Today I am reviewing After the End, the stunning new novel from Clare Mackintosh, the number one bestselling author of I Let You Go, I See You and Let Me Lie.

Title: After the End 

Author: Clare Mackintosh

Published: June 25th 2019 by Sphere

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Max and Pip are the strongest couple you know. They're best friends, lovers—unshakable. But then their son gets sick and the doctors put the question of his survival into their hands. For the first time, Max and Pip can't agree. They each want a different future for their son. 

What if they could have both?

A gripping and propulsive exploration of love, marriage, parenthood, and the road not taken, After the End brings one unforgettable family from unimaginable loss to a surprising, satisfying, and redemptive ending and the life they are fated to find. With the emotional power of Jodi Picoult's My Sister's Keeper, Mackintosh helps us to see that sometimes the end is just another beginning.

Review: This story is completely different from Clare Mackintosh's previous books, which all fell in the psychological thriller category. After the End is all about a family and how their son being terminally ill changes their lives forever, especially when they cannot agree what the best course of action is. 

This is a very emotional story, I cannot even imagine what these character must have felt going through such a hard time, but the author makes an exquisite job of describing their thoughts, their feelings, their fears and their hopes. You become one hundred per cent invested in their story and wonder, in every single page, what you would do in their shoes. 

The book is divided in two parts, the first one centers its action in the hospital, during the months leading to the decision on their son's future and the second expands a few years after it. I had already fell in love with this story during the first part but it was the second one that left me completely in awe. It was so cleverly written and although it was hard to read sometimes, I loved following the characters' lives. 

In After the End, Clare Mackintosh managed to break my heart and put it all back together. This story surprised me until the very last page and it will stay with me for a long time. 

Rating: 5 stars

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

Lisa Dickenson's new book is a feel-good, kick-ass novel about sisterhood and second chances. I love her her hilarious remarks and her strong and relatable characters so I am very excited today to share my review for her latest release: 

Title: My Sisters And Me

Author: Lisa Dickenson

Published: August 23rd 2018 by Little Brown

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: They're fixing up their childhood home. It's going to get messy.

When Willow Lake asks her daughters for help renovating the family home, each has a reason to hesitate about returning to Maplewood...

For quiet and bookish Emmy going back to the town that ridiculed her fills her with dread.

The youngest Noelle is perfectly comfortable in herself now, but once wanted to fit in so badly that she walked away from her first love. A first love who still lives in Maplewood.

And outspoken Rae is painfully aware of how much the townspeople hurt her little sisters growing up. She didn't protect them then, but there's no way she'll let history repeat itself.

The sisters agree to go home and make the best of it. After all if they've changed over the years, it's possible the townspeople have too... isn't it?

Review: The story revolves around three sisters, Rae, Emmy and Noelle. They didn't have the easiest of childhoods in their small village of Mapplewood, as they were bullied for being different. So since moving out to start their adult lives, they haven't been back that often. But when their mother asks them to re-do the whole house while she is away, they all agree to go back for three months. As you can imagine, when they arrive, they are not ready yet to face their past demons, but they soon realize that it is about time to show Mapplewood they are kick-ass women who don't care any more about what others think. Or do they?

I really loved the whole message in the story, how we need to embrace our own selves and be proud of who we are. It's not an easy task, but every little step forward counts. The sisters were always supportive of each other and had a very special bond. Eldest sister Rae was also very protective of her two younger sisters and was always on fight-mode, ready to defend them. It was great to see her character develop and how her sisters made her understand fight or flight are not always the only options.

In general, I think there was a very clear evolution in the main three characters. We really got to know them and we were able to understand them: we knew about their fears and their doubts but also about their strengths and their dreams. Also, there wasn't only hostility waiting for them in Mapplewood, some old flames and old friendships were also back in the village, ready to turn the sisters' lives upside-down. So we got to know some new sides of them because of that. 

If you have read Lisa Dickenson's previous books, you will know about her hilarious sense of humour. Maybe this story is not as funny as her previous ones, but there were some great moments that added the perfect fun spark to the more serious tone of this book. They had me giggling repeatedly and I had such a great team down memory-lane with the sisters. There were many nineties references and as I am the same age as youngest sister Noelle, I loved reminiscing with them about the best of the decade.

