Veronika Jordan's Blog, page 23

The Passion of the Cross by Tony Lee Moral Cover Reveal

Alfred Hitchcock expert Tony Lee Moral channels the Master of Suspense’s signature style of mystery storytelling in his latest thriller.

When famed curator Giovanni Montefiore’s is shockingly murdered at the Italian Opera in Rome following his bold proclamation regarding the authenticity of the True Cross, there are many suspects, but suspicion falls heavily upon his nephew, Mario Montefiore.

With his American girlfriend, actress Catriona Benedict, by his side, they embark on a perilous quest for truth and to uncover the real killer, leading them through some of Italy’s most iconic and glamorous cities.

But as the body count rises and the relentless pursuit of both law enforcement and paparazzi intensifies, they find themselves fleeing to Florence in search of the True Cross, which they hope holds the answers they need. Amidst the ancient streets of Florence, Catriona assumes a daring new identity, delving into a world of shadows and deception.

Will they uncover the secrets surrounding the True Cross before it’s too late?

The Passion Of The Cross will be published on 28th September 2024.

AND HERE IS THE FAB COVER. SEE YOU INSIDE THE BOOK SOON!

About the Author

Tony Lee Moral is a mystery and suspense writer who has previously published three novels, and four non-fiction books about the works of Alfred Hitchcock in both the UK and US. Find out more via his website: www.tonyleemoralbooks.com

Tony explains: “Alfred Hitchcock always wanted to begin the opening of a thriller in an Opera House and a murder takes place when the Soprano hits the high C. I start my novel with exactly that and the story is very much a homage to Hitchcock’s films with classic use of suspense, characters and Macguffins.”

Heart Be At Peace by Donal Ryan

A stunning lyrical novel from the Number one bestselling author Donal Ryan about love, loss, hope and connection.

2019. Small town rural Island. 21 voices.

A standalone novel that can also be read as a companion to Donal Ryan’s multi-award-winning bestseller, The Spinning Heart, voted ‘The Irish Book of the Decade’

‘I said it before. Madness comes circling around. Ten-year cycles, as true as the sun will rise…’

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Some things can send a heart spinning; others will crack it in two.

In a small town in rural Ireland, the local people have weathered the storms of economic collapse and are looking towards the future. The jobs are back, the dramas of the past seemingly lulled, and although the town bears the marks of its history, new stories are unfolding.

But a fresh menace is creeping around the lakeshore and the lanes of the town, and the peace of the community is about to be shattered in an unimaginable way. Young people are being drawn towards the promise of fast money whilst the generation above them tries to push back the tide of an enemy no one can touch…

My Review

Because I didn’t read the first book, I didn’t know any of the characters. And there are a lot of them – 21 to be precise. So initially I was massively confused and I have to admit, overwhelmed by the bad language. I’m not a prude, but there is a limit. But then I have no experience or point of reference. I soon realised that these musings would be realistic. Gosh that makes me sound like such a snob.

However, as I read on, it all began to change. There was now real depth to Bobby, his wife Triona, best mate Seanie, is-she-a-witch Lily, her granddaughter Millicent etc that I didn’t expect. Lily was by far my favourite character. I felt so sad for her. Suddenly I became truly invested, and needed to find out what was going to happen.

Sadly, just as the town is starting to recover and get back to normal, there is a new evil emerging. It all revolves around drugs and the dealers who are destroying communities. Dealers like Augie, who has drawn Millicent into his depraved world. But she is too young and naive to see it. His treatment of her is unbelievable. Something has to be done. But are vigilantes ever justified?

The ending was a real shock, even more so as I was certain it would be someone else. And Triona’s last chapter had me in tears. A wonderful book.

Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #RandomThingsTours

About the Author

Donal Ryan is an award-winning author from Nenagh, County Tipperary, whose work has been published in over twenty languages to major critical acclaim. The Spinning Heart won the Guardian First Book Award, the EU Prize for Literature (Ireland), and Book of the Year at the Irish Book Awards; it was shortlisted for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, longlisted for the Man Booker Prize and the Desmond Elliott Prize, and was voted ‘Irish Book of the Decade’. His fourth novel, From a Low and Quiet Sea, was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize, shortlisted for the Costa Novel Award 2018, and won the Jean Monnet Prize for European Literature. His novel, Strange Flowers, was voted Novel of the Year at the Irish Book Awards, and was a number one bestseller, as was his most recent novel The Queen of Dirt Island, which was also shortlisted for Book of the Year at the Irish Book Awards. Donal lectures in Creative Writing at the University of Limerick. He lives with his wife Anne Marie and their two children just outside Limerick City.

 

The House of Hope by Joanne Clague

In the dead of night, a young woman is found on the doorstep of the House of Help for Friendless Girls… Winter 1885.

Matron Hetty Barlow suspects Hope is lying when she claims to be suffering from amnesia. The girl is taken in, but it isn’t long before her pregnancy is discovered, which could put the future of the house – a new experiment in dealing with destitute women – in jeopardy. Hetty’s future depends on keeping her position as matron.

They named her Hope, but Emma Hyde knows she can’t keep up her deception forever. She’s hundreds of miles away from home, but her well-to-do parents will be searching for her.

Amelia yearns to break away from her overbearing sister, Hetty. She meets a man who offers an escape, but her ticket to freedom means revealing Emma’s secrets. Will she betray a friend for a chance at a new life?

My Review

I really enjoyed reading this with my book club, The Pigeonhole, but expected something a bit more raw and gritty. Even though Hope’s assault that caused her to arrive at the House of Help was horrific, it was – together with the experiences of the other girls – a bit sanitised, as if this were a BBC2 drama shown before the watershed.

Having said that, I still loved it, though it didn’t make me cry or feel the dirt under my fingernails, or relive the pain of childbirth. And they didn’t have the luxury of the pain relief that we have today.

Emma Hyde, now known as Hope, is obviously a well-brought up, educated, refined young woman, claiming to have amnesia. But Matron Hetty, who is carrying secrets of her own, is certain she’s lying, as does her younger sister Amelia. There’s too much that doesn’t fit, and Hope isn’t that good at keeping up the charade.

Over time, Hope’s education and experience become invaluable to the women of the house. She can read letters, organise outings, and even run evening classes to help those who want to learn to read and write. In fact she’s happier than she’s ever been. Her life has meaning.

It’s not long into the story before we discover why she’s ended up here – she’s pregnant – but by whom, and why did she arrive in such a state? The reader knows far more than the women of the house, but Hope can’t tell anyone in her real family, because they wouldn’t believe her.

An overall enjoyable read, and certainly a good one to read with fellow Pigeons, or with friends at your book club. And Hope, Amelia and Hetty will leave you wanting more.

Many thanks to The Pigeonhole, the author, and my fellow Pigeons for making this such an enjoyable read.

About the Author

Joanne Clague has worked in print, radio and broadcast journalism in the north west for the past three decades. Born and raised in Sheffield, Joanne lives in the coastal village of Laxey in the Isle of Man with her husband, children, dogs and other assorted wildlife. She is now a full-time writer of historical fiction set in nineteenth century Sheffield.

If You Were A Seed by Claudia GJ Moore

If you could be anything, what would you be?

Imagine being a seed, a tiny, pocket-sized seed. You could grow anywhere!

Perhaps in a lush, green meadow or in the middle of a well-walked path. You could settle in an old and forgotten pot or by your school’s front door. Or maybe somewhere entirely different!

#IfYouWereASeed X(Twitter) #ClaudiaGJMoore @BlossomSpring3 @ZooloosBT 
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A fascinating subject to explore with children, encouraging thought-provoking conversations with infinite possibilities to consider and imagine. Delve into the rich world of words and be amazed by the beautiful and relentless power of nature.

My Review

This little book is just fabulous. It’s poetic and inspiring and Alex Garcia’s illustrations are breathtakingly beautiful in their simplicity. You can see an example of the watercolours and the text below.

