The Music of Bees Review

I was provided The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin as an ARC through NetGalley in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own and thanks is extended to the author, publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to do so.

Forty-four-year-old Alice Holtzman is stuck in a dead-end job, bereft of family, and now reeling from the unexpected death of her husband. Alice has begun having panic attacks whenever she thinks about how her life hasn’t turned out the way she dreamed. Even the beloved honeybees she raises in her spare time aren’t helping her feel better these days.

In the grip of a panic attack, she nearly collides with Jake–a troubled, paraplegic teenager with the tallest mohawk in Hood River County–while carrying 120,000 honeybees in the back of her pickup truck. Charmed by Jake’s sincere interest in her bees and seeking to rescue him from his toxic home life, Alice surprises herself by inviting Jake to her farm.

And then there’s Harry, a twenty-four-year-old with debilitating social anxiety who is desperate for work. When he applies to Alice’s ad for part-time farm help, he’s shocked to find himself hired. As an unexpected friendship blossoms among Alice, Jake, and Harry, a nefarious pesticide company moves to town, threatening the local honeybee population and illuminating deep-seated corruption in the community. The unlikely trio must unite for the sake of the bees–and in the process, they just might forge a new future for themselves.

Beautifully moving, warm, and uplifting, The Music of Bees is about the power of friendship, compassion in the face of loss, and finding the courage to start over (at any age) when things don’t turn out the way you expect.

The story is essentially a tale of three people struggling with inner anxiety and grief. They come together by chance at an Oregon bee farm, finding healing and friendship. The backgrounds that they have, the experiences that they have lived through, the expectations that they have and so much more could not be different from each other and yet they come together in what is a intense, heart destroying and unique read. If I had to liken it to another style of novel I would instantly say if you loved Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine then you will love this novel.

A vert well deserved 4 stars.

The Old Duck’s Club Review

I was provided The Old Ducks Club by Maddie Please as an ARC through NetGalley in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own and thanks is extended to the author, publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to do so.

Sophia Gregory is fading away… Recently split from her married lover and about to turn sixty, Sophia doesn’t recognise the old woman staring back at her in the mirror. Where has her life gone so wrong? How has it come to this? A quiet holiday in beautiful Rhodes is the perfect chance for her to find herself again.

Until she meets the Old Ducks!

Bold and brash, Juliette, Kim and Anita are three friends who are determined not to grow old gracefully – and they are Sophia’s worse nightmare! But when Sophia is made an honorary member of The Old Ducks’ Club, she begins to discover a new side to life. Dancing and drinking till dawn Sophia starts to shake off her grey, drab old life and finds the fun side to living again!

And when she meets her gorgeous Greek neighbour, Theo, she thinks that maybe, if she’s just a little braver, she can learn to spread her wings again…It’s never too late to teach an Old Duck new tricks!

I found this book absolutely delightful to read.it was a heart-warming, feel good read that captivated my attention from start to finish. I found all of the characters engaging as was the setting of the story that’s lets the reader escape which is so important at the moment.  I also loved that the main characters were women over 50 as that doesn’t happen in many novels.

Maddie Please is an amazing talent and I am definitely going to be on the look out for more of her work. A solid 4 stars.

Summer in Greece Review

I was provided Summer in Greece by Patricia Wilson as an ARC through NetGalley in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own and thanks is extended to the author, publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to do so.

Present day

For the last twenty years, Summer has lived a solitary life, focusing on her career as a vet and trying not to think of the past. Every year she escapes for a few weeks to beautiful Greek islands, losing herself in photography and wreck diving. When the junk room of her clifftop cottage is cleared to accommodate a carer for her father, Summer stumbles across the belongings of her great-grandmother, Gertie Smith. She finds a WWI nurse’s uniform, a soldier’s blanket, and a recording of Gertie’s memoirs. As Summer listens to it, she learns about her great-grandmother’s secret life, and might just find the strength to let go of her own tragic past.

1916

When eighteen-year-old nurse Gertie Smith signs up for the war effort, she is thrilled to learn that her destination will be Greece. With a head full of blue skies and handsome men, she boards the Titanic’s sister ship, the hospital ship Britannic. Unprepared for the horrors of war, she heads for the Greek island of Lemnos on a mission to rescue three thousand wounded British soldiers.

The Britannic never reaches its destination. Gertie, who disobeyed her orders, blames herself.

She is sent to the Greek island of Kea, where she meets and falls in love with a Greek fisherman, Manno – but she finds herself torn between him and her duty to an English soldier, and all too soon her past catches up with her.

I really enjoy books that move from the present to the past and Patricia Wilson does this effortlessly and masterfully. I really enjoyed this book and all aspects of it, the storyline, the narrative, the setting, the historical aspects. I devoured it practically in one setting and actually lost sleep to read it that’s how good it is. A 5 star read.

Ariadne Review

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I was provided Ariadne by Jennifer Saint an ARC through NetGalley in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own and thanks is extended to the author, publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to do so.

