Welcome back to The Starfish Café for a glorious summer, but with a few dark clouds on the horizon…
This is the final book in The Starfish Café series and is best enjoyed after reading the other two books in the series – Snowflakes Over The Starfish Café and Spring Tides at The Starfish Café.
A new beginning…
As her summer wedding to Jake approaches, Hollie is excited for their new beginning as a family. But when some unexpected news threatens the future she and Jake had hoped for, Hollie will need to find the strength to overcome heartache once more.
A fragile heart….
Single mum, Kerry, loves her job at The Starfish Café, but behind the brave smiles and laughter with customers there is a sadness deep within. So when someone from her past re-appears in her life, Kerry can either hide away or face her demons and try to finally move on from her heartbreak.
A summer to remember…
For Hollie and Kerry it promises to be an emotional rollercoaster of a summer, but the community at The Starfish Café will always be there to help them through – after all, with courage nothing is impossible…
Join top 10 bestseller Jessica Redland for a wonderful summer at the seaside, full of love, friendship and community spirit.
First of all even if I wasn’t a big fan of this author’s books, I would be drawn to this book because of its beautiful cover. I am always so happy when I see this author is releasing a new book. I have read so many of them including all in this series. I have really loved the Hedgehog series she’s released. Summer Nights at the Starfish Cafe is the third and final book in this series. I have loved meeting the characters, they feel like family now. Throughout the series the characters have their ups and downs. The book is written from the heart, a perfect women’s fiction book full of emotions and heart. Full of family, friends and pure emotion. A wonderful heartwarming read. I loved how uplifted I felt while reading this and greatly look forward to more by this author.
Pub Date 06 Apr 2023 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
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The Author
Jessica Redland writes emotional but uplifting stories of love, friendship, family and community. HerWhitsborough Bay books transport readers to the stunning North Yorkshire Coast where she liveswith her husband, daughter and sprocker spaniel. Her Hedgehog Hollow series, set in a hedgehogrescue centre, takes readers into the beautiful rolling countryside of the Yorkshire Wolds
The Girl Who Escaped: Utterly heartbreaking and emotional WW2 historical fiction by Angela Petch
Italy, 1940. The girl sobs and rages as her father tells her the terrible news. “Italy is entering the war alongside Germany. Jews are to be arrested and sent to camps. We have to be ready.”
As fascists march across the cobbled piazzas and past the towered buildings of her beloved home city, twenty-year-old Devora’s worst fears come true. Along with her Jewish parents and twin little brothers they are torn away from everything they love and sent to an internment camp huddled in the mountains. Her father promises this war will not last long…
When they are offered a miraculous chance of escape by her childhood friend Luigi, who risks everything to smuggle vital information into the camp, the family clambers under barbed wire and races for the border. But Devora is forced to make a devastating choice between saving a stranger’s life and joining her parents. As shots fire in the moonless night, the family is separated.
Haunted by the question of whether they are dead or alive, all Devora can do for their future is throw herself into helping Luigi in the Italian resistenza in the fight for liberty. But posing as a maid for a German commander to gather secret intelligence, Devora is sure she sees her friend one night, in a Nazi uniform…
Is Devora in more danger than ever? And will her family ever be reunited – or will the war tear them apart?
An absolutely devastating but ultimately uplifting historical novel about how love and hope can get us through the darkest times. Perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Rhys Bowen and Soraya M. Lane.
Mesmerizing, I was captivated as I read this. As I was whisked away to Italy, I found the descriptions to be breathtaking as I imagined the beauty all around me. The unimaginable happens as outspoken Devora and her Jewish parents and brothers are taken and sent to an internment camp hidden away in the mountains. Trying to reassure her, her father tells her it won’t be long. Another captivating read by this author. Her obvious attention to research leads to the authenticity of her writing. I have read many books on WWII but had little knowledge of Italian Jews during this time period. Devora was not one to sit back when offered help from a childhood friend she will do everything she can to help her family escape. The book is not a light read but rather deals with the realism we see during a war. Premature death and unwarranted mistreatment and separation of families because of their religious belief are just some of the things present. Even through times of turmoil we find glimpses of happier times, peace and love. Devora is a courageous woman who though she goes through many hardships her strength and resilience shines through. A must read for lovers of historical fiction. This book will not be soon forgotten.
