Title: A Taste of Home

Blurb: Fliss Brown has grown up living with her mother on the Rossi family’s Italian fruit farm. But when her mother dies, Fliss finds out she has a family of her own, and heads back to England with Nonna Rossi’s recipe for cherry and almond tart and a piece of advice: connect with your family before it is too late…

Fliss discovers that her estranged grandfather owns a fruit farm himself, on the outskirts of Wynbridge, and she arrives to find a farm that has fallen into disrepair. Using her knowledge gleaned from working on the Rossi farm and her desire to find out more about her past, Fliss rolls her sleeves up and gets stuck in. But what will she discover, and can she resurrect the farm’s glory days and find a taste of home…

Review: What a wonderful story! There are many things I loved in this book, but first of all I wanted to mention the wonderful setting: a fruit farm (in the lovely Wynbridge).  I had such a blast following Fliss around the farm and with Heidi Swain rich description I could completely picture the juicy strawberries and the very special cherries. I definitely recommend picked a few strawberries to munch on while reading this. Plus, I was completely invested in Fliss' plans of making the farm a success and loved all her bright ideas. 

Another strength point in the story were the characters and their connections. I fell like Fliss' relationship with his newly discovered grandfather was adorable. Their chemistry and banter was fantastic. I also loved the sense of community and it reminded me how important it is to take care of your loved ones and remember to tell them how much you love them often. 

And of course, with several previous books of Heidi Swain set in Wynbridge, we got to catch up with some favorite characters from the past. I always enjoy recognizing old friends and I even realized that I haven't read a couple of the previous books yet, so they have been bumped to the top of my reading list.

Perfect escapism, wonderful characters, delicious treats (I need Italian restaurants to open up asap now) and real connections. The perfect ingredients for this wonderful story. 

The BRAND NEW series from Holly Hepburn, first published as four ebook parts and now out as a paperback. Perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley and Katie Fforde.

Today is my stop in the fantastic Blog Tour for The Winter Garden, the sparkling new Christmas novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author Heidi Swain. And I am sharing my thoughts on this festive read here!

Title: The Winter Garden (Nightingale Square #3)

Author: Heidi Swain

Published: October 4th 2020 by Simon & Schuster

Review: After reading and loving Sunshine and Sweetpeas at Nightingale Square and Poppy’s Recipe for Life, I was really looking forward to going back to Nightingale Square, especially with a festive story, as I was sure that this lovely place would be perfect for a cosy and very special Christmas. And I was not wrong at all! 

This time we discover Freya’s story, who after losing her close friend and employer is not sure what to do next in her life. A bit by chance and a bit by magic, she ends up being employed as the gardener in Prosperous Place. The job comes with a place to live at the Square too so she soon finds herself involved in all the activitats organised by the lovely community. 

Once again, I really enjoyed reading about the sense of community in the square and how they all come together to make their shared space a better place, where everyone is welcomed. Freya couldn't have landed at a better place and it was a great pleasure to get to catch up with this bunch of lovely people. I wish Prosperous Place was real and I could attend some of the sessions they organise for their Winterfest, they sounded so original and fun!

Also a big thumps up from me for the love story! Great chemistry between the characters and perfect amount of will-they or will-they-not. I finished this book with a huge smile in my face!

THE QUEEN OF FEEL-GOOD FICTION!

The brand new novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Magnificent Mrs Mayhew - a gorgeous read full of warmth and heartfelt emotion.

Title: My One True North

Author: Milly Johnson

Published: March 5th 2020 by Simon & Schuster

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Laurie and Pete should never have met.

But fate has pushed them together for a reason. 

 

Six months ago, on the same night, Laurie and Pete both lost their partners. Struggling to manage the grief, they join the same counselling group – and meet each other.

 

From their sadness, Pete and Laurie find happiness growing and they sense a fresh new beginning. Except, the more they talk, the more they begin to spot the strange parallels in their stories. Then Pete discovers a truth that changes everything.

 

But, as surely as a compass points north, some people cannot be kept apart. 

 

My One True North is a story of friendship and what love means, of secrets uncovered, teashops on corners and the northern lights.

