Review: Christmas Carols and a Cornish Cream Tea

 

Title: Christmas Carols and a Cornish Cream Tea

Author: Cressida McLaughlin

Publisher: 25th November 2021 by HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction

Pages: 372 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: romance, Christmas, contemporary

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

Can she spread Christmas cheer in Cornwall this year?

All Meredith Verren has ever wanted is to escape the holiday season without having to wear a Christmas jumper. Her new job at the cosy gift shop in a picturesque Cornish tourist spot is making it impossible for her to maintain her scrooge-like manner.

With their seasonal hampers on everyone’s wish list, Meredith must paste on a smile and fake some holiday cheer. Then she meets handsome new arrival, Finn, who wishes it could be Christmas every day and wants her to feel the same way too.

Can she embrace the holly and the ivy before the decorations are packed away for another year?

My Thoughts

If a trip to Cornwall at Christmas time is just what you are looking for to get in the Christmas spirit, then look no further than Christmas Carols and a Cornish Cream Tea.  Cressida’s book is overflowing with all things Christmas and humbugs and grinches sure to find themselves swaying to all the festive cheer. 

‘Her problem with Christmas was that there was so much of it. So many gifts and trinkets, sparkles and embellishments, that the meaning, the thoughtfulness, got lost amongst the sheer excess of it all. It was a celebration that Meredith thought had lost its soul, and over the years her dislike had turned into a genuine aversion.’

This tale surely has it all - carols, cooking, decorations, hampers, lights, parades, baking and celebrations for one and all! Cressida delivers bucket loads of everything we need to fire up and be ready for the big day. Add in some romance, village love with family and friends and this is a tale that can do no wrong. 

‘I panicked! This is what Christmas does to you! There’s all this expectation, this stupid need to be bright and sparkly, to help people out and not have any weak moments, to say yes to everything because you know everyone’s stressed and you have to be as stressed as them or you’re not good enough.’

I love that it even digs a little deeper with Cressida addressing those that struggle at this time of year due perhaps to loss, grief or family separation. She allows both lead characters wonderful journeys where they are encouraged to pursue their dreams beyond this festive season. There is much more to this particular tale than just bright, shiny Christmas lights. This is, of course, part of The Cornish Cream Tea series, however, it is a complete new story in a different Cornish village - a definite standalone book. 

‘… she’d had time to consider it this year, that you didn’t have to follow any rules for how you celebrated Christmas. You could have it exactly as you wanted.’

I adore books set in Cornwall and what could be better than to include Christmas! So make yourself a nice cuppa and settle in for all the festive feels! It even addresses a common discussion in our home:

‘What about your Dad and Die Hard? Is it a Christmas tradition that you try and make him watch it and he puts on It’s a Wonderful Life instead?’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: The Wit and Wisdom of Bridgerton

Title: The Wit and Wisdom of Bridgerton

Author: Julia Quinn

Publisher: 1st December 2021 by HarperCollinsAustralia

Pages: 191 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: fiction, romance, historical, regency

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn comes a highly designed, colorful collection of quotes, wit, and wisdom from Lady Whistledown and the most memorable characters of the much-loved Bridgerton books, now a series created by Shondaland for Netflix. 

A collection of the most dramatic, romantic, and memorable quotes from the charming characters of the Bridgerton world, The Wit and Wisdom of Bridgerton is the perfect gift for fans of the Bridgerton series and the groundbreaking Shondaland/Netflix adaptation. With her signature wink and nod, Lady Whistledown herself will act as readers’ familiar and trusted guide, introducing each character’s most memorable quotes.

Each chapter in the book will highlight a different character from the Bridgerton series and include a new introduction from Lady Whistledown, quotes from the character, and things other characters have said about them over the course of the entire series. Fans will get a 360-degree view of each of their favorite personalities, with new commentary and takeaways from Lady Whistledown.

