Books from the Backlog hosted at Carole’s Random Life is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread. If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks.
This week’s neglected book:
Pub Date 04 Mar 2021
ABOUT THE BOOK
Description
Sometimes the past won’t stay hidden, it demands to be uncovered…
Arthur Pettinger’s memory isn’t what it used to be. He can’t always remember the names of his grandchildren, where he lives or which way round his slippers go. He does remember Maryse though, a woman he hasn’t seen for decades, but whose face he will never forget.
When Arthur’s granddaughter, Maddy moves in along with her daughter Esther, it’s her first step towards pulling her life back together. But when Esther makes a video with Arthur, the hunt for the mysterious Maryse goes viral.
There’s only one person who can help Maddy track down this woman – the one that got away, Joe. Their quest takes them to France, and into the heart of the French Resistance.
When the only way to move forwards is to look back, will this family finally be able to?
Why did I add The Forgotten life of Arthur Pettinger to my shelf?
Historical fiction has always fascinated me, and I very much enjoy learning about past history. Besides this one I have many historical fiction books to read. This is another book from my 2021 NetGalley shelf which I am making a big effort to get ALL of them read this year.
Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire fromThe Captive Reader and Sharlene from Real Life Reading that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries.
I haven’t gotten to the library this week because of my ankle injury but I’ll share a few books with you I picked up last week. Would you read any of these ?
What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? What do you think you’ll read next?
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Hosted on Taking on a World of Words. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses.
WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING
WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL READ NEXT
What I’m reading next is always subject to change and these many not even be what I read next. It all depends on what challenges I’m doing and which books I need to read next for authors.
What do you think of my selections? Will you be reading any of these?
Rosie feels like there’s something missing in her life.She loves her job as the manager of Willowdale Hall Riding Stables, caring for the horses and teaching children to ride, and she loves the home she shares with her mother in the beautiful Lake District. But she can’t help wondering how her life might look if things had been different. What if her father had been around to help care for her mother? And what if she’d found someone special herself?
When Hubert Cranleigh – the owner of Willowdale Hall – is taken ill, his son Oliver steps into the breach. Brooding and distant, Rosie is furious when he claims not to know who she is. Especially when they have a history.
Rosie’s life is about to be turned upside down, but with the New Year comes new opportunities. What Rosie feels is missing from her life might be closer than she thinks, and with more significant consequences than she could ever have imagined…
Take a breath of fresh air and escape to the Lake District with million-copy bestseller Jessica Redland, for an uplifting story of family, friendship and love.
This is the second book in the Escape to the Lakes series by Jessica Redland. The author writes such brilliant books, I especially loved her hedgehog series. Another animal series would be most welcome. Recently I read her cat Christmas book, recommended.
As you can probably see by my words, I really enjoy this author’s writing. The author’s books are uplifting, full of energy, love, and community. I really enjoyed the setting of Willowdale Hall Riding Stables, the horses all sounded so lovely. Riding anyone? I want to visit Willowdale Hall, the lovely estate along with Willowdale Hall Riding Stables on the property Rosie and her mom live on.
I liked the characters a lot in this book, except for one, not too nice person. This is Rosie and her moms’ story but also Rosie and Oliver’s story. This is about how Rosie and Oliver meet again after some years. There book has such a connection between past and present, it’s evident right away. Some mistakes and misunderstandings in the past are still influencing present happenings.
The story is full of love, compassion, understandings, helping others in their time of need and you know the characters will continue to be there in the future for each other when help is needed. Some big secrets are revealed, and I think that’s good, it explains a lot and helps the characters to progress in life.
There is a cliff hanger at the very end, and I can’t wait to read the next book to see how this is revolved.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
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AUTHOR BIO
Jessica Redland writes emotional but uplifting stories of love, friendship, family and community. Her Whitsborough Bay books transport readers to the stunning North Yorkshire Coast where she lives with her husband, daughter and sprocker spaniel. Her Hedgehog Hollow series, set in a hedgehog rescue centre, takes readers into the beautiful rolling countryside of the Yorkshire Wolds.
When Brid Harcus is sent to the Orkney Islands, in the far reaches of Scotland, she has high hopes for her trip being short, straightforward and lucrative.
Her mother has inherited a cottage from her Great Aunt Jennet which has been unlived in and unloved for decades, and the time has come to make it habitable and saleable. Easy, right?
But Midness Cottage has other ideas. For one thing it’s rather more ‘fixer upper’ than Country Living, with a resident goose and her goslings who have made themselves at home. And Brid definitely hadn’t planned for the strongly-held local belief that the cottage is meant to be the home of the Orkney Witch, and whomever lives in it must fulfil this role. Not the best message for the estate agent brochure and of course Brid doesn’t believe in magic, let alone have healing powers.
