The Boy In The Attic

 

The Boy in the Attic by Imogen Matthew- WW2 historical fiction 

Set in two timelines this tells the story of Ilse in Holland during the second world war and of Anna in present day (2001). Ilse has been trying to forage for food ever more getting scarce since the Germans invaded. They have had to resort to eating tulip bulbs as there is little else around. When Ilse gets an invitation to go and help her friend at the sanatorium it is a double blessing. Ilse wanted to train to be a doctor before the war started and going would mean that meagre rations would last her parents longer. On arrival in Amsterdam she soon discovers her friend is hiding rather more than a secret. Anna is trying to find the family of her father who they have just found out about his origins which takes her to Holland, away  from Hugo who she is getting rather tired of.

 I loved this. For me the dual timelines were easy to follow and really gave the story an edge. I empathised with both Ilse and Anna both being in difficult situations not necessarily of their choosing and their own empathy and kindness for others. This is part of a series (The Wartime Holland series) and would happily stand alone ( I had only read the second one). Part of this is based on facts from Imogen’s own family history which brings home exactly how things were. A stunningly evocative, moving story. 5* from me.

 For more reviews please follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

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Book Description:

Anna opened the letter with trembling hands. ‘My darling, if you’re reading this, I haven’t managed to unravel my parents’ secret. But you can. Will you finish the search for me, find out who they were, and who you really are?’

Nazi-occupied Holland, 1944. As soldiers patrol the streets, nursing student Ilse is only just surviving the terrible famine and increasingly violent German occupation. Though exhausted by her demanding work at a hospital far from home, she can’t help but notice Levi, the young man with the dark eyes watching the world silently from the abandoned house next door.

Then, early one morning, she finds him terrified and trembling with cold on the back doorstep. Levi’s Jewish family have been arrested and sent to a concentration camp, their likely fate all too clear. And now he needs her help.

So Ilse makes the most dangerous decision of her life, and takes Levi in. Hiding him away in her tiny attic room, he must remain concealed or risk almost certain death. But as the war worsens, keeping Levi a secret becomes ever more difficult, even as their mutual affection grows. And when a local German soldier becomes obsessed with Ilse, they fear their time – and luck – has run out…

London, present day. When Anna’s father dies, he leaves her a ticket to Amsterdam, a bent silver sixpence on a delicate silver chain, and a note begging her to complete the journey he was never able to. To the town where he was born, to find out once and for all who his parents were, and to discover their wartime fate.

Based on the author’s incredible family history, a totally devastating and ultimately uplifting story about a girl who risked everything, including her life, to save the man she loved. Heart-breaking and timely, this powerful tale will be loved by fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Nightingale and Fiona Valpy.

Author Bio:

Imogen Matthews writes novels based on true stories about the Netherlands during the German occupation in World War 2. Some stories she discovered by chance, others are based on her Dutch mother's own experiences of hardship and survival during the Hunger Winter of 1944-45.

Her first novel, The Hidden Village, is set in the Veluwe woods, a beautiful part of Holland that Imogen has visited frequently over the past 30 years. It was in these woods that she discovered the story of the real hidden village which provided shelter in underground huts for Jews during WW2. Imogen retells the story of the hidden village with characters drawn from real life and from her imagination.

Within weeks of publication in 2017, The Hidden Village became an international bestseller, ranking at the top of a number Amazon's most-read book lists.

Following on from The Hidden Village comes Hidden in the Shadows, which has the pace of a thriller yet is also a love story. It tells the story about two young people who are brutally torn apart and must find a way to be together against all odds.

Imogen's third WW2 novel, The Girl Across the Wire Fence, is set in Amersfoort, Netherlands, and is based on the unforgettable tale of two young lovers who risked everything to keep hope alive in the very depths of hell - the little known Dutch concentration camp called Kamp Amersfoort.

Imogen's WW2 novels are published by Bookouture, a digital imprint of Hachette.

