Having loved all Hannah Gold’s previous children’s books I was thrilled some months ago when a copy of her latest, Finding Bear arrived in surprise book post from the lovely team at Harper Collins’ children’s books. It’s taken me months longer than intended, but I’m delighted finally to share my review of Finding Bear today.

Published by Harper Collins on 28th September 2023, Finding Bear is available for purchase through the links here.

As well as my review of Finding Bear, you’ll find my thought on Hannah’s The Last Bear here (making it one of my 2021 Books of the Year) and of The Lost Whale here (which was another Book of the Year for me in 2022)

Finding Bear

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.

My Review of Finding Bear

April isn’t entirely settled in her new life.

Now, when I read The Last Bear by Hannah Gold I thought it was pretty close to perfection and would be impossible to beat. How wrong could I be? Finding Bear is a magnificent sequel that is absolutely wonderful. It’s the kind of book that touches a reader – heart and soul – regardless of their age, experience or interests. I adored it.

The fabulous April Wood is a little older and a little taller, but her passion for wildlife and the environment is as deep as ever and it is this aspect of the text that illustrates what a brilliant writer Hannah Gold is. She teaches her young readers about the environment, climate change and the natural world by seamlessly weaving in these aspects to her story. Starving polar bears, melting ice and the delicate balance between humans and animals are fabulously researched aspects, but they are presented without ever patronising young readers, drawing them into the story and lighting a fire in their imaginations. There are difficult moments here presented with compassion and sensitivity but I won’t spoil the story by saying more except that this reader who is around half a century older than the target audience was reduced to a sobbing wreck in more than one occasion. 

Descriptions in this fast paced plot are simply wonderful, conveying the Arctic temperature and inhospitable, threatening environment with razor sharp accuracy so that any reader can experience the cold and dark alongside April. Add in the truly amazing illustrations by Levi Pinfold and Finding Bear is a very special book indeed. 

I absolutely loved the way that Finding Bear is an adventure story and can be accessed on that initial level, but is so multifaceted in the themes presented that the relatability for all readers is astounding. There are family dynamics as April uncovers her real emotions about Maria arriving in her Dad’s life, the sense of loneliness and the need to belong arises out of April’s difference from her fellow pupils, and the realisation of what creates abiding and enduring love at all levels permeates the entire story, especially through April’s relationship with Bear. 

It’s quite difficult to convey what a truly gifted writer Hannah Gold is. Her books are realistic and magical. Finding Bear is a shining beacon of hope, love and friendship in a world where such values can be sorely missed. Indeed, I think Finding Bear is astounding. You’ll struggle to find a better children’s book and I don’t have the vocabulary to convey how wonderful it is. Just buy it! 

About Hannah Gold

Hannah Gold grew up in a family where books, animals, and the beauty of the outside world were ever present, and is now passionate about writing stories that share her love of the planet. The Last Bear was her children’s debut which became an instant classic and international bestseller upon release in 2021. A Saturday and Sunday Times Book of the Week, it went on to win both the prestigious Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and The Blue Peter Book Award and has been translated into 25 languages.

The Lost Whale is Hannah’s critically acclaimed second novel which tells an incredible story about the connection between a boy and a whale and the bond that sets them both free. It won the Edward Stanford Children’s Travel Book 2022 and has been shortlisted for a number of regional awards.

In September 2023, Finding Bear, the highly anticipated sequel to The Last Bear, will be released. All novels are illustrated by renowned artist Levi Pinfold.

Hannah is also an ambassador for the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Charity. She lives in the UK with her tortoise, her cat and her husband.

You can find out more about Hannah and join her popular ‘Bear Club’ newsletter on her website, or you can follow Hannah on Twitter @HGold_author, or find her on Facebook and Instagram.

My enormous thanks to Sofia Saghir for sending me a copy of The Book of Beginnings by Sally Page in return for an honest review. It’s my absolute pleasure to share that review today.

Published by Harper Collins on 28th September 2023, The Book of Beginnings is available for purchase through the links here.