Pub Date 19 Apr 2023 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
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The Author
Author bio:
I’m an award winning writer of fiction – and the occasional poem.
Every summer I move to Tuscany for six months where my husband and I own a renovated watermill which we let out. When not exploring our unspoilt corner of the Apennines, I disappear to my writing desk at the top of our converted stable.
In my Italian handbag or hiking rucksack I always make sure to store notebook and pen to jot down ideas.
The winter months are spent in Sussex where most of our family live. When I’m not helping out with grandchildren, I catch up with writer friends.
In the seaside town of Whitecliff, everyone looks out for each other. Everyone knows your name. And everyone knows your secrets…
Moonlight falls on the figure of the girl standing on the red-tiled roof. Her white dress and blonde hair flutter in the freezing night wind. And suddenly – she is gone.
Volunteering at the local nursing home is Millie Westlake’s one escape from the rumours that swirl around Whitecliff about her past. But speaking with elderly resident, Ingrid, as they play board games, Millie gets chills at her strange story about a young girl being pushed from a roof, somewhere across the valley…
Everybody thinks Ingrid is confused: but Millie knows how it feels to not be believed. Her parents died a year ago, and the residents of Whitecliff – such a quiet place, other than crashing waves and cawing seagulls – are convinced Millie killed them.
Desperately searching for evidence to find the girl Ingrid saw, a broken roof tile could prove Ingrid was telling the truth. But when strange footprints appear in Millie’s garden, she’s certain someone out there is watching.
Have Ingrid and Millie stumbled across something terribly dangerous? And with the town against her, will Millie have to face up to her own secrets to solve the mystery before it becomes deadly?
An utterly compelling, character-driven mystery by bestselling author Kerry Wilkinson, perfect for fans of Faith Martin, Mary Burton and LJ Ross.
My Thoughts
The One Who Fell by Kerry Wilkinson is the first book in the Whitecliff Bay Mystery series. As this is the first book we are introduced to a lot of characters and the situations are set up for us. Many of these characters have secrets and back stories, some of which are told, and we are introduced to. Millie Westlake is a divorced woman after it was discovered she was having an affair with a man of importance. Unfortunately, she has also lost custody of her son but will not fight it until she feels she is in a better position to do so. Making ends meet she works at an elder care home. Nice friendly older folks you would think, especially an elderly woman with dementia who says she saw a woman being pushed from the roof of a house next door last evening. Can she even be trusted to remember what she saw or is she remembering a television show she saw years ago replaying in her mind? Millie isn’t sure but she knows she needs to investigate. Millie’s life is covered in scandal, will anyone want to help her? The town is small, everyone knows everyone’s business and secrets. Millie has gone through a public marriage breakup, lost custody of her son and experienced the death of both parents which many are blaming her for. A very interesting story opener that had me glued to the pages. I will need to read more of this continuing mystery with its many twists and turns to learn all the reveals. Recommended!
Pub Date: 17 Apr 2023 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Book 2 description- I have not reviewed this one
In the darkness, the girl slumps against the rough tree bark. Her eyes are closed, her wrists tied. As consciousness fades, her last thought is of her best friend, and how much she regrets what she did…
Seventeen-year-old best friends Nicola and Millie were supposed to have a summer night of fun and freedom in the local park. But when dawn comes Millie realises Nicola is missing. Distraught, she searches for her alone: and finds Nicola tied to a tree, her purple Converse shoes missing, her long hair cut and scattered on the ground. With no memory of what happened, terrified Nicola begs Millie never to speak of this again…
Fifteen years later. With countless secrets and hurt between them, Millie and Nicola have not spoken in over a decade. But now Nicola has found her old purple Converse strung up in her garden. Is her attacker sending a message? Why now, after all this time?
In the small town of Whitecliff, people have long memories – but Millie is the only one who can help get answers. And, as she asks questions of their school friends, she realises one of them knows more than they should about her own family secrets…
Not knowing who to trust, and knowing Nicola’s kidnapper is still out there, Millie must ask: how far will they go to keep the truth buried forever?