But if you were to settle in a meadow…

You could grow.
You could grow amongst a hundred million others.
There would be, of course, the elements to be weary of and
worried, but together you could create a scene of wonders.
You could surely grow.

The book allows children, parents, grandparents (like me) and teachers to discuss the possibilities of life, imagination and the power of nature. Will you grow up to be contained in a pot (nothing wrong with that by the way) or do you want to take risks by the side of the road? Like in the poem, how wonderful to grow in a field amongst your like-minded ‘friends’ and help the bees and other insects and the planet (that’s my take on it anyway).

Or you could grow by the school where:

You would inspire and become the sparkle of brilliant ideas,
the warmest.
Your days will be filled with giggles, a splendid children’s
choir and everyone’s future desires.

There is so much more. The ideas just lovely and creative and limitless. Can you think of anywhere else you would like to grow? Maybe on the sand dunes near to the sea or in your own back garden or in the window box of a penthouse flat with a view for miles around.

I can’t wait to read it to my granddaughters next time they are here.

Many thanks to @ZooloosBT  for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.

About the Author

Born in Mexico City, Claudia is a keen traveller and a passionate educator. She began her career in teaching soon after becoming a mother. In the summer of 2015, while living in a charming old village house in the south of England, her decade-long idea of writing children’s books started to take shape and the idea of stepping into someone or something else’s journey through life, started to emerge.

As an educator, she has always tried to push the boundaries of language and imagination by providing exciting, ambitious vocabulary and ideas to children – as she believes there’s no better age to do so. She hopes to tap into children’s wondrous creativity and provide a way for parents, teachers and carers to rocket children’s imaginations with the beautiful world of words.

About The Illustrator

Alex Garcia began his artistic career at a young age. A playwright, director and actor in his early twenties, he produced thought-provoking theatre in Mexico City. Alex is a self-taught painter who began experimenting with watercolours a decade ago. He had his first watercolour exhibition in 2018 at V&S Gallery in the city of Mexico, where many of his pieces were highly sought after.

Alex has stepped out of his comfort zone with rigour and enthusiasm as an illustrator for the first time with this book. How happy we are that he has risen to the challenge! Alex lives in Mexico City with his beautiful wife, Anabeli, where he teaches English Language at University and paints for pleasure in his spare time.

LJ Ambrosio Reflections of Michael Q&A

In Book One ‘A Reservoir Man’ we were introduced to Michael. Everywhere Michael turned he saw a Reservoir Man.

Michael’s endless trials of survival included sexual assault, the Vietnam War, an arrest in Spain, Hollywood scandal, the AIDS outbreak, 9/11 and beyond.

If only Michael could have found the one thing he valued most, his freedom. Michael’s coming-of-age was tarnished by many, but the courage to live his truth may have just kept Michael one step ahead…or would he succumb to the embraces of a Reservoir Man?

In Book Two ‘Reflections On The Boulevard’ Michael’s story continues from ‘A Reservoir Man’ where we find him teaching at a university ready to retire. He unexpectedly meets a young man named Ron who becomes his protégé and journeys with him in a haphazard adventure throughout America and Europe. In Michael’s final journey in life, each twist and turn of the road brings unexpected adventures. The journey taken is one of joy, friendship, and discovery.

In the final chapter ‘Exiles’, Ron’s story concludes from ‘Reflections on the Boulevard’.

Michael’s wish was for Ron to exile himself in the heart of Paris with its beautiful culture and citizens as they protest and fight for the soul of the city.

Ron’s journey is met with life-affirming friendships and lessons along the way. It’s the final book in the ‘Reflections of Michael Trilogy’.

I have read and reviewed all three books in the series, and I had some questions for the author, particularly about Rhonda, my favourite character.

