Blog Tour Review: The Inaugural Metting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club by Sophie Green

The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club by Sophie Grren

Published: 1st March 2018

Publisher: Sphere

Pages: 432

Available on Kindle

Pre-Order now from Amazon

Rating: 4/5

Blurb

In 1978 in Australia's Northern Territory, life is hard and people are isolated. Telephones are not yet a common fixture. But five women find a way to connect.

Sybil, the matriarch of Fairvale Station, misses her eldest son and is looking for a distraction, while Kate, Sybil's daughter-in-law, is thousands of miles away from home and finding it difficult to adjust to life at Fairvale.

Sallyanne, mother of three, dreams of a life far removed from the dusty town where she lives with her difficult husband.

Rita, Sybil's oldest friend, is living far away in Alice Springs and working for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

And Della, who left Texas for Australia looking for adventure and work on the land, needs some purpose in her life.

Sybil comes up with a way to give them all companionship: they all love to read, and she starts a book club. As these five women bond over their love of books, they form friendships that will last a lifetime.

Review

The idea of the “book club” was what drew me to The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club as I love reading books about people reading books, so I was a little disappointed that the book club theme was only a very small part of this book. What I did find on reading it though was a very enjoyable read about five women who are initially brought together through their love of books but become much closer.

This book is set between 1978 and 1981 on the Fairvale cattle station in the northern Territories of Australia. This is a place which is in the remote outback where the nearest town is over an hour away and the whole way of life is split into two seasons. Governed by the two seasons of wet and dry, life on Fairvale is isolated and hard and this is the main reason Sybil decides to start o book club.

Sybil is married to Joe and is the one who makes sure everything runs smoothly on the station. Grieving for eldest son Lachie who has left Fairvale and doesn’t want to be found, Sybil decides she needs a distraction and daughter-in-law Kate needs some new friends.

Kate, recently married to Sybil’s younger son Ben is finding life at Fairvale hard and very different from her life in England. She feels disconnected from her new life and is longing for a baby to make her feel part of the family and give her purpose.

Sallyanne, married to Mick and a mother of three longs to escape her everyday life and longs for a life like the romance novels she adores.

Della has recently left Texas and is looking for an adventure, she finds work at Ghost River a neighbouring cattle station, but is drawn to Fairvale and its head stockman Stan.

Rita is Sybil’s oldest friend and has joined the Flying Doctor team in Alice Springs, here she finds something she’s been searching for her whole life.

These five women may have all met anyway despite the book club, especially as two are related and one is Sybil’s life-long friend but through the book club they become even closer and form a close bond which despite the miles between them keeps them together. I found this book to be more about the relationship the women had with each other than the books they were reading. Each woman has to face a kind of heartache in this novel and this has been written about so tenderly and with real compassion from the author.

I found this a beautifully written novel, one which explores friendships, love, death and racism and family loyalty in a sensitive and intriguing way. It’s not a big punchy book but its one which will leave you thankful for the people who’ve been by your side through the rough stuff and one which will make you appreciate the little things in life.

Thank you so much to Sphere for sending me a copy to review honestly and for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.

Blog Tour: A Boy Made of Blocks by Keith Stuart

A Boy Made of Blocks by Keith Stuart

Published: December 29th 2016

Publisher: Sphere

Pages: 387

Available in Hardback, Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Rating:5/5

Blurb

MEET THIRTY SOMETHING DAD, ALEX… He loves his wife Jody, but has forgotten how to show it. He loves his son Sam, but doesn't understand him. Something has to change. And he needs to start with himself.

MEET EIGHT-YEAR-OLD SAM… To him the world is a puzzle he can't solve on his own.

When Sam starts to play Minecraft, it opens up a place where Alex and Sam begin to rediscover both themselves and each other… When life starts to tear one family apart, can they put themselves back together, one piece at a time?

Review

A Boy Made of Blocks by Keith Stuart is an incredibly uplifting novel about learning to see the world around us from a different perspective. It’s a novel which will make you laugh and cry and embrace life in any way you can.

 Alex and Jody have an eight year old son Sam who has recently being diagnosed as autistic. It has been an uphill battle to get this diagnosis and after have caused a strain between Jody and Alex. Alex unable to deal with his son’s random outbursts has hidden himself away using his job as an excuse. Left on her own to try and support Sam as best she can Jody has finally had enough and told Alex he has to leave.

