Review of Black Roses by Jane Thynne

At last – a spy thriller set in 1933 which portrays the women behind the Nazi warlords! All the history books teach us about Hitler, Goebbels, Von Ribbentrop and Himmler but what about their wives and girlfriends? What do they do while their husbands are secretly preparing for war? What do they talk about and what are their lives like?

Clara Vine, blue-blooded daughter of a prominent member of Parliament, breaks with the accepted tradition of her class to become an actress. When she realises that, in spite of this, she is expected to marry, she acts on impulse. A good friend of hers has recently given her a letter of introduction to Max Townsend, a prominent film producer in Berlin, in order to further her career. Overnight, she travels to Germany without a word to anyone.

There, she goes to the Babelsburg studios and immediately makes a new friend, Helga. The studios are in the process of being taken over by the Hitler`s Propaganda chief, Joseph Goebbels and Clara finds herself unintentionally included in the circle of Nazi wives amongst whom is Magda Goebbels. This makes her an ideal source of information for Leo Quinn, an undercover agent who recruits her to gather information on her new circle of friends and trains her in spycraft. She must, however, turn her back on Helga for now.

Clara and Leo are attracted to each other and inevitably fall in love. Clara continues making films for the Reich, collecting snippets of information from the ladies circle and her Nazi escort and admirer Klaus Müller and passing them to Leo. It is only when Magda confides in Clara and entrusts her with a startling and alarming mission that Clara feels compromised and fears for her life, feeling trapped between duty and love. Who can she really trust?

I found the book a really compelling read and a fascinating insight into German society in the early 1930s. Jane Thynne has combined historical accuracy, suspense and romance in an unforgettable book. I cannot wait to read her next book, The Winter Garden! An excellent read.

Reviewed by Liz.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for sending us a copy to review.

Review of Soloman's Tale by Sheila Jeffries

Soloman's Tale is a lovely book told from the point of view of a cat called Soloman.

Soloman has been sent to protect his grown up owner Ellen and soon he becomes the protector and confidante of both Ellen and her young son John, as they battle family problems. When he arrives on Ellen's doorstep as a tiny scruffy kitten, no one realises the impact that he will have on Ellen's family.

It is a beautifully written book that will appeal to all animal lovers. Keep your tissues handy though as there are some heart breaking moments too.

This is a lovely heart warming story that was a delight to read and would make a lovely Christmas present.

I loved the cover too.

Thank you to Avon for sending us a copy to review.

Review of Tempting Fate by Jane Green

Gabby has been happily married to Elliott for twenty years, they have two daughters, a lovely home and close group of friends. However, Gabby longs for another child, whilst Elliott is not so keen.

When Gabby meets handsome and younger Matt at an event, she is flattered by his attention and the two soon begin a secret correspondence. However, one careless moment could wreck Gabby's life and her everything around her. Desperate to save the family life that she cherished so dearly, Gabby will do anything to save her marriage. But, is it too late for that?

This is a brilliant book that I didn't want to put down. The plot hooked me straight in and I ended up feeling as if I knew the characters. I really felt for Gabby's two daughtrs who were torn between their parents. It is an emotional and thought provoking book that I highly recommend.

This is the first book by Jane Green that I have read and I absolutely loved it.

5 stars

Thank you to Penguin for sending me a copy to review.

Review of Seven for a Secret by Lyndsay Faye

Transported to the Manhattan of 1846 when the police force (or Stars as its members are called) is in its infancy, dirt and squalor in the streets and crime is rampant, we follow the investigation of Copper star Timothy Wilde and his capricious brother Valentine into the kidnapping of Mrs Lucy Adams family. Tim and Val are opposites: Tim is the quiet thinker whereas Val is brilliant, reckless and given to the pleasures of life in all their forms. They are no strangers to hardship, having grown up in what is, in essence, a cauldron for all types of disease and dishonesty.

Lucy`s sister and son have been taken by Blackbirders; slave catchers who operate within the law in Manhattan. Tim has to delve into depths of violent depravity on the streets in order to solve the case and rescue the family. This is no mean feat as the devious Blackbirders make money out of catching freed slaves as well as the runaways from the southern plantations and are willing to stop at nothing to achieve their ends. The Law does not mean anything to them – in fact some corrupt politicians actively encourage the practice, so how will Tim, with Val`s help, bring these people to some form of justice?