Q&A

Is Rhonda based on a real dog? If so, did she eat cheese and ham sandwiches?
I have had 14 rescue dogs in my life having a great relationship with all. Rhonda is based on all. Yes, one of my dogs ate turkey and cheese.Where did you get the inspiration for Michael? Ron? Louise?
My life was my inspiration as were the people that were close to me. I tried to understand their pain, their attempt to have joy and peace.Do you have a favorite of the three characters –
Lily and Louie are equally favorites of mine, I enjoyed them slowly understanding love. Being free is so important and so is experiencing all the different parts of life that help you grow as a person.Are any or all of them based on people you know? Do you take inspiration from real life?
No, the first book had real people in them. My other novels had elements of people who I know and elements from myself.How important is setting in your books?
Location is especially important in my book ‘Exiles’ for my characters. The urban setting in ‘Reservoir Man’ is extremely important. ‘America’ in ‘Reflections on the Boulevard’ is important in celebrating nature and God.Where do you write? Do you have an office, or do you go out to a cafe, for instance?
I have a great office, with all the windows looking at a huge lawn and lots of plants. Every morning, I watch the birds in the bird house. It makes me feel at peace.Do you listen to music while you write? Or do you prefer total silence?
From Leonard Cohen, Donna Summers, ZAZ is a great French signer and of course Piaf. The music prevents thoughts that have nothing to do what i am writing and some inspiration for their sound.What sort of books did you read as a child, and what is your favorite book ever (adult or child)? You can have more than one!
Never read as a child—I was a bad student until high school where i still did not read. My favorite novel is Catcher in the Rye (JD Salinger) – also On the Road (Jack Kerouac) and Death in Venice (Thomas Mann). But when i started to read i did not stop—found so much of myself for my Rite of Passage. I took my pen name to honor JD SALINGER – LJ AMBROSIO. He started the ball rolling.

Competition

L.J. Ambrosio will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card, a dragonfly necklace, or a second dragonfly necklace, to three randomly drawn winners via Rafflecopter during the tour, and a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn host.

Many thanks to Goddess Fish Promotions and the author for inviting me to be part of the ‘Reflections of Michael’ tour.

About the Author

Louis J. Ambrosio ran one of the most nurturing bi-coastal talent agencies in Los Angeles and New York. He started his career as a theatrical producer, running two major regional theaters for eight seasons. Ambrosio taught at seven universities. Ambrosio also distinguished himself as an award-winning film producer and novelist over the course of his impressive career.

Buy Links

Palace Marketplace: https://market.thepalaceproject.org/item/5900746
Hoopla: https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/16927020
Barnes and Noble; https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/exiles-lj-ambrosio/1145295484;jsessionid=6BEBDF0D8FDBD00DC37A1EAACF96C083.prodny_store01-atgap12
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/exiles/id6482298566
Everand: https://www.everand.com/book/720323806/Exiles-Reflections-of-Michael-Trilogy
Thalia: https://www.thalia.de/shop/home/artikeldetails/A1071509419
Vivlio: https://shop.vivlio.com/product/9798990212138_9798990212138_10020/exiles
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1546995
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/exiles-65
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Exiles-Reflections-Michael-Trilogy-Ambrosio/dp/B0CZHY93GQ/ref=sr_1_1

Socials

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ljambrosioauthor/
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Blog: https://ljambrosio.blogspot.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI2XkCETDOj_VUtCFcB74ig

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Celebrating Fifteen Years of Helping Authors Succeed!
We offer book editing services, graphic design, virtual tours and more…
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Don’t Tell A Soul by Jessica Huntley

She thinks she’s safe. She couldn’t be more wrong.

Elle, desperate to escape her abusive home, runs away to a seemingly cute small town where she gets a job as a waitress. And meets Vera, who offers her an attic room in her large house.

For the first time in years, Elle feels something like contentment as she bonds with Vera who becomes almost like a mother to her. Blossoming, Elle slowly begins to piece her life back together, make new friends and stand on her own two feet.

#DontTellASoul X(Twitter) @jess_read_write @inkubatorbooks @ZooloosBT #ZooloosBookTours #blogtour #BookX #booktwitter
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But all is not as it seems.

Because this old house contains a dark secret. And much as she cares for Elle, Vera will do anything to protect it. That’s why she’s warned her young tenant that she must never, ever go down to the basement.

But Elle doesn’t obey this simple rule and when she sees what’s down there, she finally understands that her lovely new life is actually the gateway to a special kind of hell...

