Book Review: The Art of Keeping Secrets by Rachael Johns

 The Art of Keeping Secrets

by

Rachael Johns

 

Little secrets grow up to be big lies…

Publisher: Harlequin Australia

 

Imprint: Mira

 

Publication date: 19th September 2016

 

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

 

Pages: 464

 

RRP: $32.99 AUD

 

Format read: Paperback

 

Source: Own purchase

 

About the book

 

They’ve been best friends since their sons started high school together, and Felicity, Emma and Neve share everything … or so they thought.

But Flick’s seemingly perfect marriage hides a shocking secret which, with one word, threatens to destroy her and her family’s happiness. Emma is in denial about a potential custody battle, her financial constraints, the exhaustion she can’t seem to shake off and the inappropriate feelings she has for her boss. And single mum Neve is harbouring a secret of her own; a secret that might forever damage her close-knit relationship with her son.

When the tight hold they have each kept on their secrets for years begins to slip, they must face the truth. Even if that truth has the power to hurt the ones they love, and each other.

Perhaps some secrets weren’t made to be kept.

 

My review

 

I was sent How to Mend a Broken Heart for review and heard it is a sequel to The Art of Keeping Secrets and was pleased to find that I had this on my shelf waiting to be read. 

 

Rachael states that How to Mend a Broken Heart can be read as a standalone and I agree but I am so glad I read The Art of Keeping Secrets first as I got to know Felicity (Flick) and feel the relationship she had with her best friends Genevieve (Neve) and Emma.

 

So onto my review....

Rachael Johns has written a compelling story of friendship, heartache, courage and motherhood.

Three friends, Flick, Neve and Emma are always there for each other but simmering secrets and lies may tear that friendship apart. Through these three women we negotiate marriage breakup, the problems of single parenthood, a mother's penchant for putting their own health second and how we keep secrets to protect those we love.

 

Through all the trauma and heartache there is a fabulous trip to New York where the three women find that friendship is give and take and everything isn't always as it seems on the surface. 

 

The Art of Keeping Secrets is a fabulous story about the strength of female friendships as all three women deal with situations that will alter their lives forever. Told through the perspective of each of the women, it's about having the courage to be yourself and how one person's actions has the potential to hurt others.  It is a story of endings and new beginnings but ultimately it's a story about the power and support that females offer each other in the form of unconditional friendship.

 

My rating  5 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

 

Challenges Entered: Australian Women Writers Challenge AWW2021

 

                                   Aussie Author Challenge #Aussieauthor21 

 

Winner of a signed copy of The Banksia House Breakout announced!

 

Once again I would like to thank everyone who entered my giveaway for a copy of The Banksia House Breakout. This was my most popular giveaway to date with over 400 entries. The giveaway closed on the 28th September and the winner was randomly selected (using Random org) from all correct entries. 

Congratulations to........   Sharah McConville

 

 The winner has been notified and has seven days to provide a mailing address.

I would like to thank James Roxburgh for sponsoring this giveaway. 

Please look under the giveaway tab for more chances to win great books.

My next giveaway is for subscribers only so keep an eye on your inbox!!!

 

Spotlight: The Order of Time by Scott Southall

 

To celebrate his Readers Favorite Gold Medal win in the Children's Mythology/ Fairy Tale category Scott Southall has The Order of Time discounted on Amazon Kindle until October 3rd 2021.

 

 About the book

 

Anastasia and Edward Upton are eleven years old twins who are different in almost every way. Despite this they are inseparable and the best of friends. They tackle the highs and lows of sixth grade together whether they are fending off bullies at the elite Blake Academy or examining rare antiquities as the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Then: life gets complicated.

They discover that their friend and mentor, Dr. Gregorian, is part of a secret society called the Order of Time. It turns out that time is not fixed, it's a fluid continuum where changes to the past can create ripples all the way through to the present. It unwittingly falls to the twins to travel back through time to ancient Egypt where they must overcome deadly assassins, evil high priests and vengeful gods in order to prevent disaster. Together Anastasia and Edward must navigate all obstacles to preserve the past and find their way back home.

 

Publisher's age recommendation - 8 - 12 years

 

You can read my 5 ⭐ review HERE 

 

 

 

 

 

Winners in my latest book giveaways announced!

