2023 has been a year of exceptional reading and looking ahead to the 100 or so books I already have coming out in 2024 I think that’s going to be a bumper year too.

It’s always a dilemma whether to blog a round up of my favourite reads as I always feel concerned for those authors whose books don’t appear on any lists, or whose books I have and would adore but haven’t quite got round to reading yet. At the same time I want to thank those writers who’ve brought me personal reading happiness. As you may know, when I read a book I immediately award an emotional ‘gut reaction’ mark out of 100 and any book getting 95 or above is a book of the year for me.

As I don’t think reading should be a competitive sport, I set my Goodreads challenge to read one book in 2023. Goodreads says I’ve read 138 books this year, but not all the ones I’ve read are on Goodreads and others I’ve read are coming out in 2024 so I haven’t put out my reviews yet. I also read several for My Weekly and The People’s Friend magazines that I haven’t got round to reviewing on the Linda’s Book Bag as my personal life rather overwhelmed me at times so sadly they don’t appear here either.

So, with apologies if I’ve read a hardback and the cover has changed for a newer paperback version, and with additional apologies to all the other wonderful authors I’ve read, here are the books I enjoyed the most in the order I read them and if you click on the title you’ll be taken to my review:

When I First Held You by Anstey Harris

Silence tore them apart. Can the truth bring them back together?

In 1960s Glasgow, anti-nuclear activists Judith and Jimmy fall in love. But their future hopes are dashed when their protestors’ squat is raided and many, including Jimmy, are sent to prison. Pregnant and with no word from Jimmy, Judith is forced to enter an unmarried mothers’ home, give up their baby and learn to live with her grief.

More than half a century later, Judith’s Mending Shop restores broken treasures, just as Judith herself has been bound back together by her late, much-missed partner, Catherine. But her tranquillity is shattered when Jimmy―so different and yet somehow the same―reappears, yearning to unpick the painful past.

Realising they each know only half of the other’s story, Jimmy and Judith finally break the silence that tore apart what might have been their family. Amid heartbreak and hope, how much can now be mended?

In the Blink of an Eye by Jo Callaghan

In the Blink of an Eye is coming out with a new cover in paperback on 4th January.

In the UK, someone is reported missing every 90 seconds.
Just gone. Vanished. In the blink of an eye. 

DCS Kat Frank knows all about loss. A widowed single mother, Kat is a cop who trusts her instincts. Picked to lead a pilot programme that has her paired with AIDE (Artificially Intelligent Detective Entity) Lock, Kat’s instincts come up against Lock’s logic. But when the two missing person’s cold cases they are reviewing suddenly become active, Lock is the only one who can help Kat when the case gets personal.

AI versus human experience.
Logic versus instinct.
With lives on the line can the pair work together before someone else becomes another statistic?

In the Blink of an Eye is a dazzling debut from an exciting new voice and asks us what we think it means to be human.

The Best Days of Our Lives by Lucy Diamond

When 35-year-old Leni McKenzie is knocked off her bike, her family’s world is turned upside down.

Leni and her sister Alice were best friends as well as siblings. But did they know each other as well as Alice thought? In the hope of coming to terms with her grief, she tries to piece together Leni’s last weeks – but her discoveries only lead to more questions. And that’s before the surprise reappearance of someone from the past. Life is certainly getting very complicated …

Meanwhile, the rest of the family seem to be falling apart. Belinda, Alice’s mum, has developed an unhealthy obsession with a clairvoyant, and Tony, her dad, is stressed about becoming a father all over again, what with three failed marriages stacking up behind him.

As for Will, the youngest McKenzie, he’s in denial, having hopped onto a plane to Thailand days after the funeral. Secretly, he’s tormented by the part he played in Leni’s death … and the thing about secrets is, they always come out eventually …

Full of hope and heartache, love and truths, Lucy Diamond’s new novel is the big-hearted and relatable story of one unforgettable year in the life of the McKenzies.

A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella

From the author of A Little Hope – a Read with Jenna Bonus Pick – comes another “heartwarming, character-driven” (Booklist) life-affirming novel about three individuals whose lives intersect in unforeseen ways.

Set in a close-knit suburb in the grip of winter, A Quiet Life follows three people grappling with loss and finding a tender wisdom in their grief.

Chuck Ayers used to look forward to nothing so much as his annual trip to Hilton Head with his wife, Cat – that yearly taste of relaxation they’d become accustomed to after a lifetime of working and raising two children. Now, just months after Cat’s death, Chuck finds that he can’t let go of her belongings- her favourite towel, the sketchbooks in her desk drawer–as he struggles to pack for a trip he can’t imagine taking without her.

Ella Burke delivers morning newspapers and works at a bridal shop to fill her days while she anxiously awaits news – any piece of information – about her missing daughter. Ella adjusts to life in a new apartment and answers every call on her phone, hoping her daughter will reach out.

After the sudden death of her father, Kirsten Bonato set aside her veterinary school aspirations, finding comfort in the steady routine of working at an animal shelter. But as time passes, old dreams and new romantic interests begin to surface – and Kirsten finds herself at another crossroads.

In this beautiful and profoundly moving novel, three parallel narratives converge in poignant and unexpected ways, as each character bravely presses onward, trying to recover something they have lost.

One Moment by Becky Hunter

One moment in time can change everything…

The day Scarlett dies should have been one of the most important of her life. It doesn’t feel fair that she’ll never have the chance to fulfil her dreams. And now, she’s still … here – wherever here is – watching the ripple effect of her death on the lives of those she loved the most.

Evie cannot contemplate her life without Scarlett, and she certainly cannot forgive Nate, the man she blames for her best friend’s death. But Nate keeps popping up when she least expects him to, catapulting Evie’s life in directions she’d never let herself imagine possible. Ways, perhaps, even those closest to her had long since given up on.

If you could go back, knowing everything that happens after, everything that happens because of that one moment in time, would you change the course of history or would you do it all again?

So Pretty by Ronnie Turner

Fear blisters through this town like a fever…

When Teddy Colne arrives in the small town of Rye, he believes he will be able to settle down and leave his past behind him. Little does he know that fear blisters through the streets like a fever. The locals tell him to stay away from an establishment known only as Berry & Vincent, that those who rub too closely to its proprietor risk a bad end.

Despite their warnings, Teddy is desperate to understand why Rye has come to fear this one man, and to see what really hides behind the doors of his shop.

Ada moved to Rye with her young son to escape a damaged childhood and years of never fitting in, but she’s lonely, and ostracised by the community. Ada is ripe for affection and friendship, and everyone knows it.

As old secrets bleed out into this town, so too will a mystery about a family who vanished fifty years earlier, and a community living on a knife edge.

Teddy looks for answers, thinking he is safe, but some truths are better left undisturbed, and his past will find him here, just as it has always found him before. And before long, it will find Ada too.

Thirty Days in Paris by Veronica Henry

Because Paris is always a good idea…

Years ago, Juliet left a little piece of her heart in Paris – and now, separated from her husband and with her children flying the nest, it’s time to get it back!

So she puts on her best red lipstick, books a cosy attic apartment near Notre-Dame and takes the next train out of London.

Arriving at the Gare du Nord, the memories come flooding back: bustling street cafés, cheap wine in candlelit bars and a handsome boy with glittering eyes.

But Juliet has also been keeping a secret for over two decades – and she begins to realise it’s impossible to move forwards without first looking back.

Something tells her that the next thirty days might just change everything…

Eighteen Seconds by Louise Beech

Family is the best thing in your life. And the worst.

My mother once said to me, ‘I wish you could feel the way I do for eighteen seconds. Just eighteen seconds, so you’d know how awful it is.’

I thought about it. Realised we could all learn from being in another person’s head for eighteen seconds. Eighteen seconds inside Grandma Roberts’ head as she sat alone with her evening cup of tea, us girls upstairs in bed. Eighteen seconds inside one-year-old Colin’s head when he woke up in a foster home without his family. Eighteen seconds inside the head of a girl waiting for her bedroom door to open.