Alex heads to best friend Dan’s house, who without question lets him in and allows Alex to wallow in his own selfish self-pity. It isn’t until Alex loses his job that he finally begins to realise he has to change and has to find a way to connect with Sam. Surprisingly this connection comes in the form of the game Minecraft. As Sam begins to play the game, he finds a world he can relate to and when Alex joins him playing he begins to communicate and form a bond with his son.

As Alex begins to understand more how his son sees the world the also begins to see his own life differently and slowly Alex begins to find his own place in the world that he has been searching for, for almost twenty years.

Alex was not a character I warmed to initially. He seemed quite selfish, if he didn’t want to deal with something he just walked away and let others get on with it, blaming the fact he didn’t understand autism as a get out cause. He seemed like he was lost in his own world, reliving the past over and over and he needed to find something to connect himself to the present and to his family. It wasn’t until a third of the way through the book where Alex becomes more aware of other people’s needs and then as he began to see things more from Sam’s point of view he became quite a nice guy.

A Boy Made of Blocks is a story of family trying to put themselves back together after a breakdown, rather like the Minecraft game, slowly piece by piece they begin to connect together again. It’s a story of learning to trust, to trust each other, to follow our instincts and trust that everything will turn out okay in the end. Most of all it’s a book about accepting who we are and celebrating each and every milestone and achievement no matter how small or difficult, because after all like the book says “Life’s an adventure, not a walk – that’s why it’s difficult”.

Keith Stuart has written an engaging and heartfelt novel which I enjoyed very much. He has truly captured the relationship between Alex and Sam and it was a pleasure to follow along on their journey of self-discovery.

Thank you to Sphere for inviting me on the blog tour and providing me with a review copy.

Release Day Round-Up #22

This week it has been extremely had to pick just three favourites as there are just so many good books being released today. So I have decided to pick three that I don't yet have copies of.

The Weekends of You and Me by Fiona Walker

Published: 10th March 2016

Publisher: Sphere

Pages: 512

Available in Hardcover and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Can your final fling become your Happy Ever After?

When Jo Coulson finds herself single again in her late thirties, she finally resigns her membership to Last of the Hopeless Romantics, fully intending to tackle midlife and motherhood alone. First, she plans one legendary last fling...

In walks Harry Inchbold, and the connection is electric. Passionate, unpredictable and messily divorced, Harry is the perfect antidote to cosy coupledom. Known as The Sinner, drama follows him around with a clapper board.

Harry's favourite holiday hideaway in the wilds of South Shropshire puts the mud and fun into the perfect dirty weekend. But at the cottage Harry reveals a very different side, melting Jo's resolve. What better combination to face an uncertain future than two cynics who have learned from their mistakes?Together they make a pact; 'same time next year'; they can promise no more than that.

Through life's most stressful decade, Harry and Jo return to the Shropshire hills for one weekend each year to rediscover passion and make peace. As career, family and home crises all threaten to bring them unstuck, the cottage is their glue. Here, different rules apply: the day to day world is not allowed to intrude.With Harry and Jo, however, it's only a matter of time before rules get broken. As real life gets increasingly complicated, can they keep renewing their promise?

As I've mentioned before I love Fiona Walker books and this one looks just as good, as there so huge there ideal to take on holiday, which is probably when I'll read this one.

Song of the Skylark by Erica James

Published: 10th March 2016

Publisher: Orion

Pages: 400

Available in Hardcover and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Lizzie has always had an unfortunate knack of attracting bad luck, but this time she's hit the jackpot. Losing her heart to her boss leads to her losing her job, and with no money in the bank, Lizzie finds herself forced to move back home with her parents. When she reluctantly takes a voluntary job, she meets Mrs Dallimore, a seemingly ordinary elderly woman with an astoni Lizzie has always had an unfortunate knack of attracting bad luck, but this time she's hit the jackpot. Losing her heart to her boss leads to her losing her job, and with no money in the bank, Lizzie finds herself forced to move back home with her parents. When she reluctantly takes a voluntary job, she meets Mrs Dallimore, a seemingly ordinary elderly woman with an astonishing past . . .

Now in her nineties, Mrs Dallimore is also reluctantly coming to terms with her situation. Old age is finally catching up with her. As she and Lizzie form the bond of unexpected friendship, Mrs Dallimore tells the story of a young girl who left America before the outbreak of World War Two and, in crossing an ocean, found herself embarking on a new life she couldn't have imagined.

