Into the Storm by Cecelia Ahern

 

Ahern's In a Thousand Different Ways was the first book I read by her, and I enjoyed it enough to want to read another of her books.

Despite the unpopular present-tense narrative, along with slapdash editing, this* had me hooked to the end. Ahern managed to toss my smugness all over the place. Within only a few pages, I thought, oh, it's obvious, I know how this is going to pan out, but then Ahern throws you curveballs and twists and turns, and your powers of detection are all over the shop. Now that's clever.

The story is tightly and intensely coiled with emotion as GP Enya Pickering worries about her upcoming birthday—the age at which her mother tragically and suddenly died—and then has to deal with lasting trauma of tending to a road-traffic victim on a cold and stormy night. See About the Book below. The storm isn't just literal, it's metaphoric as well.

Well-written and very compelling, I was glad I read another book by this author, as it tipped her into my 'definitely read more of' list. It's a shame she didn't acknowledge her readers at the end, it's always a nice touch.

*Provided by Netgalley

See Also:

In a Thousand Different Ways

The Coach Trip by Izzy Bromley

 

This had the potential to be the perfect beach/fireside read. (Despite the loathsome present-tense narrative.)  But it failed miserably. It didn't take long for me to be hugely irritated by the constant reference to 'the old people'.

The narrator, Emma, and her flatmate/best friend, Mel, find themselves accompanying Emma's grandmother on a coach trip. See About the Book below. They find themselves to be the youngest (at a decently adult 28), and therefore, everyone else is ancient. They're immature, childish and disrespectful. I began to wonder how they even managed to get dressed in the mornings without a manual. The assumption was that anyone a day into 70 was a fuddy-duddy, complaining, grumpy old fart who just goes on coach trips. This then turned into an ageist, anti-old-people rant.

I think the following summed up the unlikeability of the main character, and I quote: "She’s around his age and looks like a thousand other old people, sort of grey and plumpish." Seriously? I mean, seriously???

To the author: where's your respect, fictional or otherwise.

Mrs Quinn's Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford

If you love GBBO, you'll love the story of Mrs Quinn, who, unbeknownst to her husband, enters a television cooking contest and does really rather well.

A pensioner finding fame and stardom on a cooking programme would be a bit of an empty plot, so of course, there is a bit more intrigue: a(nother) secret she has kept from her husband of fifty-nine years. See About the Book below.

It's a lovely snuggly book, as warm as comforting as Jenny Quinn's baking, without being too saccharine and sickly. The perfect feelgood book to immerse yourself in when you fancy a curl-up by the fire on a long wintry evening.

AMAZON UK

AMAZON US

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Island in the Sun by Katie Fforde

 

This isn't my number one genre, but I do like to pepper my reading list with the occasional romance for all its clicheness, predictability, inevitable happy-ever-after ending and if I'm honest, the cheesiness of it all!

This ticks all those boxes, it's true. We have the girl (Cass), we have the (older) man (Ranulph), a lovely sunny (bit prone to hurricanes) island (Dominica), there's the ex, and then there are the misunderstandings. All the right ingredients and although the dish comes out cooked, it's all a bit bland, lacking in spice. (Full synopsis here)

Cass is annoying to the point you want to slap her and tell her to grow up and get over herself. The rest of the characters are all a bit like cardboard cut-outs with no substance or emotion. The Dominican setting is authentic (which the author explains at the end) and almost makes you want to put the island on your must-see list, so job well done there.

But I did enjoy the author's writing, and I was invested enough to see it through to the end. It's an above-average-edited book, which is refreshing, although the author or the editor got in a bit of pickle with step-siblings and half-siblings…probably best to clarify themselves on that one.

Not a 'wow, amazing' book, but a decent enough read.

Summer's Runaway by Rebecca L. Marsh

 

After this, my fifth book by this author, I can safely say Marsh is most definitely in my 'favourite authors' list.

Apart from her immense skill in writing with emotion and conviction, Marsh brings you characters you can totally believe in and get wholly immersed in. Where Hope is Found's story continues here, its characters and their lives having moved on a couple of years. But a new one enters: runaway, twelve-year-old Hallie. And how brilliant Marsh is at getting into the head of a pre-teen. It's not an easy thing. Whilst you may remember what you were like at twelve (I don't), a generation (or two!) later, twelve-year-olds are quite different. It's a joy to be in the former characters' company again and Hallie is an added bonus.

Have the cast and their lives got legs for another book? I don't know. It would be lovely to meet up again, of course, but actually, I'll be happy with anything Marsh writes next.

I just hope it's not too long a wait.

