Paterson Loarn's Blog: Paterson Loarn on Goodreads, page 5

The Golden Girls' Road trip by Kate Galley

What I like best about The Golden Girls’ Road Trip by Kate Galley is the independent attitude of Connie, the narrator. Connie, who is seventy years old, is active and in good health. She recently became engaged to Leo, a pleasant chap of her own age who is a former colleague of her only child, Simon. This engagement seemed like a good idea at the time, but Connie is not sure what Leo wants from marriage, and the wedding arrangements bore her. Sadly, she does not get along with her current daughter in law, Simon’s third wife, who is expecting her first grandchild. Finding the combination of reluctant bride-to-be and expectant grandmother overpowering, Connie follows her instincts and escapes from Brighton in her ancient campervan, headed for the hills of Scotland.
Connie makes it to the neighbourhood of Inverness and contacts Alex, a friend she remembers from the summer she spent working at a hotel there when she was eighteen. Alex is now a successful artist whose paintings sell at high prices all around the UK. As a result, Connie embarks on a road trip, revisits her youthful self and develops a fresh outlook on her life and loves.
I know some of the places Connie and her companions stop at on their road trip well, and I enjoyed reading about their adventures in familiar locations. Being of advanced years myself, I sympathised with many of the predicaments Connie finds herself in. All of Galley’s characters are well drawn, but I think her fiancé Leo is especially true to life.
I love Kate Galley’s perceptive and positive attitude to women in Connie’s age group. Too often women of seventy and over appear in novels as stereotypes, whereas Galley correctly shows that like everyone else, they have varied personalities and experiences.
I was given a copy of this novel in return for an honest review.
The Golden Girls' Road Trip

Her Forgotten Promise by Corin Burnside

The title of Corin Burnside's debut novel, Her Forgotten Promise, has a nostalgic sound which perfectly suits this tale of a friendship lost during the chaotic events of WW2. In 2014 Claire’s elderly aunt Margaret is approaching the end of her life. She is unwell and sometimes confused, but during her moments of clarity she reveals her sorrow over losing contact with a close friend in 1943. Margaret and Agnes were WAAF radio operators together in London until the French girl’s sudden and unexplained disappearance. Claire’s deep love for the charismatic old woman who brought her up is clear from the early chapters of the novel. It is no surprise when she takes a break from her own problems to carry out research and find out what became of Agnes.
Her Forgotten Promise is beautifully written in dual narration, with Claire in 2014 and Agnes in 1943 expressing their different perspectives. Methodical Claire is motivated by a wish to soothe her beloved aunt’s emotional distress, while passionate Agnes is caught up in the need to defeat the forces of evil at all costs. Both women experience the darker side of life, Claire through personal betrayal and Agnes by her involvement in the cruelty and suffering of war.
Armed with the dry details of Agnes’ war record, Claire travels to France, where she seeks memories of the young woman who was so important to her aunt. Burnside’s descriptions of the food, scenery and farming community of the Pyrenees show a great understanding of the place, while Claire uncovers long hidden secrets and discovers the astonishing truth about Agnes.
It was a joy to read a novel with so many strong female characters. I am not a fan of historical fiction or books in which food plays a significant part, but the combination of romance and adventure in Her Forgotten Promise kept me turning the pages. Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an advanced copy.
Her Forgotten Promise: An utterly sweeping and heartbreaking WW2 historical fiction debut for 2023!

It Takes a Village by Hannah Ellis

The Single Dads series by Hannah Ellis is set in Hope Cove on the beautiful Devon coast, where three single dads are neighbours and help each other out. This is a lovely premise for a series and I am sure it will be a winner.

It Takes a Village is the story of a complex relationship involving two female friends, the male former lover of one of them and a newborn baby. The way Ellis tells it, issues are dealt with by thinking things through, being kind and doing what is best for the baby. These are good messages and the book has a caring vibe. Caitlin’s colleague and friend Bethany realises she is pregnant after a drunken night out with casual boyfriend Leo. She does not want to keep baby Alice but Leo does, so she hands the child over to him. Caitlin visits Leo to make sure Alice is being well cared for and falls in love with father and daughter. Leo loves Caitlin too, but declaring their feelings may destroy a friendship and make working with Bethany impossible. Is the budding romance worth the multiple problems it may cause?

