The Butterfly Collector by Tea Cooper

A little bit of history, a little bit of romance, a little bit of suspense. What else could I ask for?

I have a passion for well written, Australian historical fiction and The Butterfly Collector certainly fits that category. From the start the story had me invested.

This is the first time I have read a Tea Cooper story and I have already bought another for my reading pile.

It is a delicious blend of fact and fiction, told in two timelines and two locations - Morpeth NSW 1868 and Sydney 1922 - but does not confuse the reader.

The story begins in 1922 when Verity Binks, a journalist, is sacked from her job at Sydney Arrow newspaper. It is a common situation post World War I to open positions for soldiers returning from active service. However, her editor is happy to publish, and pay for, any stories of interest she sends him.

When she receives an invitation to a masquerade ball along with a butterfly costume, she embarks on an investigation that has her in Morpeth where her father was born.

Verity’s father was a well-known journalist and Verity is keen to follow in his footsteps by writing an interesting article.  When an anonymous parcel arrives containing an invitation to the Sydney Artists’ Masquerade Ball and a butterfly costume her curiosity is piqued.

At the ball, she is introduced to Mr Treadwell who asks her to write the history of the Treadwell Foundation which supports unmarried mothers and their babies.

Her research takes her back to Morpeth, her grandfather’s birthplace.

The visit results in linking with the other storyline of the book as she learns about her connections with the Breckenridge.

The second story line is set in Morpeth in 1868 where we meet Theodora and her three sisters Florence, Constance, and Viola. They are mourning the loss of their parents and brother when a steamer ship hit a reef and sank.

Florence decided their period of mourning was over and they should go to Sydney and put themselves back out into society and find husbands.

In addition to preferring to painting and enjoying her mother’s garden to socialising, the thought of travelling on a steamer like her parents did terrifies her.

While painting in the garden, she discovers a butterfly never seen in Australia. She knew the famous nature illustrators, the Scott sisters and is keen to follow in their footsteps.

Her search to find them again leads her on an adventure.

Clarrie is a maid working for the reverend but fires her when he discovers she is pregnant. She and the baby’s father, Sid, have not been able to marry but find a local midwife, Maud, prepared to deliver the baby and look after him for a fee when Clarrie finds work with Theodora.

Our next character is Redmond, Sid’s employer at the local newspaper. Redmond is keen to spend time with Theodora and asks Sid if Clarrie would be a chaperone on a butterfly search on a river island.

Theodora and Clarrie get on well and Theodora offers her a job.

As the story continues, we learn that Clarrie and Sid are Verity’s grandparents.

I highly recommend The Butterfly Collector to fans of Australian historical fiction and readers who like to relax with a good story and learn at the same time.

My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for a copy of The Butterfly Collector by Tea Cooper in exchange for an honest review.

My rating 5*

New Horizon by Nick Udall

Sadly, I did not finish New Horizons. I was happy to sit down with an easy read after reading a psychological mystery, but by the time I got 30% through I was totally bored with the story. In fact, I skipped a whole chapter about a wrestling match.

Set between the 1960s and 1980s, history is not blended in well. It seems to be there for the sake of it rather than setting the scene. At the same time I didn’t get a feel for the industrial town of Manchester and the struggles of its people.

The writing was OK and the characters lacked substance.

I am sorry I can only rate this book as 1* 

The Fountain by John A Heldt

A tale of time travel, history, danger, romance, and family relationships.

While this is a time travel book, as with all John A. Heldt’s books, it is so much more.

John skilfully combines a good story with a well-researched history. I have all of his books and he has never failed to entertain with his family-based time travel stories.

The Fountain is the first book of his new Second Chance series and after being introduced to the Carpenters, I look forward to the next in the series.

The three main characters are ageing siblings Bill, Paul and Annie. Bill (81) has just been widowed, Paul (75) is dying from lung cancer and Annie (72) is confined to a wheelchair.

All are childless and wonder what there is left in life. When Bill, a retired folklore and mythology professor, hears about a fountain of youth in La Paz, Mexico that could not only give them a second chance it would also mean travelling back in time to a simpler lifestyle. They don’t hesitate in making their decision. They sell their house and possessions and convert the proceeds into gold.

