Tag Archive | Avon Books

The Cruise Club by Caroline James

Jul8

Delightfully Fun

The Cruise Club by Caroline James is a delightfully fun contemporary novel that will leave you smiling.

As the title suggests, the action is aboard a cruise ship in the Mediterranean. The atmosphere is light and fun-filled, with blue sky days and relaxing nights.

The reader revels in the trips ashore as we ‘see’ some of the treasures that the local landscape has to offer.

There are a wonderful eclectic mix of characters, all of whom are the other side of sixty. Caroline James shows that you are never too old to have fun. Life is for living.

You are never too old to follow your dreams. “Don’t die wondering what it might have been like to be an author. Make it happen.” If you have a dream, why not fulfil it?

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The Lost Orphan by Pam Weaver

Mar2

Entertaining & Engrossing

The Lost Orphan by Pam Weaver is a powerful historical novel That I thoroughly enjoyed.

The action begins in Worthing in December 1941 and continues throughout the war. We follow two half French sisters who are searching for their younger sister. All three were orphans but unscrupulous lies see them separated.

Within a character, the past has consumed her. Shocking events from her childhood continue to haunt her. Facing her fears and sharing her past, has disastrous consequences, leaving her even more isolated. Love and kindness are needed for her to bud and blossom.

War sees everyone doing their bit. One sister is training to become a nurse. The other joins the S.O.E. and is posted to France, wanting to do her bit to liberate her mother country.

Life leaves scars. War leaves scars. “I have scars too. The only difference between us is that you can’t see mine.” Scars need love as a balm. When love blossoms, scars fade.

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The War Pianist by Mandy Robotham

Jan25

Epic & Educating

The War Pianist by Mandy Robotham is an epic and comprehensive novel that will educate as you read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The novel focuses on 1940 and 1941 in both London and Holland. We see the war through the eyes of two women, one in each country. They are both war pianists which is another name for radio operatives. Both were incredibly brave, outwardly seemingly ordinary women. Both sacrificed in order to fight against evil. Both had strong characters and both loved their families. Their war was across the airwaves – until it wasn’t – then both were part of the resistance, seeking to free Europe from the Nazi grip.

We follow the resistance across Holland. They are brave men, women and children who have to adapt and learn to think on their feet.

All the characters were well drawn, realistic and likable. The landscape of the war – in both countries – was vividly painted by the author.

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The Forgotten Bookshop In Paris by Daisy Wood

Jan17

Powerful Dual Timeline

The Forgotten Bookshop In Paris by Daisy Wood is a fabulous dual timeline novel that I just could not put down.

The story is set in present day and during World War II in Paris. The time periods are linked as a granddaughter researches her late grandmother’s life during the war. She also desires to open up the bookshop that she sees in her grandmother’s painting.

The bookshop is a time capsule, hiding secrets amid the dust and the shelves. It needs to be awakened and lives remembered.

We see the bravery of some during World War II. While many sat idly by, a few brave souls risked their lives in order to save and hide others. There were pockets of mutual respect to be found in some German hearts, as characters bond over books. We see a character who lays down his life in order to save the innocents.

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