As Princesses of Crete and daughters of the fearsome King Minos, Ariadne and her sister Phaedra grow up hearing the hoofbeats and bellows of the Minotaur echo from the Labyrinth beneath the palace. The Minotaur – Minos’s greatest shame and Ariadne’s brother – demands blood every year.

When Theseus, Prince of Athens, arrives in Crete as a sacrifice to the beast, Ariadne falls in love with him. But helping Theseus kill the monster means betraying her family and country, and Ariadne knows only too well that in a world ruled by mercurial gods – drawing their attention can cost you everything.

In a world where women are nothing more than the pawns of powerful men, will Ariadne’s decision to betray Crete for Theseus ensure her happy ending? Or will she find herself sacrificed for her lover’s ambition?

I don’t even know where to begin with Ariadne!!! The narrative drew me in instantly and I felt an intensely deep response to it as if it was nestled inside my heart and I couldn’t let it go. I did not want it to end but I also couldn’t stop myself from reading on in a world where horror and terror reside in equal measure with beauty and wonder.

The narrative was beautifully written and the descriptions in the book were almost cinematic quality I was able to immerse myself into it so completely it was almost as if I was watching it on a big screen and that is something I have rarely experienced before.

I adored it and it is on my list of top 2021 reads. 5 stars just isn’t enough.

China: The Novel Review

I was provided China by Edward Rutherfurd as an ARC through NetGalley in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own and thanks is extended to the author, publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to do so.

The story begins in 1839, at the dawn of the First Opium War, and follows Chinese history through Mao’s Cultural Revolution and up to the present day. Rutherfurd chronicles the rising and falling fortunes of members of Chinese, British, and American families, as they negotiate the tides of history. Along the way, in his signature style, Rutherfurd provides a deeply researched portrait of Chinese history and society, its ancient traditions and great upheavals, and China’s emergence as a rising global power. As always, we are treated to romance and adventure, heroines and scoundrels, grinding struggle and incredible fortunes.

China: The Novel brings to life the rich terrain of this vast and constantly evolving country. From Shanghai to Nanking to the Great Wall, Rutherfurd chronicles the turbulent rise and fall of empires as the colonial West meets the opulent and complex East in a dramatic struggle between cultures and people.

Extraordinarily researched and majestically told, Edward Rutherfurd paints a thrilling portrait of one of the most singular and remarkable countries in the world.

Wonderful historical fiction of China spanning from 1839 to 1901, Edward Rutherfurd’s book is well researched, and the characters are an interesting mixture of players: from a eunuch in the court of the emperor, to an English opium trader; from a Chinese civil servant to an English missionary, and many more all as delightful as the next.

The novel depicts the continual humiliation and exploitation of China by Europe and how the Chinese adapted to this and the thing that enthralled me the most about this novel and about Rutherfurd in general is that history is the protagonist of the book rather than simply just a setting for the story – it is the story – it is everything.

I am eagerly awaiting his next instalment set in 20^th Century China covering Chairman Mao amongst other things. If you are a fan of historical fiction then you should give this a go, you will not be disappointed. 5 stars.

Sankofa Review

I was provided Sankofa by Chibundu Onuzoas an ARC through NetGalley in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own and thanks is extended to the author, publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to do so.

Anna grew up in England with her white mother and knowing very little about her African father. In middle age, after separating from her husband and with her daughter all grown up, she finds herself alone and wondering who she really is. Her mother’s death leads her to find her father’s student diaries, chronicling his involvement in radical politics in 1970s London. She discovers that he eventually became the president – some would say the dictator – of Bamana in West Africa. And he is still alive. She decides to track him down and so begins a funny, painful, fascinating journey, and an exploration of race, identity and what we pass on to our children.

This is the first book that I have read by Chibundu Onuzoas and I was not disappointed with this humorous and surprising story that had me gripped from the outset. The narrative that follows a middle-aged woman looking for her father and hoping to find her own purpose along the way is enthralling and interwoven with elements of protagonist Anna’s life who is a well written and fascinating character. One negative I have about characterisation is that there are some characters in the story that felt like they could bring something to the storyline in some way but they just kind of faded or fell flat for me.

However, this took nothing away from this refreshing novel about what it is like to be mixed race and to only know one part of your identity. I will definitely be looking out for more work by this author. 4 stars.

Son of the Storm Review

I was provided Son of the Storm by Suyi Davies Okungbowa as an ARC through NetGalley in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own and thanks is extended to the author, publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to do so.

In the ancient city of Bassa, Danso is a clever scholar on the cusp of achieving greatness—only he doesn’t want it. Instead, he prefers to chase forbidden stories about what lies outside the city walls. The Bassai elite claim there is nothing of interest. The city’s immigrants are sworn to secrecy.

But when Danso stumbles across a warrior wielding magic that shouldn’t exist, he’s put on a collision course with Bassa’s darkest secrets. Drawn into the city’s hidden history, he sets out on a journey beyond its borders. And the chaos left in the wake of his discovery threatens to destroy the empire.

