Alba in bookland

From the #1 bestselling author of The Letter Kathryn Hughes comes The Key, an unforgettable story of a heartbreaking secret that will stay with you for ever.

Title: The Key

Author: Kathryn Hughes

Published: March 1st 2018 by Headline

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: 1956

It's Ellen Crosby's first day at work as a student nurse at Ambergate County Lunatic Asylum. When she meets a young girl committed by her father, and a pioneering physician keen to try out the various 'cures' available for mental illness, little does Ellen know that a choice she will make is to change all their lives for ever...

2006

Sarah is drawn to the abandoned Ambergate Asylum and whilst exploring the old corridors she discovers a suitcase in an attic belonging to a female patient who was admitted to the asylum fifty years earlier. The shocking contents of the suitcase lead Sarah to unravel a forgotten story of tragedy, lost love and an old wrong that only Sarah may have the power to put right.

Review: this is my first book by Kathryn Hughes but the intriguing blurb and the shocking prologue had me really excited to discover more about this story. I'd say this novel tells the story of three woman: Ellen and Amy, who arrive at Ambergate County Lunatic Asylum on the same day in 1956, and Sarah, who is trying to uncover the secrets of the now derelict Ambergate in 2006.

The circumstances in which Ellen and Amy arrive at Ambergate couldn't be more different though: Ellen is a psychiatric student nurse and Amy a patient. However, Ellen immediately feels a connection with Amy and goes out of her way to keep an eye on her. You can tell how caring (but also naive) Ellen is and I really enjoyed seeing her grow and trying to find her voice in such a harsh environment.

Amy was an even more interesting character. Traumatic events have shaped her childhood and she is struggling to function as it is expected of her, so her father just locks her in the Lunatic Asylum. The author paints a very real picture of life in an asylum in the fifties and how patients were treated. It is shocking and horrible to read about it, especially how unfair the system was and how many people were just abandoned and forgotten in these asylums. I think this is the main strength of the story, reminding readers of a very recent cruel reality.

Finally, we have Sarah, who after discovering several suitcases in the abandoned Ambergate is determined to find out the stories behind them. We don't really get to know her as much as the other two characters as we only get snippets of her life but I would have liked to know more about her and how her discoveries impacted her own life. In fact, the pace of the story was a bit slow in the middle part as it focused only in the storyline in 1956 and I almost forgot about Sarah completely. But as soon as the chapters started alternating again with her story, the story captured me again and I raced through the final part.

The Key is a very atmospheric, heartbreaking and intriguing read that will shock and surprise you.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

Happy Publication Day to Patricia Wilson! Her new book, Villa of Secrets, is out today! And to celebrate I am delighted to welcome Patricia to the blog for a very interesting Q&A:

Hi to Alba in Bookland. Thanks for inviting me to talk about Villa of Secrets.

The ebook comes out today, 22nd of February, and the paperback, will be in the shops, supermarkets, airports, Amazon and WH Smiths on the 2nd of May

Q: Villa of Secrets is about two sisters who unlock their heroic Grandmother’s secrets of Nazi occupied Rhodes. Can you tell us a bit more about it?

A: Actually, I came across some information, quite by accident, that I found hard to believe. When I started to ask people about what happened here, there was a certain reluctance to talk. Then someone said I was putting myself in danger. If I printed this story, Villa of Secrets, I might be shot! Wow! There was no way I was going to ignore the information I’d discovered after that. There’s still a bit of a rebel in me!

Q: You live in Rhodes yourself, where the story is set. How did this place inspire the book?

A: Rhodes is one of the most beautiful Mediterranean island, and it has a very tumultuous history. The city is a UNESCO world heritage site, full of amazing architecture and archaeology. But besides all that, I came across this dilapidated villa… Wow! I stared at it for ages, imagining the story it had to tell.