Fans of Faith Martin, Ann Cleeves and LJ Ross won’t be able to put down this addictive mystery read set in the small seaside town of Whitecliff, where nothing is as it seems.
Book 3 description-I have not reviewed this one
Up on the desolate moor, she tightens her coat against the bitter wind. The man she followed here points to a rock embedded in the mossy earth. ‘This is the place.’ But when they dig, what will they find?
Everyone in the small seaside town of Whitecliff knows the name Kevin Ashworth. Two boys disappeared thirty years ago – and although local teacher Kevin never admitted to knowing where their bodies are, he’s been in prison ever since.
Now, Kevin is finally ready to talk: but only to amateur sleuth Millie Westlake and journalist Guy Rushden. With the families of the boys desperate for answers, Guy and Millie are led to a lonely spot on the moors above Whitecliff. They’re on the moors expecting to find bodies… but what if they find something even more terrifying?
Reeling from their discovery, as Millie scours the local countryside and speaks to heartbroken families what she discovers changes everything she believes about Whitecliff and the people who live here. With rumours about her own dark past still haunting Millie, can she ever get justice for a decades-old wrong? Or as she gets closer to finding out who else Kevin has hurt, will she learn that some secrets are destined to stay buried?
An absolutely addictive mystery read that fans of LJ Ross, Mary Burton and Faith Martin won’t be able to put down.
Kerry Wilkinson is from the English county of Somerset but has spent far too long living in the north. It’s there that he’s picked up possibly made-up regional words like ‘barm’ and ‘ginnel’. He pretends to know what they mean.
He’s also been busy since turning thirty: his Jessica Daniel crime series has sold more than a million copies in the UK; he has written a fantasy-adventure trilogy for young adults; a second crime series featuring private investigator Andrew Hunter and the standalone thriller, Down Among The Dead Men.
In 1944 in war-torn Dubrovnik Branko Milisic holds his newborn daughter Safranka and wishes her a better future. But while the Nazis are finally retreating, the arrival of the partisans brings new dangers for Branko, his wife Dragica and their new baby…
As older sister to two half-siblings, Fran has always known she has to fit in. But now, for the first time in her life Fran is facing questions about who she is and where she comes from.
All Fran knows about her real father is that he was a hero, and her mother had to flee Dubrovnik after the war. But when she travels to the city of her birth to uncover the truth, she is devastated to discover her father was executed by the partisans in 1944, accused of being a collaborator. But the past isn’t always what it seems…
My Thoughts
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. This is an incredible story that I connected with the characters right away. A beautifully written dual timeline I was immersed in the story as I read. I liked that the main character is a woman in her sixties as many books do not have a main character this age and it’s wonderful to see women this age shine. Though going by Fran her actual name is Safranka. Fran was born in Dubrovnik, Croatia and towards the end of the Second World War. Her stepfather has just passed away and her mother several years before this. She really didn’t know her father and she is upset that she can’t ask her mother about it. Having spent most of her life in England she knows she must go the land of her birth, Dubrovnik, Croatia. There she meets handsome men Vedran and his uncle Jadran. The descriptions of Croatia’s food, culture, scenery and its people made my imagination come alive. I could just picture it all. This is a journey she will take with Jadran who encourages her in her research to find out about her father’s life. She discovers to move forward in her journey you first have to move backwards, and the past is closer than you think. Such a beautiful story, very touching, heartwarming and will not be forgotten.
Pub Date: 01 Apr 2023 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Eva Glyn’s The Collaborator’s Daughter is published by One More Chapter and is available to order HERE
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The Author
Eva Glyn writes escapist relationship-driven fiction with a kernel of truth at its heart. She loves to travel and finds inspiration in beautiful places and the stories they hide.
Her last holiday before lockdown was a trip to Croatia, and the country’s haunting histories and gorgeous scenery have proved fertile ground, driven by her friendship with a tour guide she met there. His wartime story provided the inspiration for The Olive Grove and his help in creating a realistic portrayal of Croatian life has proved invaluable. Her second novel set in the country, An Island of Secrets is a dual timeline looking back to World War 2, and although a contemporary romance featuring mature main characters her third, The Collaborator’s Daughter, has its roots in that conflict too.