The Book of Beginnings

Her new chapter starts now…

Jo Sorsby is hiding from her past when she agrees to run her uncle’s beloved stationery shop. Glimpsing the lives of her customers between the warm wooden shelves, as they scribble little notes and browse colourful notebooks, distracts her from her bruised heart.

When she meets Ruth, a vicar running from a secret, and Malcolm, a septuagenarian still finding himself, she suddenly realizes she isn’t alone.

They each have a story that can transform Jo’s life… if only she can let them in.

The perfect gift for book lovers, The Keeper of Stories meets The Lost Bookshop in this gorgeous novel about secrets, second chances and finding friendship in the most unlikely places.

My Review of The Book of Beginnings

Reverend Ruth is missing.

Oh my goodness! The Book of Beginnings is a beautiful read imbued with love, friendship and understanding. Sally Page achieves the perfect balance of poignancy and gentleness without being remotely insipid or saccharine so that she steals her reader’s heart. I could not have enjoyed this book more.

I think what works so effectively in The Book of Beginnings is the gradual build up of friendship between Ruth, Jo and Malcolm. Although Jo’s perspective has the greatest focus, the narrative feels perfectly balanced and each character is layered, realistic and so sensitively developed. 

I loved Malcolm’s metamorphosis from shy and regretful to confident and vibrant, illustrated by his increasingly colourful clothing, so that reading about him made me want to find my most outlandish clothes and wear them with pride. Similarly, I adored Ruth. Her brand of religion is exactly what it should be. Indeed, through Ruth I have found a new perspective and attitude towards those with a religious faith I simply don’t possess. Witty, occasionally naughty, and always kind, Ruth has restored my faith in humanity. She epitomises the true concept of kindness, even whilst she’s being bossy and manipulative. Jo, too, provides comfort and relatability to the reader as she comes to terms with her averageness and realises that enough is exactly that – enough. 

Running through the narrative is an utterly fascinating insight into Highgate Cemetery and its inhabitants that is hugely entertaining. These sections have authority and interest that lingers long after the book is finished so that The Book of Beginnings feels somehow greater than the sum of its parts. It really is a wonderful read. 

The Book of Beginnings is about human connection, about finding friendship in the unlikeliest of places and people, and about realising that it really is never too late to be yourself. I could not have enjoyed it more.

About Sally Page

After studying history at university, Sally moved to London to work in advertising. In her spare time she studied floristry at night school and eventually opened her own flower shop. Sally came to appreciate that flower shops offer a unique window into people’s stories and she began to photograph and write about this floral life in a series of non-fiction books. Later, Sally continued her interest in writing when she founded her fountain pen company, Plooms.co.uk.

In her debut novel, The Keeper of Stories, Sally combined her love of history and writing with her abiding interest in the stories people have to tell. Sally now lives in Dorset. Her eldest daughter, Alex, is studying to be a doctor and her youngest daughter is the author, Libby Page.

For further information, visit Sally’s website, follow her on Twitter/X @SallyPageBooks or find her on Facebook and Instagram.

I’ve had Alias Emma by Ava Glass calling to me from my TBR for months and months so my enormous thanks go to Amanda at Moonflower for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for the next book in the series, The Traitor. I’m delighted to share my review today.

Published by Penguin on 14th September 2023, The Traitor is available for purchase through the links here.

The Traitor

LONDON. EARLY MORNING.

A body is found in a padlocked suitcase.

Investigator Emma Makepeace knows it’s murder. And it’s personal.

She quickly establishes that the dead man had been shadowing two oligarchs suspected of procuring illegal weapons in the UK. And it seems likely that an insider working deep within the British government is helping them.

To find out who the traitor is, Emma goes deep undercover on a superyacht owned by one of the oligarchs.

But the glamorous veneer of the rich hides dark secrets. Out at sea, Emma is both hunter and prey, and no one can protect her.

Never has the turquoise sea and golden sands of the Rivera seemed so dangerous.

As the hunt intensifies, Emma knows that she is in mortal danger. And that she needs to find the traitor before they find her . . .