Review: Milly Johnson has stolen my heart again with her new book, My One True North, an outstanding and heartfelt story about grief, friendship and love. This story tells the story of two lost souls, Laurie and Pete. They have both lost their partners and don't know how to keep going forward. As a last recourse, they join a very special support group and from their first encounter, you can feel a  unique connection between them.

I loved getting to know both main characters, but also all the secondary ones. I especially loved the other members of the support group, they had such lovely and warm stories to tell too. I think Milly Johnson made a wonderful job creating layered and easy to connect with characters. 

I am big fan of Milly's warm and humorous writing, but with My One True North she has surpassed herself, this is definitely my new favourite book by her. It has a special magic and serendipity that make this story very special, and as a reader, you feel privileged to be part of Laurie and Pete's life.

I would completely recommend this book for anyone looking for an emotional but uplifting story. It made me cry, it made me laugh, but above all, it made me fall in love. Perfect escapism. 

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.

This life-affirming and hilarious novel is the perfect balm for the Insta-weary mind – get ready to shatter the illusion that is #LivingMyBestLife

'A fun, fresh debut that manages to be both quirky and deep as it portrays today's obsession with social media' MILLY JOHNSON

‘If you’re in need of frank and funny novel that is also a take-down of the rubbish social media can fill our heads (and our hearts) with, then Claire Frost’s debut is for you. Written with verve and a real sense of generosity for her characters, this is the perfect escapist read and antidote to our somewhat grim times' STYLIST

Title: Living My Best Life 

Author: Claire Frost

Published: September 5th 2019 by Simon & Schuster

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Recently dumped by her boyfriend of ten years, Bell is struggling to move on with her life – and surrender the fleecy pyjamas she’s been living in since January. Haunted by #blessed on social media, she can’t help but compare her life to those she follows online, wondering where she is going wrong...

In the world of social media, Millie is the successful online influencer @mi_bestlife. But in real life she’s just a regular single mum trying to make ends meet, while fending off the younger competition and tenacious internet trolls. Her Instagram feed is far more #BestLie than #BestLife, and soon Millie begins to wish her life was more like her filters.

It isn’t until Bell and Millie’s paths cross that they begin to realise what they’re both missing. Can Millie prove to Bell that life online isn’t always what it appears to be? And in return, can Millie learn that she needs to start living for the moment and not for the likes? 

Review: Claire Frost's debut novel, Living My Best Life is a touching story about friendship, community and the role that social media play in nowadays' society. When we first meet the two main characters, Millie and Bell, they are both struggling, but in very different ways. 

Millie is a single mom trying to make a living being an Instagram influencer. In her pictures, her life is perfect, she follows the latest fashion trends, everything in her house matches and she feels #blessed. But her real life is a lot more chaotic, she can't afford the clothes she wears in her photos and her ex is like a grown-up child who keeps disappointed her and her son. Bell has just been bumped by her long term boyfriend and is not sure of what to do with her life anymore. Seeing all these #blessed people on social media isn't helping her self-love either. 

But by chance, Millie and Bell meet in their community centre and realize they could both use a good friend. I really enjoyed seeing their friendship blossom with mutual support. They both realised a few hard truth thanks to the other and their characters had an amazing development through the story. I also loved how they became involved in the community centre and how this sense of community also helped them greatly. 

This story is a great reminder about how important it is to love yourself, not to believe everything you see online and to have good supportive friends around you. I had a great time getting to know these characters and I found the concept of the story very refreshing and interesting. Definitely a great debut from Claire Frost!

Rating: 4 stars

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

Yesterday I had the pleasure to interview author Alice Peterson about her latest story, as part of the Blog Tour to celebrate her Publication Day last week. And today I am sharing my review for this stunning story, If You Were Here:

Blurb: When her daughter Beth dies suddenly, Peggy Andrews is left to pick up the pieces and take care of her granddaughter Flo. But sorting through Beth’s things reveals a secret never told: Beth was sick, with the same genetic condition that claimed her father’s life, and now Peggy must decide whether to keep the secret or risk destroying her granddaughter’s world.
Five years later, Flo is engaged and moving to New York with her fiancé. Peggy never told her what she discovered, but with Flo looking towards her future, Peggy realises it’s time to come clean and reveal that her granddaughter’s life might also be at risk.
As Flo struggles to decide her own path, she is faced with the same life-altering questions her mother asked herself years before: if a test could decide your future, would you take it?
An emotional, inspiring and uplifting novel, IF YOU WERE HERE will break your heart and put it back together again. The brand new novel from the acclaimed author of A Song for Tomorrow, perfect for fans of Hannah Beckerman, Dani Atkins and Jill Mansell.

