Category Archives: Book Reviews

‘NEVER NEVER’ by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher

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The powerhouse couple of Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher was always going to be an event and my, my, what a book this is. The first in a trilogy about a teenager couple who’s memory vanishes. It’s hard to place the genre initially, but the ride is there in the characterisation and whip-smart dialogue. It made me laugh, smile and kept my guessing all of the way.

A good starter to what I reckon is going to be a belter of a trilogy. Loved it.

Charlie Wynwood and Silas Nash have been best friends since they could walk. They’ve been in love since the age of fourteen. But as of this morning… they are complete strangers. Their first kiss, their first fight, the moment they fell in love… every memory has vanished.

Now Charlie and Silas must work together to uncover the truth about what happened to them and why. But the more they learn about the couple they used to be… the more they question why they were ever together to begin with.

Forgetting is terrifying, but remembering may be worse.

The Number One Sunday Times bestselling author of It Ends with Us joins forces with the New York Times bestselling author of The Wives for a gripping, twisty, romantic mystery unlike any other.

 

Never Never

By Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher

About the author:

Colleen Hoover is the #1 New York Times and international bestselling author of multiple novels and novellas. She lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys. She is the founder of The Bookworm Box, a non-profit book subscription service and bookstore in Sulphur Springs, Texas.

 

Tarryn Fisher is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of nine novels. Born a sun hater, she currently makes her home in Seattle, Washington, with her children, husband, and psychotic husky. She loves connecting with her readers on Instagram.

 

JANE CABLE REVIEWS…

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Two research books, and two book club reads this time. My book of the month is Tracy Chevalier’s stunning story, The Last Runaway.

 

The Girl Who Left by Debra Gavranich

I read this book in the name of research, because I was fascinated by the opportunity to read a first hand account of the Second World War on the Croatian island of Korcula, and I wasn’t disappointed. Such gems in the English language are rare, and this family history is firmly rooted in the author’s mother’s memories, and well written.

As Marija’s story unfolds I found that I really cared about the outcome and her journey across the oceans as a proxy was fascinating. I must admit I only scanned the parts about her life in Australia, but my lack of interest was a personal thing and no reflection on the book.

 

The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier

Such a brilliant book, it took me straight to nineteenth century Ohio with all the harshness and iniquities of life there.

Honor Bright is a quaker from Dorset who accompanies her sister to America, where she is to be married. But the fates are cruel and the bride dies on the way, so Honor arrives in rural Ohio alone. The story revolves around her quest for friendship and happiness, but also her desire help escaped slaves in the Underground Railroad to Canada, which runs through the community where she lives.

Rich in description, strong in emotion, run through with tension, this is close to a perfect read. The characters became almost real to me and I was completely invested in Honor’s story and how her choices affected those around her. It was only the ending that left me feeling a tiny, tiny bit short-changed but I would still unreservedly recommend this very special novel.

 

Orlando by Virginia Woolf

If the author hadn’t explained in the foreword she’d started to write this as a bit of a joke, I don’t think I would have got it – and there were moments the author’s asides made me laugh out loud. I have to admit that I skimmed through much of it. but I did love the dreamlike elasticity of time, gender and sexuality and it was clearly a book ahead of its time.

Orlando is born a boy in the Elizabethan era and ages only a little and rather irregularly so in effect travels through time. But the real fascination for me was when he becomes a woman part way through the story and is therefore in a position to compare the two states.

If like a highly unusual read, rich in description and introspection, this is definitely worth a go.

 

The Sunrise by Victoria Hislop

I loved the premise of this book, set in the Cypriot resort of Famagusta, which was abandoned during the troubles in the 1970s which divided the island. However for me it didn’t completely deliver. For some reason I couldn’t buy into the love story between the nightclub manager and his boss, and although I appreciated the tensions which led to the arrival of the Turkish troops, for me it took far too long to happen.

What I did really love was the relationship between the neighbouring families of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots and how that developed. And as ever with Victoria Hislop, the sense of place was phenomenal and the historical research extensive. I just didn’t fall in love with it as much as some of her other books.

