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Love Lane

by Patrick Gale

I had missed Harry Cane. I hadn’t realised quite how much until now.

I can’t tell you how excited I was to learn that Patrick Gale was releasing Love Lane! I was absolutely blown away by A Place Called Winter when I read it back in February 2021. I could not resist requesting an advance copy via NetGalley. I was SO happy when the publisher approved my request and I can confirm that I have absolutely loved this book!

It was so lovely to catch up with Harry, and Paul, again at the beginning of this story. My heart did break for Harry when their relationship ends abruptly. Reasons being understandable for the time though. It’s awful to think how many people were unable to live their lives as their absolute true selves back then.

This is far from the end of the heartbreak for Harry too, and I found myself really disliking certain characters when Harry has no choice but to give in to blackmail which results in him sacrificing everything he’s built for himself.

It does however leave him free to finally make the journey back to England to see his long-lost daughter who had been in touch more recently, and other family he had yet to meet. Their reunion is awkward, as expected, at first. They are essentially strangers and are very much used to their lives as they are. They’re not quite sure how to integrate this old man into their daily lives.

You can’t help but be drawn to these characters. I felt for them all for different reasons. Set in a time when there was less tolerance, certain expectations of women and of men to take a wife. To have families and lead ‘normal’ lives. No mobile phones and/or video calling to help with staying in touch wherever one is in the world. It must have made things impossible to maintain relationships with anyone not living in the same town as yourself.

The fact that this story is based on real people makes it even more moving. It’s such a captivating story, beautifully written as I’ve come to expect from Patrick Gale. His books are so difficult to review because I always feel like nothing I can say will ever do it the justice it deserves. He’s just so eloquent.

The ending is devastatingly inevitable.

An unforgettable tale.

Harry Cane will always have a special place in my heart.

** Many thanks to the publisher for my ARC via NetGalley **

Love Lane will be released on the 26^{th of} March 2026.

‘Miraculous, mischievous and quietly devastating‘ Rachel Joyce

‘A tender, delicately devastating novel’ Sarah Waters

‘ An engulfing, deeply humane novel about the triumphs and failures of human connection’ Marina Kemp

A journey. A reunion. A longing for a place called home…
When veteran Canadian wheat farmer, Harry Cane sails home to an England transformed by two world wars, his arrival triggers unwelcome self-examination for the family he abandoned.

His daughter feels duty bound to take him in but is ambushed by a long buried anger she has never before expressed. Harry’s effect on the next generation is less predictable, and enables his granddaughter to deal with an unspeakable trauma, while her gentle husband feels seen for who he truly is.

Can Harry stay and make a new life before it’s too late, or will he find himself cast out again, punished for having witnessed and understood too much?

‘ There is no judgement here, only humanity. A joy and a lesson for our time‘ Ann Cleeves

‘An involving story of reconciliation, secrets and compromises, rich in emotional truth and evocative historical detail’ Clare Chambers

‘It has the feel of a small-scale epic, filtered through distinct voices, about family and memory, estrangement and homecoming’ James Cahill

‘He makes you care about the characters – a deep, moving novel’ Georgina Moore

I.C.Y.M.I

A Place Called Winter: Costa Shortlisted 2015 by Patrick Gale #bookreview

Happy reading!

by Stephen Ronson

I was very much looking forward to reading The Blitz Secret having really enjoyed books one and two in this series.

John Cook is a brilliant, no-nonsense character. A bloke I would definitely want on my side. He reminds me of Reacher. I picture Alan Ritchson when I read these books.

In this book we see Cook spending most of his time in London. Now, I didn’t live through the blitz, but I feel like I did after reading this book. I’m glad I really didn’t. It must have been terrifying. I was particularly disturbed by the cutting of corners where building air raid shelters was concerned. I would not be at all surprised if that actually happened!

I was mortified by the behaviours of some of the characters in this book. People who should have been safe to trust. It just goes to show, you never know what might go on behind closed doors. What Ruby goes through is nothing short of horrific!

I’m impressed by Cook’s determination to succeed in everything he does. He’s like a dog with a bone who won’t let go. I admire this so much, as so many other people would take the easy way out and just give up at the first hurdle. He will not rest until he gets satisfactory results. A man on a mission!

Lady Margaret is brave. I couldn’t do what she does. I’d be useless!

There is so much tension throughout this book, I don’t think I relaxed once. Fast paced and full of suspense it kept me on the edge of my seat and the ending left me well and truly intrigued for book four!

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