DREAMS OF THE ISLAND

MY THOUGHTS:

This is the second book in the Amherst Island series.  I really enjoyed this story.  I thought that the author did an amazing job in bridging the gap between the first book, The Orphan’s Island and this book, Dreams of the Island.  

Ellen leaves Amherst Island, the place she loves and calls home. She moves to Glasgow as she feels like she is finding her way in life.  As the war continues she finds herself leaving Scotland to be a nurse on the frontline.  Ellen recognizes some familiar people on the front line, like her childhood sweetheart, Jed, and his brother Lucus.  Ellen must make some tough decisions as she faces her past and embraces her future.

This engrossing page-turner will have you cheering Ellen on and grabbing for the tissues. You will find yourself connecting with the characters as you fly through the pages.  Ellen will feel like a best friend and a sister.  You will be her biggest cheerleader as you find yourself encouraging her to find her way in life.  This was a great read and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

DESCRIPTION:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.​

DREAMS OF THE ISLAND

Author:  Kate Hewitt
Publisher:  Bookouture
Publication Date: December 16, 2020 
Pages: 268 
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1911, Amherst Island, Canada: When a chance encounter takes Ellen Copley away from the beautiful island she has called home since she was orphaned as a child—she believes it is the new start she has been waiting for.

She settles into an exciting, creative new life in Glasgow, feeling like she’s finally finding her independence. And even though she left a part of her heart back on the island, she’s flattered by the attentions of her handsome, charming benefactor, Henry McAvoy.

But tragedy strikes their fledgling relationship, and soon after war looms over Europe. Emboldened by all she has loved and lost, Ellen leaves Scotland to become a nurse on the front line. And, as she finds herself having to choose between love and duty, desire and bravery, her courage is tested as never before..

The war rages on—and familiar faces appear on the front line, including her childhood sweetheart Jed Lyman and his brother Lucas. Coming face to face with her past, Ellen will learn what she is made of. But can she finally decide where her heart truly belongs?

ABOUT KATE HEWITT

Kate Hewitt is the bestselling author of many novels of women’s fiction, including the Hartley-by-the-Sea series set in the Lake District, the Willoughby Close series set in the Cotswolds, and Tales From Goswell written as Katharine Swartz. Her novel A Mother’s Goodbye has been called ‘unputdownable’ and ‘the most emotional book I have ever read’ by readers. Her latest novel, Not My Daughter, is out now, and No Time to Say Goodbye is available for preorder.

She lives in a small market town in Wales with her husband and five young(ish) children, along with their two Golden Retrievers. Join her newsletter for monthly updates and giveaways on her website, or be part of her Facebook groups Kate’s Reads.

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WEDDING BELLS ON VICTORY STREET

MY THOUGHTS:

I was so looking forward to returning to Victory Street with the Bryant Sisters.  This book was as good, if not better than the first.  The Bryant Sisters series is absolutely phenomenal.

The Bryant Sisters are back performing on Victory Street.  Bella is in love with Bobby Harrison who returns home after being injured when his plane went down.  Bobby is in love with Bella and wants to marry her, but Bella has yet to tell him about her son Levi.  She is afraid that when he finds out  that she has a son, that he won’t want to marry her.  Bella’s son is with her mother and sister in Northern Whales because she knows that it is a safe place for him to be, while the war effort still in full swing.  As the story progresses you can’t help but find yourself connecting emotionally with the characters.  This is a story, of love, loss, trust, emotional saga and hope. 

For those that love to read historical fiction, this one is a must.  Like the first novel The Girls of Victory this novel was just as gripping and engrossing.  This unputdownable book will have you up all night flying through the pages.  Get comfy because once you start this book, you won’t be able to stop until the very end.  I loved the continuation of this series, and I look forward to more.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

DESCRIPTION:

WEDDING BELLS ON VICTORY STREET

Author:  Pam Howes
Publisher:  Bookouture 
Publication Date: December 11, 2020 
Pages: 232 
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Liverpool, 1943. For Bella Rogers, life is looking up. She loves performing with The Bryant Sisters, the singing trio who have become the country’s sweethearts, putting a smile on the faces of the brave boys fighting the Nazis. But then tragedy strikes when a telegram arrives: Bella’s beloved father has been killed in France.

