Friday, 1 July 2022

Spotlight on other books I've read this month - June

 
Title: Helpless
Author: Marianne Marsh & Toni Maguire 
Genre: Non Fiction
Publisher: Harper Collins
Pub Date: 5th March 2009
Pages: 297
Source: Own purchase 
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
 
My review of Helpless

Absolutely heartbreaking!
I read this book in a day. Tony Maguire writes Marianne's story with candour.
A young, lonely little girl manipulated and abused by a trusted neighbour. It's impossible to imagine that nobody stopped him, nobody cared for this child.

Narrated in two time-lines; Marianne as a young child and then in middle-age, married with her own grown children.
One thing I noticed in this book is Marianne doesn't delve on her mental state, which I would presume was bad, just a few mentions of self harm. This story is not about garnering sympathy, it's a cleansing, a coming to terms with her past.

My deepest regret is the perpetrator doesn't appear to have been punished. It's hard not to wonder if other victims followed.
A highly recommended read.
 
Title: The Secret World of Connie Starr
Author: Robbi Neal
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Harlequin - HQ
Pub date: 1st June 2022
Pages: 436
Source: Better Reading Preview
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
 
My review of The Secret World of Connie Starr
  
The Secret World of Connie Starr is a powerful story set in the country town of Ballarat during and after WWII.
Through the Starr and Mabbett families Robbi Neal explores social and family issues relevant to the time period; the bonds of friendship, how the war affected all families, polio, air raid shelters, rationing and the importance of the church.

The story isn't so much about Connie but her whole family. Her father is the local pastor, a sensitive man who has bouts of depression due to feelings of failure. It is Connie's mother, Flora, who runs the household and supports the town folk in their time of need.
Robbi includes issues of underage sign-ups, teenage pregnancy and the loss of a child.
World events during the time period are seamlessly included throughout the narration.

A brilliantly observed story of people and their foibles, regrets, loves and disappointments.
 
Title: One of Us
Author: Kylie Kaden
Genre: Domestic Fiction / Thriller
Publisher: Pantera Press
Pub date: 3rd May 2022 
Pages: 364
Source: Beauty & Lace Book Club
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

My review of One of Us
 

In One of Us we get to climb security fences and peek through the hedges at the residents of an exclusive gated community.
The story follows the lives of two families on the Apple Tree Creek estate. Gertie and Ed have three children and have lived on the estate for five years when he tells her he needs a break and is moving out. Rachael new to the estate, pregnant with her third child, finds her sports star husband has cheated on her again. These two very different women soon become firm friends supporting each other.

One of Us is a gripping domestic noir filled with simmering secrets. I was intrigued with this story right from the prologue; a husband attacked and a wife in tears. The question of who was attacked is in the back of your mind as you read. Then there is the mystery of the attacker with many of the characters having a motive. 
 
Around these mysteries Kaden has written a story about marriage and motherhood, what goes on behind closed doors and women trying to do their best whilst fighting their own feelings of failure and struggling under the burden. There are multiple themes throughout the novel that I am sure will resonate with readers. 

This review is part of the Beauty & Lace Book Club

 
 



 
 
 

Monday, 27 June 2022

Mailbox Monday - June 27th

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week (or month). I post my new books on the last Monday of the month. Mailbox Monday now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday Blog
 

 
Happy Monday!
 
I'm late again with my mailbox post again but at least it's still Monday (for a few more hours).
 
My husband is currently at the half way point with his radiation. He is coping well and still managing to eat okay. His skin is starting to show the effects and at the moment looks like a slight sunburn. The hospital staff are amazing and everything has run smoothly. Three more weeks to go!
 
We have had two birthdays in the last month. Our youngest child turned 24 and our second born turned 35.
I've been out and about in the city dropping copies of The Bravest Word for book fairies.
Also attended a lovely high tea with my eldest daughter.
 





 
 
Books I received for review and purchased over the last month
 

 Review:
The Cast Aways of Harewood Hall by Karen Herbert (pub Sept 2022)
Blood & Ink by Brett Adams (pub Sept 2022) 
A Town Like Clarence by Stella Quinn (pub July 2022)
The 6:20 Man by David Baldacci (pub June 2022) 
Black River by Matthew Spencer (pub May 2022) 
After the Flood by Dave Warner (pub Aug 2022)
One of Us by Kylie Kaden 

Books I have purchased and won:
Dinner With the Schnabels by Toni Jordan
The Girls of Lake Evelyn by Averil Kenny
Here for the Right Reasons by Jodi McAlister

Children's Books



 
My children's book reviews are now at Little Squirrel's Bookshelf
You can see them via the tab at the top of this page or the drop down menu if you are on a mobile device. 
 

Saturday, 18 June 2022

Winner of a copy of The Reunion announced!!

 


A huge thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway for a paperback copy of The Reunion.   The giveaway closed on the 17th June and the winner was randomly selected (using Random org) from all correct entries. 


Congratulations to........   Daniela P
 

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

 Thank you to Simon & Schuster and DMCPRMedia for sponsoring this giveaway. 

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

 

 

Monday, 13 June 2022

Book Review: The Sawdust House by David Whish-Wilson

 The Sawdust House
by
David Whish-Wilson
 
Publisher: Fremantle Press
 
Publication date: 29th March 2022
 
Genre: Historical fiction
 
Pages: 304
 
RRP: $32.99AUD
 
Format read: Paperback
 
Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Beauty & Lace Book Club
 
My review
 
The Sawdust House is a fictionalised story based on the life of bare-knuckle boxer James Sullivan also known as Yankee Sullivan.
David Whish-Wilson uses artistic license to add details and change names. His writing is old worldly and poetic.
The story is written in a conversational manner as Thomas Crane, the newspaperman, talks with Sullivan about his life as Sullivan awaits sentence in a San Francisco prison, caught up in the great San Franciscan purge of criminals and corrupt officials, 1856. 