Review: Since discovering Alice Peterson a few years ago, I've fallen in love with every single book she has written. Her stories always make me cry but she always manages to make me feel better about life. I absolutely loved her last book, A Song for Tomorrow, so my expectations for this one were really high. But Alice Peterson did not disappoint at all, If You Were Here is a stunning story that stole my heart. 

This story is about Flo who has lost both her mother and her grand-father but who doesn't know they both had Huntington's Disease, a hereditary disorder that results in the death of brain cells, and that her chances of also having it are 50 %. She is about to move to New York with her fiancé when her grand-mother finally finds the courage to tell her. As you can imagine this changes Flo's life completely and we follow her in her journey to come to terms with this new situation and to find herself again. 

Flo was such a fascinating and interesting character, it was impossible not to root for her. I loved getting to know her and she really inspired me to value life more and to challenge myself. Although I really don't know what I would do in her shoes, it was a real pleasure to share this journey with her and learn more about Huntington's and how it affects people and their family and friends. I really cannot imagine how hard it must be to live with it but I do think that this book shows us a fair portrayal of it and I'm sure that it will raise awareness on this disease.

Flo was not the only special character in this story though. I had a great team hanging out with Flo's granny Peggy and thanks to her old diaries, with Flo's mum too. The friendship between Peggy and her neighbour was definitely a highlight of the story for me, such a touching relationship. And the rest of the characters were pretty great too. 

If You Were Here is truly amazing, an unforgettable story that will pull at your heart-strings. Definitely one not to miss.

Rating: 5 stars

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

Today I am over the moon to welcome amazing author Alice Peterson to my blog. Her latest book, If You Were Here, is out now and to celebrate she stopped by to answer all my bookish questions. 

Hi Alice and welcome! First of all, could you tell us a bit about yourself?

Thank you for having me Alba. The first thing I’d say is I never expected to be a writer. I was always ‘Alice, the tennis player’. Aged 18, and ranked amongst the top 10 juniors in the country, I was about to go to America on a tennis scholarship – when I felt pain in my right hand. This pain then spread to my whole body and I was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition called rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Overnight I never played tennis again – a sadness that will always be with me. But I fought hard to rebuild my life – by telling my personal story and then becoming a novelist. 

Your new novel, If You Were Here, is an emotional and inspiring story. Can you tell us a bit about it? What inspired this idea?

Because of losing my tennis and my battle to live with RA, I am drawn to writing stories of adversity and celebrating the power of the human spirit. If You Were Here was inspired by one of my mother’s friends who told me she had Huntington’s Disease, a genetic and hereditary condition that damages the nerves tissues in the brain and spinal cord. This was terrible in itself, but what really drew me to wanting to write about this was the fact she hadn’t yet told her son that he too had a 50% chance of inheriting HD. It made me wonder how I’d react if I were to find out in my 20s I was at risk. Would I want to take a test to see if I had the gene or not? Basically, how much do we want to know about our future - that’s what really grabbed me… If You Were Here asks all these questions, and really focuses on family and friendships and how they endure tough times too. And finally, there is a ‘will they, won’t they’ love story, which I loved writing… eeking it out to the very end! 

Characters in your stories are always complex and feel very real. How do you research your characters? Do you talk to experts, go to places where they go too, base them on real people?

The heart of my novel comes from truth, so while I haven’t written my mother’s friend’s story, it feels real as I write about things that happen to people in everyday life. I was really fortunate that two HD charities put me in touch with people who were willing to tell me about their experiences. I also was hugely helped by a Consultant Clinical Geneticist called Dr Nayana Lahiri, who told me all about the genetic counselling process and the fears and hopes of all those she meets who are at risk of carrying the gene. I found the research compelling. It was moving to hear so many different stories. 

Which character do you hold closest to your heart? And which is the one most similar to you?