Writer, Louise Beech, looks back on the events that led to the day her mother wrote down her last words, then jumped off the Humber Bridge. She missed witnessing the horror herself by minutes.

Louise recounts the pain and trauma of her childhood alongside her love for her siblings with a delicious dark humour and a profound voice of hope for the future.

Jana’s Brightly Coloured Socks by Sally Fetouh

Cheerful text and whimsical illustrations bring alive this heart-warming story of kindness and inclusion featuring a character with Down syndrome.

When young Jana receives heaps of beautiful socks from her parents after learning how to put on socks all by herself, she can’t wait to show her friends at school. They are always kind and patient with Jana when they play together. Jana decides to share a pair of her new socks with each and every friend. This calls for a school sock parade! All of the children had so much fun showing off their colourful socks together that they gave a very special and huge gift for their kind and generous friend, Jana, a box of more socks!

Author Sally Fetouh was inspired to write this touching story by her own daughter who has Down syndrome, feeling it was important for her and other children like her to be able to see themselves in literature. Two years ago, after reading a different story about a girl with Down syndrome to her daughter’s preschool class, Sally says, “The children were so engaged in the story and asked questions. They were very accepting and loving of their friend—my daughter. I left with a heart overflowing with emotion and that inspired me to write my story.”

Coming to Find You by Jane Corry

You can run away from your life.
But you can’t run away from murder.

When her family tragedy is splashed across the newspapers, Nancy decides to disappear. Her grandmother’s beautiful Regency house in a quiet seaside village seems like the safest place to hide. But the old house has its own secrets and a chilling wartime legacy . . .

Now someone knows the truth about the night Nancy’s mother and stepfather were murdered. Someone knows where to find her. And they have nothing to lose . . .

So what really happened that night? And how far will she go to keep it hidden?

The Other Couple by Diane Jeffrey

Two couples. A fatal accident. And a decision that changes everything…

Kirsten and Nick are enjoying a weekend away until, on their drive home, they accidentally run over and kill a man. They should call for help – but they have too much to lose, and no one can know the real reason they’re here. Instead, they make a split-second decision to conceal the accident.

Amy and Greg have just celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary. Amy is expecting a baby, and they couldn’t be happier. So when Greg fails to come home from a dog walk one weekend, Amy knows the police are wrong to believe he left of his own accord. Someone must be behind Greg’s disappearance, and Amy won’t give up until she gets justice – or revenge.

If you had nothing left to lose, how far would you go to find the truth?

The Fall by Louise Jensen

She promised not to tell. They made sure she couldn’t…

At her surprise 40th birthday party, Kate Granger feels like the luckiest woman in the world but just hours later her fifteen-year-old daughter, Caily, is found unconscious underneath a bridge when she should have been at school.

Now, Caily lies comatose in her hospital bed, and the police don’t believe it was an accident. As the investigation progresses, it soon becomes clear that not everyone in the family was where they claimed to be at the time of her fall.

Caily should be safe in hospital but not everyone wants her to wake up. Someone is desperate to protect the truth and it isn’t just Caily’s life that is in danger.

Because some secrets are worth killing for…

Wonderfully Wired Brains by Louise Gooding

An informative and inclusive children’s guide to neurodiversity for those not in the know and to inspire children who are neurodivergent.

Our brains are unique in the way they function, work, and think. Neurodiversity is still a relatively ‘new’ concept that can be tricky to understand, but this book is here to help! This inspirational book written by neurodiverse author Louise Gooding challenges misconceptions and shows how neurodivergent brains work a little differently.

It is common for neurodiverse people and those with neurological differences to feel as though they don’t fit in, but their extraordinary differences should be embraced. Wonderfully Wired Brains teaches children aged 7-9 all about the awesome abilities that neurodiverse individuals have, introduces them to advocates who are challenging neurodiversity stereotypes, and most importantly gives them a safe space to feel accepted.

This informative and educational book for children features:

– Accurate, understandable explanations of diagnoses that impact the brain, including each area of neurodiversity and what it can or does mean for anyone with that particular neurological difference.
– A positive, friendly look at neurodiverse brains that debunks myths and stereotypes.
– Informative, inclusive text is accompanied by colourful, modern illustrations.

The font and colours used have been selected to accommodate a range of neurodiverse readers. Combining neurodiverse experiences with science, history, and brain-bursting facts, Wonderfully Wired Brains has something for everyone!

Whether your child is neurodiverse or not, this book will inspire inquisitive young readers and show them that no two brains function in the same way and that everyone’s differences should be celebrated. There really is no other book like it.

The Fascination by Essie Fox

Victorian England. A world of rural fairgrounds and glamorous London theatres. A world of dark secrets and deadly obsessions…

Twin sisters Keziah and Tilly Lovell are identical in every way, except that Tilly hasn’t grown a single inch since she was five. Coerced into promoting their father’s quack elixir as they tour the country fairgrounds, at the age of fifteen the girls are sold to a mysterious Italian known as ‘Captain’.

Theo is an orphan, raised by his grandfather, Lord Seabrook, a man who has a dark interest in anatomical freaks and other curiosities … particularly the human kind. Resenting his grandson for his mother’s death in childbirth, when Seabrook remarries and a new heir is produced, Theo is forced to leave home without a penny to his name.

Theo finds employment in Dr Summerwell’s Museum of Anatomy in London, and here he meets Captain and his theatrical ‘family’ of performers, freaks and outcasts.

But it is Theo’s fascination with Tilly and Keziah that will lead all of them into a web of deceits, exposing the darkest secrets and threatening everything they know…

Exploring universal themes of love and loss, the power of redemption and what it means to be unique, The Fascination is an evocative, glittering and bewitching gothic novel that brings alive Victorian London – and darkness and deception that lies beneath…

The Truth Has Arms And Legs by Alice Fowler

Delve into a world of change and reinvention.

Where relationships are as delicate as turtle eggs, and just as easily smashed.

This poignant short story collection explores the pivotal moments that transform our lives. Jenny, whose life is defined by small disasters, discovers a bigger, more generous version of herself. A traveller girl might just win her race and alter her life’s course. A widow, cut off in a riverside backwater, opens her heart to a stranger.

In this captivating collection by award-winning writer, Alice Fowler, readers will be moved by the raw vulnerability of human connection, and the resilience that allows us to grow and thrive in the face of hardship. In change, Fowler’s characters find the ability to be truly free.

A Song of Me & You by Mike Gayle

Helen and Ben parted as heartbroken 18-year-olds and went their very separate ways.

Twenty years later, mother-of-two-teenagers Helen is still in Manchester, a part-time primary teacher, stunned by the behaviour of her love-rat husband. In an old T shirt and scruffy jeans, she feels at the lowest point in her life.

And suddenly, impossibly, Ben is standing on her doorstep. Tired maybe, lonely even, but clearly still the world-famous, LA-based multi-millionaire rockstar he has become.

Can you ever go back?

For Helen and Ben, so much has happened in the years between. But just to sit in the kitchen for a while and talk – that would be nice.

Before the world comes crashing in.

Friendship, love, heartache and hope collide in this unforgettable emotional journey, from the author of Half A World Away.

The Unheard by Anne Worthington

The Unheard is the powerful and intensely moving debut novel by acclaimed documentary photographer Anne Worthington. It is a novel about memory, and what happens to the experiences that are too much for us, but we are unable to leave behind.

We meet Tom Pullan in 1999 when he has dementia. He lives with his wife, May. The visitors who come to the house aren’t the people he remembers. He would like to see the people that remain in his memory. The visitors say they have come to help but they only seem to cause trouble.

Fifteen years earlier, in 1984, Tom is working in an office amid sweeping redundancies across the country. His office is told there are going to be cuts and Tom is convinced he will be one of those who will lose their job. And he is sure that at the root of this, the person who’s orchestrating these changes is the prime minister. He watches her every day talking about cuts, all the while wielding an axe in her hands.

In 1931, Tom’s family walked away from their house leaving everything behind. They not only lost a home, but his brother has gone, and no one says a word. Now, he must do what he can to keep his father happy, and his father is never happy. Tom goes looking for his brother every day. He waits for his brother to come home because people don’t just disappear. Sometimes, waiting is all you can do when you can’t make sense of the world.