Unlike her poor Mam, Bella has someone to share her grief with. Her childhood love Bobby is home from the war. He lost a leg but she counts her blessings every day that he’s alive when so many young men haven’t made it back. Bella longs to give her heart to Bobby but she is hiding a secret that may change their lives forever. Will he still love her if she reveals the truth?

But when bombs screech down on Victory Street in the middle of the night, blowing houses apart, Bella may lose both the home she loves and the family who mean everything to her. With so much loss around her, will Bella be brave enough to snatch her chance of happiness? And when the war is finally over, will wedding bells ring out on Victory Street again?

ABOUT PAM HOWES

Pam Howes was born in Cheshire. She is an ex Interior Designer who began writing seriously in the mid nineties. The idea for her first novel, set in the sixties, was inspired by her time as a teenager, working in a local record store and hanging around with musicians who frequented the business. That first novel evolved into a series set in the fictional town of Pickford, based on her home town of Stockport. Three Steps to Heaven; ‘Til I Kissed You; Always On My Mind; Not Fade Away, and That’ll Be The Day, follow the lives and loves through the decades of fictional Rock’n’Roll band The Raiders. Pam is a big fan of sixties music and it’s this love that compelled her to write the series. A stand-alone true-life romance, Fast Movin’ Train, set in the nineties, was published in early 2012. Pam is mum to three adult daughters, grandma to seven assorted grandchildren, and roadie to one musician partner.

Pam recently signed a second contract with the award winning publisher Bookouture and the first novel in her new Lark Lane series, The Factory Girls of Lark Lane, will be published in July 2018. Her first series for Bookouture – The Mersey Trilogy – is available in E book, paperback and as audio books.

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SECRET SHORES

MY THOUGHTS:

I loved this story from the first page to the last.  This fast-paced story will have you flying through the pages.

Tess is an editor at a big publishing company in Manhattan in 1987.  Tess is forced to work with a author and make his book a bestseller.  Edward and Rebecca are living their life in Australia in 1947.  While the story takes place forty years apart and on different continents, the gap is bridged and eventually comes together.  The seamless transition between the different eras is so engrossing and captivating.  I loved the teachable moments that flowed across the generations, and how the author demonstrates the struggles of the past are sometimes the same struggles in the present day. This story will have you smiling and crying at the same time as it pulls at your heartstrings. This story of love, loss, heartache and hope is very intriguing.

This unputdownable story is a must read for anyone who likes a time-slip novel.  I love this author’s writing style, she is definitely a favorite.  I look forward to reading more books from this author.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

DESCRIPTION:

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Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

SECRET SHORES

Author:  Ella Carey 
Publisher:  Bookouture
Publication Date: December 10, 2020 
Pages: 319 
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1946. Young, beautiful artist Rebecca survived the devastating war that claimed the lives of so many of the men and women she grew up with. Her friends have returned as empty shells or not at all. But although peace has been declared, Rebecca is still fighting at home. Her controlling mother will stop at nothing to prevent Rebecca from following her dream to become a painter.

When Rebecca meets dashing young Edward, a pilot during the war, she discovers both love and an escape. Edward makes her feel truly loved, alive and excited about her future and art. But when Edward takes Rebecca to visit his childhood home on the sweeping coast, their trip ends in tragedy. Edward’s father commits suicide and, consumed by grief, Edward is faced with a terrible choice: love or family?

Utterly distraught, Rebecca goes out to the shore by moonlight to paint. Under the stars, she stares into the waves, thinking about her life. The next morning she has disappeared without a trace, leaving behind only a pencil on the sand. Finding the truth will change everything for those who were left behind.

ABOUT ELLA CAREY

Ella Carey is the international bestselling author of The Things We Don’t Say, Secret Shores, From a Paris Balcony, The House by the Lake, and Paris Time Capsule. Her books have been published in over fourteen languages, in twelve countries, and have been shortlisted for ARRA awards. A Francophile who has long been fascinated by secret histories set in Europe’s entrancing past, Ella has degrees in music, nineteenth-century women’s fiction, and modern European history. She lives in Melbourne with her two children and two Italian greyhounds who are constantly mistaken for whippets. Ella loves to connect with her readers regularly through her facebook page and on her website.