I lived on the island of Crete for over twenty years, love the Cretans! Big hearted people with a simple and robust love of life. I thought the Rhodians would be the same, but they’re not. The people of Rhodes are far more cosmopolitan. The island is quite different too, much more modern. So when I saw this villa, semi derelict… and completely silent… I was quite mesmerised by it.

Q: How did you research Villa of Secrets? Did you have the opportunity to talk to locals?

A: I think the trick to getting to the bottom of a story, is not to ask too many questions, but to listen to what people have to say. Elderly people sitting in a kafenion are a wealth of information about the past.

It’s quite incredible the things local people have told me. Invaluable, personal stuff that I’m not going to find in Wikipedia.

When I discovered what happened here, well to be honest, I was astounded! Rhodes was Italian at the time of my novel, and the Greeks had a hard time here too.

Q: Why did you decide to start writing Historical Fiction in the first place?

A: As I said, Greece has an amazing past, over the centuries it has been very multicultural. Most people don’t realise how small Greece is. I mean, regarding actual square miles, Greece and England, not including Wales and Scotland, are almost the same size. Like most people, I’ve always imagined Greece to be many times larger than England.

Gathered in this small country is such a wealth of history. Ancient Greece is fascinating enough, but modern history is also rich and interesting. Having said all that, it wasn’t a conscious decision to write historical fiction.

When I lived in Crete, I dug a machine gun up in my garden and was fascinated by the story behind it… and so my first book, Island of Secrets, was born.

To be honest, you barely have to scratch the surface of a Greek island to find something worthy of a story. Only last week, here in Rhodes, I was doing some gardening when I dug up several bullets.

Q: Are you already working on your next novel?

A: Absolutely! This next one involves a female archaeologist, Lizzie McGuire, Santorini, and Crete. Love, sacrifice, smuggling, and murder, all take place in the Mediterranean sunshine. This story came about when I dug up a piece of pot in my garden Near Agios Nikolaos in Crete. I showed it to an archaeologist, and then my imagination came into play. I mean, it’s so mysterious… it’s got markings… thrilling. I wonder what’s behind it? I wonder what it means? When I find out, so will my readers.

Once again, thanks for inviting me, Alba. I do hope your followers let me know what they think of Villa of Secrets, three words on amazon are worth their weight in gold. Best wishes, Patricia.

Thanks Patricia for stopping by, I am now very intrigued by these beautiful Greek islands and their secrets!

About the Book:

Title: Villa of Secrets

Author: Patricia Wilson

Published: February 22nd 2018 (ebook) and May 2nd 2018 (paperback) by Zaffre

Amazon UK

Blurb: If you love The Island and Cartes Postales from Greece by Victoria Hislop, you will love this perfect summer read from the author of Island of Secrets.

Rebecca Neumanner's marriage is on the brink of collapse, as her desire to be a mother becomes an obsession. Then she receives news from her estranged family in Rhodes.

Called back to the beautiful Greek island of her birth, she realises how little she knows of the grandmother she has eluded for over a decade. Bubba has never spoken of the Nazi occupation during her youth, but there have always been whispers. What desperate measures did she take that terrible day in 1944 when her family was ripped apart? Can the rumour she had blood on her own hands really be true? But Bubba intends to take her secrets to the grave.

However, as Rebecca arrives on Rhodes, bringing the promise of new life, this broken family must come together. The time has come to tell the truth about the darkest of days...

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Today I am delighted to welcome Zoë Miller, author of A House Full of Secrets, to the blog to talk about falling in love. Welcome Zoë!

A HOUSE FULL OF SECRETS: A QUESTION OF LOVE

by Zoë Miller

Firstly I’d like to say a big thank you to Alba for hosting me on her wonderful Bookland blog. It’s a pleasure to be featured here on Valentine’s Day. This post on the blog tour is all about falling in love, one of the story elements in A House Full of Secrets. I hope you enjoy, Zoë x

Since the beginning of time, lovers and their passions have exhibited much the same sentiments as they always have. We have St Valentine, a 3rd century saint associated with the expression of love. He was martyred and buried in the Carmelite Church in Whitefriar Street, Dublin, and is commemorated on 14th February each year. Then in classical mythology, Cupid is known as the god of desire, erotic love, attraction and affection. And the ancient Greeks called love ‘the madness of the gods’. One thing for sure, it’s a madness that has guaranteed the survival of the human race and ensured we are all alive and living on this earth centuries later.

