Enchanting Folk Tales of Britain and Ireland by Sharon Jacksties and Bea Baranowska (Fiction, Folktales, 9/10E)

February 2020, The History Press, 192 pages, Hardback, Review copy 

Book summary

 Stories and animals have long travelled the same routes. Through our heritage of charming, quirky and profound tales, you will find yourself re-acquainted with Britain’s wondrous fauna. Find out how hedgehog ended up with spines and what makes him scuttle so fast, discover how pigs saved a prince from leprosy and why the wealthy lord was so intent on capturing the black fox. Sharon Jacksties’ wonderful book combines traditional stories, little-known zoological facts and true anecdotes to create a treasure trove of stories for animal lovers of every kind.

Nayu's thoughts 

This took a bit of time to read because for some peculiar reason it takes me longer to read folk tales, memoires, and other stories which may be fictional, they may not. Even though it is written in English I seem to need to concentrate more on the words than what I call regular fiction. Regardless, what you can't easily see from the cover photo is how beautiful it is to look at. The colours and texture of the hardback is ever so inviting. 

Folk tales are not known for having happily ever after endings, or being wholesome tales. There are some rather dark ones that I confess to skipping once I realised where the tale was heading - some folk tales, as is known from the Brothers Grimm versions, may as well be called horror fiction, so scary is the tale within despite animals being involved. Not all animals are cute and cuddly! 

Sometimes justice is served - I loved those tales a lot, as well as what classes as an ok ending. It was fascinating learning so many tales about deer, seals and foxes. The prince saving pigs reminded me of the Aesop's Fables book I had when I was a child, these tales are meant to be read more than once to understand the full meaning of them. It makes a fascinating read, and one that will be on my reread shelf, with a long time period between each read because of the horror factor. I learnt so much which yes I have promptly forgotten due to a rubbish memory, but while I read the tales it made me more appreciated of nature, and this wonderful world which God created (the book is not religious in any form, that is me). 

Find out more about Sharon's website and Bea's website.

Family Tree by Susan Wiggs, Narrator Christina Traister (Contemporary Fiction, Romance, 9/10E, Audiobook, short 'n' sweet review)

July 2016, HarperCollins, 12 hours & 14 minutes, Audiobook, Review copy from Audible

Summary from Audible UK

 Annie Rush seems to have it all - a handsome husband and their fabulous life in Manhattan. But all of that is snatched away when she is involved in a life-changing accident. Awakening from a coma a year later, Annie finds that the life she knew has crumbled away. In the throes of grief, Annie grasps her new reality - she has to start over from scratch, which means heading home. Annie couldn't wait to escape the small town where she grew up, but now she finds herself warming to the close-knit community and its homespun values. There's also a face from the distant past - Donovan Lynch - and all the reasons she's never quite forgotten him come flooding back. Annie expects to pull herself together and return to the city, but fate has other plans...

Nayu's thoughts

I felt sorry for Annie prior to the accident causing a year long coma, and very sorry after. It was so tough on her to not remember things, to have to relearn how to move her body, to get used to the initial high fatigue which is hard because she was previously a very active person. Her evil ex becomes even evil-er (no such word but who cares), which made me feel even sorrier for Annie. Annie isn't one to mope (much), she works as hard as she can to find her feet following her coma. Thankfully she does have the support of her family, which in itself is a bit of a surprise because there were some issues with her father prior to the coma, so she's got something extra to deal with on top of everything else. 

I did cry a few times because there are moments when life overwhelms Annie. She rekindles friendship with someone from the past who could play a big part in her future. She learns the truth behind her previous job in the food cooking show business, which is cruel, and reignites her passion for food (once she's allowed in the kitchen), which is an outlet for any frustrations and her family get to try all the yummy food she creates. 

Occasionally I found the plot dragged, but this is only occasional, and I must stress I listened to this while I was tired (which is all the time) so it's probably a case of me being impatient due to being tired. Definitely going to relisten to it in the future! 

Find out more on Susan's website. 

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by John Tiffany and Jack Thorne (Young Adult, 10E/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

 July 2016, Pottermore, 343 pages, Ebook, Review copy from Sainsbury's Entertainment Ebooks

 

Summary from Sainsbury's Entertainment

Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, a new play by Jack Thorne, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The play will receive its world premiere in London’s West End on 30th July 2016.

It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.

While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.