Bad Men by Julie Mae Cohen

It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to kill them . . .

Saffy has a secret. A secret that she is deeply ashamed of. It’s not the fact that she’s a serial killer in her free time. In fact, she’s quite proud of that. After all she’s only killing the bad men. She is making the world a better place.

No, her secret is far worse than that. Saffy has a messy, inexplicable, uncontrollable crush. So while she’s busy plotting her next murder, she also has the much harder task of figuring out how to get a boyfriend.

But if there’s one thing Saffy knows, it’s how to get her man . . .

The Lodgers by Eithne Shortall

One house. Three strangers. A second chance at happiness.

Tessa’s life as an activist and volunteer worker takes a hit after a fall. At the ripe young age of 69, she’s no longer able to live alone and decides to take in two lodgers for free.

After the recent death of his brother, Conn is riddled with grief and determined to make amends. A free room seems too good to be true – until he meets the other lodger.

Chloe arrives at Tessa’s house to deliver a package and leaves with a room. But she takes an instant dislike to Conn, who refuses to say where he disappears to at night.

With everyone so busy keeping their own secrets, the mysterious package is forgotten. It’s addressed to Tessa’s daughter who’s been missing for 10 years – and only the contents have the answer to what happened…

All Of Us Are Broken by Fiona Cummins

The electrifying crime novel featuring DS Saul Anguish from the award winning author, Fiona Cummins, author of Into the Dark and Rattle.

Every one of them has a dark secret

The Family

After a year they want to forget, the Hardwicke family set out to the Scottish Highlands for a much needed holiday.

The Crimes

They are about to cross paths with Missy and Fox, a violent and dangerous young couple hell-bent on infamy, their love story etched in blood and a dark past which must be uncovered.

The Detective

As the clock ticks down, Detective Saul Anguish is on the hunt to find the couple before more lives are lost.

The Mother – who will be forced to make an impossible decision.

Tiny Pieces of Enid by Tim Ewins

Enid isn’t clear about much these days. But she does feel a strong affinity with Olivia, a regular visitor to her dementia home in a small coastal town. If only she could put her finger on why.

Their silent partnership intensifies when Enid, hoping to reconnect with her husband Roy, escapes from the home. With help from an imaginary macaw, she uncovers some uncomfortable truths about Olivia’s marriage and delves into her own forgotten past.

A deeply touching story of love, age and companionship, evoking the unnoticed everyday moments that can mean the world to the people living them, Tim Ewins’ second novel will delight fans of his acclaimed debut, We Are Animals.

Finding Bear by Hannah Gold

The unmissable follow-up to the phenomenal bestselling and award-winning The Last Bear. Beautifully illustrated by Levi Pinfold and perfect for readers 8+

April Wood has returned home from her adventure on Bear Island. But, over a year later, she can’t stop thinking about Bear.

When April hears that a polar bear has been shot and injured in Svalbard, she’s convinced it’s her friend and persuades her dad to travel with her to the northernmost reaches of the Arctic. So begins an unforgettable journey across frozen tundra and icy glaciers.

But along the way, she discovers much more than she bargained for – a tiny polar bear cub, desperately in need of her help. In freezing temperatures, April must navigate the dangerous Arctic terrain and face her deepest fears if she’s to save him.

Beautifully illustrated by Levi Pinfold, Finding Bear is a stunning story of survival and a heartwarming tale of love that shows us how hope is born from the smallest of beginnings.

The Forgotten Garden by Sharon Gosling

A novel of second chances and blossoming communities from the author of The Lighthouse Bookshop. 

Budding landscape architect Luisa MacGregor is stuck in a rut – she hates her boss, she lives with her sister, and she is still mourning the loss of her husband many years ago. So when she is given the opportunity to take on a parcel of land in a deprived area, she sees the chance to build a garden that can make the area bloom.

Arriving in the rundown seaside town of Collaton on the north-west coast of Cumbria, she realises that her work is going to be cut out for her. But, along with Cas, a local PE teacher, and Harper, a teen whose life has taken a wrong turn, she is determined to get the garden up and running.

So when the community comes together and the garden starts to grow, she feels her luck might have changed. Can she grow good things on this rocky ground? And might love blossom along the way…?

The Beginning of Everything by Jackie Fraser

For fans of The Keeper of Stories, The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes and A Thousand Roads Home, The Beginning of Everything is the story of Jess and Gethin, whose paths cross in the most unexpected way.

Jess is running, leaving all she knows and everyone she loves behind her, with just a few treasured belongings in her rucksack. She’s escaping from the pain and trauma of a bad relationship with a bad man, gone very badly wrong.

Gethin’s kindness and care takes her breath away. They become friends.

But with so much hurt in her past, can Jess learn to love and live again?

The Harbour Lights Mystery by Emylia Hall

As The Shell House Detectives try to solve a family mystery, their investigation runs dangerously close to a murder case. Are the two linked?

It’s December in Cornwall, and Mousehole harbour is illuminated with its famous Christmas lights. Ally Bright is among the crowd listening to the carol singers—and then to the piercing screams that rip through the darkness. A body has been found, brutally murdered and dumped in a fisherman’s boat.

The victim is chef JP Sharpe and there is no shortage of people who might have wanted him dead. Eager for a new case for The Shell House Detectives, Ally calls ex-cop Jayden, but he’s keen to leave it to the police—until a letter in Sharpe’s pocket draws them into a seemingly unconnected family mystery. As they take on this highly charged mission, the duo can’t help scrutinising the murder suspects. Who among the close-knit community has reason to kill, and how far will they go to protect themselves?

As fear spreads, Ally and Jayden need answers—fast. Could the letter offer a clue to the murder case or will it reveal a terrible truth? And when a new witness comes to light, Jayden closes in on a desperate killer…but can he warn Ally in time?

The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella

Sasha is well and truly over it all: work (all-consuming), friendships (on the back burner), sex-life (non-existent). Sasha has hit a brick wall (literally).

Armed with good intentions to drink kale smoothies, try yoga and find solitude, she heads to the Devon resort she loved as a child. But it’s off-season, the hotel is falling apart and now she has to share the beach with someone else: a grumpy, stressed-out guy called Finn. How can she commune with nature when he’s sitting on a rock, watching her? Especially when they don’t agree on burnout cures. (Sasha: manifesting, wild swimming, secret Mars bars; Finn: drinking whisky.)

But when curious messages start appearing on the beach, Sasha and Finn are forced to begin talking – about everything. What’s the mystery? Why are they both burned out? What exactly is ‘manifesting’, anyway?

They might discover that they have more in common than they think…

Child of the Ruins by Kate Furnivall

1948, Berlin. World War II has ended and there is supposed to be peace; but Russian troops have closed all access to the city. Roads, railway lines and waterways are blocked and two million people are trapped, relying on airlifts of food, water and medicine to survive. The sharp eyes of the Russian state police watch everything; no one can be trusted.

Anna and Ingrid are both searching for answers – and revenge – in the messy aftermath of war. They understand that survival comes only by knowing what to trade: food; medicine; heirlooms; secrets. Both are living in the shadows of a city where the line between right and wrong has become dangerously blurred.

But they cannot give up in the search for a lost child …

Joe Nuthin’s Guide to Life by Helen Fisher

Joe loves predictability. But his life is about to become a surprising adventure.

Joe-Nathan likes the two parts of his name separate, just like his dinner and dessert. Mean Charlie at work sometimes calls him Joe-Nuthin. But Joe is far from nothing. Joe is a good friend, he’s good at his job, good at making things and good at following the rules, and he’s learning how to do lots of things by himself.

Joe’s mother knows there are a million things in life he isn’t prepared for. While she helps guide him every day, she’s also writing notebooks full of advice about the things she hasn’t told Joe yet, things he might forget and answers to questions he hasn’t yet asked.

Following her wisdom – applying it in his own unique way – this next part of Joe’s life is more of a surprise than he expects. Because he’s about to learn that remarkable things can happen when you leave your comfort zone, and that you can do even the hardest things with a little help from your friends.

