Bamboo Road Trilogy by Ann Bennett blogtour

I am so pleased to be involved in the blogtour celebrating and promoting the launch of Bamboo Road, which is volume three in a Southeast Asian WWII Trilogy.  The trilogy includes Bamboo Heart, Bamboo Island and Bamboo Road and can be read in any order.

Product Details (as per amazon page)

Bamboo Heart – is available in ebook, paperback and audio download format.

Set in the Far East before and during the Second World War, Bamboo Heart captures the suffering and courage of prisoners of war of the Japanese. It tells the story of Tom Ellis, a prisoner enslaved on the infamous Death Railway in Thailand, and charts the journey of his daughter, Laura, who turns her back on her yuppie existence in eighties London to investigate her father’s wartime experience.

To buy link:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bamboo-Heart-Trilogy-1/dp/9814423734/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=N92RM8EE04KMXMZWCG93

Bamboo Island – is available in ebook and paperback format.

A stranger appears on Juliet s plantation in Malaya, inspiring a journey to Singapore and Indonesia to uncover family secrets hidden since World War Two Juliet Crosby has lived a reclusive life on her Malayan rubber plantation since the Second World War robbed her of everyone she loved. However, the sudden appearance of a young woman from Indonesia disrupts her lonely existence and stirs up unsettling memories. Juliet is forced to recollect her prewar marriage, her wartime ordeals in Japanese-occupied Singapore and the loss of those she once held dear.

To buy link:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Books/Bamboo-Island-Trilogy-Ann-Bennett/9814625175/ref=pd_bxgy_14_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=XYPK5PWQTXVKC1YVBY99

Bamboo Road – is available in ebook and paperback format.

Thailand 1942: Sirinya and her family are members of the Thai underground, who risk their lives to resist the World War Two Japanese occupation and to and help British prisoners of war building the Thai-Burma railway. The events of those years have repercussions for decades to come. The book tells Sirinya s wartime story and how in the 1970s she returns to Kanchanaburi after a long absence abroad, to settle old scores from the war years.

To buy link:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/cka/Bamboo-Road-Trilogy-3-Ann-Bennett/9814625256/ref=pd_bxgy_14_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=GSJ331533N34V58KH76C

MY REVIEW OF BAMBOO HEART

Bamboo Heart is one of the books in the Bamboo Trilogy written by Ann Bennett, publisher Monsoon Books.  The books can be read in any order however, I chose to read Bamboo Heart first and I was soon captivated by this time slip historical fiction novel with the idea of the story coming to Ann Bennett whilst she was researching her father’s history who had been a POW on the Thailand-Burma Railway.

A fascinating, insightful story travelling back to 1938 to a young man starting out in the working world.  His career started out in the legal field and returned back to law many years later but what happened in between these years will stay with this young man forever.  A time during a pivotal moment in history.  A time that was kept hidden to the rest of the world as thousands of men were tortured and even killed in POW camps in Burma.  This was a truly terrifying time that was equally shocking, distressing and so traumatising.

Bamboo Heart’s time slip story journeys from London 1986 with Laura Ellis, a young career girl in the law industry taking time out to trace her father’s history.  We then travel back to 1943 to when Thomas Ellis was captured by the Japanese and held captive in a POW camp and forced to work on The Death Railway.

The author, Ann Bennett, wrote with such passion and honesty.  She left no scene without telling the shocking truth of a young man’s struggle to survive in the most terrifying of ordeals.  The story sounds quite oppressive but it wasn’t as you were dealing with real people’s emotions and even during times of war love always found a way to bring sunshine and hope to your days. 

A truly compelling historical time slip work of fiction that will stay with me for a long time 5/5*

About the Author Ann Bennett

Ann Bennett was born and raised in a small village in Northamptonshire, UK. She read Law at Cambridge and qualified and practised as a solicitor. During a career break, to have children, she started to write. Her father had been a prisoner of war on the Thailand– Burma Railway and the idea for a Southeast Asian WWII trilogy came from researching his wartime experiences. The research took her back to Asia, a place she loves and has returned to many times. She lives in Surrey with her husband and three sons and works in London as a lawyer.