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A WILD HEART

MY THOUGHTS:

This is the second book in a trilogy and I must say it was as good as the first book.  I love the continuation from the first book.  The author bridges the two stories together so well. 

When Alexandria tragically looses her young son, and her husband is called up to serve in the Union, it is her two year old daughter that helps her through her grief.  As you get pulled into the story, you will have an immediate connection with the Alex. The choices she makes and the experiences she endures with have you cheering her on and reaching for the tissues at the same time. The historical background is so well written, that you will feel like you went back in time.  

This well written engrossing novel is sure to be a favorite.  I look forward to the next book in this series. I highly recommend this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

DESCRIPTION:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 

A WILD HEART

Author:  Celeste De Blasis 
Publisher:  Bookouture
Publication Date: December 8, 2020 
Pages: 784 
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Alexandria Falconer gazes around the honeyed land of Wild Swan, the extraordinary horse farm she built up from nothing in the border state of Maryland. It has been Alex’s sanctuary through years of turmoil, and she has come of age in this land of opportunity. But the storm clouds of civil war are gathering, and Alex knows she has a choice to make to protect her family and maintain the precarious peace at Wild Swan.

When Alex’s son dies tragically, she is shattered. It is only through caring for her adopted daughter, two-year-old Gincie, that Alex starts to overcome her grief and find comfort with her beloved husband Rane once more. But when Rane is called away to aid the Union war effort, she is left bereft.

Alex’s heart is with Rane, but at home she has the sole responsibility of shielding Gincie and the rest of her family from the danger creeping ever closer to their door. When a charming soldier arrives at Wild Swan, Alex reluctantly gives him shelter, but the two form a bond and when news arrives of Gettysburg, she is torn with worry for men on both sides of the battlefield. With Gincie by her side, she undertakes a dangerous journey to fight for her family, her principles, and the man who holds her heart…

ABOUT CELESTE DE BLASIS

Millions of readers have fallen under the spell of the lush, enthralling and bestselling novels by Celeste De Blasis. Tales of adventure and romance set against the sweep of history—all are storytelling at its finest. After graduating from Pomona College, Celeste devoted her life to impeccable research and spellbinding writing. A native Californian, Celeste grew up on the historic Kemper Campbell Ranch in the Mojave Desert, where she lived until her death in 2001.

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THE KENSINGTON KIDNAP

MY THOUGHTS:

This is the debut novel from this author, and I really enjoyed the storyline. I liked the lead character, Pip, as I felt like she was very spunky. Pip is rich and very spoiled, and her mom has cut her off from using her credit cards and she needs income so she actually has to get a real job. She applies for a job and is hired immediately but only because of a misunderstanding. Pip is hired to find Matty, who is the son of a famous celebrity couple. She is bound and determined to complete the task of finding Matty because she really needs the money and she wants to prove that she can do it. 

Pips new found sleuthing skills will have you laughing out loud. She is a very lucky, likable and resourceful character and you will find yourself cheering her on. Another likable character is Pip’s three legged cat named Most. It’s a reminder that not everything is perfect but everything has a purpose. This story is full of twists and turns, and will keep you guessing until the very end.

This cozy mystery is a very enjoyable, engrossing and fun read and I recommend it. I look forward to reading more from this author.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

DESCRIPTION:

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Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

THE KENSINGTON KIDNAP

Author:  Katie Gayle 
Publisher:  Bookouture
Publication Date: December 2, 2020 
Pages: 230 
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Meet Epiphany Bloom: devoted cat owner, well-meaning walking disaster zone – daring detective?

Epiphany lives in a cozy corner of London, scraping a living from a baffling variety of odd jobs. But lately work has been hard to come by, and now even her beloved cat Most is feeling the pinch. The trouble is, every job she has ends up going wrong somehow. When an office temp assignment with a private investigator leads to her mistakenly being set on the trail of a missing boy, it seems this time is doomed to be no exception!

