ballantyne Series, the Egyptian Series, the Hector Cross Series and many successful standalone novels, all meticulously researched on his numerous expeditions worldwide. An international phenomenon, his readership built up over fifty-five years of writing, establishing him as one of the most successful and impressive brand authors in the world.

The establishment of the Wilbur & Niso Smith Foundation in 2015 cemented Wilbur's passion for empowering writers, promoting literacy and advancing adventure writing as a genre. The foundation's flagship programme is the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize.

Wilbur Smith passed away peacefully at home in 2021 with his wife, Niso, by his side, leaving behind him a rich treasure trove of novels and stories that will delight readers for years to come.

A Little In Love by Florence Keeling

 

A Little in Love by Florence Keeling.

Published in paperback 3rd August 2023 by Simon and Schuster.

From the cover of the book:

The little village of Weddington is fast becoming THE place to get married. With its stately home, castle and two churches it has something for everyone, and now, famous after appearing in huge romcom movie hit A Little In Love, it’s hosting a monthly wedding fayre…

Rose Pedal is the proud owner of Pedals & Prosecco, a brand new business serving ice-cold fizz from a vintage bicycle, and she’s excited to be attending her first wedding fayre. But, on the way to Weddington Hall she’s involved in a near miss crash involving dashingly handsome James from Blume’s Florist.

Arriving at the beautiful stately home drenched and disheveled, Rose is horrified to find James is not only not sorry for nearly knocking her off her bike, but he’s gatecrashing her allocated spot on the lawn. His arrogance gets her back up and it’s definitely a case of hate at first sight. But as the wedding fayre season continues, James gently wins Rose over, and their relationship starts to bloom.

Can being just 'a little in love' help Rose and James find their own happy-ending…

***********

Rose Pedal has a great idea for a business venture. Her one-woman enterprise, Pedals & Prosecco, will offer a quirky way for her clients to sip ice-cold fizz at their parties and receptions, served from a themed vintage bicycle. Given the huge popularity of the nearby village of Weddinton as a wedding location, after its appearance in the rom-com hit A Little in Love, she is hopeful her idea will be a big hit. 

Rose sets off to her first wedding fayre at Weddington Hall itself, full of enthusiasm that bookings will start rolling in, but on the way there she is nearly run-down by a van driven by the handsome James of Blume's florists. She is not amused when she arrives at the stately home looking less than cool, calm and collected, to find the arrogant James completely unapologetic... and in her prime spot. Sparks fly between them, but over the course of the wedding fayre season, their inauspicious meeting begins to blossom into a promising relationship. Can their own 'a little in love' connection be a way for them to find happiness too?

A Little in Love is a glorious romantic comedy that tells the tale of two young people who gradually fall in love after spending time with each other on the wedding fayre circuit. The story is driven by the wonderful characters that Florence Keeling imagines, starting with Rose and James, and bringing in their family members, the regulars who offer their services to happy couples planning their dream weddings, and even some of the clients themselves - and their interactions provide a rich seam of rivalries and friendships to spice up the action. 

As in all the best rom-coms, the journey to Rose and James' hoped-for happily-ever-after is littered with mishaps and misunderstandings that elicit humour and heart-wrenching emotion, and the wedding fayre setting provides a truly lovely little community who come to the rescue in times of need. I became especially fond of the WOW gang, with their kindness and spirit - and their hilarious Whatsapp conversations. 

This book is a joy from start to finish, with oodles of warmth, and all the laughter and tears you want in a romantic storyline. It touches on some deep and heartfelt themes too, especially about marriage, and commitment. Imagine a Richard Curtis movie set in the full-on world of the wedding fayre and you will get the picture. I absolutely loved how Keeling brings everything together in an ending filled with love and hope to hit that warm and fuzzy sweet-spot to perfection. Simply gorgeous!

A Little in Love in available to by now in paperback, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review, and to Books and the City for inviting be to be part of this blog tour.

About the author:

Florence Keeling LOVES weddings. She married the man she met when she was four months old, and 21 years of married bliss later, they are still VERY much in love. Her love of stories started with Mr Men and Topsy and Tim, she longed to attend Cackle's Academy and spend days sharing adventures with the Famous Five. As a grown up, she wrangles two grown up kids, two mad huskies and three day jobs. A Little In Love is her third work of fiction.