Eva lives in Cornwall, although she considers herself Welsh, and has been lucky enough to have been married to the love of her life for more than twenty-five years. She also writes as Jane Cable.
I am so happy to help kick off the blog tour on publication day of Jo Bartletts’ One Last Summer at Seabreeze Farm. I have been just loving this series and was so excited to see another addition to it.
About The Book
One Last Summer at Seabreeze Farm
A summer to remember…
Georgia Banks knows she’s living on borrowed time. So, when doctors tell her she’s got one last summer to make all her dreams come true, she’s determined to make every day count.
The one thing that’s never in doubt, is that she wants her best friend, Gabe, to be with her every step of the way. And so, Georgia draws up her not-a-bucket list with all the things she’s determined to tick off before she goes – number one of which is to spend one last summer by the sea.
Seabreeze Farm perched high on the cliffs above the English Channel is the perfect spot, and surrounded by the antics of its menagerie of rescued animals and the warmth of the friendship she’s offered there, Georgia starts to believe she can live out all her dreams before it’s too late.
And just when she thinks there’s nothing left to wish for, Georgia gets another chance at life. But taking it might mean losing the one person she cares about the most.
As she faces her biggest challenge yet, Georgia wonders if her last summer at Seabreeze Farm will mean the end of her biggest dream of all.
This book was previously published as One Last Summer at Channel View Farm
What an incredibly emotional book. I love this author’s books, and this is unlike any I have read from the rom com genre before. It emphasizes the importance of organ donation to help others in desperate need. I have always enjoyed reading the Seabreeze Farm series with its farmhouse perched high up on the cliffs above the English Channel. It truly sounds like the perfect relaxation place to be. Before you start reading this do have your tissues ready. Georgia and Gabe have known each other all their life, he has seen her in good times and bad. Recently its been more of her going through the bad times. You see Georgia has failing health and is told she has one last summer to make all her dreams come true. With her bucket list ready of simple things like spending her last days by the sea and having a puppy. She doesn’t dare to voice aloud her one wish she’s doesn’t in a million years think will come true. All these wishes, she wants Gabe by her side all the way. Gabe will be with her all the way as she gets her last wish filled in such an unexpected way. All the emotions with this one. I loved it!
Pub Date: 13 Apr 2023 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
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The Author
Jo Bartlett is the bestselling author of over nineteen women’s fiction titles. She fits her writing in between her two day jobs as an educational consultant and university lecturer and lives with her family and three dogs on the Kent coast. Her first title for Boldwood is The Cornish Midwife – part of a twelve-book deal.
An irresistible story of love, friendship and the power of Games Night, perfect for fans of Holly Martin and Christie Barlow.
When Emily loses her job, house and boyfriend all within a matter of days, she’s determined to turn a negative into a positive and follow her dream of running a small cafe in the gorgeous Yorkshire village of Essendale.
But she quickly finds she’s bitten off more than she can chew when the ‘popular’ cafe she takes over turns out to secretly be a failing business. Emily desperately needs a way to turn things around, and help comes from the unlikeliest of places when she meets local board game-obsessed GP Ludek. But when a major chain coffee shop opens on the high street, Emily is forced to question if she’ll ever be able to compete.
Has she risked everything on something destined to fail? Or can a playful twist, a homely welcome, and a sprinkle of love make Emily’s cafe the destination she’s always dreamed of?