Learn more about Imogen's story in this video: https://youtu.be/2YO0IWJSjj0

www.imogenmatthewsbooks.com

Facebook: @theHiddenVillagenovel

Twitter: @ImogenMatthews3

Author email sign up: https://www.bookouture.com/imogen-matthews

Buy Link:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0B1F6YHGWsocial

Childhood Sweetheart

 

Childhood Sweetheart by Wendy Clarke -psychological thriller

Moira owns some holiday lodges on the island of Bray (off Scotland) and Ailsa looks after them, who lives with her young son Kyle. Eleven years ago one of Moira’s sons was killed in an accident when he was in a boat on the loch with his brother. When Jonah returns after many years it is a surprise for both of the women. There are secrets and lies on all sides which in turn affect the others. Why is Jonah back and why now?

This is a beautifully described book of a Scottish island, the wildness and  the beauty therein. I found this rather slow to get going but once it did I was intrigued but did guess some of the premise. It's written in two timelines- present day and back when Ailsa, Jonah and Callum were young. I liked Ailsa and Moira and their determination in life whilst thinking of others. An interesting read with stunning “ scenery”. 

For more reviews please follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

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Book Description:

Bang. Bang. Bang. I jump as the knocks on the window crash above the roaring wind outside. Who could it be, at this late hour? I open the curtains and peer outside. ‘Hello?’ But the dark, the rain and the empty lane are all I see.

It’s been eleven years since I last saw Jonah, after his brother died that stormy summer night. And now, without warning, he’s back, living in his old house next door just like old times, on the remote Scottish island that is home. Where I used to imagine we’d stay, together, forever, sharing our lives and our secrets as we always had. But that was before.

Jonah’s not the sweet boy I once knew. His mood is changeable, his behaviour unstable, our brief conversations are forced and awkward. And then the knocks on my window begin. It can only be him, but why, and what does he want? I used to love him. Now I don’t even want to invite him in.

Because after all these years, I see our childhood secrets, the ones we swore never to reveal, in a newly terrifying light. Was his brother’s death truly an accident? Could Jonah’s secrets have been worth killing for? And how safe am I now, on this isolated island, with the man I used to love…?

A totally addictive and twisty psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist. Anyone who loves The Woman in the Window, The Wife Between Us and The Housemaid won’t beable to put Childhood Sweetheart down!

Author Bio:

Wendy Clarke was a teacher until the small primary school where she worked closed down. Now she is a writer of psychological suspense but is also well known for her short stories and serials which regularly appear in national women’s magazines.

Wendy has two children and three step-children and lives with her husband, cat and step-dog in Sussex. When not writing, she is usually indulging in her passion for dancing, singing or watching any programme that involves food!

https://wendyswritingnow.blogspot.com/

https://www.facebook.com/WendyClarkeAuthor/

https://www.instagram.com/wendyclarke99/

https://twitter.com/WendyClarke99

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Wendy Clarke here: https://www.bookouture.com/wendy-clarke

Buy Link: 

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0B2PX933Qsocial

You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you'll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo

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One Hot Summer

 

One Hot Summer by Anita Waller-psychological thriller  

There’s something about Anitas book. Something that cleverly draws you in and steals time. Something magical, entrancing almost. This one is about some arsonists who are throwing petrol bombs at sheds and summerhouses. What they perhaps didn't realise was that in the first one they torched there were two youngsters inside who both lost their lives. DI Laura Henshall and DS Will Peters are doing their very best to try and find out who and why. It soon appears that the gang have either inside information as they are one step ahead or even someone? A note is received saying that there is a threat of a much larger fire with potential huge loss of life unless demands are met. Can the team find out who and why in time?

I loved this and was unable to put it down. I liked Laura and Will who came across very well and a little backstory which adds depth and even a little romance. A cleverly thought out plot and a stunning awesome read. 

