The Many Seas to Guernsey - Catherine Taylor

 

In the last golden years before Europe erupts into WWII a young English writer and a German Roman Catholic priest-in-training meet by chance on the small British island of Guernsey – and are drawn into a forbidden, all-consuming love. Then history and duty intrude, forcing them to choose between complicity and courage in a fight for truth, freedom – and each other. A sweeping, morally complex love story that will stay with you long after the last page, from Catherine Taylor, author of no. 1 best seller Beyond The Moon, shortlisted for the Orion/eHarmony Love Story Prize and longlisted for the Exeter Novel Prize.

In 1936 Kitty Garland-Fry moves to Guernsey with her bohemian, artist parents and unruly siblings. Marooned amid her family’s chaotic lifestyle, Kitty, a passionate writer of fairy tales, fears she’ll die of boredom and frustration if she cannot find a life of her own. In Nazi Berlin, meanwhile, Lukas von Harnitz, an idealistic and devout Roman Catholic seminarian, is reluctantly leaving for Guernsey, too, forced to interrupt his priestly studies for a year to take his newly widowed English-born mother back home to safety. Fiercely anti-Nazi, he can’t help feeling he’s abandoning both his country and his calling at a moment of gathering darkness.

Two fish out of water together, Kitty and Lukas are drawn together in their shared loneliness. Bonding over poetry and books, their days unfold like a quiet, sunlit dream on white sand beaches beneath endless blue skies, sheltered from both the pull of responsibility and the gathering storm of war. But then friendship begins to deepen into something more, and Lukas is forced into a devastating choice between God and the woman he loves, while fate also compels Kitty onto a path that will take her into the very heart of Nazi Germany.

Charting the road to war from both the British and German perspectives, The Many Seas to Guernsey is an emotional, character-driven epic grappling with themes of faith, conscience and the power of love in an age of extremes. Moving from the secluded turquoise coves of Guernsey to the towering Bavarian Alps, then the Gestapo cells of pre-war Berlin and finally the hellish beaches of the 1940 Dunkirk evacuation, The Many Seas to Guernsey is the first in a planned duology and will appeal to fans of novels like All the Light We Cannot See, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Crooked Cross, The Nightingale, The Bronze Horseman and Atonement.

Catherine Taylor is a former journalist, starting off her career at the Guernsey Evening Press, and ending up at Dow Jones News, where she wrote for the newswire and The Wall Street Journal Europe. She was born and brought up on Guernsey, where her own family experienced the German occupation and evacuation, then went on to study German history and language, giving rise to a lifelong passion for the history of the two world wars. She lives in West London with her husband, two children and five cats.

**NB This story unfolds against the backdrop of Nazi Germany and the Second World War. It contains depictions of violence, imprisonment, war crimes, sexual abuse and themes of loss and grief that some readers may find distressing.

What did I think?

It's never easy to read books set in this period but I think it's important to be reminded of events in Nazi Germany leading up to the start of World War II.  The Many Seas to Guernsey leads us in gently starting with a idyllic island setting that is a stark contrast to the brutality and violence of pre-war Germany.

This is the story of Kitty and Lukas but it's not a traditional love story as Lukas is training to be priest.  It is clear that they are drawn to one another though and Lukas has to make a difficult choice between Kitty and God.  Kitty is part of a very unconventional family, which perhaps explains her willingness to take risks and travel so far from home and fate sees her crossing paths with Lukas once again.

The story is told in three parts covering 1936-1937, 1938-1939 and 1939-1940.  There is such a lot going on in such a short period of time and it's only the start of the war so there is worse to come.  It's good to have such relatable main characters to add some light and hope to the darkness of the storyline.

It's a very emotional story with shocking and devastating moments that really hit me where it hurts.  Catherine Taylor vividly recreates some of the horrific events leading up to the outbreak of war and it gave me chills when I was reading.  I was invested in the characters from the start so I felt every emotion with them and I admit to shedding a tear or two over the course of the book.

Haunting, poignant and powerful, The Many Seas to Guernsey is a vivid and emotional historical fiction novel that pulled at my heartstrings and kept me captivated.  I'm delighted that it's part of a duology and can't wait to read what happens next. 