Matty is the young son of wealthy but distant American parents, and Epiphany would desperately like to believe he’s just run away so she can go back to temping and collect her pay cheque in peace. But he doesn’t know anyone in London – where would he run to? And there’s been no word from him for days.

In a battle between her soft heart and her empty wallet, Epiphany’s heart wins every time. Most will just have to endure the value cat food a little longer…

As rumours reach her that one of Matty’s few friends is also missing, now presumed dead, she realises she’s running out of time to bring him home safe. Her investigation takes her from grand Kensington mansions to scruffy East End cafes, where she finds a clue that will crack the case at last.

But by now she knows how far the people who have taken Matty will go to get what they want – will she be able to reach him in time?

ABOUT KATIE GAYLE

Katie Gayle is the writing partnership of best-selling South African writers, Kate Sidley and Gail Schimmel. Kate and Gail have, between them, written over ten books of various genres, but with Katie Gayle, they both make their debut in the cozy mystery genre. Both Gail and Kate live in Johannesburg, with husbands, children, dogs and cats. Unlike their sleuth Epiphany Bloom, neither of them have ever stolen a cat from the vet. 

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THE ORPHAN’S ISLAND

MY THOUGHTS:

This is the first novel I have read by this author, and let me tell you she did not disappoint. I love it when an author can bring characters to life and make you feel like they are a part of your circle of friends, and Kate Hewitt does exactly that. 

In the early 1900’s, Ellen moves with her family from Glasgow Scotland to America. Shortly after arriving in America, her father disappears. Her Aunt and Uncle take her in and she befriends the two brothers that live next door. As the story progresses, Ellen is learning to navigate life in America and is trying to find where she fits in. Ellen continually overcomes the trials and tribulations that life throws at her. The historical aspect of the story is phenomenal, it is a much slower and simpler time setting in 1904. I like the character of Ellen as she is very humble, smarter then she realizes, she is very brave and a talented artist. She is very level headed and is hopeful of her future. The author has such talent for making you feel like you are going through Ellen’s life right beside her. The descriptions of the landscape and the island are so real, that it will make you want to go visit. 

This inspirational historical fiction is a must read. I gave this book five stars and I can’t wait to read the next two books in this series. I will definitely read more from this author.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

DESCRIPTION:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

THE ORPHAN’S ISLAND

Author: Kate Hewitt 
Publisher:  Bookouture 
Publication Date: November 30, 2020 
Pages: 397 
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1904: When plucky, red-haired, eleven-year-old Ellen Copley crosses the Atlantic Ocean with her father, it is with a head full of dreams for what the New World will hold for her. Yet within weeks of their arrival in America, her father has abandoned her—leaving Ellen with hateful relatives, alone and terrified for her future.

But then her kind Aunt Rose brings Ellen to stay with her, in their rambling family farmhouse on beautiful Amherst Island, which nestles like a jewel in the blue waters of Lake Ontario.

There Ellen finally begins to find love and acceptance, both from Aunt Rose’s boisterous family, and—as she grows into a beautiful young woman—from the boys next door, Jed and Lucas Lyman. But it’s Jed she’s drawn to… the one with the twinkling eyes, who teases her, and laughs with her, and soon steals her heart…

But does Jed love her back? Because—even though Amherst Island feels like home—Ellen knows she can’t stay there with a broken heart…

ABOUT KATE HEWITT

Kate Hewitt is the bestselling author of many novels of women’s fiction, including the Hartley-by-the-Sea series set in the Lake District, the Willoughby Close series set in the Cotswolds, and Tales From Goswell written as Katharine Swartz. Her novel A Mother’s Goodbye has been called ‘unputdownable’ and ‘the most emotional book I have ever read’ by readers. Her latest novel, Not My Daughter, is out now, and No Time to Say Goodbye is available for preorder.

She lives in a small market town in Wales with her husband and five young(ish) children, along with their two Golden Retrievers. Join her newsletter for monthly updates and giveaways on her website, or be part of her Facebook groups Kate’s Reads.

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