Blog Tour: A Map of the Sky by Claire Wong (Contemporary, 10/10E)

September 20th 2019, Lion Hudson, 240 pages, Paperback, Review copy

Summary from press release 

Kit doesn’t understand why his family has been uprooted to a remote coastal village in the North. Why did they leave so suddenly, and why has his Dad not joined them?

At Askfeld Farm Guesthouse he meets an eclectic group of new neighbours and forms an unlikely friendship with Beth, who suffers from a chronic illness he does not understand. Kit learns that Beth, who cannot leave the guesthouse, is trying to draw a map from memory that shows all her favourite childhood haunts. Kit makes it his quest to help her remember by visiting places for her and hopes to solve the problems of the other guests along the way. But becoming a hero like the ones in his favourite books is trickier than it seems, especially when Kit has failed to grasp so much of what is happening around him...

Can Kit work out that the person who really needs his help is much closer to home?

Nayu's thoughts

It wasn't actually Kit's adventures which intrigued me enough to read this novel for review, but Beth because she has a chronic illness. I have a permanent chronic illness so find any inclusion in novels has me intrigued. I like to know if that particular storyline feels accurate and real. Beth felt extremely real! I loved her interactions with Kit, how her illness was shown on her rubbish feeling days, how what she could do and say changed on how she felt. It couldn't have been written any better. I kept hoping she would have a good day, and I wanted to know exactly what she suffered from, but if memory serves correctly it never got a name.

Because of Beth I grew to love Kit, his mum and sister. I was convinced it was his mother who had the problem, that it wasn't a high drama reason that Kit thought of for why they had moved so suddenly, but was because his mum was sick or something. The truth which Beth had hinted at was a shock to me, although it then made sense and I berated myself for not thinking about it sooner. I was so wrapped up in Beth's story I forgot what Kit's main mystery was.

It was hard for Kit to suddenly move, to have no friends around and to have a mother still busy so he had to entertain himself. He finds a kindred spirit in Beth, they both love adventure, and she gives wise advise that didn't always make sense until later in the story. Kit has a kind heart, and by exploring for Beth he was kept quite busy, at times perhaps too busy to see what was in front of his eyes. The guests he helps are truly great characters, not always good but Kit with his mix of good intentions, moments of insight, and the exuberance of childhood helps the guests have a happy ending of their own. You will need tissues for one of them. I understood his frustration when the adults witheld information from him, I had the same feeling when I was younger.

I love learning about guest houses/hotels, and I got to learn a fair bit from this book. I truly feel there is something for every reader to like about the book, regardless of which character you love the most (Beth) or hated (Kit's father for not being around to help his mother). Kit's sister was intriguing, I hated how fixated she was on work and being top of the class. I have been in her shoes and I totally burnt out because of it and had to suspend my university degree because of it. I wanted her to lighten up, to relax and appreciate the beauty of where she currently lived, as Kit did with his exploration. The end is heartwarming and I have high hopes for her future self esteem. This is definitely one for the reread shelf, and Claire knows I want a sequel! Whether one will happen is a different matter, but I am hopeful.

Find out more on Claire's website and follow her on Twitter.

Suggested read

 For a family based novel full of unexpected twists check out The Food of Love by Amanda Prowse, narrated by Amanda Prowse (Contemporary, Audiobook, 10E/10E)

The Age of Misadventure by Judy Leigh (Contemporary fiction, 10E/10E)

It's not a relaxing tale...

 February 2019, Avon, 400 pages, Ebook, Review copy 

Summary from HarperCollins

You’re never too old to live dangerously… 

The gloriously funny new novel from the author of A Grand Old Time.

All Georgie Turner wants is to keep her family together. But with her daughter growing up fast, her sister married to a man Georgie hates, and their aging aunt getting more and more outrageous, nothing’s simple.

So when her brother-in-law makes his biggest mistake yet, Georgie sees the chance to reunite the ladies in her life. And after a little persuasion, three generations of Turner women head off on a very unusual road trip. Georgie’s confident that some sun, sea and a bottle or two of prosecco will make this an adventure they’ll never forget.

What could possibly go wrong?

Nayu's thoughts

I picked this out for review because it sounded a laugh - it certainly was that, and so much more. There's thrills, laughs, tears (yes from me in the odd place), fear, tension, and loads of other emotions that I fear will be a repeat of the ones I've already mentioned. I felt sorry for Bonnie because she didn't know what her husband was really like, although she was under his spell quite a bit which caused Georgie no end of frustration. I'd hoped that side of the story would provide me with tense moments, what I got was absolutely wonderful! 

I loved that even during the most fearful of moments, humour was never far away, especially where it concerned Georgie's aunt who is in a league of her own. Georgie is a bit on the live dangerously/disobey orders that could save her life kind of girl, not that I could blame her because the situation was insane, but I did want to hit her over the head a few times because of her stupidity. If you are told to stay hidden you stay hidden! Initially I thought the road trip was for fun rather than the dangerous turn that it took, but there was plenty of laughs to be had in all the danger that rained down on Georgie and her family. 