Saturnalia by Stephanie Feldman

Doors open at 7. The sacrifice is at 9. The dress code is, as usual, black tie.

It’s the winter solstice in a Philadelphia that has been eroded by extreme weather, economic collapse, and disease-carrying mosquitoes. The Saturnalia carnival is about to begin – an evening on which nearly everyone, rich or poor, forgets their troubles for a moment.

For Nina, Saturnalia is simply a cruel reminder of the night that changed everything for her. It’s now three years since she walked away from the elite Saturn Club, with its genteel debauchery, arcane pecking order, and winking interest in alchemy and the occult. Since then, she’s led an isolated life, eking out a living telling fortunes with her Saturn Club tarot deck.

But when she gets a chance call from Max, her last remaining friend from the Saturn Club, Nina will put on a dress of blackest black and attend the Club’s wild solstice masquerade, the biggest party of the year, on a mysterious errand she can’t say no to.

Before the night is over, she will become the custodian of a horrifying secret – and the target of a mysterious hunter.

As Nina runs across an alternate Philadelphia balanced on a knife’s edge between celebration and catastrophe – through parades, worship houses, museums, hidden mansions, and the place she once called home – she’s forced to confront her past so she can finally take charge of her own, and perhaps everyone else’s, future.

Peace on the Western Front by Mattia Signorini

The worst of enemies. The best of friends.

1914. A boy enrols in the army, hoping to find peace in the great adventure of war. Handed a rifle, he discovers the grim reality: grey days distinguished only by the ever-present spectre of death. In the midst of horror, he finds close friendships, love and companionship. In an unexpected act of courage, he changes the course of history, bringing German and Brits to put down their weapons for a celebration of peace.

In 1933, a father and son set out for Flanders. The former soldier carries more of the war with him than his maimed left hand. The British man he met in the forest of Ypres is a memory passed down from father to son, a story of friendship across enemy lines, forged by one uniting belief: the need for peace.

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My Overall Favourite Read of 2023

If you’ve managed to stay with me so far – well done! But which book from these was my overall favourite read in 2023?

Ironically, it was the very first book in this blog post – When I First Held You by Anstey Harris. I loved this one because it combined relationships and history in a way that felt totally imbued with humanity so that it touched me completely.

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Thank you so much once again to all the publishers, authors, blog tour organisers and publicists who have trusted me with precious books this year. Thank you also to all those who’ve supported Linda’s Book Bag by sharing posts, commenting and for taking the time to read my blog. I appreciate every one of you.

Happy New Year! Here’s to a healthy and successful 2024 for you all – and may your days be filled with books that bring you as much pleasure as these did for me.

 

When Luke Staton contacted my to see if I’d like to take a look at his children’s book Credo, I was not supposed to be accepting anything else for review. However, I so loved the sound of Credo that I couldn’t resist. My enormous thanks to Luke for sending me a copy.

I’ve found it hard to concentrate on reading what with one thing and another in the last few weeks, but Credo was pure joy to read and as many young readers might be about to spend Christmas book tokens and cash I thought now might be a good time to share my review.

Published on 31st October 2023 by Bookworm of Retford, Credo is available for purchase here.

Credo

Stan is a shy boy with a passion for playing football. He has a burning ambition to show his ability but lacks the confidence to get involved in new situations. A magical butterfly becomes Stan’s ‘pocket friend’, his companion and his newfound confidence.

My Review of Credo

Stan suffers from shyness.

What an utterly charming, helpful and supportive book Credo is. Whilst this is a children’s book, it is relevant to all ages and is such a lovely read. What works so brilliantly is that Stan loves football and much of the story revolves around the sport. There’s an authenticity that comes from Luke Staton’s own life as a footballer, but importantly, it’s often boys who find articulating their emotions most difficult and Credo speaks to them in a totally relatable way. My heart broke at Stan’s observation from the sidelines of school lunchtime football games and the story put me in mind of many a shy youngster I’ve taught in the past. There’s a touch of mystery in the story too as we wait to discover the six inspirational words from Mr Spencer to Fred.

From an educational perspective, I loved the physical qualities of Credo. The size is just right for a shy reader unobtrusively to slip into a blazer pocket or school bag. It has a strong and robust cover that will withstand much use in settings where youngsters are likely to encounter it and the illustrations by Shaun Clark enhance the story beautifully. I thought the metaphor of a butterfly – something that can emerge from another form, as well as an image that represents nervousness with butterflies in our tummies, was wonderful. The use of monochrome and colour to reflect Stan’s emotions was perfectly attuned to the text. Speaking of the text, there’s plenty of white space that means the writing doesn’t daunt a more reluctant reader, but equally the text looks mature on the page so that it doesn’t patronise readers, whilst at the same time the vocabulary is accessible. There’s a sense of real care in the production of Credo.

As Stan emerges as a more confident young man, the story in Credo is engaging and entertaining. However, it is the themes of friendship, how a kind comment or action can affect someone else dramatically, how single parent families can be fantastic and caring as well as a challenge at times, how doing your best and ‘paying it forward’ leads to more than just your own personal success, how all these aspects combine into an uplifting, heartfelt and encouraging read.

I think Credo is a really lovely book and one that should find a place in any home or school where a young person is struggling with shyness.

About Luke Staton

Former professional footballer Luke Staton is a motivational speaker and coach dedicated to inspiring young people and to encouraging effective leadership and management in adults.

For further information, visit Luke’s website and follow him on Twitter/X @LukeStaton1 or find Luke on Instagram and Facebook.

My grateful thanks to Sophie and Antara at FMcM for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for Good Scammer by Guy Kennaway and for sending me a copy of the book in return for an honest review. It’s my pleasure to share that review today.

Published on 7th December by Mensch, Good Scammer is available for purchase here.

Good Scammer

Good Scammer tells the story of Clive ‘Bangaz’ Thompson, an orphan born in west Jamaica raised with no love, education, nor prospects of ever getting a decent job.  He designs an ingenious business model that brings millions of dollars annually to the little villages around the sandy inlets of the Jamaican coast, making himself a vast personal fortune and a hero to his community.  He achieves all of this without using a knife or a gun or even the threat of violence.

Many people simply see scammers as criminals.

But Bangaz’s life, when seen from his perspective as a victim of the theft and duplicity of slavery and colonialism, tells a different, more complex human story.  Through his eyes, our sympathy and smiles justifiably remain with him and his righteous band of reparation bredren.

My Review of Good Scammer

Clive ‘Bangaz’ Thompson is having his life story written.

I confess that at the start I wasn’t sure I’d cope with Good Scammer because there’s quite a lot of phonetic ‘patwa’ in the speech, but within a few pages I had my ear and eye attuned and actually found it added colour, depth and flavour to the story. Indeed, one of the real strengths of Good Scammer is the very vivid sense of place created here. Guy Kennaway obviously knows Jamaica inside out and presents it not only with vivid clarity, but he does so warts and all, with humour and affection.

And that’s the true enjoyment of Good Scammer. Here we have a wide and engaging cast of characters with Bangaz at the heart of much of the action, but also occasionally simply being on the sidelines so that the reader gets a real insight into not only Jamaicans, but the different nationalities that arrive on the island. Through them, the true story of Good Scammer is told because, whilst those living in Jamaica are frequently and unapologetically scamming all and sundry, it’s those who believe themselves to be morally, intellectually or socially superior who are uncovered as every bit as criminal. What Guy Kennaway does in Good Scammer is to make anyone reading the book who takes the moral high ground find themselves on quicksand!

Good Scammer certainly has major themes like historical shame, reparation, theft and institutional corruption at its heart, but it is impossible not to fall in love with Bangaz who may not have a conventional education but who is quick-witted and wily and totally endearing. His ability to manipulate, to scam and yet to improve not only his own life, but that of those he holds dear makes him a kind of anti-hero whom it is impossible not to admire and respect.

