Book Review – Rose & Renzo by Carolyn O'Brien

 

 ROSE & RENZO by CAROLYN O'BRIEN

My Review:

Rose & Renzo is a captivating page-turner which drew me in from the very first chapter. This is historical fiction at its best, with gorgeous writing, a vivid sense of place, taut plotting, a compelling love story and relatable characters. 

As well as portraying Rose and Renzo’s passionate relationship, Carolyn O’Brien’s second novel also explores the liberating power of art and evocatively depicts everyday life in working class Manchester in the 1930s – including the fight against the ugly rise of fascism. 

A beautifully written and totally absorbing read.  (Thanks to Northodox Press for the ARC.)

 

The Blurb:

Manchester 1936

Fascism looms in Europe, and Oswald Mosley's Blackshirts are on the rise.

After the death of their father, two sisters arrive in Manchester's vibrant 'Little Italy': creative misfit, Rose, and her much older sister, Ivy. Fearing Rose's impulsiveness, Ivy seeks to control Rose, forcing her to give up her cherished place at art school.

Frustrated and desperate to pursue her passion, Rose meets Renzo, a painter arrived from Europe. Their connection is instant and powerful. Yet as their feelings deepen, Renzo's past in Mussolini's Italy remains a mystery.

As Blackshirts march across the city, Rose is drawn to the fight against fascism, even as she's compelled to face the devastating question: just which side is Renzo on?

You can pre-order a copy here 

Book Review – Paper Sisters by Rachel Canwell

 

 

 

 PAPER SISTERS by RACHEL CANWELL

My Review:

I read this immersive novel in one sitting. Haunting, well-paced, and beautifully written, Paper Sisters follows the story of three women at the start of WWI whose lives are anchored by ghosts and mired in the isolation of the Lincolnshire Fens. A brave, dark, unflinching tale of love and war, grief and hope.

The Blurb

Lincolnshire, 1914. As the First World War approaches, three women are living, trapped between the unforgiving marsh, the wide, relentless river, and the isolation of the fen.

Their lives are held fast by profound grief, haunted by the spectres of the past. Trapped by the looming presence and eerie stillness of a hospital that has never admitted a single patient.  

Eleanor longs to escape. To make a life with the man she loves, leaving her sister, and all her ghosts behind. Clara's marriage is crumbling and violent and she yearns for peace and security for both herself and her innocent children. Meanwhile, Lily, a formidable force of will, stands resolute against the relentless tide of change. She will stop at nothing, no matter the devastating cost, to ensure that life, and her family, remain frozen in an unyielding embrace of the past.

The author, Rachel Canwell, grew up with the story of this forgotten hospital. Isolated, stocked weekly and cleaned daily but never admitting a single patient. The hospital was real, tended by her family for over sixty years and set against the ethereal beauty and loneliness of the Fens, is the inspiration for her novel.

You can buy a copy here 

 

 

 

Great Event at Pickering Book Tree for The Blue of You!

 

I had a lovely evening at Pickering Book Tree the other week, reading from The Blue of You and chatting with the wonderful Clare Almond about all things writerly. Thanks also to Andrew and Steph, and to the stoic audience who came out despite the torrential rain and high winds!

Hopefully I'll see some of you at my next event at Marsden Library on January 29th - in the meanwhile, have a wonderful Christmas!  
 

Advance Reviews for The Blue of You

Thanks to everyone currently reading and reviewing the advance copies of The Blue of You. It's a scary moment when a book first leaves the nest and I am always grateful for everyone's kind words – it makes it all worthwhile!

 

 

OUT OCTOBER 23rd - YOU CAN PRE-ORDER here

 

I have a new book on the way!

 

Can you ever paint over the past?

 
Every Christmas Eve, Janey Shaw is reminded of the tragic death of her schoolfriend, Alice, and the untidy ending of her relationship with Rory Brook, her first love. When Janey leaves London to return to her hometown on the north-east coast of England, the ghosts of her unresolved past lie in wait.