My Sisters And Me has a very autumnal and cosy feeling, it even has a Halloween party. So I would definitely recommend picking it up and spend a few evenings reading it with a nice blanket and a hot drink. Best cure for the colder months!

Days of Wonder is the stunning follow-up to Keith Stuart's much-loved debut A Boy Made of Blocks - and a book to fall in love with. Here are my thoughts on this stunning story:

Title: Days of Wonder

Author: Keith Stuart

Published: June 7th 2018 by Sphere

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: A story about family, love and finding magic in everyday life, Days of Wonder is the most moving novel you'll read all year.

Tom, single father to Hannah, is the manager of a tiny local theatre. On the same day each year, he and its colourful cast of part-time actors have staged a fantastical production just for his little girl, a moment of magic to make her childhood unforgettable.

But there is another reason behind these annual shows: the very first production followed Hannah's diagnosis with a heart condition that will end her life early. And now, with Hannah a funny, tough girl of fifteen, that time is coming.

Hannah's heart is literally broken - and she can't bear the idea of her dad's breaking too. So she resolves to find a partner for Tom, someone else to love, to fill the space beside him.

While all the time Tom plans a final day of magic that might just save them both.

Review: The first thought that came to my mind after finishing this book was, wow what a magical story this was. I am pretty sure I won't make this book justice with my review but I'm gonna try. 

Days of Wonder is a stunning story. It's an ode to theater and fairytales. To the magic of stories and how they inspire people and change lives. It's tender, it's sweet, it's funny and it's heart-wrenching. I haven't felt such deep emotions with a story in so long. 

I was completely enthralled with Hannah's story. She was such a strong character. I loved her dark humour, her strength and her determination. The story was narrated in alternated chapters by both Hannah and her father, Tom, so as a reader you got to know them both quite well. Tom was also a fantastic character. His love for her daughter and his theater shown through the pages of this book. 

Supporting these amazing main characters, there was a whole cast of secondary characters. The amateur theater group was like a little family, they all supported each other and were always there to celebrate their joys but also to mourn their loses. And then, there were Hannah's friends from high-school and the comic book store. They all added their own touch to the story and I came to love them all too. 

Days of Wonder stole a tiny piece of my heart that I don't think I'll ever get back. After I finished reading it, all I wanted to do was start all over again and go back to these characters. It's one of those rare books that make you feel privileged to have read it. I definitely recommend this story to everyone looking for a bit of magic. 

Rating: 5 stars

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

Today's review is for Rosie Blake's new book, The Hygge Holiday. I have loved all her previous novels and I have heart quite a lot recently about having a more hygge life, so I was really excited to pick this book. Here are my thoughts:

Title: The Hygge Holiday

Author: Rosie Blake

Published: September 21st 2017 by Sphere

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: It's autumn in Yulethorpe and everyone is gloomy. It's cold, drizzly and the skies are permagrey. The last shop on the high street - an adorable little toy shop - has just shut its doors. Everything is going wrong for Yulethorpe this autumn. Until Clara Kristensen arrives.

Clara is on holiday but she can see the potential in the pretty town, so she rolls up her sleeves and sets to work. Things are looking up until Joe comes to Yulethorpe to find out exactly what is going on with his mother's shop. Joe is Very Busy and Important in the City and very sure that Clara is up to no good. Surely no one would work this hard just for the fun of it?

Can a man who answers emails at 3 a. m. learn to appreciate the slower, happier, hygge things in life - naps, candles, good friends and maybe even falling in love?

Review: The Hygge Holiday is such a cosy, feel-good and lovely read. I'm sure by now, everyone has heart of the concept of hygge but if not, definitely pick this book to find out more about the Danish secret for being happier. I loved how this story in itself already manages to bring hygge to your home. While reading it, I couldn't resist lighting a few candles and curling up in the sofa with a nice and warm blanket and a hot chocolate. *sighs in happiness*

The story is about Clara Kristensen who has mysteriously arrived at Yulethorpe, a sad town where all the business are closing. A bit by chance, Clara ends up house-sitting and managing the toy shop of a local who has gone on a long holiday. And as she starts leaving her hygge mark everywhere in Yulethorpe, we get to know a bit more about her. I really liked her as a character, she has this peaceful and calm aura but she also has a few secrets she is not willing to share, which made her very interesting.