My Review of The Traitor

Emma Makepeace has a new case.

The Traitor is absolutely cracking and I loved every moment of this fast paced, exciting and gripping thriller. What works so well is the authoritative way it is written because the reader is entirely consumed by the action. Every dangerous moment feels plausible and scarily possible given what we’ve learnt about Russian behaviour in recent years.

Whilst there are moments of violence, the greatest tension in The Traitor comes through the cat and mouse intellectual challenges Emma encounters so that this feels sophisticated as well as thrilling to read. It’s quite hard to say much about the plot because I need to leave others to find out what happens for themselves, but I found it compelling and utterly addictive to the extent that I simply put life on hold until I’d read it all.

Emma Makepeace is brilliantly drawn. She’s determined, feisty, quick witted and brave, but there’s enough stubbornness and vulnerability in her to give her surprising depth. She’s a full-blooded person, rather than a character; she’s akin to a female James Bond but with added understanding and humanity in her actions, making her all the more appealing. Ava Glass deftly weaves in aspects of Emma’s previous cases so that the reader understands her, but the breath-taking pace of The Traitor is still maintained. 

I found the settings so clever. Once action moves to the yacht, The Traitor becomes a kind of locked room mystery combining the very best of traditional crime thrillers with a thumpingly good modern bent. Again, it’s not possible to say too much about the plot as it would spoil the story for others. 

The Traitor is a fast paced, gulp it down in one sitting, thriller that convinces even as it excites. I absolutely loved it.

About Ava Glass

Ava Glass is the author of the espionage series Alias Emma. A former civil servant and journalist, she once worked closely with spies, and that experience fuels her writing. Ava is the pseudonym for an international bestselling author who has written more than ten crime novels under another name. Her books have been bestsellers in multiple countries, and have been published in more than twenty languages. Alias Emma is currently being developed for television by The Ink Factory.

For further information visit Ava’s website where you can join her book club and win free books, or follow her on Twitter/X @AvaGlassBooks, Instagram and Threads.

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Sometimes books cross my path where the covers are so beautiful I truly wish I had time to fit in reading the contents, but sadly there are only 24 hours in a day. One such book belongs to Jane Anderson and it’s my very great pleasure to participate in the blog tour by staying in with Jane to discuss it! My thanks to lovely Kelly Lacey of Love Books Tours for inviting me to take part.

Let’s find out more:

Staying in with Jane Anderson

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag Jane and thank you for agreeing to stay in with me. 

Thanks for having me Linda.

Tell me, which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it?

I’ve brought my debut novel The Girl Who Fled the Picture which was published just over a month ago.

Congratulations on your debut.

What can we expect from The Girl Who Fled the Picture?

My debut novel is set in the 18^th century and follows Issy’s journey in search of freedom to live and love as she chooses, an almost impossible ambition for a woman in that era.

I imagine it was. 

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

Something sour, something sweet and something beautiful. I’ve brought negronis to drink, because they’re my favourite cocktail and to eat, something equally decadent, a type of luxury Turkish baklava called Şöbiyet, which is made with cream, as well as the usual sweet ingredients. I tried it first when I visited Istanbul on a research trip.

I’ve also brought my copy of the National Gallery of Scotland catalogue for the 2015 exhibition of Jean-Étienne Liotard’s paintings, because I want to show you the painting that inspired the novel. His depiction of fabric is astounding and a painting of a particularly enigmatic girl set me thinking. Women are largely overlooked in history books and I love to weave women’s stories around factual events.

I think that’s why we call it HIStory Jane!

Liotard was a real painter and the story of how Bonnie Prince Charlie came to Scotland, arriving with only seven men but daring to challenge Hanoverian rule, is fascinating.

I love the sound of The Girl Who Fled the Picture Jane. Thank you so much for staying in with me to chat about it. You get us a negroni and I’ll give Linda’s Book Bag readers a few more details:

The Girl Who Fled the Picture

A girl who won’t conform. A journey across 18th Century Europe. A dangerous pursuit of forbidden love.

