Lil's Bus Trip by Judy Leigh

 

It’s always a good time for a road trip…

When 82-year-old Lil decides to book herself, her 65-year-old daughter, Cassie, and her friend Maggie on a bus trip across Europe, she hopes for a little adventure to counteract the monotony of life in sheltered accommodation.

Along with three members of the Salterley Tennis Club and the Jolly Weaver five-a side football team, whose ideas of a good time are rather different to Lil’s and strikingly at odds with each other’s, the merry band of travelers set out on their great adventure.

From moving moments on the beaches of Normandy, outrageous adventures in Amsterdam, to the beauty of Bruges and gastronomic delights of France, the holiday is just the tonic Lil, Maggie and Cassie needed. 

And as the time approaches for them to head home, Lil makes an unexpected discovery - even in her advancing years, men are like buses – there isn’t one for ages then two come along at once. Is Lil ready to share her golden years, and can the ladies embrace the fresh starts that the trip has given them. Or is it just too late to change… 

What did I think?

I have to say the blurb on the back of this book sounded like a complete riot - the age range of the main characters is not your usual and the thought of them going on a road trip was irresistible.

Well I wasn't disappointed. Lil (and friends) decide to go on a European road trip and as you can imagine these larger than life characters have a ball. But there are also some more sombre moments - missing friends they have left behind and those that they have lost.

This is a delightful read (as are all of Judys books) and it would make a perfect holiday book to pack in your suitcase.

Judy Leigh is the bestselling author of A Grand Old Time and The Age of Misadventure and the doyenne of the ‘it’s never too late’ genre of women’s fiction. She has lived all over the UK from Liverpool to Cornwall, but currently resides in Somerset.

 

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The Lost Secret of Ireland by Susanne O'Leary

 

An enchanting summer romance set on the gorgeous Irish coast, where fresh starts are made, love beckons and secrets are sure to unfold… 

In the tiny village of Sandy Cove in Ireland, Ella Caron is trying to recover. When she moved from Paris to a beautiful coastguard cottage on the sea, she wanted peace and quiet and the space to grieve after her mother’s death. She never imagined that her mother’s eccentric best friend Lucille would insist on moving in to keep her company. 

With Lucille by her side, Ella finds herself laughing more than she has in years and it soon becomes clear that Lucille has her own reasons for coming to Sandy Cove: she wants Ella to help her move to her own little cottage by the sea. But then Lucille’s son Rory comes to town and her dream is under threat: he wants her in Tipperary, where she can safely grow old in their family home. Ella admires Lucille’s sense of adventure but she can’t help but wonder if Rory is right. Especially when she sees the rickety old cottage Lucille intends to buy and realises that the real reason she wants to escape could turn Rory’s life upside down. 

As Ella and Rory get closer, sharing a moment under the stars that feels meant to be, Ella finds herself caught between the man she is falling for and the loyalty she has to Lucille. Ella knows that she must convince Lucille to tell her family the truth, but it may force them to leave her and Sandy Cove for good…

 A dreamy Irish romance that will warm your heart and show you that it’s never too late for a second chance. For fans of Debbie Macomber, Sheila O’Flanagan and Mary Alice Monroe.

What did I think?

I was really looking forward to reading the second book in the Starlight Cottages series after enjoying the first installment.

The second book focuses on another resident of the little row of houses known as Starlight Cottages. Although I have read the first book I think this second books works just as well as a standalone title.

Once again I fell in love with the setting - there is something just a little bit magical about books set in this part of Ireland. I really need to get stuck into one of her other series soon.

This was a very enjoyable story exploring families and their secrets but it was also part cozy mystery. The characters were very believable and I became invested in them so had to keep reading. I thoroughly enjoyed my return to Sandy Cove - and am hoping that there will be another book based here in the near future.

Susanne O’Leary is the bestselling author of more than 20 novels, mainly in the romantic fiction genre. She has also written three crime novels and two in the historical fiction genre. 

