Tag Archive | One More Chapter

The Cruise by Caroline James

Apr23

Grab Life & Live It!

The Cruise by Caroline James is a delightfully fun novel that will make you smile.

A Christmas cruise in the Caribbean is a wonderful escape from the cold December days in Britain. It is a new experience for three school friends aged sixty three. They prove that you are never too old for new experiences.

Life has been difficult in recent years – we have a widow who has endured a lifetime of domestic abuse, a divorcee, and a character lacking in self confidence. Now is the time for a fresh start.

We meet an eclectic mix of characters cruising. Some are seasoned travelers; others are new to it. It is important to grab new experiences and opportunities. Don’t let life pass you by. Life is for living, as we see several characters having epiphanies.

Some characters need to be encouraged to try new things. We see that an obsession with weight and body-shaming has held a character to ransom over the years.

Caroline James has introduced not only the characters, but the reader too, to the joys and delights of cruising. Her words have vividly painted the landscape and the sights. We can almost ‘feel’ the heat as we figuratively step onto the white-hot sand.

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The Collaborator’s Daughter by Eva Glyn

Apr14

A Beacon Of Hope

The Collaborator’s Daughter by Eva Glyn is a compelling dual timeline tale that I read in just one sitting. This is a tale that enthralls, entertains and enchants the reader. It is a tale that blends fact and fiction, educating as you read.

Much of the book is set in 2010 Croatia but looking backwards to 1944 after the Nazi’s had fled. The lead character grew up in England, after her mother fled with her in 1944. She longs to know her roots, seeking out her father – was he hero or traitor?

It is also a story about new beginnings. We are never too old for a fresh start. The two lead characters are in their sixties. They both have tragedies, regrets and sorrows behind them. Is it time to take a chance, grasp life and learn to live again?

Croatia in 2010 is very different from 1944 when fear and tension were all around, and trust was in short supply. In contrast, in 2010 lives live in freedom, tasting food and coffee, experiencing sun, sea and laughter. As the past unravels, lives in present day mirror the course and open up.

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The Paris Sister by Adrienne Chinn

Jan26

The Roaring Twenties

The Paris Sister by Adrienne Chinn is a marvelous historical novel following the lives of three sisters through the roaring twenties.

The world is in a time of immense change after World War I. The role of women is a complex one. World War I gave women many freedoms but as the men returned home, the lives of women were expected to go back in the box.

The women in the story are all strong characters, knowing their own minds. They believe in equality with men and set out to achieve this in their various ways. The women are forced to be strong due to their personal circumstances as some are coping without their husbands and one is married to a weak man.

This is a cosmopolitan novel as we travel from England to Canada, Paris, Italy and Egypt, following the various characters. Paris after the War is full of gaiety and life. Italy is beautiful with sun, sea and sand. Egypt is wild, dusty and full of adventure as the tomb of Tutankhamun is about to be opened up in 1922. Canada has a wilderness waiting to be tamed.

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The Secret Keeper by Amanda James

Dec20

Righting Wrongs And Healing Wounds

The Secret Keeper by Amanda James is a wonderful contemporary romantic mystery which I loved.

Set mainly in Tintagel, the scenery comes alive with Amanda James vivid descriptions. The reader ‘walks’ through the action, fully involved rather than a passive participant.

Cornwall is a place ‘of mystery and magic.” The reader ‘experiences’ this air of mystery as they become immersed in the novel.

Skipton is another setting. As I am familiar with ‘the gateway to the dales,’ it was wonderful to ‘see’ the town.

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