Nayu's thoughts

Wow. Just wow. I'd heard readers are divided as to whether they love or loathe this final installment in the Harry Potter series, but I hadn't read any reviews so came to this book unbiased. I knew it was a play script, and not exactly written by JK Rowling, so I wasn't expecting what I've since read that readers were disappointed by the lack of description. Any hesitation over that issue vanished after page 2-I was drawn into the play as easily as Hermione finds exams. Yes, the character had changed a bit, but that's part of becoming older, so unlike some readers the realism didn't phase me. In fact I liked seeing character flaws exposed because it made them more true to life. Being an adult doesn't mean being right all the time and never making mistakes. Quite the opposite, as Harry finds out with Albus. Sometimes doing the wrong thing helps is the only way for things to work out for the best. 

I loved the dynamic of Ron and Hermione, and sincerely wish Rose and Lily could have their own series: they are fun to be around as children of Ron/Hermne & Harry/Ginny. I love how familiar elements of previous books are woven in seamlessly, including thr Hogwarts express and sorting hat. A lot of emotions are explored through both the parent and the children's eyes. I loved the alternate possibilities of what may have happened if certain events had been different, which included a very scary world with Voldemort tormenting muggles. 

I absolutely hate the freaky cover, but please don't be put off as you will be returning home to familiar characters as well as new ones. I can't watch the films as they are too dark for me, so I know the play would be even if I could get tickets, so I'm thrilled the script got printed. This will definitely be reread once I make my way through the Harry Potter series-got the French versiom as that's the one which introduced me to Harry.

Find out more about Sainsbury's Entertainment on their blog. 

The Sisters Club by Lauren Baratz-Logsted (Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, 9/10E)

 

Love the simple cover

September 2015, Diversion Books, 340 pages, Ebook, Review copy from NetGalley
 

Content: surgery (not the actual operation, but emotions before and after), troubled relationships, some adult romance, abandonment, fear, discord, unity, friendship, some humour, tissues definitely needed

Summary from Diversion Books

Some families you are born into. Some you choose. And some choose you.

Four women have little in common other than where they live and the joyous complications of having sisters. Cindy waits for her own life to begin as she sees her sister going in and out of hospitals. Lise has made the boldest move of her life, even as her sister spends every day putting herself at risk to improve the lives of others. Diana is an ocean apart from her sister, but worries that her marriage is the relationship separated by the most distance. Sylvia has lost her twin sister to breast cancer, a disease that runs in the family, and fears that she will die without having ever really lived.

When Diana places an ad in the local newsletter, Cindy, Lise, and Sylvia show up thinking they are joining a book club, but what they discover is something far deeper and more profound than any of them ever imagined.

Nayu's thoughts 

The eclectic group of women who at first try and band together have major disagreements, idle thoughts which turn into life-changing and not always wise decisions, yet eventually laugh and cry together as well as support each other. I say eventually because initially there are distinctive personality clashes which I honestly didn't think could to be resolved; when certain characters had personal revelations and changed their opinions of others I needed tissues. 

The character development is huge, encompassing all sorts of relationships with both family and friends. It is interesting how the women pull through for each other, and also stand back as major decisions are taken by each of them as they change their not so wonderful present life to one they think they'll be happier with. Both the huge events and the tiny daily tasks that each of them do make it an engaging read. 

It's a book which I was sad to finish because I enjoyed the motley crew who enabled each other to find meaning to their lives and follow their dreams, or what they thought was their dreams. 

Find out more on Lauren's website.

Suggested read

Another feel good friendship read with mishaps is   Stirred With Love by Marcie Steele (Food fiction, Romance, 10E/10E)

Tourist Trap Mystery #5: Killer Run by Lynn Cahoon (Cozy Mystery, Crime, 10/10E)

Cafe & bookshop based murder!

August 2015, Lyrical Underground (Kensington Books), 198 pages, Ebook, Review copy from NetGalley

Content: murder, some danger filled scenes, lots of humour, 

Summary from Kensington Books

Jill Gardner—owner of Coffee, Books, and More—has somehow been talked into sponsoring a 5k race along the beautiful California coast. The race is a fundraiser for the local preservation society—but not everyone is feeling so charitable…

The day of the race, everyone hits the ground running…until a local business owner stumbles over a very stationary body. The deceased is the vicious wife of the husband-and-wife team hired to promote the event—and the husband turns to Jill for help in clearing his name. But did he do it? Jill will have to be very careful, because this killer is ready to put her out of the running…forever!

Nayu's thoughts 

I've yet to find a cozy mystery lead which I don't like. I was attracted by Jill being a coffee and bookshop owner – tea and books = amazing! I loved discovering the details behind her daily life in her business, with highs and lows (including the murder but also local drama which is hard to escape in a tight knit community). It's not just Jill who is likeable, her family and friends are amusing and made me laugh a lot, even among the grimmer moments (discovering a body is never pleasant). 