‘A heart-warming romance perfect for curling up with. I absolutely loved it’ – Kitty Wilson
Purchase Links
My Thoughts
What a delightful story by a debut author. After losing her fiancée and home in quick succession she knows she needs to do something. Moving in with her friend seems to be the best thing for Emily at the moment. When a big upset happens in our lives it can sometimes be the change we need and in this case it is. What seems like a lifetime ago Emily and her mother wanted to open up a little cafe together, unfortunately her mother passed away and Emily threw herself into other endeavors. Now with change out of her control it seems the perfect time to implement this change she can control, opening a cafe. Finding one in her price range hasn’t been easy but she does it, now to get more foot traffic and fix up the inside without it costing an arm and a leg. With no romantic relationship to hold her back timewise she gives it her all and starts living her dream of baking and running a little cafe all the while looking on YouTube for new coffee drink recipes. And still very few customers. A man she meets while out running and gets to talking to has an idea to have a game night at her cafe because the venue he uses has been double booked and the game night needs to go. Will the game night be enough to draw customers into her shop when she adds a few new items to her menu? I adored the idea of a cafe having a game night, it sounds so much fun while drinking delicious specialty coffees. The only thing needed would be to have a few cats lounging around in the cafe. Love and life start picking up. Can it last though at the fast pace it’s on? Delightful and a gem. I’ll be on the lookout for more by this author.
Pub Date 13 Apr 2023 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
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The Author
Author Bio – Jennifer Page wrote her first novel – a book about ponies – when she was eight. These days she prefers to write romance. When she isn’t writing, Jennifer can usually be found playing board games which are the inspiration for her first novel. She has worked as a television producer, a music teacher and has even run a children’s opera company. She now lives near Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire with her husband and his large collection of games.
Germany, 1938. ‘No,’ she cries out as she falls to the floor, fear clutching desperately at her chest, ‘They can’t have taken him, they can’t have taken my husband.’ As her tear-filled eyes dart wildly around the empty room, she realises she has no one to turn to. She is his only hope. But how can she possibly save him?
When shy, beautiful Edith first met Jewish-born Julius it was love at first sight. Julius swept her off her feet, whisking her from humble beginnings into the sparkling society and glittering ballrooms of Berlin’s powerful elite. It felt like all her dreams had come true.
But her perfect world begins to crack with rumblings of the Nazi party growing in power and influence. Every day there are new laws to strip Jews of their money and their freedom. And there are even more frightening rumours, of horrifying camps, and people disappearing in the night…
Then when Edith’s own brother Joseph enlists as an SS officer, and her whole family turn their backs on them, she knows that it is only a matter of time before they come for her husband. She pleads with Julius that their only chance is to run away and start again. Who cares about worldly possessions if they can still be together, their lives intact? But despite everything, he refuses to believe he is in danger.
Then one terrible night, the sounds of cries and breaking glass ring out across the city as the Nazis wreak their destruction. Edith’s worst fears have been realised— Julius has been taken.
For so long, Edith has led a sheltered life, secluded from the real world. But the only way to save her beloved husband is to defy the Nazis and put herself in grave danger. Can she draw on every bit of strength she has to fight for love and save him… or is she already too late?
A totally devastating, powerful, and ultimately uplifting story, perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, My Name is Eva and Sold on a Monday.
My Thoughts
The author once again writes about her beloved Germany.
One thing I've noticed while reading this authors books, how impeccably researched they are.
This book is written in the time period preceding and during Hitler's rise to power. His followers were already rabidly devoted.
Set between 1923 and 1938 it follows the rise of Hitler and the Nazis and the escalation of the mistreatment of anyone with even a slight bit of Jewish blood. The Nazis want the women to divorce their Jewish husbands. What ensues is the women refusing and doing whatever it takes to save their men. These are women of bravery who would give up family relationships to stand by their man. Heartbreaking and realistic. A look at history we don't hear much about.
This is the first in the series and I look forward to reading more in this series to see what these brave women do next.
Pub Date: 11 Apr 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
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The Author
Marion Kummerow was born and raised in Germany, before she set out to “discover the world” and lived in various countries. In 1999 she returned to Germany and settled down in Munich where she’s now living with her family.
Inspired by the true story about her grandparents, who belonged to the German resistance and fought against the Nazi regime, she started writing historical fiction, set during World War II. Her books are filled with raw emotions, fierce loyalty and resilience. She loves to put her characters through the mangle, making them reach deep within to find the strength to face moral dilemma, take difficult decisions or fight for what is right. And she never forgets to include humor and undying love in her books, because ultimately love is what makes the world go round.