To reach the fountain they must travel to Mexico and enter an almost unknown cave. They enter the fountain and emerge in 1905. But things are different – Bill is now a young man of 23, Paul a cancer free teenager of 17 and Annie a 14 year old with a healthy body.

They must then find a way to get from Mexico to Oakland, California. Once in California they settle in and make friends. Bill finds a job and the two younger ones enrol in school but there is still one thing worrying them – the 1906 San Francisco earthquake especially when none of them can remember exactly when it will occur.

The Carpenters fitted in well to their new age. They had a few slip ups, particularly with jargon or slang terms, but it was fun to see them wriggle out of it.

The Fountain is much more than a time travel book. Heldt combines time travel with family relationships, history, romance, and heartbreak.

As always, he manages to combine all these genres without graphic sex or foul language. His history is well researched giving the reader a definite sense of time and place.

Aged 74 myself, I was able to relate to Bill, Paul and Annie and their wish to go back in time to a younger version of themselves. The difference is I have a son and grandchildren, they have no one but each other.

They are marvellous characters, quiet achievers, and caring souls.

We have a clear impression of Heldt’s main characters from the start and it was interesting to see that influenced who they were in 1905. Nothing was lost in the relationship between them or their attitudes to others and their distinct personalities remained unchanged.

Widower Bill has just buried his beloved wife after 54 years of marriage and is somewhat lost. While she is not strictly a character in the book she was much loved by his siblings and a strong influence on their lives.

Paul’s background is a bit clearer. He is a disgraced soldier, has been married three times and now coming to terms with living with terminal cancer. He had the most to gain from a second chance and was a delightful, caring young man in 1905.

Annie is used to her life confined to a wheelchair but is still frustrated with the limitations especially not having children. The opportunity to be free of it and relive a young life appeals greatly and she embraces life in 1905 with enthusiasm.

My favourite character though was Cassie, a teacher at the school where Bill has a job to assess the teaching staff and where Annie and Paul attend school. She’s smart, feisty and beautiful but she and Bill don’t hit it off in the beginning.

The other characters include Cassie’s family and another student, Pauline Wagner.

But in a John A. Heldt book you never know who you will meet and in this case, we meet Jack London, author of Call of the Wild and White Fang as well as US General Frederick Funston.

Every character has been well cast. They are believable and likeable. In fact, they are the key to the story.

The story is told from several points of view – the three siblings and Cassie. This does not confuse the reader as each chapter is titled with the name of the character.

As with all his books, Heldt’s blending of history and an imaginative story is creative with a gradual build up in tension. It all comes together in a relaxing and absorbing read.

As part of a series The Fountain is a complete story but Heldt leaves you wanting more. I am looking forward to reading the next in the series Annie’s Apple.

My thanks to the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

My rating 5*

 

Lyrics for the Loved Ones by Anne Goodwin

Lyrics for the Loved Ones is the bitter-sweet story of Matilda Windsor (Matty) who has been moved from a mental health institution to a nursing home in Cumbria. She is planning her 100th birthday but due to Covid lockdown plans need to be modified. 

It is the third book of the series about Matty.

The story begins as Matty is celebrating her 99th birthday but her thoughts and plans turn to celebrating her 100th. She plans a big function where she can perform on stage. There are also plans for her to be reunited with her daughter she was forced to give up for adoption.

But plans are thwarted when Covid hits and the nursing home goes into lockdown. The Black Lives Matter protests and the Windrush scandal are also featured but without much depth.

It is an emotional read interspersed with humour.

The setting alternates between West Cumbria and Bristol

The writing is good, but its wordiness was a little challenging as was following the relationships between the characters. However, the difficulties with the characters and their background may be due to not having read the previous stories in the series.

Although it is supposed to be suitable as a standalone novel I feel if I had read the two previous books I may have got more from the story. I don’t recall mention of it being part of a series when I requested it through LibraryThing Early Reviewers

This is the main reason for my low rating.

I found the story confusing, but it would appeal to a reader who likes to delve into complex relationships. I also recommend reading the other two first.

Overall, the book didn’t really work for me. 