The other main character in the story is Joe, a workaholic from the city that definitely needs a bit of hygge in his life. I really enjoyed how their stories intertwined and the wintery setting of Yulethorpe was perfect for it. Another thing I also found fascinating was the toy shop and all the new ideas that Clara brought with her. I wish I could go there to get my nieces a few presents this Christmas!

But this wouldn't be a Rosie Blake novel without her hilarious humour and The Hygge Holiday is no exception. With a very sensitive parrot that only talks with TV quotes and a pub owner that cheats on Words With Friends and has a "dark" secret, this story made me laugh so much! 

If you are planning a quiet, cosy evening by the fire, then this novel is your perfect companion. Let's all hygge a bit more this new year! 

Rating: 5 stars

Today is my stop on the Blog Tour of The Silence Between Breaths, Cath Staincliffe's latest book. Cath is an award winning novelist, radio playwright and creator of ITV’s hit series Blue Murder. Her books have been shortlisted for the CWA’s Best First Novel award and for the Dagger in the Library and she won the Short Story Dagger in 2012. In 2014 her novel Letters To My Daughter’s Killer was shortlisted for the ITV3 Crime Thriller Book Club. Cath is also the author of the Scott and Bailey novels based on the popular ITV series.

Title: The Silence Between Breaths

Author: Cath Staincliffe

Published: September 22nd 2016 by Constable

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Eight people, one deadly secret.

Passengers boarding the 10:35 train from Manchester, Piccadilly to London, Euston are bound for work, assignations, reunions, holidays or new starts, with no idea that their journey is about to be brutally curtailed. 

Title: A Boy Made of Blocks

Author: Keith Stuart

Published: September 1st 2016 by Little, Brown UK

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: In the tradition of Nick Hornby and David Nicholls comes a warm and tender novel in which a father and his autistic son connect over the game of Minecraft.

Alex loves his family, and yet he struggles to connect with his eight-year-old autistic son, Sam. The strain has pushed his marriage to the breaking point. So Alex moves in with his merrily irresponsible best friend on the world’s most uncomfortable blow-up bed.

As Alex navigates single life, long-buried family secrets, and part-time fatherhood, his son begins playing Minecraft. Sam’s imagination blossoms and the game opens up a whole new world for father and son to share. Together, they discover that sometimes life must fall apart before you can build a better one.

Inspired by the author’s own relationship with his autistic son, A Boy Made of Blocks is a tear-jerking, funny, and, most, of all true-to-life novel about the power of difference and one very special little boy.

Review: A Boy Made of Blocks is a wonderful story and it will definitely be one of my books of the year. It is narrated by Alex, a recently separated father. He is one of those characters that grows on you until you end up caring for him like he was your own best friend. For years, he had trouble connecting with his autistic son and decided to focus a tad too much on work and avoid his family and its dynamics. It's no wonder that his wife has decided it's time for a trial separation. 

During this separation, Alex will find out a lot about his family but also about himself. With every new chapter, we discovered a bit more about him, his past and his relationships with his son and wife and with every new information and interaction I became more and more invested in the story, especially in Alex and his son Sam's growing relationship. They have finally found a way to connect in the most unexpected way, thanks to the video game Minecraft. And as they slowly build their own virtual castle, they also start building the foundations for their own relationship. I can tell you that I felt privileged to be able to witness this development. 

The style of the book really helps you connect with the story. It flows easily and it's full of warm and fun moments. The characters are well developed and all feel real. Plus, there are a few sub stories that complement the main one perfectly, adding a bit of humor, a bit of sadness and a bit of love and making the whole package one of the most memorable books I've read in a long while. 

As I've said, the story has a lot of fun moments but it also portrays the difficulties and struggles that a family with an autistic child must face. I'm sure it'll be an eye-opener for many and will leave no one indifferent. Since finishing it, I have been recommending this book to anyone who will listen. Definitely worth a read.