First off, I want to give props to whoever designed the cover for this book – I mean dammnnnnn- it is simply stunning.

The Son of the Storm is an intensely compelling fantasy tale with incredible world building and a wonderfully diverse character base all living out an extremely addictive narrative. I simply couldn’t put this book down and practically devoured it in one sitting.

The author delivered such an engaging and vibrant piece of storytelling that infused the cultural, social and political background of the world perfectly and I totally enjoyed being along for the ride in this incredible good vs evil tale.

I was so disappointed when this book ended as I could have kept on reading and reading. I look forward to instalment number two. A totally deserved 5 star read.

Black Water Sister Review

I was provided Black Water Sister by Zen Cho as an ARC through NetGalley in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own and thanks is extended to the author, publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to do so.

Jessamyn Teoh is closeted, broke and moving back to Malaysia, a country she left when she was a toddler. So, when Jess starts hearing voices, she chalks it up to stress. But there’s only one voice in her head, and it claims to be the ghost of her estranged grandmother, Ah Ma. In life Ah Ma was a spirit medium, the avatar of a mysterious deity called the Black Water Sister. Now she’s determined to settle a score against a gang boss who has offended the god–and she’s decided Jess is going to help her do it.

Drawn into a world of gods, ghosts, and family secrets, Jess finds that making deals with capricious spirits is a dangerous business. As Jess fights for retribution for Ah Ma, she’ll also need to regain control of her body and destiny. If she fails, the Black Water Sister may finish her off for good.

I adored this Contemporary Fantasy set in Malaysia that deals with some hard-hitting themes such as abuse, homophobia, racism and rape. I found the characterisation amazing and fell in love with Jessamyn, the narrative was the perfect pace and kept me engaged throughout. There was also a great level of world building which allowed me to perfectly imagine the world and see myself in it.

All in all a great read and I will be searching out more of Zen Cho’s works. A well deserved 4 stars.

Waiting for the Miracle Review

I was provided Waiting for the Miracle by Anna McPartlin as an ARC through NetGalley in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own and thanks is extended to the author, publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to do so.

2010

Caroline has hit rock bottom. After years of trying, it’s clear she can’t have children, and the pain has driven her and her husband apart. She isn’t pregnant, her husband is gone and her beloved dog is dead. The other women at her infertility support group have their own problems, too. Natalie’s girlfriend is much less excited about having children than her. Janet’s husband might be having an affair. And then there’s Ronnie, intriguing, mysterious Ronnie, who won’t tell anyone her story.

1976

Catherine is sixteen and pregnant. Her boyfriend wants nothing to do with her, and her parents are ashamed. When she’s sent away to a convent for pregnant girls, she is desperate not to be separated from her child. But she knows she might risk losing the baby forever.

This book was simply perfection. It was warm, humorous, made me hope, made me cry and had characters that were completely relatable. The author deals with an incredibly emotive and tricky topic, namely infertility, loss and why it is some women cant get pregnant.  I also loved the interweaving of Irelands dark past in terms of unwed mothers and this was balanced perfectly with humour, friendship and warmth.

This is one of the best books I have read this year I devoured it in one sitting and I cannot wait to read it again. If I could give it more than 5 stars I would.

The Women of Troy Review

I was provided The Women of Troy by Pat Barker as an ARC through NetGalley in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own and thanks is extended to the author, publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to do so.

Troy has fallen. The Greeks have won their bitter war. They can return home victors, loaded with their spoils: their stolen gold, stolen weapons, stolen women. All they need is a good wind to lift their sails.

But the wind does not come. The gods have been offended – the body of Priam lies desecrated, unburied – and so the victors remain in limbo, camped in the shadow of the city they destroyed, pacing at the edge of an unobliging sea. And, in these empty, restless days, the hierarchies that held them together begin to fray, old feuds resurface and new suspicions fester.

Largely unnoticed by her squabbling captors, Briseis remains in the Greek encampment. She forges alliances where she can – with young, dangerously naïve Amina, with defiant, aged Hecuba, with Calchus, the disgraced priest – and begins to see the path to a kind of revenge. Briseis has survived the Trojan War, but peacetime may turn out to be even more dangerous…

I thought The Women of Troy was good. It’s perhaps not quite as brilliant as its predecessor, The Silence of The Girls, but Pat Barker has produced another well told, humane and completely real story here as she continues the retelling of the fall of Troy and its aftermath through the eyes of Briseis, once Achilles’ Prize of Honour and who is now married to Achilles’ friend.

The events here are documented in many texts such as the Aeneid, the Iliad and so forth however Barker has an ability to convey the experienced that her characters are feeling, going through and so on in a special way as well as building up atmosphere and allowing the reader to feel like they are there in the thick of the setting and the storyline which could still be relevant in today’s society.

Maybe because the story is so well known I didn’t find it impacted me as much as some of her other novels and so it is a 3 star read for me.