Her daughter helped Georgie a lot, although in places I thought could be a bit more thankful for what Georgie did, and that Georgie was only trying to keep her safe, but equally I thought Georgie needed to let her daughter do her own thing, even if she thought it wasn't a good idea for her. I lo

I wish so much there will be another book about this family, because their dynamic is pure joy to read, and I didn't want the book to end. Highly recommend it, but make sure you have a few hours free to read it in one sitting so you can find out what happens at the end!  

Find out more on Julie's website.

Suggested read 

For another family themed read check out the antics of two sisters in It Started With A Tweet by Anna Bell (Romance, Contemporary, NetGalley, 10E/10E) 

Cry to Dream Again by Jane Hawking (Contemporary fiction, Historical, 7/10E)

 

June 2018, Alma Books, 480 pages, Paperback, Review copy

Summary from Alma Books 

Book 2 in the Immortal Souls series

In 1930s Greater London, Shirley is a talented ballerina who dreams of becoming a principal dancer at the Sadler’s Wells Ballet Company. Yet one summer, on the way back from staying with her grandparents in France, she meets a handsome young man, Alan, for a fleeting moment and her life changes for ever. Finding him becomes an obsession for Shirley and now she longs to fulfil her dreams in the ballet simply so that he might see her name in lights and know where to find her.

With the outbreak of the Second World War, and those she loves in danger, Shirley’s priority becomes to help in the war effort, but with Alan appearing once more in her life, and the war threatening to part them for a second time, she knows that she cannot cope if she were to lose him again.

Nayu's thoughts

 While I've given the book a grade, this isn't a full review because I couldn't finish the book. I tried hard, because I love most characters who are determined to dance. It took a bit of time to get to grips with Shirley and the type of people her family are, and once I did I enjoyed learning about her life before World War 2 happened. I have to say that the idea of searching for a guy she saw briefly felt fairly ridiculous to me, but Shirley is relatively young so following her heart is normal for her. Her passion for ballet is clear, and it's sad when certain large obstacles stand in her way, forcing her to at least entertain the thought of not being a ballet dancer. 

There are many other hardships in her life, but some of it is good. She has a brilliant relationship with her dance teacher, and the blossoming true friendship she develops with her brother was a delight to read. Her family support her dreams to some extent, although when various issues occur they don't always fully understand just how much ballet means to her. I confess to needing to look up the first hardship, because I had no clue what it meant, and it's meaning made a lot of sense - I'm deliberately not saying the phrase because I don't want to spoil the story for you. It created many challenges for Shirley, but I think they make her an even more determined young lady. 

There were many characters I didn't like, but I wasn't supposed to like them because of how they behaved. The reason why I finished the book half way, and then skim-read parts so I knew what happened, was primarily plot pacing. It's a really thick book, 450+ pages, with rather small font compared to a lot of books I read. |Book length isn't an issue normally, but I felt that there was too much description for my taste. It reminded me of classic books such as those by Jane Austen, where absolutely everything is described. I usually can just skim the parts that waffle on, but what I struggled with this book was that situations got repeated a bit too much. Something would happen, and it would be described, but then further on it would be repeated looking at it from a different perspective, but mostly literally repeating what had happened which I felt was unnecessary. I kept going as long as I could, but I reached the point where it was annoying me too much. 

As I've already mentioned I did then skim read until the end to understand what happens and to see if I could keep going after a break. Shirley definitely goes through more hardships, but there's joy to be found even if it meant she suffered intense grief. I wasn't overly keen how the perspectives changed from time to time, and the ending is plain weird. It's a to be continued ending, but what happens honestly brought me out of Shirley's story and I sat staring at the book wondering what on earth was going on I know I didn't read all of it, but for my personal tastes it was odd and I couldn't make sense of it. It didn't seem to matter it was book 2 in a series, I understood everything well enough.

I think that maybe this style of writing isn't for me, which is fair enough. My thoughts are my own, it's by no means a bad book. I had no idea who Jane was until I got the book and realised she was the late Stephen Hawkings wife. She definitely knows a lot about ballet: I don't do ballet but I read a lot of ballet stories, and she included a lot of detail in Shirley's passion for even the simple exercises, and how auditions for ballet companies take place. It was interesting learning about life before the war occurred knowing it would happen despite characters hoping for the best. It was equally interesting to learn about life in the French countryside, which wasn't a walk in the park for Shirley, but did provide great joy for her brother. Overall it's a good read (of what I read), just not quite what I expected. 

Suggested read 

If you like stories set in the near distant past then try out The Lost Garden by Katherine Swartz (Contemporary fiction, 10/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

 

One Summer in Italy by Sue Moorcraft (Romance, Contemporary fiction, 10/10E)

A good summer-y cover!

May 2018, Avon, 368 pages, Ebook, Review copy

Summary from HarperCollins

When Sofia Bianchi’s father Aldo dies, it makes her stop and look at things afresh. Having been his carer for so many years, she knows it’s time for her to live her own life and to fulfil some promises she made to Aldo in his final days.