I thought the interactions between Willy and Bangaz were quite brilliant. As Willy attempts to put Bangaz’s life story down on paper in an attempt to improve his own life, the reader is constantly entertained by the knowledge that neither man is being entirely honest with the other. Even better, in a modern world where there is so much greed and corruption, where literary prizes or a Netflix series are often seen as the ultimate aim for a writer Good Scammer shows that what really counts is loyalty, friendship and making your own way in life.

If that makes Good Scammer sound staid and preachily worthy – far from it. The story is witty, thought-provoking, entertaining and clever so that it engages completely. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

About Guy Kennaway

Guy Kennaway is a writer of fiction and memoir, born in the UK and who has lived in Jamaica for the past 35 years. One day, a man he had known since he was a child, demanded that Guy write his life story – of how he became one of the best scammers in West Jamaica.
Guy is best known for his novels One People, about village life in Jamaica; Bird Brain, about a bunch of optimistic pheasants, and for his memoir Time To Go about killing his mother (with her permission).
His most recent novel, The Accidental Collector, won the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction in 2021. His most recent memoir is Foot Notes, a broad comedy about race and nationality which he wrote with his daughter-in-law’s brother Hussein Sharif. ‘In all my writing my aim is to delight and amuse,’ Kennaway has said. ‘Hopefully I make people laugh out loud. Laughter is our most effective weapon in the battle against the difficulties and struggles of life. If I can transport my reader to a happy, joyful world, my mission is successful.’

For further information, follow Guy on Twitter/X @guyken. and find Guy on Instagram and Facebook.

There’s more with these other bloggers too:

My enormous thanks go to Kirsten Knight at EK Books for sending me copies of the first two books in Emily Snape’s Game On Series, Shrinkle (Game On 1) and Glitched (Game On 2) in return for an honest review. With last minute Christmas gifts perhaps needed or book tokens received to be spent in the New Year, this series would be perfect for readers aged 8-12 and it’s my pleasure to share my reviews today.

Shrinkle and Glitched are currently on offer from EK and available for purchase directly here.

Before I review each book individually, I cannot stress enough how fabulous both books are for reluctant readers, and what cracking books they would make for classroom use. Indeed, they do exactly what Emily Snape set out to do:

Author and illustrator Emily Snape’s sons were both reluctant readers, which made her want to write books that they wouldn’t be able to resist reading! Reading should be a pleasure and it was Emily’s aim to write books that pull you in and hook you from the start. ‘Hopefully, then you can’t help being moved by the characters as they grow and develop. I love comedy in books, but funny books also have to have heart, believable characters, and a great plot that keeps you reading till the very end.’

Game On: Shrinkle (Game on, 1)

Everyday objects will never seem the same again for Max and Liam as they try to beat the game, and each other.

Gaming-obsessed Max and his infuriating younger brother, Liam, are forced to work together to survive epic adventures on a miniscule scale. When rebellious Liam starts playing ‘Shrinkle’ on his babysitter’s phone, he has no idea what he’s letting himself in for. The app shrinks the brothers to the size of a minifigure! Their safe home has suddenly become a treacherous landscape. Can they scale sofa mountain, escape Miss McBoob’s snoring mouth and outsmart the now-enormous pet cat? And will they stay tiny forever?

With a clever mix of realism and fantasy and packed with exciting gaming strategies, crazy scenarios and gross facts, Game On: Shrinkle is perfect for reluctant readers, particularly boys.

My Review of Shrinkle

All Max wants is a quiet evening to himself after a rotten Friday at school. 

Shrinkle is fast paced, funny and hugely entertaining. Jam packed with weird facts, gaming references, the embarrassment of having a younger brother, a single Mum at the end of her tether banning screen time and Emily Snape’s Shrinkle is brilliantly relatable for young readers. 

The illustrations really bring the story to life and are a kind of cartoon/Manga crossover that will thoroughly appeal to the target readership. I thought the balance of text to image was spot-on and I loved the pixelated chapter headings, or rather, gaming levels, as Max and his brother Liam find themselves shrunk into a computer game controlled by a malevolent cat. There’s a real sense of urgency too as the game timer ticks down and Max and Liam strive to work out the riddles presented to them in order to escape the game and not spend the rest of their lives only seven centimetres tall. 

Whilst there are puns, jokes and riddles that are really entertaining in a total romp of a story, what I thought was so brilliant about Shrinkle was the way Max realises just how much he loves and needs Liam in spite of Liam’s infuriating behaviour and their constant bickering. I can envisage many a young reader experiencing similar frustrations with their own siblings, but as a result of reading Shrinkle, coming to realise that they do still care about them. 

Shrinkle is great fun. It’s filled with peril and humour. It’s exciting and witty and it’s completely appealing. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Oh, and if you find your school back-pack mysteriously crammed with pants rather than books, don’t make assumptions about how they got there. 

Glitched

Warring brothers Max and Liam find themselves trapped in a time-travel game. Can they survive the dangers and solve the riddles without killing each other?

Gaming-obsessed Max and his infuriating younger brother, Liam, are forced to work together when a new game on Miss McBoob’s mobile phone sucks them into a time-travelling vortex. The ‘Glitched’ app transports the brothers to earlier versions of their home town where they find themselves in the Stone Age, in Roman times, in the Middle Ages and in the age of the dinosaurs. To return to their own time they must solve riddles while dodging woolly mammoths, jousting knights and all manner of bodily fluids, both human and animals!

With a clever mix of realism and fantasy and packed with historically accurate settings, crazy scenarios and gross facts, Game On: Glitched is perfect for reluctant readers, particularly boys.

My Review of Glitched

Max regrets not washing his hands!

Glitched is absolutely brilliant. It’s packed with humour (particularly poo related) that readers of all ages will adore. The way the phone battery level reduces as each chapter is read is just perfect as Max and Liam get into ever increasing difficulty, and the illustrations are wonderful, balancing the text so that even the most reluctant young reader can’t fail to be drawn in. I’d love to see Glitched as a middle grade class reader as I think it would inspire reluctant readers and boys especially to engage with reading.

The plot is breathtakingly fast and it’s impossible not to want to read on. I loved the joke that school history is so hated by Max but is the focus of his adventures. Indeed, Glitched brings history to perilous life for the two brothers in this exciting story so that it might well just ignite a passion for the subject. It might even encourage investigation into a youngster’s own local history as the area around Max and Liam’s home features in each adventure and yet is very different to what they usually see.

Glitched is cleverly and sensitively written because it subtly examines family dynamics. Max is exasperated by his younger sibling, and they are frequently furious with one another, but their bond and love for each other lies beneath the surface. Similarly, Emily Snape suggests that when parents split up and marriage fails, it is possible for them to develop new relationships. Whilst these are only passing themes in the exciting and engaging story, they do allow some young readers to identify aspects of their own life they might be finding tricky and to understand better how to deal with them.

I thought Glitched was absolutely great and thoroughly enjoyed it. And whatever you think of Glitched, it’ll make you certain to wash your hands after using the toilet! 

About Emily Snape

Emily Snape is a children’s author and illustrator living in London. Her work has appeared online, on television (for Nickelodeon and the BBC), in shops and even on buses! She loves coffee and notebooks, and has three cheeky children, Leo, Fin and Flo who keep her on her toes and give her lots of inspiration for stories.

Emily loves to mix real life with a twist of fantasy, throwing everyday emotions and events up in the air and allowing us to consider them from another angle. Her previous books include Fergus the Furball, a funny tale for independent readers, and board books for younger readers. These include An Alphabet of Hugs, and Hey! Look at you…On the Move and Hey! Look at you…In the Jungle.

Emily has two sons close in age who often bicker, so when she decided to write a book for 7–11 year olds, she wanted to explore sibling rivalry, with humour and a fast-paced, unpredictable plot.

For further information, visit Emily’s website, or find her on Instagram.

I’m proud to number author Barbara Havelocke amongst my personal friends and am delighted to be in at the start of her fantastic new novel Estella’s Revenge by sharing its details and cover reveal today.

Under her other author persona of Barbara Copperthwaite, Barbara has featured here on Linda’s Book Bag many times but Estella’s Revenge is her first gothic historical novel.

Estella’s Revenge is out from Hera in hardback and ebook on May 9, 2024, and paperback in October, 2024 and is available for pre-order through the links here.