I received a gifted paperback for the Tandem Collective readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: The Summer That Changed Us (Changing Tides Book 1) - Billie Swann

Ellie never stopped loving Jackson. She’s just learned how to live without him.

Seventeen years after the summer that shattered everything, Ellie has built a life she can control. She runs The Beach House Café on the Dorset coast, keeps her world small, and tells herself she’s fine. Love, motherhood, and the future she once imagined all feel impossibly out of reach, buried beneath years of guilt.

Then Jackson walks back into her life.

He’s not the lanky schoolboy she remembers. He’s all grown up now with broader shoulders and striking hazel eyes shot through with gold, but he has that smile that makes her forget to breathe. Despite having every reason to hate her for what she did, he still looks at her like she’s the only person in the room.

The connection between them is impossible to ignore. As old feelings resurface, so does the secret Ellie’s been hiding since they were teenagers – a secret that sent their lives spiralling in opposite directions.

Now Ellie must decide whether she’s brave enough to risk everything for the man she never stopped loving.

Sometimes love isn’t about getting a second chance. It’s about finding the courage to take it.

What did I think?

What a fabulously heartwarming book this is!  The Summer That Changed Us isn't a hearts and flowers love story; it's a romance that deals with some serious issues with grit, sensitivity and warmth.  This is Billie Swann's debut novel and I'm delighted to see that she has more books planned in the Changing Tides series.

Seventeen years ago, Ellie and Jackson were childhood sweethearts but they are driven apart by a shattering event that shaped their lives.  Ellie shies away from relationships and concentrates on running her beach café but when trade starts to fall off she discovers that there's a rival café close by and running it is none other than Jackson.

Oh it's really painful to see Ellie and Jackson skirting around each other as if they are strangers.  The chemistry is clearly still there but they have been hurt terribly before and it looks like neither of them are willing to take the risk of having their heart broken again.  It's like they are both wearing magnets though and as much as they pull away from each other, they are drawn back together.

The history behind Ellie and Jackson is so sad and I struggled to hold in my tears as events played out during their teenage years.  It's a shame they were so young as they might have reacted differently and got through it together rather than alienating each other and working through their pain separately.  Hindsight is a wonderful thing though and you can't turn back the clock.

Whilst this is a romance novel, there's a lot of angst and difficulties for the characters to overcome.  It makes it quite realistic as life is all about the ups and downs and I really warmed to both main characters and others in the periphery.  

Compelling, heartwarming, poignant and uplifting, The Summer That Changed Us is an accomplished and flawless debut novel from Billie Swann and I'm excited to read more in the series.  A very highly recommended read.

I chose to read a digital ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BLOG TOUR: Like Me (The Millingham Series book 1) - Katharine Light

When exhausted single-mum Jess returns to Manchester for her twenty-year school reunion, she’s hoping for nothing more than a well-deserved break from reality. What she’s not expecting is to bump into her secret teenage crush, hot single-dad Sam, or to remember quite how much they have in common. 

But they live so far apart, their kids aren’t always easy, and there are events in their shared past it’s best not to revisit. Surely the idea of a future together is just a crazy dream in their messy, adult lives? 

Though when Sam invites Jess to accompany him to a mutual friend’s high-profile wedding, the years they spent apart once again melt away. What will it take for them to be together? Can they use their second chance to finally get it right?

 

What did I think?

Like Me is a superb debut novel from Katharine Light that is filled with drama, insecurities and romance.  You could call it a slow burn as the chemistry between the two main characters smoulders from start to finish.

Jess has always had a crush on Sam since they were at school together.  They have a bit of history as teenagers but it is very much a what might have been.  The school reunion brings Jess up from London to Manchester and her attraction to Sam has clearly not waned over the years.

I had my fingers crossed that Jess and Sam would finally get together this time but old insecurities resurface and it's almost like they revert back to having the feelings they had as teenagers.  With secrets and traumas buried in their pasts, neither of them have the confidence to declare their feelings.

Katharine Light's characterisation is outstanding and I was really invested in both characters as if they were real people that I knew.  Like Me isn't a simple love story; it is reminiscent of the trials and tribulations of real life and I couldn't put it down until I found out how it would end.

