Category: literature
+ 1960s, alcoholism, fiction, France, friends, friendship, gay, ghosts, haunting, journalist, literature, London, love, music, obsession, racism, review, supernatural
The Music of the Cosmos by Carole Bulewski
“We must discover the Music of the Cosmos.” With these words, visionary, depraved and intensely artistic Gaius piques the curiosity of Sam and his friends, young lads from Kent who have come to Swinging Sixties London in search of musical success. To further their quest for the otherworldly Music of the Cosmos, the boys leave London for Paris, and experiment with the help of … Read More The Music of the Cosmos by Carole Bulewski
+ 1950s, 1960s, family, feminism, fiction, Historical fiction, literature, London, love, marriage, mental health, mental illness, music, obsession, psychiatrist, relationships, review, sisters, therapy, twins
The Crooked Little Pieces: Volume 5 by Sophia Lambton
Love thrives in hiding. Crowded by encroaching dangers, Anneliese confronts a range of hurdles in The Crooked Little Volume 5: a dive into unstopping problems. As Isabel disdains a figure from her past, the dastardly Charles Anthony keeps making his psychiatrist miserable – to nobody’s avail. Susanna stumbles amidst frayed attempts to get her youth back; toying with an unfazed Christopher. Dazed Isabel once more fears … Read More The Crooked Little Pieces: Volume 5 by Sophia Lambton
+ audio book, audio drama, family, family drama, fiction, Historical fiction, literature, review, siblings, sisters, Victorian Britain
The Household by Stacey Halls
In a quiet house in the countryside outside London, the finishing touches are being made to welcome a group of young women. The house and its location are top secret, its residents unknown to one another, but the girls have one thing in common – they are fallen. Offering refuge for prostitutes, petty thieves and the destitute, Urania Cottage is a second chance at … Read More The Household by Stacey Halls
+ audio book, audio drama, childhood, family, family drama, fiction, gothic, gothic horror, Gothic mystery, Historical fiction, literature, review, secrets, siblings, sisters, Yorkshire
Mrs England by Stacey Halls
West Yorkshire, 1904. When newly graduated nurse Ruby May takes a position looking after the children of Charles and Lilian England, a wealthy couple from a powerful dynasty of mill owners, she hopes it will be the fresh start she needs. But as she adapts to life at the isolated Hardcastle House, it becomes clear there’s something not quite right about the beautiful, mysterious … Read More Mrs England by Stacey Halls
+ Dogs, fiction, friends, friendship, grief, literature, loss, love
A New Life by LJ Ambrosio (Reflections of Michael Book 4)
From America to the streets of Paris, A New Life follows two friends as they navigate grief, love, and self-discovery in a city filled with history and hope.A New Life is a story that lingers long after the last page Excerpt “They spent the rest of the trip talking about Rhonda and how great she was, from the fight where she tried to protect … Read More A New Life by LJ Ambrosio (Reflections of Michael Book 4)
+ childhood, Detective novel, fairy tale, female friendship, fiction, grief, kidnapping, literature, loss, love, murder, murder mystery, mystery, obsession, police drama, review, serial killer, thriller, writer
Little Red Death by A K Benedict
ONCE UPON A TIME LIKE YOU’VE NEVER READ IT BEFORE . . . DI Lyla Rondell is on the case of a lifetime. Tasked with investigating a series of perplexing deaths, the only lead she has is that each appears to be based on a different classic fairy tale. Far from the stuff of bedtime stories, the press is having a field day with what … Read More Little Red Death by A K Benedict
+ 1950s, family, feminism, fiction, grief, Historical fiction, lies, literature, London, loss, love, marriage, mental health, mental illness, motherhood, music, obsession, psychiatrist, relationships, review, secrets, sisters, therapy, twins
The Crooked Little Pieces: Volume 4 by Sophia Lambton
Curiosity can be a killer. The clock begins to tick on Anneliese’s moral compass as the sleuth-psychiatrist delves deeper into London’s social dregs – encountering a playbook too subversive for her tastes. While Isabel belittles the idea of jealousy Charles Anthony views his obsession as a Jezebel. Susanna’s (other) indiscretions are hard-pressed to rest in peace as torments old and new distort her life. … Read More The Crooked Little Pieces: Volume 4 by Sophia Lambton
+ anthology, audio book, List, literature, podcast, review
My Most Read Reviews of 2024
This was a new one for me in 2022, but I do love a good list. These books were not necessarily published this year – in fact Miss Benson’s Beetle was top for three years. This time it’s The Lost Bookshop which is also one of my favourite books. And Team Olaf’s Mutt Strutt Book for Maggie’s is up there still. I still don’t … Read More My Most Read Reviews of 2024
+ fiction, List, literature, review
My Year in Books 2024
It’s been a successful year for reading. I’ve read some brilliant books. My reading challenge was 150 and I’ve read 159. A few more than last year.
+ 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, coming-of-age, fiction, literature, love, marriage, music, obsession, relationships, review, seventies, sisters, therapy
The Enlightenment Club by Chris West
It’s 1975. Bright, dissatisfied teenager Stella Tranter wants to learn about big things: philosophy, great art, love. Her quest leads her to the select ‘Enlightenment Cub’ and the charismatic Dr Stanislas Licht. And to trouble. Thrown out of college, she continues her search in London. Is she really cut out for being a part-time roadie for a punk band, fronted by her outrageous sister? … Read More The Enlightenment Club by Chris West
+ family, fiction, friendship, Ireland, literature, loss, love, review
Heart Be At Peace by Donal Ryan
A stunning lyrical novel from the Number one bestselling author Donal Ryan about love, loss, hope and connection. 2019. Small town rural Island. 21 voices. A standalone novel that can also be read as a companion to Donal Ryan’s multi-award-winning bestseller, The Spinning Heart, voted ‘The Irish Book of the Decade’ ‘I said it before. Madness comes circling around. Ten-year cycles, as true as … Read More Heart Be At Peace by Donal Ryan
+ Dogs, fiction, friends, friendship, grief, literature, loss, love
LJ Ambrosio Reflections of Michael Q&A
In Book One ‘A Reservoir Man’ we were introduced to Michael. Everywhere Michael turned he saw a Reservoir Man. Michael’s endless trials of survival included sexual assault, the Vietnam War, an arrest in Spain, Hollywood scandal, the AIDS outbreak, 9/11 and beyond. If only Michael could have found the one thing he valued most, his freedom. Michael’s coming-of-age was tarnished by many, but the courage to … Read More LJ Ambrosio Reflections of Michael Q&A
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