So there’s nothing for it but to escape to Italy’s Umbrian mountains where, tucked away in a sleepy Italian village, lie plenty of family secrets waiting to be discovered. There, Sofia also finds Amy who is desperately trying to find her way in life after discovering her dad isn’t her biological father.

Sofia sets about helping Amy through this difficult time, but it’s the handsome Levi who proves to be the biggest distraction for Sofia, as her new life starts to take off

Nayu's thoughts 

This book belongs to the category of light reads that have a fair amount of humour and fun things despite tackling big life issues which almost always have a happy ending. I've never been to Italy, so it was fun to discover it from Sofia's point of view. It has a lot of character, although less so than the characters in this novel. I felt sorry for Sofia because she was grieving with a huge hole in her heart, one that initially nothing can ease. I though she was brave to head off to Italy, and admired her overall spirit. 

I wish I could say I was surprised at the treatment Sofia received at the pizzeria, but I have heard of similar things happening in real life, so while disconcerting I was relieved that it did have a happy end eventually. Sofia suffered greatly, but she wasn't the only one and managed to turn the situation around, with a little help from new friends.

Unlike most readers, while the relationship with Levi and Sofia was intriguing (more so when his complex secret gets revealed), my favourite character partnering (of sorts) was the young waitress Sofia meets, Amy. Sofia does her best to help Amy who hasn't had all that much life experience. Amy tries hard to be a friend slash sister, protecting Amy from harm as much as she can, having a laugh with her once the initial incident which throws them together was sorted, basically being there for her when she was all alone. 

There were times when I wanted to tell Amy off for being so stupid, but that was reckless behaviour that in general happens to younger people as part of the growing up process. Amy develops a heroine worship for Sofia because she helped her in a huge way that I can't say without spoiling the story; this bonds the two together meaning that Amy actually is able to face her life curve balls eventually, after initially wanting to ignore/run away from them. The dynamic between Amy and Sofia is one I really enjoyed, and I'm eager to reread the story because of that.

Find out more on Sue's website. 

Suggested Read

If you protagonists interacting with younger characters as a key plot point then check out Summer At The Dog and Duck by Jill Steeples (Romance, Contemporary, 10/10E, short 'n' sweet review) 

The Curious Heart of Ailsa Rae by Stephanie Butland (Contemporary fiction, 10E/10E)

 April 2018, Zaffre, 432 pages, Paperback, Review copy

Summary from Zaffre

Ailsa Rae is learning how to live.

She's only a few months past the heart transplant that – just in time – saved her life. Life should be a joyful adventure. But . . .

Her relationship with her mother is at breaking point and she wants to find her father. Have her friends left her behind? She's felt so helpless for so long that she's let polls on her blog make her decisions for her. She barely knows where to start on her own.

Then there's Lennox. Her best friend and one time lover. He was sick too. He didn't make it. And now she's supposed to face all of this without him.

But her new heart is a bold heart.
 

She just needs to learn to listen to it . . .

Nayu's thoughts

I've always been intrigued by how transplant patients feel about their new organ(s), mostly because I watch the BBC drama Holby which has them, plus I've seen a few on hospital shows so reviewing this was an obvious choice for me. I liked how Ailsa delved back into her pre-transplant days which are emotional and perfectly capture the trials of living with a limited amount of energy. I loved the part where she talks about working out if she had the energy to do something and whether it was worth making herself a bit worse because I do this many times a day as part of my own non-transplant needing condition. 

I liked how her friend didn't have a successful transplant in the sense that all sides of transplants were addressed. There's the obvious change of having a chance at life which Ailsa has to get her head around, the grief and guilt of knowing someone didn't make it when she did, and the perhaps unthought of relationship change obetween Ailsa and her mum which brought more heartache then either of them expected. 

Seb's presence brought Ailsa a new perspective on life along with a lot of laughs and a few tears, it was a sweet relationship that Ailsa cohldn't have had before her transplant, and at times struggled with because of the negative aspects from being with someone the public see as a celebrity. The fact that Ailsa blogged was fun to read because I also blog, although I felt sad that she relied so much on other people's views of what she should do in life. I wished she had more self-confidence to make both big and small choices on her own without public opinion, but she slowly learns that through the mistakes she makes and advice her friends give. 

It's always good to remember that there people in worse situations that you, that ill and/or dying  people can have a bizarre sense of humor, and that everyone is trying to find their way in a complex world that Aisla can explore more fully with her new heart. 

Note: only by putting this post together have I just found out the reason why everything is so realistic is because Stephanie has dealt with cancer herself. Google her name to find information on this including a Youtube interview/clip thingymajig. 

Be sure to keep up to date with Stephanie on Twitter.

Suggested read

I've got two reads for you: another that touches on cancer is The Sisters Club by Lauren Baratz-Logsted (Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, 9/10E)

and for a true tale of fighting cancer with all the highs and lows check out Tea and Chemo by Jackie Buxton (Non-Fiction, Memoir, 9/10E, short 'n' sweet review) 

The Little Cafe in Copenhagen by Julie Caplin (Romance, Contemporary, 10E/10E)

 February 2018, HarperImpulse, 416 pages, Ebook, Review copy 

Summary from HarperCollins

Welcome to the little cafe in Copenhagen where the smell of cinnamon fills the air, the hot chocolate is as smooth as silk and romance is just around the corner…

Publicist Kate Sinclair’s life in London is everything she thought she wanted: success, glamour and a charming boyfriend. Until that boyfriend goes behind her back and snatches a much sought-after promotion from her.Heartbroken and questioning everything, Kate needs to escape.