Save the date…! Olivia can’t believe it when her boyfriend, Teddy, proposes out of the blue. She loves him (of course she does!) BUT it does seem sudden, especially when they don’t even live together yet…There is only one place that Olivia has ever wanted to get married-a gorgeous venue on the Cornish coast, built by her grandfather. The problem is they only have one date available-and it’s only a few weeks away! Olivia isn’t so sure about rushing but Teddy jumps at the chance to be married within the month. Thrown into a whirlwind of wedding planning, alarm bells start to ring for Olivia. Are they doing this for the right reasons? Why is Teddy in such a rush? And when he fails to help with any part of the preparations, Olivia must find help elsewhere, with unexpected results…As the countdown begins, will the wedding go ahead? Or will Olivia find that her future happiness lies elsewhere…?
Better off Wed is another book by Rom Com author Portia MacIntosh . Her books are so much fun and are always a laugh out loud guarantee.
I was reading this and it’s going along fine and then all the sudden the book changes direction unexpectedly. In a book sometimes its good and sometimes it’s not. In this case this unexpected diversion was funny. I was rooting for the main character.
Where there is a major rush job on an upcoming wedding you can just imagine the chaos the ensues. A beach house with a beautiful view is where the family and everyone goes to plan the upcoming weddings, yes, a double wedding as her brother and his fiancée are marrying on the same date.
They double wedding is agreed upon because it is a family tradition to marry on the Cornish Coast in a barn her grandfather had built. With only one slot left and the wedding date so close they have only a few weeks to plan this wedding, throw in a fiancée who doesn’t want anything to do with wedding plans well you can see how much of a disaster this could really be.
The book had me laughing and just imagining what all could happen. Could a change of plans be in the works? Wonderful escape read that makes you feel happy with this read.
Pub Date: 10 Apr 2023 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
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Author Bio –Portia MacIntosh is the bestselling author of over 20 romantic comedy novels. From disastrous datesto destination weddings, Portia’s romcoms are the perfect way to escape from day to day life, visitingsunny beaches in the summer and snowy villages at Christmas time. Whether it’s southern Italy or the Yorkshire coast, Portia’s stories are the holiday you’re craving, conveniently packed in between the pages. Formerly a journalist, Portia has left the city, swapping the music biz for the moors, to live the (not so) quiet life with her husband and her dog in Yorkshire.
All I remember is the screeching of brakes and the sound of tyres swerving on tarmac. The last thing that crossed my mind was my beautiful boy Billy, waiting alone at the school gates…
When I found out I was pregnant I couldn’t have been happier. Ever since my own father died, I’d felt utterly lost. But you changed everything. Finally, I had found my purpose: to be the best mother I could be.
But I couldn’t – wouldn’t – tell anyone who your father was. I could never forget the look in his eyes that day. The betrayal written across his face. All the things we didn’t say, and the secret that tore us apart.
I thought I was hiding the truth to protect us. But now as I lie in this hospital ward, my life hanging in the balance, blinking in the bright white lights, all I can think about is how that man, your dad, could be your only hope… but how can I save us when it already seems too late? Or will I be just in time to reunite our family?
Fans of Diane Chamberlain, Jodi Picoult and Kate Hewitt will be swept away by this heartbreaking, totally gripping page-turner about motherhood, grief and a family torn apart by secrets.
A Child’s Goodbye is emotional and heart wrenching. Keep the tissues at the ready! The author delves into questions we are afraid to ask ourselves, who will take care of our child if we are unable to? A shy child lives with his single mother, he doesn’t have many friends, is teased at school but is starting to show some independence from his mother. Depending on his mother to pick him up at the school gates 5 days a week, when she doesn’t one day his stress is evident as he waits in the school office for word on what to do. Receiving word his mother has been in an accident on her way to pick him up causes a change not only in his life but his mother’s as well. His mother is hiding a secret, she won’t say who her son’s father is and it has caused her to be estranged from her own mother. Being in the hospital has given her plenty of time to think back on the past and about her son. She loves him desperately and only wants the best for him. She comes to the realization that visiting the past and setting things straight will cause her to progress in the future. Well-developed characters that blossom and grow as the story progresses.
