My huge thanks to Sophie Ransom and Poppy Delingpole for inviting me to participate in the launch celebrations for The Memory of Us by Dani Atkins.

I’m very excited to stay in with the fabulous Dani Atkins today to chat all about The Memory of Us because it’s already one of my books of the year! If you’re a regular visitor to Linda’s Book Bag you’ll be aware that I review online for My Weekly magazine and it was my privilege to review The Memory of Us a couple of weeks ago. You’ll find my review here.

Let’s see what Dani has to say about The Memory of Us:

Staying in with Dani Atkins

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag Dani. Thank you for agreeing to stay in with me.

Thank you so much for inviting me. It’s quite nice to have an evening out away from our young puppy, Bo, who is quite a handful.

I imagine so. Bo must be distracting when you’re trying to write!

Tell me, (although I rather think I know) which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it?

 

I have brought along my latest book The Memory of Us which came out on 15^thFebruary and would make a perfect gift if you forgot to buy your other half a card, flowers, or chocolates on Valentine’s Day.

Actually, Dani, I would say it would make a perfect gift for anyone at any time. I adored it.

For those who haven’t yet read it, what can we expect from an evening in with The Memory Of Us?

The Memory of Us is my tenth book, and like the ones that have come before it, you can expect to find a story where love, friendship, family, drama and perhaps even tragedy all feature. It’s strange, because I never set out with the intention of making readers cry. But looking back through my reviews – not just from early readers of this book, but also from my other titles – that seems to be something I hear quite a lot. I take it as an enormous compliment when someone tells me they’ve been in floods of tears when reading my book and that the story has affected them deeply. I also love hearing that people were reading into the early hours of the morning because they couldn’t bear to put the book down.

I think you might have just summed up my own reaction to The Memory of Us. Does your writing affect you too?

Lexi and Amelia – the two sisters who are the main characters in The Memory Of Us frequently kept me company in the small hours of the night while I was plotting their story and they also made me cry – a lot. So I feel very connected to readers who tell me Lexi and Amelia weren’t just characters on a page, but actually felt like people they knew as friends– because that is exactly how I feel about them.

I think anyone reading The Memory of Us can appreciate the heart and soul you poured into the writing Dani.

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

I would normally bring a bottle of Prosecco (my favourite tipple), but I know wine doesn’t agree with you, so I’ve gone a little rogue and have subbed it out with a bottle of Baileys. This drink is Christmas in a bottle as far as I am concerned. I absolutely adore it, but for some reason I never drink it once the holiday season is over. Which is crazy when it tastes so good. So I thought tonight we could make it a February drink and not just a December one.

Ha! It’s ordinary wine that doesn’t agree with me, so Prosecco (or champagne next time if you feel so inclined) would be fine, but Bailey’s is my favourite of all so I’m rather glad you brought it along!

I’ve also brought along some family photo albums (which will make sense to anyone who reads The Memory Of Us). My albums are from my family’s favourite holiday destination – Disneyworld. We have been there more times than I care to admit. And for a woman who is too scared to go on roller coasters, that tells you just how much I love it. It’s the one holiday destination that our entire family enjoy and while I might have thought it was one we’d only visit when our children were little, we are talking about going again – and my kids are now both in their thirties!

I look forward to seeing those, as Disneyworld is one place I’ve never been. Shall I put on some music too?

If we’re playing a little background music while we sip on our Baileys and look at photos of Mickey Mouse, then can it please be country music? It is all I currently listen to – we even have a country music station playing through the night for the dog! I think the reason why I love this genre so much is that virtually every song tells a story. Some of my books have even been inspired by the words from country songs – so it’s almost like research that you can sing along to.

How fascinating! I quite like country music but I’d prefer Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music myself. However, as you brought the Baileys and The Memory of Us is already on my list of favourite reads of 2024 I think we should go with the country. You never know, there might be a new Dani Atkins book coming as a result of this evening.

Thanks so much for chatting with me about The Memory of Us Dani. I adore it and will give readers a few more details whilst you pour the Baileys!

The Memory of Us

If you can’t trust your head, can you trust your heart?

If she had been found moments later, Amelia’s heart would have stopped and never recovered. Instead she was taken from the desolate beach to the nearest hospital just in time to save her life. When her sister Lexi arrives from New York, Amelia’s heart is beating, but the accident has implanted a series of false memories. These memories revolve around a man named Sam, and a perfect love story that never existed.

