Maria has a wonderful life. Together with her daughters, Lucy and Clara, she runs a successful estate agency, priding herself in matching the right properties to the right people – even if she has yet to find the ideal home for herself.

But behind the happy exterior, Maria is anxious about her fiftieth birthday coming up. She’s feeling, well, less excited and more than a little terrified about how life is running away from her.

For a birthday treat, Lucy and Clara have planned five ‘nostalgic’ dates for her and their dad, to remind them of when they first fell in love. But Maria barely has time for the here and now, never mind a cringeworthy wistful jump back to the past. All she wants is to find that perfect nest to settle down in, no matter how many moves it takes.

The Wilshaw women are a close-knit family, so when tragedy strikes at the heart of the home, Maria is shocked at how easy the potential to lose everything becomes.

Will Maria realise that perhaps it’s better to accept herself as she is rather than move house again? And in doing so, can she change her outlook on life for good?

Moving On

by Marcie Steele 

My review

Moving On is just the cutest read. I loved it!

I love feel-good stories about families, the ups and downs of life, and the complexity of human relationships.

This book is so full of love. The love between a husband and wife. The love between a mother and her daughters. The love between sisters….

There are some lovely characters throughout this story. Maria is very likeable and will likely be very relatable to many. I can understand her anxiety about turning 50. I’m less than 5 years away from that age myself. Life flies by far too quickly and it’s scary! Every birthday should be celebrated though. Some people don’t get many.

I loved the idea of nostalgic dates for her and her husband as a way of celebrating her birthday and spending precious quality time together. Some of these moments are quite amusing! I didn’t really understand Maria’s reluctance to participate. I did feel a bit sorry for her husband at times. I imagine it’s quite difficult to switch off though when you own busy businesses and have fallen into the habit of prioritising work over each other. We’re all guilty of taking each other for granted sometimes.

This story highlights the fragility of life and how quickly things can change.

Some things have a way of putting a new perspective on life, making us realise what we already have rather than always wanting the next best thing whether that be houses or otherwise.

Gorgeous book! I can’t recommend highly enough.

**Many thanks to Marcie/Mel for my review copy**

Treat Yourself

Happy reading! 🙂

The belief that we can control our existence by simply mitigating risk is the biggest illusion of them all.

The Safe Bet 

by Elliott Fassbinder

Fiona Alderton is fast approaching her fortieth birthday. Her life is chugging along a track she carefully laid twenty years ago. Successful husband, beautiful Highgate home, vast walk-in-wardrobe, and two delightful sons. But the sky is not all brilliant azure, there are clouds: a diminishing sex life, a teaching job she loathes, and an increasing dependence on alcohol. Still, her decision, twenty years earlier, to cut adrift a life of libertine excess to hitch herself to sensitive, geeky David Alderton, her Safe Bet, looks like the right one.

Until, two days before her birthday, Fiona and David are rushing around preparing for the school run, and their mobiles get muddled. Fiona sees a text meant for her husband, and her Safe Bet suddenly resembles a ruinous roll of the dice. How will she react?

5 out of 5 stars “This is Elliott’s second book and it’s a real page turner! Enjoy, and I hope he has plans for another soon.” – Amazon reviewer

All she wanted was to go out and, I don’t know, climb a tree or something.

Q heads out into the woods near her house to escape her responsibilities, but the short walk to clear her head ends up being a lot longer than expected when she finds herself, suddenly, very far from home. With no way to return. She just crosses her fingers and sets off in any direction. I could’ve told her that’s not the best tactic, but she wouldn’t have listened (not that listening to me was an option anyway).

Will she be able to find her way home with the help of some strange new friends?
And will they be able to help her escape the thing that follows?
The thing that got her into this mess in the first place.

Barker’s debut novella, written, illustrated and self-published as part of her EPQ.

my review

Of Skinned Knees and Nettle Stings is a unique tale, with truly unique characters, which I found very entertaining. I loved Thibault! Q is an instantly likeable character too, and I enjoyed her story.

It’s extremely imaginative, funny, heart-warming, and clever.

The narrator amused me!

I think this book will be enjoyed by all, whatever the age of the reader.

An excellent debut by Miss Leona Barker. Brilliant idea for an EPQ by the way!

I look forward to reading what Leona writes next.

Available now

Happy reading! 🙂

I still can’t believe this actually happened, but we had the most amazing time on Saturday morning!! (Me, Steve, and Bella.)

From Friday 20th January until Saturday 11th February I enjoyed a lovely, relaxing stay at Peartree Cottage, in Aston-sub-Edge, Gloucestershire. Steve had to work nearby at Long Marston for three weeks, so this time me and Bella went with him. Why not, eh?