Rating 2*

O2 by Nic D'Alessandro

O2 is a medical and action thriller. It is a compulsive read and a remarkably well-planned story.

The story revolves around Dylan Malloy who discovers his asthma is not as straightforward as he thought – it is a debilitating disease.

As a teenager and flying simulator enthusiast, he has had more than his fair share of personal life knocks.

Dylan’s story about his early life is not immediately told. It comes to the reader gradually through flashbacks. I had no problems following the flashbacks. It increased to the need to keep reading.

Getting a ride across the Nullabor with an old, philosophical truckie is the start of a new attitude to life.

Dylan finds an IT job in the remote north of Western Australia. He’s good at his job and well-liked but still a loner until a lady engineer, Allie, befriends him and pushes him to seek medical advice.

Dylan discovers he has Cystic Fibrosis and needs a lung transplant. However, he fears flying, and with the vast distances of Western Australia, it is his only option.

But with his ‘little friend’, an oxygen bottle, he must face his fears.

At this point, both Dylan and the reader hold their breath as the story takes a heart-stopping turn.

The Australian outback with its vivid colours, heat and colourful characters provides the backdrop to an intense story.

The tension at the end of the book is certainly screen worthy.

O2 is the first in a series about Dylan Malloy and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for him.

The characters are true to life, and I especially loved ‘Pothole’ the friendly truckie. The development of Dylan’s character is particularly well depicted as the reader becomes more invested in his future.

My rating 4*

A DONATION FROM EACH PAPERBACK AND EBOOK WILL BE DONATED TO CYSTIC FIBROSIS AUSTRALIA (A REGISTERED CHARITY) TO FUND SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE WITH CYSTIC FIBROSIS AND MEDICAL RESEARCH.

Author bio

I don’t usually include an author bio in my reviews but in this case, I think it is essential to appreciate this author’s credentials.

Nic D'Alessandro: Born and bred on an island state, I write about the land, sea, sky and people. I’m fascinated by the human condition, crazy on anything that floats or flies, and passionate about the beauty and value of true wilderness.

I’m into writing character-based dramas, thrillers with depth, and stories that dig deep into what it means to be human. I enjoy a meaty theme or two, and I subtly weave contemporary issues into my books when it suits.

When I’m not writing, I earn a living as an education consultant, specialist in the aviation industry, and aerial and landscape photographer. In previous lives I’ve been a senior manager in the public sector and an educational leader in the university sector.

In my spare time I’m a keen sailor and I take to the sky in aircraft whenever I can. I obtained my pilot licence at age seventeen, and later celebrated my forties by building a full-size 737 flight simulator in my garage.

I live in Tasmania, Australia with my wife, and extended family.

Shadowside by Neil Root

Shadowside is well written, and the sense of time, 1930s, well done. Sadly, I found this book was not for me and only got halfway.

A young girl has disappeared from the Sunnyside Asylum for children. Her mother hires reporter to find her. To be on the spot for his investigation he goes undercover as an orderly at the hospital.

Prior to her disappearance one of the staff has fallen down the stairs and died. Was it an accident or was he pushed?

The story is told from several POVs and the wide range of characters are believable.

My rating 3* 

Murder by Candlelight by Faith Martin

Murder by Candlelight is a light reading whodunnit in the golden age style of locked room whodunnits. It nostalgically reminds the reader of villages like St Mary Mead.

This cosy detective story with engaging characters and lots of gossip is set in the Cotswolds, England in the 1920s. 

Arbuthnot Swift (Arbie) is a young man who has recently published a best seller, The Gentleman's Guide to Ghost Hunting. Miss Amy Phelps, the wealthy owner of and old estate, The Forge, asks him to investigate a possible haunting in the house. When Miss Phelps is murdered Arbie and his friend Val are drawn into their own investigation. 

The mystery has plenty of red herrings, but all the clues are there to solve the murder.

Maybury-in-the-Marsh is the quaint village that forms the charming backdrop and setting the atmosphere with its gossipy and charming characters.

It is not just written in the style of Agatha Christie’s cosy who-dunnits but includes tongue in cheek references to the ‘Belgian chap’.

