Only For My Daughter - Emma Robinson

 I look at my lovely girl. The child I always promised to keep safe, the child I know I’d love no matter what. I look at her and in that moment, my heart breaks into pieces. Because right now, I am not sure I know her at all…

Julia’s daughter Grace is her whole world. To Julia, she’ll always be the little girl who would put her tiny hand in hers, who she could heal with the smallest kiss, who would trust her mother with everything.

But Grace has changed since becoming a teenager. She’s fallen out with her childhood best friend and has become quiet and distanced. Julia wants more than anything to find a way reach her only daughter. Even if some days it seems impossible, Julia knows her lovely, sunny girl is still in there.

Until today when Grace came home after school, covered in blood, and she’s refusing to speak, except to acknowledge that her former best friend is lying in a coma in hospital.

Julia is forced to ask herself: what could Grace be hiding? She can’t believe her little girl could have done something terrible. But her instincts tell her that Grace is keeping a secret. And if it’s what Julia fears it might be, she could lose her fragile, gentle daughter forever.

And – as another mother’s daughter fights for her life – Julia will have to ask herself, how far would she go as a mother to protect the child she loves with her whole heart?

This totally unmissable, heartbreaking, grab-your-tissues story is perfect for fans of Kate Hewitt, Diane Chamberlain and Jodi Picoult.

Author Bio:

Emma Robinson is the author of several women’s fiction novels. She also blogs about the funny side of parenting and has contributed to podcasts such as Funny Women. Whilst her early novels are humorous, her recent work focuses on emotional themes and these novels are both heart-breaking and life affirming. Emma enjoys writing stories which explore the power of family and friendship in the most challenging circumstances.

Emma currently lives in Essex with a husband, two children and a small black dog.

https://motherhoodforslackers.com/

https://www.instagram.com/emmarobinsonuk/

https://twitter.com/emmarobinsonuk

Buy Link:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B09RB6ZZH7social

My Review

I'm often not quite sure how to classify this kind of book. It's not quite a thriller, but also not quite not. The story is told from the point of view of two mothers, both of whom would do anything to protect their daughters. The girls were once best of friends, but something has happened to push them apart and now, things come to a violent and dangerous head.

This book deals with many of the issues that young women have to face, bullying, friendships slipping away and unwanted male attention. It's done in a sensitive way, but this is still a somewhat confronting book. It's easy to feel for both Samantha and Julia as they juggle their own emotions with keeping their daughters protected. I'm not sure that I could entirely relate to either of the women entirely, there are ways that I would have dealt with things differently, but it's hard not to empathise with their situations.

Only for my daughter is a gripping read and one that I would highly recommend. 

My Mother's Gift - Steffanie Edward.

 Can your heart belong somewhere that you’ve never called home?

When Erica gets a phone call to say her mother, Ione, is ill in St Lucia, she knows she must go to her. Though the island – the place of her mother’s birth – is somewhere that Erica has never seen as her homeland.

Even when the plane touches down in the tropical paradise, with its palm trees swaying in the island breeze, the sound of accents so like her mother’s own calling loud in the air, Erica doesn’t find herself wanting to stay a moment longer than she has to.

But stepping into her mother’s house, she is shocked by what she finds. Her mother’s memory is fading, her once-immaculate house is now dirty and messy, and she’s refusing help from anyone but family. And Erica knows she must stay with her, even though it means leaving everything else behind.

What she doesn’t know is that – even as her mother’s memories get worse – Ione still has a final gift for her daughter. Because the unspoken secrets of their past are about to emerge, changing everything Erica thought she knew about her mother, her home, and who she really is…

A captivating tale of grief, love, and what it means to find home, perfect for fans of Andrea Levy, Jojo Moyes and Amanda Prowse.

Author Bio:

Steffanie Edward was born in St Lucia, brought up in London and now straddles between the two.

Anancy, Crick-crick and other Caribbean folk stories have been a part of her life since childhood. In her late teens she enjoyed reading Susan Howatch and books on slavery. Her absolute favourite reads have been Wild Seed by Octavia E Butler, and Woman At Point Zero by Naawal El Saadawi.

Her writing career started with short stories, five of which have been published. Her first attempt at writing a novel was over twenty years ago, whilst living and working in Abu Dhabi. That novel, Yvette, didn’t make it into print, but the main protagonist, Yvette, has muscled her way into Steffanie’s debut novel, This Other Island.

https://www.saedward.com/

https://twitter.com/EdwardsaEdward

Buy Link:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B09QL7J4RSsocial

My Review

I haven't directly had to deal with a loved one with dementia, I have had friends that have though. It's a hideous illness that just destroys the person that once was and is so hard and heartbreaking for family members to deal with. Although this isn't all that My Mother's Gift is about, it is certainly a big part of it and I think that it is very well done. We experience the pain and love that Erica experiences when her mother is in the later stages of this illness. How, like with so many debilitating conditions like this, it isn't just the person who is unwell that suffers with it.