Determined to help her sister, Lexi enlists the help of Nick, a local vet who bears a striking resemblance to Sam. Together, Lexi and Nick recreate and photograph Amelia’s dream dates in the hopes of triggering her true memories.

But as love starts to stir between Lexi and Nick, they must navigate a complex web of emotions. How can Lexi fall for Amelia’s dream man without hurting her sister?

Filled with breathtaking romance, heart-wrenching emotion, the magic of destiny and the power of sisterhood, The Memory of Us is a must-read for fans of Holly Miller and Colleen Hoover.

Published by Head of Zeus (Aria) on 15th February 2024, The Memory of Us is available for purchase in all the usual places including here.

About Dani Atkins

Dani Atkins is an award-winning novelist. Her 2013 debut Fractured (published as Then and Always in North America) has been translated into over twenty languages and has sold more than half a million copies since first publication in the UK.

Dani is the author of eight other bestselling novels (The Story of Us, Our Song, This Love, While I Was Sleeping, A Million Dreams, A Sky Full of Stars, The Wedding Dress, Six Days) and Perfect Strangers, a standalone eBook novella. In 2018 This Love won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award at the RNA awards in London and in 2022 A Sky Full of Stars won the Contemporary Romantic Novel of the Year at the RNA awards.

Dani lives in a small village in Hertfordshire with her husband, a Siamese cat and a very soppy Border Collie.

For further information, you can find Dani on Instagram and Facebook and follow her on Twitter/X @AtkinsDani.

There’s more with these other bloggers too:

My enormous thanks to the lovely folk at Harper Collins for sending me a copy of Out of the Woods by Betsy Griffin in return for an honest review all those months ago. With the paperback release imminent I am delighted to share my review today.

Out of the Woods is released in paperback tomorrow, 29th February 2024, by HQ and is available for purchase through the links here.

Out of the Woods

As she finds her way home out of the woods, Betsy Griffin takes us on a journey through the darkest of forests to find the light.

With wise advice from woodland creatures along the way, Betsy takes it upon herself to change her outlook on the world.

In this deeply moving and inspirational fable, she teaches us how to face our struggles with courage and determination, and shares powerful lessons about positivity, kindness and hope.

Despite her young age, Betsy’s wisdom will inspire readers of all ages.

Above all, she shows us that anything is possible.

My Review of Out of the Woods

Betsy gets lost.

What an utterly charming book. Out of the Woods may have been written by a child, Betsy Griffin, for children, but her adventures have such resonance for all regardless of age that this is a very special book indeed. Once the reader appreciates that this young author is blind and lives with a brain tumour, the incredible positivity in the story becomes even more fully appreciated. 

Assisted by Sue Belfrage and with charming and attractive illustrations by Emanuel Santos, Betsy Griffin tells a story that will entrance young readers. Betsy’s adventures as she gets lost in the woods, discovering the puppy Clementine and meeting various birds and animals on the way are an encouraging metaphor for life. Through her adventures she enables the reader to experience a wide range of emotions from fear and sadness to love and joy in a safe and sensitive way. 

The chapter titles become a brilliant set of guidelines to live by and once you’ve read Out of the Woods, you’re going to want to inject as much ‘spandandall’ into your life as you possibly can. Read the book to find out what that is! 

Alongside a story just perfect for young readers are messages in Out of the Woods that the world really needs. Knowing that you have to be afraid before you can be brave and face your fears, realising that a hug and a little kindness can transform another person’s feelings, understanding that if you meet a new creature different to you or a situation you haven’t previously encountered, that it doesn’t automatically mean they are a threat, is so relevant to all. When Betsy realises that she can choose how to respond to what life throws at her, she learns a very special lesson indeed. 

I thought Out of the Woods was not only entertaining, but hugely important. I’d urge older readers to read the introduction by Fearne Cotton and the acknowledgements from Betsy in order to appreciate fully the true inspiration of the courageous Betsy Griffin and the beauty of her book Out of the Woods. Don’t miss it.

About Betsy Griffin

Betsy Griffin was diagnosed with a rare and inoperable brain tumour at two years old that left her blind. Undeterred, Betsy wanted to inspire others to be more positive in their lives.

For further information, find Betsy on Instagram or visit her YouTube channel.