From candles and cosy nights in to romantic late-night walks through the beautiful cobbled streets of Copenhagen, Kate discovers how to live life the Danish way’. Can the secrets of hygge and happiness lead her to her own happily-ever-after?

Nayu's thoughts

 Like Kate I had no clue what Hygge was, or how to spell it. She soon learns how deceptively simple the Danish concept is, it's not merely putting a candle out but choosing items that have a deep meaning for you, which obviously differs from person to person. Kate is given a unique opportunity that changes her life in previously unimagined way. I liked watching her own concept of hygge grow by living among the Danish (whose delicious pastries I believe originate from a different country) and getting to know the lovely Eva who becomes a very good friend, equal to the other friendships Kate has. 

Kate's personal transformation helps her grasp the unpleasant reality in a few sectors of her life, helping her make positive changes that were hard at first but become easier. There is the usual misunderstanding between her and her main love interest which was mega frustrating to read because I knew how wrong they had each judged a certain situation. People can be such idiots! I don't recall any books set in Copenhagen, so it was fun to explore it through Kate's adventure since I know nothing about the city where hygge is a key element. It sounds a pretty place that I'd consider visiting one day. There was a nice surprise at the end which isn't a spoiler-there's a book 2 which focuses on Sophie, a character who I warmed to quickly and look forward to learning more about. 

 Keep up to date with Julie on Twitter.

Suggested read 

Another sweet romance can be found in the country (not a foreign country) in Vets at Green Hope by Sheila Norton (Romance, Contemporary, 10E/10E) 

A Life Without You by Shari Low (Contemporary, 10E/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

 April 2017, Aria, 378 pages, Ebook, Review copy  from NetGalley

Content: drunk driving, grief, some romance, I think some strong language (can't quite remember)

Summary from Aria (there was a popup on the screen so link may not take you to straight to the blurb)

30-year-old Dee Harper and her husband, Joe, are blissfully happy. Everyday she makes her loyal parents Val & Don incredibly proud.

Jen has been her best friend and 'adopted sister' since their days of teenage crushes, bad 90's make-up and huge hair.

They are just like any other group of family and friends, living life, getting by with equal measures of love and laughter. 

Until one day everything changes.

Dee is gone, killed by a reckless driver, leaving the people she loved to deal with their grief in different ways. 

A marriage is rocked as a parent becomes consumed with seeking justice. A husband struggles to accept the loss of his wife and their future. And a friend discovers that there were shocking secrets that went unshared. 

But all of them have to learn that the only way forward is to let go of the past.

Nayu's thoughts 

I think this is more of a hard hittig read if you've already had someone you love leave this life for the next, as I have. What Jen goes through is horrific. She loses almost everything when Jen dies, she has to muddle her way through while being  supportive for all those affected. She saw Dee die an honorouable death protecting others, but dead is dead. At least while we are all in this life. 

I felt so sorry for her when she has her partner leave her-as if she didn't have enough on her plate! The thing is life goes on, and unfortunately being left alone couldn't be avoided just because of Dee dying. I knew Jen would be fine in the long run, it was just hard watching her deal with that fall-out so soon after losing Dee. I promise it ends happily!! There's a lot of tense moments especially when not everyone knows key information and Jen has to tiptoe around certain subjects.

I liked the different points of view because it helped examine the various views of Dee's death and just how many lives were turned upside down by the tragedy. Everyone pulls together when needed, which is important as the trial is emotional and you'll need tissues. There is life when someone dies, it's not a nice or easy one at first but eventually Jen and the others find ways to cope without Dee physically beside them as she will always be in their hearts. 

Find out more on Shari's website.

Summer At The Dog and Duck by Jill Steeples (Romance, Contemporary, 10/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

1st June 2017, Aria, 304 pages, Ebook, Review copy 

Summary from Aria The exact page may not appear as I think the system uses flash so didn't lead to a separate page

Ellie Browne has found happiness running The Dog and Duck pub in the idyllic village of Little Leyton, and her blossoming romance with tall, handsome property developer, Max Golding, is going swimmingly. With her new best friend, Digby, the black Labrador at her side, life just couldn't be sweeter. 

But their peace is shattered when Max's younger sister, Katy, turns up unannounced with a whole heap of attitude. And Max's loyalties are stretched further when his glamorous ex, Sasha, re-appears with her own burgeoning secret.

With the master of the manor preoccupied with the demands of his 'other women', Ellie's forced to consider if she has any role to play in Max's life or in the village of Little Leyton.

Can Ellie get her life and relationship back on track in time for the summer charity ball at Braithwaite Manor?