To find out more about Ann Bennett and her books please visit the following links:

Website: http://www.bambooheart.co.uk

Blog: http://www.annbennettbambooheart.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/annbennett71

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Ann-Bennett

A Dangerous Crossing by Rachel Rhys book review

A Dangerous Crossing written by Rachel Rhys, publisher Transworld Digital and Doubleday, is available NOW in ebook, hardcover and audio download format.

To buy link:

Product Details (as per amazon page)

Sparkling cocktails, poisonous secrets …

1939, Europe on the brink of war. Lily Shepherd leaves England on an ocean liner for Australia, escaping her life of drudgery for new horizons. She is instantly seduced by the world onboard: cocktails, black-tie balls and beautiful sunsets. Suddenly, Lily finds herself mingling with people who would otherwise never give her the time of day.

But soon she realizes her glamorous new friends are not what they seem. The rich and hedonistic Max and Eliza Campbell, mysterious and flirtatious Edward, and fascist George are all running away from tragedy and scandal even greater than her own.

By the time the ship docks, two passengers are dead, war has been declared, and life will never be the same again.

This was such a remarkable read full of hope and new beginnings and much, much more.  With the myriad of passengers from all walks of life on board the ocean liner set for Australia in 1939 young Lily Shepherd was full of trepidation, excitement, isolation and hope.  Lily was soon thrust into the company of strangers; people whom she would never socialise with and the thought of a young working class girl sitting and talking with educated, wealthy, socialite people was quite thrilling for her.  The glamour of these people was intoxicating and Lily was soon elevated into their world.

As the voyage to a new country, a new beginning, a new world went on friendships and enemies were made.  Lily on few occasions was warned about associating with these new friends of hers but it was almost like an addictive pull on both her side and her new friends side for them to be together.  Confidences were spilled revealing tragic pasts from many.  However, the voyage was to reveal more than traumatic histories, a darkness fell between the new friends and fear swept between them.  The glitz and glamour of the ballroom and of the beautiful new countries they docked at were overshadowed by tensions of love, lust, secrets, political unrest and death.

I was drawn to Lily’s character her freshness for wanting something more in life and her heartbreak from her past.  This journey she embarked on was captivating, thrilling and the events that unfolded in the five weeks on board will leave a lasting effect on many on board.

A read full of fanciful moments that are shocking, tragic, captivating and poignant.  5/5*

I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this novel.  All opinions are my own and no content may be copied. However, authors and publishers may use elements of my reviews for quotes.

About the author

Rachel Rhys is the pen-name of a successful suspense author.  A Dangerous Crossing is her debut novel under this name.  The story is inspired by a real diary which the author discovered by accident while helping her mother move house.  It was written with care and with extraordinary attention to detail by a young girl in service who travelled from England to Australia on a cruise liner in the late 1930s.

To find out more about the author please do visit the following pages:

Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/MsTamarCohen

Website:  http://www.tammycohen.co.uk/

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/MsTamarCohen/

Earl Grey Tea Taste Test

Earl Grey Tea is my favourite blend of tea and I much prefer it in loose leaf format.  A few fellow tea drinkers and myself have decided to conduct a taste test and have chosen three very good quality blends from independent tea merchants.

Tea One:  Elegant Earl Grey by Jollybrew Tea, can be purchased online here:

https://www.jollybrew.co.uk/products/elegant-earl-grey

Tea Two:  Earl Grey Blue Flower by Suki Tea, can be purchased online here:

https://suki-tea.com/tea/tea-type/black-tea/earl-grey-blue-flower

Tea Three: Earl Grey by Edgcumbes Coffee Roasters and Tea Blenders, can be purchased online here:

https://www.edgcumbes.co.uk/shop/premium-loose-leaf-tea/earl-grey-loose-leaf-100g/

I used three identical cups and the ball type filter and added similar amounts of loose leaf in each cup.

I steeped the tea in freshly boiled water for 2-3 minutes.

This was such a difficult taste test as all three are very pleasant Earl Grey blends and I could quite happily drink them all day.