The wife of a former diplomat, she has also been a fitness teacher and a translator. She now writes full-time from either of two locations, a rambling house in County Tipperary, Ireland or a little cottage overlooking the Atlantic in Dingle, County Kerry. When she is not scaling the mountains of said counties, or doing yoga, she keeps writing, producing a book every six months.

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The Vanishing Child by Jennifer Harvey

 

It’s funny how one innocent decision can ruin your life. For me it was letting my son pedal away on his bike that hot summer day. He’d been so excited to go out by himself—like a big boy. And though I was usually so protective, I let him… 

When Carla returns to her father’s house to care for him in his final days, she feels lost and heartbroken. So she’s glad when she meets a kindly older woman named CeCe, and they develop a warm, natural friendship. CeCe understands loss too. Because nearly forty years before her only son disappeared without trace, from this same small town. 

Then, sorting through her father’s house, Carla discovers a box of diaries and newspaper clippings from the year CeCe’s son went missing. Her father was barely more than a child himself at the time, but it’s clear the disappearance affected him strongly. 

The whole town is haunted by the memory of that summer: of the boy who was never found. But as Carla delves further into her father’s past she realises he may actually have known more than he has ever said—and that perhaps the answers CeCe so desperately seeks have been hidden here in this house all along.

 With her father now too ill to tell his story himself, will Carla be able to discover the truth about what happened to the child who vanished—and give CeCe the answers she’s been seeking for forty years? 

A heart-wrenching and emotionally charged novel about small-town secrets and the price of facing up to the truth. Fans of Liane Moriarty, Nicole Trope and The Silent Daughter will be gripped from the very first page until the final, heart-stopping twist.

What did I think?

Quite a dark story - Carla is estranged from her father but visits him at the hospice where he is receiving end of life care. She suffered abuse at his hands as a child but whilst she is sorting through his belongings she finds a diary. I don't want to give anything away but I had to keep reading as I had to find out what happened all those years ago. This was a tense, slightly disturbing read but well written. I had guessed the who done it part but enjoyed reading as it all unfolded before my eyes.

Jennifer Harvey is a Scottish writer now living in Amsterdam. 

Her short fiction has appeared in various publications in the US, Canada, and the UK and she has been shortlisted for the Bristol Prize, the Bridport Prize and placed third in the University of Sunderland Short Story Award. Her novels have been longlisted for the Bath Novel Award and her radio dramas have also won prizes and commendations from the BBC World Service. 

Alongside writing, she is a Resident Reader for Carve Magazine, an editor for Carve Critiques, and serves as a member of the Editorial Board for Ellipsis Magazine. When not writing, she can be found sauntering along the Amsterdam canals, dreaming up new stories.

  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenAnneHarvey1

Website: https://www.jenharvey.net/

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The Orphanage by Lizzie Page

 

Shilling Grange Orphanage, England, 1948. She was their only hope. Now they are hers. A gritty, heartbreaking and unforgettable story of love and hope in the darkest of times.

Clara Newton is the new Housemother of Shilling Grange Orphanage. Many of the children have been bombed out of their homes and left without families, their lives torn apart by the war, just like Clara’s. Devastated by the loss of her fiancé, a brave American pilot, she is just looking for a place to start again.

But the orphans are in desperate need of her help. Funds are short, children cry out in the night, and tearful Rita tells Clara terrible stories about the nuns who previously ran Shilling Grange. Clara cannot bear to see them suffer, but what does she know about how to look after eight little ones?

Clara can’t get anything right, and then she accidentally ruins Rita’s only memento of her mother. Overwhelmed, she wonders if they’d be better off without her. But she’s not completely alone. Living next door is Ivor: ex-Shilling Grange resident, war hero, and handyman with deep brown eyes. He doesn’t trust Clara and she is fiercely independent, but he has a way with the children. And with his support and the help of other locals, Clara begins to find her way.

As she heals from her grief and adjusts to her new life, Clara wonders if she has finally found her home and family among the orphans. Can she find the strength to fight for them when nobody else will? And dare she open her heart to love again?

A heart-wrenching and totally gripping read.  Fans of Before We Were Yours, Diney Costeloe and The Orphan Sisters won’t be able to put this book down.

What did I think?