At first I was not keen on the main character, Arbie, he came across as self centred and lazy but I did warm to him. The vicar’s daughter, Val, is his long time school friend and off sider in the investigation was delightful and more likeable initially.

They are a perfect pairing with Val pushing him and constantly nagging him.

The dialogue was witty and in keeping with the era.

Murder by Candlelight is a light easy read. It is entertaining but I didn’t find it compelling reading. 

I’m not sure if it was written tongue in cheek to appear Victorian or not well written – either way it was still enjoyable.

Rating 3*

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for providing an early copy of Murder by Candlelight.

#MurderByCandlelight #NetGalley #harpercollins

No Gun Intended by Britt Malka

No Gun Intended by Britt Malka is a quick read cosy detective story with a touch of romance.

Jennifer has fallen and hurt her hand. She visits the new doctor. All is well until she discovers her bag missing and a murder mystery begins with Jennifer a possible suspect.

The setting of an idyllic seaside town is well portrayed but the writing is stilted. The scene in the waiting room is very drawn out.

The two main characters are likeable and well developed but we don’t get to know the other characters well enough.

The basic story is good but needs more mystery and the ending was rushed. It is short enough to include deeper moments.

The most frustrating part of reading the book was the constant typos. It desperately needs a good proofread for both technical errors and story.

My rating 2*

PAWsitive Vibes Dogs

PAWsitive Vibes Dogs by Kathleen J. Shields is a collection of motivational stories based on the habits and behaviours of dogs.

 

Here is an example:

 

Can You Dig?

Digging is an instinctual activity, written deep in a dog’s DNA. It is especially strong in terrier breeds. Dogs in natural packs will dig to hide food or to uncover food such as small rodents. A den dug in the cool earth can also provide shelter from the heat.

Dogs like to dig, even though my husband is not fond od of the holes in the lawn, the mud in their paws, or the flying dirt they kick our from underneath them flying onto the porch.

But sometimes, you just have to go for what is calling you and dig in. Can you dig it?

 

Kathleen J Shields loves dogs and had rescue dogs as part of her family. Her observations of their antics is the basis behind these inspirational one page stories.

 

I recommend the beautifully presented PAWsitive Vibes to any dog lover looking for positive reinforcements. Whether you sit and read it in one go or dedicate time to one or two stories a day you will get much from your reading.

 

My rating 5*

Snowball Unwrapped is a light romantic read set in a perfect Christmas backdrop.

There are earlier books about Snowball and her matchmaking. I haven’t read them but this one is certainly a standalone story.

 

Ilse is the host of a TV show called Home and Hearth that features cooking and craft segments. Her fiancé is double timing her, so she convinces her identical twin sister Jocelyn to stand in for her while she sorts her personal problems.

 

Not only do they have vastly different personalities, but Jocelyn also lacks the craft and culinary skills of Ilse.

 

The episodes are to be filmed in the grand Victorian building Weber Haus that has been converted to a up market B&B.

 

Ilse is always at odds with her male co-host, Ben, who she thinks is trying to take over the show. Whereas there is a romantic spark between Ben and Jocelyn. Snowball recognises the signs and sets out on her matchmaking endeavours.

Ilse’s career is on the line but will Jocelyn’s lack of talent and friendship with Ben completely destroy Ilse’s future.

Many amusing moments threaten to
expose the secret Jocelyn is trying to hide and foil Snowball’s
matchmaking between Jocelyn and Ben, all set in a picture-perfect winter
wonderland.

The story is so much fun it is easy to forget you are reading a romance novel. I loved the intrigue surrounding Jocelyn’s deception and the comical moments it produced.

 

Living in Australia we don’t get to experience the perfect white Christmas (or even a cold one) but we can dream. The Christmas themed setting with snow falling Christmas lights and holiday shopping is beautifully portrayed around the Victorian.

 

The story line moves along smoothly with no slow patches. The dialogue is believable. For the most it is told in the 3^rd person with a scattering of 1^st person paragraphs by Snowball.

 

Characters are relatable and well portrayed. The nice ones are fun and easy to like, and the nasty ones perfectly depicted.

 

Snowball, the resident cat is very sweet and makes you want to pick her up for a cuddle but be warned there is an evil look alike lurking.