My Review

I love a book that is set in the area where I live. I’m going to assume that Barrow-on-the-Water is based on Bourton-on-the-Water, just down the road from me. I have been there so many times – last time about two weeks ago. Who knew there was so many sinister things going on behind the frilly curtains, coffee shops and antique dealerships. It’s a hive of tourist activity, cute, and chocolate box pretty.

So this is the place where 17-year-old Elle ends up, having run away from her abusive father. Here she meets Vera, also abused by her father, but rather than running away, Vera and twin brother Kevin had a different way of dealing with things. Having found a job in a cafe, Elle takes the attic room at Vera’s run-down spooky house. There are only a couple of rules including don’t go down in the basement, Well. we all know what that means!

I am not easily shocked, but some of the things that happened twenty years ago are so horrific, that even I had to take a break. It’s all very gory and descriptive, but who do we believe? There’s a massive twist part way through, but I still wasn’t sure what was going on.

Well written, tense and shocking, it’s a real page turner and I loved it. The characters of Vera particularly, together with Elle and Kevin are perfectly fleshed out, and then there’s Hamilton the dog at the first place Elle stays before meeting Vera. There’s an element of dark humour, which I love in these types of stories – it prevents the horror from being too overwhelming, though one wonders how anyone can find humour in something so dark.

Many thanks to @ZooloosBT  for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.

About the Author

Jessica Huntley is an author of dark and twisty psychological thrillers, which often focus on mental health topics and delve deep into the minds of her characters. She has a varied career background, having joined the Army as an Intelligence Analyst, then left to become a Personal Trainer. She is now living her life-long dream of writing from the comfort of her home, while looking after her young son and her disabled black Labrador. She enjoys keeping fit and drinking wine (not at the same time). This is her first psychological thriller with Inkubator Books.

Jessica’s Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessica.reading.writing
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jess_read_write
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessica_reading_writing
Website: http://www.jessicahuntleyauthor.com

Inkubator Books Social Media
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Book Links
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/215947499-don-t-tell-a-soul
Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/donttellasoul-zbt

19 The Musical

The original musical about the Suffragists who fought and won the right to vote for women!

19: The Musical is the dynamic and little-known story of Alice Paul, Ida B. Wells, Susan B. Anthony, Carrie Chapman Catt, Inez Milholland and the other suffragists who fought to get women the right to vote – The 19th Amendment.

The inspirational story of these fearless women is brought to life through jazz, traditional musical standards style, spoken word, and hints of gospel. Alice Paul and the suffragist’s fight for equality have been re-imagined for a new generation with a poignant and uplifting message that will resonate for years to come.

My Review

I wonder whether I would have joined these women if I had been alive back then? Would I have been brave enough? I doubt it. Yes I would have marched, but they were subjected to some terrible things. When Alice Paul goes on hunger strike in prison she is force fed with raw eggs, a nurse (albeit reluctantly) being ordered to hold her mouth open so the eggs can be rammed down her throat. Would I even have had the courage to refuse to hold her mouth open? Because standing by and doing something you don’t believe in is as bad as those giving the orders. But that’s an argument for another day.

Alice Paul, Ida B Wells, Carrie Chapman Catt, Lucy Burns, Inez Milholland (oh my God when she dies) and Susan B Anthony are the forgotten women who suffered for their cause at the turn of the last century until the suffrage bill was ratified in 1920. Without them American women would not have the vote. I’m surprised Donald Trump doesn’t want to take it away from them. But again I digress.

Here in England the Pankhursts and Emily Wilding Davison (who famously threw herself under the King’s horse at the Epsom Derby) for instance, are household names. They’ve made films and documentaries about them. The names I’ve listed above maybe household names in America – I’m afraid I don’t know.

19 The Musical (named after the 19th amendment) is a combination of the spoken word and songs in both the Jazz and Soul genres with a touch of Gospel. I particularly liked the songs in Act 1 Scene 19 ‘At Last Free’ and Act 2 Scene 4 the ‘Victory’ song. Also the amazing ‘Reclaiming My Time’ at the end. All the singers are very strong and some play multiple parts which I didn’t realise until the end credits.