This sort of book is way out of my comfort zone - not the sort of book I would normally pick up. But it is the first book in a series so thought it was as good a place as any to try this author.

I was surprised by this book - it had far more depth than I thought it would have. I became invested in the character of Clara and had to keep reading to find out what happens to her when she starts work at the orphanage. It was a pleasant and gentle read - no great shocks or surprises along the way - but a book that was easy to get lost in.

I will be reading the next book in the series when it comes out as I need to know more. And I am going to mention this author to my mother in law and recommend her if she hasn't already come across her.

Lizzie Page is the pseudonym of Sam Lierens, a mum of three, who (for some reason) got a puppy this year. Sam has lived and worked in Paris, Tokyo and London and loves combining her love of history with fiction.

 

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We Belong Together by Beth Moran

 

Eleanor Sharpley has been living a lie...

Needing to escape her London life quickly, Eleanor throws her things into the back of her car, and heads to her erstwhile best friend Charlie’s family farm.

But Charlie isn’t there. Instead she finds Charlie’s grieving brother Daniel, her eight-month old daughter Hope (a daughter Eleanor had known nothing about), and a crumbling and unloved Damson Farm.

Damson Farm lies at the edge of the village of Ferrington, with the river Maddon flowing at its heart. But Ferrington is a village divided by more than just a river - it is split in two by an age-old feud – between the Old Side and the New Side. Eleanor has run from her problems, straight into a family and a world that has problems of its own.

But Damson Farm has magic too, and as winter gives way to spring, the old farm starts to come to life under Eleanor’s love and care. The orchard starts to blossom with daffodils and bluebells, and the sound of bees busy in their hives fills the warming air.  Can Eleanor bring Daniel and the feuding village of Ferrington back to life too, or will her secrets catch up with her first? 

What did I think?

Firstly - what a glorious Summery cover - this made me want to start reading straight away.

My first book by Beth Moran and I loved it - so glad that I can see that I have few of her earlier books to catch up with. Don't you just love it when that happens.

I really enjoyed the writing style as I accompanied Eleanor on her journey to Ferrington (what an idyllic location) and this book had a bit of everything - romance, mystery, friendships, humour and the setting. Plenty to keep you interested right from the first chapter.

A perfect book for curling up on the sofa with to while away an afternoon.

Beth Moran is the author of three previous romance novels, including Making Marion. She regularly features on BBC Radio Nottingham and is a trustee of the national women’s network Free Range Chicks. She lives on the outskirts of Sherwood Forest. Beth’s first novel for Boldwood, Christmas Every Day, was published in September 2019.

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A Midwinter Match by Jane Lovering

 

Ruby Oldbridge needs to learn to take her own advice.

A brilliant counsellor at work in York, she is however floundering in her own life. Her romantic track record is woeful, her finances are in a pickle, and she’s back in a house-share after splitting up with her useless ex.

But one thing Ruby is brilliant at, is helping other people find a way through their problems, and she excels at the job she loves, doing just that.

Happy-go-lucky, Mr Positivity, Zac Drewe also loves his job – the trouble is, it’s the same as Ruby’s, and the management have decided to ‘rationalise’ their department. There’s only room for one of them.

As the snow and winter close in on York, Ruby and Zac have everything to lose, and Ruby starts to wonder if the happy face Zac shows the world, might be disguising a sadder secret.

Set against one another, they are unlikely friends. But perhaps, if they could take the time to understand each other, they might discover that rather than rivals, they could be the best thing that ever happened to one another…

What did I think?

This book was a fun and witty read - a perfect pick me up.

The main character is Ruby who doesn't always have an easy time of things. Set in a workplace it sets workmate against workmate until the tide starts to turn (but I'm not going to give anything away!)

Loved the setting in York and the snow made it even more special - I'm sat reading it in the sunshine but it didn't detract from the story.

if you are looking for some light relief then Janes books are always a breath of fresh air.

Jane Lovering is the bestselling and award-winning romantic comedy writer who won the RNA Novel of the Year Award in 2012 with Please Don’t Stop the Music. She lives in Yorkshire and has a cat and a bonkers terrier, as well as five children who have now left home.  Her first title for Boldwood will be published in September 2020.

