When The Cranes Fly South - Lisa Ridzén (Author), Alice Menzies (Translator)

Bo is determined to live his own life in his own way. But his son has other ideas...

Bo lives a quiet existence in his small rural village in the north of Sweden. He is elderly and his days are punctuated by visits from his care team and his son. Fortunately, he still has his rich memories, phone calls with his best friend, and his beloved dog Sixten for company.

Only now his son is insisting the dog must be taken away. The very same son that Bo is wanting to mend his relationship with before his time is up. The threat of losing Sixten stirs up a whirlwind of emotions and makes Bo determined to resist and find his voice...

 

What did I think?

I wasn't sure what to expect from When The Cranes Fly South from its title and cover but what a beautiful, heartfelt and emotional story it is.  I was feeling quite proud of myself for not crying at the end but I hadn't gotten away with it that easily.  When I glanced at the front cover on closing the book and saw Bo's hand on Sixten's head my resolve wavered and the floodgates opened.

Bo lives a solitary life with just his dog and his memories for company in between visits from his carers and, less frequently, his son.  As the days pass, the reader is privy to flashbacks from Bo's life and updates from his care file and I really enjoyed finding out more about the young Bo and the eventful life he had.

Beautifully written by Lisa Ridzén and impeccably translated by Alice Menzies, if it didn't have a Scandi feel about it I think it would be virtually impossible to tell that it was originally written in Swedish.  It is filled with emotion and perceptive observations of the difficulties we may face in later life.  The famous phrase about getting old is very true: "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak" as we are all young at heart and it's frustrating when you can't do things you used to do.

Both devastatingly poignant and incredibly uplifting, When The Cranes Fly South is a book that works its way into your heart and refuses to leave but I consider it a great honour to carry a piece of Bo in my heart for the rest of my days.  An unforgettable and unmissable novel - an easy five stars.

I received a gifted paperback for the Insta Book Tours readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BLOG TOUR: Then There's Trust (Blossoming of Truth book 3) - Susan Gray

A forbidden love…a relationship in jeopardy…a tested trust

Darcy Dukas is fearless and feisty – but can she be trusted? Left bereft after a personal disappointment, her vulnerable mindset causes her to seize an opportunity to pursue her dream career. When Marcel Duval arrives in Durham to establish his detective agency, she agrees to work with him. But is she prepared for the risks she will encounter? Risks for her safety…risks for her young marriage…and risks affecting her family’s trust?

In 1952 Josh Smallwood, Darcy’s brother, returns home after completing his national service. Trying to sort his future, he begins working on the family farm and befriends Judy, a young nurse. He is baffled to discover any liaison with her is forbidden by her family. This mystery fuels an intense, secret relationship…can they overcome obstacles to be together?

A shroud of guilt clings to Chantal Martin – will she ever be free from its taint? As an unmarried mother, her once tenacious trait seems to have deserted her. Striving towards the final hurdle, an unexpected decision and an untimely event threaten to blight her resilience…can her trust be rewarded?

Then There’s Trust is a gripping, emotional story of love, fidelity and trust set in 1950’s northeast England.

 

What did I think?

I discovered this wonderful series at book two, Hope on Hope, so I was very excited to catch up with the Smallwood family again in the third book, Then There's Trust.  Although it's part of a series I think you could read it as a standalone and still enjoy it, but when read as part of the series it is outstanding.  

There's a family tree at the start of the book, which is really useful even if you're already familiar with the characters but will be invaluable for any readers new to the series.  As it's a family story, there are a lot of characters but they are so well developed that it never gets confusing as I feel like I know each character personally.

As with real life, there are a lot of ups and downs in the book and some parts of the story had me laughing and at other times I was struggling to hold back my tears.  It just goes to show the strength of the author's talent to generate such an emotional response from the reader.

Filled with family drama, Then There's Trust is an emotional and heartfelt read that captivated me from start to finish.  I am missing the characters already but I have book one, Blossoming of Truth, on my Kindle so I hope to visit them again soon.  It's an easy five stars for this simply magnificent novel.

