Review: Our Woman in Moscow

Title: Our Woman in Moscow

Author: Beatriz Williams

Publisher: 6th June 2021 by HarperCollins Australia

Pages: 432 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: historical fiction, spy, thriller 

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

In the autumn of 1948, Iris Digby vanishes from her London home with her American diplomat husband and their two children. The world is shocked by the family’s sensational disappearance. Were they eliminated by the Soviet intelligence service? Or have the Digbys defected to Moscow with a trove of the West’s most vital secrets?

Four years later, Ruth Macallister receives a postcard from the twin sister she hasn’t seen since their catastrophic parting in Rome in the summer of 1940, as war engulfed the continent and Iris fell desperately in love with an enigmatic United States Embassy official named Sasha Digby. Within days, Ruth is on her way to Moscow, posing as the wife of counterintelligence agent Sumner Fox in a precarious plot to extract the Digbys from behind the Iron Curtain.

But the complex truth behind Iris’s marriage defies Ruth’s understanding, and as the sisters race toward safety, a dogged Soviet agent forces them to make a heartbreaking choice between two irreconcilable loyalties.

My Thoughts

"In this terrible war - this war between communism and liberal democracy - communism will win, because it does not care about how many lives it devours."

Our Woman in Moscow is a cold war thriller based loosely around the Cambridge Five - a ring of spies who passed information to Russia during and right after WWII. Based on real incidents and people, Beatriz has once again written a well researched novel that addresses not only espionage but also trust and family bonds. A tale of two sisters, moving back and forth across time and countries - 1940 Rome, 1948 London and 1952 Moscow.

“And what I have done this summer, I have done to repay my debt - the debt I owe her, the debt I owe t0 …  all who came before me and saved me without knowing it.”

Spies and espionage during the early days of the Cold War - love it! The story is divided into two time frames, with 1952 and Ruth trying to get to her sister, and the years leading up to Iris’s situation. Through alternate narratives of each sister, as well as a KGB agent at Moscow Centre, the reader learns of the sisters' history and how their falling out years before led them to their current life situation. I found the  character development - even secondary characters - to be well done. Beatriz’s writing of setting and sense of place draws you in as if you are right there facing all the intrigue and conspiracy. 

‘I know what he must be thinking. Nobody likes a shrew, do they? A woman who insists on having her own way. Oh, a man in my position would be hailed a great leader! Firm, decisive, independent, uncompromising. But a woman who stands up for herself and those she loves - well, that’s Palin mean and selfish, isn’t it?’

This is a story of sacrifice and fortitude as Beatriz cleverly combines the historical detail with strong female protagonists. If reading about the push of communism in the early 1950s is of interest to you, then you will enjoy this fictional tale. A tale of love and loyalty, defection and deception, family and betrayal all woven together into a highly entertaining read. 

“When is it possible to feel and to think at the same time? Never.”

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: Flora's Travelling Christmas Shop

Title: Flora's Travelling Christmas Shop

Author: by Rebecca Raisin

Publisher: 28th October 2021 by HQ

Pages: 315 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: contemporary, Christmas, romance, holiday, women’s fiction

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

‘Tis the season for mulled wine, mince pies, and magic under the mistletoe…

Flora loves Christmas more than anything else in the world, so she’s gutted when her Scrooge-alike boss fires her from Deck the Halls Christmas emporium. But now she finally has a chance to follow her dreams – and what better place to start than the home of Christmas?

Before she can say ‘sleigh bells’, Flora’s on her way to Lapland in a campervan-cum-Christmas-shop. She can’t wait to spend her days drinking hot chocolate and taking reindeer-drawn carriage rides, but something Flora didn’t expect was meeting Connor, a Norse god of a man who makes her heart flutter and snowflakes swirl in her stomach. There’s just one problem: Connor hates Christmas.

Can Flora convince Connor of the joys of Christmas – and will she find a festive romance along the way?

My Thoughts

‘I’m a self-confessed Christmas tragic and if I could live like it’s Christmas all year round, then I would.’

I am a big fan of Rebecca’s Van Lifers series - I have read the Tea Shop and Book Shop editions of course! So I was highly anticipating her latest offering at this time of year, a Christmas Shop van! So if you are in any way a fan of Christmas look no further for this book is full to the brim with good festive cheer!