I’m trying so hard not to take on new blog tours at the moment as life is so busy, but given how much I love children’s books, I simply couldn’t resist Little Mo and the Great Snow Monster by Michael Foreman. My grateful thanks to Anne Cater of Random Things Tours for inviting me to participate in the blog tour. It’s my pleasure to share my review today.

Published by Thames & Hudson children’s books on 11th January 2024 Little Mo and the Great Snow Monster is available for purchase in all the usual places including here.

Little Mo and the Great Snow Monster

Home Alone meets Jurassic Park in this endearing story about a brave little mammal.

Internationally renowned children’s book illustrator Michael Foreman lends his compelling storytelling style to the tale of the world’s first mammal: Little Mo.

Little Mo lives with his father and mother in a cave during prehistoric times. Everything is new to him ― snow, ice, and most frightening of all, dinosaurs! When a pack of triceratops decide to make Little Mo’s cave their home, Mo has to muster all his courage to scare them away.

With an endearing central character whose gumption saves the day and stunning original watercolour illustrations throughout, Little Mo and the Great Snow Monster is the perfect prehistoric adventure for young readers.

My Review of Little Mo and the Great Snow Monster

Little Mo meets monsters!

Before my review proper of Little Mo and the Great Snow Monster I have to comment on the physical properties of the hardback book. It’s quite wonderful. It’s the perfect size for sharing at bedtime in the home or in story-time in places where there are groups of young children. It has high quality, robust covers with lovely endpapers relating to the snow of the story. Indeed, the illustrations are fantastic. There’s an ethereal wateriness to them that is just right for a story featuring snow, a frozen lake and water.

The story in Little Mo and the Great Snow Monster is smashing. Little Mo discovers snow for the first time and deals with a scary situation when the great snow monsters take over the family cave whilst his parents are out getting food. There’s excitement, peril and adventure, as well as a happy resolution that will appeal to all young readers. I loved the balance of text to image too as it allows more confident young readers to enjoy the story independently, but is not daunting to less advanced readers. The vocabulary is accessible, and for emergent writers there are super examples of the use of properly punctuated speech, ellipsis and upper case letters for effect and emphasis, with a wonderful resume at the end of the book about how we came to be in existence today that will capture the imagination.

That might all sound rather ‘educational’ but the real strength in Little Mo and the Great Snow Monster is the sheer delight of the story. Little Mo has adventures, is faced with scary monsters and yet is able to overcome his fears and scare away those monsters. This is a lovely element for children to understand. When Mo becomes encased in the giant snowball so that he scares off the monsters, it allows young children to realise that not everything is quite what it seems and our fears might be what we think is happening rather than what is actually there.

I thought Little Mo and the Great Snow Monster was absolutely glorious. It’s beautifully written and illustrated so that it would make a wonderful gift for any child. Just lovely!

About Michael Foreman

Michael Foreman is an internationally renowned, multi-award-winning children’s book illustrator and author. He has twice won the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal for British children’s book illustration and in 2022 was awarded an OBE for services to literature in the Queen’s Jubilee Honours. Long-time collaborator Michael Morpurgo has described him as ‘the greatest illustrator-storyteller of
his time’. His previous books include the Kate Greenaway Medal winning War Boy (1989).

There’s more with these other bloggers too:

Although Eva Glyn has appeared here on Linda’s Book Bag under her other writing persona of Jane Cable, The Dubrovnik Book Club is the first time I’ve featured her as Eva Glyn. I’m delighted to share my review of Eva’s latest book today.

Published by Harper Collins imprint One More Chapter on 14th March 2024, The Dubrovnik Book Club is available for purchase through the links here.

The Dubrovnik Book Club

In a tiny bookshop in Dubrovnik’s historic Old Town, a book club begins…

Newly arrived on the sun-drenched shores of Croatia, Claire Thomson’s life is about to change forever when she starts working at a local bookshop. With her cousin Vedran, employee Luna and Karmela, a professor, they form an unlikely book club.

But when their first book club pick – an engrossing cosy crime – inspires them to embark upon an investigation that is close to the group’s heart, they quickly learn the value of keeping their new-found friends close as lives and stories begin to entwine…

My Review of The Dubrovnik Book Club

Claire has a new job.

The Dubrovnik Book Club was a total surprise. I’d anticipated a light, entertaining story about developing friendships through a love of reading – and certainly that is one of the aspects of the narrative – but there is so much more besides, making this a book perfect for any reader. 