 

Her Sweet Revenge by Sarah Bonner

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Her Sweet Revenge is another stunning thriller from Sarah Bonner. It’s ambitious, covering four years and numerous POVs but that makes me love it more. The relationship between the different characters (the mother-in-law and her daughter-in-law, the female friendship) is all done so well. You’re not quite sure who or what to believe until the very end. It made me feel so many emotions.
It’s a great read and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened. I finished it in 24 hours. Sarah Bonner is a formidable talent and this is another triumph,

Secrets and lies ruin lives

Two women receive the same anonymous note.
For one it’s a threat.
For the other it’s an invitation for revenge.

Helena is beautiful, successful and living in married bliss in Exeter. But she’s hiding a secret that could tear her perfect life apart. When the notes begin to arrive, she realises someone else must know. But what might her husband and his overbearing family do if they find out the truth?

Thea is reeling from her best friend Helena’s death. But when she starts digging into the circumstances, she receives a threatening note warning her to stop. She knows her friend’s death wasn’t an accident. This was murder. And she is determined to get revenge. And everyone knows, it’s almost always the husband . . .

Her Sweet Revenge is available here.

CARIADS’ CHOICE BOOK REVIEWS, MARCH 2023

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Nicola Cornick’s The Winter Garden, reviewed by Morton S Gray

Ten stars! I loved this book. A perfect mix of past and present. I was in love with the present day hero Finn and wanted things to work out for Lucy. The historical side was told in an intriguing way and I enjoyed the ghostly elements of the story. Best historical/timeslip I have read in a long time. Bravo Nicola Cornick.

 

Lizzie Lamb’s Dark Highland Skies, reviewed by Jessie Cahalin

Dark Highland Skies is another triumph for Lizzie Lamb. Who doesn’t love a highland hero, strong heroine and a wee dram of secrets?

‘We all have demons to confront, secrets we’d rather not share. But that’s life, isn’t it?’

The characters are like good friends who really deserve a happy ending. The deeper you delve into the Halley and Tor’s past, the more you discover about what makes them tick. I wanted to know what was behind Halley’s ‘wall of aloofness’ and why a ‘bleakness appeared to descend’ on Tor. This is a heart-warming story of two lonely people finding each other.

Halley reaches for the stars and meets her destiny. A magical romance under the dark highland skies. As a reader I fell in love with the setting, and the ending was wonderful. If only I could have met charismatic Tam, Halley’s late uncle, who touched everyone’s life in the novel. I did not want to leave Lochaber!

Lizzie Lamb is queen of highland escapes. The uplifting stories are a perfect retreat from the troubled world.

 

Daisy Wood’s The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris, reviewed by Jane Cable

This is one of the books that makes me curse review sites that force you into giving stars. For me it isn’t quite five as I give those so very rarely, but it’s far better than the four I’m going to be forced to give.

This is such a skilfully told tale of resistance in wartime Paris with a main character, Jacques, you can root for and cry for, so wonderfully brave and flawed is he. A bookseller who is slow to join the underground movement fighting the Nazis, the plight of Jewish children in particular means he has no option but to help.

Meanwhile in the present day, American Juliette walks away from her unfaithful husband during a holiday in Paris, at first because she simply does not want to go home. She has family history to research but when she finds an empty, dusty bookshop she wonders if she can bring it to life again.

If you love Second World War dual timeline romances this is definitely one of the better ones I’ve read and I heartily recommend it.

 

An Italian Island Summer by Sue Moorcroft, reviewed by Morton S Gray

Get whisked away to Sicily to join Ursula Quinn, who wants to learn to paint ceramics after her life in England implodes. Add in suspicious Alfio Tringali, who returns home to fulfil family duty, helping his sister with her baby and his mother recovering from an operation run the family hotel. Ursula’s parents and family in Ireland are worried about her and her ex-husband is still possessive. There are links and complications between the families that Ursula knows nothing about and these threaten her happiness.

I soon became absorbed in this story with its twists and turns, surprises and revelations. Lovely to have characters from previous novel Under the Italian Sun make an appearance too. A classic Sue Moorcroft read that doesn’t disappoint.

 

 

PUBLICATION DAY SPECIAL: THE FOREVER GARDEN BY ROSANNA LEY

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I’m a big fan of Rosanna Ley’s books and this was no exception; in fact, it’s one of my favourites. The characters are instantly believable, the descriptions sumptuous and the whole story is perfectly tensioned between three viewpoint characters and two timelines.

The story is told from the points of view of Lara (in the 1940s and present day), her daughter Rose, and her granddaughter Bea, and it revolves around two very special gardens. The first is in Dorset, created by Lara’s mother based on the principles of the Arts and Crafts movement. It is this garden that Lara promises her mother to protect, which is the starting point for the drama that follows. The second garden is one that Lara later creates in Puglia.