I recommend It Takes a Village for a relaxed, feel-good holiday read. I was given a copy in return for an honest review.
It Takes a Village: A wonderfully uplifting small town romance

Ibiza Surprise by Dorothy Dunnett

Dorothy Dunnett is famous for her historical novels, but she also wrote humorous crime stories known as the Dolly series. Dolly is a luxurious private yacht owned by Johnson Johnson, a renowned portrait painter and part time secret agent. Each of the Dolly novels has a different strong female narrator who is investigating a murder. Johnson Johnson and his crew support their protagonist with backup and protection while they solve the mystery. Together they sail to intriguing international destinations, which Dunnett describes brilliantly, and meet eccentric and colourful characters.
So far I have read Tropical Issue, Rum Affair and most recently Ibiza Surprise. I love all of them, but Ibiza Surprise has a special charm. Sarah Cassells has recently left a girls’ public school, which sounds rather like St. Trinian’s, and completed her training as a cook. She has begun to earn her living by catering private parties in English country houses when news of her father’s death reaches her. Posh but penniless Lord Forsey apparently committed suicide in an Ibiza boatyard. Suspecting foul play, Sarah travels to Ibiza to investigate. There she stays with the wealthy family of a school friend and earns her keep by serving up haute cuisine. Johnson Johnson shows up at a crucial moment and they form an alliance, although young Sarah is not impressed by his bifocal glasses and tweedy outfits.
Ibiza Surprise has a suspenseful plot and is packed with wit and fun, but it is also interesting because it depicts the late 60s and early 70s, which was a crucial period in the history of Western women. Birth control pills had been available for a few years, and women’s liberation and free love were buzz words, but social atttitudes to women had hardly changed since Victorian times. In Ibiza an ancient civilization was beginning to be overwhelmed by the party culture we know today. Follow Sarah as she goes to wild parties, fends off boys without trust funds and shops for local produce in the street food markets of old Ibiza town.
Many thanks to Farrago books for giving me copies of the Dolly series in return for honest reviews.

All the World's a Stage (Comeback Trail #3)

The entertaining Comeback Trail trilogy by Guy Hale is based on an original and fascinating premise. I was delighted to receive copies of all three novels in return for an honest review. In the first novel, Killing Me Softly, unsuccessful singer-songwriter Jimmy Wayne is scratching out a living in a run-down Nevada casino. The only joy in Jimmy’s sordid life comes from his love affair with funny, smart Wendy. One morning he wakes up after a bender to find that he has accidentally killed Wendy and also written his best song ever. Wendy appears to Jimmy as a ghost and convinces him that the act of murder inspires him to create his finest music. He never plans to kill people, they just seem to present themselves for slaughter while his career soars. Fortunately, except for Wendy, Jimmy’s victims are very bad people.

In the second novel of the trilogy, Blood on the Tracks, Jimmy comes to terms with his dual status as inadvertent serial killer and supernatural songwriter. He heads for LA to make an album which he hopes will make him a star. After he gets involved with crime boss Jack Lantern the killing spree continues, and the hits roll in. Hale’s writing style is confident, relaxed and humorous, and the plot is unpredictable. There are many quirky characters, including mystical John, Jimmy’s sidekick Kid, sophisticated David and murderous Ma Lantern.

All the World’s a Stage, the final instalment of The Comeback Trail trilogy, follows Jimmy Wayne on a major tour of Europe. While Jimmy's fame is reaching dizzying heights, Jack Lantern and his associates are busy planning his destruction. Jimmy's adventures in Europe have attracted the attention of crime families in London, Paris, Italy and Spain, and everyone is after his blood. From recovering stolen artwork to Ma Lantern’s romantic escapades, the mayhem of Jimmy’s whirlwind tour threatens him with death or exposure.