But Orkney does have healing powers. Its beauty and peace are enchanting, its people welcoming, and Brid’s handsome new friend Magnus is rather charming too. When her life back in York starts calling her home, will Brid sell up and ship out? Or did the last Orkney Witch cast a spell and leave a legacy of love if only Brid believed in magic…
One thing I love about the author’s books is their association with cottages. As someone who lives in the US, I associate cottages as being a UK thing. Yes, we have them here but not the same way as I see them over there. In my mind the cottages there are magical, cozy, maybe a bit small but perfect for a couple and maybe throw in a few fairy lights. I just love books with cottages.
A fifty-year vacant cottage sits on Orkney Islands, in the far reaches of Scotland. Inherited by Brid Harcus’s mother she doesn’t want it, so Brid knows she’ll pop in make quick work of the repairs and make a nice turn around profit quickly. When she arrives, it’s vacant alright except for the goose and her goslings that she’s super protective of. Woe is anyone who dares to go near them.
Brid hasn’t counted on having such a handsome neighbor as Magnus. Lifelong resident Mangus knows the cottage called Midness Cottage is known to outsiders as the “Witches’ Cottage, as Brid’s great Aunt Jennet was known as while living there.
Can Brid fix the cottage quickly with Magnus’s help and not scare off the tourists who’ve heard rumors? Will Brid be able to open up to Mangus even though she’s planning on leaving soon as the fix up is done? I loved Magnus’s character; he reminded me of a big bumbling guy that finally gets seen for his compassionate and genuine side. Fun, heartwarming, a true joy to read. I loved it.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jane Lovering is a bestselling and multi-award winning romantic comedy writer. Most recently Jane won the RNA Contemporary Romantic Novel Award in 2023 with A Cottage Full of Secrets. She lives in Yorkshire and has a cat and a bonkers terrier, as well as five children who have now left home.
On the night that Trudy Asp discovers her ex is engaged to the same dental hygienist who’s been picking at her teeth for ten years, her daughter, Madison, suddenly announces that she too is getting married, in Europe.
Frumpy, floundering, and forced to live with her martini-swilling mother, Trudy is swamped by these revelations. And on top of it all, she’ll be wearing the second most scrutinized gown at the wedding.
Having packed on the pounds during the demise of her marriage, the idea of being eyeballed by her ex and his scrawny fiancée Zelda, is truly horrifying. To make matters worse, there’s the paralyzing fear of a transatlantic flight — something Trudy has avoided for decades.
When Zelda offers to stand in for her, Trudy is forced to confront the forces that stole her marriage and threaten to steal her daughter’s wedding too. With three months until the ceremony, Trudy must get to Europe, squeeze herself into a gown, and claim the role she wants more than anything: Mother-of-the-Bride.
Will this Odd Mom Out sink or swim? Or will she drown in a sea of humiliation?
Purchase Links
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sandy Day is a recovering chatterbox and writer of riveting slice-of-life poetry, memoir, and fiction. She has authored five books to date, with two in the works. A graduate of Glendon College, she studied creative writing under Michael Ondaatje and bp nichol. A lover of cheese, coffee shops, and illustrations, she lives on the shore of Lake Simcoe in Georgina, Ontario, Canada. You can find and follow her on Substack and sandyday.ca – it rhymes!
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a place to meet up and share what you have been, and are about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile!
WHAT I READ LAST WEEK
CURRENTLY READING
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NEXT UP ON THE READING LIST
My ankle still hurts like anything when I try to hobble to the bathroom. I’m to follow up with my family dr in 3-5 days. It doesn’t hurt as much when I am stationary though. I am getting some reading done though, when I can stay awake. What’s your reading list looking like this week? Have you read any of these titles?
Thanks for stopping in. Be true to yourself. be strong
Scrabble fan Jo always seems to pick the wrong guys. Now she’s moved to the Yorkshire village of Hebbleswick, and decided to give dating one last chance. This time, there’s a catch: she will only date men whose names would score highly in her beloved word game.
After Tarquin (16 points) proves just as disappointing as the rest, she meets low-scoring local doctor Ras (3 points). Her rules mean she can’t date him – but when he asks her to organise a Scrabble festival with him, she can’t say no.
As the event draws nearer and Jo and Ras grow closer, will Jo ignore her rule and let true love blossom over the triple letter scores
After reading A Little Board Game Cafe I was delighted to see another board game-based book by the author. And so quickly as well. The board game cafe idea is fresh and bright, not a subject that has been rehashed many times over in books.
From the author’s writing I’m going to make the deduction she loves writing because her books are so fun and original, she loves board games and loves to see others happy in their romance when they find the right person for themselves.
You’ve got to admit the cover is really cute and the font used to spell out ‘Love Letters’ in the title is a perfect match for a book loosely based on scrabble games.
After escaping a controlling man in her marriage Jo is ready to make a new start in the Yorkshire village of Hebbleswick and possibly give dating one last chance. She enjoys playing Scrabble, but to say that may be an understatement. She enjoys Scrabble so much she only dates guys that have names that score highly in her favorite game, Scrabble. When she becomes interested in a man with a name that scores low, she couldn’t possibly date him. Asking her to organize a Scrabble festival with him she figures, sure, what will it hurt?