The relationships between the women – and their gardens – are beautifully drawn. That Lara left the Dorset garden behind is evident from the outset, but in the hands of such a skilled storyteller, my desire to find out the whys and wherefores made it hard to put the book down. The Forever Garden will not only transport you from Dorset to Italy and back, it’s a journey you cannot fail to enjoy.

I was so entranced by the gardens that I asked Rosanna what her inspiration for them had been, and what her own Dorset garden is like:

 

I’ve always loved gardens. My parents were both keen gardeners and I have happy memories of running around our back garden as a child, playing out imaginary stories, dodging amongst my mother’s washing pegged out on the line and my father’s precious raspberry canes and gooseberry bushes.

Our own garden here in Dorset is not large but it wraps around the house and so I feel cocooned and sheltered – which is good as we live near the sea and it can be very windy! Because of the sea air I have plants that can withstand these conditions such as lavender, rosemary, thrift, hollyhocks and erigeron daisies. I am a fan of the cottage garden and of fragrant plants that attract insects, butterflies and bees – natural gardens and wild gardens. The garden also has two bird baths, two tamarisk trees, a pergola of clematis, honeysuckle and roses and a couple of places to sit and write or think in. And we are very lucky because it also has a sea view…

I was inspired to write about an Arts & Crafts garden after I visited Barrington Court in Somerset. The gardens there were laid out in the 1920’s to a structured design influenced by the famous Arts & Crafts garden designer Gertrude Jekyll. She believed passionately in the beauty of the natural landscape and – like me – valued the ordinary plants familiar to gardeners today, such as hostas, lavender and sweet-scented old-fashioned roses.

I immediately loved the Arts & Crafts concept of the garden being a continuation of the house, and of that garden being made up of several small rooms – each one with its own character and flavour. After all, when we go into a garden, we don’t always want to do the same thing. We might want to grow vegetables and be in the mood for some hard-core digging, or we might want to sit quietly in a soft and beautiful space that enables us to reflect, read a good book or just watch the birds go by.

In an Arts & Crafts garden, plants are sometimes chosen for their colour. A white garden, for example, can create a sense of tranquillity through the green of the foliage and the white flowers which are often considered healing for the mind and spirit. Or they might be chosen according to season. In ‘The Forever Garden’ there is a spring garden full of early bulbs such as daffodils and tulips which represents hope and new beginnings; this symbolism becomes very important to Lara in the story.

I like to think of the ‘Forever Garden’ as an important character in the book. For Lara it is both prison and sanctuary. The garden saves her and it also sets her free.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Institution by Helen Fields

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The Institution is an absolute triumph of a book. I didn’t race through this book because I wanted to savour it. I wanted to reread pages, and I didn’t want it to end. It’s a tense and atmospheric crime novel. It transports you to The Institution and then scares it out of you. This is a dark, haunting read that stays with you long after you have read it. I loved it and remain in awe of Helen Fields talents. A five star read. 

the sound of being human

They’re locked up for your safety.
Now, you’re locked in with them.

Dr Connie Woolwine has five days to catch a killer.

On a locked ward in the world’s highest-security prison hospital, a scream shatters the night. The next morning, a nurse’s body is found and her daughter has been taken. A ransom must be paid, and the clock is ticking.

Forensic profiler Dr Connie Woolwine is renowned for her ability to get inside the mind of a murderer. Now, she must go deep undercover among the most deranged and dangerous men on earth and use her unique skills to find the girl – before it’s too late.

But as the walls close in around her, can Connie get the killer before The Institution gets her?

A claustrophobic, haunting crime thriller that will keep you up at night, perfect for those who couldn’t put down The Sanatorium and Amy McCulloch’s Breathless.

The Institution is available here.

The Ugly Truth by L.C. North Book Review

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The Ugly Truth is a rollercoaster of a book that has you hooked from the first page. Told in an original way: through transcripts, interviews and social media posts, it is a damning indictment of our tabloid media and celebrity obsession. It’s also a heartbreaking exploration of mental illness. 

Your heart will be in your mouth throughout this book. I think it’s impossible to read it and not feel passionate about it’s characters and subjects.. The Ugly Truth is not for the faint hearted. It’s original, blistering and brilliant. A triumph. 