1742, Constantinople. Fifteen-year-old Isabella dons Turkish dress to pose for her portrait. The touch of the artist’s apprentice freeing her from corsets and draping her in sensuous silk unleashes a passion that changes her life forever.

Fleeing to Rome to avoid an arranged marriage, Isabella rebuilds her life creating beautiful silver jewellery but love for the apprentice takes her on another journey. She arrives in Scotland just in time for the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion. In the midst of the dangerous intrigue of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s court, will the forbidden nature of her secret love see her lose everything?

The Girl Who Fled the Picture is available for purchase here.

About Jane Anderson

Jane Anderson is an Edinburgh based writer of historical fiction. Born in Fife, Jane originally studied English Literature at Edinburgh University. She spent most of her working life living in countries as far-flung as Vietnam, Azerbaijan and most recently, Egypt. She has travelled extensively, including frequent visits from Cairo to both Istanbul and Rome, immersing herself in their ancient cultures and histories. Retelling history from the point of view of women is where the fun begins.

For more information, visit Jane’s website, find her on Facebook and Instagram or follow her on Twitter/X @JaneSAnderson15.

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My grateful thanks to Adam Dickson for sending me a copy of his short story collection A Waltz Through The Dark Wood: 12 short stories that illuminate the heart of the human condition in return for an honest review. I’m delighted to share that review today.

A Waltz Through The Dark Wood was published on 24th August 2023 and is available for purchase here.

A Waltz Through The Dark Wood

Twelve powerful short stories that strip away the veneer and get right to the heart of the human condition. From the tensions that exist between lovers, to the heart-breaking realities of war. Out of these diverse elements, the forging of qualities that enable hope, dignity and ultimately transcendence to emerge. The essential dilemma of being human in a sometimes ruthless environment, dealing with circumstances beyond one’s control.

My Review of A Waltz Through The Dark Wood

A collection of 12 short stories.

A Waltz Through The Dark Wood is an interesting and eclectic mix of highly competent and imaginative writing. 

There’s something for every reader in A Waltz Through The Dark Wood, from a modern retelling of the traditional Hansel and Gretal folk tale, through murder and extra-marital affairs to war, collaboration and betrayal. There’s both love and hatred here, displayed in raw and often poetic language. I loved the final paragraph of Christ and the Devil for example. I thoroughly enjoyed the way the author adapts style to subject theme and era, because it makes each story feel fresh and different. Direct speech in particular adds to this effect, being natural and engaging. 

Adam Dickson has the ability to show his readers right inside the minds of his characters, making them feel real and often evoking strong emotion in the reader. Many of these people suffer considerably at the hands of others in events that can be bleak to read about and experience vicariously through the writing, and yet there’s an attractive honesty in the darkest moments, many of which are ameliorated by hope and self understanding meaning that A Waltz Through The Dark Wood includes light and shade in a careful balance. 

There’s a wide range of genre represented in A Waltz Through The Dark Wood so that I feel sure any reader will find a story that resonates with them. Recent history as in Collaborator or dystopian, almost science fiction elsewhere. I found Zero-Sum Game especially effective as the narrative builds with absolutely recognisable vignettes towards an unexpected and chilling conclusion. Indeed, these stories all demonstrate considerable skill in Adam Dickson’s writing. 

I fear A Waltz Through The Dark Wood might be a quiet book that not enough readers discover and that would be a shame as here is a writer of intensity, drama and impact. I recommend you try these stories for yourself.

About Adam Dickson

Adam Dickson was a student of Bill Stanton’s Writer’s Tutorial for several years, learning the craft of writing fiction. His novels are The Butterfly Collector, Drowning by Numbers, Billy Riley and Indigo Blue.

A lifetime fitness enthusiast, Adam suffered two massive brain seizures in 2003 and was left permanently disabled. In spite of this setback, he took up triathlon and began entering races, competing in Ironman UK in 2007. He co-authored Triathlon – Serious About Your Sport which was published by New Holland in May 2012. Two more titles on Swimming and Cycling were published in March 2013.