I would like to thank the publishers for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Today I'm delighted to be part of the Blog Tour for All Together Now by Gill Hornby. All Together Now is Gill Hornby's second novel and it is out now in paperback. This is a funny, sharply observed and moving novel about the joys of singing, about living in harmony, about falling in love... and about the importance of finding your own, true voice. And today you can win a copy for yourself: 

Title: All Together Now

Author: Gill Hornby

Published: June 2nd 2016 by Little, Brown

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: A hilarious and heart-warming new novel about a small-town singing group, by Sunday Times bestseller Gill Hornby

The small town of Bridgeford is in crisis. The high street is half empty, businesses are closing and the idea of civic pride seems old-fashioned to the commuters rushing home from work. Somehow, it seems to have lost its heart.

But there is one thing that might just bring the town together: music. The Bridgeford Community Choir has a chance of winning the county championship. First though, the small band of singers must find a lot of new members and a whole new sound. Enter Tracey - one of life's soloists, and hiding a secret past; Bennett - a church choir refugee, baffled by the modern world. And Jazzy - who sees her voice as her passport straight out of town to a future of fame and fortune. Can they really fit in with dependable old regulars like Annie? Can they learn to work together, save their singing group and maybe even their community?

First of all I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: All Together Now is a tale about how music can bring together a community, but also how it can brighten anyone’s life. And all this thanks to a community choir. I have to admit that being on a choir has always been something I would have loved to do but given that my music sense is non-existent and that I cannot tune when I sing even if my life depended on it… it’s a dream I had to give up a long time ago. So I found the idea for this book really interesting and amusing.

At the beginning though, it took me a long while to really warm with the characters. They all had their problems at home and the choir was just an extension of these problems, with no organization, no new ideas and no charm at all. But as the story progressed and new characters were added to the story and to the choir, I started enjoying the story a lot more. I really liked that music played such a big role in the story. Gill always described all the songs they were doing on the choir but also added music on the routine lives of the choir members. I knew most of the songs and the ones I didn’t I checked online. This made me feel closer to the story.

But the best bit of the story is definitely the last quarter. Here the story finally takes speed and everything happens at once. With a big finale, worthy of a musical I closed the last page of this book with a huge smile on my face.

All in all, All Together now is a charming story about many different people who are brought together thanks to a hobby but end up bonding beyond it. A bit slow, especially at the beginning, but worth a reading. I enthusiastically recommend it to music lovers and choir aficionados.

Rating: 4 stars

Giveaway

You Had Me at Merlot is the kind of love story that will have you crying with laughter one moment and nodding your head in agreement the next. Full of sultry summer nights, hilarious moments and plenty of wine, it will warm even the most cynical of hearts and have you believing in the magic of romance… and of course, the power of a decent glass of Merlot. And it's finally out in paperback! To celebrate, author Lisa Dickenson has stopped by to talk about it:

1) Hi Lisa and welcome to Alba in Bookland. First, could you tell us a bit about yourself?

Hi Alba! Total flippin’ pleasure to be here with you again; it’s like coming home! A bit about me… well, I live in Devon – currently house hunting so I can move out of rented and Husband Phil and I can get some big dogs – and I like Beyoncé, holidays, funny ladies and peanut butter. I dislike moany people, and mayonnaise. 

2) You Had Me at Merlot is about two friends who go on a singles holiday to a beautiful vineyard in Tuscany. Did you have fun writing it?

I did… I wish I could say I went on an exotic research trip but in actual fact I just drank wine and surrounded myself with Italian holiday brochures. But it was really good fun to write, and I could easily picture that Tuscan sunshine beaming down on me.

3) I completely fell in love with Tuscany reading this book. Why did you choose this setting?

Oh yay, that’s fab news! I chose Tuscany because I already had the idea of the vineyard holiday (and the title) and wanted a beautiful, sun-drenched, delicious-fooded part of the world for the girls to escape their city lives to. As our leading lady is somewhat coaxed by her friend to join her on this trip, it would have been unrealistic for them to go as far as the Californian, Australian or South African vineyards, so Italy seemed perfecto.

4) How did you research it? Was there a lot of wine tasting involved?

Haha – of course! It was actually done a lot from memory of various wine tastings and vineyards I’d experienced in the past. And never underestimate the power of google images to help you visualize a setting!