Nayu's thoughts

Usually I pick this type of read based on what the heroine does for a living,  however this time round I liked the sound of Ellie having to deal with a teenager rather than her lifestyle choices.  Initially Ellie doesn't have much  do with the tearaway as it's her boyfriend's sister, but, perhaps because Ellie is female and not related to Katy, Katy takes to Ellie. She opens up a little amongst all the teen angst, ends up being helpful to Ellie who in turn provides good advice for Katy regarding the reason she was sent to her brother by her mum in Spain. 

It's realistic because families have lots of similar situations these days, and all the teens often need is someone like Ellie to help guide them back to a sensible path. Ellie clashes with her boyfriend over situations Katy gets in, which wasn't a surprise and had me feeling sorry for Ellie as she just wanted to help Katy, even though the help sometimes annoyed her boyfriend. They eventually work things out, and he sees that at times he is too protective. 

The community atmosphere surrounding Ellie's pub was there when it mattered-yes some missed the previous owner which upset Ellie but that led to an empowering moment for Ellie who isn't afraid to stand her ground. There's a point where Ellie puts her pub's reputation in jeopardy but this is a Happy Ever After read so I was very satisfied with the end. I felt terrible for Ellie when she thinks she's mucked everything up, as she worked hard to be where she was and I wanted her to succeed. She does, on a level I didn't imagine. Definitely a feel good book for my reread shelf! 

Find out more on Jill's website.

A House To Mend A Broken Heart by Alison Sherlock (Romance, Contemporary, 10/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

Content: grief, ignorant workmen, 

Summary from Aria

Everyone is hiding from something... 

Willow Tree Hall has seen much better days and has been the proud ancestral home of the Earl and Countess of Cranley for centuries.

With no qualifications and escaping her past Annie Rogers takes the job as housekeeper to widowed Arthur, the charming current Earl of Cranley. After a bad fall puts Arthur in hospital, it's up to a reluctant heir apparent Sam Harris, to lend a helping hand and try to find a sustainable future for the Estate.

With the house requiring a full renovation Annie suddenly finds herself completely out of her depth with a team of dodgy builders and Sam watching critically from the side-lines.

With Sam running from his past and Annie hiding from hers, just maybe together they can bring Willow Tree Hall back to life.

 

Nayu's thoughts  

This is such a sweet read. When slowly Annie's secrets were revealed one by one, I was surprised at her inner strength and courage because of what had happened to her. While she has issues because of her stepfather, somehow she isn't broken, just a little lost and needing a lot of love. She finds that in Arthur, who she cares for like the grandparents she doesn't have. That's why it was hard when Sam showed up as he thought the worse of her, making everything she did look ridiculous. Thankfully Sam's brother Will helps him see some sense, as does the travesty that is the cowboy builders. 

I don't have words for them they are the worse builders in history! What they do is tragic, and no wonder poor Annie ends up eating a jar of nutella when their destruction (not reconstruction) reaches it's most devastating point. I nearly cried for how they were ruining the old hall that clearly could survive, if it was left in tact. 

It takes a while but Sam does realise what an asset Annie is to his father and the hall. He realises she wasn't exaggerating about how awful the builders are (you have to read it to believe it), and with his childhood memories literally crumbling in front of him he digs deep in his pockets and soul, decides to make the hall a home again, and gives Annie a chance. 

I like Annie! She is very sweet, kind hearted, and has a lot of oomph when she needs it. Yes she makes a few silly choices but they can all be rectified. I love her fighting spirit, although when a perfect occasion looks less than perfect she loses the plot a little, but it's her friends who rally round and make the event amazing. Annie has been hurt so badly, but as the grand house is rebuilt so too is her heart and soul. It's hard to tell who the title refers to, as all it's residents have a broken heart in one way or another. Definitely a sweet read (with next to no romance!) that'll be on my reread shelf.

Keep up to date with Alison on Twitter.

The Summer Seaside Kitchen by Jenny Colgan (Audiobook, Romance, Contemporary, 9/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

February 2017, Hachette Audible, 10 hours 9 minutes long, Audiobook, Review copy

Content: some romance, humour 

Book summary from Audible who I received this copy from

Flora is forced to move back to the tiny island of Mure from the bright lights of London. It's tough: even the beautiful landscapes and bright blue sea can't lift her spirits - she's too busy looking after her dad and her feckless brothers. Then she chances upon her mum's collection of recipes and begins to cook her way through it. As she reconnects with her family and the place she was born, might she also find herself? 

Nayu's thoughts

I had to listen to this twice because the first time I was under the influence of heavy medication and didn't understand the story. When I restarted it all made much more sense, and meant I'm not writing how unlike a Jenny Colgan book it is. Flora doesn't have a major event happen that starts her off on her cooking journey like the other Colgan books I've read, not exactly. I liked the randomness of how she ends up back in the island  community she was born in. She is there because she has to be-if she had a choice she would never have gone because of a mystery incident which is revealed much later in the story. It's interesting how an event is perceived to be a set way by Flora but in actuality not everyone hates her for what happened. 