From Daphne, to Simon, to Penelope, to Colin, fans will enter the Bridgerton world in a completely new way with a fresh and intimate perspective of each character. Readers will relive the twists and turns of the books, taking (or not taking) the advice on love, family, etiquette, and fashion from the most beloved and unforgettable voices from Bridgerton. With an introduction from the creator of the Bridgerton world and #1 NYT Bestselling author Julia Quinn, The Wit and Wisdom of Bridgerton is a highly designed keepsake and unique addition to the Regency-set series. 

My Thoughts

‘A Bridgerton. To be such is to know that you are part of a family tightly webbed with staunch loyalty and unquestioning love. And laughter.

Always laughter.’

(Julia Quinn)

You’ve watched the show. You’ve read the books. You still just can’t get enough of Bridgerton - join the club! So this collection of quotes and excerpts from the books, combined with the wisdom of Lady Whistledown, is sure to hit the spot. 

Let me start by saying, it is an absolutely beautiful, hard copy book. A treasure just to hold and own. A truly wonderful keepsake that can be referred to again and again - exquisite in its presentation.

Each chapter in the book will highlight a different character from the Bridgerton series and include an introduction from Lady Whistledown. Is it new content - no. But as a reference for hard core fans reflecting over some of the memorable moments/quotes - it doesn’t get any better. It truly is a must have item on your bookshelf. 

It's got it all -  sweet moments, swoony moments, heartfelt moments, laughable moments … all the perfect moments in one sensational book. A book for lovers of books. A book to bridge the Bridgerton series drought. A gift for the fans and would most certainly be adored as a stocking stuffer this Christmas.

“All I want is you,” she whispered. “I don’t need the world, just your love. And maybe,” she added with a wry smile, “for you to take off your boots.”

 (Daphne)

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: To Italy, With Love

Title: To Italy, With Love

Author: Nicky Pellegrino

Publisher: 28th September 2021 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 317 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: contemporary

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

Love happens when you least expect it...

Assunta has given up on love. She might run her little trattoria in the most romantic mountain town in Italy, but love just seems to have passed her by.

Sarah-Jane is finished with love. She's buying an old convertible and driving around Italy this summer - it's the perfect way to forget all about her hot celebrity ex-boyfriend!

But when Sarah-Jane's car breaks down in Montenello, she has to stay longer than she intended. And the trouble is, love is everywhere...

My Thoughts

‘… she couldn’t help imagining what it might be like to have someone beside her as she moved through the rest of her life; a person to talk to and laugh with, to lean on whenever it seemed she couldn’t stand alone.’

I have read and enjoyed Nicky's previous books as they always provide some good escapism. In To Italy, With Love, she gives us two lead characters who are not happy or satisfied with their life and through their stories find that love, friendship and family are the cornerstones of happiness - along with some great cuisine! 

Nicky has once again created characters and scenarios that allow for realisation and growth with two women at different stages in their lives. She writes so well that I want to be with Sarah-Jane and have a cup of tea and I want to eat at Assunta’s trattoria. Which leads to the food … sumptuous and so inviting. We may not be travelling to Italy right now, but thanks to Nicky, the charming village of Montenello gives us the armchair travel we are all craving for. 

In her acknowledgements Nicky notes that this was her Covid/lockdown book. She wished to pen a happy tale where people could escape to Italy through its pages. However, by the conclusion it had become apparent that it had evolved into so much more. At a deeper level it was also a tale about loneliness, seeking connections and, when surrounded by loved ones, no life was too small to find purpose and meaning.

‘But there was a pleasure to be found in setting a table with her grandmother’s china, her good crystal and bone-handled cutlery. In having a cloth napkin and pouring a glass of ruby red Aglianico wine.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: The Schoolteacher of Saint-Michel

Title: The Schoolteacher of Saint-Michel

Author: Sarah Steele

Publisher: 30th November 2021 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 400 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: historical fiction, World War II

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

The war taught her to fight. The children taught her to hope...

Inspired by real acts of bravery and resistance, The Schoolteacher of Saint Michel is a heartrending and deeply moving story of one woman's courage and sacrifice during World War II, from the USA Today bestselling author of The Missing Piece of Nancy Moon.