Lyndsay Faye creates the lurid atmosphere of lawlessness, brothels and the desperation of the Irish immigrants flowing into New York in the 1860s to escape the potato famine with astounding accuracy. We suffer the injustices and gasp at the often brutal attitudes of those in charge towards the lives of others which are held cheaply. Her characterisations are insightful to the point where we become part of the plot and experience the despair, helplessness but also the dreams of all concerned.

A vibrant and exciting read – highly recommended.

Reviewed by Liz.

Thank you to Headline for sending us a copy to review.

Review of Megan's Game by Tony Drury

Megan is a sports and Outward Bound teacher living in Abergynolwyn, a small town in Wales, who is still coming to terms with the death of her soldier husband, Rhys, in Basra. She has somewhat lost her way in life until she is invited to play at the annual tennis tournament held by the owners of the mansion in Aberdovey on Cardigan Bay. Here she partners new arrival David Rensburg to win the doubles tournament – thus starting a new chapter of her life. David works in the City and owns a cottage in Aberdovey. They have a passionate affair and Megan begins to move forward at long last.

However, the path of true love never did run smooth, as the saying goes, and back in London David becomes embroiled in the unethical financial dealings of Martin van Dijl on behalf of his brokerage firm, culminating in being imprisoned for a high-profile murder. Megan, by now loved by David`s two sons Matthew and Josh, has to do her utmost to prove that David is innocent, no mean task for a small-town lady in the imposing and raw city of London. Will she succeed, and will David ever be able to fulfil his ambition to explain the intricacies of high finance to the public by means of a simply-written book? Read on……!

Tony Drury himself was a financier in the City with a love of Wales and this is his first work of fiction. His written style is easy to read and he builds the tension very well – I couldn`t wait to turn the page to find out what happened next! I would thoroughly recommend this book and look forward to Tony`s next offering.

Reviewed by Liz.

Review of Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

I read Where'd You Go, Bernadette as part of my reading group and it is, without doubt, one of the funniest books that I have read. I absolutely loved it.

At first glance, Bernadette Fox is wife to senior Microsoft employee Elgie Branch and loving mother to Bea. However, to the other mothers at Bea's school, Bernadette is glamorous but unfriendly and even slightly crazy. When one of the mother decides to google Bernadette, the only thing that she can find online is an entry about a trailblazing architect who hasn't been seen for over twenty years. Surely that is not the same Bernadette, is it?

Everything seemed as normal as could be in Bea's household until she asks to go to Antartica after getting straight As at school. Much to everyone's surprise (even her own), Bernadette throws herself into preparing for this trip. However, all is not as it seems and when the illusive Bernadette goes missing, her daughter Bea tries every to track her down. Told through a series of emails, letters and messages, finding Bernadette also becomes a story about finding who she is and what she is really afraid of. I loved Bernadette's character with her outlandish theories and names for people. I also found the character of Majula, the online assistant, to be a brilliant if somewhat frightening addition.

I sat down to start reading this book on a Saturday morning and literally did not move until I finished it. It is a real feel good book with lots of laugh out loud moments with my particular favourite being a hilariously timed landslide. I could imagine this being made into a film.

Highly recommended and one of my favourite books of the year.

Review of Cruel Crossing by Edward Stourton

Cruel Crossing is a fascinating book full of the horror and tragedy that occurred during World War Two. In France, the pyrenees were used as a daring and extremely dangerous escape route into France. As Stourton takes part in the Chemain de la liberte, a walk commemorating the route used by so many to escape the Nazi, he pieces together the stories from people who were actually involved.

The horrors that befell both ordinary people and the armed forces are all too apparent in this book, but what really stands out is the unwavering selflessness and bravery shown by those who helped the escapees. Cruel Crossing is thorough and brilliantly researched and has made me want to visit this area of France that I knew little about.

It is a heart-wrenching, but utterly compelling collection of accounts of people involved in the daring escapes across the Pyrenees during the Second World War.

I highly recommend this book and would rate it as a 5 star read.

I read this as part of the Transworld Historical Fiction Reading Challenge.