I’d love to see it live on stage with all the costumes and sets. It would be fantastic. Of course it’s a true story and we can thank these courageous women for what they gave us, both here in the UK and in the US.

Many thanks to @lovebookstours for inviting me to be part of #19TheMusical blog tour.

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Deadly Protocol by Roger Corke Cover Reveal

A young woman opens the door of a sauna. Inside – a scene of horror.

The brightest star in the world of cancer research, is lying there, brutally murdered and left prostrate across the top of the sauna heater. The temperature is hotter than boiling point. It’s the ultimate medical conspiracy because the dead man was working on the Holy Grail of medicine – a cure for cancer.

Who killed him and why?

Cancer researcher Dr Ronnie Ackerman must solve the mystery after she wakes up in his bed, following a disastrous one-night stand, and discovers his body downstairs. The stakes turn out to be far higher than she could ever have imagined.

Deadly Protocol will be published on 10th September 2024

AND HERE IS THE FAB COVER. SEE YOU INSIDE THE BOOK SOON!

About the Author

Roger Corke is a TV journalist who has produced and directed investigations for every major flagship current affairs series and has now written his first crime thriller.

Roger’s Links

@rogercorke on Twitter/X  
@roger.corke on Instagram
@roger.corke on Threads
Roger Corke on Facebook and LinkedIn

Junction of Earth and Sky by Susan Buttenwieser

A sweeping and emotional debut from a dazzling new voice – for fans of The Paper Palace, The Dutch House and Betty.

Coming of age in 1940s England, Alice’s life is thrown into chaos under the shadow of the war. Forced to let go of her hopes and dreams, she finds herself uprooted to America and a life she never could have imagined. 

Decades later, it is the 1990s and Alice’s granddaughter Marnie is living out of a worn-out Chevy Nova, running heroin and cocaine along the New England coastline.

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Yet she carries with her memories of a nurtured childhood in hardscrabble Rhode Island, where all the disappointments of her young parents were eclipsed by her grandmother’s love.

Spanning six decades and two continents, from the shores of WWII England to the underside of 1990s America, JUNCTION OF EARTH AND SKY unfolds – in multiple timelines – the enduring bond of grandmother and granddaughter, plagued by the past but determined to find their place in the world against all the odds.

My Review

What a heartbreaking story! It made me sad, it made me cry and it made me angry. Never angry at Alice, whose life was changed forever when she was evacuated during the second world war, or at Marnie whose drug habit and desperation are what open the story. But mainly at Denise, married to Alice’s dreadful son Sonny, whose behaviour is so awful I wanted to scream at her.

Her drinking and irresponsibility result in Alice becoming Marnie’s main carer. Some of the things that Sonny and Denise do without giving a thought to Marnie make you want to cry out in horror. There is a chapter when it’s Marnie’s birthday and she is having a sleepover. Denise promises to be there but after getting drunk and going off with some man she just met, she turns up plastered and causes a scene in front of all Marnie’s friends. My heart went out to poor little Marnie.

But Marnie always has the love of her grandmother to hold on to and no-one could love her more than Alice. So what has gone wrong when we first see her shooting up and selling drugs? And who is Jimmy. her ‘boyfriend’ and dealer?

But I think what upset me most was the lack of light in the darkness, the lack of hope in the desert of despair. It just kept going from bad to worse, and I prayed that it would change for Marnie at least. Even one of the more minor characters hits rock bottom at one point after his wife dies of cancer.

Yet it’s a brilliant book, especially as it’s a debut, but I really needed a break from all the sadness every now and again.

Many thanks to @Tr4cyF3nt0n for inviting me to be part of the #CompulsiveReaders #blogtour and to NetGalley for an ARC.

About the Author

Susan Buttenwieser is the author of the short story collection, We Were Lucky With the Rain (Four Way Books) and she has been awarded several fiction fellowships from the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. Her writing has appeared in numerous publications and she has taught creative writing in New York City schools, libraries, homeless shelters, juvenile detention facilities and at a women’s maximum-security prison. Junction of Earth and Sky is her first novel.