I love the closeness of the community - ok, and the distance that some members try to keep from others. The scenarios that certain characters endure are realistic and ones many readers will be able to relate to. I didn't know there was so much involved with setting up a run, so I learnt something new. I liked that mistakes were made by both individuals and the community as a whole, some which were easier to bounce back from than others, which added to the realism of the tale.

As for who the murderer was...it took a while before I could narrow it down, but once I knew who it was the tension mounted every time that Jill went near them. While there is a lot of humour I do advise reading this in daylight if you're like me and are easily spooked, as the murder made my spine tingle despite having family around me.

As the tension mounted while the mystery thickened, I early turned the pages to find out what happened next. While I'm sure there are some issues and story arcs which have started in earlier books, I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything by this being the first Tourist Trap Mystery that I've ever read. I'm certainly eager to read other books in the series as I fully expect them to be as drama and humour filled as this one, plus I'll get a bit of background on Jill's life. 

Find out more on Lynn's website. 

Suggested read

For another great cosy mystery involving baking and murder check out Easy Bake Coven by J. D. Shaw (Cosy Mystery, 10E/10E) 

Competition: Masquerade by Hannah Fielding (Romance)

I like the pretty fan ^o^

 August 2015, London Wall Publishing, 448 pages,

Book Summary from Hannah's website

Love, mystery and desire under the scorching Spanish sun. A young writer becomes entangled in an illicit gypsy love affair, pulling her into a world of secrets, deception and dark desire. Summer, 1976. Luz de Rueda returns to her beloved Spain and takes a job as the biographer of a famous artist. On her first day back in Cádiz, she encounters a bewitching, passionate young gypsy, Leandro, who immediately captures her heart, even though relationships with his kind are taboo. Haunted by this forbidden love, she meets her new employer, the sophisticated Andrés de Calderón. Reserved yet darkly compelling, he is totally different to Leandro but almost the gypsy’s double. Both men stir unfamiliar and exciting feelings in Luz, although mystery and danger surround them in ways she has still to discover.

Note from Nayu

While some of the story hooked my interest, it wasn't enough for me to read the book. However, I thought you might enjoy it, so Hannah sweetly agreed to give one of you the opportunity to win a copy! Thanks Hannah! Competition is below. Because I haven't read the book there is no suggested read.

Find out more on Hannah's website.

Competition time

This can be yours!

To win your paperback copy of Masquerade simply fill in the form below before 12am GMT 28th November 2015. This is an international competition!

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stirred With Love by Marcie Steele (Food fiction, Romance, 10E/10E)

Love the cover!

 September 2015, Bookouture, 304 pages, Ebook, Review copy from NetGalley 

Content: relatively clean romance, lots of humour, tissues needed

Summary from Bookouture

Sometimes the best friends can be found where you least expect them …

Still grieving after the loss of her beloved husband, Lily Mortimer is determined to do something with the time she has left.

After the end of her fairytale marriage, thirty-something Kate is trying hard to mend her broken heart.

Chloe, a young woman with the world at her feet, is struggling to know what to do with her life.

When Lily embarks on a new venture in the picturesque town of Somerley, the three women come together to open The Coffee Stop, the most charming café for miles around.

But opening a coffee shop is never as simple as it seems, especially when you add neighbouring competition, local heart throbs and heartbreak to the mix.

When tragedy strikes, can the three women pull together to make the new business fly, or will Lily’s last chance disappear down the drain along with yesterday’s coffee grinds?

Nayu's thoughts

I can't praise this story about a coffee shop changing 3 women's lives high enough! It is truly a spectacular tale, which made me cry with both joy, sadness, and regret on many occasions. Books that make me cry are special. While some details were understandably different, I was able to relate with Lily, Kate and Chloe. I got so many happy feelings when right went right for all three of them, as it so often went wrong. The pain Lily has in her heart gets pushed back with Kate and Chloe's growing friendship. However, initially there was a bit of conflict between the two, as at different stages in their life and with different opinions they inevitably clashed. However, with the help of Lily and by the usual help of some time and perspective they resolved the differences.

I absolutely adore shop themed books, which made this one idea. The concept which brings Kate and Chloe to Lily, the vision she had for her shop was something I could sense, even if I couldn't quite see Lily's vision. It's not just the characters having disagreements, there were external dangers for the cafe which got me seriously worried about what would happen at the end. I liked that Lily seemed to be a mother/grandmother figure to both Kate and Chloe. Chloe is relatively young and rash, but her ideas and thoughts aren't to be dismissed as simply youth – she nails certain situations which Kate needs help with.