Adam has also written a book on mental health, Surfing the Edge – a survivors guide to bipolar disorder, which was published in October 2015.

His screenplay, Heart of a Murderer, is based on a real-life murder case that caused a media sensation in England in 1946. Filming is currently on hold awaiting funding applications.

In February 2020, Adam appeared as one of the experts in the CBS Reality series Murder by the Sea, in the episode ‘Neville Heath Lady Killer.’

You’ll find all Adam’s books here.

For further information, visit Adam’s website or follow Adam on Twitter/X @ardickson.

I’ve long been a fan of Gill Paul’s historical novels based on real people, and having been privileged to reveal the cover back in April, it now gives me enormous pleasure to review Gill’s latest book A Beautiful Rival for My Weekly.

You’ll find my My Weekly review of Gill’s The Collector’s Daughter here, and Gill has featured on Linda’s Book Bag many times in posts you’ll find here.

Published by Avon on 31st August 2023, A Beautiful Rival is available for purchase through the links here.

A Beautiful Rival

The world is at war, but on the gilded streets of Fifth Avenue, New York, a battle of a different kind is brewing…

New York, 1915.
Elizabeth Arden has been New York’s golden girl since her beauty salon opened its famous red door five years prior. Against all odds, she’s built an empire.

Enter Helena Rubinstein: ruthless, revolutionary – and the rival Elizabeth didn’t bargain for.

With both women determined to succeed – no matter the personal cost – a battle of beauty is born. And as the stakes increase, so do the methods: poaching employees, planting spies, copying products, hiring ex-husbands.

But as each woman climbs higher, so too does what she stands to lose.

Because the greater the height, the harder the fall…

My Review of A Beautiful Rival

My full review of A Beautiful Rival can be found on the My Weekly website here.

However, here I can say that A Beautiful Rival is a sumptuous, textured insight into the lives of two famous women that deserves a television series immediately!

Do visit My Weekly to read my full review here.

About Gill Paul

Gill Paul is an author of historical fiction, specialising in the twentieth century and often writing about the lives of real women. Her novels have topped bestseller lists in the US and Canada as well as the UK and have been translated into twenty languages. The Secret Wife has sold over half a million copies and is a book-club favourite worldwide.

You can follow Gill on Twitter @GillPaulAUTHOR, visit her website and find her on Instagram and Facebook for more information.

Having such poor sight meant I was quite a late reader as a child and now I’m in my 60s it’s a real privilege to be sent so many children’s books for review because it helps me relive and regain my childhood. I’d like to thank Kirsten Knight at EK Books for sending me Pepper Masalah and the Flying Carpet by Rosanne Hawke, illustrated by Jasmine Berry, in return for an honest review.

As an aside, do browse the EK website as there are so many fantastic children’s books with all manner of resources for schools and parents available too.

Pepper Masalah and the Flying Carpet was published on 15th September by EK and is available for purchase here.

Pepper Masalah and the Flying Carpet

Pepper Masalah adventure series is based on a black cat called Pepper Masalah, a nine-year-old boy called Zamir and a flying carpet.

Pepper Masalah lives with Zamir and his family on an olive farm in Australia. Zamir’s grandmother is from the old country (Kashmir) and when coming to Australia she brought with her an ancient carpet.

A charming story about the importance of family and caring for those in need. Readers who loved the magic and playfulness of the bestselling Tashi series, will also love Pepper and her friend Zam.

With her usual flair, Rosanne Hawke blends culture, legend, and history throughout her stories, as Pepper and Zamir are whisked off together on adventures around the globe.

The concept has broad appeal: mystery, adventure, travel, exotica, and three very memorable characters: Pepper Masalah, Zamir and the Flying Carpet.

My Review of Pepper Masalah and the Flying Carpet

Pepper is a magical cat.

Pepper Masalah and the Flying Carpet is a delightful children’s story that crosses countries and cultures so that young readers can learn about and appreciate different languages, people and places. I thought the inclusion of the Arabic word list at the end of the book was brilliant and would be a great catalyst for further research with children compiling lists of similar words from different languages amongst their friends and class mates, giving status to children from different ethnic backgrounds. I think it’s really important that Zam is from a single parent family too so that children with similar backgrounds feel represented and seen. 