That's not the only life lesson she learns, but it's a big one. I loved getting to know how live in a small community can be for both actual and perceived outsiders. It was interesting how one outsider had no clue how they were alienating themselves with the community, that by doing a few easy enough acts they would find it easier to gain local support for their project. Flora points this out, as well as unexpectedly enjoying visiting her childhood home which leads to Great Things Happening. I possibly would have liked a bit more focus on the cooking side of the story, but overall it's another fun Jenny read/listen which I will reread/relisten at some point! The narration was perfect with different characters being distinguished from their voices (including what sounds like accurare accents).

Find out more on Jenny's website. 

Vets at Green Hope by Sheila Norton (Romance, Contemporary, 10E/10E)

1st June 2017, Ebury Press, 336 pages, Paperback, Review copy

Content: romance of mostly sweet nature, pregnancy, cranky people, lots of humour

Summary from Penguin

Sam has always dreamed of working with animals...

But her receptionist job in a London vets is not hitting the spot. Unsure whether a busy city life is for her, she flees to her Nana Peggy’s idyllic country village.

But despite the rolling hills and its charming feel, life in Hope Green is far from peaceful. On first meeting Joe, the abrupt and bad-tempered local vet, Sam knows she must get him on side, but that is easier said than done...

With her dream close enough to touch, will she get there, or will events conspire against her...

Nayu's thoughts 

This is the type of read I enjoy, with Sam wanting to start afresh and discovering life in her grandmother's village. I had no idea that beyond the first chapter title lay a mega plot twist that isn't hinted at in the book summary - a plot twist which ups the stakes in Sam's journey of self-discovery. I was happy with the decision she ended up making and cheered her on with each new friend (and enemy) that she made. 

There's the usual instances of people misunderstanding each other, Sam being in the wrong place at the wrong time and giving the wrong impression, and lots of times where she is at the right place at the right time - the pig farm incident can be put in both categories!!! Her grandmother is sweet and funny, enjoying Sam's company and not giving advice unless Sam asks for it (along with a phrase that kept making me laugh) and I liked the firm friends who Sam makes, as they genuinely want her to be welcome in the village, and help her in any way that they can. Sam reciprocates the friendship which will help her make her final decision about her life.

From the summary I assumed that Sam would be staying in the village for all the novel, but it takes quite some time and a lot of events to pass before that happens. However I was still hooked on her story regardless of where she was. As the for the plot surrounding Joe...this is where a big plot twist happened that I didn't expect. This type of book usually has a set pattern to the romance, but that was not the case for Joe and Sam, which made a refreshing change. As usual for this type of book her ex boyfriend is a royal idiot (not literally royal, thankfully) and I hated him with quite a passion. No one should have to put up with what he does, which thankfully Sam realises. 

As for the animals...there are lots of them, creating both chaos and love in equal measure.  I cheered for the way Sam dealt with Ebony, as it's exactly what I'd have done if I was in the same situation. Cats always have a special place in my heart, just as this book will have a place on my reread shelf! 

Find out more on Sheila's website. 

Suggested read

A book with a similar feel is The Canal Boat Cafe by Cressida McLaughlin, narrated by Jessica Ball (Audiobook, Contemporary, Romance, 10/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

 

Today Will be Different by Maria Semple, narrated by Kathleen Wilhoite (Contemporary, Audiobook, 8/10E, unfinished)

Eleanor really wants life to be different!

September 2016, Orion, 6 hours 28 minutes, Audiobook, Review copy

Content: strong language, adult relations,

 

Book summary from Hachette Audio

Eleanor Flood knows she's a mess. But today will be different. Today she will shower and put on real clothes. She will attend her yoga class after dropping her son, Timby, off at school. She'll see an old friend for lunch. She won't swear. She will initiate sex with her husband, Joe. But before she can put her modest plan into action - life happens.

For today is the day Timby has decided to pretend to be ill to weasel his way into his mother's company. It's also the day surgeon Joe has chosen to tell his receptionist - but not Eleanor - that he's on vacation. And just when it seems that things can't go more awry, a former colleague produces a relic from the past - a graphic memoir with pages telling of family secrets long buried and a sister to whom Eleanor never speaks.

Nayu's thoughts 

Initially I wasn't keen on Eleanor, but I was intrigued by the summary so I kept going. It bothered me how she treated her son. He was fed, had clothes, and the essentials taken care of, but the connection between them didn't feel amazing. So I thought over the book her feelings would improve as the story progressed. They did to a certain extent, and I'm sure they would have carried on but the story veered  off for what seemed like age to the memoir (I think). I couldn't understand what they had to do with  Eleanor (I hadn't remembered the blurb...) I kept waiting for the viewpoint to switch back to her, but it didn't and I had no interest in the characters so I stopped listening.

Audiobooks are harder to fast forward, whereas with a physical or ebook version I could have sen where to skip ahead to get past the part that didn't catch my interest. I really did want to keep going but I couldn't face it. The story itself is well written, I loved Timby and felt sorry for him as he didn't get his mother's attention as much as he liked. The narration was spot on, seamlessly changing character voices. I do recommend checking this out, I will read the ebook version at some point just to know what happened at the end!

Find out more on Maria's website.