Whilst there the lovely owner, Sally, introduced me to Burnt Norton, a book written by Caroline Sandon (Montague) which is based on true events that happened at the real Burnt Norton, also located in Aston-sub-Edge.

You may remember my review from a couple of weeks ago. If not, there was a hardcover copy of the book at the cottage for me to borrow and I was very intrigued so I took advantage of the opportunity to read it. I am SO glad I did.

My published review resulted in conversation with Caroline via social media. Such a lovely lady! As we book bloggers do, I had researched Caroline’s other books and added them to my list. Chuffed to have discovered a new author and to have other books already to look forward to.

During my research I had discovered that Caroline owns and resides at Burnt Norton as the 8th Countess of Harrowby with her husband, the 8th Earl of Harrowby.

What I hadn’t realised was that Caroline is good friends with Sally and they regularly walk together. They were out walking on Friday and Sally mentioned that the lady staying in her cottage (me) had read her book and had really enjoyed it. When Sally mentioned that my name was Kerry, Caroline said she had been chatting with a book blogger called Kerry via social media since a new book review for Burnt Norton had been published.

They soon realised that I was the same Kerry.

Small world or what!?

Caroline, very kindly, invited us to go see her at Burnt Norton on Saturday morning before we headed home. How amazing is that!! Of course, we weren’t going to say no. Caroline called me on Friday night to make arrangements and once we’d checked out of the cottage on Saturday morning we made our way round to Burnt Norton where we were greeted by the very lovely Caroline, and her dogs. She showed us around the grounds, explaining the history of the Keyt family and showing us where the elaborate house he built to the side of the beautiful original house would have been. I don’t want to say too much about that as you really need to read the book for yourself. We also saw the two pools which inspired a famous poem by T.S. Eliot and extensive grounds with trees around 270 years old which were planted by William Keyt. It was fascinating listening to her talk about the history of the property and for me (as Steve hasn’t read the book yet) to be able to visualise where the story took place. The true story of the Keyt family that happened there in the early 1700s. Also, how they came to live there and how the Keyt’s story inspired her to write her first book.

I was blown away! It was truly a privilege.

Once back inside, Caroline welcomed us into her kitchen, made us a coffee, and we chatted about all sorts. When we told her we were from Newcastle-under-Lyme we learned that they also own Sandon Hall in Staffordshire. A beautiful place. If you’re looking for a wedding venue, look it up. There will be a literary festival there later in the year, so watch this space!

I could not believe it when she told us what the book she is currently writing is about. I don’t think I’m allowed to share those details yet, but needless to say I can’t wait to read it!

We were there for a couple of hours and we are so thankful to Caroline for her time and hospitality.

She gifted me a copy of Shadows Over The Spanish Sun….

….which she signed for me 🙂

We also had a photo together

A day to remember forever!

If you would like to learn more about Caroline, her books, and/or to see a picture of the stunning Burnt Norton check out her website –

https://www.carolinemontague.co.uk/#burnt-norton

I.C.Y.M.I

Burnt Norton by Caroline Sandon @CMontagueAuthor

Tweets by CMontagueAuthor

https://www.facebook.com/carolinemontagueauthor

https://sandonhall.co.uk/

As Bella drops her son off at university, she’s devastated. It’s been the two of them ever since Asher was born. The only thing helping her through is an upcoming week-long wilderness retreat in Sweden, a surprise gift from her sister and Asher.

The lodge is modern and luxurious – but the surrounding forest is foreboding. Named Dead Man’s Forest after the legend of a local bandit left to die inside a wooden coffin, there are rumours that, on quiet nights, you can still hear the scratching of his fingernails against the lid.

When someone begins leaving unsettling notes, and a figure from her past comes back to haunt her, Bella’s unease grows. This certainly isn’t the restful retreat she signed up for. And when another guest suddenly disappears, Bella fears she might not make it home alive…

The Wilderness Retreat

by Jennifer Moore 

My review

I finished The Wilderness Retreat late last night. There was no way I could go to sleep until I had.

When we first meet Bella, she is dropping her only child, Asher, at university before jumping on a plane to Sweden for a week of relaxation, courtesy of her older sister. The Retreat is located in a beautiful place, but I’m not sure I would want to be somewhere so remote, especially on my own with a group of strangers so I could understand Bella’s reluctance. I found Bella quite relatable as a mother. I have two adult children and I know I would hate not being able to even text them/or them me if needed. They are still your babies no matter how old they get!

I knew something bad was going to happen at this retreat, but I was not prepared for the story that unfolded. It’s quite disturbing to say the least. The tension and suspense kept me glued to my kindle. I felt so scared for Bella as the story progressed. I could feel her fear, her frustration, her desperation, her panic. I would have been desperate to get out of there too! I suspected everyone at one point or another of causing her agony. I even thought Bella herself was having some kind of breakdown.