There, Janey meets a coble fisherman, Tom Inglewood, and admires his ambitions to preserve the traditional way of life in their community and to stop second home owners from painting over the town’s heritage. Can she start to build a new life and finally paint over her own past? Or will she have to confront her ghosts as Christmas draws closer?

 ******

Look out for my author events nearer the time - the first will be at Marsden Library on Thursday 6th November! 

The Blue of You 

is out on 

October 23rd 2025 

from Northodox Press

PRE-ORDER HERE!

Review of The Broken River by Chris Hammer

 

My Review:

I don’t read a lot of crime/noir fiction, but I’ve reviewed a couple of Chris Hammer’s novels and really enjoyed them. The Broken River didn’t disappoint - Hammer’s writing is always vivid with a great sense of place. He effortlessly evokes the sheer vastness of Australia and the way the landscape shapes lives. The plot and characters are engaging and the twists keep you on your toes. 

What the publisher says:

BURIED GOLD, OLD BONES.
WHAT SECRETS LURK IN THE DEPTHS?

A masterclass of small-town mystery and jaw-dropping twists from Chris Hammer, the international bestselling author of Scrublands, The Times Crime Book of the Year 2023 Dead Man's Creek and Crime Book of the Month for January 2024, Cover the Bones.

A body has been discovered on the riverbanks of The Valley, a remote community in the hills of New South Wales. The gold mine at the heart of The Valley was once the lifeblood of this region, but it has been flooded for decades. Over the years, many have tried and failed to bring it back to life. Now, most believe the mine is barren.

The victim is Wolfgang Burnside, deputy mayor - a champion of change or local schemer, depending on who you ask. He had been working on plans to take the Valley off-grid with hydro-power using the lake surrounding the abandoned mine. Until he was poisoned, his body dumped in the river for all to see.

Detectives Nell Buchanan and Ivan Lucic are dispatched to investigate. The warning is clear - there are secrets lurking in the depths of this Valley, secrets worth more than their weight in gold. What price will this town have to pay to ensure that they never see the light of day?

An epic, atmospheric mystery spanning generations set against a luscious backdrop and the twisting veins of gold that lurk beneath.

Praise for Chris Hammer:

'A masterful, stunning thriller. A twisting mystery epic in scale yet intricate in detail. Irresistible.' Chris Whitaker

'Epic. Shakespearean in depth and range' The Times

'Fierce, gripping and spine-chilling.' Daily Mail

'My favourite Australian detective is Nell Buchanan.' - Ann Cleeves

'Hammer is a great writer - a leader in Australian noir' Michael Connelly

'Shimmers . . . A tortured tale of blood and loss' Val McDermid

'Stunning - a page-turner which stays long in the memory' Sunday Times

 

OUT 17th JULY 2025 FROM WILDFIRE -  Available HERE

 

Thanks to Caitlin Raynor @bookywookydooda for the review copy

Review: Grace of the Empire State by Gemma Tizzard

 

Grace of the Empire State 

Gemma Tizzard

 

The Blurb:

 
A daring young woman takes her brother's place to risk her life in New York City. A breathtaking historical novel full of heart and hope, family and friendship, and the sacrifices we make for love...



As the Great Depression bites, show dancer Grace's Irish immigrant family can't afford the rising rents, nor the medicine that her little sister urgently needs. When her twin brother is injured and can no longer work on the construction of the half-built Empire State Building, Grace steps up - literally. She trades her dancing shoes for worker boots, braving deadly metal work hundreds of feet in the sky.



But survival isn't guaranteed. Failure could mean not only losing her job, but also her life, and the livelihood of her family and team. 