Echoes On A Cornish River by Kate Ryder

 

Echoes on a Cornish River by Kate Ryder.

Published 8th August by Embla Books.

From the cover of the book:

Can a love like theirs stand the test of time?

Ellinor lived for adventure, always travelling from one place to the next - until tragedy struck and turned her world upside down. Needing to escape, she accepts an invitation to stay with relatives at their remote Cornish farmhouse.

As Ellinor settles on the outskirts of Calstock, it's not long before the land and its history have her itching to explore once more. Her search takes her far and wide when an unexpected encounter with an enigmatic, handsome stranger stops her in her tracks.

From the moment they meet, Ellinor knows deep in her soul they share a connection like no other. It's as if they've known each other forever. But no one else has heard of William... Is he all that he claims to be?

Could their love story be written in the stars? Or will past secrets threaten to alter the very future Ellinor has begun to let herself hope for?

A gorgeously heart-warming and romantic timeslip novel that will sweep you off your feet from bestselling author of Into a Cornish Wind. Perfect for fans of Diana Gabaldon, Susanna Kearsley and Nicola Cornick.

***********

Ellinor used to love her job as a flight attendant, always ready for a new adventure as she travelled the world, but then a traumatic incident in the air shattered her confidence. Six months after her last flight, she is still plagued with nightmares and unable to bear the thought of anyone coming close to her, even her husband Simon.

Desperate to pull herself out of the dark place she is in, she accepts an invitation to stay with her cousin and his wife at their Cornish farmhouse on the banks of the river Tamar. Almost as soon as she and Simon arrive, Ellinor feels the pull of the beautiful landscape and its history, and she cannot escape the feeling that she has been here before. As she begins to dig into the history of the area, the past and the present begin to blur. Ellinor finds herself drawn to a love that echoes through the years, but what does this mean for her own happiness in the present?

Echoes on a Cornish River is an enchanting timeslip novel that blends present day Cornwall with the era of politcal unrest during the Wars of the Roses, linking the two through nicely wrought themes of fate, magic, and romance -with lovely Outlander vibes.

At its heart this is all about the romance that develops between Ellinor and William, a man who lived hundreds of years ago, and who looks remarkably like her husband. As Ellinor moves back and forth between past and present, the power of her connection with William drives the story, and ultimately leads her towards hope and healing. 

At the same time, Ryder does a great job of bringing the past alive, connecting present day Cornwall to the wealth of history tied to the Tamar area. By weaving together fact and fiction she covers a lot of history in a really engaging way, filling out the broad strokes of what the history books tell us about the time when Henry Tudor and his supporters were plotting to overthrow Richard III. I particularly enjoyed the way she  incorporates bags of social history too.

As well as being a compelling historical tale, this book is a love story to Cornwall that celebrates the area around the Tamar, rather that the sights and sounds of further west that normally appear in stories set in this beautiful county. It has made me want to revisit Cotehele House in Saltash, which features prominently in this story, and look at it with fresh eyes too - I highly recommend a visit if you have never been.

This is perfect summer reading for those of you who like to be swept away by a historical romance, especially one that cleverly blends contemporary themes with an atmospheric love story!

Echoes on a Cornish River is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Embla Books for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review, and to Compulsive Readers Tours for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.

About the author:

Kate Ryder is an international bestselling author of romantic suspense and timeslip/magic realism. She is represented by the Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency and published by Embla Books and Aria Fiction. She is also a member of the RNA and the SoA.

INTO A CORNISH WIND - a contemporary romance with a twist of otherworldliness - published 28 September, and by the end of the day it had bestseller flags on Amazon UK and Australia.

BENEATH CORNISH SKIES - a beautiful romance with a shimmer of ghostliness - achieved #1 eBook in the Amazon Australia Kindle Store, peaked at #83 in the Amazon UK Kindle Store and was shortlisted for the RNA Romantic Novel Awards 2022.

SECRETS OF THE MIST - a mysterious timeslip romance set in Dorset - not only reached #49 in Amazon UK Kindle Store but also achieved bestseller flags in the UK, Canada and Australia. In its original, self-published version as 'The Forgotten Promise' it was awarded the very first Chill with a Book "Book of the Month".