Crane asks Sullivan questions and Sullivan's replies form the story of his life. At times Sullivan turns the tables on Crane and asks him about his life. Crane tells of growing up as a Mormon, the harsh times in Missouri and move to Salt Lake Valley.
 
I loved how Whish-Wilson portrays Sullivan, talking as if he was always the innocent, because this is exactly how I would imagine he would narrate his own story. 
 
Through Sullivan's life story we get a sense of what life was like for the poorer people during the 1800's. Firstly in Cork then in London, as a street urchin. t then moves to the unrest that was sweeping America at the time.
I would have liked more on Sullivan's time as a convict in Australia and the work they did and more on his daily life living in New York.
At only 300 pages, and many of those pages with only a sentence or two, it's quite a short read.
 
I was fascinated by this story of courage and resilience and I would have liked it to be more fleshed out.
David Whish-Wilson talks about his extensive research, in the end notes, which is definitely reflected in the story.
 
The Sawdust House is a poignant tale of the cruelty of man against man, the overwhelming will to live, the rise to fame and the crushing blow of that final defeat. Not just for boxing fans! 
 
My rating  4 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 
 About the author
 
photo credit:Goodreads
David Whish-Wilson was born in Newcastle, NSW, but grew up in Singapore, Victoria and WA. He left Australia aged eighteen to live for a decade in Europe, Africa and Asia. He is the author of The Summons, The Coves, True West and four crime novels in the Frank Swann series: Line of Sight, Zero at the Bone, Old Scores and Shore Leave. His non-fiction book, Perth, part of the NewSouth Books city series, was shortlisted for a WA Premier's Book Award. David lives in Fremantle and coordinates the creative writing program at Curtin University.
 
 
 

Friday, 10 June 2022

Book Giveaway - Friday Freebie: The Reunion by Polly Phillips

Thanks to the generosity of Simon & Schuster I have one paperback copy of The Reunion to giveaway.
 
The Reunion
by
Polly Phillips
 

 About the book
 
 Emily Toller has tried to forget her time at university and the events that led to her suddenly leaving under a cloud. She has done everything she can to forget the shame and the trauma – and the people involved. She has tried to focus on the life she has built with her children and husband, Nick.

But events like that can’t just be forgotten. Not without someone answering for what they’ve done.

When an invitation arrives to a University reunion, everything clicks into place. Emily has a plan.

Because if you can’t forget – why not get revenge?
 
Not sure if the book is for you? read my review HERE
 

 
 GIVEAWAY
 

I have one paperback copy of The Reunion to give away.

 Enter via the form below. (Open to Australian addresses only). Entries close at 6pm (AEST) on Friday 17th June 2022.
 
This giveaway is now closed and the winner was announced HERE

Tuesday, 7 June 2022

Winner of a copy of Esther's Children announced!!

 


A huge thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway for a paperback copy of Esther's Children.   The giveaway closed on the 5th June and the winner was randomly selected (using Random org) from all correct entries. 


Congratulations to........   Josephine R
 

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

 Thank you to Allen & Unwin for sponsoring this giveaway. 

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

Giveaway coming soon.....

 



Monday, 6 June 2022

Book Review: The Reunion by Polly Phillips

 The Reunion
by
Polly Phillips

A chance to connect.... A chance to get revenge

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication date: 1st June 2022
 
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
 
Pages: 352
 
RRP: $29.99AUD
 
Format read: Paperback
 
Source: Courtesy of the publisher via DMCPRMedia
 
My review
 

I love a great revenge story and The Reunion didn’t disappoint! This was a book I wanted to pick up every spare minute. I was pulled into the story right from the prologue.


Emily and husband Nick are gearing up for their university’s 15 year reunion. Now Emily has a perfect life; a doting husband and two gorgeous children but her past still haunts her. She has avoided her year’s cohort for 15 years and now she wants answers but mostly she wants revenge.

Polly Phillips slowly builds a mystery about Emily’s Uni days, alluding to something big happening, expertly teasing the story out keeping me glued to the pages.

 
The story is narrated by Emily in two timelines, with chapters headed in a countdown of hours leading up to the big reveal, interspersed with chapters set during Emily’s uni days with best friends Henry, Lyla and Will.
 
Phillips includes the toxic male culture in universities and how the privileged use family money to cover indiscretions.

You never really know the people closest to you is a major theme running through the novel.

 
I loved how Phillips included an older sister for Emily. Her sister, Helen, was her biggest supporter, always encouraging and concerned about Emily but never judging her. Emily’s sister, Helen, is my new hero.
 
The Reunion is a book you will want to pick up every spare minute. Tantalising, addictive and twisty; The Reunion should be on your must read list. 
 
My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 
 
About the author
 
Photo credit: Polly Phillips
Originally from London, Polly and her family currently live in Perth, Western Australia. After graduating from Cambridge University, Polly worked as a journalist, first writing about  soap operas and then as a news and features writer at the Daily Express. Expat assignments followed after Polly got married, in Copenhagen and Dubai, as well as a previous stint in Perth.
 
Polly's first novel My Best Friend's Murder (based on a toxic Teenage friendship) won the Montegrappa Novel prize at the Emirates Literature Festival in 2019, and was published in Australia at the beginning of 2021. The Reunion is her second novel. In her spare time, Polly is a fanatical runner, eater and drinker with one long-suffering husband, one highly-challenging 8-year-old daughter and a basset hound that she's totally obsessed by.

 
Stay tuned for your chance to win a paperback copy of The Reunion. Details will be posted Friday 10th June.