I adore Peggy, who is Flo’s grandmother. While she might be flawed – she admits she has made so many decisions that she has come to regret, I love how she finds the strength to accept her past and fight for her future, and Flo’s. Her character came alive on paper – I could hear her voice, see her face– I really do feel as if she is real. The one most similar to me is Flo. I really put myself into her shoes and kept on thinking ‘what would I do?’

How does your writing process go? Do you plan everything first or you just start writing and let your characters talk to you? I have to say your stories always make me cry, do you also cry while writing them?

No, I do months of research first. I never plan or plot my books chapter by chapter – I probably should as often I need to do major revision – but I know, inside-out, my characters and I have a beginning, a middle – and an end. This doesn’t mean it doesn’t change – I talked to my agent and editor so much about how to end If You Were Here – all of us having different opinions. But essentially, I know what motivates my characters, I understand their hopes and fears and what they’d do in certain situations, so with all the research behind me, and a loose structure, I just write. I cried a lot writing this story. There is one scene, towards the end, which made me cry every single time I read it, or revised it. I’m wondering if you cried in that scene too. I hope so… 

Could you recommend us a novel that you have read recently and has stayed with you?

After The End by Claire Mackintosh. This book deals with everyday life too – it’s about an impossible choice a mother and father have to make about their son, and how this choice threatens to tear their family apart. It really does make you wonder what you’d do if you were in the same position as them. It is heart-breaking, uplifting and beautifully written. 

And finally, are you working on a new story already?

In the last year I have been doing a foundation counselling course, and am looking to begin a degree this September, as counselling as always been something I’ve longed to do – and I feel it could really help my writing. I do have an idea for a new book and have done some research, and all I can say is, like If You Were Here, it’s inspired by real people and real life…

Blurb: If You Were Here is a moving and emotional story about facing a life-altering dilemma head-on and summoning the courage to cope with it' JILL MANSELL

'A beautiful story about living life to the fullest and having the courage to overcome adversity' PAIGE TOON

When her daughter Beth dies suddenly, Peggy Andrews is left to pick up the pieces and take care of her granddaughter Flo. But sorting through Beth’s things reveals a secret never told: Beth was sick, with the same genetic condition that claimed her father’s life, and now Peggy must decide whether to keep the secret or risk destroying her granddaughter’s world.

Five years later, Flo is engaged and moving to New York with her fiancé. Peggy never told her what she discovered, but with Flo looking towards her future, Peggy realises it’s time to come clean and reveal that her granddaughter’s life might also be at risk.

As Flo struggles to decide her own path, she is faced with the same life-altering questions her mother asked herself years before: if a test could decide your future, would you take it?

An emotional, inspiring and uplifting novel, IF YOU WERE HERE will break your heart and put it back together again. The brand new novel from the acclaimed author of A Song for Tomorrow, perfect for fans of Hannah Beckerman, Dani Atkins and Jill Mansell.

Today I am sharing my review for a very special book, The Glittering Hour by Iona Grey. This is the epic and long-awaited new romance from the author of Letters to the Lost, winner of the RNA Award.

Title: The Glittering Hour 

Author: Iona Grey 

Published: May 30th 2019 by Simon & Schuster

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Selina Lennox is a Bright Young Thing. Her life is a whirl of parties and drinking, pursued by the press and staying just the right side of scandal.

Lawrence Weston is a penniless painter who stumbles into Selina's orbit one night and can never let her go.

Spanning two decades and a seismic shift in British history as World War II approaches, this is an epic novel of passion, heartache and loss.

Review: I have just finished reading this stunning story and I need to put into paper how much I loved The Glittering Hour. I still have tears in my eyes and I cannot believe that Selina and Alice's story is over. I am definitely going to miss them immensely. As you can tell, this book has made me feel many emotions, as I felt really connected to story and its characters. 

Iona Grey already made me fell in love with her writing with her acclaimed debut, Letters to the Lost, but I think that The Glittering Hour is in a whole new level. The writing really transports you back in time and the characters feel like part of your family. 

The story is set in two different decades. We have shy young Alice in the thirties, who has gone to live with her grandparents in the big and cold Blackwood House, while her parents go on a long business trip. And then, thanks to letters sent by her mother, Selina, we discover more about her mother's youth and how Alice herself came to be. 

