Published by Persephone Books Publication date – 24 April 2008 Source – own copy Mollie Panter-Downes was noted for her wit, perception and incisiveness thanks to her reflections on English domestic life during the war years. This collection of her short stories explores the common themes of the day, discussing fear, separation, evacuations and the…
Month: May 2021
Hannah Fielding – Q&A
Hannah Fielding’s latest novel, Song of the Nile, was published by London Wall Publishing on 27 May 2021. Hannah kindly answered a few of my questions. 1. Tell us a little about Song of the Nile. Song of the Nile is my latest novel – a story that is very close to my heart, for…
Lost Property by Helen Paris – review
Published by Doubleday Publication date – 13 May 2021 Source – review copy Dot Watson has lost her way. Twelve years ago her life veered off course, and the guilt over what happened still haunts her. Before then she was living in Paris, forging an exciting career; now her time is spent visiting her mother’s…
The Secret Bridesmaid by Katy Birchall – review
Published by Hodder & Stoughton Publication date – 13 May 2021 Source – review copy Sophie Breeze is a brilliant bridesmaid. So brilliant, in fact, that she’s made it her full-time job. As a professional bridesmaid, Sophie is secretly hired by brides to be their right-hand woman, ensuring their big day goes off without a…
Yours Cheerfully by A J Pearce – review
Published by Picador Publication date – 24 June 2021 Source – review copy London, September, 1941. Following the departure of the formidable Editor, Henrietta Bird, from Woman’s Friend magazine, things are looking up for Emmeline Lake as she takes on the challenge of becoming a young wartime advice columnist. Her relationship with boyfriend Charles is blossoming, while…
Quick Reads 2021 – Saving the Day by Katie Fforde – review
Published by Arrow Publication date – 27 May 2021 Source – review copy She has only one chance to turn her life around… Allie is bored with her job and starting to wonder whether she even likes her boyfriend, Ryan. The high point in her day is passing a café on her walk home from…
Kate Sawyer – Q&A
Kate Sawyer’s debut novel, The Stranding is published by Coronet on 24 June 2021. Kate kindly answered a few of my questions. 1. Tell us a little about The Stranding. My debut novel, The Stranding, is about Ruth Lancaster, a British woman in her late thirties. Through two intertwined timelines the book charts her life…
Derby Book Festival – 27 May to 5 June 2021
Book Festival season is upon us and as the world starts to slowly peep out from behind Covid bunkers people are thinking about attending their favourite events. If you still aren’t sure about venturing out but like the sound of sitting in on book talks then the Derby Literature Festival may be for you. A…
Tension by E M Delafield – review
Published by British Library Publishing Publication date – 13 May 2021 Source – review copy Tension is part of a curated collection of forgotten works by early to mid-century women writers. The best middlebrow fiction from the 1910s to the 1960s, offering escapism, popular appeal and plenty of period detail to amuse, surprise and inform. “I…
An evening of cooking to celebrate publication of The Waiter by Ajay Chowdhury
Though many of us may be zoomed out, one good thing that has come from all of these remote meetings is that book events have opened up to those people who can’t always get to London. There have been some inventive ways of launching books and yesterday evening I was invited along to the launch…
From First Page to Last 