I received a digital ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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About the author:

‘Never too old to follow your dreams’ has become Susan Gray’s mantra since beginning to write novels after celebrating a significant birthday. Susan endeavours to entwine the genres of mystery and romance and sets her books in the Twentieth Century. She lives with her husband in northeast England, setting her books in this picturesque area. She has a son and daughter, both married, two granddaughters and a grand dog. When not writing she loves to spend time reading, puzzling, walking and catching up with friends over a coffee. She enjoys travelling and tries to include many of the places she has visited in her books. Her plots are inspired by ‘life’ and how her characters navigate the waters. She loves to ‘people watch’ and creates her characters based on the many strangers she has observed. She has written eight novels, but only four are published so far. SPANISH HOUSE SECRETS was her debut novel. BLOSSOMING OF TRUTH, HOPE ON HOPE and THEN THERE’S TRUST are a series.

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Three Days Grace - Jeremy Bradley-Silverio Donato

Explore the complexities of love and loss through an LGBTQ+ lens in this emotionally layered novel about family, identity, and long-suppressed truths.

On the eve of their trip to South Africa, Lynne and her wife, Susan, await three guests in a Paris hotel: Nick, Lynne's distant son; Laslo, Susan's effusive friend; and Marc, a former professor living on borrowed glamour.

What begins as a bon voyage soon becomes a clash of old wounds and fresh resentments. As night falls, long-buried secrets surface, threatening to dismantle the facades each has built.

Through the winding corridors of Paris and the tangled landscapes of memory, five people must confront the truths they've spent decades avoiding. At the heart lies the tragic story of two brothers-one present, one absent-and the lingering trauma that continues to shape their lives.

Set over three days, this unflinching exploration of family, betrayal, and silence asks whether we can ever truly escape our past-and what it takes to finally face the truths we've spent a lifetime running from.

 

What did I think?

Three Days Grace is quite a short book with 200 pages and it may be small but it sure is mighty.  The turbulent emotions of the main character are still reverberating through me, long after turning the final page.

Nick is haunted by his past and as much as he might try to bury it, it all comes bursting to the surface during a dinner party with his mother and her wife.  Nick's past is a dark and disturbing subject but Jeremy Bradley-Silverio Donato writes with such sensitivity and eloquence that I didn't feel uncomfortable at all; I was just furious for Nick and the many others like him who have suffered in silence.

I had a lump in my throat as the story is gradually revealed and my heart was virtually aching when I learned what had happened to Nick's brother.  Your childhood should be the happiest time of your life, before you realise how bad the world can be, and I feel both sad and angry that this is often not the case for a lot of children.

Powerful, raw and poignant, Three Days Grace is an incredibly heart-wrenching and thought-provoking novel that evokes myriad emotions in the reader.  It's beautifully written but it is disturbing at times and could be distressing for sensitive readers.

I received a gifted paperback for the Love Books Tours readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: All In - Claire Powell

A marriage on the rocks. A family in disarray. A weekend in the sun at a luxury, all-inclusive hotel. What could possibly go wrong?

Jo and Dave haven't had a holiday in years. They've had other things on their plate: failed IVF, the death of Dave's mother, doing up the bathroom.

So when Dave’s flashy brother Teddy offers to fly in from Dubai and take them – along with his gorgeous young girlfriend and their curmudgeonly father – to a beachfront resort in the Med, the couple can hardly refuse.

But while romance might be on the cards for some, Jo and Dave soon find that tensions don't disappear in paradise. In fact, they might just get worse...

Set over the course of one scorching weekend, All In is a compulsively entertaining and bittersweet novel that asks: when life gets choppy, how does love stay afloat?

 

What did I think?

All In is a very addictive book and once I started reading I couldn't put it down.  I felt like I was spying on this family holiday as Claire Powell puts each character under the microscope.

The story is told in four parts and I loved the titles of each part that gave some indication of what was to come, although nothing is ever quite what it seems.  Part one is Fun Jo and Jo couldn't feel less like having fun.  She has it in her head that her marriage is over and Dave doesn't help matters by hiding things from her.