Like Me is an engaging and emotional romance novel that held my interest and introduced me to characters that I genuinely grew to care about.  It's well worth a read and I'm glad that the author has decided to make it into a series with another set of characters taking centre stage in the sequel, Me Too.

I received a gifted paperback for the Rachel's Random Resources blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Purchase link: https://amzn.to/3XRgWwC

About the author:

Katharine Light was born in Glasgow and lived there until her family moved to Manchester when she was ten. While in her teens, she began writing stories for her younger sister Emma. These mostly centred around a naïve heroine and a 1980s pop star (some would say the hero was modelled on John Taylor of Duran Duran).

She did a degree in psychology at University College London, and after a year travelling, worked in corporate film production for several years, before taking a break to raise her children. 

For many years she wrote mainly during the holidays, around her busy work for a local church.

Her first novel Like Me, published in 2023, was shortlisted for The Selfies Book Awards 2024. Her short story My arms are empty which is based on an episode from her second novel Me Too recently won the City University competition City Writes. 

She is a director of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, with responsibility for organising their conferences, gatherings and awards ceremonies. 

Katharine lives in London with her husband and quite often at least one of their adult children. She loves singing, walking, painting, looking at art, and going to the theatre.

Social Media Links – 

Instagram/Threads – katharinelightwrites1

Facebook – Katharinelightwrites

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BLOG TOUR: Death at the Altar (Mary Shelley Investigations book 3) - Donna Gowland

The Shelleys are back with a new murder case! For fans of Mary Shelley, Daphne Du Maurier, Diane Setterfield and Laura Purcell.

With Percy under suspicion, can Mary find the real murderer in time…?

1815, London

When her infant daughter dies, Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin is plunged into a deep depression.

And it doesn’t help that the father, and man who she loves, Percy Shelley, cannot commit to her as he already has an estranged wife.

When Mary receives an invitation to a wedding from a beloved school friend from her Dundee days, Percy thinks it would provide the perfect distraction.

But even away from London, they cannot escape people talking about their relationship.

And when the curate is shot dead at the end of the wedding, the locals turn on Percy.

Mary must find the true killer before their misguided suspicions become a witch hunt.

And as Mary has murder on the mind, her stepsister Claire sets her targets on someone else — Lord Byron…

DEATH AT THE ALTAR is the third book in the Mary Shelley Investigation series: thrilling Gothic murder mysteries with a tenacious literary heroine working as a female sleuth.

What did I think?

I am absolutely loving the Mary Shelley Investigations series, of which Death at the Altar is book three.  You can read each book as a standalone as there is a new mystery to solve but they are well worth reading in order to learn about Mary Shelley's life.

The mystery in this instalment is very intriguing and it becomes even more critical for Mary to solve the murder when Percy becomes one of the suspects.  As it says in the blurb, Mary is is devastated by the loss of her baby daughter and my heart really went out to her as Mary is still a teenager and Percy isn't much support with his flighty poetic nature.

There's quite a lot going on in the book to keep the reader entertained and I enjoyed the spotlight falling on Claire for a while.  I wasn't a big fan of Claire in the first two books as she seemed to set her sights on Percy but now she is obsessed with Lord Byron and she comes up with a cunning plan to capture the (already married) poet's heart.

Donna Gowland's writing is very evocative, atmospheric and immersive so I felt as if I was part of the story myself and the characters, being based on real people, are vividly brought to life.  I have really come to care about Mary Shelley (and Percy and Claire) and I have found myself reading more online about her life, although not too much as I don't want to spoil the story in any future books.

Entertaining, compelling and enlightening, Death at the Altar is both a gripping murder mystery and a fascinating glimpse into the life of Mary Shelley.  A highly recommended read in an extraordinary series.

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

My rating:

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The Charmed Library - Jennifer Moorman

With her signature blend of magical and heartfelt storytelling, USA TODAY bestselling author Jennifer Moorman returns with The Charmed Library, a love letter to libraries, favorite childhood stories, and readers who have fallen for fictional heroes.

Like many other public libraries, the one in Blue Sky Valley, North Carolina, is a haven for readers. But it's also unlike any other. In this library, fictional characters step off the page into real life. Assistant librarian Stella Parker has no idea. Still reeling from her father's death and--more recently--a breakup, she hasn't noticed. All she knows is she's stuck in a job she's overqualified for and stumped about what to do with her life.