I wish I could tell you the ins and outs of Lily, Kate, and Chloe's journey, but that would ruin the book! So please go read it, I'm definitely going to reread it and look out for it on audiobook!

Find out more on Mel's website - I say that because Marcie is in fact Mel Sherratt! 

Suggested read

Be sure to check out the first Food fiction Romance I read which has as many dramas, laughs and tears as Stirred with Love, Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan (Fiction, Romance, 10E/10E)

We Never Asked For Wings by Vanessa Diffenbaugh (Contemporary Fiction, 9/10E)

10th September 2015, Mantle, 320 pages, Paperback, Review copy 

Content: family drama, poverty, hardship, humour, tissues needed

Summary from Penguin Random House Publishing

From the beloved New York Times bestselling author of The Language of Flowers comes her much-anticipated new novel about young love, hard choices, and hope against all odds.

For fourteen years, Letty Espinosa has worked three jobs around San Francisco to make ends meet while her mother raised her children—Alex, fifteen, and Luna, just six—in their tiny apartment on a forgotten spit of wetlands near the bay. But now Letty’s parents are returning to Mexico, and Letty must step up and become a mother for the first time in her life.

Navigating this new terrain is challenging for Letty, especially as Luna desperately misses her grandparents and Alex, who is falling in love with a classmate, is unwilling to give his mother a chance. Letty comes up with a plan to help the family escape the dangerous neighborhood and heartbreaking injustice that have marked their lives, but one wrong move could jeopardize everything she’s worked for and her family’s fragile hopes for the future.

Nayu's thoughts

What drew me to this story is what kept me gripped: the fate of the children, how they reacted to their grandmother (and initially mother) leaving them, how they survived, how they somehow managed to become a real family. To begin with I didn't think much of Letty, after all, who has children but leaves them to be taken care of by their mother? However, the more I learned, the more I (sort of) understood why she acted a certain way. 

It was heartbreaking to read when she was really trying with a few situations, but due to petty issues (which were eventually overcome) she was temporarily barred from making a better life for herself. I shed a few tears throughout the book, the emotions leapt off the pages and into my heart. I was proud of Alex and Luna's resilience, how they learnt to adapt to each new situation, and were able to find normality in their strange but in reality normal lives. Being the older brother makes it natural for Alex to look out for his friends and help them do better, even if it isn't entirely legal and gets him into trouble for a while. It's amazing what people will do to improve their life.

 Find out more on Vanessa's website. 

Available at many bookstores including NRC affiliate Foyles

Suggested read 

Another heart-tugging story involving a child and her mother is The Liar by Nora Roberts (Thriller, 10E/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

 

The Art of Baking Blind by Sarah Vaughn (Romance, Contemporary fiction, 10/10E)

13th August 2015, Hodder & Stoughton, 432 pages, Ebook, Review copy from NetGalley

Content: moderate romance, families, tissue needed, humour,  

Summary from Hodder and Stoughton 

There are many reasons to bake: to feed; to create; to impress; to nourish; to define ourselves; and, sometimes, it has to be said, to perfect. But often we bake to fill a hunger that would be better filled by a simple gesture from a dear one. We bake to love and be loved.

In 1966, Kathleen Eaden, cookery writer and wife of a supermarket magnate, published The Art of Baking, her guide to nurturing a family by creating the most exquisite pastries, biscuits and cakes.

Now, five amateur bakers are competing to become the New Mrs Eaden. There's Jenny, facing an empty nest now her family has flown; Claire, who has sacrificed her dreams for her daughter; Mike, trying to parent his two kids after his wife's death; Vicki, who has dropped everything to be at home with her baby boy; and Karen, perfect Karen, who knows what it's like to have nothing and is determined her façade shouldn't slip.

As unlikely alliances are forged and secrets rise to the surface, making the choicest choux bun seems the least of the contestants' problems. For they will learn - as Mrs Eaden did before them - that while perfection is possible in the kitchen, it's very much harder in life.

Nayu's thoughts

Think British Bake Off and you've got an idea of what happens to a group of bakers who learn more about themselves and each other in addition to baking. Everyone's personal circumstances are a bit tricky, and details are revealed chapter by chapter, making it necessary to carve out a few solid hours if you can to read it in one sitting. I wasn't able to do on this occasion which made me sad to put it down each time I had to do something else.

There is plenty of baking drama to keep the foodies happy, and to make you want to eat certain foods! The amount of drama covered is intense, including but not limited to fidelity/infidelity, family expectation, loneliness, caring for others. In truth the winner of the competition wasn't what I cared about – the way the characters find their inner strength with the help of others in such adverse conditions made me smile and cheer them on from off the page. It's a bit of a hard hitting book, but overall leans on the sweet side, one I'll certainly read again. 