I rarely read romance these days but love animal stories. It is a book I was happy to relax and ignore problems around me while being transported to a Christmassy winter wonderland. 

I loved the characters and the delightfully different storyline.

Highly recommended for romance readers.

Even though I’m not a great romance reader I’ll be keeping an eye open for books by this author.

My rating 4* as a light holiday read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the advance reader copy.

#netgalley #kensingtonpublishing

Tatum Comes Home by Tatum Talks; Mica Stone

Tatum Comes Home is a fictional story about a real dog called Tatum. It is an uplifting story of the adventures of a dog who gets separated from his family and the people who do everything in their power to help him return home. 

I had never heard of Tatum, a social media star, so I came to this book without preconceived expectations. 

I felt so silly when reading the end of a book through tears of joy but that’s what Tatum’s story did to me.

The story begins when Tatum Jumps out of his Dad’s truck. When a violent electrical storm hits he hides in the to the back of another truck and ends up miles from home. 

The truck owner, Jed, tries to find Tatum’s family but although he is microchipped the internet is out due to the storm and no one can discover his home address.

While travelling to another vet with Jed to have the chip read, Tatum thinks he sees  his Mum in the bush and chases after her.

I enjoyed reading Tatum’s adventure immensely and it was heart warming reading the commitment of his new friends in their attempt to get him home. 

Other messages are there also – making new friends and helping not just a dog but also fellow humans.

All the characters felt real and shone through.

Each chapter begins with. We get insight into Tatum’s thoughts through his notes in his ‘diary’.

Here’s an example 

Dear road trip diary, Val is just like all the vets where I live cuz she seems nice and gives me tweats but also none of the other animals is happy to be there. Jed looks at Val like Dad loks at Mum, which is the same as me when I look at the lady in the drive-fru window at the nuggets place. Val and Jed and me is gunna get more food, so I fink I’m on vacation like Mum and Dad.

When I finished the book, I checked out his social media post to see if the characters (Tatum and his Mum and Dad) came across the same. They do.… and yes, I am now following Tatum on social media.

You certainly don’t need to be a Tatum fan to enjoy this captivating story. It is not just for Tatum fans and followers but any dog lover who likes a sweet positive dog story.

My rating 4*

Thank you to Netgalley & Kensington Books for the opportunity to get to know Tatum through this delightful story.

#netgalley #kensingtonbooks

Sunny Bunnies: My Book of Feelings by Carine Laforest, illustrations by Animation Café is a delightful, cute, colourful book that helps children understand their feelings and emotions. 

Each page features a different emotion linked with a colour and an adorable Sunny Bunny. The page describes emotional and physical examples of how you are feeling with each emotion 

They are good examples of the emotions that a young child can relate to. It also provides ways a child can deal with negative emotions such as sadness, fear, and anger. 

I always appreciate children’s books that provide an opportunity for children and their parent/carer to discuss important topics. 

At the end of each page, there is a question to ask the child. For example, the page for joy is “When do you feel happy? This gives the child an opportunity to express their feelings and the caregiver to help with the development of expressing feelings. The book describes not only the emotional side of feeling but also the physical. (eg sadness may make you feel like crying). This also helps the child to recognise how others are feeling.

Another opportunity for carers to discuss the topic of feelings is the four exercises at the back of the book.

The target audience is pre-schoolers and kindergarten children but would be beneficial reading for older children with disorders such as autism.  I also believe in reading to children before they can fully understand any messages in a story, so they grow up knowing the lesson. It’s how my son learned he was adopted and never had any related issues. The lessons in this book could also be helpful for older children learning to read.

Thank you, NetGalley, Chouette Publishing, and CrackBoom! Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

My rating 4*

#netgally #chouettepublishing

Unnatural Ends by Christopher Huang

I was drawn into this story from the first chapter and it never failed in its promise of a great story. It is an absorbing well-crafted story and I felt I was there with the characters in their surroundings. 

It is a brilliantly written historical murder mystery with diverse characters.

I am looking forward to future books from Christopher Huang.

Siblings, Alan, Roger, and Caroline are called back to their childhood home, Linwood Hall in Yorkshire, following the murder of their father, Sir Linwood.