Everything changes when she burns her beloved journal.

Words matter to Stella. For as long as she can remember, she's seen them. Words appear--in varying colors and fonts--rising from surfaces, bouncing over objects, and even wiggling out of people. Words give her insight into emotions and untold stories. But the words change for Stella after she burns her journal. Suddenly they're demanding, urgent--and painful.

Then Stella stumbles upon strange characters in the library after hours. One is an oddly familiar World War II soldier who introduces himself as Jack--Jack Mathis, the main character from her favorite book. A fictional hero and Stella's first crush. Standing in front of her in the flesh.

Jack tells Stella about the magic hidden in the library. Skeptical, Stella rashly invites a villain to visit, and chaos ensues. As she discovers the importance of protecting the library's secret and gets to know the real Jack, words continue to appear. What are they trying to tell her?

Much too quickly, Stella is faced with the reality that all stories must end, and magic comes at a price. The characters who visit the library can only stay for fourteen days. And Jack's time is almost up.

A cozy, Hallmark-esque rom-com, The Charmed Library invites readers to escape to a world where words come alive and book boyfriends leap off the page.

 

What did I think?

What an absolutely fabulous story Jennifer Moorman has written to delight readers and book lovers!  As a life-long reader I've always thought the library was magical and clearly Jennifer Moorman does too as the magic of books shines out from every page of The Charmed Library.

I adored Stella from the start.  She is feeling very lost and alone; not even her job in the library excites her.  No, this isn't a horror novel!  When Stella returns to the library one evening she meets some very familiar characters but they can't be real, can they?

Although I've never had a book boyfriend, I totally get why Stella is drawn to Jack as he has been there for her whenever she has needed him, she just needed to open his book.  It's like all her dreams have come true when she can see, touch and (eeeek) kiss him.  The downside of this is that like all library books, Jack can only be checked out for 14 days.  

My heart was breaking as the chemistry between Stella and Jack is clear for all to see but to say that they come from different places is an understatement.  There's a real element of magic in the book as Stella can see words in different colours and, whilst some colours are obvious, there are some mysterious purple words that the reader has to collect like bits of a jigsaw in order to see the finished picture.

Charming by name and charming by nature, The Charmed Library is a beautiful and unusual love story with a sprinkling of magic and a lot of books.  It's the first book I have read by Jennifer Moorman and I will definitely be looking out for more now.  Don't miss this one, book lovers!

I received a gifted paperback for the Tandem Collective readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: The Lost Girls (Mary Shelley Investigations book 2) - Donna Gowland

Don’t miss this page-turning historical mystery! For fans of Mary Shelley, Daphne Du Maurier, Diane Setterfield and Laura Purcell.

Is someone snatching dead bodies…?

1814, London

After triumphantly solving a murder case in Paris, Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin and Percy Shelley return to London penniless.

As Percy is still married to his estranged wife, he and Mary are shunned from polite society for living together out of wedlock.

Isolated and trapped in squalid lodgings, Mary finds herself alone while Percy escapes to the tavern. And one evening when she goes looking for him, a dead body is found.

But when Percy and Mary arrive at the scene the dead girl is gone…

When she receives a note from an old friend and discovers another girl is missing, Mary wonders if the crimes are connected.

What happened to the body? Was it taken by the murderer?

Can Mary and Percy come together to solve another tricky case…?

THE MARY SHELLEY INVESTIGATIONS SERIES:

Book One: The Missing Wife

Book Two: The Lost Girls

Book Three: Death at the Altar

What did I think?

I absolutely loved The Missing Wife, the first book in the Mary Shelley Investigations series, so I couldn't wait to read The Lost Girls and I was not disappointed.  You can definitely read it as a standalone if you have just discovered this fascinating series.

Mary and Percy have returned from their elopement to France but the scandal has followed them back to London.  Now Mary is pregnant, ignored by her family and living well below the standard to which she had become accustomed.  Whilst they have little money for food, Percy certainly seems to find money for drink.

I love the way that Donna Gowland brings these historical characters to life and weaves fact with fiction so that the reader learns about Mary and Percy Shelley in a very entertaining way.  I have new respect for Mary as Percy is so exasperating and I couldn't live with him.  Mary's stepsister Claire is a strange one; it's good that she provides support to Mary but she is clearly enamoured with Percy so I worry that Claire's motives are entirely selfish.