But one stood out a little more with a gorgeous aroma and stunning taste.

My star in this taste test was … Elegant Earl Grey by Jollybrew.  From the gorgeous aroma to the stunning taste I was won over by this quite simply elegant blend.

This is my honest opinion only and I would highly recommend all three of these teas.

Purchasing tea in the post is so simple and there is nothing more pleasing than receiving a lovely box of quality tea in the post.  Why I choose loose leaf: its simple the taste is more cleaner and flavoursome, you have the added benefit of re-steeping leaves, the leaves are whole and not ground to dust like most conventional teabags, you are supporting organic tea farmers, as the leaves are whole the added health benefits of tea are greater and the leaves can literally open up and flourish in front of your eyes.

I’m hoping to do another taste test soon with the likes of Darjeeling, Breakfast Tea, Green Tea and White Tea.

 

 

The Mills & Boon Modern Girl’s Guide to Turning Into Your Mother by Ada Adverse book review

 

The Mills & Boon Modern Girl’s Guide to Turning Into Your Mother written by Ada Averse, publisher Mills & Boon is available NOW in ebook and hardcover format.

To buy link:

Product Details (as per amazon page)

Have you ever…?

A) Opened your mouth and heard your mother come out?

B) Wondered whether a bunch of flowers and breakfast in bed once a year really makes up for the 37 hours your mum spent in St Agnes’ Maternity Ward?

C) Voiced a heartfelt opinion on the weather?

If so, the Mills & Boon Modern Girl’s Guide to Turning Into Your Mother is for you: a guide to the joys of motherhood – with a feminist twist.

This was such a fun read and I loved and laughed at every single page.  This is my first introduction to The Mills & Boon Modern Girl’s Guide books and what little books of wit and wonder they are.

Turning Into Your Mother is the 5th book in the Modern Girl’s Guide series.  The book is an A-Z of Motherhood told from the horses/mother’s mouth!  Forget the advice from so-called professionals and peers Mothers know best!  I loved the nostalgic images befitting the quotes and advice opposite; I particularly liked the story behind Passwords, this got me laughing out loud.

It’s a book that would be ideal coffee table material, a great conversation starter and a great mood lifter.  The book would make an ideal present for Mother’s Day but also a great present for a mother to give their daughter, maybe on her wedding day.  Feisty and fabulous!  Off to check out the rest of the books in the Modern Girl’s Guide series …

Check out more from Mills and Boon from the following pages:

Website:  http://www.millsandboon.co.uk/

Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/MillsandBoon

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/millsandboon

 

My Husband’s Wife by Amanda Prowse book review

 

My Husband’s Wife written by Amanda Prowse, publisher Head of Zeus, is available NOW in ebook, hardcover, audio download and paperback format.  The ebook is also included in the kindleunlimited scheme.

To buy link:

Product Details (as per amazon page)

Once a week, Rosie Tipcott counts her blessings.

She goes to sit on her favourite bench on the north Devon cliffs, and thanks her lucky stars for her wonderful husband, her mischievous young daughters, and her neat little house by the sea. She vows to dedicate every waking hour to making her family happy.

But then her husband unexpectedly leaves her for another woman and takes the children. Now she must ask the question: what is left in her life? Can Rosie find the strength to rebuild herself? More importantly, does she even want to?

This is the first book I’ve had the pleasure to read written by Amanda Prowse.  I’ve heard so many good remarks about her stories and My Husband’s Wife didn’t disappoint.  I was instantly glued to this heart wrenching family drama.  Amanda’s words took you right there with the characters and you could feel the torment, the hurt, the despair, the gut wrench … This was such an emotive storyline that gripped me and at times I was shocked by the turn of events and I was taken on the emotional journey with the characters.  When I got to the end I felt I wanted; no I needed more!

This is a story of a happy family that one day became broken and once the cracks appeared they started spreading, causing even more damage.  Could the damage be repairable?