‘It’s my interpretation of the true meaning of Christmas. It isn’t about gaudy festoon lights, or maxed-out credit cards, the forced proximity of family members who don’t get along. It’s about finding someone who makes you feel like it’s Christmas every day. Someone who finds joy in the simple things’

Flora's Travelling Christmas Shop is absolutely delightful and everything you could expect in Lapland! I loved the cultural inclusions and various customs (yes naked sauna trips were a LOL moment!) - not to forget the amazing Northern Lights. Rebecca’s wit and charm oozes like hot chocolate from all her vibrant characters. Poor ol’ Flora, searching for her Hallmark movie moment! The dialogue is fun and the friendships engaging. The requisitory romance is there but not front and centre … this book is all about Christmas in all its many shapes and forms. Flora is obviously an over-the-top Christmas fanatic and even those of us who love this time of year may find that too much as it sometimes comes across as childish - but then you tell yourself, this is what this time of year is all about. You can’t help but want things to flow for this flawed character.

‘So, it’s my love of all things Christmas you find so offensive?

This book is sure to bring a smile to your Christmas preparations this month as it will leave you feeling warm and happy inside. So fire up those Christmas lights, put that carol playlist on, grab yourself a hot drink (‘make yourself a pot of strong tea.’ ‘That’s your answer to this … this malady?’ ‘For now. We’re British, it’s what we do’) and spend some time in Lapland with Flora and her van. 

‘Christmas or Hanukkah or any seasonal occasion at this time of year, it’s as though the world pauses for that infinitesimal amount of time - smiles get wider, hope abounds and joy is found in the simplest of things, like listening to carols, or popping a cracker and donning a paper crown. It’s an enchanting time of year’

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: All About Ella

Title: All About Ella

Author: Meredith Appleyard

Publisher: 1st September 2021 by Harlequin Australia & MIRA

Pages: 384 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: women’s fiction, contemporary

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

At 70, and widowed, Ella is about to find out that blood is not always thicker than water. A wise and warm-hearted story about aging, family and community for readers of Tricia Stringer and Liz Byrski.

At 70, Ella's world is upended, leaving her at odds with her three adult children, whose attention is fixed more firmly on her money than her ongoing welfare. After an argument with her son Anthony, she flees his Adelaide home for Cutlers Bay, a seaside town on the Yorke Peninsula. There she befriends Angie, a 40-year-old drifter, and becomes an irritant to local cop Zach. He's keen to shift Ella off his turf, because Anthony phones daily, demanding his mother be sent home. And besides, Zach just doesn't trust Angie.

Ella warms to Cutlers Bay, and it warms to her. In a defiant act of self-determination, she buys an entirely unsuitable house on the outskirts of town, and Angie agrees to help make it habitable. Zach is drawn to the house on the clifftop, and finds himself revising his earlier opinions of Ella, and Angie.

A keenly observed story about aging and its inherent vulnerability, about community and chosen family, about how family stressors shape us all, about trust and loyalty, and about standing up for yourself.

My Thoughts

‘I ran a comb through my hair. Who was that old woman in the mirror, scowling back at me? Whoever she was, she was in dire need of a hairdresser. And look at all those wrinkles. There hadn’t been nearly as many a year ago.’

All About Ella is a brilliant book … gosh I enjoyed it! Meredith is part of a group of authors writing tales that involve our aging population and I salute her for shining the spotlight on this undervalued age group. It’s not overly dramatic but packs a punch where it counts with real events and reactions that highlight the vulnerability of the aging and the greed of some families. 

‘What was it I’d hoped for from my eldest son? Acknowledgement that he respected his mother’s right to make decisions about her own life? Some kind of sign that he understood why I might need time to get used to life without a husband and a home? Anything that might have indicated I hadn’t become invisible to my family. That I hadn’t passed my use-by date and become nothing more than a hindrance to them.’

Told from the points of view of three characters - Ella, Angie and Zach - Meredith covers all thoughts and angles seamlessly. You cannot help but admire Ella’s strength of character yet still her need of support and encouragement to stand strong in the face of adversity. Angie and Zach, whilst providing support to Ella, face their own journey and add a real depth to the story as people in their forties and the challenges that come with that age bracket. The town of Cutler’s Bay is a place I’d want to visit as the people exemplify that family do not have to be related - they are the people who are there when you need them most. 

‘I’m entitled to the future I want, not the one you think I should have.’

I just love how this book makes you think, forces you to examine the value we place on our aging population - giving them the support to make their own choices with family to support and not dominate. It really is about acknowledging the pursuit of  purpose and living a meaningful life at any age. Meredith places Seniors at the forefront of this novel and mixes in family greed against independent living. She really highlights these issues and the challenges that face our older population. 