Although love remains the same across the ages, what has altered beyond all recognition is how lovers meet and get together, thanks to the way society has moved on. One of the biggest changes that has occurred is in recent times is the proliferation of on-line dating apps. I wouldn’t even attempt to list them all, suffice to say you don’t need to leave the safe sanctuary of your home or brave the world outside your door to set up a date.

As part of its storyline, A House Full of Secrets charts the course of love for three couples, all of whom meet up in different ways.

Family patriarch Leo Blake fell madly in love with Gabrielle the minute he set eyes on her during an ordinary, everyday lunch in a hotel dining room. To him she was all light and fiery gold and he wanted to soak up everything about her, the way she laughed, and the way she moved. He told himself he was foolish to be having such ridiculous notions, but it was impossible for him to stop thoughts of her from filling his senses and he realised that for the first time in his life, he was in love. However this was 1968 in the west of Ireland and courting was very different then. In those days a lot of romances began in the dancehall, where the women and men lined up at opposite sides of the hall and the man was expected to make the first move. Walking across the floor to ask Gabrielle to dance was a very tall order for a shy, lonely bachelor like Leo, who was several years older than Gabrielle, had two left feet, and felt most comfortable at home in his library. I’m not sure if he would even have braved the world of on-line dating had it been available, but luckily for Leo, fate (or Cupid) intervened.

Leo’s son Alex, having left home at the age of twenty-five, and now living in New York for thirteen years, fell in love with Jenna as soon as he saw her in a conference room overlooking Manhattan. He’d been running late and was exhausted after a sleepless night, but the woman with the warm blue eyes and musical voice calmed him immediately. Drinking in the sight of her and the sound of her voice sent a wave of desire through him, but more than that, being around her caused an ease to settle deep in his soul. However, meeting someone in New York in 2008 was a world removed from the conventions and rituals Alex’s father Leo, had faced, and it wasn’t long before Alex and Jenna’s romance bore all the hallmarks of the madness of the gods.

After two disastrous relationships, Londoner Vikki wasn’t looking for love when she met Niall Blake at a party. From the outset, he made it clear he wasn’t in the market for a serious relationship, and that suited her perfectly. But over time, as their friendship developed, Vikki found herself more and more drawn to the relaxed Irish guy with the carefree attitude, sensing hidden depths and a hint of vulnerability about him, and she longed to take their relationship to the next level. But it seemed impossible, because even when Niall surprised her by inviting her home to county Mayo for a family reunion, and told her they’ll have to share a room, he insisted she was coming as his best mate, nothing more, and he promised faithfully to stick to his side of the bed – anything further would be a big mistake...

Three couples coming together under entirely different circumstances, the one thing in common being the pursuit of love and all its complex feelings. It’s doubtful if any of them would have met up if they’d been relying on a digital app, although in bringing people together, they too have their uses and place in today’s society.

Love is an integral part of all of our lives and the most powerful emotion we can feel, but there are many more expressions of love besides the romantic ideal. And who better than the ancient Greeks to declare there are eight different forms, from the erotic right through to the affectionate – there is surely something on that list to suit us all.

Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing this lovely post with us Zoë.

About Zoë Miller:

Zoë Miller writes contemporary fiction edged with intrigue and has had several successful novels published. She has been writing since childhood, when she loved reading so much that she felt compelled to write stories herself. Her writing career has included freelance journalism and prize winning short fiction. Zoë lives with her husband on the south side of Dublin, close to the foothills of the Dublin Mountains. She has two daughters and a son. She worked as a specialist in the area of communications, personal development and information security for a number of years, but is now writing full time.