Rosie and Phil have been happily married for 12 years, they have two beautiful daughters, Naomi 7 and Leona 5 and live in the idyllic seaside town of Woolacombe.  When Phil announces out of the blue that he wants more out of life and that he also wants more than her Rosie’s world is turned upside down but this is just the start.  Her new life, which she is struggling to comprehend, is now like an emotional war torn field that she is unable to climb over the debris.  The pain and the heart wrenching increases.  Rosie has to experience all this and more to appreciate what her heart truly wants and needs.

A beautiful, gripping story that pulls at your heart strings.  5/5*

I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this novel.  All opinions are my own and no content may be copied. However, authors and publishers may use elements of my reviews for quotes.

To find out more about Amanda Prowse and her books please do visit the following links:

Website:  http://www.amandaprowse.org/

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/amandaprowsenogreaterlove

Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/MrsAmandaProwse

The Queen of Wishful Thinking by Milly Johnson book review

The Queen of Wishful Thinking written by Milly Johnson, publisher Simon & Schuster UK, is available NOW in ebook and hardcover format.  The book will be available in paperback format from the 4th May 2017.

To buy link:

Product Details (as per amazon link)

When Lewis Harley has a health scare in his early forties, he takes it as a wake-up call. So he and his  wife Charlotte leave behind life in the fast lane and Lewis opens the antique shop he has dreamed of. Bonnie Brookland was brought up in the antiques trade and now works for the man who bought out her father’s business, but she isn’t happy there. So when she walks into Lew’s shop, she knows this is the place for her.

As Bonnie and Lew start to work together, they soon realise that there is more to their relationship than either thought. But Bonnie is trapped in an unhappy marriage, and Lew and Charlotte have more problems than they care to admit. Each has secrets in their past which are about to be uncovered. Can they find the happiness they both deserve?

Milly Johnson has a knack of creating characters you instantly warm to and want to champion. This is how I felt about Lewis and Bonnie, the two main characters in The Queen of Wishful Thinking. Lewis Harley and Bonnie Brookland haven’t had an easy life; what with Lewis’ sudden heart attack two years ago which made him take stock of his job in London and Bonnie’s grief for the losses she has incurred in the past and also the despair of living in a loveless marriage. Bonnie was in desperate need of a new job and approached Lewis, the owner of the new antique shop, Pot of Gold, for a possible vacancy. Fate has played a big part in putting these two people together, like two pieces of a missing jigsaw. The Pot of Gold was such a warm, friendly antique shop and working in the shop was giving Bonnie a new hope for the future and she was feeling the strength to make big decisions about her personal life.

Lewis’ own personal life takes a dramatic turn and the shop with Bonnie and her quirky friends turn Pot of Gold into a lifesaving haven for many that set foot in it’s door.

Bonnie’s husband is not happy with the changes she makes and he takes up drastic action himself which leads to a series of secrets and revelations being unearthed that could rock Bonnie’s future.

Emotions are running high for both Lewis and Bonnie and the future is looking very unsettled.

This was such a wonderful heartfelt story. The characters were written with such warmth and personality. I particularly liked the array of eccentric sub-characters. As always Milly sets her stories in her beloved Yorkshire, with it’s wonderful backdrop of moorlands and little villages. I particularly love this about Milly’s novels the location and dialect of the characters are very relatable and charming and you can hear the characters come to life in your head. I was surprised but thrilled with the twists and turns in this tale which left me turning the pages to find out what happens next. A gorgeous story that had me hooked from start to finish.

To find out more about Milly Johnson and her books please do visit the following pages:

Website (which I recommend signing up for Milly’s newsletter as she offers many competitions and informative news):  http://www.millyjohnson.co.uk/

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/MillyJohnsonAuthor/

Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/millyjohnson

The Wedding Girls by Kate Thompson book review

The Wedding Girls written by Kate Thompson, publisher Pan Macmillan, is available NOW in ebook and paperback format.

To buy link:

Product Details (as per amazon page)

It’s 1936 and the streets of London’s East End are grimy and brutal, but in one corner of Bethnal Green it is forever Hollywood . . .

Herbie Taylor’s photography studio is nestled in the heart of bustling Green Street. Tomboy Stella and troubled Winnie work in Herbie’s studio; their best friend and hopeless romantic Kitty works next door as an apprentice dressmaker. All life passes through the studio, wishing to capture that perfect moment in time.

