Tag Archives: Jessie Cahalin

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.

 

 

 

 

WELSH WRITING WEDNESDAYS: JESSIE CAHALIN AND THE NO SIGN BAR

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Nobody followed me to the No Sign Bar, Swansea – a regular haunt of Dylan Thomas.  Seated next to the window, I searched inside my handbag for Collected Stories by Dylan Thomas. I found The Followers, a ghost story, hidden inside the anthology.

A ping from my phone confirmed a signal, but I ignored the emails. I sat in the bar Thomas renamed the Wine Vaults.  I read the opening lines of the story, but there was no sign of the beer I had just ordered.  Without anything to quench my thirst, there was nothing I could do apart from read on.  Between words, I felt compelled to search for two pairs of eyes outside of the window, but there was no sign of anyone.

Outside the window, ‘the rain spat and drizzled past the street lamps’. No one wore ‘squeaking galoshes, with mackintosh collars up and bowlers and trilbies’. Alas, the ‘rattle of bony trams’ was silenced long ago. Only the swish of car tyres, hum of engines and slamming of car doors filled the silence on the streets.  Gazing at the decaying red window frames, I did not see ‘a young man with his arm around a girl’. Instead, I glimpsed a young couple hand in hand dashing across the road while there was a break in the traffic.  Outside, there was a mass of coloured jackets and everyone wore jeans, leggings or trousers.  No one looked inside the tatty building. They didn’t seem to care that Dylan Thomas once frequented this watering hole.

Reading the short story, I pursued the followers, as they scurried through the alley.  Inside, No Sign Bar, I could smell the old musty wine cellar.  No one was responsible for the spontaneous spark of colour in the open fire. The pitted floorboards had been battered by tired and drunken feet for centuries. Words echoed around cavernous room. Perhaps, these were the words that inspired Dylan Thomas’s story The Followers: his only ghost story.  And I heard the rise and fall of the Welsh accent that probably escaped into the pages of Thomas’s mind, as he imagined the story.   I read the final sentence, ‘And we went our separate ways.’ I departed.

Near to Paradise Alley, I heard a voice echo.  ‘Spare some change, madam?’ The homeless soul was clutching a fleece blanket.  His watery, bloodshot eyes regarded me as he rolled himself a cigarette.  I spared him fifty pence, but this wouldn’t even buy him a beer. He caught the meagre offering with a grateful nod that punched my conscience.

‘Have you seen Leslie?’ mumbled the man. He looked at my handbag as I retrieved more change.I nodded.  ‘Only bread and jam in my handbag,’ I declared.

I ran to the car park. The rain drizzled until diluted my memory of the bar. I heard the distance tapping of footsteps and turned around. Thankfully, there was no sign of anyone following me. Checking Twitter, I did note I had two more followers.

 

No Sign Bar and The Followers

No Sign Bar is believed to be Swansea’s oldest pub and dates to 1690.  The wine cellars date back to the 15th century.  The name ‘No Sign’ originates from legislation of licencing when public bars had to have a recognisable sign.  This building was not public house and did not require a sign, hence was later given the name ‘No Sign’ to announce its presence!

Dylan Thomas frequented No Sign Bar, as a young man. No Sign Bar is featured as the Wine Vaults in Dylan Thomas’s story, The Followers.   Salubrious Passage, next to the bar, is referred to as Paradise Alley in the short story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WELSH WRITING WEDNESDAYS: INTRODUCING AUTHOR AND BLOGGER JESSIE CAHALIN

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The tranquil, ancient setting of the Wye Valley always soothes me and encourages me to let my mind wander and have always felt at home there. I was in Tintern five years ago when I realised the need to connect with my dream to write. Indeed, William Wordsworth adored this spot, and his ballad, Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey, captures the beauty of the setting we can still enjoy over two hundred years later.

These waters, rolling from their mountain-springs
With a soft inland murmur.—Once again
Do I behold these steep and lofty cliffs,
That on a wild secluded scene impress
Thoughts of more deep seclusion; and connect
The landscape with the quiet of the sky.

Tintern breathed life into the fictional setting of Delfryn in my work in progress, Loving You. Delfryn is a Welsh word for pretty view and the perfect place for my characters, Pearl and Jim, to seek sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of the town. Writing about Delfryn has also been a wonderful destination, particularly during lockdown.