Together with the letters, Selina sends Alice in a treasure hunt to help her feel better in this new foreign setting but also as a way to share with her her past and talk about the people that were important to her. I loved discovering the glittering twenties through Selina's eyes, Iona Grey painted such a clear image of the colours, the fashion, the cars, the parties... that I felt like I was looking at photos rather than just reading. 

I can only praise this epic story and I highly recommend you pick it up if you are looking for a very special story that will fascinate you and probably steal your heart. It has secrets, it has family drama, it has love, it has glamour but also lots of pain. A book that has found a place in my favorite books ever list, for sure. 

Rating: 5 stars

Title: The Magnificient Mrs Mayhew 

Author: Milly Johnson

Published: March 7th 2019 by Simon & Schuster

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Behind every successful man is a woman.

Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman.

Sophie Mayhew looks like she has the perfect life. Wife of rising political star John F Mayhew, a man who is one step away from the top job in the government, her glamour matches his looks, power, breeding and money. But John has made some stupid mistakes along the way, some of which are threatening to emerge. Still, all this can still be swept under the carpet as long as Sophie 'the trophy' plays her part in front of the cameras.

But the words that come out of Sophie’s mouth one morning on the doorstep of their country house are not the words the spin doctors put in there. Bursting out of the restrictive mould she has been in since birth, Sophie flees to a place that was special to her as a child, a small village on the coast where she intends to be alone.

But once there, she finds she becomes part of a community that warms her soul and makes her feel as if she is breathing properly for the first time. Sophie knows she won't be left in peace for long. Now she must decide: where does her real future lie?

Review: The Magnificent Mrs Mayhew is a delightful story. I had such a great time reading it that I completely forgot about anything else! And once I finished it, I actually had to remind myself a couple of times that Sophie and all the other characters were not real and that I would not find their latest adventures in the newspaper.

Sophie Mayhew is a fantastic, multi-layered and intriguing character. I loved getting to know her both in the present time and through the flashbacks to her school days in the cold and rigid boarding school, St Bathsheba. Her upbringing and her family had taught her to be a good and dutiful wife to a powerful man, but deep down, she knew that something was not right with her life. It was very inspiring to read about her journey of self-discovery.

This is a story of contrasts, we go from the cold and target-oriented world of politics, in which everyone has a hidden agenda, to the warm and supportive community of the village of Little Loste. I think these opposite settings complement each other really well and make for a very interesting story, with plenty of twists and fascinating insights to both worlds.

I loved this story, it reminded me that no dream is too small or too big, you just need to go for it. Plus, Milly Johnson's writing is a joy a to read, engaging and with the perfect dash of drama and magic. Definitely a story that will leave you with a warm heart and a very positive vibe.  

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

About the Author:

Milly Johnson was born, raised and still lives in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. As well as being an author of 16 published novels, 2 short story books and 2 novellas, she is also a copywriter for the greetings card industry, a poem and joke-writer, a columnist and a seasoned after dinner speaker.

She won the RoNA for Best Romantic Comedy Novel of 2014 and 2016 and the Yorkshire Society award for Arts and Culture 2015.

She writes about love, life, friendships and the importance of community spirit. Her books champion women, their strength and resilience and celebrate her beloved Yorkshire.

Her latest book - 'The Magnificent Mrs Mayhew' deals with a woman who has been conditioned since a child to be little more than a support for an important man. But there is much more to Mrs Mayhew than anyone who knows her - even her own family - could ever believe.

Today I am reviewing Historical Fiction author Clare Harvey's new book, The Escape, a compelling wartime drama for fans of Lucinda Riley, Rachel Hore and Katherine Webb.

Title: The Escape 

Author: Clare Harvey

Published: January 24th 2018 by Simon & Schuster

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Detta works as a translator for a Nazi-run labour camp for French workers. One winter morning in early 1945, Detta passes a group of exhausted British prisoners of war who are being force-marched westwards. The following day she receives an urgent message to contact the local priest. He is harbouring a group of escaped British prisoners of war in the manse: can she help? 

London, 1989. Miranda is a 19-year old photography student in London, in thrall to her older boyfriend, a journalist called Quill. In November the fall of the Berlin Wall is all over the news. Quill asks Miranda to come with him to Germany: before they leave, Miranda's grandmother gives her an old postcard of the village she was born in. Miranda hopes that working together in Berlin will help cement the cracks in her relationship with Quill, but one night his behaviour spills over into violence, and Miranda ends up fleeing through the rubble of the Berlin wall and into the East. As she travels further, she begins to suspect she’s being followed by the Stasi. If she goes on, she worries that she’ll be taken into custody and be accused of spying; if she turns back, it means returning to Quill.