As Lizzie listens to Mrs Dallimore, she begins to realise that she's not the only person to attract bad luck, and that sometimes life has a way of surprising you . . .

Can you believe this is Erica's twentieth novel! Although I've only read a few of them I have enjoyed them immensely and got lost in her story telling. This one sounds like another winner and I'm really hoping to read a few more of her books this year.

Trust No One by Claire Donoghue

Published: 10th March 2016

Publisher: Pan

Pages: 368

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Marriage is complicated. It doesn't always work out. Sometimes there are things you discover about yourself and each other which mean the marriage has to end. Sad, particularly when kids are involved - but all pretty normal.
Normal that is, until there's a murder.
DS Jane Bennett and DI Mike Lockyer are called in to investigate one of South London's most difficult and distressing cases yet - where family and friends come under scrutiny in the hardest of circumstances.

This is the third instalment in the Bennett and Lockyer series and although its not a series I've read yet its one I think looks interesting. I have realised that despite reading almost twenty books this year I've yet to read an actual crime novel.

So that's my top three this week, many more are listed in my releases page above and I have reviews for some more coming up over the next week. Happy reading until next time.

The Beachside Guest House by Vanessa Greene

The Beachside Guest House by Vanessa Greene

Published: 10th September 2015

Publisher: Sphere

Pages: 336

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Blurb

When Rosa and Bee get together in the run-up to Bee's wedding, they reminisce about the holiday they took together as teenagers to the beautiful Greek island of Paros. They remember the sandy coves, the guest house in the converted windmill where they stayed with their friend Iona, and the gorgeous local men. As memories of that long-forgotten holiday resurface, they are forced to confront the turns their lives have taken - and the guilt they both feel about letting Iona slip away from them. When they learn that the windmill guest house is going bust they form a plan: why not go back to the island and take it over themselves? And so begins a life-changing journey - because it turns out that opening a guest house and reliving their teenage dreams isn't that easy ...Full of romance and friendship, love and life, laughter and tears, The Beachside Guest House is an uplifting novel about the magic of starting over with friends by your side.

Review

Rosa, Bee and Iona have been friends since they were children, sharing everything together as they grew up, especially a wonderful holiday they had on the Greek isle of Paros as teenagers before they went into the world as adults. More recently Iona has slipped off into her own world with boyfriend Ben and Rosa and Bee feel her loss as they struggle with issues in their own lives. When they learn that the windmill guesthouse where they stayed on the island is for sale Rosa decides its time for a career change and buys the place. Bee feeling unhappy with her impending marriage to boyfriend Stuart ends her relationship and joins Rosa. Can the two of them make a go of running the windmill and can they reach out and bring Iona back into their lives?

This is the first book by Vanessa Greene which I have read and its one which I became hooked on straight away. Vanessa’s writing style is heartfelt and emotional and I connected with the three main characters almost instantly and all the way through I was rooting for them and hoping they were going to make a success of the guesthouse, despite a number of setbacks.

Of all the three main characters I found Iona the most interesting, her struggles with her anxieties made her more complex than Rosa and Bee for me. Vanessa has written her character is such a way that I felt Iona’s pain and wanted her to make the right decision, I know I could so easily have found her annoying and become easily frustrated by her reasoning.

I loved how the Guesthouse became a sanctuary for all three woman while they lived there. As the guest house became ready for visitors the three women found they were able to move on from the past and embrace new adventures and new relationships and find true happiness.

Friendship and its importance is a big theme in this book. Despite years and miles apart Rosa, Bee and Iona have come together and their friendship is just as close as when they were teenagers. Proving that no matter what the problems you face are or the distance apart true friends will always be there to help you through the difficult times.

The Beachside Guest House is the perfect read for this time of year when the nights are growing colder and we’re all hanging to the last threads of summer, it’ll remind you of that perfect holiday you once had.  It’s a book to curl up with and will make you feel warm and cosy when you’ve finished.  I loved everything about this book as it kept me interested all the way through and the characters were ones which I really came to care for. I loved the ending as it tied things up for each character but also left the book with a potential follow on (please!).

It was a joy to discover Vanessa Greene’s writing and I cannot wait to see what she writes next. Thank you to Little Brown and Netgalley for the review copy of this book.