‘On reflection, my life today bore little resemblance to the life I’d been living a year ago. Most of what I’d known about myself no longer applied. I was single, a widow, and without a home to call my own. On top of that, my children were behaving as if I’d become nothing more than a nuisance, getting in the way of them having what they’d decided was rightfully theirs.’

Only recently I read an article about older divorced/single women and the plight of finding themselves homeless at a time of their life when such things should not ideally be an issue. Meredith has written a truly wonderful tale full of lovely characters who speak to the reader as their issues are real and relatable. The reflections on life, relationships and friendship are something I highly recommend people to read about. 

‘I’ve decided the reason these memories pop up is to remind us that we have had lives that were worth living. When you get old, younger people treat you as if you’ve always been old. That you haven’t had a life. That you weren’t young once.’

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: Summer of Serenity

Title: Summer of Serenity

Author: Nicola Marsh

Publisher: 29th September 2021 by Harlequin Australia, HQ & MIRA

Pages: 384 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: women’s fiction, contemporary, romance

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

Opposites clash in the addictive new small-town romance from USA Today bestselling Australian author Nicola Marsh.

A slick city boy with a mission. A free-spirited country girl with a cause. Fireworks are guaranteed...

Upstanding principal Jy Atherton dreads the next four weeks. As punishment for crossing his bosses, he's been lumped with the inglorious task of assessing Acacia Haven's tiny school with its, dare he say, 'hippie' curriculum. With the lowest test scores in the state, it's no wonder shutting it down is practically a forgone conclusion. But then he crosses paths with a spitfire who knocks him for six - pity he's already public enemy number one...

Teacher Summer O'Reilly loves her small town nestled along the beautiful coast. Returning was the best decision she ever made. The intentional living community of Serenity is thriving, and the children are its future. No way will she allow a jumped-up suit - no matter how good-looking - to close the school her precious students need.

For Rayne O'Reilly, Acacia Haven has always been serene on the surface, but there's a dark secret she's kept from everyone for decades, including her daughter, Summer. But after reviving old friendships and reconnecting with the past, will she finally have the courage to tear down the walls that have kept her trapped?

My Thoughts

‘He didn’t fit in here and the next four weeks would be hell.’

Summer of Serenity by Nicola Marsh is a wonderful tale of letting go of the past and finding a true and better life. I also loved the fact that it is set in my home state of Victoria, Australia and what a coastal community it proved to be!

The basis of this story is really solid and I just love how Nicola writes about place and community. On this occasion, there is a small coastal town that, like many others, is suffering from a lack of resources. The educational story, whilst fabricated, still lent a unique flavour to the tale. I relished the fictional town of Acacia Haven and how it embraces sustainability as a community - a like minded and inter generational group of people striving to achieve a work-life balance that is meaningful.

‘That’s what intentional living’s about, basically. A group of people with similar values living in a shared space. In Serenity, it’s not about common religious or political values, it’s more about self sustainability and caring for the environment.’

There are romantic liaisons for two different age groups which proved interesting in their different approaches to similar issues of hurt and its impact on lives. The added relationship of Rayne (Summer’s mother) lent that extra layer to provide depth whilst touching sensitively on domestic abuse. The romance between Summer and Jy is delightful.

Nicola has excelled with the storyline of Summer of Serenity, providing characters, emotions and a real sense of place and community. There is a lovely country town vibe, an ethos to aspire to and a community one would happily live in. 

‘I happen to think kids learn better when they have options and aren’t forced to conform to expectations or fit in a pre-formed box.’

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 Music Makers - Timeshift Victorian Mysteries

Title: The Music Makers - Timeshift Victorian Mysteries Book 2

Author: Alexandra Walsh

Publisher: 9th November 2021 by Sapere Books

Pages: 432 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: historical fiction, mystery

My Rating: 3 crowns

Synopsis:

Do you have the power to change your fate…?

Pembrokeshire, Wales, 2020

Serious illness has forced Eleanor Wilder to leave her life in London, close her antique shop, and return to the family farm in Pembrokeshire. Her instinct is to hide from the world but when her parents bring her to a family reunion at the nearby house, Cliffside, she is transfixed by a set of old family photographs.