You can contact Zoë through her website, www.zoemillerauthor.com or follow her on Twitter @zoemillerauthor.

About the book:

Title: A House Full of Secrets

Author: Zoë Miller

Published: February 1st 2018 by Hachette

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: All she sees is the perfect man - but what is he hiding?

An invitation to visit Niall's childhood home is too good an opportunity for Vikki to pass up. This is the chance she's been waiting for to get closer to her friend, and to meet the family he's always been so cryptic about.

But when Vikki arrives at the beautiful but remote Lynes Glen on Ireland's west coast, and finally meets Niall's estranged brother Alex and his overbearing sister Lainey, she realises that this reunion will be far from heart-warming.

As Vikki fails to convince any of them that she saw a mysterious woman at the lake - off-limits since a tragic accident - strange and sinister incidents begin to happen at the Blake family home. What secrets are they keeping? And why exactly did Niall ask Vikki to join him for the weekend?

Follow the Blog Tour for more exclusive content about A House Full of Secrets:

February is going to be quite an eventful month for me as we are moving to a new place in the next few days. All my books are in boxes already and I don't know when I will be able to "rescue" them as I'm planning to get bigger bookshelves for the new place. BUT! February is here with lots of new titles I want to read and I wanted to share them with you:

Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella - February 8th

NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING AUTHOR Sophie Kinsella's emotionally charged, witty new standalone novel about love and long-term relationship survival - and how those we think we know best can sometimes surprise us the most . . .

After being together for ten years, Sylvie and Dan have a comfortable home, fulfilling jobs, beautiful twin girls, and communicate so seamlessly, they finish each other's sentences. They have a happy marriage and believe they know everything there is to know about each other. Until it's casually mentioned to them that they could be together for another sixty-eight years... and panic sets in.

They quickly decide to create little surprises for each other, to keep their relationship fresh and fun. But in their pursuit of Project Surprise Me - anything from unexpected gifts to restaurant dates to photo shoots - mishaps arise with disastrous and comical results.

Gradually, the surprises turn to shocking discoveries. And when a scandal from the past is uncovered, they begin to wonder if they ever really knew each other after all...

Why so excited: A new Sophie Kinsella book is always a highlight in my bookish world. She is one of my auto-buy authors and I absolutely love her latest, My Not So Perfect Life. So I have great expectations for this one!

Order it now!

Sunflowers in February by Phyllida Shrimpton - February 8th

This funny yet heartbreaking novel movingly explores what happens when Lily dies in a car accident. The trouble is, Lily is really not sure at all if she wants to 'move on' . . . For fans of John Green and The Lovely Bones

Lily wakes up one crisp Sunday morning on the side of the road.

She has no idea how she got there. It is all very peaceful. And very beautiful. It is only when the police car, and then the ambulance, arrive and she sees her own body that she realises that she is in fact... dead.

But what is she supposed do now?

Lily has no option but to follow her body and sees her family - her parents and her twin brother - start falling apart. And then her twin brother Ben gives her a once in a deathtime opportunity - to use his own body for a while. But will Lily give Ben his body back? She is beginning to have a rather good time . . .

A moving, startlingly funny yet achingly sad debut novel from a stunning new talent.

Why so excited: I love discovering new author and this debut sounds like my kind story. I think the concept sounds very intriguing and I'm sure this will touch many hearts.

Order it now!

Best Practice by Penny Parkes - February 22nd

THE BRAND NEW BESTSELLER FROM THE AUTHOR OF OUT OF PRACTICE

Love and laughter with the residents of Larkford is exactly what the doctor ordered!

Dr Alice Walker has become accomplished at presenting a façade to the world – to anyone watching, she is the epitome of style, composure and professionalism. But perhaps it was to be expected that the cracks might begin to show at some point. Thankfully Grace is on hand to offer both friendship and support when it’s needed most.

Meanwhile, Dr Holly Graham has her hands full both professionally and personally. Planning a wedding with Taffy Jones is challenging enough, even before some surprising news changes everything. At least beloved Larkford resident, Elsie, still has a few tricks left up her sleeve!