 Available from bookstores including NRC affiliate Foyles. 

Suggested read 

More food drama involving family is Made with Love by Tricia Goyer & Sherry Gore (Amish fiction, Shop Fiction, Romance, Christian fiction, 10E/10E)

Another Way Home by Deborah Raney (Romance, Contemporary fiction, Fiction, 10E/10E)

 20th October 2015, Abingdon Press, 304 pages, Ebook, Review copy from NetGalley

Content: family life, being married, compromises, lots of tension, moderate peril, lots of tissues needed. 

Summary from Abingdon Press

Sometimes God’s ways are not at all what we expect … and exactly what we need.

 Grant and Audrey are adding grandchildren to their family left and right, but middle daughter, Danae, and her husband, Dallas Brooks, have been trying for years with no baby in sight.

Though Danae is ready to consider adoption, Dallas will not even discuss it. Despairing of ever having a family of her own, Danae decides to pour her passion and energies into volunteer work with a newly opened women’s shelter in town. Looking for a good cause to fill her lonely days, she never expects to give her heart to the hurting women she meets there. She’s finally learning to live her life with gratitude, but then heart-wrenching events on Thanksgiving weekend threaten to pull the entire Whitman clan into turmoil—and leave them all forever changed.

Nayu's thoughts 

You'll need lots of tissue for this story about a couple wanting children and getting them in an unexpected way. Don't panic if you aren't religious, God is important to Danae & Dallas (which is nice to see) but it's not in your face, as it were. Although it is part of a series I had no issues jumping in at this story either.

I suspected I'd cry a bit, but what happens to Danae and Dallas is truly heartwrenching. Danae follows her heart even when her husband is a bit against her ideas. For health reasons I can't volunteer at places so was delighted when she got trained to help at a women's shelter, since I learnt a bit more about how they run and what happens when situations get a bit scary. 

I was gobsmacked by the plot twists, which really goes to show that if you don't get something you want in the 'conventional' way, there are other ways out there (not just for getting children). It's the end result which matters, not how Danae and Dallas ended up with children in their lives, although that is a rollercoaster in itself. Their love for each other and the children is immense; infertility is a hard life obstacle to tackle, especially when it goes on for years; although I haven't experienced it the emotions from Danae are palpable.. The way Danae had to cope with her sisters when they got pregnant/when she saw their children made me want to give her a hug. This is definitely a book for keeps. 

Find out more on Deborah's website.

Available for pre-order from book retailers including NRC affiliate Foyles

Suggested read

Another husband and wife centred read, this time with a child, is Tiny Acts of Love by Lucy Lawrie (Fiction, Contemporary fiction, 9/10E)

Lorie's Heart by Amy Lillard (Amish fiction, Romance, Christian Fiction, 10E/10E)

July 2015, Kensington Books, 352 pages, Ebook, Review copy from NetGalley

Content: mild romance, humour, tissues needed

Summary from Kensington Books

Welcome back to Wells Landing, Oklahoma, the tranquil Amish community where still waters run deep and a brave young woman sets out to discover her faith, her family, and herself. . .

Lorie Kauffman is grief-stricken when her father passes away unexpectedly. But her heartache quickly turns to bewilderment when she discovers he'd been leading two lives--one of simplicity and hard work in Wells Landing, and one fraught with painful ordeals in Tulsa. As she starts digging into her family's past, Lorie finds herself torn between the Amish world and the Englisch world--and she's no longer certain where she belongs. . .

Lorie knows that if she leaves Wells Landing, she may never be able to return. But what if her destiny lies in the outside world--the world her father knew so well? Change is never easy, but with a bit of courage and the help of a handsome and kind-hearted Englischer, she just may find the peace, acceptance, and love she's been longing for. . .

Nayu's thoughts

Regular readers know how much I love Amish fiction, and this is a particularly touching read. Lorie's new life circumstances provide her with a great deal of struggle, but her relationship with God sees her through. Her community aren't always understanding of her desire to find out what really happened, but she carries on anyway because she doesn't want to live with regret. There's plenty of Amish customs in the story to keep me happy – they still seem to eat a lot of cake and pie! 

I cheered when Lorie made progress in discovering who she is (which is heavily tied up with the truth about her father), and by doing that she is able to finally find love. I held my breath in several places, such is the level of emotions which Lorie goes through, and honestly had no idea how it would end. This is part of a series, and I'm going to be seeking out the other books which I thik get to know some of the other characters better. I will reread Lorie's tale for sure! 

