VIdidly set in Norway during the war

 

I was really pleased to be asked by NetGalley to review this book

What a beautifully written story, secrets, mystery and emotion. We are taken to Norway during war time. The author describes the landscapes evocatively and the reader is transported there. Great characters, with love and loss at this time. Emotional so have a box of tissues at hand there will be tears. 

Really recommended read which will be up there in the top ten this summer and due for publication June 18th 2026.

A different view on Miss Haversham

 

I love Great Expectations and work in a school so this is widely read. I was pleased when NetGalley asked me to review.

Miss Haversham is a character who I always thought it would be good to know this lady before the jiting at the alter, the bereavement of this by being surrounded by the decaying wedding breakfast in the wedding dress she was to be married in. 

Ellie Machray has interpreted this bitter and twisted lady as we know (and who could blame her at this time) into an ambious lady with desire but living in a mans world during the victorian era. The story highlights the deep betrayal of Compeyson. This is a woman who has to conform to society or she could end up on the streets. Yet she is jilted.

I was worried this story would seem false and out of kiter with Dickens classic but this is a trully atmospheric gothic story that could have been told by the man himself.

A really thought provoking story and on a different slant and good interpretation 

Really recommended and due for publication on May 7th 2026.

Emotional and well researched

 

I was asked by NetGalley to review this well researched and well written book. 

This is the story of two young girls growing up in rural Kenya living in a rural area their lives are perfect until the Mau Mau revolution .This is a remarkable friendship but this all changes and these two girls are forced apart.

The author writes about this time with honesty, brutality, emotion and above all friendship.

Beautifully written and recommended read 

Due for publication Jun 18th 2026 

A hard read

 

I was asked by NetGalley to review this book. This is not an easy read.

Controlling, father and subservient mother- ten years since the son has spoken to either of them. if you have ever been bullied this makes for a really uncomfrotable read, believe me. It shows the family dynamics of keeping a facade - do people belive others dont know?

The clever part of this writer writing this story they tell us the story of his parents and their behaviours in away that you would speak to a counsellor so may be we are the counsellors in this I am unsure.

A very controlling father where everyone complies, maybe this is cathartic and an autobigraphy I am unsure but it certainly makes the reader sit up and think.

A short read but powerful and I put myself in the author's shoes whilst I read this.

Readers have a bit of time to wait as publication date is July 2 2026.

Thought Provoking

 

 I was asked by NetGalley to review this well written book.

I had not read any works by this author so I was intrigued, each chapter is named after a hotel and begins with a man who is to inteview an author. He clumsily drops his mobile phone in a sink so therefore he was unable to record the interview. 

This is about not relying on technology but the old fashioned pen and paper and what it means to record a life.

Expertly written and recommended read

Due for publication April 9th 2026

Beautifully written

 

I was asked by NetGalley to review this beautifully written book.

Mercutio - 13th century epic retelling of the life of Mercutio before he ever encountered Romeo and Juliet.

This is history meets fantasy. Mercutio and Dante are both outcasts and exiles, Mercutio and Dante join with a band of fighters called the Montecchi, near Verona. In joining these fighters they open a crack between our world and Faerie by accident- this will follow Mercuito for the rest of his days. There will be new destinies for those who will travel to the ends of the earth for love and friendship.

Beautifully written story with surprises and a really interesting story - I will be seaking this authors other work now

Due for publication May 7 2026.

A great debut novel

 

I have been aware of this book for a while and wanted to read but I needed time to read this, not on holiday but on my own.
I lived in Ediburgh till 1987, I worked at The Royal Infirmary (RIE) late 80s and my grandfather was a firefighter and attended the Clydebank blitz in March 1941 ( 85 years ago), drank in the Rat and Rachet pub Chapel Hill in the 9os where the tables were none other than vintage Singer sewing machine cast iron with the treadle base which for me was quite special and not been back so not sure if these are still there. so lots of reasons to read and lots of reasons to put off.

This is a beautiful debut novel with the Singer sewing machine and the people who own one or are in contact with this iconic machine. Sadly no relatives I knew had one, and my mother never sewed (sadly) So not sure what my fascination is with Singer but it is there.

1911 - Jean works in the Clydebank Singer factory, a strike began in March (and this was 115 years ago now) when 12 women in the cabinet polishing department protested against increasing workloads and reduced pay due to new "scientific management" techniques. Within two days nearly 10000 employees out of 11500 joined the strike. Jean and her boyfriend Donald Cameron strike but jean's father has different views and throws Jean out of their tenement flat. When the strike ends Donald has lost his job and he and Jean move to Edinburgh.

Connie in the 50s keeps notebooks about was she has sewen as did her mother

In 2016 Fred discovers documentation concerning family history and secrets of four generations are discovered.

I like the references to Edinburgh briging back some good memories but mostly interesting historially, I worked in Theatre 20 in a turret at the front of the RIE building and although I worked in theatres I still had the 1980s white dresses and red cloak and starched cap but cannot recall ever visiting the sewing rooms, I also worked in the old Casualty as an agency nurse. I do remember the front entrance with the wooden benefactory boards and busts of victorian people.

Sadly when Jean revisits Clydebank years later, there was no mention of the famous Singer clock that had been demolished in 1963 and we did not get a feel of post war Clydebank.

The author has researched the history well and knows Clydebank and Edinburgh. She writes well and her characters stand out. Interesting she trained as nurse in the old RIE, maybe we bumped into each other, Sadly the old RIE is no longer and is now in the history books.

A recommended read. I am now seekng this authors work out to see what else she has written.