Dr Dan Carter, on the other hand, has decided to throw himself into his career – the best antidote he’s found to unrequited love. When tragedy strikes in the heart of Larkford, Dan makes it his mission to help the community.

Why so excited: And we are back in Larkford! I've loved the previous two books set in this lovely village, with the practice in its centre and I am really looking forward to catching up with this characters, especially with a wedding in the horizon!

Order it now!

Villa of Secrets by Patricia Wilson - February 22nd

If you love The Island and Cartes Postales from Greece by Victoria Hislop, you will love this perfect summer read from the author of Island of Secrets.

Rebecca Neumanner has spent years trying to conceive a child. Her fragile marriage is on the brink of collapse, and her desire to become a mother is becoming an obsession. Then she receives news from her estranged family in Rhodes, and Rebecca's world is turned upside down.

Drawn to the beautiful island of her birth, she finds herself looking at the elderly lady in front of her and realising how little she knows of the grandmother she's eluded for over a decade. A freedom fighter in the Second World War, her Bubba harbours secrets that she has intended to take to the grave. But those secrets affect everyone, and perhaps they are not hers to keep. With Rebecca's arrival, the time has come to tell the truth...

Why so excited: how intriguing does this story sound? I cannot wait to discover all the secrets that await us in the beautiful island of Rhodes. Plus, for my stop in the Blog Tour, Patricia Wilson will stop by and answer all my bookish questions!

Order it now!

The Perfectly Imperfect Woman by Milly Johnson - February 22nd

The brand new novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Queen of Wishful Thinking - a gorgeous read full of love, life and laughter.

Marnie Salt has made so many mistakes in her life that she fears she will never get on the right track. But when she ‘meets’ an old lady on a baking chatroom and begins confiding in her, little does she know how her life will change.

Arranging to see each other for lunch, Marnie discovers that Lilian is every bit as mad and delightful as she’d hoped – and that she owns a whole village in the Yorkshire Dales, which has been passed down through generations. And when Marnie needs a refuge after a crisis, she ups sticks and heads for Wychwell – a temporary measure, so she thinks.

But soon Marnie finds that Wychwell has claimed her as its own and she is duty bound not to leave. Even if what she has to do makes her as unpopular as a force 12 gale in a confetti factory! But everyone has imperfections, as Marnie comes to realise, and that is not such a bad thing – after all, your flaws are perfect for the heart that is meant to love you.

The Perfectly Imperfect Woman is the heart-warming and hilarious new novel from the queen of feel-good fiction – a novel of family, secrets, love and redemption … and broken hearts mended and made all the stronger for it.

Why so excited: I haven't read a Milly Johnson book for far too long and it's about time to change that. Her books always make you feel better with yourself and the world and this is exactly what we need now!

Order it now!

The Year that Changed Everything by Cathy Kelly (22/2)

Treat yourself to the wonderfully life-affirming new novel from Number 1 bestselling author Cathy Kelly

Three women celebrate their birthdays... 30. 40. 50. But their milestone birthdays mark the start of a year that will change everything...

Ginger isn't spending her 30th the way she would have planned. Tonight might be the first night of the rest of her life - or a total disaster.

Sam is finally pregnant after years of trying. When her waters break on the morning of her 40th birthday, she panics: forget labour, how is she going to be a mother?

Callie is celebrating her 50th at a big party in her Dublin home. Then a knock at the door mid-party turns her perfect life upside down...

Full of warmth and wisdom, this is a story about finding happiness on your own terms from international bestseller Cathy Kelly.

Why so excited: Surprisingly, I haven't read any books by Cathy Kelly yet but I have heard great things about them. This one caught my attention because this year I am turning 30 myself and I also feel like it could be the year that changes everything.

Order it now!

Currently Reading

Popular Posts

Instagram

Followers

Twitter

Blog Archive

Total Pageviews