SUMMER IN A CORNISH COVE - a contemporary romantic suspense set on the wild and rugged Lizard Peninsula - was nominated for the RNA’s 2018 Joan Hessayon award. Readers begged for a sequel and Kate duly obliged with (standalone) COTTAGE ON A CORNISH CLIFF, which peaked at #1 in Kindle categories in the UK.

The Black Crescent by Jane Johnson

 

The Black Crescent by Jane Johnson.

Published 3rd August by Head of Zeus.

From the cover of the book:

Bringing 1950s Morocco vividly to life, Jane Johnson's masterful new novel, The Black Crescent, is a gripping story of murder, magic and divided loyalties...

Hamou Badi is born in a mountain village with the magical signs of the zouhry on his hands. In Morocco, the zouhry is a figure of legend, a child of both humans and djinns, capable of finding all manner of treasure: lost objects, hidden water.

But instead, Hamou finds a body.

This unsolved murder instils in Hamou a deep desire for order and justice: he trains as an officer of the law, working for the French in Casablanca. But the city is trapped in the turmoil of the nationalist uprising, and soon he will be forced to choose between all he knows and all he loves...

***********

Hamou Bidi was born in the mountain village of Tiziane, Morrocco, marked with the sign of the zouhry on his palms. Legend decrees that a zourhy, born of the djinn and humankind, is capable of finding treasure, but when, as a child, Hamou discovered the body of a woman he did not think himself fortunate. However, this event has marked the course of Hamou's life in many ways. It awakened within him the desire to help the victims of crime, and when fate took him to the big city, he was convinced that becoming a policeman in Casablanca was the way to fulfil his dream..

Casablanca in April 1955 is a dangerous place to be. Hamou sometimes feels awkwardness on the part of some of his fellow Moroccans at his choice to work for a police department controlled by the French colonial government, but he has always believed he is in the right place to uphold law and order for all. Now, he is not so sure. The decision of the French government to exile the Sultan of Morocco in 1953 has led to unrest and Hamou cannot ignore the open hostility that is directed at his uniform as he goes about his job. Protests ignited by resistance groups like the Black Crescent, who aim to gain independence, have led to violence on the streets, and Hamou is horrified to discover that he is expected to take part in brutal counter measures as part of his job. Caught between two worlds, Hamou must decide where his loyalties lie.

The Black Crescent immerses you in a time of political unrest during the dying days of French colonial rule in Morocco, and Jane Johnson brings alive a period of history that is filled with violence and injustice. Hamou Bidi is a decent man, caught between his desire to uphold law and order, and the gradual realisation that his ideals have absolutely nothing to do with the job he is being asked to do. Johnson beautifully describes a country torn in two by the clash between cultures of a native population and a French imperialist government with very different ideas about how to live, and the painful journey towards Morocco's independence. Many of the scenes she describes through Hamou's eyes are distressing to read, full of cruelty and injustice, but she does not flinch from exploring the harsh reality of the acts that occur on both sides of the divide too.

Curiously, for all the fascinating history outlined in these pages, it is actually the people who make this story so readable. The intensely emotional moments that Johnson writes about in the lives of Hamou, his friends and his family are the core of the novel. This allows her to open up aspects of the tale that involve so much more than a fight for independence, as it encompasses mystery; domestic drama; romantic suspense; and Hamou's coming of age as he grows into manhood. My favourite parts of the the book were those set in Tiziane, where the story thrums with community spirit, the weight of history, and deeply held beliefs in mysticism and magic. I adored Hamou's mother, who brings in a lovely thread of humour with her constant desire to get him married off, and her letters to him in Casablanca are a joy. Delightfully, she is only one of the incredible women whose tales weave in and out of Hamou's story, bringing in threads that show real insight into their lives, especially when it comes to strength of character, and resistance.

It did take me a little while to get into this novel, but there is something seductive about the way the threads of the story weave together and capture your imagination, making it one full of warmth and hope. I particularly enjoyed the element of mystery that brings the book full circle, tying everything up nicely, and if you enjoy a tale that includes animal characters among the human ones then you are in for a treat. 

The Black Crescent is available to buy now in hardcover, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Head of Zeus for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review, and to Ransom PR for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.

About the author:

Jane Johnson is a British writer and publisher who writes historical fiction set mainly in Cornwall and Morocco. Her novels include The Tenth Gift, The Salt Road, The Sultan’s Wife, Pillars of Light, Court of Lions and The Sea Gate.