When Dave's brother Teddy invites the couple and their dad to go on holiday, sibling rivalry rears its ugly head and adds further tension to Jo and Dave's already strained marriage.  Teddy appears to have it all and Dave feels very inadequate in comparison but once again, appearances can be deceptive.

Claire Powell really knows how people tick and I loved reading each character's thoughts and feelings over the course of the holiday.  Humans are complex characters and this is very evident as you read this compelling novel.

Honest, raw and entertaining, All In is a very thought-provoking and powerful novel that makes me glad to be an only child.  It is perfectly described as bittersweet in the blurb as it's both witty and poignant.  I enjoyed it and think it's well worth a read.

I received a gifted hardback to read and review for the Novel Tours bookstagram tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BLOG TOUR: Love on Lake Como (Sublime Retreats Romances) - Joy Skye

A new life, an old secret, and one unforgettable Italian summer.

Falling for him wasn't part of the itinerary.

For Indie Summer, fleeing to Lake Como after walking away from her manipulative boyfriend feels like salvation.

With everything she owns crammed into a single suitcase, she heads to Italy to work a season at a luxurious villa with her twin sister, clinging to the hope that the picturesque lakeside escape might also bring her closer to their elusive father.

What she didn’t expect was that her curiosity about a reclusive actor’s villa would land her in hot water with his brooding bodyguard, Marco Rossi. Tall, dark and handsome, Marco is everything Indie should avoid, but she can't seem to stay away.

As sun-soaked days stretch into glittering nights, Indie navigates demanding guests, long-buried family secrets, and more than a few glasses of Pinot Grigio. But the biggest challenge of all might be learning to trust again, especially with a man who guards not only a celebrity, but his own heart.

Escape to the sublime in this heart-warming, slow-burn romance set against the dreamy backdrop of Italy’s most iconic vista.

 

What did I think?

Love on Lake Como is part of the Sublime Retreats Romances but don't worry if you haven't come across this series before as it has its own storyline and characters so it's actually intended to be read as a standalone.  It's my introduction to the series and I enjoyed it so much that I want to read all of the other books now.

I adored Indie Summers.  She has had her heart broken and her trust in men obliterated by her lying ex-boyfriend so she can't get far enough away from him.  Luckily, she knows just the place to escape to as her twin sister Rosie works in Italy and, even luckier, the villa on Lake Como needs a new concierge.

The love interest for Indie is introduced into the story in a very amusing way.  Marco is part of the security team at George Clooney's villa and he catches Indie having a sneaky peek through the gate.  It's a small village so they are destined to run into each other again but Indie has trust issues and Marco has secrets so it's very finely balanced whether they'll actually get together or not.

This is more than just a romance novel; it's a total emotional rollercoaster and I loved every single up, down and bend in the road.  I didn't expect to read it as quickly as I did as I don't read that fast on Kindle but I found that I was picking it up at every available opportunity to find out what was happening with Indie and Marco.

Completely heartwarming and incredibly compelling, Love on Lake Como is an absolute delight to read and the emotional ending is exquisite.  It's simply wonderful and I can't recommend it highly enough.

I received a digital ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BLOG TOUR: A Nantucket Fling - Kathryn Freeman

Can a no-strings attached holiday fling really just stay casual?

Olivia is a fiercely independent woman climbing the ladder of corporate finance. But when her family demands she take time off to go to her niece’s bachelorette and wedding in Nantucket, she reluctantly agrees.

On the island, she catches the eye of Connor: a handsome, cocky, playboy type—also ten years her junior. Olivia’s sisters egg her on, encouraging a summer fling, but she’s more interested in catching up on her finance reading. Except…he’s funny and sexy, and doing her ego a world of good.

As their attraction steadily grows, Connor gets Olivia to relax her tightly held control and indulge in the fling she won’t admit she needs. But too soon, the holiday is over and they’re back home, living two very different lives.

And yet, neither can ignore the intense chemistry that didn’t go away after the summer. Are they just a Nantucket fling… or something much more? 

What did I think?