Jim is a car mechanic who wants to be an artist and adores to visit his sister’s farm in Delfryn. Pearl is a seamstress who wants to sing. The landscape inspires Jim to paint and is also the romantic setting for him and Pearl. Alas, life in the country will not allow Pearl to fulfil her dream to become a singer.

Pearl and Jim fall in love but both want to follow their dreams. The novel is set in the seventies because I wanted to travel back in time to the decade I was born. Exploring the seventies was not as familiar as I thought it would be and the restrictive nature of society shocked me. During my research, I reflected on how my parents had very different opportunities to me and used this to add colour to my characters. Like Jim, my late father excelled at art but was from a working class, northern family and was expected to earn a living in a trade.

Despite their experiences, my parents always encouraged me to grab opportunities, pursue my dreams and celebrate creativity. I am also so grateful I can pinpoint the time and place where I chose to change the ‘what ifs’ into a destination. Ironically, I recently discovered that my ancestors hailed from Monmouthshire in the Middle Ages, so it feels as if I have gone full circle.

I will publish Loving You, a family saga, one day and discover whether Pearl and Jim will follow their dreams and their hearts. And the beauty of writing is you can provide the characters with opportunities, but they will still decide which paths they wish to take.

 

Contacts: 

Website:     http://jessiecahalin.com/

Facebook   https://www.facebook.com/people/Jessie-Cahalin/;  https://www.facebook.com/JessieCahalinAuthor/

Twitter        @BooksInHandbag

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

CARIADS’ CHOICE: JUNE BOOK REVIEWS, PART TWO

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Lisa Hobman’s Under an Island Skye, reviewed by Morton S Grey

I loved this book and wanted to make my own escape to the Isle of Skye! Tackles some difficult issues – bereavement, depression, divorce, children of divorce but in a way that carries you along wanting the characters to find their happiness. Believable characters especially the hero, Reid and the heroine, Juliette. Evin and Chewie the dog wormed their way into my heart. A lovely escapist read.

 

Carol Cooper’s The Girls from Alexandria, reviewed by Jessie Cahalin

The mystery of Nadia’s missing sister hooked me from the outset. There are many layers in this book. Set in Egypt, London and in a London hospital ward, this novel explores the impact of one’s culture life experiences on our identity. The insight into life in Alexandria intrigued me and I could feel the exotic heat of Cairo. I enjoyed the contrast between the voices of Nadia as a girl and a mature woman. The naïve girl becomes a wise and witty woman, and the impact of her past on the present is explored beautifully. The way Nadia makes sense of a patriarchal and disrupted society is enlightening and relevant: revisiting memories sparks new connections and insight. The novel kept me guessing about Nadia’s sister and Nadia’s illness. There are wonderful gems of wisdom sprinkled throughout this novel. An intelligent novel I know I will reread.

Readers who enjoy Maggie O’Farell’s The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox will love this book.

 

Natasha Lester’s The Paris Secret, reviewed by Jill Barry

Skilfully plotted, beautifully written, and with a cast of fascinating and ‘real’ characters, this dual time novel is a joy to read. Word pictures of Cornwall, the sensation of becoming airborne, the loneliness and horror of the war years against the camaraderie and determination to enjoy being young and alive, all contribute to this magnificent novel with its tiers of separation and reunion, even if the latter is sometimes not entirely welcome. Family secrets and historical facts blend with real life dramas. Devotees of haute couture will drool over the name dropping and the exquisite descriptions of dresses most of us can only dream of acquiring. This is a book you won’t want to put down. This is a love story that will stay with you long after you regretfully reach The End.

 

David Sivers’ In Ink, reviewed by Evonne Wareham

Dave Sivers is an established indie/self published crime author specialising in police procedurals. In Ink is the first in a new series in which a murder team under DI Nathan Quarrel investigates a serial killer in the leafy and affluent communities around Tring. When the body of a middle aged accountant turns up in a churchyard with a macabre facial disfigurement Quarrel’s team have to unravel a scheme for vengeance from a killer who is a meticulous planner and who always seems one jump ahead. Why have the victims been chosen and what is the significance to the killer of tattoos and tarot cards? A twisty plot, a policeman with a haunting act of violence in his own past, a killer with a grisly calling card and a cast of interesting characters – both police and suspects – make this a satisfying read.