At last her grandmother’s photograph offers the solution. She tells people that she is going to find her family in the East. The Catholic church, and the manse, opposite where her grandmother once lived, are still standing. And the secrets of the past begin to be revealed.

Review: this story already captured me on the first chapter: it's January in 1945, Detta works in a town in East Germany and when she hears that the Russian army are really close to them, she takes the train early to try to get home with her mother. I found the scene in that train such a strong opening, you could clearly sense what everyone was thinking and it set the tone for story perfectly, especially as you could see the type of person Detta was. 

We then followed her in her own hometown and witnessed how her life became a lot more complicated after meeting two escaped British pilots. I was really curious to see how the story would go from there, and how, or even whether, they would manage to overcome all the impossible obstacles and escape. 

We also had another storyline set in 1989: a young photography student, Miranda, is in Berlin, ready to witness the fall of the wall and capture the perfect image. I found this story fascinating, reading how people reacted to the fall and how their life changed from one day to the other. But I especially enjoyed discovering how the two storylines intertwined. 

I have to say that at the beginning of the book, I was more intrigued about Etta but as we followed Miranda in Berlin, I started wanting to know more about her. There were some really tense moments that had me glued to its pages and there were also plenty of turns and twists that I was not expecting at all. 

The Escape is definitely a very thought provoking and engrossing story. It combines very well the telling of those dark war times with scenes of hope and love. I enjoyed learning more about both timelines and was fascinated about all the details that Clare Harvey included, from a forgotten necklace to an old camera, they all had their small roles in the story. 

Rating: 4 stars

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

Today I am delighted to welcome author Clare Harvey to the blog. Her new book The Escape was published last week and to celebrate it, she' visiting several blogs on a wonderful Blog Tour. Today is my stop and Clare is talking about her forever books:

My Forever Books by Clare Harvey

Long before Marie Kondo started telling us all to only keep items that ‘spark joy’, I was happy to donate piles of old books to schools, friends or charity shops; I’m a book lover, but not a book hoarder. I suppose it’s a legacy of 17 years married to a soldier; the army posted us to a new home every two years or so, and I always de-cluttered each move. However, each time we did get a posting order and I began to think about having a clear out, there were always some books I found I just could not part with. These are my ‘forever books’, the ones that hold too many memories to part with – the ones that I’d tell Marie say “ching” when I see them:

The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr:

Before I could read myself, this is the book that had me enthralled. I’m the youngest child, so I was still at home with my mum when my elder sisters went to school. We lived in Devon at the time. I would sit on Mum’s knee, at the kitchen table after lunch, and this is one of the books I can remember her reading to me. I can also remember that we had a somewhat wayward collie dog called Scamper who used to get jealous. By the end of the story Scamper was usually sitting on Mum’s knee and I was on the floor (Mum carried on with the story, regardless)! I read this to my own children when they were small, too.

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder:

When I’d just turned seven we moved from Devon to Mauritius, due to my dad’s job. I’d not long learned to read properly, but because we had no TV out there I read, lots, and soon became a total bookworm (as the photo shows). I read all the Little House on the Prairie series of books, many times over, and fell in love Laura Ingalls Wilder as an author and as the heroine of the stories. Looking back, what’s interesting is that these books aren’t fiction, they are memoir: a blend of personal history and story telling. And the kind of writing I love to do most is where real-life events are melded with fiction. So perhaps my writing career really began with reading the Little House on the Prairie all those years ago.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin:

When I was 12 I was sent to a state boarding school (a comprehensive school that had a boarding ‘hostel’ attached) in Devon. My mum bought me this copy of Pride and Prejudice before I went, and I remember her saying she thought I was ‘old enough’ for Austen. I tried – but failed – to read it. I think the language was just a little too impenetrable for a 12-year-old and I didn’t get around to reading, and loving, this book until I was a few years older. Nevertheless, this copy of Pride & Prejudice stayed on my bedside locker in the dormitory throughout my first traumatic year at school, a constant reminder of my mum, and of home. And when I look inside the cover I can see the bookplate that I stuck there as a homesick pre-teen, with its picture of a unicorn and my curly over-practised signature in pencil. It’s a poignant reminder of my bookish pre-teen self. 