Kitty works tirelessly to create magical bridal gowns, but with each stitch she wonders if she’ll ever get a chance to wear a white dress. Stella and Winnie sprinkle a dusting of Hollywood glamour over happy newly-weds, but secretly dream of escaping the East End . . .

Community is strong on Green Street, but can it stand the ultimate test? As clouds of war brew on the horizon, danger looms over the East End. Will the Wedding Girls find their happy ever afters, before it’s too late?

The Wedding Girls is a wonderful story that I thoroughly enjoyed.  The beautiful cover cleverly hides a raw, insightful, inspiring, hopeful, gripping, romantic story that will stay with you for a long time.

The story is set in 1936 in one of the most deprived areas of East End, London.  Families were living in cramped, damp, broken properties and were struggling to find work to feed their children.  Although, this sounds quite depressing the morale of the inhabitants, especially the women, was far from bleak.  There was a true camaraderie between all who lived in the area and the community spirit was sorely tested when fascist blackshirts moved into the neighbourhood and started to wreak havoc to lives and livelihoods.  The quiet streets of Bethnal Green had soon turned into a political war field and danger had been delivered right up to their doors.

The three main characters; Kitty, Winnie and Stella are best friends born and bred in the East End and now working in the wedding industry.  Kitty is an apprentice dressmaker creating beautiful wedding gowns to all the hopeful brides-to-be and Winnie and Stella work for Herbie Taylor’s photography studio.  Herbie Taylor’s photography studio is a place of old fashioned charm that treats each wedding couple as royalty when they step forth into the studio for their wedding day photos.

Kitty is quite shy and has dreamed of one day being  courted and swooned in her own romantic wedding. Winnie is going steady with Treacle, a local lad that is besotted with her.  Stella is very independent and headstrong and has her own dreams of leaving the East End and travelling with her camera.

The girls lives are suddenly thrown into chaos with the political clashes in the streets.  However, the war is not just in the streets for Winnie as for years she has been hiding a traumatic and terrifying secret.  This secret is dangerous and unpredictable.

The Wedding Girls, as the three best friends are known, bring much needed joy, colour, glamour and romance to the area during a time of political and social unrest.

A fabulous story that had me gripped.  I loved how the author, Kate Thompson, incorporated in her story a pivotal moment in East End history.  Fictional books really do bring history to life.  This was a story full of solidarity.  A story that doesn’t hide the ugliness of life.  A story bringing much hope.  A story to warm your heart.  Just brilliant 5/5*

I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this novel.  All opinions are my own and no content may be copied. However, authors and publishers may use elements of my reviews for quotes.

To find out more about Kate Thompson and her books please do visit the following pages:

Website:  http://www.katethompsonmedia.co.uk/

Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/katethompson380

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/KateThompsonAuthor/

To Rome, With Love by TA Williams book review/blogtour

To Rome, With Love written by TA Williams, publisher HQ Digital, is available NOW in ebook format.

To buy link:

Product Details (as per amazon page)

A summer of second chances…

Just a week before her big day, Sarah returns home to find a note from her husband-to-be – the wedding’s off! So when her boss decides to send her on an epic cycling trip, from Venice to Rome, it seems like the perfect distraction…

Although she never expected the distraction to come in the form of her oh-so-handsome, but slightly serious, cycling companion, Miles. And with still 600 miles of beautiful scenery, mouthwatering food and delicious wine yet to cover, anything could happen!

I’m so pleased to be involved with the blogtour celebrating and promoting the launch of T A Williams latest novel, To Rome, With Love.

This was a really lovely story by T A Williams.  The author not only gave us a wonderful romantic tale with a journey of emotional enlightenment but we were also treated to an epic cycle ride through Italy.

Sarah works for one of the top tourist companies in the country, she was due to get married very soon but her no-good fiancé decides to unceremoniously call off the wedding the week before.  Sarah is devastated, as you can imagine, but life must go on and she has to step in and help host a charity bike ride through Italy.  Sarah is a keen cyclist and with her job she has organised many events in the past so has no worries about this task.  She is hoping the fortnight away from home and her broken heart she can reassess her future and make waves into healing some of the cracks in her personal life.