One of the images is of a woman in theatrical dress, labelled ‘Esme Blood’ – a name that is familiar to Eleanor through a set of Victorian tarot cards and diaries that she found through her shop. Certain the name is unusual enough not to be a coincidence, Eleanor begins to research the life of this intriguing woman.

London, England, 1875

Born to a teenage mother who couldn’t cope, Esme Blood is adopted by the ebullient Cornelius and Rosie Hardy into a touring theatrical troupe, along with her friend Aaron. When Aaron’s grandparents return to claim him, Esme is devastated and the two promise they will find each other.

Outgrowing her adopted lifestyle, Esme decides to set out to seek her fortune, and she relies on a deck of Tarot cards to direct her. But fate can be a cruel mistress, and before long Esme finds herself trapped in a loveless marriage.

Did Esme find happiness? Was she ever reunited with Aaron?

And will researching her family history bring healing to Eleanor…?

My Thoughts

“We are the music makers, We are the dreamers of dreams,”

I am a fan of Alexandra’s The Marquess House trilogy which I found to be a wonderful dual timeline narrative. I was therefore eager to try something from her new series on Victorian mysteries. This book is the second in the series, however, you don’t need to have read the first book as this works as a standalone.

“A message across time” she said, her eyes gleaming with excitement.”

There is much to enjoy in this story. The historical story is more interesting with fascinating insights into tarot card readings and the Victorian theatre (fantastic research here). The link to the modern day timeline through Eleanor’s collection of theatrical artifacts was well done. I did find, however, that the storyline’s were somewhat implausible at times and there were many characters being added in throughout both timelines that it was a struggle to keep up with them all. 

“You have been my heart, my soul, but you are draining me, and I need to be free before our love destroys me.”

This is another solid book by Alexandra Walsh. I loved the links to her previous books, touching on characters from Marquess House. I do recommend you sample some of her writing.

‘To enable us to exist to the limit of our abilities we have to learn what makes our hearts beat, to be ourselves and to live truthfully within our own skin.’

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.

Cytonic (Skyward #3)

Title: Cytonic (Skyward #3)

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Publisher: 30th November 2021 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 432 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: science fiction, young adult, fantasy

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Reckoners series, the Mistborn trilogy, and the Stormlight Archive comes the third book in an epic series about a girl who will travel beyond the stars to save the world she loves from destruction.

Spensa’s life as a Defiant Defense Force pilot has been far from ordinary. She proved herself one of the best starfighters in the human enclave of Detritus and she saved her people from extermination at the hands of the Krell—the enigmatic alien species that has been holding them captive for decades. What’s more, she traveled light-years from home as an undercover spy to infiltrate the Superiority, where she learned of the galaxy beyond her small, desolate planet home.

Now, the Superiority—the governing galactic alliance bent on dominating all human life—has started a galaxy-wide war. And Spensa’s seen the weapons they plan to use to end it: the Delvers. Ancient, mysterious alien forces that can wipe out entire planetary systems in an instant. Spensa knows that no matter how many pilots the DDF has, there is no defeating this predator.

Except that Spensa is Cytonic. She faced down a Delver and saw something eerily familiar about it. And maybe, if she’s able to figure out what she is, she could be more than just another pilot in this unfolding war. She could save the galaxy.

The only way she can discover what she really is, though, is to leave behind all she knows and enter the Nowhere. A place from which few ever return.

To have courage means facing fear. And this mission is terrifying.

My Thoughts

What does one say about Brandon Sanderson, other than, he is in a league of his own. This man just never fails to impress. Cytonic is the third Skyward novel and not once does he drop the ball. It was funny, it was relatable, it was addictive and it was clever and compelling in the most brilliant of ways. 

"But ... stories say something. About us, and about where we came from. They're a reminder that we have a past, a history. And a future.”

What Sanderson does best, lies in his ability to bring the words off the page, bringing them alive! His character development and world building are meaningful, enlightening and out of this world. The themes he chooses to discuss, whilst fun and inventive, also allow readers to consider that troubles in life, whilst real, can be overcome.

"Learn to accept that sometimes what you feel isn't invalid..."

I love books where you come across real 'easter eggs' - the deeper meanings within the pages - this book achieves that perfectly. There are moments where readers appreciate the joy and other moments where readers appreciate the philosophical meanings.

"I contemplated the idea of the world - well, many worlds..."

Amazing writing, amazing ideas and amazing execution of the plot. If you have not already got on the Brandon Sanderson train and you are a scifi fan, what is stopping you? His latest instalment demonstrates yet again, just how remarkable he really is.

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.