The plot of Pepper Masalah and the Flying Carpet is exciting for young readers, with a freak wind carrying Pepper and Zam on a magic carpet ride adventure that includes peril to entertain and delight. There’s a real sense of family and friendship with a gentle introduction to more challenging themes like poverty, child labour and the need to be wary of strangers, that educates without frightening children. 

Pepper is a strong and engaging character and I loved the Cat Fact Files which are not only interesting but would be an excellent template for children in educational settings to research, find out about and present other animals. This means that Pepper Masalah and the Flying Carpet has many more uses than simply being a cracking story.

The news articles about Zam and Pepper’s disappearance are great for children to use as a starting point for factual writing and perhaps to continue the story themselves, as Pepper Masalah and the Flying Carpet isn’t entirely resolved at the end, leaving huge potential for more adventures to come. 

I thought the illustrations really added to the adventure too.

Pepper Masalah and the Flying Carpet is a smashing children’s book and one I recommend.

About Rosanne Hawke

Rosanne Hawke is an Australian author from Penola, South Australia who has written over 25 books for young adults and children. She teaches tertiary level creative writing at Tabor Adelaide. She has a PhD in creative writing from the University of Adelaide.

For further information, visit Rosanne’s website, follow her on Twitter/X @rhawke53, and find Rosanne on Facebook and Instagram.

My enormous thanks to Tracy Fenton for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for Robert Peston’s latest book The Crash. I’m delighted to share my review today.

Published by Zaffre on 14th September 2023, The Crash is available for purchase here.

The Crash

London, 2007. It’s summer in the City: the economy is booming, profits are up and the stock market sits near record highs.

But journalist Gil Peck is a lone voice worrying it can’t last. Deep in the plumbing of the financial system, he has noticed strange things happening which could threaten the whole economy. But nobody wants to hear it: not the politicians taking credit for an end to boom and bust, not the bankers pocketing vast bonuses, not even Gil’s bosses at the BBC, who think it’s irrelevant.

When Gil gets a tip-off that a small northern bank has run out of money, everything changes. His report sparks the first run on a UK bank in 140 years. The next day, Marilyn Krol, a director of the Bank of England dies in an apparent suicide.

For Gil, it’s personal. Marilyn was his lover: was his scoop connected to her suicide? Or is there something more sinister in her death? Gil is determined to find out.

The more he investigates, the more he is drawn into the rotten heart of the financial system, where old school ties and secret Oxbridge societies lubricate vast and illegal conflicts of interest. The whole economy has been built on a house of cards, and Gil is threatening to bring it down.

When simply reporting the facts can make or break fortunes, Gil has to ask himself: is he crossing the line between journalist and participant? Are his own conflicts of interest making him reckless? And in a world ruled by greed where nothing and no-one is too big to fail, what price will he pay for uncovering the truth?

My Review of The Crash

The financial crash of 2007 is underway.

I confess that at the start of The Crash I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy the book because it is set so firmly in the duplicitous and corrupting worlds of banking, journalism, media and politics that all hold little interest other than frustration and anger for me. Equally, it took me a little while to settle into the writer’s style and I found the acronyms, brand name references and expletives occasionally distracting. There was a slight feeling of trying too hard to impress or shock the reader.

However, once I’d adjusted to the style and settled into what is a clever and entertaining plot in The Crash, those initial reservations dissipated. The continuous present tense gives a feeling of immediacy that is engaging. I think what works so well too is that recent real world events, historical and recent international banking crises, foreign interference in domestic UK affairs, and so on, all feel completely plausible and are woven through the action with complete authority by Robert Peston. The reader has the satisfaction of knowing that this is an author who knows what he’s writing about which makes it easier to slip into accepting and enjoying the narrative.

Aside from these large politicised elements, there are many more prosaic, and somehow more humane, themes that made the story attractive to me. Family and grief, personal relationships and love, trust, loyalty and friendship all lurk in the pages so that I think The Crash offers more to the casual reader than I first thought. 