5) Elle, the main character, is single but not looking for love. Why did you chose that?

I don’t like the idea that a woman is only going to be happy when she finally has a partner. I think it’s perfectly easy to be 100% happy in this life on your own, if that’s what you want. And so I wanted to convey the message that the single life isn’t some sad misfortune, but something a person is quite within their right to choose. And if they then do meet someone, that’s fine too, because happiness can happen in so many forms.

6) Did you have someone in mind for inspiration when you were writing about a certain sexy Italian?

Nope, not really. The males in my books are open to whatever interpretation gets your juices flowing.

7) You Had Me at Merlot was first released as a serialised enovel. How did you feel when you saw the final paperback with that dreamy cover?

SO. HAPPY. I loved the bright yellow cover from the moment Little, Brown emailed it to me, and when the first paperback arrived and I saw the red was all shiny I was even more in love. I’m so glad you like it too!

8) Of all the characters on the singles holiday, who was your favourite to write? I am a big fan of George, the loaded American womanizer ready to become Elle's sugar daddy.

I quite liked the two Bristol girls – they were fun to write. Maybe they should have a spin off book of their own... And George was fun, the cheeky lothario!

9) Your characters always find themselves in the most hilarious situations. What the funniest thing that has ever happened to you?

Wow, that’s a hard question! Often the funniest things aren’t very funny at all at the time, but looking back they’re quite amusing. A memory that springs to mind was when my friend and I were backpacking after university – we were nineteen and had rocked up to a dodgy hostel on the dodgy end of Hollywood Boulevard, which at the time was quite a lot dodgier than it is now. The room had a foot-high gap at the bottom of the door, a bit like a toilet cubicle door, and in the middle of the night some residents in the room opposite started shouty-arguing, gangster-style. “What am I gonna have to do to make you pay, huh?” “I’m sorry, Johnny, I’ll get your money for you by tomorrow!” Then a lady of the night stormed out of the room to clack up and down the corridor and bang on our room, shouting “ANYONE IN THERE GOT A DIME?” My friend and I were convinced we were about to witness a murder, or be murdered ourselves, so we high-tailed it to another, less dodgy hostel as soon as it was morning, and we thought it was safe to exit the room. Looking back, it was quite funny. Sort of…

10) What are you working on right now? 

Right now I’m finishing edits for my fourth book, which will be out in paperback this Autumn and is called Mistletoe on 34th Street. I’m also just beginning to put pen to paper for Book 5…

Thank you Lisa for stopping by and answering all my questions. I absolutely adored You Had Me at Merlot and I'm already looking forward Mistletoe on 34th Street! 

You Had Me at Merlot is the perfect summer read: hilarious and heart-warming. It has this feel-good sparkle than will have you turning page after page and will leave you with a huge smile in your face. So, don't doubt it, get it right now and enjoy the sun and magic of Tuscany. You are in for a real treat. Lisa is one of the funniest and wittiest writers you can find and I'm sure big things are coming her way.

Read my full review here!

And get it now:    Amazon | AmazonUK

Title: Dear Fang, With Love

Author: Rufi Thorpe

Published: June 2nd 2016 by Corsair

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: A bold, spellbinding novel featuring one of the most fascinating protagonists in recent memory, Dear Fang, With Love tells the story of seventeen-year-old Vera - ravishing, troubled, wildly intelligent - who travels to Europe with her estranged father, hoping that an immersion in history might help them forget his past mistakes and her uncertain future.

Lucas and Katya were boarding school seniors when, blindingly in love, they decided to have a baby. Seventeen years later, after a decade of absence, Lucas is a weekend dad, newly involved in his daughter Vera's life. But after Vera suffers a terrifying psychotic break at a high school party, Lucas takes her to Lithuania, his grandmother's homeland, for the summer. Here, in the city of Vilnius, Lucas hopes to save Vera from the sorrow of her diagnosis. As he uncovers a secret about his grandmother, a Home Army rebel who escaped Stutthof, Vera searches for answers of her own. Why did Lucas abandon her as a baby? What really happened the night of her breakdown? And who can she trust with the truth? Skillfully weaving family mythology and Lithuanian history with a story of mental illness, inheritance, young love, and adventure, Rufi Thorpe has written a breathtakingly intelligent, emotionally enthralling book.