I Did It For You by Amy Engel

 

I Did It For You by Amy Engel.

Published 3rd August 2023 by HQ.

From the cover of the book:

A murdered girl. A convicted killer. Justice served…

Or is it?

It’s been fourteen years since Greer’s older sister Eliza was murdered. Her family has never been the same. Nor has the small town of Ludlow.

The killer was convicted and executed but another body has been found.

A copycat, according to the authorities, but Greer is convinced there is more to the story.

And she is returning to Ludlow in search of the truth.

***********

Fourteen years ago, Greer's sister Eliza was shot dead in a parking lot with her boyfriend Travis. Local man, Roy Mathews confessed to the double murder and was executed for his crimes. The tragedy tore Greer's family apart, eventually sending her off to a lonely existence in Chicago, but the distance that lies between her and her parents involves a lot more than miles.

When two more teenagers are murdered in a similar way to Eliza and Travis, Greer is compelled to return home to her broken family in Ludlow, Kansas The authorities are sure that this is a copycat killing, but Greer has always been convinced that someone else was involved in the original murders - and she will not rest until she finds out the truth.

I Did It For You is a cracking combination of small town crime story and domestic noir that draws you in from the very first page, carries you along through a beautifully contrived series of twists and turns, and does not let you go until it spits you out broken and bloody at the end. The story follows Greer as she returns home after many years away to finally lay her ghosts to rest about the murder of her sister. Home is no longer the place she remembers, as her parents have been unable to move beyond their grief, and a gulf has widened up between them that it seems impossible to breach. 

Greer is hiding a secret about the summer Eliza died, and the weight of what she knows brings with it the belief that she could have prevented Roy Mathew's crimes. She cannot rest until she discovers everything there is to know about the tragedy fourteen years ago, and whether it is related to the recent murders. Despite the presence of her two closest friends in Ludlow, she finds an ally in an unlikely place - the one person who seems to be capable of understanding her. It is an alliance that sends shockwaves through this devastated community.

Engel tells Greer's story with perfectly judged pace, dropping in reveals which throw suspicion on several members of Ludlow's close-knit community in a bevy of red herrings, until the shocking truth is revealed. She breaks up the narrative with intriguing little snippets from the points of view of Eliza, Travis, and the latest murdered teens too, which blend nicely with the clues Greer gathers in her quest, until all the little pieces of the mystery come together in a shocking epiphany - one that completely floored me.

Along the way, Engel explores so many thought provoking themes. I am seriously impressed by the way she examines guilt, shame, grief, loss, alienation, revenge, responsibility, and forgiveness, all within a story that is such a page-turner. I loved how she probes the effect a violent crime has on, not only, the friends and family of the victim, but those of the offender too. She also has some interesting things to say about the way male and female victims are viewed, and notions of justice and complicity.

I could not put this book down, the mystery elements, the hefty punch of emotion, and claustrophobic small-town vibes all make this book the very best kind of thriller. A must for your summer reading pile!

I Did It For You is available to buy now in hardcover, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to HQ for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

About the author:

Amy Engel is the author of THE FAMILIAR DARK, THE ROANOKE GIRLS, and THE BOOK OF IVY series. A former criminal defence attorney, she lives in Missouri with her family.

The Red Admiral's Secret (Poynter and Perry Book 2) by Matthew Ross

 

The Red Admiral's Secret (Poynter and Perry Book 2) by Matthew Ross.

Reissued 3rd June 2023 by Curlew Crescent.

From the cover of the book:

A Premier League bad-boy murdered at his newly refurbished home; a teenage runaway's corpse uncovered on a construction site; a gunman shoots up the premises of the local gangland boss - all of them projects run by beleaguered builder Mark Poynter. Can he fix it?

The Red Admiral's Secret is the second of 'the Poynter + Perry Mysteries', the darkly comic crime novels following Mark Poynter's trouble on the tools, aided and hindered in equal measure by his trusted crew of slackers, idlers and gossips, and the lengths they go to just to earn a living.

***********

I cannot tell you how much I was looking forward to meeting up again with Marky-Mark Poynter and the gang after Matthew Ross' excellent debut novel, Death of a Painter, and from start to finish The Red Admiral's Secret was just like catching up with friends and family - well friends and family embroiled in the fall out from murder and mayhem anyway.