Estella’s Revenge

You know Miss Havisham.

The world’s most famous jilted bride.

This is her daughter’s story.

Raised in the darkness of Satis House where the clocks never tick, the beautiful Estella is bred to hate men and to keep her heart cold as the grave.

She knows she doesn’t feel things quite like other people do but is this just the result of her strange upbringing?

As she watches the brutal treatment of women around her, hatred hardens into a core of vengeance and when she finds herself married to the abusive Drummle, she is forced to make a deadly choice:

Should she embrace the darkness within her and exact her revenge?

A stunningly original, gripping Gothic read, perfect for fans of Stacey Halls, Madeline Miller and Jessie Burton.

****

Doesn’t that sound fantastic? And isn’t that one of the most alluringly beautiful covers you’ve seen? I’m desperate to get my hands on Estella’s Revenge.

Don’t forget to order Estella’s Revenge through the links here.

About Barbara Havelocke

Barbara is an international bestselling author (writing as Barbara Copperthwaite), whose psychological thrillers have topped Amazon and Kobo. Her writing career started in journalism, interviewing the real victims of crime – and the perpetrators. As a result she developed a deep understanding of the flaws and strengths of human nature; and the realistic, complex characters who populate her fiction reflect this. Now she brings that skill to gothic historical fiction, as well as her passion for the past.

When not writing, Barbara is found walking her two dogs, Scamp and Buddy, or taking photos of wildlife.

For further information visit Barbara’s brand new Barbara Havelocke website or her Barbara Copperthwaite site. You’ll also find Barbara find her on Facebook and Instagram or you can follow her on Twitter/X @BCoppethwait. and Bluesky.

Sadly, it simply isn’t possible to read all the books that come my way, but as fantasy is a genre I hardly ever feature, it’s my pleasure to share a New Rock, New Role publication day guest post from Richard Sparks. My thanks to Gaby Jerrard for putting us in touch with one another.

Published today, 12th December 2023, by CAEZIK SF & F New Rock, New Role is available for purchase here.

New Rock, New Role

The perfect blend of the gaming world and epic fantasy.

With millions watching on live stream, Daxx and his teammates Qrysta and Grell win the role-playing Games (RPG) Grand Championship. But winning the game was was a piece of cake compared with what comes next.

Daxx wakes up to find he’s turned into his own avatar and is in the middle of a wilderness he doesn’t recognize. Armed with a crappy sword he has no idea how to use and dressed in beginner-level gear he must figure out how to survive quickly because he can already hear the blood-thirsty howls of wild animals from the jungle that surrounds him.

Thus starts a fantastic epic fantasy adventure. Once the three friends finally find each other they need to puzzle out their new world, gain skills, combat enemies, and make alliances with all kinds of characters and creatures from the different territories of this new world in order to survive.

The heart stopping action is interspersed with humor making it a ridiculously fun and addictive read. Ready Player One meets Lord of the Rings in Disc World.

Grab Your Gaming Groove

A Guest Post by Richard Sparks

Linda has asked me for “a light-hearted explanation why a 62-year-old woman such as herself is missing out by not gaming.”

Here’s what my 78-year-old test reader Barbara Strasen, a painter and multi-media artist, wrote:

I got swept away into the strange, new—but strangely familiar—world of these stories along with its hero.  I know nothing about gaming, but I didn’t need to.  These books are adventure after escapade, full of twists and turns and surprises, and filled with great visuals.  There is plenty of light-hearted fun amid the dangers.  The quests and combat-scenes are exciting without being gore-fests.  I enjoyed exploring a quasi-historical, mythological time through the eyes of contemporary characters.  I loved losing myself in all the magic, mystery and mayhem.  I was never bored for one moment.

New Rock New Role grew out of my love of MMORPG’s (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games), but it’s not about a game.  It’s more about my other loves—adventure, fantasy and comedy.  One evening, while getting up to mischief with my group in an online RPG, I wondered what it would actually be like to be that guy.  My heroic, young battlemage avatar, in that wonderful, magical world that its designers had created for us to explore and experience.

There was only one way to find out.

Write it.

The idea hit me like an anvil falling out of the sky onto the head of Wile E. Coyote.  I started writing one summer morning and haven’t stopped since.  I’ve now written four books in the New Rock series, which my publisher will be releasing at yearly intervals.  I’m currently writing the fifth.  I just can’t wait to see what my characters get up to next—where they go, the dangers and problems facing them, the mysteries they uncover, the history and geography and cosmology and mythology and stories, stories, stories of this strange new world that they have found themselves in.

Games are as old as the human race.  How do children learn?  Through play.  How do military strategists plan ahead?  By staging elaborate war games.  All work and no play? Life never is.  We watch and participate in sports, board games and puzzles—both of the indoor kind and outdoor, such as orienteering.  Play stimulates the mind, opens up its neglected corners and enriches our lives.

Humdrum those lives of ours can be, IRL (In Real Life).  Not online, in an RPG.  There, life is far richer and more exciting—and there, in-game, you can be whoever, and whatever you want to be, of any race or gender or species you choose, human or inhuman, Orc or vampire or werewolf.  And everyone accepts you just as you are, no questions asked.  Unlike passively watching a movie, you’re the hero of your own story, free to explore it as you wish.

Combat is always an option, but you can easily avoid it.  You can just wander around fantastical landscapes, or spacescapes, or dreamscapes, off to the edge of the galaxy or back to the dawn of time.  You can build a house, or an underground lair, or a mountaintop castle, and invite all your guildies over for a party.

I realized that gamers aren’t all young when one of my Guildmasters, in chat, posted that she was turning eighty-five next week, and wanted to retire—and would anyone want to take over running the guild?

There has been a huge growth in the number of older gamers in recent years.  If you still have the yearning for adventure, but perhaps no longer the knees for it: give RPG’s a try. Log on. Build yourself an avatar.  Go where your wanderings take you.

T.S. Eliot said “Humankind cannot bear very much reality.”  But fantasy—that we can never get enough of.  It’s out there in so many great titles, that have communities, and fanbases, and forums.  You’ll meet all sorts, some of them annoying trolls, others people you love to hang out with.  Take a look at youtube: there are thousands of clips of dozens of games, set in all sorts of worlds.  Steampunk Victorian London; mafia and yakuza underworlds; ancient civilisations and interplanetary travel in the distant future.  My favourites are the sword-and-sorcery, quasi-medieval worlds, with their monsters and magic, untouched wildernesses and walled cities, castles, towns, taverns, sea ports, deserts—and, of course, delves.  Down and down into the darkness, the caves, the dungeons, abandoned mines and buried temples, in search of hidden treasure, or magic artefacts of great power, or lost secrets.

All of which are invariably protected by magic barriers, or guarded by hostile creatures.  You might succeed in defeating them, and looting their corpses—or not.  In which case, you resurrect back in safety, lick your wounds, gain XP (Experience Points), get better, equip yourself with better gear, and go back and try again.

Give it a go.  You never know, you might love it as much as I do.

Or rather, did.  Now that I’m deep into writing the New Rock series, I rarely have time to log on to any game.

I’m too busy having my own adventures, with my characters.

You’re welcome to join us.  As Barbara says, you don’t need to know anything about gaming.  All you need is a taste for adventure, and fun, and fantasy.

Magic is everywhere in this universe of ours, both IRL and in the stories we create for each other. Remember that the first great work in the English language, Beowulf, is an epic fantasy tale.  A dragon, a treasure hoard, a monster preying on villagers, a hero who dives to the bottom of a lake to fight its mother to the death…

The sagas; the eddas; the Arabian Nights; the Ramayana; the myths and legends of Greek and Norse gods and heroes, and those of Asia, Africa, the Americas.  Fantasy holds up a mirror to reality.  When we lose ourselves in it, our imaginations show us far more than our eyes can ever see in the cold light of our everyday existence.

Come on in.

The water’s fine.

Just be sure to keep an eye out for the kraken.

****

Many thanks Richard. Might be time to give the fantasy genre and gaming itself a bit more of a go I think!