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath:

Looking at the date inside the cover of this I can see that I bought it as an 18th birthday present to myself. And if you’ve ever read any Sylvia Plath this tells you all you need to know about the angst-ridden teen I was at the time. It’s tempting to look back on my teens and twenties and yearn for those sun-kissed, cellulite-free days, but this book reminds me that what was slender and sunny on the outside, hid a dark and conflicting muddle underneath. In 1988, as well as devouring Sylvia Plath and writing some very bad poetry, I failed miserably to get a place at Oxford University, and enrolled on a foundation course at Exeter College of Art and Design. There was quite a lot of navel gazing and scribbling in notebooks going on – I’m not sure I was any fun to be around, but I do still have a few friends from that era, so perhaps I wasn’t as much of a killjoy as I recall…

Summer with Monika by Roger McGough:

Boyfriends, eh? In my early twenties I fell totally and obsessively in love with someone, in the way that you do at that age. Falling for him was like coming down with the flu. We bought this book in Waterstone's in Exeter, and read it together. I thought our relationship was destined to be chapter four (‘our love will be an epic film, with dancing songs and laughter, the kind in which the lovers meet, and live happy ever after…’), but I should really have focussed more on the latter sections of McGough’s wonderful poem-story, such as chapter 39 (‘I wanted my pie in the sky, but you gave it me in the face’). Still, to paraphrase the wise and talented Joanna Trollope, you can’t be a writer until you’ve been knocked about a bit by life – otherwise you have nothing to write about – so even doomed relationships with manipulative men are never wasted, if you’re an author. Summer with Monika helped me form the back-story for the character of Miranda in my new book, The Escape, and eagle-eyed readers might notice a phrase or two from the poem appearing in her timeline.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde:

After graduating from university I lived with the pie-in-the-face boyfriend (see number 5) for a while. An old friend of his was on leave from the army one Christmas time, and had come to visit. On Christmas morning pie-in-the-face and I were going off to visit our respective families for Christmas Day, but the army mate said he wasn’t going anywhere and intended to spend the day eating takeaway pizza and drinking beer in front of the telly. When I asked why he wasn’t going home to see his own family, he told me that his mother had died a couple of years previously and he couldn’t face spending Christmas Day with his father and new stepmother. Feeling sorry for him, I gave him a present of a wrapped copy of The Picture of Dorian Gray (originally meant for pie-in-the-face, even though I knew he wouldn’t appreciate it). Instead of watching telly all day, the army bloke read Oscar Wilde, and enthused about the book when I saw him again after Christmas. And you know what? Reader, I married him (six years later). We have just celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary.

Into Enemy Arms: the remarkable true story of a German girl’s struggle against Nazism and her daring escape with the Allied airman she loved.

I couldn’t do this list without including this fascinating book, which provided the stepping-off point for the character of Detta in The Escape. Anyone who’s read it will know how much I’m indebted to Michael Hingston’s moving memoir of his aunt’s experiences in wartime Germany. It’s the latest ‘forever book’ on my shelves, but I’m sure it won’t be the last…

The Escape is out now in paperback, e-book and Audible.

You can catch up with Clare here: 

Facebook: @clareharvey13

Twitter: @ClareHarveyauth

Instagram: @clareharvey13

Website: clareharvey.net

About the Book:

Title: The Escape

Author: Clare Harvey

Published: January 24th 2019 by Simon & Schuster

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The brand new novel from bestselling author Holly Hepburn, perfect for anyone who loves Jenny Colgan, Veronica Henry and Lucy Diamond. A Year at Castle Court is Holly Hepburn's four Castle Court e-novellas collected together as a novel for the first time. 

Title: A Yeat at Castle Court 

Author: Holly Hepburn

Published: December 27th 2019 by Simon & Schuster

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Blurb: Sadie is a single mum, nursing a broken heart. Her best friend from childhood, Cat, is burned out from working long hours as a chef in Paris. In need of a change, they decide to invest in their dream – running their own handmade biscuit shop in gorgeous Castle Court, a three-storey food court tucked away behind Chester's bustling streets.