 

 

 

CARIADS’ CHOICE: JUNE BOOK REVIEWS, PART ONE

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Audrey Davis’ Lost in Translation, reviewed by Jessie Cahalin

A clever twist on the romantic comedy genre. It was wonderful to meet Charlotte and follow her new life in Switzerland with her husband and children. I adored the way the character found her voice and her identity and slowly changed. This story had me hooked from the outset because I feared the worse and wanted Charlotte to triumph. Perfect escape to Switzerland for me, and I read it very quickly. The writing style is fun and engaging – so entertaining to get inside of Charlotte’s head and hear what she thinks. There are some fantastic moments in this novel. This is an uplifting feel-good book with a satisfying ending. I loved it!

 

Natalie Kleinman’s The Reluctant Bride, reviewed by Jane Cable

In the notes to the reader at this end of the book, Natalie Kleinman mentions Georgette Heyer as an inspiration, and if you love the classic Regency romances by the doyenne of the genre, you are going to enjoy this book too. Widowed after just six weeks of her arranged marriage, Charlotte emerges from mourning with no intention of letting her newfound freedoms go. But she is young, beautiful and spirited, so of course she attracts admirers.

I read this book in a day and so enjoyed being transported to a different world. A world of Almack’s, riding out in Hyde Park, shopping (not to mention taking the horrible waters) in Bath, and picnics under the trees in the park of great country houses. The central characters are beautifully drawn and I enjoyed finding out how many of them achieved their happy ever afters. Recommended!

 

Jessie Cahalin’s You Can’t Go It Alone, reviewed by Judith Barrow

I really liked You Can’t Go It Alone. The characters are well drawn and multi layered and there are so many familiar ‘human life’ threads running throughout all the relationships. All thought provoking.

The dialogue is exceptional; the personalities of the characters were instantly revealed, through both the internal and the spoken speech.

It’s the Olive Tree Café where most of the action occurs and there is a strong sense of the cafe’s ambience. Indeed, all of the settings have a good sense of place and it’s almost as if the Delfryn itself is personified as a character in the story, with the interweaving, individual lives it holds at its centre.

Initially, the story appears to be a light-hearted look at life in a Welsh village, but actually, it’s a story that explores the contrasting mindsets and distinct possibilities between different generations of women.  Jessie Cahalin’s debut novel, You Can’t Go It Alone, is an interesting and thoughtful story.

 

Sue Moorcroft’s Under The Italian Sun, reviewed by Morton S Gray

I think this is one of my favourite Sue Moorcroft books to date. The hero Piero is fanciable just from Sue’s words on the page. Zia has a lot going on with her complex family dynamics and the fact her ex-boyfriend is best buddies with her best friend’s husband. Add into this an interesting and complex plotline spanning across England and Italy and there is plenty to keep you guessing. Can’t wait for the next novel already!

 

 

CARIADS’ CHOICE: MAY BOOK REVIEWS

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Jan Baynham’s Her Mother’s Secret, reviewed by Judith Barrow

Her Mother’s Secret is set against the background of the Greek island of Péfka during different eras; 1969 and 2011. Two time frames linked by the two main characters, Alexandra and her mother, Elin; connected through time, by the diary that Alexandra finds after her mother’s death.

Elin and Alexandra are complex, well-rounded characters; very much of their time. Although never together in any scenes, the love they have for each other is threaded throughout the story. And the author has ensured that the reader becomes engrossed in these characters by intertwining their stories with a cast of believable minor characters.

The portrayals of the settings give an evocative sense of place.

There are many themes: of love, relationships, mystery, crime, secrets and friendships, woven to give a good balance of romance with a believable darker side of life.

Her Mother’s Secret is a novel I recommend to readers who enjoys a story grounded in the Romance genre but reveals itself to be so much more.

 

Angela Petch’s The Tuscan House, reviewed by Jessie Cahalin

A story about the extraordinary lives of ordinary people during World War Two. The colours and culture of Italy are scarred with the horrors of war, and I was transported to war torn Italy by this clever, sensory writer.

Fosca’s resilience and resourcefulness impressed me.  She recounts the bravery of women resistance fighters (partigiani) who took unthinkable risks, but never boasts about her own wonderful courage. Petch creates wonderfully real characters who involve you in their emotional journeys and you witness them change.  Fosca shares the wisdom she had learned throughout.

Tuscan House is also crammed with action sequences and a wonderful secret. This complex world is presented effortlessly and explores love, motherhood, friendship and courage.

Another gripping novel from this writer. This novel is so much more than another story of a Tuscan house and I highly recommend it. I can’t wait to read the next book.