*First of all I would like to thank the publishers for sending me a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Dear Fang, With Love is one of those unique and especial books that take a while to get into but that once you are immersed in the story, you just can't stop reading. Contrary to what you might think, the story is not about Fang but about her girlfriend Vera and her father Lucas. These two characters embark on a historical tour around Vilnius, Lithuania, to try and reconnect with each other and take a break from their life, where everything is quite messy.

The story is told from Lucas' point of view, who has never really been present in Vera's life and is trying to get to know and understand her. Also, each chapter starts with an email from Vera to Fang, so we also get to read how she is feeling and how she sees this new chapter on her life. Life is quite complicated for her, as she has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder but is not quite sure she really suffers from it. During the story, we really get to know these two characters and with every new little detail and uncovered secret, we see them in a new light. Vera is a fascinating character, she lives everything intensely and her thoughts always go one step further than what you might expect. She is definitely the star of the book and I ended up really caring for her. I could see how she was struggling with everything and I never knew what to expect next.

The story also touched some other topics like the holocaust and Lithuania's history, as Lucas' family comes from here and he wants to somehow reconnect with his heritage. Lucas' own journey during the book was very interesting to read. I felt that his voice was honest and darkly funny and I could really see he was one of the good guys, even if a little lost.

During the novel, emotions are running high and the multiple subplots make this a touching and quite especial story. Rufi Thorpe's writing is simple and direct but also very rich and detailed. Vera's story will capture you and I'm sure Dear Fang, With Love will leave no one indifferent. 

Rating: 4 stars

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blurb: An epic voyage, undertaken with the grandest of ambitions.

When Lapérouse leaves France in the Spring of 1785 with two ships under his command, he knows that he sails with the full backing of the French government. This is to be a voyage of scientific and geographical discovery - but every person on board has their own hopes, ambitions and dreams.

As the ships move across vast distances in their journey of nearly four years, the different characters step forward and invite us into their world. From the remote Alaskan bay where a dreadful tragedy unfolds, to the wild journey Barthélemy de Lessups undertakes from the far east of Russia to St Petersburg, the reader sees the emotional, physical and mental toll exacted by such an endeavour.

Landfalls marks the launch of a brilliant new writer, who creates an unforgettable world through a web of voices and narratives.

First of all I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: Landfalls is completely different to anything else I have ever read. The story is based in a real event, the expedition that captain Lapérouse started in 1785 to discover the new world. Following Captain's Cook successful expedition, the French government also wanted to claim a part of the new world for themselves, so they sent two fragatas on a long and dangerous adventure around the globe. 

But what makes this story so different is not its historic content but they way it's told. Each chapter is told by a different character, mainly members of the crew, but also from some of the natives they encounter in the new continent. Each character talks about a stop in the journey, every landfall (here you get why the title fits the story so well). They tell their own story and how certain circumstances affected them. This made the story a bit confusing to follow at the beginning as you were left wondering what had happened to the characters after their chapters, but once I got used to it, I started enjoying discovering a new place through new eyes each time. 

I have to admit that I have always enjoyed history. So I found this story really enriching and interesting. It made me think a lot about how different the world was only 300 years ago. To think that there were so many places with its people living peacefully unaware of what was coming and how the Europeans thought their ways were obviously better and needed to teach them to the natives in these places. Well, maybe not so different to nowadays, now that I think of it.

Landfalls is a story that gets better and better the more you read. I started it feeling a bit lost and ended it completely hooked. The multiple points of views added a multidimensional vision to this journey and made for a highly entertaining read. Perfect for history lovers, Landfalls is a story worth reading. 

Rating: 

Rating:

The festive month is kicking off in style and Pearl is rushed off her feet with her restaurant, The Whitstable Pearl. She's also busy planning her own family Christmas and providing mulled wine for a charity church fundraiser when Christmas cards begin arriving all over town - filled with spiteful messages from an anonymous writer. 