Richard also told me ‘If you’re gaming-curious, but don’t know where to start, here are some sites to explore’:

For MMORPG’s in general: https://www.mmorpg.com/

Also Games Radar: https://www.gamesradar.com/best-mmorpg/

For World of Warcraft, one of the biggest and oldest:

https://www.wowhead.com/guide/wowhead-beginner-guides-how-to-play-world-of-warcraft-5331

For Dungeons and Dragons online:

https://ddowiki.com/page/Newbie_guide

To sit back and watch, try Skyrim Granny.  Shirley has over 1.2 million subscribers, and has posted over a hundred vlogs of herself (and her avatars) in action:

https://www.youtube.com/@ShirleyCurryTheOlderGamer

Happy gaming!

About Richard Sparks

For further information, visit Richard’s website https://richardsparks.com or find him on Instagram and Facebook.

It’s a rare non-fiction book for me today. My enormous thanks to S. C. Skillman and Philip Dean at Amberley Publishing for sending me a copy of Sheila’s latest book A-Z of Warwick in return for an honest review.

I confess I am slightly concerned about featuring Sheila today and sharing my review. You see, last time Sheila appeared on the blog (here) with a guest post celebrating her book Paranormal Warwickshire we were just in the dreaded lockdown. This time, when I’d love to have checked out the contents of A-Z of Warwick in person, I have just recovered from a dramatic sprain to my right foot by falling out of the motorhome in August. I had one pain free week before losing an ill-advised battle with the bannisters in mid-November and injuring my other foot. Now I can’t walk or drive properly and am about to have that left foot operated on. So, I do wonder what will happen next time I have an S. C. Skillman book through my letterbox!

Published by Amberley on 15th November, A-Z of Warwick is available for purchase here.

A-Z of Warwick

The county town of Warwick is famous for its magnificent castle rising above the River Avon but there is much more to this historic town. Although many medieval houses were destroyed by the Great Fire of 1694, buildings from an earlier age can still be found, including its oldest hostelry, The Roebuck, and Lord Leycester Hospital.

Local historic characters include Warwick the Kingmaker, world champion boxer Randolph Turpin and socialite and campaigner Daisy, Countess of Warwick, as well as the ichthyosaur in the Market Hall Museum, and the town’s many events include a Victorian evening and annual folk festival.

A–Z of Warwick reveals the history behind the town, its streets and buildings, businesses and the people connected with it. Alongside the famous historical connections are unusual characters, tucked-away places and unique events that are less well known. Fully illustrated throughout, this book will appeal to all those with an interest in this historic Warwickshire town.

My Review of A-Z of Warwick

A comprehensive guide to Warwick.

A-Z of Warwick is a smashing book. I found it totally fascinating and it would make a perfect gift for anyone thinking of visiting Warwick, living there, or simply interested in a wide range of topics from medicine and gardening to geography to history. It’s such an interesting read and attractively illustrated with photographs in a very pleasing balance of text, image and white space.

I loved the way the book draws in the reader as they approach Warwick by road with reference to the Playbox Theatre and this theme acts as a unifying element as each of the alphabetically organised entries begins with a quotation from Shakespeare. Indeed, I found that these quotations gave extra life to the book as some come from less well known plays that made me want to return to Shakespeare himself.

It’s actually quite difficult to review A-Z of Warwick sensibly without spoiling the contents for others by repeating or revealing some of the details and facts found in the book – I wouldn’t previously have associated peacocks with Warwick, for example. Let’s just say that it is jam packed with interesting detail and reading it makes you want to visit Warwick immediately. The contents of A-Z of Warwick are engaging and eclectic.

Reading A-Z of Warwick made me simultaneously feel as if I’d discovered the town in detail and yet left me wanting to visit immediately and follow in S. C. Skillman’s footsteps. I’m very much looking forward to using this super travel book next year to find out more in person. Great stuff!

About S. C. Skillman

Sheila lives in Warwickshire, and writes psychological, paranormal and mystery fiction and non-fiction. She is a member of the Society of Authors and the Association of Christian Writers.

She began her publishing journey with a duology of novels Mystical Circles and A Passionate Spirit. This was followed by a non-fiction book Perilous Path: a writer’s journey. Sheila is currently working on the second novel in a new gothic fiction series.

She posts twice weekly on her blog and she also gives author talks to local groups.

Sheila was born and brought up in Orpington, Kent, and studied English Literature at Lancaster University. Her first permanent job was as a production secretary with the BBC. Later she lived for nearly five years in Australia before returning to the UK.

She has now settled in Warwick with her husband and son, and her daughter is studying at university in Australia.

For more information you can follow Sheila on Twitter/X @scskillman or find her on Facebook or Instagram.

It’s a real pleasure to be joining the blog tour for This Christmas in Paris by Sophie Claire. My huge thanks to Alara at Hodder for inviting me to participate. I’m delighted to share my review of This Christmas in Paris today.

This Christmas in Paris is published by Hodder and Stoughton and is available for purchase through the publisher links here.

This Christmas in Paris

What could be more magical than Christmas in Paris?

When Carys is offered the chance to run a little French café, she leaps at the chance to discover an exciting city where she can dream big.

Meanwhile, struggling journalist Mat is living in the City of Love – but he’s never found romance himself.

Then, a chance encounter changes everything, and it feels like the start of something wonderful. But Carys and Mat are both keeping secrets . . .

Can they open their hearts to one another – and maybe even find love, just in time for Christmas?

My Review of This Christmas in Paris

Carys needs a fresh start.

This Christmas in Paris wasn’t quite the book I was expecting. I had anticipated a very light, entertaining story filled with love and romance, but actually found far greater depth that made it a hugely satisfying read. 

The catalyst for Sophie’s new life in Paris is actually linked to her need to leave behind the memories of a terrible accident and whilst PTSD isn’t over emphasised, it is an important aspect. Other, equally deep themes also include family dynamics, relationships, work life balance and, particularly through Aurelie, the gap between private lives and public persona, so that This Christmas in Paris gives the reader plenty to ponder even as it entertains them. 

I have no idea if it were intentional, but I found the structure of This Christmas in Paris really clever, because the pendulum swing of focus between Carys and Mat felt like the rhythm of a heartbeat. When the alternate chapter structure falters or skips, it is just like an issue with a heart and represents so well the problems they are encountering.

I thought Carys was a well rounded character brought to life with skill by Sophie Claire. Carys’s balance of strength and softness, her realisation that it is actually possible to feel lonely in a bustling city, her initial restlessness and her humanity and vivacity all felt realistic and engaging. By the end of This Christmas in Paris I found myself experiencing her emotions very closely with her and I read with a lump in my throat.

One element that I found especially gratifying in This Christmas in Paris was the depiction of Madame Parot and Madame Jalibert. Even though Madame Parot appears quite needy, always calling on Mat to fulfil some small task, both women illustrate the wisdom of being more mature and a confidence in a life well lived so that they illustrate it isn’t always the 30 somethings in fiction who are the most engaging! 

For me, Mat was more complex. He’s likeable and a definite romantic hero and yet there is an aspect to his actions that made me so cross. You’ll need to read This Christmas in Paris to discover that for yourself, but I really appreciated the way Sophie Claire illustrated Mat’s need to emerge from his flamboyant father’s shadow and to prove himself – even if it does make him behave despicably on occasion. The author shows with great sensitivity how life isn’t always clear cut and that sometimes we behave out of character for valid reasons.  

I thought This Christmas in Paris was a lovely read. It may be a romantic story set in a romantic city with a real sense of place and an engaging and entertaining plot, but through reading This Christmas in Paris we learn that success takes many forms and most importantly of all Sophie Claire illustrates to perfection that kindness and being mindful of how our actions affect others, is one of life’s most essential lessons. What better Christmas message? This Christmas in Paris is a super story.

Oh – and I loved the special touch of recipes from the story at the end too! 

About Sophie Claire

Sophie Claire writes uplifting emotional stories with their heart in Provence, where she spent her childhood summers. She is half French, half Scottish, was born in Africa and, growing up in England, she felt she didn’t belong anywhere – except in the pages of a book. Perhaps this is why she likes to help her characters find their home; a place in the world where they can be loved for themselves.