The missing girls storyline is incredibly intriguing and atmospheric as the dark underbelly of Georgian London is described.  I felt as if I was there following in their footsteps as Mary, Percy and Claire investigate this puzzling case.

Entertaining, captivating and authentic, The Lost Girls is a thrilling instalment in this completely unmissable series.  I can't wait to read more so look out for my review of book three, Death at the Altar, very soon.

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

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Love Ahoy! - Jo Lyons

Maddie Summers has never been the impulsive type. So taking a new job as a holiday rep in Turkey is way out of her comfort zone. Will embarking on a boat trip with a host of demanding passengers see her all at sea - literally?

But then there’s Jackson, the sexy Australian rep who she’s falling for, hook, line and sinker. Though any chance of romance is complicated by Maddie’s gift for chaos, the powerful family onboard ship (including their light-fingered five-year-old), and a supervisor with secrets he’ll do anything to keep hidden.

Amid the rough waves of jealous crewmates, missing jewellery and even a potential man overboard, Maddie must be brave and throw logic to the wind. Can she take a risk and set a course for love? 

What did I think?

I love Jo Lyons' books and her new novel, Love Ahoy! is a real breath of fresh air in the romcom genre.  Take note doctors, Love Ahoy! should come on prescription; it made me laugh and smile all the way through.

Maddie needs a change of scenery after a recent break up so she hops on a plane and flies to Turkey to work in the head office of a holiday company.  Of course things don't go to plan from the moment she steps on the plane but give the girl her due, she stuck by her decision.  Maddie thought she would be sitting behind a desk at head office but instead she's working on a gulet to give a rich family a holiday to remember.

The family on the boat is hilarious and I absolutely adored five year old Emir - he is so cute and precocious that he was definitely my favourite character (and that's saying something as I'm not a huge fan of kids!).  The romance part of the storyline is absolutely sizzling as the chemistry between Maddie and Jackson almost left scorch marks on the page.  Be careful you don't get your fingers burnt, Maddie (and readers!).  There's also a bit of a mystery element with more than one character hiding something (and I'm not talking about Emir's stash of pilfered goods).

Cute, flirty and fun, Love Ahoy! is a hugely entertaining read packed with sun, sea and secrets (you thought I was going to say something else there, didn't you?).  It's a sunny smile of a book and one I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

I received a digital ARC for the bookstagram tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BLOG TOUR: Just One Look At You - Jill Mansell

 

Venice. The perfect setting for romance, and for secrets to be shared.

Fen can't believe her luck. A luxury holiday with her beloved grandmother Disa - what could be more delightful? It doesn't cross her mind that she might fall in love. Or that love can bring complications . . .

Jamie can't help it that women always fall for him, rather than for his kind-hearted friend Leon. Nor that only one of them got the looks (that would be Jamie). But how will he feel if the girl he's drawn to only has eyes for Leon?

Disa has a secret. A few weeks ago, an old letter in a file revealed a shocking truth about her late husband. She's come to Venice to find out more.

There's news on the way that will reverberate through all their lives, as Jill Mansell's joyful, heartbreaking new novel takes readers on a roller coaster ride of emotion - and makes us believe in love again.

What did I think?

Just One Look At You is as beautiful inside as out.  I could lose myself in the gorgeous cover and I was completely mesmerised by the story inside.  I have never been to Venice but I felt as if I was there following in the characters' footsteps.

There are a number of characters and it took me a little while to get to know who was who but they really affected me.  I laughed (a lot) and cried (a little) as their lives played out in front of me.  I had a lump in my throat at the perfect ending and I didn't want to leave the characters behind when I turned the final page.  I'll just have to read it again, then!

I can't believe that this is the first Jill Mansell book I have read and I will certainly be looking out for more of her books.  It's so much more than a romance book with the addition of secrets, misunderstandings, secret admirers, heartbreak and laughter.  

So beautifully written, Just One Look At You is a poignant, heartbreaking and uplifting novel that swept me away to Venice on an emotional rollercoaster that broke my heart and pieced it back together again.  A highly recommended read that may require tissues.