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The War Child by Renita D'Silva

 

Everything will change, my love, she whispers to her only baby. I will make sure you are protected, looked after, loved. She commits his smell, the feel of him, to memory and fastens the gold St Christopher’s medal around his neck, tucking it into the blanket. Kissing him one last time, she lets him go. And with him go the pieces of her shattered heart. 

London, 1940. Clara Knight grew up an orphan in the first world war and now is fighting to win the second. Nursing brave soldiers, she falls in love with one of her patients, whose warm brown eyes give her hope for a brighter future. But then he is sent to the front, leaving her alone with their child amidst the bombs raining down on the city… When she is offered the chance to give her son a better life, Clara makes the impossible choice to let him go. She leaves her mother’s precious St Christopher pendant with him, vowing to find him again when the war is over, so they can be a family once more. 

Years later. Indira’s life has taken an unexpected turn and her only solace is caring for her grandfather. As he lies in bed, weak and confused, he calls her ‘Clara’, begging forgiveness for an unknown terrible act, tears rolling down his face. Indira goes looking for the truth… and discovers a tattered box of unsent letters, a gold St Christopher’s medal and a photograph of a baby swaddled in a blanket. Who was Clara Knight? And who is the baby in the photo? Her quest will reveal a devastating secret spanning decades, and change everything Indira thought she knew about her family… 

An unforgettable and heart-breaking novel set in World War Two about the powerful bond between a mother and her child and a betrayal that echoes across generations. Anyone who loves Orphan Train, Before We Were Yours and Shirley Dickson will find The War Child impossible to put down.

What did I think?

This is an author whose name is familiar to me but is one that I have never actually read - till now.

I don't want to give anything away but this book takes you on a breathtaking journey from England to India. Historical fiction isn't my go to genre but this book had me hooked from the start. The descriptions are so atmospheric they really transport you to the setting. Not always an easy read but I was immersed in Clara's story and had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next.

I really must make time to read more of these authors books as I really enjoyed her writing style.

Renita grew up in a picturesque coastal village in the South of India, the oldest of three children. Her father got her first story books when she was six and she fell in love with the world of stories. Even now she prefers that world, by far, to this.

 

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The Liar Next Door by Nicola Marsh

 

Numbness floods my body as I stumble up the steps leading to my house. Inside I know my five-year-old’s bed is empty, her dresser is ransacked, her overnight bag is gone. I can see her dolls lying untouched through the window of our perfect family home – in the place where I thought I could protect her forever. My daughter is missing. 

You’d think my first instinct would be to call the police. 

But I know who’s taken my daughter. 

And I know that the police can’t help me. 

Only I can convince the woman who has my baby to give her back. She thinks she knows my secrets… but she has no idea. 

Fans of Liane Moriarty, Sally Hepworth and The Girl on the Train will love this utterly unputdownable domestic thriller from USA Today bestselling author Nicola Marsh.

What did I think?

A brand new author to me. I was amazed to see how many books this author has written when I looked on Goodreads (Amazon says she has written 77!!) - how have we not crossed paths before?

The book shouts domestic psychological thriller which is exactly what it is. The story centres around 3 women who are all neighbours as we explore their relationships, friendships and of course secrets.

This book kept my interest from the start as it is quite a compelling read. Twisty enough to keep the pace up and if you are lucky enough to be going on holiday then I would say this would be a perfect book to pop into your bag.

USA TODAY bestseller and multi-award winner Nicola Marsh writes feel-good fiction…with a twist!She has published 68 novels and sold over 8 million copies worldwide. She currently writes rural romance for Harper Collins Australia, emotional domestic suspense for Bookouture and contemporary romance for Harlequin Dare.She’s also a Waldenbooks, Bookscan, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble bestseller, a RBY (Romantic Book of the Year) and National Readers’ Choice Award winner.A physiotherapist for thirteen years, she now writes full time, raises two dashing young heroes, shares fine food with family and friends, and her favorite, curls up with a good book!

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