The Good Servant by Fern Britton

 

This is the second book I've read by Fern Britton. I was mightily impressed by my first encounter with her writing, which made me determined to read more, if not all, of her books. So I pounced on this when it landed in my lap!

In this book, Britton has taken the bones of a true event and put meat and fat on them to provide a moving, thoroughly enjoyable and just a little bit sad story.

It's a delightful blend of royal fact and Britton's fiction. This fusion results in a delightful, very readable account. It's one that makes you wonder about Marion Crawford, the main character: a dedicated governess to the princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, a loyal daughter to a dominant mother and an unwitting, devoted puppet to a devious, lying suitor, who tricked her into breaching the utmost confidence for the sake of money and which resulted in her eighteen years of dedication ending very badly.

Britton is a brilliant writer. She captures every aspect of a character and makes them real. She draws you in right at the beginning of her story and keeps you hooked till the very end.

See Also:

 

The Newcomer

Something to Tell You by Lucy Diamond

 

This is a delightful story about family, its ups and downs, its secrets, its surprises and overall, its unbreakable bond.

I'm not familiar with Lucy Diamond's work, and this was my first encounter with her. Easy to read, you are drawn into the story and its characters from the start: the Mortimer family, comprising 50-years-married Mum and Dad, their four children and grandchildren. It's a large family, and most of the adults have their own narrative POV. They weave adeptly through the story, and it's not hard to become emotionally involved with them all. The characters are multi-faceted and likeable.

The ending is a little rushed and just a teeny weeny bit predictable, but this in no way affected my enjoyment. I'm certainly going to be reading more of this author. There's a cosiness and feel-good aura about her writing, and you can't help getting to the last page with an 'awww'. And we all need a dose of feel-good from time to time.

The Newcomer by Fern Britton

 

This is so lovely! I really enjoyed it. My first Fern Britton read and very definitely not my last. What a writer. Her characters are colourful, mysterious, passionate, compassionate, entertaining, and portrayed to make you feel that not only would you love to meet them but actually live in the community of which they're a part. Every scene is set with meticulous attention to detail.

You'd be forgiven for thinking this has a feint aura of The Vicar of Dibley: a stand-in female vicar has to prove herself to a village community. In the charming Cornish village of Pendruggan, most of the inhabitants welcome the new broom with her sweep of fresh and contemporary ideas, but of course, there's always one who doesn't!

Britton writes with warmth and compassion and gives you a delightfully easy and entertaining read that leaves you with a cosy glow inside. I hadn't realised she has a number of novels up her sleeve, which was a very pleasing discovery…more to be read by this author, very definitely!

The Rift Between Us by Rebecca L. Marsh

 

I've read two other books by this author. She has quite the knack of totally immersing you into her characters and their stories.

This is a wonderful family drama about three sisters who have drifted apart, much to their widower father's distress. He's unable to persuade them to mend the rift whilst alive, but after his sudden death, his will reveals a carefully constructed plan, a stipulation and condition, that forces the girls to reluctantly make an effort. Marsh takes us on their journey to break down the barriers of grudges, resentments, misunderstandings, grief. Each has a life-changing secret the others know nothing about.

The three books I've read by Marsh has confirmed to me her talent as a writer, but her skill is especially evident in her character portrayal: her characters are real, believable and likeable. They pull you in to their lives and their surroundings and are almost tangible. You know them and you feel them.

A lovely, beautiful story.

Needlemouse by Jane O'Connor

A story about a single middle-aged woman with an unrequited love for her boss isn't particularly original, but this is a well-told, well-written (debut) novel. I wasn't particularly enamoured by the protagonist, Sylvia, at the start…her boss obsession makes her an unpleasant, scheming person, one for whom you feel absolutely no sympathy or compassion. But O'Connor rather skilfully has you rooting for her towards the end. Bad decisions, misunderstandings and disappointments have moulded Sylvia and become her undoing. But her niece, old Jonas, an old boyfriend and…hedgehogs (or needlemice...you'll find out at the end!) transform her into quite a different, less-blinkered, nicer person.

There are some wonderful and wide-ranging characters, such as Jonas (who runs the hedgehog sanctuary), and the flamboyant Millie (Sylvia's sister). It's a heart-warming and uplifting story, written articulately and sensitively.

I would have given this five stars, but I couldn't overlook the tautologising nodding of heads, the 'leaving Lola and I (for heaven's sake '…and me'!), the 'lay low' (it's 'lie low'), and O'Connor should be aware that the proof is not in the pudding, it's in the eating of the pudding! I'm slightly alarmed that a primary (ex)teacher would blunder like this. And equally alarmed that an editor didn't pick these up.