For more reviews please follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

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One Hot Summer

A city on fire. A killer who can’t be stopped. Who will be next? When two teenagers are found dead in a fire, DI Laura Henshall and DS Will Peters are called in to investigate. They believe it was a revenge attack gone wrong. But soon fires are cropping up everywhere, and the police suspect they’re dealing with something much bigger . . . something that could bring the city to its knees. With time running out, can the detectives find the arsonists before the city goes up in flames? Purchase Links - https://amzn.to/3QqSkFw

Author Bio –

Anita Waller is the author of many bestselling psychological thrillers and the Kat and Mouse crime series. She lives in Sheffield, which continues to be the setting of many of her thrillers, and was first published by Bloodhound at the age of sixty-nine. Her first book for Boldwood will be published in August 2022. Social Media Links – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anita.m.waller Twitter https://twitter.com/anitamayw Instagram https://www.instagram.com/anitawallerauthor/ Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/AnitaWallerNews Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/anita-waller

The Wife Who Risked Everything

 

The Wife Who Risked Everything by Ellie Midwood WW2

Based on a true story of several women who took a stand to protect their loved ones.

"When the power of love is stronger than any threat"

Margot was an aspiring actress happily married to Jochen until Hitler took over Germany. Jochen is Jewish and has had his German status removed and lost his job as it is illegal to employ jews. Soon Margot suffers, all because she is married to him. She loses her job and becomes a seamstress but is rebuffed daily all because of her married name. Things go from bad to worse but Margot is determined that the nazis won;t get the better of them.

Oh wow! This is a war story with a difference. Of one womans tenacity and determination in the face of terror and adversity, determined to do the best for herself, her husband and anyone being treated so very badly by the regime. I couldn't help but admire Margot and her integrity to do right both by humans and animals (loved Goose!). A truly stunning inspiring read to treasure. 

"Never forget. Never again" 

For more reviews please follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

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Berlin, 1943: “No matter what happens, no matter what they do to me, they will never stop me loving you,” he said, placing a kiss on my tear-stained cheek. Based on a true story, this heartbreaking World War Two page-turner shows that, in the face of evil, love is power, courage is infectious––and the voices of many will not be silenced.

“We’re not moving until you release our men!” Margot shouts, her heart racing. In the snow, the Berlin streets dusted with white, she shifts from foot to foot with the small crowd of wives by the iron gates. She has lived in terror that this moment would come: Nazis have arrested her beloved husband.

Margot, a German seamstress, and Jochen, a Jewish artist, were madly in love. But this became a forbidden act in Hitler’s Germany. The days of Jochen filling their sixth-floor apartment with roses to surprise her vanished. Their friends started crossing the street to avoid them. They lost their jobs. And then they found themselves scrabbling for breadcrumbs on the cold cobbles outside the home that was once their own.

Yet even as their world came crashing down, they had each other. Until now.

Now, Margot risks her life to protest outside Gestapo headquarters. As days pass, hundreds are gathered. They refuse to move, even when enemy planes cross the clouds and bombs fall to the ground. Yet defying the Nazis is a death sentence…

Will this evil war ever end? Will she and Jochen survive? What will it take for Margot to see the love of her life again?

Fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Alice Network and The Lilac Girls will be utterly gripped by this tearjerking and inspirational tale.

Author Bio:

Ellie Midwood is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning historical fiction author, whose works have been translated into 14 languages. She owes her interest in the history of the Second World War to her grandfather, Junior Sergeant in the 2nd Guards Tank Army of the First Belorussian Front, who began telling her about his experiences on the frontline when she was a young girl. Growing up, her interest in history only deepened and transformed from reading about the war to writing about it. After obtaining her BA in Linguistics, Ellie decided to make writing her full-time career and began working on her first full-length historical novel, "The Girl from Berlin." Ellie is continuously enriching her library with new research material and feeds her passion for WWII and Holocaust history by collecting rare memorabilia and documents.

In her free time, Ellie is a health-obsessed yoga enthusiast, neat freak, adventurer, Nazi Germany history expert, polyglot, philosopher, a proud Jew, and a doggie mama. Ellie lives in New York with her fiancé and their two dogs.