I enjoyed the twisty, imaginative plot, the wisecracks and and humour in The Comeback Trail trilogy. Trigger warning - there are some violent episodes in All the World’s a Stage. They are tongue in cheek - with other body parts also ending up in unexpected places. These passages were rather too bloody for my taste, but readers with a dark sense of humour will fall about laughing. I look forward to reading Guy Hale’s next novel. All the World's A Stage

The Chemical Code by Fiona Erskine

Dr. Jaq Silver is unstoppable, unbeatable and apparently unbreakable. She blows things up to keep people safe, and uses her knowledge of chemistry to solve problems which are insoluble to lesser mortals. Although she would probably hate being described as an alchemist, there is something magical about Jaq’s command of the natural world. Jaq’s incredible courage and physical prowess make her seem as invincible as a hero from a fantasy novel. My favourite moment from The Chemical Code is when she crosses over a polluted lake using a drainpipe as a tightrope. She knows she can get to the other side in time to prevent a major disaster, because she has done the complex calculations - in her head!

Jaq has a human side. In her early years she suffered emotional abuse by members of her family, and she has never recovered from the pain it caused. Officially Jaq is in Brazil on business, but really she is motivated by revenge for a cruel wrong she suffered during her teenage years. To Jaq her grandmother’s legacy means nothing, compared to her desire to destroy the man who took away what she valued most. However, mysterious criminals are determined to get their hands on Jaq’s inheritance, and she is forced to fight off their attacks while she pursues her target. The pace of the action is so fast I read the novel in a sitting, because I could hardly wait to find out how Jaq was going to escape the latest trap.

There are many fascinating characters in this novel. I especially liked Grace, the rookie cop who never gives up. I also found Frank interesting, because I could not always tell whose side he was on. Fiona Erskine includes many useful chemical and technical details to explain events. Because they are lightly handled these added to my enjoyment and understanding of the book. Serious issues like pollution and financial corruption are featured with sensitivity, understanding and detailed knowledge. I was given a copy of The Chemical Code in return for an honest review, and I can honestly say it is a terrific adventure story with a serious side.The Chemical Code

Moorewood Family Rules by HelenKay Dimon

The Moorewoods are a successful criminal tribe with a luxurious lifestyle – and only one of them has been punished for their evil doings. Jillian was recently released after spending 39 months in prison. When she took the fall for her family’s fraudulent operations, every one of them promised to go straight in future. But when Jillian gatecrashes an extravagant gathering at the family mansion, she is devastated to find nothing has changed. The Moorewood empire remains vibrant and her nearest and dearest are planning daring new crimes. Jillian has always been the sensible, reliable sister who protects her siblings. Now she calls on her undercover allies to ensure the Moorewoods keep their word. With the help of her conniving but loveable great-aunt and her grumpy but sexy new bodyguard, she evicts grifters, ties up the money and uses her sharp wits to outwit the schemers.

The publicity material for Moorewood Family Rules describes it as ‘Knives Out and Ocean’s 8 meets The Nest.’ In my opinion this is inaccurate, because the novel is more about relationships within the family than the planning and execution of crimes by professionals. The family is dysfuctional but they seem to care about each other, and as Jillian makes progress with reforming them she learns a lot about herself. There is also an element of romance, which slows down the action and distracts attention from Jillian’s cleaning up operations. She gains insight and works on her own issues, which gives depth to her character but slows down the narrative. There are hints of a darker side to the Moorewood operation, but overall the humour is light. HelenKay Dimon writes dialogue very well, and as the plot grows more mysterious, lively banter keeps those pages turning. The opening and conclusion of Moorewood Family Rules are powerful, and in between, intriguing characters provide many laugh-out-loud moments.
I was given a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Moorewood Family Rules

Rum Affair by Dorothy Dunnett

In the witty and suspenseful Dolly novels by Dorothy Dunnett, Dolly is a private yacht. Her owner is Johnson Johnson, an enigmatic bifocal wearing portrait painter and secret agent. In the Dolly series of cosy mysteries he is always a leading character, but never the protagonist. Each of the books is narrated by a different strong female amateur sleuth with a murder to solve. I recently reviewed Tropical Issues, the first in the series to be re-released by Farrago Books, and I was delighted to receive a copy of Rum Affair in return for an honest review. Honestly, I love the Dolly series.

In Rum Affair the narrator is Tina Rossi, an internationally renowned opera singer. Accompanied by her controlling manager Michael Twiss, Tina travels to Edinburgh to sing at the Festival. After the concert she slips away to meet her lover, government scientist Kenneth Holmes, but he is not in the flat he borrowed for their rendezvous. When Tina uncovers an unknown corpse, Johnson Johnson appears and whisks her away to safety on board Dolly. Soon she finds herself taking part in a week-long yacht race around the Inner Hebrides.