Sarah is joined on the trip by many other colleagues from the world of travel including Miles and Paul, sons of the owner of the travel company she works for.  Sarah starts to build up a rapport with the gents but is wary of her actions in front of them as they are due to take over the running of the business soon and she wants to make a good impression and keep things on a professional level.  However, the more she gets to know the older of the brothers, Miles, the more she is drawn to him.  Miles is definitely the brains behind the business but holds a grudge against his brother and secretly has his own personal heartache.  Will this journey surrounded by wonderful countryside with epic views and glorious food to tantalise your taste buds go some way to heal the hearts of two lost people?

I loved the mix of characters that went along on this charity cycle ride.  I particularly liked Glynis’ story, a character that was initially misinterpreted but at the end you felt so much respect for this lady.  I felt like the author, TA Williams, had done his research for this novel as there was so much detailed information about the scenic and historic sites along the journey.  I also could feel that TA Williams enjoyed telling us this story and sharing his love for the country, it’s food, culture and history and also his love of cycling.  I personally felt like the story ended abit abruptly and I wanted an epilogue but maybe I’m fussy and don’t like to say goodbye to the characters so soon.  A lovely romance that takes you on a picturesque, life changing journey.

To find out more about T A Williams please do visit the following pages:

Website:  http://www.tawilliamsbooks.com/

Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/TAWilliamsBooks

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/TrevorWilliamsBooks

Englishwoman in Manhattan by Jenny O’Brien book review

Englishwoman in Manhattan written and self-published by Jenny O’Brien is available in ebook format NOW.  The ebook is also included in the kindleunlimited scheme.

To buy link:

Product Details (as per amazon page)

Englishwoman in Manhattan, the stand alone follow-up to Englishwoman in Paris.
Recently widowed Lady Cara Bachmeire has moved away from Paris and the world she once knew to New York in order to escape from the past, a past where she’s lost her husband, her career and nearly her life. She wasn’t expecting much and certainly not the peace and sanctuary of Gramercy Park. Gramercy Park, Manhattan’s best kept secret with its precious keys very much in the style of The Secret Garden.
Lawyer Matti Bianchi, second generation Italian/American is also in possession of a key to Gramercy Park. He’s also in possession of a musically gifted daughter who attends the prestigious academy for gifted musicians, the same academy Lady Cara has run away to when her career is taken away from her. But that’s not all Matti is. He’s also working for an asset stripping company and the next building on the list to be stripped just happens to be Lady Cara’s estranged step-mother’s Manor House in Berkshire.
Can Lady Cara find love for a second time and what about her career as one of the most talented concert pianists of her generation? And what about Matti? Is he just what he seems or…

Lady Care Bachmeire is still grieving for her husband, it’s been two years since his untimely death.  She is also grieving for the life she had and the life she was promised.  The accident that took the life of her husbands has left Cara emotionally and physically scarred.  She is now working in New York as a music tutor in a private girl’s school.

Matti Bianchi is a single parent and lawyer in one of the most prestigious and cut-throat asset stripping firms in the city.  His teenage daughter has started teasing him about middle age spread and Matti starts jogging in Gramercy Park to appease his daughter.  Whilst back in his apartment that overlooks the park he spots a young woman with long auburn hair that he can’t help but be drawn to.  This young woman happens to be Cara and during a music performance at his daughter’s school he sees this mystery girl and makes the connection.

The school is running a trip to London with a select few of the girls and Evelyn, Matti’s daughter is invited.  As Matti has business in London he tags along with the school excursion. Cara and Matti are drawn together through mutual circumstances at first.  These moments give Matti time to get to know Cara but the pain from her past which is still evident is hard to conceal.

Cara is fighting with her emotions over Matti, is it too soon since her husband’s death to find and accept love again?  She is also fighting with her physical scars and what limitations it has left her with.  Can Cara place her belief in someone to help her with her scars both emotionally and physically?  Will Matti’s business involvement in London hinder his developing feelings for Cara?