I received a gifted hardback 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:

Jill Mansell started writing fiction while working in the NHS, after she read a magazine article that inspired her to join a local creative writing class. Since then she has written over twenty-five Sunday Times bestsellers. Her acclaimed novels include The Wedding of the Year, Promise Me, Should I Tell You?, And Now You’re Back, It Started with a Secret and You and Me, Always. Jill’s books have sold over 14.5 million copies worldwide.

Jill lives in Bristol and for many years worked in the field of clinical neurophysiology. You’d think inventing characters and stories would be easier, but she can assure you it isn’t.

Twitter @JillMansell

Facebook /OfficialJillMansell

Instagram @JillMansell

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Woman Down - Colleen Hoover

In this twisty thriller from New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, a frustrated author looks for her muse in a remote hideaway, but what she finds defies all expectations…and reality.

Her words used to set the page on fire. But a viral backlash over her latest film adaptation forced Petra Rose to take a hiatus, resulting in missed deadlines and an overdue mortgage. Branded a fraud and fame-hungry opportunist, she learned the hard way what happens when the internet turns on you. And she’s been uninspired to write ever since.

Now, with her next suspense novel outlined and savings nearly gone, she retreats to a secluded lakeside cabin, hoping to find inspiration. It’s Petra’s last-ditch attempt to save her career―and herself.

Then he shows up.

Detective Nathaniel Saint arrives with disturbing news, his presence igniting a creativity in her she thought long since burned out. Petra’s words return in a rush, and her fictional cop character begins to mirror the very real cop who’s becoming her muse.

Their “research” sessions blur the lines between fantasy and reality. Each glance, every touch pulls Petra deeper into a world she thought she’d never lose herself in again. She’s never felt more alive. But inspiration this powerful comes at a cost.

When Saint starts taking his role in her career a little too seriously, Petra’s forced to confront the chaos she created. But doing so could cost her more than the reputation she’s been trying to salvage. The reputation the world wrote for her―the reputation only she can reclaim.

 

What did I think?

Woman Down is my first Colleen Hoover book and whilst I wasn't blown away I still quite enjoyed it.  I would say it's more of a romantic suspense than a thriller but it is very gripping.

Petra Rose was at the top of her game when her book was made into a film but, as we all know, the book is usually always better than the movie and her fans were not happy with the adaptation.  Being the chief income earner in her household adds an extra strain when Petra has writers block so she books a lakeside retreat to concentrate on her writing.  Inspiration is about to hit Petra right in the solar plexus and this bestseller could cost her more than it makes.

I really didn't know who Petra could trust in this riveting storyline.  It felt like she was a mouse in a trap being played with by several cats and I wasn't even sure if some of it was her own vivid imagination.  It gets very dark and disturbing as the story goes on and whilst I couldn't understand Petra's actions, I did feel for her.  I think she has lost so much of her confidence and it's a downward spiral that is difficult to escape from.

Dark, gripping and a bit steamy, Woman Down is an interesting glimpse into the life of an author and a sobering reminder of how much words can often hurt.  

I received a gifted paperback for the Tandem Collective readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: The Missing Wife (Mary Shelley Investigations book 1) - Donna Gowland

A young aspiring writer finds romance and mystery in Paris! For fans of Mary Shelley, Daphne du Maurier, Diane Setterfield and Laura Purcell.

A daring adventure or a foolhardy affair…?

1814, London

It isn’t easy being the daughter of the great Mary Wollstonecraft, harder still to navigate life without her. Sixteen-year-old Mary Godwin is desperate for excitement and trapped in a family she feels stifled in, under the watchful, disapproving glare of her stepmother, she is constantly battling for her father’s attention and approval.

So when the young Romantic poet, Percy Shelley, comes blazing into her life, she falls quickly and deeply in love with him. But Percy has plenty of demons. He is already married with a second child on the way, and he turns up to the Godwin family home with a bottle of laudanum, declaring he will end his life if he cannot be with Mary.

William Godwin forbids contact between them, but Mary’s heart aches for the man she believes to be her soulmate. And so she agrees to elope to Paris.

The excitement of the journey soon wears off and they arrive in the city weary, travel-sick and penniless, though luck finally seems to be on their side when they meet a man who offers them money to find his missing wife.