 

Kate Field’s Finding Home, reviewed by Morton Gray

Loved this book and the concept that a chance encounter can lead to a whole new way of life. I related to Mim and her wounded soul. The story made me long to be at the seaside again and to find out more about fossil hunting. The characters are well drawn and the hero, Corin very attractive on the page. I even worried about the dog! I’ve loved all of Kate Field’s books and this was no exception. More please …

 

Suzanne Fortin’s The Forgotten Life of Arthur Pettinger, reviewed by Carol Thomas

When I saw this book’s gorgeous front cover I knew I wanted to read it. From the very start, I was drawn into Arthur Pettinger’s life, a man in his nineties struggling with his memory as dementia is increasingly taking hold.

I adored Arthur, who has led an incredible life, including his SOE role in the war. His granddaughter, Maddy, and great-granddaughter, Esther, were lovely, supportive characters. Their warmth towards Arthur, compassion and understanding was touching.

The dual timeline that runs through the book, revealing snippets of Arthur’s life and love in WWII occupied France, had me turning the pages, as did the present-day search for Maryse (his past love).

The story is one of emotional highs and lows, love and loss. The ending is beautifully written, albeit that it had me sobbing. I loved this emotional, heartfelt read as much as I did Arthur, but I would advise having tissues at the ready.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CARIADS’ CHOICE: BANK HOLIDAY SPECIAL BOOK REVIEWS

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Lizzie Lamb’s Harper’s Highland Fling, reviewed by Jessie Cahalin

Harper expected to travel to Tibet on her holiday adventure, but her niece decided to run away to Scotland with the son of the local car mechanic. Witty, feisty headmistress, Harper, meets her match and is forced to squeeze into biker’s leathers to travel with Rocco to Scotland.

‘At least she hadn’t fallen off the motorbike…or clung to him like a medieval maiden slung across a knight’s errant saddle.’

Forget Nepal, Harper must save Ariel, or does Harper really need to save herself? The novel is packed with expectation, and stereotypes of a headmistress and car mechanic are challenged as we get to know and love the characters – perfect.

Rocco is not about to save the feisty maiden but ‘without meaning to she’d got under his skin and he couldn’t resist winding her up.’ On the other hand, Harper thinks Rocco is ‘an enigma wrapped in a conundrum.’

 

Maggie Mason’s The Halfpenny Girls, reviewed by Susanna Bavin

What I loved about this book, and what made it, for me, a stand-out saga, was the concentration on family life. Sagas often revolve around the work-place, but this pre-war story is firmly rooted in the hardships faced by three close friends because of their family circumstances. Violence, alcoholism, betrayal and dementia are all woven into the tale – alongside love, loyalty and the determination of the three young heroines to do their very best for their nearest and dearest, despite every hardship. There are no easy answers to the problems each family faces – just a wealth of warmth and understanding from an accomplished author. This is a complex story with strong, cleverly interwoven plots; well-drawn, multi-layered characters; and, above all, a powerful sense of the importance of family.

 

Faith Hogan’s The Ladies’ Midnight Swimming Club, reviewed by Morton Gray

Loved this book on so many different levels – the characters and the challenges they face. I didn’t think I would like the book being written from so many different points of view, but it was seamless and added to the story. He doesn’t even feature in the novel, but I wanted to bop Elizabeth’s late husband on the nose, especially towards the end of the book. I was praying for Lucy’s son, Niall to make the right choices, shed tears over Jo and Dan. I want to go and stay in Dan’s rented house on the hill and take part in the Ladies’ Midnight Swimming Club. Great book and I’m off to find the author’s other stories.

 

Helga Jensen’s Twice in a Lifetime, reviewed by Natalie Normann

This book is pure enjoyment from start to finish.

Amelia is the mother of twin boys, recently divorced and mostly a sensible woman. She struggles  with how her life has turned out. When Amelia finds the phone number of a gorgeous man she met in New York years earlier, her best friend Sian starts looking for him. And despite all of Amelia’s attempts to hold back, she soon finds herself in a huge mess. It’s hilarious!

This book got me through tax season, by providing a wonderful distraction and lots of laughs. Amelia is such a lovely person who tries so hard, you can’t help falling in love with her. There are twists that I didn’t see coming, and I loved the surprises. All I wanted was for it not to end! Helga Jensen knows how to tell a good story that stands out in the crowd. It’s right there on my top romcoms list now. That’s a five stars from me!