This exquisitely beautiful novel is perfect for readers of The Rose Code by Kate Quinn, The Postmistress, Lilac Girls and The Girl from Vichy.

My darling girl, I need you to find someone for me . . .'

France, 1942. At the end of the day, the schoolteacher releases her pupils. She checks they have their identity passes, and warns them not to stop until the German guards have let them through the barrier that separates occupied France from Free France. As the little ones fly across the border and into their mothers' arms, she breathes a sigh of relief. No one is safe now. Not even the children.

Berkshire, present day. A letter left to her by her beloved late grandmother Gigi takes Hannah Stone on a journey deep into the heart of the Dordogne landscape. As she begins to unravel a forgotten history of wartime bravery and sacrifice, she discovers the heartrending secret that binds her grandmother to a village schoolteacher, the remarkable Lucie Laval.

My Thoughts

For all my reading of WWII, I don’t think I have ever read a book where the lead character was a school teacher. Being of that profession myself, I was intrigued to see how someone would have dealt with children (you always consider to be your own) under such threatening and frightening circumstances.

‘She straightened her narrow pencil skirt and tugged the peplum of her jacket over her slim hips, tilting her chin as she walked through the village. Her suit might be shabby, the lace collar of her silk blouse frayed, but her dark, shiny hair was as immaculately rolled as ever and her tired lace-up shoes were polished until they shone. She was Lucie Laval, schoolteacher of Saint-Michel.’

The Schoolteacher of Saint-Michel is quality historical fiction detailing the courage, bravery and determination of one small village in occupied France and, in particular, school teacher Lucie Laval. The story is a dual time narrative and, as often occurs with this style of fiction, the historical narrative is stronger than the contemporary. I was fully invested in this interesting tale with the research evident, detailing a unique aspect from this era. Apart from my issues with the contemporary tale, readers must also note that there is a large cast of characters to try and get your head around.

Many stories of this WWII era focus solely on the direct war events and often in/famous people. Here we have something quite removed from that - seemingly ordinary people who are faced with frightening circumstances and bravely come together to try and make a positive difference. So despite the obvious sadness and loss this is also a tale of hope and joy.

‘For seven decades, the story of the schoolteacher of Saint-Michel had remained untold, open-ended, and as Hannah reached the end of her time in France … it was not too late to share her story with those who remembered her, and those who were connected to her by bonds of friendship that ran as deep as blood ties.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Apples Never Fall

Title: Apples Never Fall

Author: Liane Moriarty

Publisher: 14th September 2021 by Pan Macmillan Australia

Pages: 460 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: fiction, mystery, thriller, suspense 

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

The Delaney family love one another dearly—it’s just that sometimes they want to murder each other . . .

If your mother was missing, would you tell the police? Even if the most obvious suspect was your father?

This is the dilemma facing the four grown Delaney siblings.

The Delaneys are fixtures in their community. The parents, Stan and Joy, are the envy of all of their friends. They’re killers on the tennis court, and off it their chemistry is palpable. But after fifty years of marriage, they’ve finally sold their famed tennis academy and are ready to start what should be the golden years of their lives. So why are Stan and Joy so miserable?

The four Delaney children—Amy, Logan, Troy, and Brooke—were tennis stars in their own right, yet as their father will tell you, none of them had what it took to go all the way. But that’s okay, now that they’re all successful grown-ups and there is the wonderful possibility of grandchildren on the horizon.

One night a stranger named Savannah knocks on Stan and Joy’s door, bleeding after a fight with her boyfriend. The Delaneys are more than happy to give her the small kindness she sorely needs. If only that was all she wanted.

Later, when Joy goes missing, and Savannah is nowhere to be found, the police question the one person who remains: Stan. But for someone who claims to be innocent, he, like many spouses, seems to have a lot to hide. Two of the Delaney children think their father is innocent, two are not so sure—but as the two sides square off against each other in perhaps their biggest match ever, all of the Delaneys will start to reexamine their shared family history in a very new light.

My Thoughts

‘Everyone had secrets.’