When it clicked my jaw dropped!

Brilliant! I loved it!

**Many thanks to the author and publisher for my review copy via NetGalley**

Preorder now

Out 22nd February 2023

Happy reading! 🙂

5 out of 5 stars “Powerful, moving story….

I have just been re-reading bits of this book, prior to writing a review, and as before, l find l can’t put it down, with the end of one engrossing chapter leading me on to the next. The story of a young non-violent revolutionary in the 1980s , when there were American nuclear missiles on British soil, is moving and inspiring and at the same time very funny. Whether he is feeling angry or frustrated or elated, or even just annoyed with himself because he has burnt his boots sitting too close to a campfire, Chris Savory takes you every step of the way with him in this heartfelt memoir. I thoroughly recommend it.” – Amazon reviewer

Confessions Of A Non-Violent Revolutionary

The True Story of a Peace Activist in Thatcher’s Britain, Chris Savory

‘…Insights into how individual action can play a role in avoiding Armageddon.’ – Billy Bragg

Britain in the 1980s – strikes, the dole, IRA bombings, CND demos, poll tax riots, vegetarian food, radical feminism, and an international build-up of weapons guaranteeing ‘mutually-assured destruction’. Rejecting the privileges that life offers him, Chris Savory seeks to redress wider injustices in society by rejecting future wealth, power, and status to follow his ideals. He throws himself into political struggle – living in poverty, sleeping in tents and on floors, braving the mud and cold, surviving on bean stews and wholemeal bread – to the general disapproval of respectable society. His aim? To bring about a non-violent revolution, disarmament, and an eco-feminist socialist utopia! Oxford University in 1980 opens up a world of opportunity, but the threat of imminent nuclear war pushes Chris to make life-changing decisions. Alienated by the casual superiority of his peers, he abandons essay-writing and sherry with the Dean to embark on a constant round of organising and protesting – peace camps, marches, illegal direct actions, communes, and anarchist street theatre. The triumph of Thatcherism and the defeat of progressive politics leaves him feeling despair, anger and isolation. But having given everything to fight the system, how can he re-enter mainstream society? At the heart of this memoir is a deeply honest and heartfelt human story, spiced with humour and colourful details of the 1980s’ counterculture. In an age of climate crisis and Extinction Rebellion, Confessions Of A Non-Violent Revolutionary is a thought-provoking and engaging record of a previous wave of mass civil disobedience and an opportunity to learn lessons from the recent history of grassroots political struggle.

https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/confessions-of-a-non-violent-revolutionary

https://nook.barnesandnoble.com/products/9781912992157/sample?sourceEan=9781912992157 USA

Also available from Apple Books.

CHRIS SAVORY has spent his whole adult life trying to make the world a better place through protest, local politics, education, community campaigns and volunteering for social enterprises. He was born in 1961 in Kitwe, Northern Rhodesia. He arrived in England aged two and has subsequently lived in Kent, Essex, Paris, Oxfordshire, Missouri, Yorkshire, Berwickshire, Herefordshire, Dorset, and South-West London. Chris is married with two adult stepchildren. He loves his ukulele, choirs, watching football, rivers, soft toys, marmalade, the seaside, beer, country music and London. He struggles with chronic depression, exhaustion, and joint pains.

Tweets by ChrisSavory9

NOW A MAJOR TV DRAMA on Channel 5, starring Jason Watkins, Aneurin Barnard, Poppy Gilbert and Cathy Belton.

She says he’s perfect. I know he’s lying . . .

He caught me watching, and our eyes met. That was when it hit me.
There was something not quite right about my daughter’s new boyfriend . . .

The doting father

Ed finally meets his daughter’s boyfriend for the first time. Smart, successful and handsome, Ryan appears to be a real catch. Then Abbie announces their plan to get married.

The perfect fiancé

There’s just one problem. Ed thinks Ryan is lying to them.

Who would you believe?

All of Ed’s instincts tell him his daughter is in terrible danger – but no-one else can see it. With the wedding date approaching fast, Ed sets out to uncover Ryan’s secrets, before it’s too late . . .

The Catch

by T.M. Logan 

My review

Wow! I finished The Catch this morning and oh my goodness…. Just wow!

I bumped this book to the top of my list (before watching the TV series based on it) and I have loved it!

I’m sure all dads are wary of their daughter’s boyfriends, however old those daughters are, especially when they decide to marry someone they haven’t known for long. I could fully understand Ed’s paternal protectiveness, and I felt his frustration when his wife and daughter thought he was being unreasonable because he wasn’t instantly over the moon about the wedding. I could also understand Abbie though, who obviously thinks Ryan is perfect and feels like her dad is trying to ruin things for her and Claire who thinks her husband is overreacting and should just be happy for his only daughter. All perfectly normal, reasonable feelings.