Previously, she worked in marketing and proofreading academic papers, but writing is what she always considered her ‘real job’ and now she’s delighted to spend her days dreaming up stories that will transport her readers to a beautiful place, and leave them with the warm glow of a sun-filled holiday.

You can find out more by visiting Sophie’s website, following her on Twitter/X @sclairewriter., or finding her on Instagram and Facebook.

There’s more with these other bloggers too:

 

I can’t believe it’s nearly three years since lovely Mary Wood last featured here on Linda’s Book Bag when we were celebrating her book The Jam Factory Girls. Mary is such a lovely author and it’s my privilege to help celebrate publication day for her latest book, The Guernsey Girls, by chatting with her all about it today. My grateful thanks to Chloe Davies at Pan Macmillan for putting us in touch with one another again.

Let’s find out more:

Staying in with Mary Wood

Welcome back to Linda’s Book Bag Mary. 

Thank you for asking me. I’ve been looking forward to our evening together.

Thank you for agreeing to stay in with me. It’s always a pleasure to host you.

My pleasure.

Tell me, as if I didn’t know, which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it?

I’ve brought my very latest book – The first of a brand-new trilogy, which has just been released, The Guernsey Girls.

Happy publication day Mary.

I chose this novel to share with you as it is the beginning of an incredible journey for Olivia and Annie and my twentieth book published by the lovely Pan Macmillan publishers.

Wow. Twenty books. That’s some achievement Mary! So, what can we expect from an evening in with The Guernsey Girls?

A roller coaster of emotions as a rich girl finds a friend in her maid. It is a friendship that will take them through many highs and many lows as they deal with tragedy, and betrayal. And will take the reader from the Island of Guernsey (Olivia’s home) to the East End of London (Annie’s home) at a time when the world is on the brink of war.

The Guernsey Girls sounds brilliant. I’m so glad it’s on my TBR. I have been to Guernsey over seventy times but never actually got off the plane as I was on my way to Jersey to work so I might actually get a vicarious visit through your book.

What else have you brought along and why have you brought it?

I can’t wait to share with you the photos I have brought with me of my day visiting Guernsey. It was part of a cruise holiday and so inspired me as I found the places that would feature in this trilogy.

I love a cruise! Looking forward to seeing those photos.

It was as if the story of all that the islanders endured, during the time that they were the only part of Britain to be invaded by Hitler, came to life for me that day.

Instead of partaking in any of the many attractions onboard the ship that night, I scribbled away making notes. To receive this review on Net Galley made all sacrifices during the writing, so worthwhile.

That’s dedication indeed.

Oh, and I have brought nibbles too – hope you’ve uncorked the wine!

You’re on your own with the wine – it makes me ill, but I’ll join you with a Bailey’s…

We’re in for a cosy girl’s night in – I might even read you a passage from the book. I’ll find one that tugs at our hearts, then we’ll end up in tears, but that will make us giggle for being dafties, and so this evening will draw to a close with a clink of glasses and laughter, as all good girlie get togethers should!

I love a good cry when I’m reading Mary so I’ll take you up on that and go and fetch the tissues! Thank you SO much for staying in with me to chat about The Guernsey Girls. It really does sound a wonderful book.

I’ve loved being with you, Linda. Thank you for all you do for me and my fellow authors in showcasing our work, much love to you and to all your followers, Mary x

It’s my pleasure. Now, you find a passage to read and pour our drinks and I’ll give readers a few more details about The Guernsey Girls.

The Guernsey Girls

From the bestselling author of The Jam Factory Girls, Mary Wood’s The Guernsey Girls is the first in a touching new series of friendship found far from home . . .

January 1936. After the hard work of being a maid at Wallington Manor in the lead-up to Christmas, Annie is thrilled at the prospect of going home to Bethnal Green. She has missed her family, but the money she earns keeps them all afloat.

Olivia is from the island of Guernsey and is visiting her aunt at Wallington Manor. When she has to leave for London, Annie is asked to look after her, and on the train journey a friendship blossoms.

A tragic accident sees their friendship become even stronger. A friendship that will see both girls through pain, happiness, marriage and death. A friendship that will see them both united in Guernsey.

And this is just the beginning of their incredible journey . . .

Published by Pan today, 7th December 2023, The Guernsey Girls is available for purchase through the publisher links here.

About Mary Wood

Born the thirteenth child of fifteen to a middle-class mother and an East End barrow boy, Mary Wood’s childhood was a mixture of love and poverty. Throughout her life Mary has held various posts in office roles, working in the Probation services and bringing up her four children and numerous grandchildren, step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren. An avid reader, she first put pen to paper in 1989 whilst nursing her mother through her last months, but didn’t become successful until she began self-publishing her novels in 2011.

Her novels include All I Have to Give, An Unbreakable Bond, In Their Mother’s Footsteps and The Breckton Novels.

You’ll find more information about Mary on her Facebook page, her website and by following her on Twitter @Authormary. Mary is also on Instagram.

It’s a total pleasure to share details of another of my My Weekly magazine online reviews today. This time it’s my privilege to review The Fortunes of Olivia Richmond by Louise Davidson.

The Fortunes of Olivia Richmond was published by Moonflower on 26th October 2023 and is available for purchase through the links here.

The Fortunes of Olivia Richmond

After a terrible tragedy, governess Julia Pearlie finds herself with no job, home, or references. When she’s offered a position as companion to Miss Olivia Richmond, her luck appears to be turning. But Mistcoate House is full of secrets.

Olivia has a sinister reputation. The locals call her the Mistcoate Witch, thanks to her tarot readings, and her insistence that she can speak to the dead. Her father, Dr Richmond, believes this to be girlish fantasy and is looking to Julia to put a stop to it.

Determined to prove herself and shake off her own murky history, Julia sets to work trying to help Olivia become a proper young lady. However, as she becomes a fixture at Mistcoate, it is soon clear that there may be more to Olivia’s stories than Dr Richmond would have Julia believe – not least because somehow, Olivia seems to know something of the darkness that Julia desperately hoped she had left behind.

As the danger grows, and the winter chill wraps around the dark woods surrounding Mistcoate, Julia will have to fight to uncover the truth, escape her past – and save herself.

Original and engrossing, this chilling Victorian Gothic ghost story is an outstanding piece of storytelling, perfect for fans of Sarah Perry, Erin Morgenstern and Jessie Burton.

My Review of The Fortunes of Olivia Richmond

My full review of The Fortunes of Olivia Richmond can be found on the My Weekly website here.

However, here I can say that The Fortunes of Olivia Richmond is an absolute cracker. It’s dark, spooky and makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. I thought it was brilliant and highly recommend it.

Do visit My Weekly to read my full review here.

About Louise Davidson

Born in 1988, Louise Davidson grew up in Belfast during the troubles with a Catholic mother and a Protestant father. The Catholic side of her family lived on Mountcollyer Street – the street featured inKenneth Branagh’s Oscar winning film Belfast, that was badly affected by violent protests.

Louise’s earliest memory is of her parents deciding whether they should drive past a car that was on fire in the streets of Belfast. It was only when she left Belfast to study Creative Writing at University in the UK that Louise realised it was not normal to live in a permanent state of fear and anxiety. She says the sense of dread she has had from a young age drew her to Gothic fiction and is something she has tried to channel into her debut novel.

Louise was introduced to the idea of tarot, mediums and fortune telling from a young age as her aunt Pat is an intuitive, with the ability to receive messages from the dead and to predict dreams. Louise grew up watching her aunt predict dreams and pass messages from the dead to bereaved families and this helped her to create the character of Olivia Richmond.

After a career working in theatre production with theatres including Tinder Box and Ransome Theatre in Northern Ireland and Intermission and the Lyric Hammersmith in London, Louise now teaches English and drama to A-Level students. Louise lives in West London with her husband and stepson. The Fortunes of Olivia Richmond is her first novel.

For further information, follow Louise on Twitter/X @LouiseDWriter and find her on Instagram.