But for that…a charming, entertaining and enjoyable debut novel. I hope there's more to come from this promising author.

The Castle by Anne Montgomery

 

Montgomery is no stranger to me: Wild Horses on the Salt was my very enjoyable introduction to her writing. This book had me equally enthralled. It deals with the very distressing subject of rape and, importantly, the impact it has on the victims, in this case, Maggie. 

 

A gang rape has left her depressed, and later, the death of her young son tips her over the edge. Eventually, she goes back to her job as park ranger at The Castle, a famous ancient Native American site. The scars of her ordeal and tragedy are still there, however, and she does her best to ease herself back into normality. But there is a man in her circle who wants Maggie for his 'prize'.

One of the four men in her entourage is a serial rapist. And this is where Montgomery keeps you turning the pages: I went from, "Oh, I know who it is!" to "Ah, no, it's him…or perhaps not, it's him!" Quite a lot of to-ing and fro-ing between the 'suspects' went on! And you're kept guessing till the very end. At the same time, the author digs deep into Maggie the victim and her distress and grief and gives you a compelling and pretty amazing character.

The story is peppered with some interesting facts, too…who knew scuba-diving for scientific research could be so fascinating, along with the Montezuma Castle's history.

Rape is a hideous crime with some alarming victim statistics, but in this well-rounded novel, Montgomery handles it brilliantly.

Steel Journeys: The Road to Patagonia by Lynda Meyers

Two things annoy me about books: the present-tense narrative (thank heavens it wasn't used here) and when books end at 72%. Unfortunately, this is where the book commits that particular crime.

Whilst I didn't find the main character, Abby, particularly 'badass', which is how the blurb describes her, I was rather enjoying her story. I did wish someone would shake her out of the bitterness that has been festering inside her for fifteen years (boyfriend betrayal) and tell her to move on, but for all that, I liked her. I consider her more independent than badass, and setting up what is essentially a travel business for female bikers is commendable. Patagonia doesn't feature much, by the way, but the story and the writing are decent. However, at seventy-two per cent, there are unresolved issues, but I did think, no worries, a quarter of the book to go, there's time. Alas, no, seventy-two per cent, and there it was: The End. I even thought it was a mistake and frantically tapped my Kindle to see where the rest of story was. 

I'm not keen on book excerpts (especially when they take up a quarter of a book) tagged on to the end of novels. I find it rather presumptuous and a teeny bit arrogant: the author is assuming you want to read more of his/her books. I'm not sure, despite this author's competence, I'm particularly motivated to do so. Will I find the answers to Abby's dilemmas? Or will it be another three-quarter offering?  I'm not so sure I want to pay to find the answer.

The Other Woman by Sandie Jones

There's nothing original about this plot. It's been done before many times, in novels, in TV dramas: girl finds Mr Perfect, but mum-in-law-to-be is a possessive, evil bitch, who will go to jaw-dropping lengths to ensure her Supernova son will never belong to anyone else. It's a tried and tested format, and Jones tackles it competently in this, her debut novel. However, committed though I was, eager to find out how Emily would detach Adam from his mother's, Pammie's, vice-like grip, I found the ending was a little far-fetched and a bit of a let-down. The methods Pammie employs are totally disproportionate to the reasons for them.

Pammie's manipulation is very clever and strategic, making it very hard for Emily to convince others. I couldn't help thinking, though, 'Emily, you have a twenty-first-century phone, record your vitriolic conversations between you and Pammie.' That would have put the kibosh on all Pammie's plotting. But then, I guess, the story would have run out of steam.

I won't give the editor any stars, either: apostrophes to pluralise words is an editorial sin, an 'I was sat' (aarrgghh!), one too many instances of 'there's' which should have been there are, along with...'for asking Kate and I'. For I??? Naughty, naughty.

Despite all the negatives, the rather stereotypical characters and the misnomer of a 'thriller', it's quite well written, and strangely, rather addictive.

A Grand Old Time by Judy Leigh

This book teeters a bit between being rather far-fetched and saccharine and admiration for a very sassy, determined seventy-five-year-old, Evie. I think the first thirty percent of the story had me on the former side, but at the end, I had quite a fondness for this old girl. The same can also be applied to her son, Brendan, and his wife, Maura. The sentiments for him waver between exasperation and sympathy. For Maura, between intolerance and empathy.

For Evie, the death of her husband discombobulates her a bit…and rather rashly decides a care home will be best for her. But at seventy-five, she realises she's not in the slightest bit ready for god's waiting room. So she gathers her things, along with her passport, and sets off for a European road trip. Horrified, Brendan and Maura set off to find her to take her home. But Evie has not only driven off to Europe, she's driven into enlightenment. Brendan and Maura have to prepare themselves.