Afloat in Venice

I would like to thank everyone who entered my giveaway for a copy of Afloat in Venice. The giveaway closed on the 25th September and the winner was randomly selected (using Random org) from all correct entries. 

Congratulations to........   Janet R

 The winner has been notified and has seven days to provide a mailing address.

I would like to thank the author for providing me with a giveaway copy.

The Unusual Abduction of Avery Conifer

Once again thank you everyone who entered my giveaway for copies of The Unusual Abduction of Avery Conifer. The giveaway closed on the 27th September and the winners were randomly selected (using Random org) from all correct entries. 

Congratulations to........   Theresa Canu & Marggymc

The winners have been notified and have seven days to provide a mailing address.

I would like to thank The Reading Nook for sponsoring these giveaways.

The Reading Nook is an Australian independent online bookstore

 

Please look under the giveaway tab for more chances to win great books.

 

I will be announcing the winner of a signed copy of The Banksia House Breakout soon. 

Monday Mailbox: September 27th

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

 

 

Happy Monday!

 

Last month when I posted a Mailbox Monday we were looking forward to New South Wales lockdown ending at the end of September but it's now been extended to end of October. We are "allowed" to walk and go on picnics of 5 vaccinated people. Below are some happy snaps of my daily walks and a small picnic for my daughter's birthday.

People are leaving painted rocks around for the children to find on their walks. I took a photo of this one and left it for someone else to find.

Spoonville is another cute initiative for the children. Dress up a wooden spoon and leave it in this little spoon village.

I have joined the Prevention Australia walk for cancer trials. It is a 10km walk on the 24th October. Walking is all we can do so It's not too hard to get to 10km at the moment.

Books I've received and purchased over the last month.

 

 

 

You can read my review HERE

 

You can read my review HERE

 

 

  

eBooks I've received:  

 

 

Do any of the above peak your interest? What have you received in your mail box recently? 

 

 

 
 

Book Review and Blog Tour: The Sound of Violet by Allen Wolf

 The Sound of Violet

by

Allen Wolf

 

Now a major motion picture

 

Publisher: Morning Star Publishing

Publication date: 21st September 2021

 

Genre: Romantic Comedy

 

Pages: 226

 

RRP: $10.80AU (Kindle edition)

          $ 7.96US (Kindle edition)

 

format read: eBook

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

About the book

 

 Desperate to find his soulmate, Shawn goes on one awkward date after another until he encounters the alluring Violet. He starts dating her, but his autism keeps him from realizing that she’s actually a prostitute.

Shawn thinks he’s found a possible wife while Violet thinks she’s discovered her ticket to a brand new life. This hilarious and dramatic award-winning story takes all kinds of twists and turns and has been adapted into a major motion picture.

 

My review

 

The Sound of Violet reminded me a lot of Muriel's Wedding, an Australian movie about a girl obsessed with the idea of getting married.

 

Shawn has wedding photos in his room, on his phone and around his desk at work. He is desperate to find 'the one'. His openness and lack of tact due to his neurodiversity   has all his dates running for the hils after an hour. Until he meets Violet, a sex worker. She knows Shawn doesn't understand what she does for a living but she is drawn to him as he is the only person who has ever been kind to her.

The Sound of Violet is a heart-breaking story of family breakdown but at the same time it also highlights the love of family through Shawn's garndmaother who would do anything to protect him and his brother Colin who teaches Shawn how to act in front of people.

When Shawn was around people he had to continually think about his words and his mannerisms. I can only imagine how hard it must have been for him in social situations.

Both Shawn and Violet had the common connection of people judging them before they got to know them.

Wolf highlights the real problem of human trafficking and how young girls are trpped into the sex-trade with no means of escape.

The writing is simplistic and the authors history with sceenplays is evident as the scenes and actions are highly visual. I could picture this on the screen as I was reading. It had a cinematic feel to it.

I was expecting The Sound of Violet to be a story about an autistic man looking for love but it was much more than that. It was a story about kindness, acceptance and healing. I can't wait to see it on the screen!

My rating  3.5 / 5    ⭐⭐⭐½

About the author

llen Wolf is an award-winning novelist, filmmaker, and game creator. He is also the host of the popular Navigating Hollywood podcast.

His debut novel “The Sound of Violet” has won multiple accolades and is described as “Entertaining, well-paced, and highly visual” by Kirkus Reviews. It is now a major motion picture. (www.TheSoundOfViolet.com)

He has won 39 awards for his games that are available as books, including You’re Pulling My Leg! and You’re Pulling My Leg! Junior. They’ve brought smiles to hundreds of thousands of people around the world.