 

Melanie Lange has disappeared.

Her father, Sir Peter Lange, says she is a danger to herself and has been admitted to a private mental health clinic.

Her ex-husband, Finn, and best friend, Nell, say she has been kidnapped.

The media will say whichever gets them the most views.

But whose side are you on?

#SaveMelanie

#HelpPeter

The Ugly Truth is a shocking and addictive thriller about celebrity culture, coercive control and the truth behind the headlines.

The Ugly Truth is available here.

Three Romance Novels To Read Now

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Secretly Yours by Tess Bailey.

This is the first Tess Bailey book I have read and, damn, now I believe the hype. It’s fun, deep, rom-com steaminess. Secretly Yours is a fun book with so many layers and excitement that I raced through it. Brilliant.  

From #1 New York Times bestselling author and TikTok favorite Tessa Bailey comes a steamy new rom-com about a starchy professor and the bubbly neighbor he clashes with at every turn…

Hallie Welch fell hard for Julian Vos at fourteen, after they almost kissed in the dark vineyards of his family’s winery. Now the prodigal hottie has returned to their small Napa town. When Hallie is hired to revamp the gardens on the Vos estate, she wonders if she’ll finally get that smooch. But the grumpy professor isn’t the teenager she remembers and their polar opposite personalities clash spectacularly. One wine-fueled girls’ night later, Hallie can’t shake the sense that she did something reckless—and then she remembers the drunken secret admirer letter she left for Julian. Oh shit.

On sabbatical from his ivy league job, Julian plans to write a novel. But having Hallie gardening right outside his window is the ultimate distraction. She’s eccentric, chronically late, often literally covered in dirt—and so unbelievably beautiful, he can’t focus on anything else. Until he finds an anonymous letter sent by a woman from his past. Even as Julian wonders about this admirer, he’s sucked further into Hallie’s orbit. Like the flowers she plants all over town, Hallie is a burst of color in Julian’s grey-scale life. For a man who irons his socks and runs on tight schedules, her sunny chaotic energy makes zero sense. But there’s something so familiar about her… and her very presence is turning his world upside down.

Secretly Yours is available here.

The Ex Next Door by Jo Platt.

If you want to immerse yourself in a pacy romance with characters you love, and others you can hate, then grab a copy of The Ex Next Door. A smart idea well executed. 

Thank you, n(ex)t.

After burst pipes destroy Esme’s city-centre flat, she temporarily relocates to a delightful and small cottage in a village on the edge of town. The change is a big one, but Esme soon settles in and, as the art gallery she co-owns with her business partner, David, continues to thrive, life is sweet.

Until Elliot – an ex whom she hasn’t seen or spoken to for years – moves in next door, along with his perfect new girlfriend, Morgan. Suddenly, Esme’s past is right on her doorstep, or at least just over the fence.

When Elliot and Esme decide to keep their former relationship a secret from those around them, their subterfuge sets off a chain of events which not only forces Esme to re-evaluate her past relationship with Elliot, but also puts her friendship with David under the microscope and under pressure.

A laugh-out-loud romance of second chances and near misses, perfect for fans of Mhairi McFarlane and Jenny Colgan.

The Ex Next Door is available here.

The Corner Shop on Foxmore Green by Lilac Mills.

I loved this wholesome and happy novel. It’s a lovely story about community and love. Single mum Rowena lives in a beautiful village  with her daughter Nia. She has hopes and dreams and you root for her. Perfect for lovers of romance. 

Can a new shop change the village’s future – and Rowena’s?

Single mum Rowena is always looking for ways for her and Nia, her four-year-old daughter, to live more sustainably. So when she visits a zero-waste shop in Cardiff, she’s inspired to start one up in her home village of Foxmore, where local businesses and artisan shops are a core part of the community.

For Huw, it’s love at first sight when he bumps into Rowena the day he moves to Foxmore. But a series of misunderstandings keeps the two from getting closer, and now a conflict of interest over Rowena’s shop might put a stop to any fledgling romance…

When a figure from Rowena’s past makes a surprise appearance, both her shop and her relationship with Huw are suddenly under threat. Can Rowena still realise her corner shop dreams and find love?

A gorgeously fun and feel-good cosy romance, perfect for fans of Sue Moorcroft, Holly Martin and Suzanne Snow.

The Corner Shop on Foxmore Green is available here.