I loved seeing the character growth, especially Jo, she becomes self-assured, willing to try new things and stand up for herself. Ras is such a positive influence in Jo’s life. His character is warm, compassionate and he goes the extra mile with Jo helping her to become the best person she can be.
The many Scrabble games were so fun to read about, and the town loved coming together to play. I loved seeing the fellowship the game created and how the lonely characters were no longer lonely. It was a lovely way to bond. Loved this book and all its characters and greatly look forward to more board game books by the author.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
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ABOUT 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.
350 pages Harlequin Trade Publishing Park Row December 7, 2021 publication date
ABOUT THE BOOK
Set on a secluded island off the British coast, The Women of Pearl Island is a moving and evocative story of family secrets, natural wonders and a mystery spanning decades.
When Tartelin answers an ad for a personal assistant, she doesn’t know what to expect from her new employer, Marianne, an eccentric elderly woman. Marianne lives on a remote island that her family has owned for generations, and for decades her only companions have been butterflies and tightly held memories of her family.
But there are some memories Marianne would rather forget, such as when the island was commandeered by the British government during WWII. Now, if Marianne can trust Tartelin with her family’s story, she might finally be able to face the long-buried secrets of her past that have kept her isolated for far too long.
I’ve had The Women of Pearl Island on my shelf for over 2 years and now that I’ve read it, I regret waiting so long.
This is a different read, an ending I couldn’t possibly have seen coming. A story that is a time slip, taking place in two time periods, 2018 and 1955. Set on a secluded island off the British coast, there are secrets, lots of secrets. You really feel locked in while reading this as it’s so hard to put down.
A young woman is hired as a personal assistant to an elderly woman who’s lived on this secluded island all of her life. There were family members at one time, now she lives with memories of the past and butterflies.
As we slide back and forth in the time periods the book takes on a surreal and mystical quality during the old lady’s musings when the past comes to life. The atmosphere changes as the book progresses but there is a foreboding feeling hovering over the book. The cover will fool you into thinking the book is one way, but the inside is different than you could imagine.
The author is very talented, and the presentation is excellent. You can vividly imagine the two time periods. A compelling read that will have more searching for more by this author.
Pub Date 07 Dec 2021 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Polly Crosby grew up on the Suffolk coast, and now lives with her husband and son in the heart of Norfolk.
Polly’s third novel, Vita & the Birds, came out in May this year. Her first novel for young adults, This Tale is Forbidden – a dystopian fractured fairytale with hints of the Brother’s Grimm and The Handmaid’s Tale – is out in January next year with Scholastic.
In 2018, Polly won Curtis Brown Creative’s Yesterday Scholarship, which enabled her to finish her debut novel, The Illustrated Child. Later the same year, she was awarded runner-up in the Bridport Prize’s Peggy Chapman Andrews Award for a First Novel. Polly received the Annabel Abbs Creative Writing Scholarship at the University of East Anglia.
Polly can be found on Twitter, Instagram & Tiktok as @WriterPolly
281 pages Aria publisher September 2,2021 publish date
ABOUT THE BOOK
Wrap yourself in the taste of Christmas with this fantastic festive romance!
Christa Playfoot is looking for a fresh start after her divorce. Having lost her Michelin-starred restaurant, she hadn’t expected to be job hunting and single just before Christmas, so when her best friend says she’s recommended her for a gig as a private chef over the Christmas period, she can’t think of a reason to say no…
Christa has no idea what to expect but it’s certainly not grumpy billionaire divorcee Marc Ferrier and his rambunctious twin sons, or the beautiful but cheerless country estate, Pudding Hall, that they inhabit.
With her knack for pouring love into her cooking, Christa is determined to make this Christmas sparkle for the Ferrier family and maybe get her life back on track in the process…
Christmas Wishes at Pudding Hall by Kate Forster is a warm, wonderful and festive book. I enjoyed all the feelings of a warm holiday get together with characters that cared about each other. Out of a job and single isn’t the way anyone wants to spend the holidays but that’s a former Michelin-starred restaurant owner’s reality. Then her best friend recommended her for position of private chef over the Christmas period. This is for grumpy rich divorcee Marc Ferrier and his rambunctious twin sons at their prestigious country estate, Pudding Hall. The descriptions of Pudding Hall, it’s lovely decorations and the landscape sound exquisite. Filled with delicious sounding recipes. Christa succeeds at her private chef’s job, but can she bring the holiday spirit to the grump and his twin boys? Enjoyed reading about the delicious sounding foods being made because you can’t have the holidays without trying new foods and recipes. The twins were adorable and so lively. Another book from an author that guarantees a nice feel-good read and I’ll be looking for more reads by this author.
Pub Date 02 Sep 2021 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kate lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband, two children and two dogs, and can be found nursing a laptop, surrounded by magazines and watching trash TV or French films. Kate is the author of the adult novels; The Perfect Location, The Perfect Retreat, Seduction, Close Up, Picture Perfect and For the Love of Christmas. She has also written five young adult romance books including; Unlucky Break, Head over High Heels, Beauty and the Beat, Piece of Cake and Twice Upon a Time.
Thanks for stopping in. May your day be blessed with goodness.
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