Electrician, Mark Poynter, has pulled himself out of the mire he was involved in during the events of The Death of a Painter, and is now doing alright for himself both personally and professionally. Working for the ex-footballer Danny Kid and his brother, Stuart, in their property management business has proven to be profitable, but Mark cannot help but worry what the future holds, and whether it is sensible to put all his eggs in one basket. His nurse partner, Perry, has now more-or-less moved in giving him a loving, stable base to anchor himself to - if only he would allow himself acknowledge it. Uncle Bern and Disco are still putting in a, mostly, welcome appearance, and as for the loveable villain Hamlet, well he is never far away and still dragging Mark into some dodgy scheme whether he wants in or not.

When the Kidd brothers start to show an interest in developing the derelict Admiral Guthrie pub, some pretty nasty fellows come out of the woodwork and trouble ensues for them all - the kind of trouble that involves murder, the sins of the past, and possible gang warfare. Yep. poor old Mark is up to his neck in it again, as as is par for the course, it is up to him to try to sort in out.

There are some fabulous threads to this tale, which bring in a mix of the modern gang culture and that of the traditional crime bosses of the past; the repercussions of sibling rivalry ramped up to eleven; and commitment to friends, family and partners; which when added together make for a much more complex story than in the first book. I was really impressed with the slick way Ross works all the threads out to their exciting conclusions, with some nice little twists and turns along the way. There is plenty of mystery with menace, and a good solid portion of emotion fit to warm the cockles of your heart.

This really is a book where I recommend you take the time to read the first one in the series, because is makes such a difference to know the characters you meet in this adventure, and the history that lies between them. It will also give you a chance to get into the vibe of Ross' style of humour, and the reams of top quality pithy banter that help make these books so enjoyable.

It's easy to see that Ross getting into his stride as a writer in this book, fleshing out his characters nicely and inventing more involved plots that are both entertaining and absorbing. I absolutely loved every cracking page, and am looking forward to more adventures with Poynter and Perry! 

The Red Admiral's Secret is available to buy now in paperback and ebook.

**Review originally published February 2021**

Thank you to Matt Ross for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review, and to Zooloo's Book Tours for inviting me to take part in this blog tour.

About the author:

Matthew Ross was born and raised in the Medway Towns, England. He still lives in Kent with his Kiwi wife, his children and a very old cat.

He was immersed in the building industry from a very early age helping out on his father’s sites during school holidays before launching into his own career at 17. He’s worked on projects ranging from the smallest domestic repair to £billion+ infrastructure, and probably everything in between.

A lifelong comedy nerd, he ticked off a bucket-list ambition and tried his hand at stand-up comedy. Whilst being an experience probably best forgotten (for both him and audiences alike) it ignited a love for writing, leading to various commissions including for material broadcast on BBC Radio 4 comedy shows.

Matthew moved into the longer format of novel writing after graduating from the Faber Academy in London in 2017.

Death Of A Painter and The Red Admiral's Secret are his darkly comic crime capers featuring beleagured builder Mark Poynter and associates.

Burning Bridges is a stand-alone British gangster revenge thriller - perfect for anyone who likes cheering on the bad guys.

Matthew enjoys reading all manner of books - especially crime and mystery; 80s music; and travelling and can’t wait for the next trip to New Zealand to spend time with family and friends. He wishes he could tap dance.

 July 2023 Reading Round Up

What a month! 

Some absolutely stunning books have been on the menu in July!

You can fìnd your way to my reviews for these books by clicking on the pictures below:

The Cornershop in Cockleberry Bay by Nicola May

Those in Peril by Wilbur Smith

The Housekeepers by Alex Hay

The Blood of Others by Graham Hurley

The Bleeding by Johana Gustawsson

A Month in Provence by Gillian Harvey

You Can't See Me by Eva Björg Ægisdóttir

The Flames by Sophie Haydock

The Little Italian Hotel by Phaedra Patrick

Endless Night by Agatha Christie

Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

The Revels by Stacey Thomas

The Silent Friend by Alison Stockham

Consumed by Greg Buchanan

One by Eve Smith

London, with Love by Sarra Manning

73 Dove Street by Julie Owen Moylan

More great books coming up in August!

If you like my pics too, why not head over to Instagram to give me a follow at @brownflopsy

73 Dove Street by Julie Owen Moylan

 

73 Dove Street by Julie Owen Moylan.

Published 20th July 2023 by Michael Joseph.