Find out more on Amy's website.    

Suggested read

Another wonderful romance Amish story is Brightest and Best by Olivia Newport (Amish Fiction, 10E/10E) 

 

Murder Freshly Baked by Vannetta Chapman (Amish fiction, Christian fiction, 10E/10E)

You might not want to eat this pie...

June 2015, Zondervan, 352 pages, Ebook, Review copy 

Content: murder, humour, tense moments, mild romance, tissue needed 

Summary from Zondervan 

When delicious baked goods become lethal, a trail of poetry leads to a sweet-toothed killer.

Don’t taste it / Don’t share it /Just throw it away / If you try my bakery pie / You won’t live to see another day.

The Amish Artisan Village of Middlebury, Indiana, might be the last place you would ever expect to find a murderer. But Amber has been managing the Village for decades and there’s nothing she hasn’t seen. Or so she thought.

When poetic notes begin appearing around the bakery, warning that some of the pies have been poisoned, Amber is as confused as she is concerned. Who poisons pies? And more to the point, who leaves poems of warning after they’ve done it? When Amber decides to help the police track down the sweet-toothed saboteur, she enlists Hannah Troyer for another round of Amish-style detective work.

Can Amber and Hannah help the police before the Poison Poet strikes? Both women will need to draw on their faith to preserve the peaceful community they’ve built in Middlebury . . . and to protect the girls who work in the Amish Artisan Village.

Nayu's thoughts

I love all of Vannetta's Amish stories, and am rather fond of Middlebury. In some ways this is more fun a storyline that the previous two books (which I've listened to the audiobooks but not yet reviewed). The summary leaves out an important question - why would anyone want to warn people of the poisoned pies? I won't spoil any details but my personal view is that it's far more fun for the culprit to see those who may eat the pies be scared and on edge by the notes than simply poison them without warning. 

Amber and Hannah make the perfect duo, with Amber knowing some 'English' ways, and Hannah knowing how to get information and help from those in the Amish community without scaring them away. This third adventure is the creepiest yet, giving me lots of shivers waiting in anticipation for the next note to arrive. There's more to be learnt about the Amish, the story involves a lot of baking which, from other Amish fiction I've read, is a key focal point for the Amish. That & I like cakes and bread, although thankfully I don't eat too many pies - I'll certainly be looking at the next one carefully, even though I should be safe as I'm on a different continent and this is fiction! I say that but Vannetta sets the scenes and characters so well that this could easily be real life. I've visited an Amish market once when I visited Maryland, so it is easy to picture all the Amish stores and dress. Yet another wonderful addition to my happily growing pile of Amish themed reads!

Suggested read 

Check out other books by Vannetta, including the first book in the series involving Middlebury, Murder Simply Brewed (Amish Fiction, Christian Fiction, 10E/10E)

Murder Simply Brewed by Vannetta Chapman (Amish fiction, Christian fiction, 10E/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

March 2015, Zondervan, 358 pages, ebook & Audiobook, Personal copy

Content: murder, Amish life, humour, mild romance, tissues needed

Summary from Vanetta's website

When the coffee shop manager is murdered in Middlebury’s Amish Artisan Village, two women from different walks of life must join together to solve the mystery.

Spring has arrived in Middlebury, Indiana, and Amber Wright is optimistic about the growing profit from her collection of Amish shops—until she receives a call that Ethan Gray is dead. Hurrying over to A Simple Blend, she finds a solitary hole in the front window and the store manager lying next to the espresso machine, dead from an apparent heart attack. All the money is still in his register.
 

When Amber hires a young Amish woman, Hannah Troyer, to take over the shop’s duties, the two women become fast friends—as well as amateur sleuths. The police believe Gray’s death is a by-product of vandalism, but Amber and Hannah aren’t convinced.

Clues that don’t add up, a neighbor who is pulled into the midst of the investigation, a town with secrets to hide, and a blossoming romance—all will combine to push Amber and Hannah into unfamiliar roles in order to solve a mystery that will once again reveal the depth of God’s grace.

Nayu's thoughts 

Vannetta seems to me to be a big name in Amish/Christian fiction. I've started reading another trilogy of hers, which starts with Falling to Pieces, which startled me when Murder Simply Brewed mentioned it as a nearby town where murders happen regularly. Ha! I laughed out loud because I knew from the title alone that MSB would have murder in. I didn't realise just how twisty the plot twists would be, or how truly terrified I'd be at the snake incident. I have a snake phobia and I needed no imagination to feel the terror when SPOILER happened, and Amber's fear of the snake. Even thinking back on it gives me the heebie jeebies. It is a large part of the story, but thankfully not all.