Pearl's curiosity is piqued but having pledged not to take on a case at her detective agency before Christmas, she reluctantly agrees that Canterbury's DCI Mike McGuire should take over; poisoned pen cards are after all a matter for the police. And with only the church fundraiser now between Pearl and Christmas, she invites McGuire along as her guest. The event appears to be a great success; St Alfred's church hall is packed and Pearl happily finds herself standing close to McGuire beneath some mistletoe . . . but then a guest suddenly collapses. Too much of Pearl's delicious mulled wine - or could it be something more sinister?

The last thing Pearl expects for Christmas is murder but soon the bodies are piling up. Can Pearl possibly solve the mystery in time to make 25th Decemberan unforgettable day - or will the murderer contrive to ensure her goose is well and truly cooked before then?

First of all I would like to thank the publishers for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of reading Julie Wassmer's debut, and the first book of this series, The Whitstable Pearl Mystery. So I was quite excited to read the second one and catch up with the lovely Pearl. After solving her first case as a private investigator on summer, she has been slowly building her business while still managing her restaurant.

But now it's almost Christmas time, so Pearl has decided not to take any more cases and focus on spending time with her family during the festive period. But the appearance of some mysterious postcards with malicious Christmas wishes for some of her neighbours and an even bigger crime, a murder, make Pearl rethink about her intentions and she soon finds herself in the middle of an investigation. I love how she always follows her intuition and as Sherlock Holmes, himself, Pearl notices all the little details no one else seems to notice. One little things leads her to another and it's quite obvious that the police detectives, much to their despair, are not on the same high level.

Talking about the police, certain detective is back on Pearl's live after disappearing for a bit and the chemistry between them is palpable. I really enjoyed their interactions and I think their relationship added another dimention to the story.

Murder on Sea follows the classic cosy crime structure, with the author leaving small clues for the reader and a final scene where the brilliant Pearl reveals everything and leaves us all amazed with her obvious talent. I really enjoyed reading it and as with the first book. the setting plays its own role in the story. Even with Christmas around the corner the small coastal town has its own charm and I can't wait for more stories set in Whitstable following Pearl and her lovely lot.

Rating: 

Blurb: A big story about a small boy who sees the world a little differently.

Milo curled his thumb and forefinger together to make a small hole and held his fingers up to Al's eyes. "Look through here. That's what I see. Kind of, only worse." "Wow, that must be amazing." Milo shrugged. "Not really." "I mean, it makes you focus, doesn't it? I bet you see all kinds of stuff that other people miss." 

Nine-year-old Milo Moon has retinitis pigmentosa: his eyes are slowly failing and he will eventually go blind. But for now he sees the world through a pin hole and notices things other people don't. When Milo's beloved gran succumbs to dementia and moves into a nursing home, Milo soon realizes there's something wrong at the home. So with just Tripi, the nursing home's cook, and Hamlet, his pet pig, to help, Milo sets out on a mission to expose the nursing home and the sinister Nurse Thornhill. Insightful, wise, and surprising, What Milo Saw is filled with big ideas and simple truths. Milo sees the world in a very special way, and it will be impossible for you not to fall in love with him and then share his story with everyone you know.

First of all I would like to thank the publishers for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: When I first picked What Milo Saw I really didn't know what to expect. But soon I realised that this story was something like nothing else. What I love about reading is that once in a while you find a book so unique and unexpected that it takes you to a completely different world and you forget about your own life for a while. And that is exactly what happened to me with What Milo Saw. Once you meet this little fella and his clever and adorable pet, Hamlet, you can't stop reading about them. You become part of their story and once finished the book, you find yourself frequently going back to them.

Milo sees the world in a very different way. Due to retinitis pigmentosa, he no longer has his peripheral vision, it's like he sees everything through a pinhole. But soon we realise that it somehow allows him to see more that others see. He sees beyond what you expect to see and makes you wonder if we are all seeing the world in the wrong way. So it's no wonder that he is the first one to realise that his grandma's new care home is not what it should be. Here is when his quest to prove something is wrong there starts and when we start meeting the rest of the cast of this quirky story. 

We meet Trippi, a Syrian refugee who looks for his lost sister in the TV news. His is a story difficult to forget. He has been through so much but is still smiling and just wants to make everyone happier. A true lesson about life. I had tears in my eyes more than once. In the care home we also meet a bunch of old ladies who different to what everyone might think, still want to enjoy life, and a not so old man who hasn't closed the door to love.