With a book club as a pivot, Eva Glyn creates a story that moves around this central feature like a literary orrery. Her themes are deep and universal, from Vedran’s trial by media when Didi goes missing and his relationship with her, through Luna’s sexuality, to Claire’s psychological state following severe illness caused by Covid. These aspects add considerably to the reader’s engagement with the story, giving much to ponder. There are other motifs that add further interest to The Dubrovnik Book Club too, from family and friendship through the impact of societal and religious expectations, to feminism and the patriarchy. 

I think what works so well is the fact that, although Eva Glyn encompasses so many threads in her narrative from PTSD to addiction, none of them feels forced. Rather, the characters dealing with the themes of the story are flawed and believable and their experiences seem to arise naturally even in the most dramatic aspects. These are real people whose struggles are identifiable and realistic. The author displays considerable humanity and sensitivity in her excellent storytelling. All of that said, there’s a real sense of hope and optimism that leaves the reader totally satisfied at the end of the story as both characters and reader alike learn that life is for living and it’s up to us to grasp opportunities in both hands rather than dwell too much in the past. And of course – there are books too!

Consequently, there’s a little bit of everything in The Dubrovnik Book club to appeal to everyone. I loved the mystery as Luna and Claire try to clear Vedran’s name. I loved the developing romances between several of the characters, and I loved the sense of place and history.

Indeed, Dubrovnik is incredibly well depicted. Eva Glyn creates beautifully described settings with a real eye for detail so that it is as if the reader is standing in Dubrovnik’s streets. There’s meticulously researched history that adds colour and authenticity, and the smatterings of indigenous language (supported by a glossary at the end of the book) give a vivid sense of place. It really does feel as if you’re there in the old town. Dubrovnik is every bit as much a character as any of the people.

The Dubrovnik Book Club is a multi-faceted story that is thoroughly entertaining and completely engaging. It’s also far more layered and interesting than might be expected from the title alone and I really, really enjoyed it. 

About Eva Glyn

Eva Glyn fell in love with Croatia during her first holiday there in 2019; the incredible scenery, the delicious food, the country’s dramatic twentieth century history all played their part, but most of all it was the friendliness of the people.

One of these was tour director Darko Barisic, who told an incredible story about growing up in underground shelters during the war in the 1990s, and she knew she had to write a book around his experiences. This became her first Croatian novel, The Olive Grove, and she and Darko have become good friends and he continues to advise her on all aspects of Croatia.

Eva delves into Croatian history and everyday life for her inspiration, and visits the country as often as she can, having uncovered so many stories by talking to local people. Travel in general is her passion, followed closely by food and wine, which also find their way between her pages.

Although Welsh by birth she now lives in Cornwall with the man she met and fell in love with almost thirty years ago. She also writes as Jane Cable.

You can follow Eva on Twitter/X @JaneCable, visit her website and find her on Facebook and Instagram.

Here we go again! Today I’m sharing my thoughts on a book I read well over a year ago. Once again, it took me a while to realise where I had put the review… I know I’m an idiot but at least I have finally found my review of Dolly’s Dream by Dilly Court and I’m delighted to share it today.

Published by Harper Collins on 2nd February 2023, Dolly’s Dream is available for purchase through the links here.

Dolly’s Dream

Dolly’s dreams could lead her astray . . .

Dolly Blanchard dreams of a bigger life. She wants to make a mark on the world, not simply wait for a husband to come along. So when an impoverished actress offers her a lifeline, Dolly flees to London, determined to make it on the stage and prove to her family – and herself – that she can strike out alone.

But the dark city streets are full of danger. With her dreams fading to dust, Dolly soon finds herself in peril. And with the family’s future under threat at Rockwood Castle, and secrets tumbling out of the shadows, she faces a difficult choice.

Will her heart call her home?

My Review of Dolly’s Dream

Dolly wants a better life.

Dolly’s Dream is a sumptuous example of being careful what you wish for, wrapped in a thoroughly enjoyable historical tale. It didn’t matter that I hadn’t read other books in the Rockwood Chronicles, because within a very few pages Dilly Court made me feel as if I knew the characters and background completely. Initially my heart sank when I saw the family tree at the beginning of the book, because I thought I might struggle to remember everyone, but in fact I found it easy to distinguish characters as a result of Dilly Court’s well-crafted prose.