Pub Date 28 Mar 2023 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
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About The Author
Ali decided she wanted to be a writer early on and wrote her first novel when she was at primary school. She did an English degree and spent her early twenties working in various jobs in journalism, including as a reporter for the showbusiness newspaper The Stage. She started writing fiction in earnest after getting married, moving out of London to the Oxfordshire market town of Abingdon and starting a family. She has two children, a daughter and a son who is autistic and was diagnosed when he was four years old.
Ali is fascinated by families, their myths and secrets, and the forces that hold them together, split them up and (sometimes) bring them back together again. She always travels with tissues and a book and has been known to cry over a good story, but is also a big fan of the hopeful ending.
Author Social Media Links:
For updates and pictures, follow Ali on Twitter (@AlisonLMercer) or Instagram (@alimercerwriter), or on her Facebook page (AliMercerwriter)
“Inspired by the brave women of Bletchley Park, this is a totally gripping World War Two novel of friendship, heartbreak and hope.”@Bookouture
About The Book
1943, Bletchley Park: In the dark of night, my heart is pumping with adrenalin as I wait for news of the secret agent operating under the code name Elodie. She has a dangerous part to play in the Normandy landings and so many lives are at stake. But I couldn’t bear to lose her…
Inspired by the brave women of Bletchley Park, this is a totally gripping World War Two novel of friendship, heartbreak and hope. Perfect for fans of The Rose Code, The Alice Network and The Nightingale.
Valerie Rousseau is burning with determination to help free her beloved France from the Nazi regime. Working at the mysterious Bletchley Park, she strikes up an unexpected bond with smart, fiercely loyal Fran Morgan as they spend long days together with their heads bent over maps of France in preparation for the Allied invasion.
Their friendship grows increasingly important as they distract themselves from the dark days of war with afternoons skating across the icy pond at the heart of Bletchley Park and evenings talking late into the night. But Valerie’s wartime role is shrouded in secrecy and there are things that she can’t even tell Fran.
When Valerie volunteers for a dangerous mission linked to the D-Day landings in Normandy, Fran is devastated. Valerie has knowingly put her life on the line and Fran is terrified that she will never see her again.
Soon, Fran hears about the bravery of the agent operating under the code name Elodie. She’s certain it’s Valerie and she knows the work she is doing in her little office, overlooking the green fields of England, could be the difference between life and death for this secret agent…
Can both women secure victory for their country? Or will the fight for freedom cost them their love – and their lives?
My Thoughts
Code Name Elodie is book 2 in the Bletchley Park Girls series. I find it fascinating that it’s based on a true story. I love reading a historical novel that I learn from. The characters all have depth, with believable back stories that helps me to envision them in my mind which makes them more relatable. The book is heartbreaking and gripping, I had to read one more chapter, then one more and before I knew it, I was done.
Starting off in 1943, Bletchley Park with bombs dropping all around you can feel the women’s fear and it pulls you into the story. The 3 main characters are women, and we follow their journey as they seek freedom for their country. We still often think of men when we think of war but so many women bravely sacrificed for their country during war time as well.
War is devastating but these women had a strong friendship, displayed bravery and had determination. Through it all war doesn’t stand in the way of love though. Despite the war raging though there is hope through it all. I have really enjoyed this series and will be reading more by this author.
Published March 29,2023 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Author Bio
Anna Stuart lives in Derbyshire with her campervan-mad husband, two hungry teenagers and a slightly loopy dog. She was hooked on books from the moment she first opened one in her cot so is thrilled to now have several of her own to her name. Having studied English literature at Cambridge university, she took an enjoyable temporary trip into the ‘real world’ as a factory planner, before returning to her first love and becoming an author. History has also always fascinated her. Living in an old house with a stone fireplace, she often wonders who sat around it before her and is intrigued by how actively the past is woven into the present, something she likes to explore in her novels. Anna loves the way that writing lets her ‘try on’ so many different lives, but her favourite part of the job is undoubtedly hearing from readers. You can reach her on Facebook @annastuartauthor or Twitter @annastuartbooks.
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