I love Hannah. She cares about doing her best and not letting others down, especially when she has to take over the cafe. Although out of her comfort zone of a quilt shop, she soon makes the cafe her own, adding touches which her boss/overseer both appreciates and encourages. I like her enquiring mind and how she thinks things through. I enjoyed how her co-main characters equally stood out strongly, how they wound up in others' lives, their strengths and weaknesses all making a difference to Hannah's life and the outcome of the investigation.

Like Vanetta's other books I feel as though I'm right there among the Amish, seeing the now familiar customs and hearing familiar Pensylvanian Dutch phrases. It's a style of life which has similar ideals to the ones I have. I did read the book which I received for review as well as hop across to the audiobook version which I bought because it meant I could 'read' the story while doing craft work. I loved it so much I've bought book 2! 

Find out more on Vannetta's website.

 

Shopaholic to the Stars by Sophie Kinsella (Contemporary fiction, 9/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

 

September 2014, Transworld Digital, 497 pages, Ebook, Review copy 

Content: romance, lots of humour 

Summary from eBooks by Sainsbury's who also provided the book for review

Becky Brandon (nee Bloomwood) is in Hollywood! She's hanging out with celebs . . . or at least she will be, once her husband Luke introduces her to his new A-list client Sage Seymour.

Becky sets her heart on a new career – she's going to be a stylist to the stars! And when a chance encounter thrusts her into the limelight, she grabs her opportunity. But in between choosing clutch bags and chasing celebrities, Becky loses touch with her family and her best friend . . .

Caught up in the whirlwind of Tinseltown, has Becky gone too far this time?

Nayu's Thoughts

Although Becky acts totally opposite to me and is outrageous in her thoughts and actions, I couldn't stop reading her tale. She went from one disaster to another, most definitely viewing the world with rose-coloured glasses. It was shocking how she changed as a person and thought more highly of her fame than was realistic. How she treats her friends and family wasn't kindly, and while I know she learnt a lesson by the end, I seriously doubt she will change hugely as a person before her next adventure. 

I did think that she needed to leave the past in the past, and practice forgiveness & moving on when it came to her so-called nemesis. But then it made sense seeing as she is a shopaholic it seems natural for her to have neurotic tendencies. I'm now on the look out for the other books in the series – I want to know what happened before and after she had her daughter, and what really happened with her nemesis who does help more than hinder her. Becky learns that beig self-centred doesn't win friends and pushes people who stood by her in the past right away. Fame is fickle, true friendship & love isn't. 

Find out more on Sophie's website. 

A Seaside Affair by Fern Britton (Romance, Fiction, 4/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

 March 2015, HarperCollins, 448 pages, Ebook, Review copy

 Content: some adult romance, humour

Summary from eBooks by Sainsbury's (who provided the review copy)
When the residents of the Cornish seaside town of Trevay discover that their much-loved theatre is about to be taken over by coffee chain, Café au Lait, they are up in arms. It is up to Penny Leighton, hotshot producer and now happily married Cornish resident, to come up with a rescue plan. Armed with only her mobile phone and her contacts book, she starts to pull in some serious favours.

The town is soon deluged by actors, all keen to show their support and take part in a charity season at the theatre. One of the arrivals is Jess Tate, girlfriend to TV heartthrob Ryan Hearst. His career is on the rise while hers remains resolutely in the doldrums. But when opportunity comes calling, it isn’t just her career prospects that are about to change. Trevay is about to put on the show of its life – but can the villagers, and Jess, hold on to the thing they love the most?

Nayu's thoughts

It is extremely rare for me to stop reading a book and not continue. Usually it's because I find a book too scary or not a subject matter I'm comfy dealing about. The story started off as I'd expected, with humour and interesting circumstances. It was fun how different characters viewed the issue of the theatre closing, including points that I hadn't considered, and I dislike not knowin what happened in the end. 

However, the issue I had with the book started early on. I didn't mind the at first brief mentionings of famous people who I've heard of – sometimes it is plausible. However, as more details emerged of Penny seeing said famous people, and some situations were fabricated I had to stop reading. The odd vague mention is fine, but I have a huge dislike of heavy interaction/conversation characters may have with famous people who are in real life because it's like fictionalising them, when they are real, and making up what real people do feels a bit like a lie as only the people themselves know how they are to act. Using such a promiment figure as one of the current English princes felt wrong, so I stopped there. 

I'm all for writing what you know, but for me personally there's a line and this book crossed it. It won't stop me from reading more books by Fern, although if I find the same issue again I'll simply stop reading again, which is a shame as the characters are for the most part appealing and fun to read about.