Ultimately, my patience was rewarded because Evie's character developed quite satisfyingly. Brendan is someone you just want to slap in the face at first, but the author manages to rescue you from GBH by bringing just enough of your sympathy to the surface. As for Maura…well, yes, she starts out being rather unlikeable and domineering. But Brendan's behaviour and attitude is enough to make a Maura.

I did actually enjoy this by the end. It is all a little bit silly, totally incredible, but it is undeniably rather fun: and you can't help admiring Evie just a smidge. She really does exemplify 'age is just a number'.

The Art of Hiding by Amanda Prowse

The problem with this book* was that it stayed with me as I started the next one! I just couldn’t seem to get the characters….and not just the main one…out of my head. 

Stay-at-home wife and mum Nina’s life is shattered to smithereens when her husband, Finn, is killed tragically in a car accident. However, the gaping wounds of her loss have salt cruelly rubbed into them when she discovers Finn left her with millions of pounds of debt. Gone are her rich lifestyle and all its trappings, gone is the posh private school for her children, gone is her mansion of a house. With few, if not no, options left to her, she is forced to return to the council estate in Southampton, where she grew up and where her sister still lives, not only to try and make sense of what has happened but to work out how she is going to feed, clothe and house her family.

This is an excellent story with a plot and characters that ooze credibility on every page. It’s a story of tragedy and loss, enlightenment and achievement. It was my first date with this author, and I’m already lining up a few more. I’ve read many a good book, but few imprint themselves in my mind enough to distract me in my subsequent read, so, Ms Prowse, I can confidently say: job jolly well done.

*provided by Netgalley

Stay Tuned by Lauren Clark

Melissa, producer of a news programme, is in a marriage which has lost its mojo…husband is never home and communication is on a yellow-Post-It basis. Added to which, her news anchors have a live fisticuffs on the evening show, resulting in both being dismissed and Melissa having to spruce herself up and fill in. Oh, and one more thing: her mother has dementia.

This all sounds all rather tame for a plot, if I’m honest. BUT…I really, really enjoyed this. What could have been a somewhat schmaltzy, boring, clichéd story was actually a very well-written one that kept me interested from start to finish, and I found myself really looking forward to picking up the story every night for my pre-beauty-sleep read. No schmaltz, no boring, no clichés. Written articulately with style, it was actually quite wholesome with some down-to-earth, believable characters. Every relationship was handled with skill and insight…they were diverse, relatable and sometimes touching.

And how refreshing to find a well-edited book for a change…quite the icing on the cake. A light and easy read, yes, indeed, but one that doesn’t skimp on balance or sincerity.

Not to Us by Katherine Owen

I admire every single person who writes a book. I may not like the book, it may have faults, but I can’t ever take away from an author that he or she has poured out thousands of words to fulfil a dream to pen a novel. Truly admirable.

So, here’s the thing: the key word there is the ‘a’ in 'a great idea'. I can’t help thinking that this author scribbled down a number of ideas and thought, I know, I’ll put them all into one book. Result? Idea overload. (Which stretched to covers as well: I've seen four for this book.)  Can you have too much drama in one book? Quite possibly. 

Ellie’s husband has an affair with her best friend. The big C rears its ugly head. Ellie marries best friend’s husband. That’s probably enough to make a pretty good story, but no, let’s throw in two tragic deaths, a pregnancy, infidelity (yes, more) and you find yourself pretty stuffed after this smorgasbord of cheesiness.

Despite all that, I quite enjoyed this.

I found it a little hard to understand how Ellie seemed to be able to have men…three of them…falling at her feet. She was full of cancer and babies and not much personality, and yet they were all declaring undying love for her. It was all a bit mushy, despite dealing with some pretty full-on issues, and none of the characters were developed enough. It was hard to like, or even dislike, any of them.

Four things irritated me: the repetitive ‘bodacious tah tahs’. First time was amusing. The second, a little less. The third raised a titter. But after the seventeenth time, I’d had enough. I was also a little irked by the habit-of-stringing-a-whole-sentence-together-with-hyphens-to-make-it-an-adjective. Thirdly, this was written in the first person, present tense. It didn’t work. The (huge) issues in this book were ones dealt with by different people in different ways: I didn't perceive the gamut of emotions of the other characters, because of the first person POV and present tense. Lastly, the main character, Ellie, is an editor. A pity she didn’t edit her own book. There are a number of grammatical and punctuation howlers.