Rosa, Bee and Iona have been friends since they were children, sharing everything together as they grew up, especially a wonderful holiday they had on the Greek isle of Paros as teenagers before they went into the world as adults. More recently Iona has slipped off into her own world with boyfriend Ben and Rosa and Bee feel her loss as they struggle with issues in their own lives. When they learn that the windmill guesthouse where they stayed on the island is for sale Rosa decides its time for a career change and buys the place. Bee feeling unhappy with her impending marriage to boyfriend Stuart ends her relationship and joins Rosa. Can the two of them make a go of running the windmill and can they reach out and bring Iona back into their lives?

This is the first book by Vanessa Greene which I have read and its one which I became hooked on straight away. Vanessa’s writing style is heartfelt and emotional and I connected with the three main characters almost instantly and all the way through I was rooting for them and hoping they were going to make a success of the guesthouse, despite a number of setbacks.

Of all the three main characters I found Iona the most interesting, her struggles with her anxieties made her more complex than Rosa and Bee for me. Vanessa has written her character is such a way that I felt Iona’s pain and wanted her to make the right decision, I know I could so easily have found her annoying and become easily frustrated by her reasoning.

I loved how the Guesthouse became a sanctuary for all three woman while they lived there. As the guest house became ready for visitors the three women found they were able to move on from the past and embrace new adventures and new relationships and find true happiness.

Friendship and its importance is a big theme in this book. Despite years and miles apart Rosa, Bee and Iona have come together and their friendship is just as close as when they were teenagers. Proving that no matter what the problems you face are or the distance apart true friends will always be there to help you through the difficult times.

The Beachside Guest House is the perfect read for this time of year when the nights are growing colder and we’re all hanging to the last threads of summer, it’ll remind you of that perfect holiday you once had.  It’s a book to curl up with and will make you feel warm and cosy when you’ve finished.  I loved everything about this book as it kept me interested all the way through and the characters were ones which I really came to care for. I loved the ending as it tied things up for each character but also left the book with a potential follow on (please!).

It was a joy to discover Vanessa Greene’s writing and I cannot wait to see what she writes next. I give The Beachside Guest House 5/5 it was brilliant.Thank you to Little Brown and Netgalley for the review copy of this book.

Book Review - The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks

 

Published: September 11th 2014

Publisher: Sphere

Pages: 336

 

 

Blurb

 

They were teenage sweethearts from opposite sides of the tracks - with a passion that would change their lives for ever. But life would force them apart.

Years later, the lines they had drawn between past and present are about to slip . . . Called back to their hometown for the funeral of the mentor who once gave them shelter when they needed it most, they are faced with each other once again, and forced to confront the paths they chose. Can true love ever rewrite the past?

 

 

Review

 

This is the first Nicholas Sparks book which I have read although he has been on my list of authors to read for some time, so when I won a copy of this in a giveaway I was delighted, thank you Sphere and Little Book Café for this copy.

The Best of Me is the story of first love between Dawson Cole and Amanda Collier. They fall madly in love when they are teenagers but sadly are split apart when Amanda goes off to college and Dawson to prison. Years later they are reunited when their old friend Tuck dies and they come together to say goodbye. As the feelings come flooding back to them Amanda has to decide to give her love with Dawson one more chance or return to her husband and children.

I loved both of the main characters.  Dawson is such great male lead, very early on you realise just how much he seems to be driven by a sense of guilt and duty for events in his past and I think meeting again Amanda helped him to realise it was time to move on let it go. I bet he was an incredibly sexy brooding teenager so there is no wonder Amanda fell for him. Amanda seems to be a lovely person who is devoted to her family life even though her marriage to husband Frank does not seem ideal. When she meets Dawson again she is torn between following her heart and rekindling their love and her head telling her not to break her family up.

Dawson’s two cousins Abee and Ted for me added a comical touch to the book as they just reminded me of the two buglers in the Home Alone movie the way they could never quite get to Dawson and I’ll be interested to see who plays these characters in the movie.

This is a beautiful will they, won’t they story where you feel emotion of these two characters all the way through, which made my heart ache and the ending was not something I was expecting and it totally threw me and I wasn’t sure it was the ending I wanted but now I’ve thought about it for a few days it does seem a very fitting end to a beautiful love story.

After reading this I think I have caught the Nicholas Sparks’ bug and definitely need to read more of his work soon it’s magical.

Rating 5/5