The story is told through different points of view so he get to read about Milo's plans, Tripi's thoughts, Milo's grandma's worries and even about the frustrations of Milo's mother when she fails to comprehend her own child. I think this was very clever as it made me feel part of the story and had me glued to its pages from cover to cover, even if I found the pace of the story a bit slow sometimes. But I have to say that Virgina Macgregor showed her ability to embody such different characters perfectly, they all sounded genuine and each one of them was special in their own way, with their own story to tell. A beautiful and simple writing style and could say so much in so little.

As it says in the blurb What Milo Saw is filled with big ideas and simple truths, the author certainly makes you think a lot about yourself and this world we live in. We see what we want to see but what happens when we really look? A real gem of a book, I highly recommend it.

Rating: 

Hi Saskia and welcome to Alba in Bookland. First of all could you tell us a bit about yourself: Thanks for inviting me! I live in London with my partner and my four (grown-up) children, plus a menagerie of animals: 3 dogs, 2 cats and a leopard gecko. I used to work as a Health & Beauty editor on women’s magazines; I’ve also been a ghostwriter and script reader. I’ve always loved writing, and wanted to make it my career, so I feel very lucky to be doing this. I also love dancing, tango in particular, and looking after creatures, hence the number of animals and children in my life…

In your latest book, The Other Me, the main role is hiding a big secret and is living a lie. How did you come up with this idea? Any big secrets in your life you want to share with us? If I told you the secret, it would no longer be one! Seriously, I’m fascinated with identity, and the issues around it. I’ve just been listening to the radio and there was a piece about people who role-play and escape into being fantasy characters at the weekend. So many of them said they only felt like ‘themselves’ when they were dressing up and pretending to be someone else. Of course, in Klaudia’s case, she is also running away from a sense of inherited guilt and her repressive childhood.

The Other Me has a stunning cover that I think will catch everyone's attention. What was your reaction when you first saw it? Thanks! I was thrilled when I saw it. I love everything about it: the colours, the design, and the sense of darkness gathering around the beautiful pink of the tutu and the pale skin of the dancer…

Which 3 words would you use to describe the story behind The Other Me? Dark and layered, (like the best chocolate cake) and also kind.

How does your writing process go? Do you plan everything first or you just start writing and let your characters talk to you? I usually begin with the spark of an idea, and the nascent sense of a character or two. Then I begin to piece a story together in my mind – always character-led. After that the process is different for every book. 

The Other Me is your third book already. Did you find writing your second and third novel more difficult than your first, after its success? Or have you learned from your "mistakes"? I hope I improve as I go along. Each book is a huge learning-curve. I was incredibly lucky to have a lot of media attention and the Richard and Judy Bookclub with The Twins, my debut novel. It can’t always be that way. (It was a bit like actually being pregnant with twins, and having the red carpet treatment! I saw the consultant every time and everyone made a fuss. Then I had my son, and found out what it was like for most pregnant women.)The important thing for me is that I do the best I can with the story I’m telling. I’m always focused on whatever I’m writing now.

Do you remember the first story you ever wrote and what it was about? I began telling my younger sister stories when I was about six. One that she liked a lot involved a girl who couldn’t walk and her toy pony that came to life every night and took her on wonderful adventures.

If you could have a party with your favourite authors, dead or alive, who would you invite? I’d resurrect some really iconic authors for my party – people like Shakespeare, John Donne, Oscar Wilde, Jane Austen, Ezra Pound and Anne Frank. 

And finally, what are you working on now? I’m working on a book that’s a little different from my others in that it has a stronger thriller strand – but it also has an emotional heart. It’s called The Stranger and it’s set in an idyllic English village where one woman puts herself at risk by trusting a stranger who evokes suspicion in everyone else. As the story unravels we realize that the village is not as idyllic as it first seems, and our heroine has been betrayed by someone, but is it her would-be lover, her dead husband or the stranger to whom she’s opened her home and her heart?

Thank you Saskia for sharing a bit more about yourself and your stories with us. I really enjoyed your answers.

About the book: