Tag Archives: Jane Cable

CARIADS’ CHOICE: EXTRA WINTER READS

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Angela Petch’s Mavis and Dot, reviewed by Jessie Cahalin

Embark on a series of adventures with Mavis and Dot but prepare yourself for a roller coaster of emotions. Humour and adorable, eccentric characters present a commentary on modern Britain.  Reading Angela Petch’s ‘Mavis and Dot’ is like delving into a large slice of Tiramisu: the pick me up dessert with a bitter sweet balance of perfection.

Like a quintessential seaside town, Mavis and Dot have Britishness stamped through their charming identities.  Though they are as different as builders’ tea and Lapsang Souchong, they are both women of a certain age from the same generation.    Beneath the façade of flamboyant Mavis and straight-laced Dot, there are secrets and loneliness.  Loneliness is a cruel companion who can be banished with the warmth of a cuppa and chat.  Peel away the faded glory of Mavis and Dot to reveal their secrets and warm hearts. I guarantee this story will warm your heart.

 

Callie Hill’s The Story Collector, reviewed by Helga Jensen

The Story Collector is a delightful compilation of short stories. The book starts with the wonderful character of Colin, a writer who you can’t help but love. The book grabbed my attention from the first chapter when someone was rather mean to Colin, and it said that ‘He would get revenge through other means. People really shouldn’t mess with a writer….’ What follows are the intertwined lives of compelling characters that bring on a whole host of emotions. Although this is a collection of short stories, each story is intertwined. There are references to some of the best works of literature, and there is even a rather wonderful magical mole. For this reason, I do think that this could be considered a fairy tale for adults! What is certain is that The Story Collector will take you on a magical journey. Callie Hill is exceptionally talented and a writer to watch in the future.

 

David Dodge’s To Catch a Thief and Jean Buchanan’s Mr Dodge, Mr Hitchcock, and the French Riviera, reviewed by Evonne Wareham

A double review here – the book that was the source for the Oscar winning film starring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly – Hitchcock’s glamorous confection of sunshine, jewel thievery and stolen gems – and the story of how the author David Dodge came to write it. An American thriller and travel writer, staying with his family on the French Riviera, Dodge was briefly suspected of being a cat burglar who had stolen a fortune in jewels from a neighboring villa. The plot of the book of It Takes a Thief concentrates on the efforts of John Robie, retired jewel thief, to stay out of prison when an imitator revives the interest of the police in the infamous ‘Le Chat’. Jean Buchanan’s book recounts the way Dodge made use of his brush with the law to produce the story that was immediately snapped up by Alfred Hitchcock.

 

Anita Frank’s The Return, reviewed by Jane Cable

Set immediately before and after the second world war, The Return tells the stories of Jack, Gwen and the people around them on the Berkshire farm where Gwen has grown up and Jack appears one day out of the blue. It is clear from the beginning of the book that he’s on the run for a reason, although he soon finds plenty of other reasons to stay.

I have to admit I almost gave up at the first hurdle – the lengthy descriptions of farming life in the 1930s slowed the narrative too much for me, and doubtless I missed out on some faultless prose by skipping them, but I am glad I persevered with the story. The characterisation is nothing short of brilliant, the atmosphere claustrophobic, the plot taut and once I was finally hooked there was no way I could put this novel down.

 

 

 

 

CARIADS’ CHOICE: OCTOBER BOOK REVIEWS

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Freya Kennedy’s In Pursuit of Happiness,  reviewed by Carol Thomas

This standalone novel shares the Ivy Lane setting introduced in The Hopes and Dreams of Libby Quinn. The community spirit continues, and there is the bonus of a catch up with previous characters. It took me a little time to get into the book and to warm to the heroine, Jo, but I’m glad I gave her a chance as she blossomed as her journey progressed. I enjoyed the Irish setting, and I loved Lorcan. Jo is a writer, and some of her success seemed easily won, but then this is a happy, feel-good read with a theme of believing in yourself and having the confidence to take risks and follow your dreams. You don’t have to read The Hopes and Dreams of Libby Quinn before this novel, but I recommend you do as it is a fabulous story!

 

Morton S Gray’s The Truth Lies Buried, reviewed by Jane Cable

In Carver Rodgers, Morton Gray has created my kind of hero; a damaged fighter who battles his own demons with increasing conviction. He and his incredible wooden house in the middle of a forest are so beautifully drawn I could actually see and feel how it was to be there and it is no surprise that lonely and grieving Jenny falls for this potentially difficult man.

But this isn’t just a love story, there is a mystery to solve too, one that goes back to a long-forgotten link in Carver and Jenny’s pasts, and it had me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what happened.

 

M L Rio’s If We Were Villains, reviewed by Evonne Wareham

If you’re a fan of Donna Tart’s The Secret History and/or Shakespeare you might like to try this one. If it grabs you, it’s a compelling read. In the hothouse atmosphere of a select American college for the arts, seven elite theatre studies students immerse themselves in performing Shakespeare (lots and lots of Shakespeare, heavily quoted). The close knit group share and exchange a heady, swirling mix of friendship, love, hate, rivalry, lust, passion, violence, excess, and eventually murder. The story sweeps the reader along in an intense and sometimes ambiguous journey of mystery and questions. Oliver Marks, newly released from prison after serving ten years for murder, reveals to the detective who arrested him what really happened that night down by the lake and in the weeks that followed. Who was the victim, who the villain – and where did blame for the tragic events really fall?

 

Jenni Keer’s The Secrets of Hawthorn Place, reviewed by Kitty Wilson

 I loved this book. It’s a dual-narrative with both the Victorian and contemporary elements captivating me and thoroughly pulling me in. The characters were really well-drawn and as a reader, I quickly fell in love with them all, screeching when Molly was spending time with Harrison and willing her to get back Acacia House. The use of two Art and Crafts houses on the Dorset and Norfolk coasts as the setting also really appealed – I adore William Morris – and I found Molly’s method of travelling between the two, quirky and endearing. Who wouldn’t love to make such a marvellous discovery? The book was fast-paced, indeed it had me racing to get back to it, and I loved watching all the characters grow. The author writes both strands of romance in an insightful way, indeed she covers a range of human experience with a deft but empathetic touch, and I felt true satisfaction as we reached the resolution and saw how Percy’s life had panned out and the decisions that Molly and Rory make. This novel has it all, romance, history, mystery and magic, all told in a light-hearted style that makes this a beautiful easy and satisfying read.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JANE CABLE REVIEWS TWO VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS READS

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Christmas with the Surplus Girls – Polly Heron (published 7th October)

I make no secret of the fact I love Polly Heron’s books, so the moment the review copy of this one was available I requested it and dived straight in. For a start, I think the premise of this series is brilliant; the stories of the women who had expected to marry, only for the First World War to kill so many men. Their battle to make something of their lives as single women in the 1920s is seldom told and quite frankly it should be.

A saga series needs central characters and in the Surplus Girls these take the form of unmarried sisters, Prudence and Patience Hesketh, who run a business school from their home to train women in the skills they need. In this, the third book, our understanding of their position deepens and their stories move on too, for one of them at least in a quite unexpected way.

Christmas with the Surplus Girls is a wonderful blend of the comfortingly familiar (characters from previous books making appearances, the orphanage as the heart-warming seasonal setting, and, of course, the love story) with quite a few twists and turns. There are moments when nothing is quite as it seems, as well as breath-takingly written passages of true drama, but to say more would spoil it for the reader.

For the saga fan, this is the perfect Christmas read. As ever with Polly Heron’s writing there is no mawkish sentimentality, there is genuine emotion, elegantly portrayed. And even better, if you haven’t read the other Surplus Girls books there is still time to catch up with them before it’s time to pour yourself a glass of festive cheer and settle down with this beauty.

 

Underneath the Christmas Tree – Heidi Swain (published 28th October)

While Polly Heron puts Christmas at the climax of her book, Heidi Swain’s has Christmas stamped through it like a stick of seasonal rock. Heidi is the absolute mistress of the contemporary Christmas romantic read and I think Underneath the Christmas Tree is her best yet.

Absolute genius to set the book at a Christmas tree farm, where there is every reason for the festive feeling to start in November. Nothing about the seasonality in this book is forced; it is there as a delightful backdrop to a cast of characters so brilliantly drawn you would want to meet them at any time of year.

At the heart of the book is the love story between Liza and Ned; you know it will be fraught with difficulties but you also know a happy ending could very well be written in the stars, because that is what the romance genre does. It is just that this particular book does it so very well and it was pretty hard to see how everyone’s happy ever after could possibly work out. The world Heidi Swain creates is as rich and warm and comforting as a mug of hot chocolate with a whole ton of marshmallows and cream, but never ever as sickly, and of course its entirely calorie free.

I was delighted to receive a review copy of this book but now I have a major problem. What on earth am I going to start reading when December arrives to get me properly into the Christmas mood?

 

 

 

 

SIMONSTONE HALL HOTEL: A LITTLE PIECE OF HEAVEN IN THE YORKSHIRE DALES

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Jane Cable reviews a rather special country house hotel

Sometimes when you’re travelling, quite unexpectedly you come across a real gem of a place that you know you’ll go back to time and again. And that’s what happened when we spent a few nights at Simonstone Hall Hotel near Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales.

Arriving late on a wet afternoon, I have to say the building looked a bit grim from the outside; very grey and mullioned, but the welcome inside was as warm as could be, and our ‘estate room’, while not large, was extremely cosy. The bathroom was state of the art (so much so it had one of those extremely trendy rainfall showers that deluged half the floor), the bed comfortable, and there was proper coffee for the cafetiere. And that view… did I mention the view?

Simonstone still has the feel of a proper country house and we walked past a number of well-furnished living… or should I say drawing… rooms, overlooking the terrace with its rattan furniture and firepit, and perfect for curling up in with a good book or meeting friends for a chat. We walked past them because we’d had a long journey and were heading for the bar, where we received yet another warm welcome and a decent choice of drinks, including some locally brewed draft ale.

We were coming to realise that friendly staff and great customer service are at the heart of everything Simonstone does. You are quickly on first name terms with the people looking after you because they introduce themselves that way, and while everything happens as it should and when it should, there is still a very relaxed feel about the place, something you don’t always associate with a country house hotel. It was clear most of the guests were not on their first visit, and that in itself is always a recommendation.

The food was very good too. There were five or six dishes to choose from for each course and my gluten intolerance was catered for without fuss – there were even delicious warm bread rolls and quality gluten free crackers to accompany the cheese. Unlike a Michelin starred establishment we stayed in later in the week that thought it was OK to serve supermarket sliced GF bread. But I digress… at Simonstone the style falls just on the cheffy side of hearty, and my beetroot and goat cheese starter was absolutely exquisite. Mains were robust and delicious, in particular the Wensleydale beef and Texel lamb. There were some interesting wines on the list too, with bottle prices starting at £22 so no-one was going to feel ripped off.

On our one full day at Simonstone we left the car where it was and walked. There are some wonderful footpaths to follow with steep climbs (optional) and dramatic views (everywhere) so we tramped until we were desperate to take our boots off. Returning to our room mid-afternoon, the only small fly in our ointment was that we’d run out of the excellent coffee. It seemed no sooner than we’d thought it than there was a knock on the door. It was a young lady with a basket over her arm, filled with goodies. We’d run out of coffee? Take two… and some more mineral water. Did we need anything else? Biscuits? Tea?

It kind of summed up Simonstone. The warm generosity of the place, the nothing too much trouble attitude. We’ll certainly be going back.

 

Simonstone Hall Hotel is currently offering autumn and winter breaks and fabulous Christmas and New Year packages. Check them out at https://simonstonehall.com

 

 

 

 

 

CARIADS’ CHOICE: SEPTEMBER BOOK REVIEWS

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Eva Glyn’s The Olive Grove, reviewed by Kitty Wilson

The Olive Grove is also the story of Antonia, a middle-aged woman who has left an unhealthy love affair and whose daughter is of an age where she needs to become more independent. With no job, no relationship and the understanding she needs to make space for her daughter to grow, Antonia finds herself working for Damir and together the two of them help each other heal, forge a future and learn to believe in themselves.

Eva Glyn writes with empathy and compassion about Damir and her exploration of the conflict in Croatia reminds us powerfully of the atrocities of a war that was so close to home and the long-term effects war has on a community, generations after the fighting has stopped.

It is a beautiful story and Eva Glyn’s powerful prose creates the most magical setting. As I read, I was transported to another country and loved how all of my senses were stimulated by the evocative descriptive writing. A fabulous book that I am more than happy to recommend.

 

Tania Crosse’s Nobody’s Girl, reviewed by Jane Cable

I do love a saga and Tania Crosse had been recommended by so many people, when I wanted a reliable book to read I chose one of hers. I wasn’t disappointed. Nobody’s Girl charts the stories of two women in 1930s Kent, one a teenage farmer’s daughter and the other the childless wife of a well-to-do businessman. They meet in tragic circumstances and a rich and fascinating story unfolds.

Despite being true to its time the main characters are not stereotypical, and that and a strong supporting cast brings this novel alive. The surprises are not so much in what happens, but in how the characters react and grow, and I would highly recommend this book. I was also very pleased to discover there is a sequel, A Place to Call Home.

 

Freya Kennedy’s The Hopes and Dreams of Libby Quinn, reviewed by Carol Thomas

 There’s lots to like about this lovely story. It was an uplifting, enjoyable read. The depth of Libby’s feelings for her grandad Ernie is evident in the affection with which she recalls her memories of him and her desire to realise his dreams. The characters were all likeable, and the community setting of Ivy Lane made it a cuddle of a book. The male lead, Noah, is portrayed well, and I could feel the growing affection between him and Libby. I frequently smiled as I read and even shed a tear. Overall, it’s a great read.

 

Sarah Edghill’s A Thousand Tiny Disappointments, review by Jan Baynham

A poignant and emotional read!

A Thousand Tiny Disappointments takes you on an emotional roller coaster of a journey dealing with grief, loss and a building of self-esteem. The title intrigued me and as I read further into the story, it became clear how apt it was. It’s a hard read at times; you feel for the main character, Martha, as she becomes physically and mentally exhausted by the demands put upon her. The relationship with her son, Joe, is beautifully described. The author creates authentic, multi-layered characters. The role of women as portrayed in both the characters of Martha and Alice as well as Martha’s dilemma to do the right thing are two of a number of themes explored in the novel, resulting in a thought-provoking read. I particularly liked the uplifting ending that made this a satisfying and enjoyable novel. Highly recommended.

 

 

 

 

CARIADS’ CHOICE: AUGUST BOOK REVIEWS

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Eva Glyn’s The Missing Pieces of Us, reviewed by Jan Baynham

I enjoyed ‘The Missing Pieces of Us’ immensely. Eva Glyn takes us on an emotional journey with the two main characters, Izzie and Robin. I liked the way the themes of love, grief, loss, and memory are explored from each of their POVs. The story slowly reveals how things that happened twenty years before have impacted on the two characters and made them the people they are today. The character of Claire is also developed well so that she plays a pivotal role in the journey. Central to the story is the fairy tree where people can come to make wishes and leave gifts. For me, that added element of folk-lore and magic makes the novel a little bit different.

 

Sandy Barker’s The Dating Game, reviewed by Kitty Wilson

I loved this perfect, feelgood summer read. The Dating Game is a gorgeous slow-burn romance with whip-smart humour threaded through every page.

Abby has been coerced into taking part on a dating show in Sydney to help inform her as she writes snarky reviews of each episode as her hilarious alter-ego, Anastasia. Whilst there, her relationship builds with the handsome producer, Jack, and I was rooting for them to get together all the way through.

This book isn’t a simple romance though, it is also a book that testifies to the strength of female friendship even when these women are pitted against each other.

Sandy Baker writes with such wit and warmth that it’s impossible not to get totally invested in this story and I frequently laughed out loud as we followed Abby and the other Does from one hideous Stag date to another. Wonderful, feelgood romcom escapism and highly recommended.

 

Philip Gwynne Jones’ The Venetian Game, reviewed by Evonne Wareham

If the lure of “Venice” in the title and the sumptuous cover tempt you into this book – you won’t be disappointed. Philip Gwynne Jones is Welsh, but now lives in Venice and it shows. This is the first in a series – now up to five – featuring Honorary British Consul Nathan Sutherland who has a talent for getting involved in unusual crimes that are rooted in the life of the city and which offer a real opportunity for some authentic armchair travel. Other than his consular work Nathan lives a more or less blameless life translating lawn mower manuals, frequenting the local bar and pandering to his ungrateful cat Gramsci. In this first in the series his consular role sees him reluctantly taking charge of a mysterious package which leads him into a tangled trail of forgery, theft and violence – an art scandal embedded in a deadly and longstanding feud between a pair of brothers.

 

Deborah Carr’s An Island at War, reviewed by Jane Cable

The fact Deborah Carr was born and bred in Jersey shines through in this novel, which is impeccably researched, apparently with the aid of family records.

The story is one of the German occupation and starts just a few days before the troops arrived and ends as they leave. I loved the fact that the passage of time and the events in the characters’ lives seemed so natural and it allowed Estelle’s story to unfold at just the right pace. The characters are wonderful too, and I came to really care about what happened to them, particularly enjoying the sensitive portrayal of how war can change everything, even the things we think are written in stone, about ourselves and about other people.

The one thing I was unsure about was the ending, but all the same I applaud the author for it. To say anything more would spoil the book and I wouldn’t want to do that, because it’s one you should read for yourself.

 

 

 

CARIADS’ CHOICE: BANK HOLIDAY REVIEW SPECIAL

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Kitty Wilson’s Every Day in December, reviewed by Jane Cable

I always feel August is a little early to read a Christmas book, but so evocative were the descriptions of sledging on tin trays and making snow angels I actually felt cold!

Christmas, however, is just the backdrop to this heart-warming story and the characters are just wonderful. If I felt for Belle, and wanted to scream at her awful parents in anguish, I seriously fell in love with Rory; he too has heavy baggage to carry but it doesn’t follow him around like a thundercloud and you know from the start he is still capable of love and lightness.

Being Kitty Wilson, this is a funny book and will make you laugh out loud… Chardonnay and her pilot… Belle’s unusual ally when she has to play Christmas fairy… all beautifully crafted moments. But the love story takes centre stage; believable, real and flawed. I absolutely loved it.

 

Natalie Normann’s Summer Island, reviewed by Jessie Cahalin

A gorgeous, joyful novel that made me want to ‘enjoy the silence and the wind – the smell of the {Nordic} island and take a deep breath.’ Perfect.

‘There’s more to life than a broken heart’, declares Ninni. At the end of a relationship with a pilot, she escapes to the family holiday home on a Norwegian island. Of her former lover, she mused, ‘if he were here, she would simply push him into the sea.’ And when you get to know Ninni, you really believe this would be possible.

There are sparks between Jack, the Englishman and Ninni, but you need to read to find out more. It was so much fun to experience Jack’s perspective as he learnt the Norwegian way of life on the island and dealt with the close knit, nosy community.

Gentle humour bubbles throughout the novel and it is a perfect escape.

 

Shelley Parker-Chan’s She Who Became The Sun, reviewed by Kitty Wilson

This story was a reimagining of the rise of a young girl from a famine-stricken village in Fourteenth Century China; described as a cross between Mulan and the Song Of Achilles, it certainly lives up to this high praise. It is a truly epic tale, filled with love, loss, and betrayal and I absolutely loved it. We see Zhu rise from almost certain death as she decides to take on the fate ascribed to her brother and escapes her village to a nearby monastery by hiding the gender assigned to her at birth and training to become a monk. The story follows her life as she moves from monk to warrior, using her keen intelligence to rise to prominence. The world building is intricate and beautifully done, the characters are flawed and real and the story itself is utterly absorbing. It manages to combine tender moments with brutal ones and weaves themes of war, love, duty and identity throughout.