Gil’s previous life is dripped into this story carefully so that the reader has a good idea of who he is and his narrative voice – almost an inner monologue – creates a sense of him incredibly vividly, making him hard to resist and I soon found myself caught up in Gil’s world. He’s a multi layered and flawed individual who feels realistic and human. His relationships with his mother and with Jess ameliorate his obsessive and frequently manic elements really well so that I became drawn to him.

There’s a wide range of other characters that blends real people known to the reader with fictional portraits very cleverly, so that at times it’s hard to know what’s fact and what is fiction. I found this a highly effective aspect of the text because it pulled me into the scenarios, making them intriguing and engaging. 

I began The Crash thinking I might not actually read it and ended it glad I had. The Crash is exciting, fast paced and engaging. It educates and entertains. It contains greater humanity than I had anticipated and Robert Peston has illustrated that he is a skilled and knowledgeable author who can hook even the most reluctant reader. He convinced me!

About Robert Peston

Robert James Kenneth Peston is an English journalist, presenter, and author. He is the political editor of ITV News and host of the weekly political discussion show Peston. From 2006 until 2014, he was the business editor of BBC News and its economics editor from 2014 to 2015.

For further information, follow Robert on Twitter @Peston and find him on Facebook and Instagram.

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Having completed my degree dissertation on Charlotte Bronte, I was intrigued to discover that Karen Powell’s Fifteen Wild Decembers reimagines Emily Bronte’s life because I know less about her, and so I was thrilled when lovely Daniela Petracco at Europa sent me a copy in return for an honest review that I’m delighted to share that review today.

Fifteen Wild Decembers will be published by Europa on 21st September 2023 and is available for purchase here.

Fifteen Wild Decembers

Isolated from society, Emily Brontë and her siblings spend their days inventing elaborate fictional realms or roaming the wild moors above their family home in Yorkshire. When the time comes for them to venture out into the world to earn a living, each of them struggles to adapt, but for Emily the change is catastrophic. Torn from the landscape to which she has become so passionately bound, she is simply unable to function.

To the outside world, Emily Brontë appears taciturn and unexceptional, but beneath the surface her mind is in a creative ferment. A violent phenomenon is about to burst forth that will fuse her imaginary world with the landscape of her beloved Yorkshire and change the literary world forever.

Fifteen Wild Decembers is the dazzling second novel from a writer who has been compared to Shirley Hazzard and Graham Greene, and whose first novel was described as ‘utterly stunning’, ‘mesmerizing’ and hailed as ‘a masterpiece.’

My Review of Fifteen Wild Decembers

A re-imagining of the life of Emily Bronte.

Oh my goodness! Fifteen Wild Decembers is exactly my kind of read. I absolutely adored it with a kind of visceral physicality. 

The writing is quite wonderful. So many times Karen Powell uses a beautiful, imaginative turn of phrase that had me metaphorically exclaiming ‘Yes!’ to myself.  She has that ability to describe in ways the reader can only dream about, making Fifteen Wild Decembers not just an engaging narrative, but an immersive and captivating one too, placing the reader right at the heart of the novel. There’s beauty and brutality here and despite already knowing many of the details upon which the novel is based, I found myself totally undone by its ending.

Emily Bronte’s voice is clear, convincing and strong so that the imagined elements of the story feel realistic, authentic and compelling. The foreshadowing of Wuthering Heights through Emily’s inner thoughts, passions and desires is dramatic, plausible and astounding, making for a read that is entertaining, intelligent and mesmerising. I think it’s her first person voice that creates this effect so brilliantly.

The plot of Fifteen Wild Decembers is both familiar and innovative so that readers can find personal hooks that feel intimate and satisfying, whilst other aspects are developed to create superb insight and entertainment. I especially loved the relationships between the Bronte siblings because they held a different perspective and made me consider my own beliefs about all the family afresh.

With feminism, domestic life, ambition and mental health as a supporting backdrop, Fifteen Wild Decembers is modern and affecting even as it is historically and literarily satisfying.