Dilly Court’s style is simply wonderful. Her descriptions plunge the reader into both setting and era, and there’s a wickedly dry sense of humour that runs through in places, so that not only is Dolly’s Dream entertaining, it’s amusing and uplifting too. Each of the senses is catered for with such quality that Dolly’s Dream is effortless to read, but frequently made me ravenously hungry! There’s such a clear sense of place that, although the story is set in the 1870s, it feels vivid and fresh, because just the right amount of transporting detail is provided.

The themes in Dolly’s Dream are woven into the story with considerable realism and absolute skill. Social hierarchy, convention, ambition, love, family and so much more mean there’s interest and engagement. I loved the theatrical motif because it extends beyond Nick’s theatre productions into the roles and personas that people present in everyday life. I had no idea, for example, whether Gus was genuine or a complete charlatan until the very end of the book.

There’s drama, romance, scandal and intrigue aplenty in Dolly’s Dream. The book can be described as a proper story by a skilled storyteller who ensnares her readers. The  lively plot is brilliant, being totally absorbing and great fun. I loved the sense of history and especially Dolly’s unwillingness to conform to convention as it made her a heroine for any reader.

Dolly, or, more formally Adela, is a triumph. She’s reckless and brave, intelligent and foolhardy, morally upright and conventionally unfettered so that her antics in the story have pleasing light and shade. Dolly is the kind of young woman who feels far more convincing than a character on the page. It’s as if she might walk through the door at any moment.

Dolly’s Dream is my first Dilly Court read. It is smashing and I am delighted to have an entire back catalogue to discover.

About Dilly Court

Dilly Court is a Sunday Times bestselling author of over thirty novels. She grew up in North East London and began her career in television, writing scripts for commercials. She is married with two grown-up children and four grandchildren, and now lives in Dorset on the beautiful Jurassic Coast with her husband.

To find out more about Dilly, please visit her on Facebook.

My enormous thanks to the lovely publicists at Harper Collins who sent me a copy of The Lifeline by Tom Ellen in return for an honest review. It’s my pleasure to share that review today.

The Lifeline will be published by Harper Collins imprint HQ on 29th February and is available for pre-order here.

The Lifeline

Will is sleepwalking through life. He works a dead-end job and volunteers at an anonymous crisis line to avoid facing his own problems.

Annie is sure she has her five-year plan all worked out. But when things start falling apart, she just needs someone who will listen. . .

They’re practically strangers but soon Will and Annie rely on their regular phone calls, challenging each other to be brave and rebuild their lives.

They’ve found connection in the most unlikely of places but is it possible to fall in love with someone you’ve never met?

My Review of The Lifeline

Will and Annie meet on the phone.

The Lifeline is glorious. Tom Ellen writes with such humanity and understanding of the fragility of our flawed human natures that it is impossible not to be drawn straight into the story and to want there to be a happy ending for Will and Annie. 

Both main characters have aspects to them that ought to be unappealing but that actually serve to make them feel real and warm. Initially Will is a brash, slightly out of control wannabe band member and Annie is an angry, unforgiving slightly self-righteous daughter and sister. And yet neither is really any of those things and their development over the story is a delight to read about. I was totally invested in them as people. 

The plot of The Lifeline is relatively simple as Annie and Will’s lives become more involved when Annie rings the Green Shoots helpline Max is volunteering at. But that belies the cleverness of the narrative. It is actually multi layered because the reader has greater knowledge about Pia and Jack than do Annie and Will so that there’s a real engagement. The structure of dates and the interspersing of the day in Paris with the dual chapters featuring the two perfectly balanced protagonists give a natural and compelling rhythm that I found captivating. The reader guesses the reason why Will has stood up Annie in Paris, but the thread of mystery for Annie and the impact of that day for Will, all add up to an emotional and captivating story.

Alongside two vividly drawn main characters and a mesmerising narrative there are profound and affecting themes. Mental health features strongly, the mundanity of work, and the friendships within and challenges of our daily situations all weave into a convincing exploration of what it can be like to navigate today’s world successfully. Add in what we learn about Joe and Eric and The Lifeline is more than just a story. It’s a book that makes us consider our own lives, how we make assumptions about others and how the ability to listen to others is crucial. Tom Ellen also gives the reader the permission to ‘be brave’ and creative. 

