Tag Archives: Frances Colville

How to Find Love in a Bookshop by Veronica Henry Review by Frances Colville

Posted on by

How to Find Love in a Bookshop by Veronica HenryVeronica Henry’s new novel How to Find Love in a Bookshop is a feel-good, happy-ever-after story, perfect for reading if you’re in need of a bit of escapism or light relief.   It’s a quick, undemanding and engaging read and thoroughly enjoyable.

 

The central character Emilia Nightingale inherits a book shop in the idyllic Cotswold town of Peasebrook and initially struggles both emotionally and financially with the idea of keeping it going.  But the local community rallies round, there are plenty of lovely characters ready to pitch in and help out and of course lots of budding relationships and love stories.  All centred on a wonderfully atmospheric bookshop and interwoven with lists of book titles relevant to the content of the chapters.  Having worked in a small independent bookstore myself, I was hooked the moment I read the title – and I wasn’t disappointed.

 

But I would like to know more about what happened to everyone. Is there going to be a sequel?  I hope so.

 

How to Find Love in a Bookshop by Veronica Henry is published by Orion Books and available in hardback priced £12.99 from 16th June 2016.  Also available in ebook and audio.

 

 

Ascension by Jeannie van Rompaey Reviewed by Frances Colville

Posted on by

Ascension by Jeannie van Rompaey Reviewed by Frances ColvillePlanet Earth is depleted and rendered unlivable by its inhabitants. New satellite stations are built to house those with the money or good connections to get themselves there and the rest of the (now mutant) population of ‘humanoids’ is condemned to a restricted and closely monitored life in compounds built on Earth and surrounded by ‘the wilderness’. Can this be a happy-ever-after situation? What happens when the status quo is questioned and challenged? Jeannie Van Rompaey in her new book Ascension, the first in the Oasis trilogy, follows the lives of both mutant and ‘complete’ humanoids and explores what happens when they begin to connect.

Not the most original storyline perhaps and not at first glance a book which appealed to me – not being an avid fan of sci-fi. But it turned out to be worth persevering. Ascension has its roots firmly set in 21st century environmental concerns and failed political systems, and it asks questions about what we are doing to our planet, what the consequences are likely to be, and how people will cope if/when we do end up destroying Earth as we know it. I found it intriguing and more than a little worrying.

A few niggles. I was annoyed by the use of words such as bunku instead of bunk, compu instead of computer, even humanoid instead of human. What was the point, I wondered. Then there are too many things which seem implausible and which therefore need further explanation. The lack of originality continued to be an issue throughout the book. Even as an infrequent reader of science fiction and dystopias I felt that this had all been done before. And yet Ascension has something very compelling about it – and perhaps that is at least in part the knowledge that this type of scenario could indeed happen. And probably will if we don’t pay more attention to the lives we lead.

By the end of the book we are left with many unanswered questions. But that of course is the way it always is with a first book in a planned trilogy. And I can honestly (and rather to my own surprise) say that I am looking forward to books 2 and 3. Who knew??

The Oasis Series:Ascension is published by Clink Street Publishing and available in paperback (£8.99) and as an e-book.

Under Italian Skies By Nicky Pellegrino Reviewed By Frances Colville

Posted on by

Under Italian Skies By Nicky Pellegrino Reviewed By Frances Colville

Frost writer Jan Speedie reviewed Under Italian Skies, now Frances Colville giver her opinion.

Stella, in her 40s, divorced, no children, loses a friend and a job she loved, and decides to embark on an adult gap year beginning with a house swap from her London flat to a beautiful old villa in southern Italy.   As she settles into her new life, makes new friends, explores new ideas and falls in love with Italy, she maintains an email exchange with the owner of the Italian villa, builds an idea in her mind of what he is like and wonders if she will ever meet him in person.  And of course if she does, will the reality live up to the image she has created of him in her head?

 

That Nicky Pellegrino knows Italy well and is passionate about the country and the people who live there is obvious on every page of this book.  The story flows, the characters are easy to identify with and the descriptions of lifestyle and food just make the reader want to be there, living the dream.  The sort of book that you can read purely for pleasure, Under Italian Skies is perfect for taking on a summer holiday – or for that matter enjoying with a glass of wine and a box of chocolates on a cold winter’s evening.  Either way you won’t be able to help feeling warm and happy

 

Under Italian Skies is published by Orion Books and is now available in paperback £12.99 and as an Ebook at £6.99

 

 

The Daughter’s Secret by Eva Holland Reviewed by Frances Colville

Posted on by

The Daughter's Secret by Eva Holland Reviewed by Frances ColvilleSurely a scenario which all mothers dread, the abduction of a child is the focus of this first novel by Eva Holland which won the 2014 Good Housekeeping novel competition.  It’s an intriguing and emotional read, telling the story of Rosalind as she struggles to cope with the imminent release from prison of her teenage daughter’s abductor.  Flashbacks to the time of the abduction six years earlier are skillfully interwoven with her current life and the reader soon becomes aware that both situations are far more complicated than they initially seem.  Eva Holland is spot on with her characterisation and successfully maintains tension throughout.  There are one or two annoyances (is so much snow realistic in Milton Keynes in late November/early December and in any case is it really necessary for the plot to work?) but they do not detract from the fact that this is a good story worth the read.

