Tag Archive | Simon & Schuster UK

Home For Christmas by Heidi Swain

Dec4

Wonderfully Festive

Home For Christmas by Heidi Swain is a most delightful contemporary Christmas novel that will charm the reader.

The novel is set in the few weeks leading up to the big day as we join familiar characters from Wynbridge as this is the sixth book in the series. It can be read as a stand-alone.

We join the two leading characters – one who adores Christmas, and the other who avoids all things connected with the festive season due to the painful memories it evokes. She sets out to change his mind and introduce him to the delights of Christmas. At the same time, the reader enjoys all the activities too. This really is Christmas captured in a book.

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Best Summer Ever by Heidi Swain

Jun6

Full Circle

Best Summer Ever by Heidi Swain is a most charming contemporary novel that I adored. It is the third book in the Wynmouth series but can be read as a stand-alone.

The reader finds themselves journeying to the Norfolk coast and the seaside town of Wynmouth, with the manor over-looking the town. The people are the heart of the village as they extend a friendly welcome to all. The hubs are the café, the pub and the beach huts. All the villagers are friendly but your business is never your own.

We see the healing power of both nature and of family.

Sometimes family can be domineering but ultimately family are those who love us, whether we are blood related or not.

We see the debate between nature and nurture as some kick against their roots, whereas others continue the passion that has come down the line. We witness that the love of horticulture seems to have skipped a generation but is alive and well in the grandchildren.

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When The World Was Ours by Liz Kessler

Jun12

Three Lives. One Photograph

When The World Was Ours by Liz Kessler is a powerful historical children’s novel, suitable for ages twelve years and over. Even as an adult, I found this book an incredibly moving read about a time when Europe was veiled by a terrible dark cloud.

The novel opens in Vienna in 1936 as we meet three nine year old friends, Max, Elsa and Leo, two of whom are Jewish. After one perfect day, captured on a photo, the three vow to be best friends forever.

When The World Was Ours is the story of their individual, and collective, war. Each one had different wartime experiences. Their stories are told in the first person from the three alternating points of view.

This is a powerful tale that is grounded in fact. This is a book that must be read in memory of the six million innocents who perished. May they never be forgotten.

As Hitler’s power increased, childhood was left behind. The three friends who vowed to be together forever, separated by the ravings of a madman.

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Return To Berlin by Ellen Feldman

Jan30

Powerful, Horrifying & Thought Provoking

Return To Berlin by Ellen Feldman is a powerful, heartbreaking and horrifying historical novel that educates while we read.

This is a dual timeline story as we begin in postwar Berlin but also look backwards to pre-war Berlin and America.

Berlin is a complicated city. It had been the seat of Hitler’s power and contained the bunker where he ended his life. Pre-war Jewish life was eroded bit by bit. People ‘disappeared’ or were able to flee to America. Families were split up.

Post war Berlin was a place not only for Berliners but also for Americans, British and Soviets as the city was divided into zones. Whilst the population of Berlin did support the Nazis way of life – either by being complicit or through their silence – the women and girls suffered from much brutality when the Soviets rode into town.

This book throws up many conflicting emotions in the reader. Like the main character, I wanted to dislike the Berliners who stood idly by whist the atrocities were committed – but the treatment of women and girls by the Soviets horrified and disgusted me. Return To Berlin will definitely mess with your emotions.

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