 

Anna and Jacqui Burns’ Love at Cafe Lompar, reviewed by Jill Barry

This debut novel written from individual viewpoints, by mother and daughter team Jacqui and Anna, is a total delight. Coming to terms with the death of a husband and father is difficult in itself. But when Dan Lompar’s widow unlocks Pandora’s Box, the lives of family members are changed for ever. Reading the novel’s sparkling descriptions of both scenery and local food delicacies left me feeling I wanted to hop on the next flight to Dubrovnik. But it’s the characters who held me most of all. And the fallout from what must have been an intensely difficult secret to keep for many years. Whether the action takes place in and around Bath or the Bay of Kotor, the emotional impact is huge, especially as Grace and Kat learn more about beautiful, dignified Croatia. They find their attitudes changing as they follow in Dan’s footsteps and embrace the changing patterns of family life.

 

 

 

 

 

WELSH WRITING WEDNESDAYS: JANE CABLE ON HER FATHER POET, MERCER SIMPSON

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As I have written in Frost before, my formative years were spent in and around the vibrant Anglo-Welsh poetry scene. Writers such as Tony Curtis, Dannie Abse and Gillian Clarke were taking over the mantle from the Dylan Thomas generation and my father Mercer Simpson was in the thick of it.

First as an expert on the genre – he wrote the section on it in The Bloomsbury Guide to Literature – and a reviewer. Then as poet himself. Except he wasn’t Welsh by birth – he was English, although in the end he lived in Cardiff for the last 55 years of his life. His first – and last – collections were through Rockingham Press in East Anglia, but I think the one of which he was always most proud was Rain From a Clear Blue Sky which was published by Gomer with the help of Welsh Arts Council funding.

Having a poet as a father gives a unique insight into their lives. This is not to say all poetry is autobiographical – it’s certainly not – but my father was very clear that some of his were and there is a section in Rain From a Clear Blue Sky that deals with childhood memories. All this was easy to accept as my father’s past, but when the present reared its head, it could be harder. Or simply incredibly beautiful, like these lines about a rose bush that stood in my parents’ garden.

Fruhlingsgold
shakes her
curling-papered head,
the wind’s
premature blow-drier
scattering news
of dispersed beauty,
the white petals
leaving the golden heart
on each stem…

But there were certainly times when the insights seemed far too close to home and I still find parts of his last two collections difficult. Not just because I helped him to correct the proofs of the last one when he was in a nursing home, dying. It wasn’t a bad time – apart from the obvious – we became even closer over those galleys – and we were able to discuss what was going to happen surprisingly easily.

Six months before the Welsh Academy had put on an eightieth birthday reception for him in the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay. For him it was the pinnacle of his acceptance as an Anglo-Welsh poet and I will never forget how much it meant to him. I was more than proud to be at his side as we listened to Tony Curtis, Ruth Bidgood and others read from their own work and celebrate my father’s. And he read himself – of course he did – he had been a lecturer, had even taught public speaking, so he was a consummate performer.

There was a humour in his work, even in the most serious of subjects, particularly in Honest to God, a poem he read that night and I read at his funeral. And pathos too. As the child of a poet, there are times you get to look inside your parent’s soul.

Dear God
I hope I’ve got your correct address:
with so much mail going astray these days I wouldn’t want this letter
to get lost in the post.

I hope you don’t mind me leaving the writing of it rather late
but I felt I had to thank you for letting me stay in your house for so long.
I know I haven’t been the easiest of guests,
stealing your son’s bread and helping myself to his wine…

…Now that my time is nearly over
I insist on having the last word which must be gratitude:
gratitude for the miracle of your world that I, who might have died at birth,
was spared to live in…

…So please forgive me if I seem impertinent
in asking if I may come back and visit you again some time?