Sparks fly across the great metal beams, as a terrible accident and a split-second decision leaves Grace re-evaluating everything that she thought she knew about herself…
 

My Review:

 
When I was asked if I would be interested in reading and reviewing Grace of the Empire State, I was immediately seduced by the blurb and the advance reviews. A 1930s New York setting – tick. A bold, brave, heroic female central character thrown into a dangerous and precarious world – tick. An edge-of-the-seat page-turner – tick. All underpinned by an exploration of the enduring force of family connections, the strength of friendships, and a touch of heartwarming romance. 

It promised everything required to enhance a couple of cold January afternoons. And it certainly didn’t disappoint. I was immediately captivated and read it in three sittings. 

There is a strong and evocative sense of place in Gemma Tizzard’s writing, and the fast-paced and terrifying construction environment is skilfully described. I was up there with Grace, hundreds of vertiginous feet above the street, dizzy and reeling. 

Tizzard is also a writer who creates effortlessly authentic dialogue and believable, relatable characters. Grace is both courageous and resilient when faced with her family’s seemingly insurmountable problems, and we find ourselves rooting for her from the start as she makes numerous sacrifices, proving herself to be a true heroine. We are also treated to an entire supporting cast, all equally compelling. Every character in the book, however minor, is painted with the same deft strokes by Tizzard. I came to care about each and every one of them as they struggled to carve out their lives in the Great Depression.

I thoroughly enjoyed Grace of the Empire State – a great debut! Many thanks to Alara and Headline for the ARC and for inviting me to be a part of the blog tour.

Published by Headline Review (28 Jan. 2025)

You can buy a copy here

About the Author:

 
Gemma Tizzard is from Berkshire, and currently lives in Southampton, where she works as a marketing manager by day, and writes historical fiction by evening. She can most often be found scribbling notes from research books about her latest obsession, or plastering the walls with Post-It notes. Whenever she's not working, she can be found reading, or planning her next travel adventure. She has a degree in American Studies and a particular interest in untold women's stories throughout the twentieth century. GRACE OF THE EMPIRE STATE is her debut novel, available in January 2025, with a second, set in Boston in 1942, due in 2026. 

Gemma also writes rom-coms, and was longlisted for the Comedy Women in Print (CWIP) Unpublished Novel Prize in both 2021 and 2022.

Other Reviews:

 

'A page-turning debut...that reminds us that women have been quietly saving the day since the dawn of time' New York Times bestselling author Kristin Harmel



'A wonderful story of courage, sacrifice, resilience and love. Heart-warming, romantic and at times utterly nerve-wracking, I loved every minute of it!' Anita Frank

'

A thrilling, heartbreaking story about the power of family, friendship and women struggling to survive in a man's world. A must-read for historical fiction fans' Annie Lyons




Something Very Human by Hannah Retallick

 

SOMETHING VERY HUMAN

The debut short story collection from award-winning author, Hannah Retallick

THE BLURB

This collection takes the reader on a journey through life, from the innocence of young voices to the reflections of those seeking meaning as they look back at the paths they've taken.

Each story captures the very essence of being human. The characters tackle everyday challenges, face inner struggles, navigate familial relationships and friendships, fall in love and out of love, process grief, and reflect on the beautiful fragility of it all.

MY REVIEW

The stories in Something Very Human are both intimate and universal, shaped by the author’s sharply focussed eye and impeccable ear for dialogue, and anchored by a strong sense of place and vivid characters. Hannah Retallick’s writing is assured, and she is not afraid to experiment with form and language – this is a collection which feels as crisp and sharp as a green apple.

Retallick’s stories are imbued with a wealth of experiences and emotions – exploring friendships, love, loss and longing, and the eternal search for connection. But there is humour and hope at their heart, and this warmth shines through. Our lives may be woven from what appears to be fragile thread, but this is a writer who understands the real resilience of the human heart; she knows that “however many times you’ve been let down and however drenched you become, there are always reasons to sing.” A truly accomplished debut collection.

(Something Very Human is out on 7th November 2024 from Bridge House Publishing. You can order a copy here or from Waterstones and local bookshops.)

Great Review of Each of Us a Petal in Yorkshire Life Magazine!