As a filmmaker, Allen wrote, directed, and produced “In My Sleep,” which was released worldwide, won multiple film festivals, and is available on iTunes and Amazon Prime. Hollywood Reporter raved, “In My Sleep never rests, a credit to the tight, psychologically astute pacing of filmmaker Wolf.”

Allen graduated from New York University’s film school. He married his Persian princess, and they are raising two kids together. He enjoys traveling around the world and hearing other people’s life stories. Allen also cherishes spending time with his family, eating chocolate, and visiting Disneyland.

 

 

 

 

Book Review & Giveaway: The Banksia House Breakout by James Roxburgh

The Banksia House Breakout

by

James Roxburgh

 

Some adventures are worth waiting for

 

Publisher: Ventura Press

 

Publication date: 15th September 2021

 

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

 

Pages: 315

 

RRP: $32.99AUD

 

Format read: Paperback

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via DMCPRMedia

 

About the book

 

When Ruth Morris is moved into Banksia House by her workaholic son Michael, she is eighty-one years young, mourning her loss of independence, and missing her best friend Gladys terribly.

So when she learns Gladys is dying a state over in Brisbane, Ruth is determined to say goodbye. Enlisting the help of her fellow residents, Ruth makes a daring departure from Banksia House alongside renowned escape-artist Keith, and her formidable new friend Beryl.

The journey from Sydney is far from straightforward, featuring grimy hotels, hitchhiking, and a mild case of grand theft. This unlikely trio finds themselves on the trip of a lifetime, where new connections blossom amidst the chaos. But the clock is ticking and Gladys awaits – will they make it across the border in time?

 

My review

 

The Banksia House Breakout is a refreshing debut about ageing, friendship and independence.  

 

Ruth's son Michael has taken over her life assuming she is unable to care for herself after a fall. He sells the family home and drops Ruth at Banksia House, the nursing home he has chosen for her. Michael is much too busy to be worrying about his mother and at 81 she couldn't possibly be lucid enough to care for herself.

The story starts out quite ominous with Ruth's ill treatment by her son and a villainous careworker who makes life miserable for all the residents However once we get to meet some of the other residents, escape artist Keith and tech savvy Joan, the feeling of the story lightens.

 

Ruth is rather timid and she lets her son dominate her but she is making new friends in Banksia House and these  women may be elderly but they haven't lost their sense of adventure.

 

When Michael tells Ruth he is much too busy to take her to Brisbane to visit her dying firend Gladys the women hatch a plan to steal a car and get Ruth there to see Gladys one last time. They would only be gone a few days, no one would notice.

So begins an hilarious road trip which involves plenty of hiccups and detours, an encounter with a bikie gang, backpackers, working odd jobs at a hostel and managing to evade police at the last minute.

 

James Roxburgh smashes stereotypes in this debut novel as Ruth, Beryl and Keith prove during their trip that they are anything but senile. They manage to work their way through many sticky situations whilst also handing out sage advise learnt through years of experience. 

 

I loved the mentions of all the stops along the coast on the way from Sydney to Brisbane. Many of the places they visited brought back memories of family holidays.

I also enjoyed Ruth's transformation. The more she did the more confident she became in her own abilities. 

 

The Banksia House Breakout is a fun, heart-warming read. I found myself cheering for Ruth along the way and I couldn't read fast enough to find out if Ruth would make it to see Gladys on time.

 

If you enjoyed Joanna Nell's Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village you will love The Banksia House Breakout!

 

My rating 5 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

 

About the author

 

James Roxburgh is an audiologist who specialises in the care of the elderly with hearing loss. He combines his passion for writing and the experiences he has shared with his patients to create heart-warming and captivating characters who defy the norms of ageing. James has worked as a ski instructor, owned a number of small businesses and lives in Sydney with his wife and two daughters. The Banksia House Breakout is his first novel. 

 

https://twitter.com/TheBurgeBkshelf/status/1438670597588852737?s=20

 

 Giveaway:

James has kindly offered a giveaway of one signed paperback copy of The Banksia House Breakout.

 

Enter via the form below. Entries close at midnight on  28th September 2021.  

 

This giveaway has now closed and the winner was announced here.