They soon discover that Castle Court has its own community – a little haven of delight against the stresses of the outside world. But not everyone welcomes the new business; the patisserie owner is less than pleased by what she sees as direct competition and Greg, who runs the fancy bistro that dominates one end of the courtyard, doesn't think Sadie and Cat have the talent or business acumen to succeed. Luckily, there's support in the form of the delectable Jaren, who owns the Dutch waffle house opposite Smart Cookies, and Swiss chocolate-shop owner, Elin. And if all else fails, the friends can drown their sorrows in Seb's cocktail bar on the third floor!

Review: Holly Hepburn is back with a fun-filled story set in a gorgeous food court in Chester. The stars of the story are friends, and now business partners, Sadie and Cat. They have decided to join forces and have opened a biscuit shop in Castle Court. With Sadie's creativity and Cat's top cooking skills they are ready to make their new business a success. But things don't go as smoothly as they would have liked. Plus, not everyone welcomes them with open arms in the Castle Court family...

I really loved the setting in a food court with so many different food options! Some of them sounded delicious: Dutch waffles, Swiss chocolates or an authentic American dinner, I was salivating! Why isn't Castle Court a real place? But what made this place so special were all the business owners and the little community they had created. I really enjoyed getting to know them (some more than others) and seeing their business grow. 

The story was definitely packed with lots of drama and plenty of twists. As it was first published as a serialized enovel, it is divided in four parts and each one ends in a cliff-hanger. Which made me want to keep reading to find out what was next in store for these characters. Poor Sadie and Cat, as soon as they were out of trouble, something new happened! But they kept growing from strength to strengh. Their biscuits sounded delicious too, I would really like to try my own hand at icing! 

All in all, A Year at Castle Court is a light-hearted and highly entertaining read with lots going on. I loved how Holly Hepburn described everything so well, and I was able to picture all the shops and all the food in my mind perfectly. I always enjoy her fresh style and I am already looking forward to a new story by her.

Rating: 4 Stars

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

For fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and The Keeper of Lost Things, The Truths and Triumphs of Grace Atherton by debut author Anstey Harris is the story of a woman who has her heart broken, but then puts it back together again in the most uplifting and exquisite way.

Title: The Truths and Triumphs of Grace Atherton

Author: Anstey Harris

Published: January 10th 2019 by Simon & Schuster

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Grace Atherton has fallen out of love... and into life

Between the simple melody of running her violin shop and the full-blown orchestra of her romantic interludes in Paris with David, her devoted partner of eight years, Grace Atherton has always set her life to music.

Her world revolves entirely around David, for Grace’s own secrets have kept everyone else at bay. Until, suddenly and shockingly, one act tips Grace’s life upside down, and the music seems to stop.

It takes a vivacious old man and a straight-talking teenager to kickstart a new chapter for Grace. In the process, she learns that she is not as alone in the world as she had once thought, that no mistake is insurmountable, and that the quiet moments in life can be something to shout about…

Review: I fell completely in love with this novel. The Truths and Triumphs of Grace Atherton is a captivating story about love, disappointment, grief, friendship and above all, music, and how it can change lives. 

Grace is a very interesting and intriguing main character. When we meet her, she is a lonely luthier, whose life revolves around her (mostly unavailable) partner David. From the beginning you can sense that there is so much more to her though. And as you learn more and more about her past, her forgotten dreams and her secrets, you soon realize what a complex and nuanced character she is. 

One of my favourite parts of the story was reading about how Grace builds the instruments in her shop. I found the whole process fascinating and I could actually feel the love that goes into every single one of them. It definitely gave me a greater appreciation for these instruments.

A special mention too for side characters young Nadia and old Mr Williams. They helped Grace when she thought she was really alone in the world. Nadia's hard truths were exactly what Grace needed and Mr Williams' advice and wisdom definitely inspired both Grace and me. 

The Truths and Triumphs of Grace Atherton is a multi-layered and very well crafted story with beautiful writing and characterization. Music is at its core and I definitely recommend listening to the pieces Grace listens to or plays while reading about them. It adds a very special touch to the story and it made me really connect with it. I might have listened to Libertango a few dozens times. This is definitely one of the books to watch out for this year. 

Rating: 5 Stars

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