Find out more on Fern's website.

A Different Reflection by Jane L Gibson (Romance, 10E/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

 April 2015, Troubador, 480 pages, Ebook, Review copy from NetGalley

Content: gentle romance, magic, humour, 

Summary from Troubador

Katharina Stuart, nicknamed Kat, has a pretty normal life. She has a great job in London writing for a magazine and comes home every night to her beautiful apartment and her fiancé John. Most people would envy her, but Kat has always felt like something is missing from her life…

After being assigned a new set of stories, from which she is struggling to gain any enthusiasm, Kat is given a new lead on an old property for sale called 'Northfield'. It intrigues her that the old butler still lives there and she finds a flurry of excitement that this could be her new story, so proceeds to try and get him to agree to an interview.

Northfield does not disappoint in any way. It is old, in beautiful grounds and the grandeur it radiates has Kat captivated from the moment she arrives. She befriends the charming George who still lives there, and as he gains her trust he allows the story of how he came to live there to unfold. He is not alone in the house, and his unbelievable tale of witches, magic and spells makes Kat begin to question her own beliefs…

It’s not long before Kat experiences the magic of Northfield first hand, and as she spends more time with the occupants of the old house she so desperately wants to help her new friends. But in doing so, her relationship with John becomes strained, with the added complication of Nadine, his work colleague… Will Kat decide to follow her heart and her dreams, or follow her head and the voice of reasoning? Whatever path she chooses, she knows that her decision will change her life forever. 

Nayu's thoughts  

This book is AWESOME! It's magical, very fairytale like in content. I felt it was a vague retelling of Beauty and the Beast, a tale which I love. I was swept away by the way Kat handled the bizarre situation she found herself in. I saw much sooner than she did her current relationship wasn't in good shape, and she found sanctuary in the unusual country home and it's occupants. I'm happy to say that Kat's best friend made me laugh a lot, especially when she learnt about the secret – she's like a super charged duracell bunny! (that's a type of English batteries) 

I had to stop reading when I needed to go to work, and boy was I glad to get home and find out how it all ended (happily, that's all I'll say). There's a hint of history in the house environment and how Kat's new friends speak, but the tale's magic meant that the sometimes over formal conversation didn't impact the overall grade. I loved the sound of the tasty food, as well as the pretty clothes that Kat wears while at the unique house. I hope it gets made into an audiobook as it's one I want to reread many times!

Find out more on Jane's website.

Too Many Cooks by Dana Bate (Contemporary fiction, Fiction, Romance, 9/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

4^th June 2015, Corsair, 448 pages, Ebook, Review copy from NetGalley

 

Content: romance including an affair of sorts, humour, food, diva, 

Summary from Little, Brown

Two's company, but three is a recipe for disaster . . . 

 

Kelly Madigan seems to have it all: a fabulous boyfriend, a supportive - if eccentric - family, and a flourishing career as a cookbook ghostwriter. But after finding a letter from her recently-deceased mother, criticising her stable but unexciting life, Kelly knows she needs to make a change. When a mysterious new writing opportunity in London presents itself, she jumps at the chance to get away from it all.

Enter Natasha Spencer - Oscar-winning actress and health nut, not to mention a total nightmare. She's working on a new cookbook and has asked for Kelly's help. What Kelly didn't factor in was meeting Natasha's dishy MP husband, Hugh Ballantine.

Away from her family, friends, and the life she knows - will this fish out of water ever get back in the swim?

Nayu's thoughts

I realise most readers may be drawn to the romance side of this book, which for me isn't entirely right given that the guy is married (I'm not going there, ok?), I was intrigued about how the high life would be for Kelly, what would be different to her 'normal' life (a lot), what scrapes she'd get into (ever so many and some putting her in a difficult situation, how many laughs she would have (some, often others laughed at her antics), how many tight spots she'd find herself in (sort of coming under the scrapes category, some of her own making, others not). 

I enjoyed watching Kelly grow in confidence as she got used to her new veritably crazy employer, as she got to play with food which is her passion. It was clear to see how devoted she was to food, which I understood as I feel the same away about books. Give me a story like this one about food and well, it's great match! 

I learnt a lot about divas, their insane demands as well as what it's like being a ghostwriter. At the moment I've mixed views on ghostwriting, and have no idea if it's something I'll want to do when I eventually get published, but I fully respect those who do it. The end for Kelly was unexpected for both her and me. The reason this drops a grade is because of the way the romance side of the story happened – I didn't agree with it at all. However I will be checking out Dana's other books when I can! 

Find out more on Dana's website.