 Suggested read

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

The Food of Love by Amanda Prowse, narrated by Amanda Prowse (Contemporary, Audiobook, 10E/10E)

 December 2016, Lake Union Publishing, 10 hours & 35 minutes, Audiobook, Review copy from Audible 

Content:  severe anorexia issues, occasional bad language (I think, can't quite remember), very sweet romance 

Summary from Audible

A loving mother. A perfect family. A shock wave that could shatter everything.

Freya Braithwaite knows she is lucky. Nineteen years of marriage to a man who still warms her soul and two beautiful teenage daughters to show for it: confident Charlotte and thoughtful Lexi. Her home is filled with love and laughter. 

But when Lexi's struggles with weight take control of her life, everything Freya once took for granted falls apart, leaving the whole family with a sense of helplessness that can only be confronted with understanding, unity and, above all, love. 

Nayu's thoughts

 Until I wrote this review I hadn't realised that Amanda was the narrator, which is really cool because she knows exactly how each voice should be! & the voices work really well. Shortly after finishing this book it was temporarily unavailable on Audible, who I'm reviewing it for. It may be because closer to the end there were several parts which hadn't been edited out, where Amanda made a mistake in the narration and then repeated herself. I personally didn't mind this, one of the unintended out-takes was hilarious, and answered a question I'd had as to how audiobooks in general are recorded. Thankfully you can now purchase it! 

This book is sheer brilliance. I adore family centred reads, which this definitely is. How Lexi's anorexia is discovered had me in tears. Freya goes into a lot of denial which drives her husband potty (at one point I thought they'd split up because of their differing views about Lexi). The lengths Lexi goes to avoid eating are so sad to read, knowing that many people in real life suffer similarly. What is most apparent is the bonds of love between all the family members. No matter how they feel about each individual situation, even when they are extremely mad at each other, they are linked through family love, and do what needs doing rather than what they want to do when times are tough. 

There is a lot of discord, especially when Freya is trying to pretend Lexi is getting past the anorexia. I sighed a lot when Freya lived in lala land (aka denial), but as both the family and myself were shocked with more revelations about the seriousness of Lexi's condition, Freya and reality met up. It was interesting that Freya knew she was too close to Freya to take difficult decisions, which made the medical and psychological help provided by the medical team very welcome, as some things were taken out of their hands. 

There was a very good depiction as to how anorexia affects siblings: poor Charlotte got forgotten about a lot while Lexi was the centre of their parents' interests. She had to skip out on going to events, especially when new disasters cropped up. Naturally Charlotte got a little bitter about it, but she was able to work though that in a sweet way that made me cry. 

This is an extremely shocking read, I think it's true-to-life too, and I had to take a few breaks in listening to it because it got a bit too hard at times, but that's a personal issue I have. I take a lot of things to heart, which is why I don't read lots of books like this close together. I love it, and I'm already looking forward to relistening to it! 

Find out more on Amanda's website.

Suggested read 

For another read that deals with eating issues check out Nothing Tastes As Good by Claire Hennessy (Young Adult, 9/10E, short and sweet review) 

All I Ever Wanted by Lucy Dillon, Narrated by Lucy Price-Lewis (Contemporary, 10/10E)

 

 Dec “016, Hodder & Stoughton, 13 hours & 7 minutes, Audiobook, Review copy from Audible, 

Summary from Audible 

Caitlin's life is a mess. Her marriage to a man everyone else thinks is perfect has collapsed, along with her self-esteem, and breaking free seems the only option. 

Nancy, her four-year-old daughter, used to talk all the time; in the car, at nursery, to her brother Joel. Then her parents split up. Her daddy moves out. And Nancy stops speaking. 

Nancy's Auntie Eva, recently widowed and feeling alone, apart from the companionship of two bewildered pugs, is facing a future without her husband or the dreams she gave up for him. 

But when Eva agrees to host her niece and nephew once a fortnight, Caitlin and Eva are made to face the different truths about their marriages - and about what they both really want....

Nayu's thoughts 

My interest was piqued by Caitlin's daughter losing her voice, and the twists that follow kept me captivated until the end. I can't say much about the prologue without giving spoilers but it really set up the story, and I was on tenderhooks throughout most of the book waiting for Caitlin to somehow figure out why Nancy stopped talking. She is such a sweet girl, very expressive even without a voice. She has a deep link with her brother Joel, who takes her not talking in his stride, somehow knowing what she wants and protecting her as much as he can from people misunderstanding her silence, which was heartwaarming. 

I felt so sorry for Caitlin, because she's going through several major issues (child not talking, separation). Occasionally I was surprised she didn't take further action with Nancy's silence, but she was doing her best. Separation (and divorce) is far from simple, and with support from an unexpected ally Caitlin battles through it, almost always putting her children first. I hated when others criticized Caitlin because they weren't the ones in the situation (or if they were they were on the other side of the fence so had a skewed view of Caitlin from the onset). 