I really can’t quite fathom why I found it such a compelling read! Apart from the afore-mentioned annoyances, this author does write rather well. There was something about this work that drew me in, and ultimately, it was an effortless read.

The Secrets They Kept by Joanne Tombrakos

This was the author’s first novel. Elena Poulous, a Greek-American attorney, gets the surprise of her life one weekend when the police notify her of the death of a Yiannis Poulous. Having never heard of him, she is somewhat further mystified to learn she has been listed as next of kin, nominated to settle his affairs. Her immediate task, apart from arranging his funeral, is to interrogate her family about this man and discover why she has never heard about him. But she heads straight into one brick wall after another, the most tight-lipped of her kin being her mother, Kristina. Who was this man, and why is everyone so reluctant to talk about him?

The emotions that emerge from this Pandora’s box of secrets, kept for so long, pack a powerful punch, and you are kept well and truly glued to the pages. Yiannis Poulous had no idea his humble request would bare some truths and make those whose lives he entered look at themselves very closely. He had no idea how some revelations would improve fragile relationships.

This is written with sincerity and feeling. Each and every character means something to you and you care deeply how each will fare. The threads of Greek culture and religious beliefs woven into the tale, and their importance, add dimension and interest to the drama.

Although an excellent debut, however, I really would urge the author to ensure her next novel is better edited than this one. There were endless errors which were irritating (amongst them a name change for poor old Giuseppe Mazzini who became Manzini). But the writing was good, the story well structured, the characters well developed, so there was plenty to keep me happy. Certainly an author to keep an eye out for.

The One Plus One by Jojo Moyes

I’m a good many books away from having read a traditionally published book, so I thought I would dip in, just to see if all those harsh critics of self-published books had any basis for their unfavourable comments. Well, on the basis of this book…they haven’t.

The One Plus One features Jess, a single mum struggling to support two children after the departure of their father: a mum who wants to do the right thing whatever the circumstances and who wants instil the same ethic in her children. Tanzie is a mathematical child prodigy, and Nicky is taunted by neighbourhood bullies. They're both ‘different’ in their own way, and Jess wants to do her best for both, but a financially unsupportive ex-husband makes life very difficult.

Ed Nicholls is a computer software genius, financially secure with a glowing future—glowing until an error of judgement in some pillow talk rocks his world. Jess and her business partner, Nathalie, clean his house, and her relationship with him is strictly professional, but as it happens, a great deal is about to change—for him and for her.

I really did enjoy this. It was a very appealing story with some engaging characters, great dialogue and a drooling dog you just had to adore. It was very easy to climb right inside the story and feel you were part of it all. Jojo is obviously very good at her craft. However, I think she’s spent too much time in the US…whilst the writing is distinctly British, a few very American phrases have crept in, and they stood out like a sore thumb; they just weren’t necessary. I also had to raise my eyebrows at the speed at which a character was attended to in A&E. You don’t just drop in and get treated without waiting for at least two to four hours, I’m afraid.

What I was surprised…and irritated…by was the standard of editing. One of the main criticisms of the anti-indie community is just that: poor editing. The editor of this book had no idea of comma usage, there was a time and tense discrepancy and annoying font changes…I had to keep changing the font size of my Kindle. So I’m disappointed that a big publisher and this author simply don’t care about standards or their readers. As long as they’re skipping all the way to the bank with their £££s, that’s enough, it seems.

I do recommend this book, but I have read better-edited self-published books.

Making Wishes by Marilyn Holdsworth

This took me by surprise—very pleasantly so.

I was expecting a gentle, ambling story about a wife struggling to decide whether or not to continue being a trophy wife to her wealthy husband and stay-at-home mum to her two young boys or to feed her artistic talent and need to express her creativity by going back to work for her former employer.

But it had an awful lot more meat on the bones. The anguish she experienced went further than just her: it was shared by her husband who feared her proximity to her former boss (was he her ex-lover?) would rock the increasingly unstable marriage. His paranoia wasn’t helped by his own work problems. It was also shared by her sons, who found it hard to cope with a mum who just didn't seem to be around very much. It was even shared by her former boss, who, while determined to win her back to his growing company, doubted his confidence in being able to keep her with him.

The repercussions of her decision echo loudly, resonantly, and dramatically.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was classy, sophisticated, well written, reasonably well edited, and it was easy to put yourself into each of the main characters’ shoes to see their points of view and feel their passion, whatever its focus. You didn’t necessarily have to like the character: there are one or two undesirables and one or two (deliberately) irksome ones. It was easy to feel an emotion (good or bad) for all the characters;  there were none who could be ignored.

This book was about decisions and what-ifs. I found it hard to put down and that’s always a good sign, I think!