When his will is read, they learn that the one successful in solving his murder will inherit his entire estate.

Sir Linwood had been a domineering, controlling, and often cruel father. His life lessons for the children included strength of character to the extent of insensitivity and indifference. He expects these traits to dominate and for the siblings to each follow their course of investigation without sharing their knowledge.

But he underestimates his children. 

All three siblings were ado
pted as babies and two are of mixed race. After their initial individual enquiries, they soon share information, combine their knowledge and work together.

Their research and interviews reveal dark secrets in their past and their father’s mysterious life.

The siblings are the three main characters. Alan is an archaeologist, Roger an engineer, and Caroline a journalist (that is as far as her father knew who also believed she was certain to become a politician)

Other key characters include Iris Morgan (Roger’s fiancé), Giles Brewster (innkeeper), Detective Inspector Mowbray, and Lady Linwood (wife of the deceased).

In addition to the people, and due to Huang’s skilful writing and descriptions, Linwood Hall is an imposing and ominous character itself that dominates the landscape.

All characters (including the minor ones) were interesting, well developed, and (most of them) likeable.

The story of the siblings is so fascinating the ‘murder mystery’ takes a back seat to the gradual revelations of the past. Huang achieved this through varying POVs. Each character has a distinct ‘voice’ and reveals their past through flashbacks, but the storyline doesn’t get bogged down.

The author skilfully uses language to set the mood and the time. I felt I was right there in the mansion, shivering from the cold and morbidity. I wish I could write with the beauty and turn of phrase used in this book.

The story deals with sensitive issues including psychological and physical abuse but I felt it was not too graphic.

Thank you to NetGalley, Inkshares & Christopher Huang for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My rating 5*

Royals by Tegan Bennett Daylight

Precis

What happens when a group of teenagers is stranded indefinitely in a shopping centre, alone? With all the stuff they could possibly want … and a baby? Is it paradise – or hell?

With no phones and no internet, Shannon and her fellow prisoners are completely disconnected from the outside world… and their online lives. It’s hard to say whether they’ll be driven to delinquency, or – even worse – forced to make friends. Will the limitless bubble tea, Maccas, high-end trainers and tech equipment be enough to keep the six teens safe and happy until they can find a way out, or is this all the start of something more sinister?

My review

I was drawn to Royals out of curiosity based on the precis above. It intrigued me and I was interested to know what appeals to YA readers today. I think I should have chosen another story. 

The story begins with Shannon waiting to meet her brother in the shopping centre. She falls asleep and when she wakes she notices her phone is stuck at 5.17pm. The centre is empty and as she walks around the centre she meets 5 other teenagers, all with their phones stuck at 5.17pm.

They discover they not only have an endless supply of food from the food court they can take anything they need from all the shops.

I enjoyed the beginning, but it gradually got more and more boring and repetitious. How many times do you have to mention bubble tea, Maccas and Forty Winks? The concept was good but there was virtually no plot and little depth to the story.

The characters were a diverse group but the attempt to be an ‘inclusive’ story got a bit over the top. They all become likeable as the story unfolds.

The shopping centre itself has its own personality and character with food and items taken from the shops being replenished overnight.

Maybe I’m a stuffy old grandmother but the use of four letter words concerned me especially for the younger teens in the YA group.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Tegan Bennett Daylight for providing me with an ARC of this novel.  All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

@netgalley and @simonandschuster 

My rating 2* 

Keeping Up Appearances by Tricia Stringer

This is the first book I have read by Australian author Tricia Stringer, and it won’t be the last. From the first chapter, I was living in the little country town of Badara and was part of the community.

Tricia Stringer has developed characters you get to know and like and clearly depicts the town of Badara, a typical rural Australian town with a larger coastal town not far away. Tricia’s style has you hearing, seeing, smelling, and even tasting everything about the town.

The main character, Paige, is a single mother of three children who moves to Badara to escape her past. She struggles with fitting in and is reluctant to mix with the locals for fear of them pushing her to reveal her secrets..

What she doesn’t realise is most of the other women in town also have their own secrets about their past or family members.

The women have different personalities, struggles, and flaws, but they are friendly and supportive in true country fashion in welcoming Paige and trying to help her. 