The Phoenix Ballroom by Ruth Hogan

When it’s time to face the music, all we can do is dance…

Recently widowed Venetia Hamilton Hargreaves is left with a huge house, a bank balance to match and an uneasy feeling that she’s been sleepwalking through the last fifty years. Determined to live fully again, she embraces life with an enthusiasm and purpose she’d forgotten she could muster.

Buying the dilapidated Phoenix Ballroom and with it a drop-in centre and spiritualist church could be seen as reckless, but Venetia’s generosity, courage and kindness provide a refuge for a touching cast of damaged and lonely people who find their chosen family. As their stories intertwine, long buried secrets are revealed, missed opportunities seized and lives are renewed as the Phoenix lives up to its name.

The Phoenix Ballroom is a story of hope and second chances across the generations.

My Review

I’ve read all of Ruth’s novels, a couple of them twice (almost unheard of for me). The Phoenix Ballroom is her fifth and it’s wonderful. But don’t expect something earth shattering that will change the world as we know it. This is a feel-good novel about hope and happiness across the generations. A book to be savoured when you are feeling down, a book to lift your spirits. And of course when you are already happy.

Venetia Hamilton Hargreaves has just lost her husband Hawk after fifty years of marriage. She knows she is going to be lonely, but her son Heron thinks she needs a ‘granny nanny’ to look after her. She is horrified. She’ll manage, she’s not exactly in her dotage.

It’s probably a good time to explain the names. Hawk’s father had a thing about birds, so the children all got avian names. Hawk, of course, and then his sisters are Swan and Nightingale. Hawk passed this down to his son Heron (who’s really more of a Penguin than a Heron), and even Heron’s son got lumbered. He’s ten and he’s called Kite. And they wonder why he finds it tough at boarding school.

Heron wants to hire an awful school ma’am type as the nanny, but Venetia chooses Liberty, who has recently lost her mother and the strange will has left her with nowhere to live. There is an extra clause though. If she passes a ‘test’, there is something that she will inherit, but the solicitor is not allowed to tell her until she fulfils her mother’s wishes. Except she has no idea what they are.

Venetia also adopts a German Shepherd from a drug den and calls him Colin Firth and we mustn’t forget Evangeline, who runs a spiritualist church and drop-in centre which are about to be closed down, and the building demolished for development. And it has a ballroom, now in a state of disrepair. A ballroom that will evoke memories for Venetia.

Poor Liberty! Having been hired to look after Venetia, she now has a dog of whom she is terrified and a ten year old boy who comes to stay. And then there is Swan.

It’s such an entertaining story and works really well as an Audio book. Joan Walker’s narration is perfect and fits so well. I loved every minute.

About the Author

From Ruth herself: ‘I was born in the house where my parents still live in Bedford: my sister was so pleased to have a sibling that she threw a thrupenny bit at me. As a child I read everything I could lay my hands on: The Moomintrolls, A Hundred Million Francs, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, the back of cereal packets and gravestones. I was mad about dogs and horses, but didn’t like daddy-long-legs or sugar in my tea.

‘I studied English and Drama at Goldsmiths College which was brilliant, but then I came home and got a ‘proper’ job. I worked for ten years in a senior local government position (I was definitely a square peg in a round hole, but it paid the bills and mortgage) before a car accident left me unable to work full-time and convinced me to start writing seriously. It was going well, but then in 2012 I got cancer, which was bloody inconvenient but precipitated an exciting hair journey from bald to a peroxide blonde Annie Lennox crop. When chemo kept me up all night I passed the time writing and the eventual result was The Keeper of Lost Things.

‘I live in a chaotic Victorian house with an assortment of rescue dogs and my long-suffering partner (who has very recently become my husband – so I can’t be that bad!) I am a magpie, always collecting treasures, and a huge John Betjeman fan. My favourite word is ‘antimacassar’ and I still like reading gravestones.’