Archive | October 2022

The Hat Girl’s Heartbreak by Lindsey Hutchinson

Oct22

Working Together

The Hat Girl’s Heartbreak by Lindsey Hutchinson is a marvellous historical novel that I absolutely adored.

The action is set in 1906 in Walsall near the district of Caldmore (pronounced Karma) which I know very well from my three years spent at college there. It was easy for me to picture the action.

This is a tale with a moral showing how our actions and choices have consequences – both for good and for bad. We see that goodness is attractive, and that character will speak for itself.

A warm-hearted character offers help to those in need. Homes and livelihoods expand to give a warm welcome.

At a time when women were seen as second class citizens, it is good to see a group of women succeeding in business. Hard work and skillful hands are the order of the day.

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The Women Of Fishers Wharf by Tracy Baines

Oct19

A Community Atmosphere

The Women Of Fishers Wharf by Tracy Baines is a marvelous  historical novel set in 1912 in a North Eastern fishing community.

Life was hard. If you didn’t work, you didn’t eat. People had to make money however they could in order to keep themselves and their children out of the poor house. There were hard choices to be made at times. Women were particularly vulnerable. If they lost their husband, there would be no money as there were no widow’s pensions. Women did what they had to in order to put food on the table.

There were very few jobs available to women. Many worked at home doing piecework in their cottages. Some worked in shops. We see the strength and tenacity needed in order to survive.

Being at sea was a hard life. The atmosphere on board ship has been captured perfectly with Tracy Baines descriptions.

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Clara’s Secret Garden by Rosie Green

Oct18

Water With Love & Care

Clara’s Secret Garden by Rosie Green is a perfectly charming contemporary novel and the first book in the Little Duck Pond Café trilogy which promises to be delightful.

The novel is written in the first person from the point of view of the lead character Clara. This means that the reader becomes intimately acquainted with her and her hopes and dreams.

Clara has a huge heart. She thinks of others, putting their needs first, even if it means breaking her own heart. She is a very likable, lovable, realistic young lady.

Family is important. Clara is the lynch pin in her family. She is the glue that holds it all together. Clara sees needs and she meets them.

Clara sees those whom others pass over – the very young and the very old. She is a caring big sister and a loving granddaughter.

We witness the kindness of Clara as she knows how to encourage a young child and bring her out of her shell and expand her life.

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The Love Arrangement by Ruby Basu

Oct17

Absolutely Charming

The Love Arrangement by Ruby Basu is an absolutely charming contemporary novel that will warm your heart and make you smile.

All the characters are wonderfully drawn and soon become your friends rather than characters in a book.

Love and friendship pervade the whole novel, enveloping the reader in wide arms.

Family is important. Our families want the best for us. We see that different children have different dreams. Our parents just want us to be happy and to live our best lives.

We follow a daughter who does not want to disappoint her parents. She creates the relationship she thinks they want to see in her. Lines soon blur between reality and illusion leaving a character confused as to what she really wants.

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