This was a lovely story that was emotive with all the heart wrenching history from the characters still very evident.  It was also endearing, inspiring and romantic taking you on a journey of self-discovering, encouragement, lust and love.  Englishwoman in Manhattan is a standalone story in the ‘Englishwoman in’ series.  Characters from Englishwoman in Paris do crop up and to fully appreciate and enjoy the series I would encourage you to read both books in order.  You can find my review of an Englishwoman in Paris here.

To find out more about Jenny O’Brien please do visit the following pages:

Website:  http://www.jennyobrienwriter.wordpress.com/

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/JennyOBrienWriter/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/ScribblerJB

The Little Breton Bistro by Nina George book review/blogtour

The Little Breton Bistro written by Nina George, publisher Abacus, is available NOW in ebook, hardcover and audio download format.

To buy link:

Product Details (as per amazon page)

Marianne Messman, a housewife, wants to escape her loveless marriage and an uncaring and unfeeling husband of 35 years. Marianne and her husband (army sergeant major Lothar) take a trip to Paris, during which Marianne leaps off the Pont Neuf into the Seine, but she is saved from drowning by a homeless man. Angered by her behaviour, major Lothar takes a coach trip back home to Germany, expecting that a psychologist will escort Marianne home a few days later. However, Marianne comes across a hand-painted scene of the tiny port of Kerdruc in Brittany, and becomes fixated with the place. Marianne decides to make her way to Kerduc, and once there meets a host of colourful characters who all gravitate around the small restaurant of Ar Mor (The Sea). It is this cast of true Bretons who become Marianne’s new family. She finds love and passion with Yann, an artist who becomes her guide to the secrets of Brittany. Before long, Marianne’s husband is back to retrieve her and Marianne feels pulled towards her old life by way of duty and guilt. She leaves Kerduc and gets as far as Paris before she realises it’s now or never when it comes to building the life she really wants.

I am so pleased to be involved in the blogtour celebrating and promoting the launch of Nina George’s new novel, The Little Breton Bistro.

A 5* read to me is a story that grabs my attention, I fall in love with the characters and settings, the story evokes emotions in me.  The Little Breton Bistro was all this to me and more.  I was totally swept away with Marianne’s story of her decision to end the drudgery that had become her life, married to a man that belittled her and she felt no love from him.  Marianne had been married for over 50 years to Lothar and she felt despair of her life and what it had become.  Marianne and Lothar are German born and reside in their native land, on a day trip to Paris Marianne slipped away from her husband and made her way to Pont Nerf with the intention to leap off the bridge into the River Seine.  Anger swells up in Marianne when she is saved by a stranger.  During her recovery in hospital she comes across a small painted tile.  The image depicted on the tile is of the small village of Kerduc, Brittany and the idyllic landscape with the beach and sea somehow speaking to Marianne she vows to visit this wonderful place to finalise her journey.

Marianne’s journey to Kerduc was eventful and charming in it’s own right but the finality that Marianne had sought wasn’t to be.  The inhabitants of the village immediately befriended Marianne offering her solace.  She learnt  from the locals and she was also able to teach them a fair few tricks of the trades of life she had learnt in her 60 years.

Each day in Kerduc became more tolerable for Marianne, she started to make friends and she felt belonged and she mattered to people, which she hadn’t felt in a very long time.  Will the love of her new life be enough for Marianne to give her strength and belief for the future?

This was such a delightful tale that is inspiring and hopeful.  I felt joyous for Marianne for what she had become but also for the lives she had enriched.  A wonderful, heart warming, almost magical tale of second chances.

I’d like to share a quote from the novel that deeply moved me:

Walking on, she felt as if something had jumped off her back, something that had dug it’s sharp claws into her skin.  It was fear.  Fear had jumped off, an ugly, red-eyed beast that was not scuttling through the undergrowth to look for someone else’s back to possess.

To find out more about Nina George and her work please visit the following pages:

Website:  http://www.nina-george.com/

Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/nina_george

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/NinaGeorge.Schriftstellerin