This was a gripping read. I couldn't help but feel for Erica as she tries to deal with her mother, both in the grip of dementia now, but also their past relationship, which hasn't always been easy. This book is a bit of a rollercoaster that drags you along on an emotional journey.

It seems strange to say that I enjoyed reading such a book. But I really did. There was humour and love here and that came through clearly, making for a heartbreaking, but still really special and heartwarming read.

I really enjoyed this first book that I've read by Steffanie Edward. I'll certainly be looking out for more from her in the future. 

The Child I Never Had - Kate Hewitt

 If you had to make an impossible choice to save your long-lost daughter, you would… wouldn’t
you?

It’s a warm early summer’s evening when Mia’s doorbell rings. She opens the door to see a teenage girl standing in the shadow beyond the porch light—and in an instant she knows who it is. Daisy, the daughter she gave up as a baby. Daisy steps forward, as she says tearfully “I’m sorry I didn’t call first. But something happened. And I really needed… you.”

Seventeen years before, knowing she couldn’t possibly give her beautiful little girl Daisy the future she deserved, Mia made the hardest decision of her life—to give her up. And Suzanne seemed the perfect adoptive mother: calm, stable, and full of love for the daughter she’d always dreamed of having.

The two mothers promised to keep communication open, so Daisy could have Mia’s love and support along with Suzanne’s. But as the years passed, Mia moved away, and their visits happened less. Now Daisy is almost a stranger to Mia—angry, closed and broken—nothing like the tiny girl she once couldn’t bear to say goodbye to.

But now Daisy has arrived on Mia’s doorstep, and she says she has a terrible secret. One she can never tell Suzanne. And she believes the only person who can help her is Mia. Her birth mother.

Mia, however, has secrets of her own. Ones she is afraid to let Daisy or anyone else know. And while Suzanne desperately seeks a way to bring her child home, can Mia overcome her past to help the girl they both call their daughter in her darkest hour before it’s too late?

Totally gripping emotional women’s fiction from the author guaranteed to make readers cry. Kate Hewitt’s story will grab you by the heartstrings and never let you go. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Diane Chamberlain and Jojo Moyes.

Author Bio:

Kate Hewitt is the author of many romance and women’s fiction novels. A former New Yorker and now an American ex-pat, she lives in a small town on the Welsh border with her husband, five children, and their overly affectionate Golden Retriever. Whatever the genre, she enjoys telling stories that tackle real issues and touch people’s lives. 

https://www.kate-hewitt.com/

https://www.facebook.com/KateHewittAuthor/

https://twitter.com/author_kate

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B09LRCLZK3social

Apple: http://ow.ly/ptol50HLy7A Kobo: http://ow.ly/F6aB50HLy7y Google: http://ow.ly/jziE50HLy7z

Audio Links:

UK: zpr.io/SdNs8N3SNW2Q
US: zpr.io/DS29Hk57LzVP

Listen to a sample here:

https://soundcloud.com/bookouture/the-child-i-never-had-by-kate-hewitt-narrated-by-kate-handford

My Review

It's really easy to think that once a child is adopted into a loving family, then everyone lives happily ever after and all is right with the world. The Child I Never Had is a story about the way that adoption affects everyone who is involved in it.

The story is told from the point of view of Mia, the young woman who gave up her baby and Suzanne the woman who adopted her. There is also a little bit from Daisy, the girl who was adopted. Each of them is struggling with their role in life and each other's life when they come to terms with the reality of the adoption. While some chapters here do focus on various stages from Daisy's life, most of the action takes place when Daisy is almost 18, on the cusp of becoming an adult herself. The fact that the trauma of the adoption exists for all of the three women, then it really helps to show what an impact it has.

This was an interesting and gripping read. I wasn't entirely sure how it was going to play out or in what way the various characters might come to terms with their experience and place in life. I really enjoyed this read and I think if you want a story that really explores human emotions, then you'll really enjoy this. 

The Italian Island - Daniela Sacerdoti

 My darling girl, don’t make the same mistakes as I did. Now that my life is coming to an end, take
your grandmother’s bracelet, unlock the secret of our family history, and discover who you are…

As the hazy sun sets on golden sand, twenty-year-old Annie arrives on the stunning Sicilian island of Galatea, her father’s final wish playing heavy on her heart: she must solve the mystery of her grandmother who disappeared during World War Two. Her only clues are the delicate gold band around her wrist and directions to Villa Onda - House of the Waves - where her grandmother once lived.