However, Paige feels their generous gestures of welcome are interfering with gestures of charity. She joins the local exercise class and as she gets to know the other women and their stores, she relaxes and becomes more involved with town activities. 

She especially became involved in the planning and organisation of the Back to Baraba event to raise funds to repair the dilapidated hall where the classes are held.

But, it is not just Paige’s story. It is also the story of the residents and the town itself. The interaction between the characters is as important as those involving Paige.

The characters are believable and likeable even with their faults and secrets. I have lived in small rural towns and related to all the characters– I am sure I have met many of them.

Ms Stringer does not hold back on discussing sensitive issues in her book. Subjects such as 

Single mothers, drugs, infidelity, homosexuality, and drugs are dealt with sensitively and with empathy and dignity. 

Overall the story flowed smoothly and was a most enjoyable read. While the storyline is exceptional I felt it took second place to the characters and that’s not a criticism.

I was sorry when it finished, I felt I had got to know the characters and wanted to spend more time with them.

Thanks to Netgalley, Tricia Stringer and Harlequin Australia for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own

My rating 5* 

The Hemsworth Effect by James Weir

I’m sorry I was unable to finish this book. I got to over 1/3 of the way through and it wasn’t for me. The setting and precis drew me in, but it was a hard slog to get to where I did.

 

The main character, Aimee was immature and frustrating, I found her best friend, Jane, even more annoying.

 

I didn’t find it funny. There didn’t seem to be much of a story line and reading it made me feel I was in the middle of one of those dreadful, fake reality TV shows.

 

Maybe it would appeal to younger readers or those who enjoy chicklit.

 

I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for a voluntary honest review. 

 

My rating 1* 

Shampoo & Condition by M.L. Ortega

 

Precis

In Shampoo & Condition, Vivian, Maggie’s soon to be ex sister-in-law, drops dead in a beauty salon and Maggie’s brother becomes suspect number one – creating friction between our main character and her policeman boyfriend.

 

What can a girl do but pursue other suspects: Vivian’s shifty sisters, a smooth financial operator, and a secretive shampoo girl.

 

Meanwhile, Maggie’s best friend is matching corpses with missing persons on the Jane Doe website, eventually spotting a dead person in their midst.

 

My review

Shampoo & Condition is the second book in a series featuring the main characters Maggie and Jane. I have not read the first book so I am unable to make a comparison. It fits in the cosy mystery genre and is a quick easy read (about 100 pages)

 

The story follows Maggie and Jane’s investigation of the death of Maggies sister-in-law, Viv, after she dies at a hairdresser.

 

The characters are for the most part likeable and the story line is unusual, but I felt there were a couple of things that let the book down preventing it from being a great read. Firstly, I think the manuscript could do with some editing particularly to correct some duplication.

 

Secondly, while most reviewers like the fact that it was a quick read I would have enjoyed more substance to the mystery. Its brevity didn’t give me time to warm to the characters or immerse myself in what could have been and excellent mystery.

 

Thank you to M.L. Ortega for providing me with an ebook copy of Shampoo & Condition in return for an honest review.

 

My rating 2*

A Recipe for Family by Tori Haschka

Set in the northern beaches of Sydney, Recipe for Family is the story of three women of three different generations.

Stella is a working mother of a four-year-old and stepmother to a 14 year old. Her husband’s job has him for long periods and her mother has dementia. Her job is demanding and she finds herself struggling to balance her job, family, house, and social life.

 

She is convinced to hire an au pair. Eighteen-year-old Eva arrives from the USA to fill the role. Ava has her own struggles following the death of her mother, but her memories are kept alive through a series of envelopes with messages, and recipes, to cope with any situation.

 

Stella’s mother-in-law, Elise, is a highly qualified industrial chemist and a staunch feminist. She has her own issues with her job and matters from the past.

 

The story follows each of the women and their struggles to juggle expectations and relationships.

 

It was an interesting concept and enjoyable enough read but I felt it was a bit slow in parts.

 

Throughout the story, reference is made to various food and dishes appropriate for occasions. The recipes for these are included at the back of the book.

 

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster and Tori Haschka for providing a copy for review.

My rating 2*