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/EllieMidwood?_rdr 

Instagram: @elliemidwood

Website: http://elliemidwood.com/ 

Author sign up below: https://www.bookouture.com/ellie-midwood

Buy Link:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0B2978P5Dsocial

You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you'll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo

Murder before Evensong

 

Murder before Evensong- Reverend Richard Coles- Cozy crime/ Literary Fiction

What a delightful read! I was slightly late to the party on this one and knew the book had good reviews which piqued my interest. It's the first in a series ( the Canon Clements mysteries) and is a read with a smile set in a village around a manor house and of course a church.

Richard writes as if he has been doing this all his life (this is his first novel- there have been non fiction books before this) and has that talent for taking the reader right into the village and almost “ knowing” the parishioners. I'm fairly sure that with artistic licence that there are a few nuggets of truth scattered here and there from Richard's eclectic life. There are larger than life characters and some lighthearted gems of lines- one about what is needed for a nuclear fallout instantly springs to mind- I won’t spoil anything but its one I'll remember with a smile as I will this book. A real gem and treasure of a read, one that would make an excellent christmas (or anytime) present to bring a smile. Loved it.

For more reviews please follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

Purchase link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Waters-Salvation-Canon-Clement-Mystery-ebook/dp/B07W5SNT6M/ref=sr_1_1?crid=24SAW9G7SJZM2&keywords=murder+before+evensong&qid=1660892600&sprefix=muder+before%2Caps%2C78&sr=8-1

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Isaac and the Egg

 Isaac and the Egg by Bobby Palmer-Literary Fiction

Issac has lost his wife and is standing on a bridge about to end it all when he hears a scream to echo his own thoughts. He climbs down and looks around and to his surprise finds a giant egg. For reasons unknown to him he takes it home. He develops a sort of relationship with the egg,  despite it being unable to communicate with him and this is their story. 

This is a totally ridiculous story, bear with me. So ridiculous that it drew me in hook, line and sinker and I loved it.  There's just something about this that drew me in and made me smile.  We have all been in that frame of mind where all we wanted to do was beat the wall and whether we did it physically or metaphorically we get where Isaac is mentally.  It's enchanting,  it's magical,  it's tragic and it's uplifting.  One I highly recommend. All there is to say is “wawooo”. If you know, you know.  

For more reviews please follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

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The Ex Between Us

 The Ex Between Us by Nicola Marsh-psychological thriller  

Joelle and Abigail have been friends since school where they both had a crush on the same boy. They are now adults and Abi has a son by Callan- the boy they both liked. Call is in his son's life, who is now off to college, but there is no relationship with Abi. Jo however has her own agenda and has been keeping in touch with him unknown to Abi. When both women start getting harassing messages and things in their lives disrupted they wonder if it's an old school acquaintance who is back in the area, who is getting revenge- someone who also liked Cal and was rather nasty at the time. Alternate chapters take us back to their school days around the time Abi  got pregnant and present day narrated by each of the main characters. 

This is one of those reads that you begin quite comfortably with and as the pages turn the suspense and tension build. Both Jo and Abi have their nuances, as do we all, and look at life slightly differently to each other. There's that something you can't quite put your finger on which keeps the pages easily turning. A sense of something wrong, something perhaps buried deep. Old secrets perhaps? A cleverly thought out intriguing plot with twists and turns right to the very end. 

For more reviews please follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

                                                        

Buy links: 

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0B4BNPGV9cover

Apple: http://ow.ly/hwAV50JBghg

Kobo: http://ow.ly/O54y50JBg8q

Google: http://ow.ly/lrO750JBgo8

You can always trust your friends. Can’t you? Abi is starting a new chapter of her life. Her son is leaving for college, she has her dream job and she is finally ready to find love again after her relationship with her ex Cal has ended. Jo has been by Abi’s side for years. They’ve navigated all of life’s ups and downs together. Even when Abi betrayed Jo with Cal all those years ago, she forgave her and the three remain close. So when Abi starts dating again, Jo and Cal begin to spend more time together. But soon Jo receives threatening messages telling her to stay away from him. And when Abi comes to her terrified, clutching a note that says “I want your life,” it becomes clear that someone wants to cause the friends harm. Because in Jo and Abi’s close-knit circle someone has been living a lie for years and it’s about to come to light. But when it does, who will make it out alive? An utterly addictive psychological thriller which is packed with twist after twist from the USA Today bestselling author of My Sister’s Husband. Perfect for fans of K.L. Slater, The Wife Between Us and Gone Girl.