As she climbs the winding road up to the cliffside villa, Annie’s path collides with handsome local fisherman, Salvo. His sea-blue eyes sparkle with recognition at her bracelet, and Annie can’t tell if it’s his warm touch or the sun-kissed villa’s vine-covered splendour that takes her breath away. Swept into the warm arms of Salvo’s family, it’s not long before she finds herself dancing the night away in the cobbled piazza and finally beginning to heal.

But one afternoon she finds an antique gramophone hidden beneath a dusty sheet in her grandmother’s bedroom. Setting the needle, she unlocks a long-buried secret… And, through Salvo’s mother, starts to unravel the truth about the bracelet and her grandmother’s heart-shattering wartime sacrifice.

With Salvo’s first kiss lingering on her lips, Annie knows she must dig deeper into the scars that haunt this beautiful island. But can her fragile new-found love with Salvo survive uncovering the truth? Will she ever be able to move on with her life until she does?

An absolutely heart-wrenching page-turner about how the catastrophic consequences of war can echo through generations, and the power that true love has to save us all. From the author of million-copy bestseller, Watch Over Me, and Amazon Number 1. bestseller, The Italian Villa, this is the perfect one-sitting read for anyone who adores Fiona Valpy, Victoria Hislop, or The Letter by Kathryn Hughes.

Author Bio:

Daniela Sacerdoti is the author of the bestselling Glen Avich series which has sold over one million copies in ebook to date, Sacerdoti’s debut novel Watch Over Me was named the eighth bestselling Kindle book of all time in 2015, when she was also ranked as the eleventh top-selling Kindle author. She lives in a small village in the middle of nowhere, with her Scottish husband, two children, a Cocker spaniel and a foundling kitten (who was definitely a witch in a past life).

https://www.danielasacerdoti.com/

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialDanielaSacerdoti/

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3qOuXK2

Apple: https://apple.co/2ZMSAsT

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3jR4okv

Google: https://bit.ly/3w1MbG5

My Review

The Italian Island is a book set both in the modern-day and during the war. Annie has recently lost her father and at his request, travels to the island of Galatea off Italy to find out more about his mother who died in childbirth and he never knew much about. As soon as she arrives she feels that the island has a story to tell her and she begins to have visions of what happened in the past.
This is a bit of a paranormal story with people able to see that past as well as the idea that the women of the island have a special spirituality that allows them skills such as diving for the shellfish that they turn into thread.
Although it's quite unusual in the way that it's told, it doesn't detract from how you are drawn into Annie or Mira's world and what they have experienced. This is a story that takes the idea of the actions of the past having an influence on what happens to the descendants of these people. And although Annie wants to find out what's happened, there's an idea that there is an inevitability to her being there and finding out what happens.
I don't really want to say much more about what happens, as I don't want to give away spoilers. It is a great read and I really enjoyed following Annie and Mira's life.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

Daughters of Magpie Cove - Kennedy Kerr

Connie stared out at the quiet Cornish sea as the hazy early morning light bathed the horizon in a
beautiful golden glow. She inhaled the salty, cleansing ocean air, looked down at the handwritten note and wiped away the lone tear that had started to fall…

When Connie Christie’s mother summons her home from the city to Magpie Cove to take over the family business – a quaint, charming museum – Connie is reluctant. The cove holds nothing more than bad memories for Connie, memories she’d rather leave buried…

The tiny coastal museum is a hub for the local community but it is struggling to survive, and despite herself, Connie is determined to save the business that has been in her family for generations. Discovering her great-grandmother’s diary tucked away in a dusty box in the attic – which reveals her struggles as a young woman – gives Connie a surprising clue to unlocking the secrets in her own past. Maybe what happened to her all those years ago wasn’t her fault after all?

Connie starts to relish her work at the museum and the beautiful, calm surroundings of Magpie Cove. A chance encounter with handsome local entrepreneur, Alex Gordon, leaves her with more than just butterflies. Perhaps embracing a new start in her old home maybe isn’t the worst idea she’s ever had.

But just as Connie starts to feel like she finally belongs somewhere, the peace she has found crumbles when the one person she has tried for years to forget resurfaces… Can Connie finally find her home, and herself, in Magpie Cove, or will her painful past force her to run away again, this time for good?

From USA Today bestselling author Kennedy Kerr comes a heartfelt, emotional read, set on the beautiful coast of Cornwall. Fans of Sheila O’Flanagan, Mary Alice Monroe and Pamela Kelley will adore it.

Author Bio:

Kennedy Kerr has written and published poetry, children's and adult books. She lives in London and is originally from the West Country, which gave her accent a subtle (yet noticeable) pirate twang as well as a love of cream teas and all things mystical.

Kennedy loves mythology, magic, tarot, pretty much most music, fantasy and sci-fi novels, luxury skincare products, spas, candlelight and stormy beaches. She is the proud owner of a cuddly black cat called Twinkle, who evidently believes she is a princess. Kennedy also loves cooking and baking all types of food, which is almost as much fun as eating it.