I’m aware I haven’t said a great deal about the book but I’m not sure I could have loved Fifteen Wild Decembers more. It’s a fabulous book and not to be missed.

About Karen Powell

Karen Powell was born in Rochester, Kent. She left school at 16 but returned to education as a mature student to study English Literature at Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge. She lives in North Yorkshire. An early draft of The River Within was awarded a Northern Writers’ TLC ‘New Fiction Reads’ prize, which seeks to support work-in-progress by new, emerging and established writers across the North of England.

For further information follow Karen on Twitter/X @karenlpowell1. You’ll also find Karen on Instagram

My enormous thanks to Kate Shepherd for sending me a copy of New Dreams at Polkerran Point by Cass Grafton in return for an honest review. It’s my pleasure to share that review today.

New Dreams at Polkerran Point is published by Canelo on 21st September 2023 and is available for purchase through the links here.

New Dreams at Polkerran Point

A surprise inheritance will open the doors to her future, and also the past…

When Aunt Meg leaves her cottage to Anna Redding in her will, Anna immediately packs up and heads to Polkerran, the Cornish fishing village where she was so happy as a child.

With ambitions to turn the cottage into a B&B, a job working for the enigmatic historian, Oliver Seymour, and the return of her childhood crush, Alex Tremayne, it seems the stars have all aligned for Anna.

But Aunt Meg left behind a mystery for her to solve, and a shock discovery reveals she may be living a dream that isn’t really hers to hold. Can Anna rescue the new life she’s made for herself? Who in Polkerran can she really count on in her time of need?

Previously published as The Cottage in the Cornish Cove.

My Review of New Dreams at Polkerran Point

Anna’s life is about to change.

New Dreams at Polkerran Point is just lovely. It’s perfect escapism wrapped in an engaging and absorbing story that I loved. There’s a smooth and engaging style to the writing, with natural dialogue and a lovely smattering of humour that adds colour and makes it feel as if the things taking place are true rather than fictionalised. I found myself thinking about the book during the times when I wasn’t reading it because I felt so drawn to the story. I thought the literary quotations from authors like Austen, Bronte and Hardy at the start of each chapter were quite perfect. 

The way Aunt Meg steers and influences events even though she has already passed away is beautifully handled by Cass Grafton and Meg’s presence really drives this hugely entertaining and interesting plot. There’s a mystery to be solved involving her that adds another layer of interest to this beautifully depicted romance. 

What works so well for me in New Dreams at Polkerran Point is the way Anna takes time to realise just what it is she is looking for in her life. She’s surprisingly conventional in her desires, but Cass Grafton still makes her multi-layered and fascinating. Indeed, I loved meeting all the characters, especially Oliver who feels three dimensional from the very first time we encounter him, to Mrs Lovelace who brings such gentle humour through her malapropisms. I’m hoping to encounter more of the folk of Polkerran in future stories.

Equally, Polkerran feels just as much a character as the people. The descriptions, the sense of close knit community, reference to the ways Cornish villages are threatened and invaded by outsiders all serve to place the reader at its heart. 

New Dreams at Polkerran Point is absolutely smashing. Written with heart and understanding, it leaves the reader with a warm feeling of fulfilment. I thought it was gorgeous.

About Cass Grafton

Cass began her writing life in Regency England, enlisted Jane Austen’s help to time-travel between then and the present day and is now happily ensconced in 21st century Cornwall. 

Well, in her imagination and soul; her heart and physical presence reside in northern England with her ever-patient husband and Tig and Tag, their cute but exceptionally demanding moggies. 

A bit of a nomad, Cass has called three countries home, as well as six different English counties, but her aspiration is to one day reunite with her beloved West Country.

In the meantime, she writes feel-good contemporary romances set in Cornwall and, in doing so, manages to live there vicariously through her characters and settings.

An Ambassador for the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation, Cass is also a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the Jane Austen Society UK and the Society of Authors.

For further information, follow Cass on Twitter @CassGrafton and find her on Facebook and Instagram.