From the cover of the book:

When Edie Budd arrives at a shabby West London boarding house in October 1958, carrying nothing except a broken suitcase and an envelope full of cash, it's clear she's hiding a terrible secret.

And she's not the only one; the other women of 73 Dove Street have secrets of their own . . .

Tommie, who lives on the second floor, waits on the eccentric Mrs Vee by day. After dark, she harbours an addiction to seedy Soho nightlife - and a man she can't quit.

Phyllis, 73 Dove Street's formidable landlady, has set fire to her husband's belongings after discovering a heart-breaking betrayal - yet her fierce bravado hides a past she doesn't want to talk about.

At first, the three women keep to themselves.

But as Edie's past catches up with her, Tommie becomes caught in her web of lies - forcing her to make a decision that will change everything . . .

***********

London, 1958. In grey post-war London, Edie arrives at the door of a shabby boarding house with nothing but a few belongings in her broken cardboard suitcase, and a big secret she must keep hidden. She hopes that 73 Dove Street will provided a refuge from the actions her abusive husband has driven her to, until she can decide how to move forward.

On the second floor lives Tommie. Caught in a destructive cycle, she works for an eccentric old woman during the day, and spends her nights in seedy Soho chasing a man who can never give her the solace she craves. She does not know quite what to make of Edie, who is hiding away on the third floor in the tiny attic room that used to be her own.

73 Dove Street's landlady, Phyllis, is going through troubles of her own. Having thrown her unfaithful husband out on the street, she is suddenly forced to confront the grief that has been hiding for so long. 

As Edie's past catches up with her, she and Tommie forge a friendship that offers the chance for both of them to make a new future, but there are hard decisions to be made.

73 Dove Street is the follow up to Owen Moylan's splendid debut That Green Eyed Girl, and in it she turns her attention to three women whose lives have taken a tragic turn, in 1950s London. The story plays out in 1958 for the three women, and with flashbacks to the history of Edie's relationship with her controlling husband, delving deep into the heartbreak that has shaped them, and cutting you to the bone with the sorrow, misplaced guilt, and regrets that consume them. 

Owen Moylan brings 1950s London alive with all its complicated contradictions, and weaves the impact of the legacy of WWII into the stories of Edie, Tommie and Phyllis to heartrending effect, and she paints a disturbingly accurate picture of the lives they are forced to lead. I do not want to go into their stories in any detail, as Owen Moylan tells their tales much better that I can, but much in these pages made me terribly sad and angry, as she holds nothing back in examining themes of trauma, PTSD, aching grief, alienation, and domestic abuse. However, thankfully, there is also some healing and hope to give you something to cling to at the end of the story.

I love Owen Moylan's writing. She has such a way of speaking up for the her female characters to show exactly how time and place affects their hopes and dreams, and here she does this in story that combines elements of mystery, loss of innocence, and domestic suspense that keep you turning the pages from beginning to end - all while and making you reflect on how much women's lives have changed... or not. This book worked its way right under my skin, and it will stay with me for a long time. I shed tears for Edie, Tommie and Phyllis in their turn, and so will you.

73 Dove Street is available to buy now in hardcover, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Michael Joseph for sending me a proof of this book in return for an honest review.

About the author:

Julie Owen Moylan was born in Cardiff and has worked in a variety of jobs, from trainee hairdresser and chip shop attendant at sixteen to business management consultant and college lecturer in her thirties.

She then returned to education to complete her Master's degree in Film before going on to complete a further Master's degree in Creative Writing. Julie is an alumna of the Faber Academy's Writing a Novel course. She lives in Cardiff with her husband.

London, With Love by Sarra Manning

 

London, with Love by Sarra Manning.

Published in paperback 3rd August 2023 by Hodder and Stoughton.

From the cover of the book:

London. Nine million people. Two hundred and seventy tube stations. Every day, thousands of chance encounters, first dates, goodbyes and happy ever afters.

And for twenty years it's been where one man and one woman can never get their timing right.

Jennifer and Nick meet as teenagers and over the next two decades, they fall in and out of love with each other. Sometimes they start kissing. Sometimes they're just friends. Sometimes they stop speaking, but they always find their way back to each other.

But after all this time, are they destined to be together or have they finally reached the end of the line?

