Review: A Friend Like Ben: A Mother Desperate for Love. a Little Boy Unable to Show It. a Cat That Brought Them Together

A Friend Like Ben: A Mother Desperate for Love. a Little Boy Unable to Show It. a Cat That Brought Them Together by Julia Romp

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This is a beautiful book. The true story, told by Julia, a single mum with an autistic son. Her every day struggle to bring up George, to protect him and her love for him; her dedication. The breakthrough for George and Julia comes when a stray cat Ben finds them.

It's a book for anyone who has any connection to autism; for animal lovers; and for sheer enjoyment.

As predicted it made my cry. My very grateful thanks to my Mum, who bought me this book for Christmas.

And my very best wishes to the author Julia, to George and of course to their friend Ben the cat.



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Review: The Affair

The Affair by Lee Child

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Another good Reacher story from Lee Child (and I still do not think Tom Cruise can possibly make a good Reacher!). This story goes back to the end of Reacher's army career and follows him through a Military Police investigation that ultimately ends his career in the Army setting him on the footloose and fancy free wandering life that flows through all the other Reacher books.

You can expect the usual suspense, action, thriller and a small love (or is just lust) interest that make up all the Reacher books.

Described by the Daily Mirror as a "thriller masterpice"; but it's The Telegraph's review that sums up "The Affair":

"With its revelations and its bonk-fest, it's an unabashed fan-pleaser, but also a timely, reassuring wallow in the undiluted essence of Reacher." (Telegraph )




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Review: Summer Secrets

Summer Secrets by Barbara Freethy

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Sisters, secrets, fear. This book explores relationships, family and romantic, blighted by secrets. Something happened 12 years ago to the McKenna family .... never discussed ... never spoken of. That is until investigative journalist Tyler arrives on the idyllic island home of the McKennas.

Tyler has a secret too ..... officially following a story of the McKenna round the world sailing win, he has a hidden agenda.

Well written, great characters, lots to relate to. And of course the romantic interests are there as well.



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Review: The Collectors

The Collectors by David Baldacci

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Initially two stories being told along side each other, switching from one to the other with no common thread. A little confusing .... then one character moves from one story to the other and the hunt for the reason behind a series of mysterious murders in Washington DC is on.

This is the second novel in the "Camel Club" series ..... a good thriller / suspense story.



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Review: Antonio Carluccio - A Recipe for Life

Antonio Carluccio - A Recipe for Life by Antonio Carluccio

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



A bit pedestrian in places, I enjoyed the description of Carluccio's Italian childhood, and of London and the food / wine scene in the seventies.



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Review: The Provence Cure for the Brokenhearted: A Novel

The Provence Cure for the Brokenhearted: A Novel by Bridget Asher

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I loved this book. Yes, it's a love story, but so much more. I was attracted to it by the fact that a large part of the story is based in Provence. It takes a while to get going, beginning in USA with a young widow, Heidi, struggling to come to terms with her own grief and that of her 8 year old son, Abbot.

The book follows Heidi's journey, that of coming to terms with her bereavement, and her journey to a neglected family summer home in Provence, a house that has it's own stories to tell. It's also the story of Charolotte, the sixteen year old step-daughter of Heidi's sister, Abbot and Heidi's mother.

Woven through with love of baking, wonderful descriptions of patisserie, of French rural life and this is a story of an extended family coming to terms with the past, the present and the future.

"J'espere, despair, in air ..... I'm air"

Highly recommended.





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Review: The Patchwork Years

The Patchwork Years by Linnou M

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This is better than the first book and carries the story right through to the 70's and a tad later with Sarah's grandchildren and continuing the saga of the unwanted child. Not going to give any of the story away...definately a recommended buy......I await in anticipation for the 3rd book.



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Review: The Patchwork Years

The Patchwork Years by Linnou M

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I thoroughly enjoyed this family saga which is apparently based on fact but reads like a novel, starting in 1864 and ending in the 1960's, with the promise of more to come in Books 2 and 3.

The book begins with a bastard child from the "Lord of the Manor" being palmed off on the head-gardener who takes on the mother of the child as his wife and is rewarded with a cottage in the village. Physical characteristics give the game away and the whole village gossips about the true father of the child, making him something of an outsider / loner.

The feelings of being different, wanting something more and searching for the unknown continue through the book alongside a recurring theme of rejected children across the generations.

Covers a lot of history, personalities from the UK to Egypt, Singapore, Africa and back to the UK with Sarah, the central character carrying on the story into the 20th century.

A good read, may be factual, but also thoroughly enjoyable. I'm looking forward to Book 2.



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Review: The Christmas Bake-Off

The Christmas Bake-Off by Abby Clements

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Nice! Especially at this time of year. A short story with recipes ..... the title says it all. And as I am avidly watching Britain's Best Bakery very much in context.



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Review: The Alchemist's Secret

The Alchemist's Secret by Scott Mariani

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Move over Dan Brown - [a:Scott Mariani|712759|Scott Mariani|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1308801630p2/712759.jpg]'s Ben Hope books are a definite contender for champion in the thriller / mystery / mystical and religious conspiracy genre.

This is the first of the Ben Hope books. The hero is an ex SAS soldier, who tortured by an event in his past, for which he has never forgiven himself, turns his skills to rescuing abducted children. He is recruited to find an ancient document which could save the life of a dying child.

Mainly located in the South of France, home to the Cathars, with many historical details and references to alchemy, alchemical science all based on fact, this is an interesting mix of religious persecution, the politics of the Catholic church, fiction and a great thriller/suspense novel.



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Review: The Narrowboat Girl

The Narrowboat Girl by Annie Murray

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I love Annie Murray's books, so much detail and the characters are always interesting. The Narrowboat Girl follows the life of Maryann, devestated by the death of her father at a young age, her mother's remarriage forces her run away to her only real friend, canal boatman Joel, but the legacy of her step-father and unsympathetic mother mar her potential happiness forcing her to move on.

The description of life on the waterways is fascinating. The sequel [b:Water Gypsies|2847821|Water Gypsies|Annie Murray|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nocover/60x80.png|2873940] is on my "To Read" shelf. I look forward to it.



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Review: The Little House

The Little House by Philippa Gregory

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I have only read Phillap Gregory's historical novels before and did not realise that she had written any modern fiction, so when I picked this up it came as a surprise.

A pyschological suspense thriller, tracking the path of a young married career woman through a reluctant move to "The Little House" in the grounds of her in-law's country house, an even more reluctant pregnancy and struggling through the first months as a stay at home wife and new mother.

With little support from her husband, Ruth's in-laws pick up the reins and gradually take-over.

An unexpected double-twist at the end.



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Review: Fall of Giants

Fall of Giants by Ken Follett

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Accidentally read a second time .... but well worth the second reading. An epic saga starting in South Wales mining community before the first World War. Book 1 of the trilogy traces the lives of welsh commoners and the aristocracy with the obligatory crossing over the lines, into the World War. Narrated from the view point of British, German, Austrian, Russian and American characters this is a very detailed, but fast moving story.

I'm looking forward now to reading the other two books in the trilogy.



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