I don't think I will ever get tired of reading a Kathryn Freeman book and I loved my virtual trip to Nantucket in her latest romantic novel, A Nantucket Fling.

Olivia knows what she wants from life and it's to succeed in her career so she doesn't have time for romance and she has barely enough time for her family.  Olivia does book some holiday from her job in London to celebrate her niece's wedding in Nantucket and whilst she's on holiday there's no harm in having a fling.  

Oooh Connor is a bit of an enigma as it looks like he's young and fancy free but he has a completely different life back home in England.  The chemistry between Olivia and Connor virtually sizzles off the page and in an unusual twist at the end of the holiday it's Connor who wants more than just a fling with Olivia.  Olivia stands her ground though and puts her career before her personal happiness once again.  

Olivia's work/life balance is completely unbalanced and that’s a personal choice that she has made.  It must be something to do with jobs in finance as I was exactly the same back in my youth.  I'm glad Connor persisted, with a little help from Olivia's family, and helped to balance that scale back to where it should be.

Incredibly romantic and heartwarming, A Nantucket Fling is a fun and flirty romance that reminds us that, although careers are important, there really is more to life than work.  

I received a digital ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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About the author:

A former pharmacist, Kathryn now writes romantic comedies. Feel good books that are sexy and sweet, funny yet heart-warming. Mr Right Across the Street won the RNA Award for Romantic Comedy in 2022. 

With a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to buy a card (yes, he does), the romance in her own life is all in her head. Then again, his unstinting support of her career change proves love isn't always about hearts and flowers - and heroes come in many disguises.

Social Media Links 

Twitter: @kathrynfreeman1

Facebook: facebook.com/kathrynfreeman

Instagram: kathryn.freeman_author

Website: http://kathrynfreeman.co.uk 

GIVEAWAY

Giveaway to Win a paperback copy of A Nantucket Fling (Open Internationally)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Gleam box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Gleam from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

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BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: Little Grey Cells (The Jessica Sinclair Mysteries Book 2) - Faye Brann

From Comedy Women in Print Prize winner Faye Brann, the gloriously twisty sequel to Kiss, Marry, Murder.

Jessica Sinclair is enjoying a blissfully uneventful summer.

No crime scenes.

No threatening notes.

No murder.

Just a celebratory dinner party for 12 in the picture-perfect Surrey enclave of Chitworth, where manicured lawns, designer kitchens and discreet security gates keep everything – and everyone – neatly in place.

When a dead body is discovered, it quickly becomes clear there is a killer amongst the guests. Celebrity scandal simmers beneath the surface and Jessica is faced with a choice: call in the authorities and risk another media frenzy or quietly investigate before gossip turns to headlines. With loyal sidekicks Darcy and Della by her side, she begins to untangle a web of rivalries, secrets and lies, exposing bruised egos, broken friendships… and several very good reasons for murder.

Witty, fast-paced and deliciously sharp, Little Grey Cells proves that even at the most civilised of dinners, revenge is a dish best served cold.

 

What did I think?

Having recently read the first book in the Jessica Sinclair Mysteries series, Kiss, Marry, Murder, I enjoyed catching up with Jessica, Darcy and Della again in the second book, Little Grey Cells.

I think you could read it as a standalone if you haven't read the first book but there are a lot of characters to get to grips with and I was pleased that I was already familiar with some of them.  I still got a little confused about who was who but that's just my fuzzy brain and not a criticism of the book.

The murder is very intriguing though and it's a bit of a locked room mystery as you know that one of the dinner guests must have done it.  As Jessica and her team start to investigate they find that a few of the guests had the motive for murder but it's not so clear which one had the opportunity to commit the crime.

There are some great additions to the story in the form of handwritten timelines and excerpts from the coroner's report that made me feel part of the investigation.  They did test my eyesight a bit though as they were written in a smaller font to the main prose.  Thank goodness there's an option to enlarge text on Kindle.

Mysterious, intriguing and captivating, Little Grey Cells is a great addition to this witty and fun murder mystery series and I can't wait to read more.

I received a digital ARC to read and review for the Love Books Tours bookstagram tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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