The Lifeline does have romance as one of its themes, but more importantly, love of all kinds is at its heart – the love between friends, siblings, parents and children, for example. Crucially, however, and what makes The Lifeline such a wonderful, wonderful story is that Tom Ellen writes it WITH love. And what could be better than that? The Lifeline is an absolute must read novel and I adored it. 

About Tom Ellen

Tom is an author and journalist from London. He is the co-writer of three critically acclaimed Young Adult novels: Lobsters (which was shortlisted for The Bookseller’s inaugural YA Book Prize in 2015), Never Evers and Freshers (nominated for the 2018 Carnegie Medal). His solo adult debut novel was the romantic comedy All About Us (HQ/HarperCollins, published October 2020). His books have been widely translated and are published in 20 countries.

Tom is a regular contributor to Viz comic, and has also written for publications such as Cosmopolitan, Empire, Evening Standard Magazine, The Daily Mash, Glamour, NME, ESPN, ShortList, Time Out London, Vice, Stylist and many more.

You can follow Tom on Twitter/X @TomEllen7.

With the world in such a turbulent state at the moment, I was intrigued when Mustafa Marwan got in touch about his debut novel Guns and Almond Milk. Sadly, I simply don’t have time to read it at the moment but instead I have asked Mustafa to stay in with me to tell me a bit about it.

Let’s find out more:

Staying in with Mustafa Marwan

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag Mustafa. Thank you for agreeing to stay in with me.

Thanks for having me, Linda.

 I’m sure I know, but which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it? 

I brought my debut literary thriller, Guns and Almond Milk, because it includes facts from history, observations from reality, and imagination from the pen.

I understand Guns and Almond Milk is out today so happy publication day. I find the cover fascinating as it looks like a flower until you look closely at it! Tell me, what can we expect from an evening in with Guns and Almond Milk?

You can expect a literary thriller that deals with identity, diversity and old coins of arguable value.

Interesting. Tell me more.

You can also expect a discussion on modern societies and their polarities through a timeline based in the UK where a British Egyptian doctor tries to be from two worlds at the same time. In the second timeline, there’s an experience-based window to aid work, war, and lifestyles where extremes become the routine.

I have a feeling that is an experience many are going through right now Mustafa.

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

I’ve brought some early quotations and comments about Guns and Almond Milk because I’m so pleased at how it is being received.

Those are fabulous endorsements for a debut writer. Congratulations. And, thank you so much for staying in with me to chat about Guns and Almond Milk. I hope it’s a huge success for you.

Thanks Linda! There’s a trailer here for the book too if readers would like to take a look.

I’m sure they will! Let me give them a few more details too:

Guns and Almond Milk

An adrenaline-fueled journey into war-torn Yemen, this novel is the perfect read for fans of passionate, fast-paced fiction.

Luke Larson, a British Egyptian doctor, runs from his problematic past in the UK and becomes a war surgeon. When he is taken hostage by Western security contractors in a besieged hospital in Yemen, he realizes that after spending years saving the lives of others, he needs to face the demons of his past in order to save his own.

Guns and Almond Milk is a study of identity, war and redemption. It is The Sympathizer mixed with M.A.S.H by the way of Ramy.

Born to Egyptian parents and raised as a first-generation British Muslim, Luke Larson struggles to be from two worlds at the same time. He is working in a humanitarian mission in Aden, at the height of the Yemeni conflict. Max Gorsky, Luke’s new patient, is a security contractor working for the government forces. Rebel forces have taken over the city, and Max’s team is now taking refuge in the city’s hospital, in preparation for their final stand. Luke and his team find themselves caught in a deadly clash between the ruthless rebel group and the desperate security contractors. At the same time, Max and Luke need to settle debts from their shared past in the UK where they joined forces in fencing a multi-million-dollar stolen artifact operation that went wrong.

Guns and Almond Milk is a fast-paced story of love, murder, and thrill that provides readers with a fresh perspective on humanitarian work, religion, assimilation, and Middle Eastern politics.

Published by Simon and Schuster Interlink in the UK today 20th February, Guns and Almond Milk is available for purchase here and in the US through the publisher links here.

About Mustafa Marwan

Mustafa Marwan is an Egyptian writer, aid worker, and trainer with over a decade of experience in more than a dozen conflict zones in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. His debut novel, Guns and Almond Milk, a 2021 Page Turner Awards Finalist, is set in Yemen and the United Kingdom, where he has lived and worked. Mustafa has a Bachelor’s in Pharmacy and a Master’s in Public Health and has lectured and consulted in the UK on topics such as management and leadership, health and social care. He has also facilitated intercultural dialogue programs in several countries. Mustafa currently resides in Bangkok, Thailand.