***********

Jennifer and Nick meet at college in 1986, and although Jennifer is irritated by his pretentious attitude she falls in love with him at first sight. Jennifer is certain Nick will never be interested in a girl like her, so when a dramatic incident at a Smith's concert forges a close friendship between them, she accepts that their relationship is destined to never be a romantic one, however much she wants it to be.

Over the next twenty years, Jennifer and Nick are fated to meet again and again, and each time the connection they share draws them together. But somehow, the timing is never right for them both to acknowledge at the same time that the spark between them could be something more. On each occasion, they follow a pattern of harmony, followed by emotional bust up that breaks their friendship. What really lies between them, and will it ever blossom into true love?

London, with Love follows the mixed up will-they-won't-they relationship between Londoners Jennifer and Nick, set against a wonderfully nostalgic journey through the decades. Told through the eyes of Jennifer, as she goes through various iterations of the person she wants to be (with accompanying changes in her preferred first name of Jen, Jenny and Jennifer), sometimes with Nick as a central character in her life, and others when she wants to never see him again.

Fate decrees that Jennifer and Nick will keep on meeting, with echoes of David Nicholls' novel One Day, however, this gorgeous book affected me so much more than the unfulfilling tale of damp dishcloth Emma and insufferable Dexter (apologies to One Day fans, but they are). Manning writes Jennifer and Nick with such authentic yearning and the course of their mistimed love for each other drew me in completely. Jennifer makes for a wonderful heroine, vulnerable and feisty in equal measure, as all heroines should be, and Nick has a fathomless quality to him that gives glimpses of the tenderness that he hides within. With lashings of heart, humour, aching sorrow, and soaring joy, this is a story about the lows and highs of true friendship, and the bittersweet history of a couple for whom the timing never seems quite right - until the moment that tragedy makes them really look closely at their feelings for each other... but no spoilers here. However, I will say that the combination of their characters is enchanting, and in a strike of brilliant story telling, Manning keeps her cards close to her chest when it comes to the final outcome. 

There are so many things about this book that I adored. The little twist of setting each chapter around a rail/tube station is genius, with the Tube as a character in its own right, and Manning perfectly evokes the feeling of time and place for each decade - from spot on popular culture references, to the tragic events that take play out in the background of Jennifer and Nick's own bumpy journey. Their deep affection for the glorious messy city of London comes through loud and clear, and will resonate with those of us who feel strong ties with the city of our birth (even if you are from south of the river, as I am). Manning conveys the complex emotions that we often feel about family beautifully too.

I do not know how I have not read a Sarra Manning book before this one, because London, with Love is simply delicious. Romantic, moving, and totally unforgettable, this book hits the emotional sweet spot to perfection. 

London, with Love is available to buy now in hardcover, ebook, paperback and audio formats.

About the author:

Sarra Manning has been a voracious reader for over forty years and a prolific author and journalist for twenty five.

Her novels, which have been translated into fifteen different languages include Unsticky, You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me, After The Last Dance, The Rise And Fall Of Becky Sharp and Rescue Me. Sarra has also written over fifteen YA novels, and four light-hearted romantic comedies under a pseudonym.

She started her writing career on Melody Maker and Just Seventeen, has been editor of ElleGirl and What To Wear and has also contributed to The Guardian, ELLE, Grazia, Stylist, Fabulous, Stella, You Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar and is currently the Literary Editor of Red magazine.

Sarra has also been a Costa Book Awards judge and has been nominated for various writing awards herself.

She lives in London surrounded by piles and piles of books.

One By Eve Smith

 

One by Eve Smith.

Published 20th July 2023 by Orenda Books.

From the cover of the book:

One law. One child. Seven million crimes…

A cataclysmic climate emergency has spawned a one-child policy in the UK, ruthlessly enforced by a totalitarian regime. Compulsory abortion of 'excess' pregnancies and mandatory contraceptive implants are now the norm, and families must adhere to strict consumption quotas as the world descends into chaos.

Kai is a 25-year-old `baby reaper´, working for the Ministry of Population and Family Planning. If any of her assigned families attempt to exceed their child quota, she ensures they pay the price.

Until, one morning, she discovers that an illegal sibling on her Ministry hit-list is hers. And to protect her parents from severe penalties, she must secretly investigate before anyone else finds out.