Ryan seems too good to be true, but there are good men out there, so why not hold on to one when the chance arises. Life is short. You can’t blame Abbie for falling for him. He really does seem like the perfect catch.

For Ed though there is something off about this man and he genuinely fears for Abbie’s safety. I was inclined to believe him whilst also hoping he was completely wrong. I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen.

This book kept me glued to my kindle late into the night and I had to finish it this morning before I could do anything else. I could not believe what I was reading. It made my blood run cold and my heart was thumping towards the end. Brilliant writing!

An easy five stars for me.

Looking forward to watching the TV series now to see how it compares.

If you haven’t read it yet….

Happy reading! 🙂

Hi, and welcome to my Flashback Friday feature!

For those who are not familiar, on the first Friday of each month I like to have a look back at the books I was reading during the same month in previous years, since starting my blog.

Please do join in if you have the time. I’d love to see your posts! Thanks to those who join in regularly 🙂

Here are my reviews from February 2022 + a link to previous FBFs….

#FlashbackFriday February 2022 with @burgess1012 @carolematthews @audrain Patrick Gale, Alison Lingwood & @Tilbury_Author #BookReviews

Have you read any of the above?

1731: When his youngest son is killed in a tragic accident, Sir William Keyt, master of Norton House, buries himself in his fortune. He builds a second vast mansion on his grounds, squandering money he does not have on luxury his family does not want.

Keyt has long been blind to the desires of others. His eldest son has fallen in love with their young maidservant, Molly Johnson, a ray of light in a household dimmed by tragedy. Keyt wants Molly for himself and, driven mad with lust and jealousy, he will do anything to have her…

Burnt Norton

by Caroline Sandon

My review

Burnt Norton was not on any of my reading lists. Caroline Sandon/Montague was not an author I was aware of previously, unfortunately. The hardcover copy I borrowed belongs to the cottage we are currently staying in, in Aston Sub-edge (Gloucestershire). It was recommended to me by the owner of the cottage and given that it is set right here I was too intrigued not to give it a go.

I’m so glad I did as it is a gem of a read!

The book is based on the true story of the Keyt (pronounced Kite) family who lived at the house from the early 1700s. I love reading about how people lived during these times. Especially well-off people! Despite the obvious societal differences between then and now, a lot was very much the same. Families still faced tragedies and grief. People still fell in love, or lust, with those they shouldn’t. Secrets were kept. Husbands were unfaithful and often got away with awful crimes just because of who they were. Sons and daughters weren’t always able to marry who they loved due to the lady/man not being of acceptable standing within society. People made decisions through jealousy and selfishness, sometimes with devastating consequences, mental illness was often unrecognised and untreated…. Families could be just as complicated then as now. The Keyt family are a perfect example. I found them utterly fascinating!

I love the fact that the author now lives at the house herself. What a beautiful place to reside. Surrounded by so much history. It must be amazing!

This story is so full of emotion. Love, lust, loss, greed, jealousy, acceptance, and hope.

My heart broke for Molly. She was my favourite character, I think. I can’t even begin to imagine how she coped with all she went through.

I really liked Elizabeth too.

Such a beautifully written story. One which I think will stay with me for a long time to come.

I very much recommend.

Buy your copy here….

Happy reading! 🙂

Activist Xander Wallace and his straitlaced father do not have an easy relationship. Jim’s views on race, immigration, gender, sexuality and even Millennials alienate his son no matter how hard Xander tries to find common ground. Toss in Jim’s second marriage ten months after Xander’s mother died and it’s a volatile cocktail. How, against this backdrop, will Xander ever dare to bare his soul and reveal his greatest secret?

The Wallace House of Pain: A Novelette

by S.M. Stevens

my review

The Wallace House of Pain tells Xander’s story. Xander is dealing with the loss of his mother and craving the love and acceptance of his father who re-married within a year and never mentions the wife he lost.

This novelette is set over several evenings where Xander takes a different friend to his father’s for dinner. His step-mum always playing the dutiful wife, and always seemingly interested in getting to know her guests. Xander is trying to connect with his father though. A father who isn’t overly accepting of those who aren’t his kind of ‘normal’.

My heart went out to Xander. He feels like he’s been unable to grieve properly for his mother and he is convinced his father won’t accept him for who he really is. Something we all know many, many young people go through every day. As a parent of two adult children, who I love unconditionally, I think it’s desperately sad that so many others deal with trying to live a lie for fear of being made to feel they’re somehow less worthy of love and acceptance.

This book sends out a powerful message to all.

I think many will be comforted by it and I’m sure many will learn from it.

**Many thanks to S.M. Stevens for my review copy**

Available now….

Happy reading! 🙂