I really wanted to ‘love’ this book given my association with tennis and Liane’s reputation, and whilst it had some fantastic elements, it was not the blockbuster I had hoped for. Liane is Australian writing royalty and this latest offering has been highly anticipated by her huge fan base. Apples Never Fall is a suburban mystery tale that sees complex, tension filled,  family issues come under Liane’s unique microscope of satire and clever observations. 

Liane is the master of layering a story with lots of small, seemingly insignificant details and moments, that give you pause to ponder what is really going on behind closed doors. This is a book where a copious amount of effort has been put into the background story and character analytics of all those involved. Here you will find Liane’s trademark blend of wit, humour, especially in relation to domestic issues and a gentle mystery is added to this complex family drama. The problem is that it is super long in some sections that I feel could have been better edited t0 pack that real punch that I was looking for in the mystery aspect.

At its heart, this is the story of family, a look at the dynamics and everyday life of its members. This is where Liane truly shines and people are sure to relate. So whilst the mystery is not what many were expecting, I cannot help but feel she was striving for something more than the classic thriller. It’s clever, it’s thought provoking and it is most entertaining. 

‘Once your mother has momentum no-one can beat her,’ Stan always said, and he was talking about tennis but every single thing Logan’s dad said about tennis could also be applied to life.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Echoes of War

Title: Echoes of War

Author: Tania Blanchard

Publisher: 29th September 2021 by Simon & Schuster Australia

Pages: 448 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: historical fiction

My Rating: 4.5 crowns

Synopsis:

Set in Mussolini’s Italy amid great upheaval, this is the story of one woman’s determination to find her place in a world that men are threatening to tear apart. Another heart-rending novel inspired by a true story from the bestselling author of The Girl from Munich. 

 

Calabria, Italy, 1936

In a remote farming village nestled in the mountains that descend into the sparkling Ionian Sea, young and spirited Giulia Tallariti longs for something more. While she loves her home and her lively family, she would much rather follow in her nonna’s footsteps and pursue her dream of becoming a healer.

But as Mussolini’s focus shifts to the war in Europe, civil unrest looms. Whispers of war are at every corner and her beloved village, once safe from the fascist agenda of the North, is now in very real danger.

Caught between her desire to forge her own path and her duty to her family, Giulia must draw on the passion in her heart and the strength of her conviction. Can she find a way to fulfill her dreams or will the echoes of war drown out her voice?

My Thoughts

‘You have to be smart, be realistic, work within the boundaries to find a way to do what you want.’

Echoes of War is the fourth novel by Aussie author Tania Blanchard and I was excited to read it as I have very much enjoyed her previous offerings. On this occasion we have a young girl, Guilia, who just wants to be a healer like her Nonna. However, this puts her at odds with her father who’s only wish is to see his daughters married off as quickly as possible. Add into the mix, the outbreak of WWII and it is a recipe for a drama filled tale. 

‘I was finally free of Papà’s controlling ways and about to learn from one of the best herbalists in Calabria.’

Extending from 1936 into the 1950s, the reader follows Guilia’s struggles between her dreams and her family’s wishes. In the background, Mussolini and the world are waging war. Tania does a fantastic job of bringing to life not only this dictatorial government but also the patriarchal society and how life might have played out for someone such as Guilia.

‘The greatest responsibility of all rested on the shoulders of women. We were the ones who kept the family together, kept our farms and businesses running, put food on the table and made sure we all survived. But we couldn’t do it without each other.’

The story is inspired by Tania’s grandparents as mentioned in her Author Notes and she does another sensational job of melding fact and fiction. As in her previous works, Tania blends the events of the war beautifully with a story, in fact, the war most definitely is in the background for this one. With themes of family and ambition, dreams and heartbreak, I recommend lovers of historical fiction to take this journey with all the drama that this period brings with it. 

‘Oh, Giulia, you’ve always had a passion for life, a thirst for knowledge and the strength of will to reach for your dreams. You only needed to know how to harness your talents and recognise the strength within you.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.