Kai's hunt for her forbidden sister unearths much more than a dark family secret. As she stumbles across a series of heinous crimes perpetrated by the people she trusted most, she makes a catastrophic discovery that could bring down the government … and tear her family apart.

***********

In the face disaster as a result of a climate emergency, the UK has accepted the need for drastic change. The One party now holds sway with limits on the resources people can consume, and a one-child policy that is strictly enforced.

Compliance is policed by dedicated agents working for the Ministry of Population and Family Planning. For those breaking the one-child limit, punishments are hard, with compulsory abortion for 'excess pregnancies'. Many women have agreed to mandatory contraceptive implants to prevent a visit from the 'baby reapers' at the Ministry, but there are always those who choose to break the rules.

Kai is a 25 year old 'baby reaper' and although she sometimes finds her role difficult, she is positive that the one-child policy is the only way for humankind to have any sort of future. However, her faith in Party policy is shaken when she discovers that she has an illegal sibling of her own. With the clock counting down, Kai must undergo a covert investigation to discover how and why her parents broke the rules, before the authorities come for her family, but what she uncovers goes much deeper than a dark family secret... 

One is the third epic near-future novel from Eve Smith, and it is her most ambitious so far. Smith has an uncanny knack for looking at contemporary issues and speculating just how perilous they could become, and her prophecies are eerily accurate. Following on from her previous chilling forays into antibiotic resistance and genetic manipulation, with The Waiting Rooms and Off Target respectively, in One Smith turns her insightful eye towards climate change and population control - weaving an exploration of the pitfalls that lie ahead for humankind into a cracking dystopian thriller.

Smith paints a picture of a world in freefall. Unchecked climate change has altered the face of the planet, and led to an influx of immigrants into the UK. The most important single initiative to save the planet is the introduction of a one-child policy, to reduce the population in line with ever dwindling resources. This policy is non-negotiable and enforced with brutal measures, but the chance of a future that the One party promises gives people hope. However, not everyone is convinced by party propaganda, especially the vulnerable who inevitably pay a bigger price in pursuit of utopia, and this allows Smith to introduce a compelling storyline that forces Kai to confront the lies that have seduced her.

So much of this novel evokes the menace of Orwell's 1984, especially in the rigid control of the state on individual freedoms and the use of propaganda, but Smith also injects her tale with pace and delicious twists in a way that is so evocative of the gripping stories of Michael Crichton. This gives her a spellbinding style all of her own, that combines a heartfelt message with a page-turner story that holds you fast from unsettling beginning to bittersweet ending.  

A word here for Smith's impressive skill in offering timely issues for our consideration in a way that makes them beautifully accessible to her readers. This book will have you pondering some very weighty topics, and thinking long and hard about the inevitable consequences of where we are heading. She offers no easy answers about the dilemma we face in controlling the global population explosion, but urges us to stop and consider the kind of future we want. Her intention is to offer us a cautionary tale, and she pulls this off to perfection. And before you close the covers, I recommend a read of the section at the end of this brilliant novel, touching on the inspiration behind it. It is hard to ignore the evidence presented to us about climate change, and the liberties being taken with reproductive rights across the globe in the here and now, so take heed.

I think this is Smith's best novel yet. It showcases how much her writing has matured over the course of her three extraordinarily prescient novels, and the confidence she has gained in conveying her passion for her subjects of choice. I cannot wait to see where she takes her readers next!

One is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats. You can support the very best in indie publishing by buying direct from Orenda Books HERE.

About the author:

Eve Smith writes speculative fiction, mainly about the things that scare her. She attributes her love of all things dark and dystopian to a childhood watching Tales of the Unexpected and black-and-white Edgar Allen Poe double bills. In this world of questionable facts, stats and news, she believes storytelling is more important than ever to engage people in real life issues.

Longlisted for the Not the Booker Prize and described by Waterstones as "an exciting new voice in crime fiction", Eve’s debut novel The Waiting Rooms, set in the aftermath of an antibiotic resistance crisis, was shortlisted for the Bridport Prize First Novel Award and was selected as a Book of the Month by Eric Brown in The Guardian who compared her writing to Michael Crichton’s.

Eve’s previous job as COO of an environmental charity took her to research projects across Asia, Africa and the Americas, and she has an ongoing passion for wild creatures, wild science and far-flung places. When she’s not writing she’s racing across fields after her dog, trying to organise herself and her family, or off exploring somewhere new.