 

Thanks to Yorkshire Life magazine for this great review of Each of Us a Petal in the August edition!

 

 

 

Review - Mornings With My Cat Mii by Mayumi Inaba (translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori)

THE PUBLISHER SAYS:

It was the end of summer, 1977. I found a cat, a little ball of fluff. A teeny tiny baby kitten.

The perfect gift for cat lovers: a beloved Japanese modern classic about how cats can change our lives.

For the last twenty years, Japanese readers have been falling in love with the late poet and prize-winning author Mayumi Inaba’s story of life with her cat Mii, after she rescued her as a newborn kitten from a riverbank in Tokyo.

We follow their everyday joys through the seasons, as Mayumi develops her career as a writer and finds her feet in life, with her small feline always at her side.

Mornings With My Cat Mii lovingly chronicles Mayumi and Mii’s unshakeable twenty-year bond, meditating on solitude, companionship, the writing life, and how we care for our cats as they grow older.

Translated into English for the first time by world-renowned translator Ginny Tapley Takemori, this beloved Japanese modern classic is a celebration of how a cat can change our lives forever.

Translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori

 

 MY REVIEW:

In recent years there have been numerous cat-themed Japanese books published in translation, and I was expecting more of the same. That would not necessarily have been a bad thing – I love cats and I love Japanese fiction. However, this book was not what I was expecting. It is a memoir rather than a novel, and it documents the author’s twenty-year relationship with her cat, Mii.

As such, there is no sugar-coating, it is very matter of fact, and the reader is not spared at any point.

At first I found it interesting and engaging – Inaba goes out of her way to find a property that will  allow her to accommodate the cat she rescues, and she charts her own decline when her marriage fails with great honesty. But I became aware that despite the lengths she goes to for Mii, there is sometimes a lack of warmth depicted in the relationship and I could not detect any deep connection between them. This is highlighted a few times, such as when Inaba tells us that it makes her laugh to see Mii stuck up high, terrified and in need of help, and that she makes her wait longer to be rescued as it entertains her. At times she appears to be neglectful towards Mii as well – the early incident when the cat falls pregnant is one example, and at other points when Mii is suffering.

The latter part of the book is quite hard going to be honest. The descriptions of the medical care given to Mii by both Inaba and the vet are disturbing. Don’t get me wrong, they are a big part of the story, and most people with very elderly cats will have had some experience of similar conditions – I have myself. I am not suggesting the author should have left this out,  but to my taste the descriptions are over-the-top – both over-detailed and over-long.

I thought it was strange that despite the personal lengths Inaba is prepared to go to when attending to Mii’s toilet needs at the end of her life, she is not always mindful of whether the cat has any quality of life and never appears to consider whether Mii should be put out of her misery, even after the cat has stopped eating and drinking. Each case is of course unique, but it is selfish and cruel to prioritise our desire to hold onto our pets over their suffering. In this case, Mii is allowed to deteriorate until she becomes skin and bone, and I feel she could – and should – have had a more dignified ending. That said, since reading the book I have been made aware that vets in Japan, even now, are sometimes reluctant to euthanise, and I didn't take that into consideration at the time.

Ginny Tapley Takemori is a fabulous translator and I really wanted to like this book – and I did find it an interesting meditation on life, death, and the complex demands and responsibilities of pet ownership. I also really appreciated the poetry. However, I cannot say I enjoyed reading the latter part of the book at all.

(Thanks to Vintage Books for the ARC copy)

OUT OCTOBER 2024 FROM VINTAGE BOOKS You can pre-order HERE

Author Event - Marsden Library - Thursday June 27th at 7.30pm

 

 

Join me at Marsden Library on Thursday June 27th at 7.30pm (Doors and Bar open at 7pm)

I will be reading from Each of Us a Petal, and chatting to Diane Barkley from Friends of Marsden Library about my work and writing process.

 

It's a FREE event, and you can register HERE

Hope to see you there!