For further information, visit Mustafa’s website or follow him on Twitter/X @MustafaMarwan. You can also find Mustafa on Facebook.

My enormous thanks to Susanna Pedan at Harper Collins for sending me a copy of The Girl from Donegal by Carmel Harrington in return for an honest review. I was delighted to receive it as I love Carmel Harrington’s writing. It’s my total pleasure to share my review of The Girl From Donegal today.

I last reviewed one of Carmel’s books – A Mother’s Heart – for My Weekly in a post you’ll find here.

I also reviewed Carmel’s The Moon Over Kilmore Quay here. I reviewed The Woman at 72 Derry Lane in a post you’ll find here. It was my also privilege to host a guest post from Carmel and to review The Things I Should Have Told you here.

Published in paperback in the UK by Harper Collins on 29th February 2024, The Girl From Donegal is available for pre-order through the links here.

The Girl from Donegal

Donegal, Ireland, 1939

As the world teeters on the brink of WWII, Eliza Lavery is alone in the world after her fiancé, Davey, was lost following the Irish War of Independence. But a fateful meeting on the wild beauty of Ballymastocker Bay could change everything.

Hamilton, Bermuda, 2022

Eight decades later, troubled by her future, Saoirse O’Donnell walks on the pink sands of Bermuda’s Horseshoe Bay. When she uncovers a connection to Eliza, all those years before, she hears a story that promises to influence her own heart – but that also reveals a long-buried secret.

Two women must each make a choice between their past and their present in this sweeping, epic love story spanning two continents, three generations, and joy and tragedy over nearly a century.

My Review of The Girl from Donegal

Saoirse is staying with her aunts.

Oh my goodness yes! I adored The Girl from Donegal. It’s what might be termed a ‘proper’ story and I loved every moment of being immersed in Carmel Harrington’s story.

What is so fabulous is the complete plausibility and realism of the warm characters so that it is as if you’re reading about old friends whom you’ve cared for and missed and now they are back in your life. I truly felt I knew every one of them personally. With a couple of small exceptions there are no true villains, but rather real folk doing their best with the circumstances they find themselves in, making them achingly relatable. I was completely invested in the outcomes for Saoirse, Eliza and Kate in particular. Meeting them all was a complete delight. Of all the characters I think Matthew might be the one my heart went out to most. He is a catalyst for action and an example of how warmth and kindness is attractive and appealing. 

That said, this is no ordinary story, even if the characters are identifiable. Oh no. Carmel Harrington’s The Girl from Donegal is sweeping, dramatic, absorbing and surprising. The story is filled with twists and turns and I was completely taken aback on more than one occasion. The 1939 sections are especially exciting and filled with historical detail and accuracy which makes the story all the more pleasurable. I’m not usually a great lover of dual time line narratives but I was absolutely riveted by this one.

The settings are amazing. Ireland, aboard the Athenia, and Bermuda vibrate with exceptional detail that appeals to each of the senses. From the temperature and colour of the sea, to the touch of a horse’s nose, through the sound of birds and the taste of rum punch, every aspect adds depth and texture, making The Girl from Donegal an alluring, captivating and glorious read. 

I thought the themes explored by Carmel Harrington were quite simply wonderful. Grief, love, fate, responsibility, family and relationships are all aspects that hook in the reader, but even more fascinating is the way human fallibility and making the most of what life throws at us underpin the story. We can’t always choose what happens, but the author displays the fact that we can choose how to respond. The Girl from Donegal illustrates how being brave and taking a chance with our lives can both challenge and reward, but you’ll need to read the story to find out more.

I’m conscious that I may have been slightly vague as to the wonderful plot and people here, but I don’t want inadvertently to reveal anything that will spoil the sheer joy in reading The Girl from Donegal. Whatever you might think when you’ve read The Girl from Donegal, and read it you must, I hope you adore the story as  much as I did. Oh, and I hope you have the opportunity to find your last love too. 

About Carmel Harrington

USA Today bestseller Carmel Harrington lives in Wexford with her family and rescue dog, George Bailey. Her ninth novel, The Moon Over Kilmore Quay became an instant bestseller in Ireland and USA. Other bestselling novels include My Pear-Shaped Life, A Thousand Roads Home, The Woman at 72 Derry Lane and the ITV commissioned novel, Cold Feet The Lost Years.

