Now in paperback, The White Russian by Vanora Bennett is a deeply romantic and escapist read. It is well-researched and is a book which gives hours of enjoyment.

From the author of Midnight in St Petersburg, a novel of love, art, music and family secrets set amongst the Russian émigré community of Paris in 1937.

Evie, a rebellious young American leaves New York in search of art and adventure in jazz-age Paris, where her grandmother lives. But on arrival, her grandmother’s sudden death leaves Evie compelled to carry out her dying wish: to find a man from her past called Zhenya.

The quest leads Evie deep into the heart of the Russian émigré community of Paris. With the world on the brink of war, she becomes embroiled in murder plots, conspiracies and illicit love affairs as White faces Red Russian and nothing is as it seems.

With Jean, a liberal Russian writer by her side, Evie finally seems to have found the passion and excitement she’s yearned for. But is she any nearer to discovering the identity of the mysterious Zhenya, or the heartbreak of her grandmother’s past?

Kids Don’t Come With a Manual – The Essential Guide to a Happy Family Life is a brilliant all-round book which is easy to read and is based on hard evidence and the latest research. It offers a fresh perspective and practical tools. It is a brilliant parenting book which is easy to digest. A good, pragmatic and fun read.

Parenting is an important job, yet parents receive little to no training. Since most of our experience is based on our own upbringing, we can feel uncertain as to whether we are doing the right thing. To complicate things further, our partner is likely to have a different parenting style to ours. Drawing on their experience in early childhood education, as Parenting Coaches, and as parents, Carole and Nadim have helped thousands of parents with their programme of practical tools designed to empower parents to:

1. Deal with everyday parenting challenges without confrontation or anger;
2. Help children to become happy, fulfilled and self-reliant adults;
3. Maintain a strong and loving connection with children throughout their lives;
4. Agree on a balanced and more enjoyable approach to parenting

Mist By Mary Fitzgerald is an escapist, interesting and different read. Engaging and enjoyable. This is the second book from Mary Fitzgerald we have reviewed. Recommended.

A girl with no home, a house in need of love… A beautiful romance set in the breathtaking Welsh mountains

Lark has been wandering the country for many years, with no real place to call home. Until she meets Matthew Williams, a Canadian who has inherited a run-down hill farm in North Wales. Young and enthusiastic, Matthew has no knowledge of farming and no experience of living in the countryside.

Entranced by the beauty and wildness of the place, Lark agrees to help, and together they throw themselves into getting the farm back onto its feet.

Until a terrible accident brings Matthew’s father over from Canada, and suddenly none of their lives will be the same.

 Normal By Graeme Cameron is compelling and unforgettable. There are some comparisons with TV serial killer Dexter in this book of a ‘normal’ and likeable serial killer. The book is good and is engaging enough to be read in one sitting. Different and well-written.

“Hypnotic and chilling — you won’t forget this in a hurry.” – Lee Child, Sunday Times #1 bestselling author
He lives on your street, in a nice house with a tidy garden.

He shops at your local supermarket. He drives beside you, waving to let you into the lane ahead of him.

He also has an elaborate cage in a secret basement under his garage.

The food he’s carefully shopping for is to feed a young woman he’s holding there against her will – one in a string of many, unaware of the fate that awaits her.

This is how it’s been for a long time. It’s normal…and it works. Perfectly.

But this time it’s different…

Dark, twisted and compelling, this is the most exciting and original thriller of the year

 What are you reading this month?