Find out more about on her Facebook Author page: facebook.com/kennedykerrauthor; she is also on Twitter as @KennedyKerr5.

My Review

It's a long time since I last visited Cornwall, but this book conjures up the place exactly as I remembered it. Beautiful coastal scenery, small fishing villages, and the hint of smugglers around every corner. This book is the story of Connie and Alex, but in many ways, that takes second place to Connie and the other women who grew up in Magpie Cove.
Connie has returned home to work in her family's museum after losing her job in the theater due to cutbacks. It isn't what she wants to do, but the more time she spends there the more she enjoys it.
Much of this book focuses on the person who is leaving threatening notes for Connie. It's something that she experienced in her teenage years and one of the reasons that she was so keen to getaway. There are a number of people who could be responsible for it and Connie does suspect a few people for while. I had worked out by the end who it was and sort of why, but that doesn't really matter.
This book does have a romance element, but really that's a secondary storyline. I like the way that this played out. Connie doesn't instantly fall for Alex and when she eventually recognizes her feelings, everything doesn't play out as you might expect in a 'classic' romance, which I really enjoyed.
This was a great read that kept you turning the pages. There were elements of suspense, romance, and returning home after an interval and working out your place in life. All in all a good read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3ryTCo0

Apple: https://apple.co/3zuUytA

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2XC8Lbb

Google: https://bit.ly/2Z8PKxA

The Cranberry Inn - Barbara Josselsohn

 An unputdownable, feel-good Christmas romance about fresh starts, the importance of family and learning how to follow your heart. Perfect for fans of Mary Alice Monroe, Rachel Hanna and Carolyn Brown.

As twinkling lights go up and snowflakes begin to fall, Laurel Hanover and her eight-year-old son are going
home to the Cranberry Inn in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains. Laurel can’t wait to leave New York behind to help her father run the family business, and make snow angels with her son, even if it’s just for Christmas. But when she walks through the door, she’s shocked to find the inn in disrepair, and a letter saying her father will be gone until Christmas Eve…

No one in town knows where Laurel’s father is, and she doesn’t know whether to be worried or angry – but she won’t let the inn go under, and nothing will get in the way of the perfect Christmas for her son. Seeing the worn-out wooden bannisters, bare of festive lights, she immediately recruits her childhood friend, brooding local carpenter Joel Hutcherson. They might disagree on whether any walls actually need to come down, but each rip in the carpet makes Laurel more concerned for her father, and Joel is a welcome distraction. And when he admits that Laurel was his first crush, she realises she’s falling for him.

But then Laurel uncovers a card with beautiful, ornate writing amongst her father’s things and learns the real reason he disappeared. And it changes everything. Worse still, she thinks Joel knew the truth all along.

Laurel thought this was going to be the perfect Christmas – that maybe she had found her happy. But now there’s nothing to stop her from running back to New York the moment the baubles come down… is there?

Author Bio:

Barbara Josselsohn is an award-winning journalist and novelist who loves crafting stories about strong protagonists facing a fork in the road. Her novels center around second chances, family relationships and, of course, romance. She is the author of the Lake Summers series set in the fictional town of Lake Summers, nestled in the Adirondacks Mountains, which includes the books The Lilac House and The Bluebell Girls. Before joining with Bookouture, she published The Last Dreamer, a women’s-fiction novel from Lake Union Publishing, along with hundreds of articles and essays in major and regional publications about family, home and relationships. She lives just north of New York City and enjoys escaping to the beach or the mountains whenever she can. Other than writing, her biggest passion is her family: husband, her three kids, and her indefatigable shih-poo!

http://www.barbarasolomonjosselsohn.com/

https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraSolomonJosselsohnAuthor

https://www.instagram.com/barbara_josselsohn_author/

https://twitter.com/BarbaraJoss

Buy Link:

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3od5VDa

The Cranberry Inn by Barbara Josselsohn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When it comes to a Christmas read, what you want is something that leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy at the end. Of course, the best books like this take you on a journey to get there, which is exactly what The Cranberry Inn does.
Laurel and her son Simon travel to the family Inn in order to help her father out for Christmas. While she is living there and running the place for him, she learns how he really sees her and what she wants out of life, along with connecting with her teenage crush Joel.
This was a fun read and I enjoyed following Laurel as she made her mark on the family business and sorted out what it was she really wanted out of life. Having a son added an extra dimension to the story and I thought that it worked quite well. I did get a bit confused about his age as he seemed to be around four or five with his behaviour and the way that she treated him and then at other times seemed a bit older.
This was a great Christmas read with a lovely and satisfying conclusion. I for one really enjoyed it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

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