 

The Daughter’s Secret by Eva Holland is published in paperback and as an eBook.

 

 

The Mother by Yvvette Edwards Reviewed by Frances Colville

Posted on by

The Mother by Yvvette Edwards Reviewed by Frances ColvilleThe Mother is Yvvette Edwards’ second novel.  Her first, A Cupboard Full of Coats, was longlisted for the Man Booker prize and shortlisted for the Commonwealth Book Prize.  So I began reading The Mother with high expectations, and I wasn’t disappointed.

 

The story opens on the first day of the trial of Ryan’s alleged killer and is told through the eyes of Marcia, mother of Ryan who, aged 16, was stabbed to death.  How would you feel if you had failed to keep your beloved and only child safe?  How could you ever come to terms with the knowledge that you would never see him again, and that he had missed out on a full, long and happy life?  And how do you deal with the guilt?  In fact, as Marcia says – “as a parent of a child who has been violently killed, is it possible, ever, to completely absolve yourself of blame?”

 

Yvvette Edwards writes so compellingly and so fluently that it’s hard to put this book down.  And it’s the sort of book which will stick in your mind long after you have finished it, especially if you are a parent.

 

The Mother is published by Mantle in hardback and eBook

 

 

The Last Thing I Remember by Deborah Bee Reviewed by Frances Colville

Posted on by

The Last Thing I Remember by Deborah Bee Reviewed by Frances Colville

One of the launch titles for Twenty7 books, an imprint of Bonnier Publishing Fiction, The Last Thing I Remember by Deborah Bee is a gripping read.  Sarah is in an induced coma after a mugging, unable to move, see or communicate or to remember anything about herself and her past life.   She is, however, able to listen in to conversations going on around her.  Can she make sense of what has happened to her, remember who she is and alert the medical team to the fact that she is not brain dead?  Kelly is a stroppy yet sensitive and intelligent teenager who spends a great deal of time at Sarah’s bedside. What part does she play in all this and can she help Sarah recover?  And who is the man who appears at Sarah’s bedside when no-one else is around and whom no-one knows?

 

Deborah Bee keeps the tension high and the reader guessing until the very last page.  I couldn’t put it down.  If you’re a fan of Gone Girl, or The Girl on the Train or any of Sophie Hannah’s psychological thrillers, this is a book for you.  Just one word of warning, if you object to very frequent (albeit integral to the story) use of the f-word then it might not suit you.

 

The Last Thing I Remember (Twenty7 books) is available as an Ebook from 3 March 2016 and in paperback from 28 July 2016.

 

 

Song of the Skylark by Erica James Reviewed by Frances Colville

Posted on by

Song of the Skylark by Erica James Reviewed by Frances ColvilleSong of the Skylark is Erica James 20th novel and having read all the others I can confidently say that it doesn’t disappoint.  Telling the stories of Clarissa Dallimore  before and during the Second World War and Lizzie Moran in the present day, this is really two books in one, but there are enough links between the two to make the story flow and the plotting work well.

 

Lizzie has a reputation for attracting bad luck and the story begins with her ending a relationship, losing a much loved job and being compelled through lack of money to move back to her parents’ home.  Against her better judgment she begins a temporary job and meets Mrs Dallimore who is also reluctantly having to adjust to a new situation, in her case old age necessitating a move to a care home.  A friendship develops between the two as they learn about each other’s past, and try to adapt to their present situations.

 

Both main characters are well-drawn and easy to identify with, as are the other more minor characters in the book.  And Erica James has a delightfully fluent style of writing which draws you in and means that you don’t want to stop reading.  If a good story and the feel-good factor is what you are looking for, I recommend this wholeheartedly and the same goes for all Erica James’ other books.

 

Song of the Skylark: Orion Books – available in hardback from 17 March 2016, with paperback and ebook editions to follow.

 

 

Lover by Anna Raverat. A review by Frances Colville

Posted on by

Lover by Anna Raverat. A review by Frances Colville book review books good reads

What happens when the relationship you thought was solid, even if not earth-shattering, comes to an unexpected end, leaving you with two young children to care for (and explain things to)  at the same time as the job you loved starts to become complicated and untenable?  In her new novel, Lover, Anna Raverat tells the story of Kate and how she copes with just that situation.  T

he book begins with a Charlie  M Schulz quote: Sometimes I lie awake at night, and ask, ‘Where have I gone wrong?’ Then a voice says to me, ‘This is going to take more than one night.’ which sets the scene and tone nicely.

Kate is a well-drawn character with whom it’s not hard to sympathise and her story is told with sensitivity and intuitiveness.  And while it’s not a wholly original plot,  there is enough individuality here to make this novel a good read.

Lover by Anna Raverat  is published by Picador and available in hardback and as an ebook from 10 March 2016