The Royal Highland Club yacht race is not so much a competition as a floating street party. There are regular stopovers in scenic island harbours when the participants meet socially and display a surprising amount of community spirit. They are all wealthy eccentrics with a passion for sailing and their antics are truly hilarious. My favourite is Ogden who keeps his crumbling yacht afloat by pilfering equipment wherever he goes. Dunnett's knowledge of life on board a yacht is impressive and her descriptions of the ocean and landscape are enticing. By the time the little fleet arrives at the island of Rum, where Kenneth’s research laboratory is located, the prize money has been forgotten and the race has become a matter of life and death. The plot held my interest from the surprisingfirst page to the astonishing twist at the end. Rum Affair

Tropical Issue by Dorothy

Tropical Issue is a wittily written cosy mystery with stunning maritime locations and intriguing characters. It is the first book in the Dolly series of novels by Dorothy Dunnett, who is better known for her historical fiction. Six of Dunnett’s light-hearted novels are being reissued, and I feel very fortunate to have received a review copy from Farrago Books and Random Things Tours.

Johnson Johnson, whose given name happens to be the same as his family name, is a charismatic bifocal wearing portrait painter and spy who sails the seven seas in Dolly, his private yacht. In all the Dolly novels Johnson is a central character, but he is never the protagonist. Each book is narrated by a different strong female amateur sleuth. Johnson backs up their investigations while providing transport and floating five star accommodation on Dolly. The main character of Tropical Issue is Rita Geddes, a diminutive Scottish makeup artist who is determined to bring a colleague’s murderer to justice. Her quest takes her from Madeira to Barbados via Martinique and St. Lucia. The scenery is beautifully described, the dialogue is side-splitting and the interiors are gorgeous. Dunnett’s prose is so compelling I read it very slowly, for fear of missing a fascinating detail or a hilarious one-liner.

Tropical Issue was first published in 1983. It has not dated much, perhaps because the action takes place among the ultra wealthy. Few readers will have suitable cultural markers to measure against their lifestyle. Personal computers and mobile phones do not feature, because they had not been invented. This adds to the story’s excitement and suspense, because when Rita is in a tight corner she has nothing to rely on but the loyalty of her friends and her own intelligence and courage.

I thoroughly enjoyed Tropical Issue from the first page to the last.

Tropical Issue

Chicken Wars by Adam Leigh

Adam Leigh’s debut novel, The Curious Rise of Alex Lazarus, is a witty tale about a digital startup which launches brilliantly but soon hits real-world problems. His second novel, Chicken Wars, is a very funny and relatable story about a third generation family business. It is challenging to take responsibility for other people’s livelihoods, even when you are chasing your own dream, but Jack Fogle is forced to run an enterprise he actively dislikes. To make things worse, he has to cope with a business rivalry created by his devious grandfather. This is what Adam Leigh said about male business partnerships when I interviewed him in June 2021. ‘When they work best, it is because both individuals recognise and celebrate their differences. But when there is competitiveness and jealousy, they tend to be at their most fragile.’

For as long as he can remember, Jack has known that eventually he will have to take over the family business - a factory supplying kosher chickens. He reluctantly accepts his fate, assuming he will have plenty of time for a career in television before the hammer falls. Sadly, his father’s early death puts an end to Jack’s freedom. He is a good businessman so the business thrives, but he is left in an emotional desert, despised by his ex-wife, exploited by his mother, bullied by his sisters and disliked by his daughters. When Jack and Sonia fall for each other all his troubles seem to be over. Sonia is vegan, so Jack makes the disastrous decision to conceal the fact that he basically runs a slaughterhouse. When his nasty business competitor Lionel launches a social media campaign against Fogel’s Chickens, the feathers inevitably hit the fan.

Chicken Wars is a funny and relatable account of one man’s struggle to take care of his family, find love and fulfil his dreams. I strongly recommend both of Adam Leigh’s novels for humour, emotional warmth and fascinating glimpses of the commercial world. I was given a copy in return for an honest review.
Chicken Wars