But with Mary becoming increasingly homesick and concerned for her future, will her love affair with Percy be all she had hoped for? Could the search for the missing wife set her on a new course of self-discovery?

Or will her first daring adventure prove to be her downfall…?

THE MISSING WIFE is the first book in the Mary Shelley Investigation series: thrilling Gothic murder mysteries with a tenacious literary heroine working as a female sleuth.

THE MARY SHELLEY INVESTIGATIONS SERIES:

Book One: The Missing Wife

Book Two: The Lost Girls

Book Three: Death at the Altar

 

What did I think?

WOW!!!  Donna Gowland has completely taken my breath away with her stunning first novel in the Mary Shelley Investigation series, The Missing Wife.  This book is UNMISSABLE!!! 

I didn't know a lot about Mary Shelley, other than that she wrote Frankenstein and was married to Percy Bysshe Shelley so I loved this fabulous reimagining of her life that is based on actual events.  

Mary Godwin is a teenager when she meets and falls in love with poet Percy Shelley.  The pair elope to Paris with Mary's stepsister in tow, leaving a lot of scandal and Percy's pregnant wife and young daughter behind.  Percy is such a dreamer and Mary is besotted with him, so when his money runs out they agree to look for a missing woman.

The mystery of the missing wife Claudine Lamont is completely gripping and it is mesmerising to follow in Percy and Mary's virtual footsteps where you can almost see the inspiration for Frankenstein appearing before your eyes, 

Completely breathtaking and absolutely brilliant, The Missing Wife is an outstanding novel that will appeal to readers of all genres: mystery, history, literary and romance.  I loved the real life characters and can't wait to read more in the series.  A very highly recommended read and a well-deserved five stars.  C'est magnifique!

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

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Hope on Hope (Blossoming of Truth book 2) - Susan Gray

Can hope become… a lifeline…a defining attitude…a powerful reality?

In WW2 as her homeland France is occupied by enemy forces, Chantal receives a letter with a missing page – what wartime secret did her beloved Sam want to divulge? She is drawn into the French Resistance network and when the war ends, she embarks on her quest to trace her lost love.

On the cusp of womanhood, Darcy is headstrong, impulsive and outspoken. It’s 1946 and reuniting with her aunt, Chantal, the two strong women form a tight bond. But soon conflicting opinions force a wedge in their relationship.

Can secrets from the past and life altering circumstances refine Darcy’s attitudes?

Sadness has blighted Henri’s young life, but a chance encounter heralds a brighter future. Moving to northeast England he begins a new career and finds romance – only for his hopes to be dashed with an unexpected discovery.

From war-torn France to post war northeast England, engage in this romantic drama as Chantal, Darcy and Henri discover how the presence of hope can transform their lives.

 

What did I think?

I picked up Hope on Hope as it is set in my native north-east England and I really enjoyed it.  It's a cross between a family saga, historical and romance novel so it's a multifaceted story that keeps the reader entertained.

There's a great hook with a missing page from a letter that Sam sends to Chantal before he goes missing during the war.  Chantal has never given up hope of Sam returning to her, despite what her family and her niece Darcy might think.  I loved Darcy though, she certainly doesn't hold back from giving her opinion and she has some challenges to overcome when she dabbles in the world of dating.

I actually didn't realise that Hope on Hope is a sequel to Blossoming of Truth, which is Darcy's parents' story, but it works perfectly well as a standalone.  The secrets kept me riveted and the romance warmed my heart as I turned the pages of this incredibly charming novel.

Uplifting, poignant and enchanting, Hope on Hope is a beautifully written novel with family and love at its heart.  It's well worth a read.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the author:

Susan Gray writes uplifting character driven fiction, set in the twentieth century. She is intrigued by family secrets, mystery and romance so she endeavours to entwine these genres in her writing. Her books are set in northeast England, where she lives with her husband.

She enjoys travelling, reading, puzzling and people watching. Her plots are inspired by life issues and how her characters handle the twists and turns which ensue. Writing a novel was an unfulfilled dream, until celebrating a significant birthday five years ago.

To date she has penned eight books but only three are published. SPANISH HOUSE SECRETS was her debut novel and HOPE ON HOPE is the sequel to BLOSSOMING OF TRUTH.

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