Tag Archive | Net Galley

The Magical Matcha Teashop by Natasha Bache

Apr9

Power Of New Beginnings

The Magical Matcha Teashop by Natasha Bache is a very charming contemporary tale that I read in just two sittings.

The reader is delighted to step into the world of Lavender Hollow, a small village in England. With its’ independent businesses and no big chain stores, the reader experiences olde worlde charm.

At the heart of the book is the matcha teashop. Owner Yulli relocated from Osaka after his wife Mei died. Yulli is running from grief, but there is no escape. Locking up his heart and keeping busy has also prevented him from accessing beautiful memories.

Mei put life and love into her brews. She knew just what was needed. The teashop needs a new person to take over the reins.

Grace wants a new beginning as she has escaped a soulless relationship and returned home. As the matcha teashop opens its’ doors, Grace can ‘feel’ it talking to her.

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The Orphan’s Mission by Glynis Peters

Apr3

Of Love & War

The Orphan’s Mission by Glynis Peters is a compelling historical novel that consumed me from the start.

The action begins in London before moving briefly to the south coast and then over to mainline Europe during World War II. We follow a teenage orphan whose father was French, and mother was British. Now she has nowhere to call home. She answers the personal call to fight the Nazis from inside France.

We witness the bravery required to sail to Holland, walk several miles to a rendez vous point, and then be parachuted into France.

A small cell of resistance fighters occupies a French farm. They live in plain sight as a family unit – until they realise someone has betrayed them.

We see the wits, bravery and cunning needed to survive the most dangerous of times.

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I Did A Bad Thing by Louise Jensen

Apr1

A Mother’s Love

I Did A Bad Thing by Louise Jensen is a totally gripping contemporary psychological thriller that I just could not put down.

This is a book about a mother’s love. It motivates her to do what she does. Some of her choices are questionable. As a mother puts lives on social media, we see that the world is your judge. Lives thrown open to the world, are criticised by the world.

We see the importance of a mother’s instinct. “He might know medicine, but I know my child.” This maternal instinct will save a life, as it is fought for by the mother. “I’m scared she’ll die.”

Our choices are important. Choices bring consequences and we must live with them. We see a life facing the ‘what-if’ questions. Will a conscience choose to do the right thing?

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The Last Baby In Auschwitz by Anna Stuart

Mar23

The Spider Keeps On Spinning

The Last Baby In Auschwitz by Anna Stuart is a powerful and heartbreaking historical novel that consumed me from the start. It is based in facts.

The reader follows the plight of the Greek Jewish people from freedom to the hell that was Auschwitz. They were always “a heartbeat from death.”

We follow two Jewish female cousins and their fight to survive. It was hope, love and luck that kept them going. “They can’t wash away my heart. They can’t shave off my spirit. The spider keeps on spinning.” The webs of love and friendship were woven in Auschwitz. They had to focus on each other and hope for a better future. They needed to survive in order to tell the world of the horrors.

Even in Auschwitz, the women retained their humanity. “As Naomi sang… she knew that love, not hatred, was the way to truly rouse a rabble, the way to fight oppression.” The women shared what little they had. They did what they did in order to survive, and to help others to survive. “Survival was their only weapon against Nazi oppression.” They realised “guns were strong, but hearts were stronger.”

In the hell that was Auschwitz, it was easy to lose sight of God. “Naomi tried to pray, but it was hard to get through to God these days.” As the months went on, “God was becoming harder and harder to see through all this darkness.” But love was stronger than hate. “She had to… pray that love would win out against the grinding hate.”

There was a powerful quote about the futility of war (from a Nazi Soldier). “I went off to fight thinking it was all about glory and honour, but… it’s just horror and fear and… waste. Waste of money, waste of resources, waste of lives.”

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