Caitlin's not perfect but she's not a terrible mother either. She does struggle with seeing Eva who appears to be perfect, but having chapters with Eva's point of view helped me understand her further, and made me want to tell Caitlin to give Eva a chance. Eva ends up being the key to unlocking Nancy's voice again in a sweet way which made me tear up when it happened. Although Caitlin doesn't realise it Eva becomes a form of stability within her chaotic life which she sorely needs, and so do the children. I'm looking forward to relistening to this family centred read which gives a lot to think about. 

Find out more on Lucy's website.

Suggested read

For another gripping single parent story check out Two by Two by Nicholas Sparks (Contemporay, Romance, Audiobook, 10/10E) 

 

Two by Two by Nicholas Sparks , Narrator Ari Fliakos (Romance, Contemporary fiction, Audiobook, 10/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

  October 2016, Hachette Audio, 14 hours and 57 minutes, Audiobook, Review copy from Audible

Content: family life, some adult romance, tissues needed

Summary from Audible

At 32, Russell Green has it all: a loving family, a successful career and a beautiful house. But underneath his seemingly perfect life, cracks are beginning to appear...and no one is more surprised than Russ when the life he took for granted is turned upside down. 

Finding himself single-handedly caring for his young daughter, London, whilst trying to launch his own business, the only thing Russ knows is that he must shelter London from the consequences of these changes. 

Then a chance encounter with an old flame tempts him to take a chance on love again, and with the support of his family, Russ finally comes to understand the true nature of unconditional love.

Nayu's thoughts    

My first book by Nicholas and it's awesome! I'd heard of him through a friend who loves his books, so when it came up on Audible's monthly review list email that I get I thought I'd have a listen. I wasn't disappointed, but I didn't realise I'd be bawling my eyes out at the end through something tragic! I told another friend who asked why on earth I'd read his books (she knows how upset I can get over sad topics in books) because his books always have a mega twist at the end that leaves you a bit wrung out. 

It was a beautiful tale about Russell first becoming a father, then due to partially circumstancial separation with his wife, becomes a single dad. It's really tough on him, as it is for any single parent. He learns he can't rely on his family in some respects as much as he naievely hoped to constantly babysit his adorable girl while he works. He has a lot of hurdles, some he stumbles over, but thanks to his close relationship with his sister and a reconnected friendship with a woman he knew in the past he has enough support to get through the tough times. 

It got a bit daunting when the separation became an official thing, and it looked like he might lose custody of his daughter, as the two were close (no matter what his wife's lawyer said) and I was heartbroken by the thought of the two being separated. What got insinuated at one point had me fuming and feeling sick for Russell, as the implications were horrendous. As for the title, well it makes sense due to music and a children's book. 

The narration was spot on, and the only thing which bugged me as inappropriate was the random music parts. One part was entirely relevant, but the rest were just annoying and took me out of the atmosphere of the story a little. I hope to read more books by Nicholas in the future, although least now I'll be armed with a box of tissues before I read it!

Find out more on Nicholas'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. 

Little Pieces of You and Me by Vanessa Greene (Contemporary, Romance, 10E/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

 August 2016, Sphere, 384 pages, Ebook, Review copy from Sainsbury's Entertainment eBooks

Summary from Sainsbury's Entertainment

When life as you know it changes, will it define you, destroy you or make you stronger?

Best friends Isla and Sophie made each other a promise a long time ago: to never let life pass them by. Years later, Isla is in love, living abroad and fulfilling her dreams. But for Sophie, things haven't turned out the way she was expecting and she hasn't achieved any of the things she and Isla talked about.

And then, in one sudden moment, life irrevocably changes for both women.

Isla and Sophie have hard decisions to make but above all else they must face up to the uncertainty that lies ahead. It's only when they realise that this is easier together, two friends standing side by side, that each woman can embrace whatever the future holds for them.

Nayu's thoughts. 

Isla life changes dramatically but her friend Sophie is there for her most of the way. As I started reading this book the story felt familiar. In less than 3 chapters I realised I'd read it before! I adored it the first time round, and I was more than happy to reread it. My poor memory means while nothing in the book was a surprise, I couldn't remember exact details, so I had great fun exploring Isla's new life as she discovers she has a degenerative illness. All the emotions she goes through, her decision to do/not do certain things makes a huge difference on her overall outlook on life. 

It's not just about Isla being sick. She and Sophie have what some call a bucket list, and Sophie helps Isla tick items off hers. Isla helps Sophie through the breakdown and breakup with Liam, who is despicable in what he does. I felt so sorry for Sophie, and as awful as Isla's diagnosis was, her best friend being sick helped give Sophie a reason to keep going while life was rubbish. She has to play cupid when Isla pushes away someone who cares for her, and I'm glad she meddled as it's what Isla needed, even though she didn't think she did.

Despite everything there is a fair amount of humour and good cheer as the two friends help each other out. They both make new friends and experience more of life in unexpected places. Their friendship strengthens through both their hardships, and I doubt they will stop being friends once the book ends. Who wouldn't like a chocolate cookery course? (At least I think that's what Sophie goes on - I'm adding this comment after I've read it and can't remember!) I'd love a sequel, but until then I will stick wih rereading it. 

Find out more on Vanessa's website.