Carmel’s trademark is to write warm, uplifting stories with humour, heart and hope. She loves to write about family, friendships, love and life within complex, twisting plots. Carmel’s novels have been shortlisted twice for an Irish Book Award and her debut Beyond Grace’s Rainbow won Kindle Book of the Year and Romantic eBook of the Year in 2013. Carmel is also a regular on Irish TV screens, and is co founder of The Inspiration Project, a coaching and writing retreat.

For further information you can follow Carmel on Twitter/X @HappyMrsH, find her on Facebook or Instagram and visit her website.

You have no idea how delighted I am to blog my review of The Vintage Shop by Libby Page today.

There’s a very long story attached to my review as originally I wrote it for use elsewhere. Sadly it got forgotten in some changes and so I thought I’d blog it instead. Until I couldn’t find it. I had deleted it from every place I could think of whilst I was ‘tidying up’ my ancient laptop in the hope it might actually work better.

However, I suddenly had a brainwave and searched my downloads as I use Google Docs and download my reviews to send off, and there it was! Hurrah. So, with apologies for being exactly a year late, and with a title change to the book in the interim, I am finally sharing my review.

Published by Orion on 16th February 2023, The Vintage Shop is available for purchase through the links here.

The Vintage Shop

One dress. Three women. A lifetime of secrets.

Among the cobbled streets of Frome in Somerset, Lou is about to start something new. After losing her mother, she knows it’s time to take a chance and open her own vintage clothes shop.

In upstate New York, Donna receives some news about her family which throws everything she thought she knew into question. The only clue she has to unlock her past is a picture of a yellow dress.

Maggy is in her seventies, newly divorced and all alone in an empty house. Visiting the little vintage shop in Frome, with its rows of beautiful dresses, brings back cherished memories she’d long put aside.

For these three women, only by uncovering the secrets of the yellow dress can they unlock their next chapter…

My Review of The Vintage Shop

Two very different worlds are about to collide.

Brimming with community, friendship, family and belonging The Vintage Shop is absolutely charming, heart-breaking and life-affirming in equal measure. It’s such a lovely book written by an author who understands loneliness, grief, healing and friendship completely. I felt completely immersed in the story as I read.

The perfectly plotted narrative sweeps the reader along as they accompany Lou, Donna and Maggy on their journeys of discovery. With the tantalising sections from the past interspersed with present day action, the story is so entertaining and absorbing that it’s impossible to set it aside. Indeed, The Vintage Shop is one of those stories where you’re desperate to find out what happens but equally terrified that the outcomes might not be those you want for Lou, Maggy and Donna.

The three main characters are sensitively drawn, and perfectly balanced in the story, as the threads of their lives become intertwined. Lou’s vivacious dress sense, Maggy’s caring persona and Donna’s prickliness make each one a distinct individual that it’s impossible not to care about.

I loved the allusions to nature, autumn and fresh starts in the writing and the way Libby Page shows that what we’ve always done, how we’ve always acted, and what we’ve always believed, isn’t immutable, but can evolve and shape us positively so that The Vintage Shop educates even as it entertains. It feels as if Libby Page is giving her readers permission to be themselves. As a result, The Vintage Shop is a lovely, heart-warming illustration that it’s never too late to begin again, to make new friends and to live your life in full in your own second chance. It’s beautifully written and filled with wise life lessons that are uncovered gently and convincingly so that the reader feels moved, inspired and fulfilled by Libby Page’s sensitive and entertaining guidance.

The Vintage Shop makes you want to dig out your brightest, most ebullient clothes, and stride out into whatever the future may hold. It may be filled with pain and regret, and you’ll definitely need a tissue or two, but ultimately it’s a truly uplifting, hopeful, story that gladdens the heart and makes the world that little bit brighter. I loved it.

About Libby Page

Libby Page is the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Lido, The 24-Hour Café and The Island Home. The Vintage Shop is her fourth novel and her latest The Lifeline will be released in April. Before becoming an author, she worked in journalism and marketing. She is a keen outdoor swimmer and lives in Somerset with her husband and young son.

For further information, follow Libby on Twitter @LibbyPageWrites, Instagram and Facebook, or visit Libby’s website.