Author Bio USA TODAY bestselling & multi-award winning author Nicola Marsh writes page-turning fiction to keep you up all night. She has published 80 books, sold over 8 million copies worldwide and been translated into 25 languages. She currently writes contemporary romance and domestic suspense. You can find some of her series romance under the pseudonym Nikki North. A physiotherapist for 13 years, she now adores writing full time, raising her two dashing young heroes, sharing fine food with family and friends, barracking loudly for her beloved North Melbourne Kangaroos footy team, and her favourite, curling up with a good book! Social Media Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NicolaMarshAuthor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolamarshauthor Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/NicolaMarsh Bookouture Email Sign Up: https://www.bookouture.com/nicola-marsh Website: http://www.nicolamarsh.com

The Little Shop of Hidden Treasures

 

The Little Shop of Hidden Treasures- Holly Hepburn- contemporary fiction

I won this book and am so glad I did. It was four separate books put into one and it really is a treasure of a read. Hope has moved back to York after losing her husband to cancer. She's looking for work but not quite sure what when she sees an ad in a shop window- a window she loved as a child. When a mystery is partly unravelled Hope is keen to investigate however this takes her on a journey both mentally and physically. One of learning about herself and others. A little romance, a little humour and plenty of smiles abound in this wonderful feel good read. If you need to think about the good in others when the world is a little off axis then this could be the perfect tonic as it was for me. A wonderful holiday read.

The Highland Hens

 

The Highland Hens by Judy Leigh Women’s fiction-

Mimi is a star, well at least she was, or she thought she was and sadly spends her time reliving her youth, dressing up and singing. The dancing isn't so great when you are in your late eighties. Her three sons Angus, Hamish and Fin despair but are glad that their mother is at least enjoying life- or is she? Young Jess (at late fifties :) ) has bought a cottage that her brother is doing up for her. Only one job finds another and another and it's going to be months before she can move in. She was taking a few days holiday before moving in when the work was only going to take a few days. Now she might just stay a while longer as there's clearly no rush to get back. When Jess and Mimi cross paths a friendship forms quite unlike any other each has known.

This is a treasure of a read. I smiled and I cried. Judy has that special talent to bring characters to life and leave the reader with that feel good factor and one of one life, live it. Wonderful characters- Mimi is one in a million and I couldn't help but love Jess and Angus. A feel good read for anyone needing that little lift in life and that there is good in most people. A wonderful read and one I will remember with a smile.

For more reviews please follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

IThe Highland Hens

In the imposing Glen Carrick House overlooking Scotland’s famous Loch Ness, lives eighty-eight-year-old Mimi McKinlay, cared for by her three adult sons. Hamish has inherited his mother’s musical talents, Fin is the responsible brother, and Angus has the complicated and brooding personality to match his dashing good looks. 

But what all the brothers share is a concern that their beloved mother is living in her memories of her days on stage, while letting her present days pass her by.

Jess Oliver is at a turning point. Amicably divorced after years of being married, this trip to the Highlands is a first taste of independence. It isn’t long before the beauty and hospitality of Scotland captures her heart.

When Mimi and Jess’s paths cross, a friendship is formed that will change both women’s lives.  And as together they find ways to look forward instead of to the past, long forgotten dreams are within reach, and every new day is fresh with possibilities. 

Take a trip to the Highlands with Judy Leigh for an unforgettable story of glorious pasts and fabulous futures, of love, friendship, family and fun. The perfect feel-good novel for all fans of Dawn French, Dee Macdonald and Cathy Hopkins.

Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/3xk9wnd

Author Bio – 

Judy Leigh is the USA Today bestselling author of The Old Girls’ Network and Five French Hens and the doyenne of the ‘it’s never too late’ genre of women’s fiction. She has lived all over the UK from Liverpool to Cornwall, but currently resides in Somerset.

Social Media Links 

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