Veronika Jordan's Blog, page 6

Boy With Wings by Mark Mustian readalong

Boy With Wings follows the extraordinary journey of Johnny Cruel, a boy born with mysterious appendages on his back. 

What does it mean to be different? When Johnny Cruel is born with strange appendages on his back in the 1930s South, the locals think he’s a devil. Determined to protect him, his mother fakes his death, and they flee. Thus begins Johnny’s years-long struggle to find a place he belongs.

From a turpentine camp of former slaves to a freak show run by a dwarf who calls herself Tiny Tot and on to the Florida capitol building, Johnny finds himself working alongside other outcasts, struggling to answer the question of his existence. Is he a horror, a wonder, or an angel? Should he hide himself to live his life? Following Johnny’s journey through love, betrayal, heartbreak, and several murders, Boy With Wings is a story of the sacrifices and freedom inherent in making one’s own special way-and of love and the miracles that give our lives meaning.

My Review

According to an article I just read, it is physically impossible for a human to be born with wings. “Humans have arms and legs, not the skeletal framework and bone structure necessary for wings.” And that doesn’t include the mutations necessary to allow flight.

But Johnny Cruel can’t fly. But he does have wings which he has to bind to his body so they can’t be seen. As a small child, his mother hid him in a tiny box, and pretended he had died, all to protect him. People thought he was a devil and that tragedies in their community were caused by his presence.

His wings are really irrelevant, because the book is about being different, the wings allegorical. Different like being a dwarf like Tiny Tot, the dog-faced man Kenneth, pin-head Otto, or the reality of simply being Black in 1930s (or 1960s) America. Watch the film Mississippi Burning or The Green Book if you want to see prejudice against people of colour.

I loved this book though it was very depressing at times. Johnny is happy living at the turpentine camp with the former slaves and his friend Elias, but it’s not allowed and he is forcibly removed. The next few years are terrible though we don’t find out that much about this time. But then his ‘luck’ changes and he finds himself the star of a freak show run by Tiny Tot. There is so much he doesn’t understand about racism and prejudice.

But then tragedy strikes and he is on his own again. In spite of all the terrible things that happen to Johnny, there is still love and hope and freedom in acceptance.

Many thanks to @lovebookstours for inviting me to be part of the #BoyWithWings readalong.

About the Author

Mark Mustian is the author of the novels The Return and The Gendarme, the latter a finalist for the Dayton International Literary Peace Prize and shortlisted for the Saroyan International Award for Writing. It won the Florida Gold Book Award for Fiction and has been published in ten languages. The founder of the Word of South Festival of Literature and Music in Tallahassee, Florida, his new novel, Boy With Wings, is out in 2025

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The Empathist by Alex Franklyn readalong

To the outside world, Amy has it all—her own home, a thriving career, and a seemingly perfect life.

But behind the façade, she’s running from a past she doesn’t remember… a past that’s been locked away for years.

Medication has kept the memories buried, numbing the pain with a side effect she’s come to embrace. But when her father’s death triggers a series of unsettling events, the cracks in her carefully built reality begin to show.

Readalong: 1st – 31st May 
Genre: Psychological Thriller | Contemporary Fiction
Pages: 338

The memories creep in, slowly at first—whispers from the shadows of a life she once lived. But as her mind unravels, the past refuses to stay buried, and Amy is forced to face the truth she’s long suppressed.

Who was she before? Who is she now? And what happens when the two collide?

Because some memories aren’t just painful… they’re dangerous.

My Review

In the words of the UK’s Eurovision entry: ‘What the hell just happened?’ Long gone by the time you read this review, but current when writing it. This was a very unusual story to say the least.

Amy is not a very likeable character, but she’s tolerable I suppose. She’s been muddling along quite nicely, taking some form of medication, which has kept the past buried, and suppressed her feelings. She’s also rather dowdy and unattractive.

Until she attends her father’s funeral, where she argues with the mother she hasn’t seen for years. She hadn’t actually seen her father since she was seventeen. She also falls out with the adopted brother Andy, who is appalled at her behaviour. The problem is that she can’t remember why she fell out with them.

But when she takes a job (she’s a psychotherapist) working with mentally ill criminals, her life begins to unravel. She changes her appearance and becomes obsessed with one of the ‘patients’, even though she knows he’s a dreadful person. She is suspicious of her co-workers to the point of paranoia (though we know what they say – ‘just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they’re not after you’).

At times I didn’t know what the hell was going on – I’m still not sure if I do – but it was an engaging, mind-boggling, exciting and often uncomfortable read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially as I was on the readalong, where we answered questions relevant to the book. It certainly makes you think, but I’m afraid to say that if I met Amy I would run a mile, and I definitely wouldn’t employ her! Especially as a therapist.

Many thanks to @lovebookstours for inviting me to be part of #TheEmpathist readalong.

About the Author

“Amy is based on an idea I had when working in mental health. There was a trainee that was there who said, ‘I don’t need personal therapy to be a psychologist,’ always a red flag to me and the story came from that in my mind.

“I want to cover every genre, so far I’ve done The Empathist, a psychological thriller and Cleaners Wanted, a gangster comedy (like the type of movie you’d see Guy Richie do). My third currently written and in editing is called Arte-Culture, a Sci-fi Conspiracy story, and my fourth being written now is a compendium of short horror stories. The short horrors are each dedicated to different people who for no reason other than their kindness have supported me with my books, so a small thank you. I’ve worked in every single aspect of social care you can think of. Also part of health care. I also do acting as our recent movie Ireke premiered at Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday, 14th May! I have a cat who I love dearly, but I also love dogs, but my day job won’t allow for one.”

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Secrets of Lostmor by Ann Smythe

In 1971, the Sanders family suffer a loss so great that they abandon their Gothic mansion house forever.

Twenty-four years later, Lily Sanders reluctantly returns to her hometown for the reading of a mysterious will. Lily must face the secrets that lie within the crumbling estate in the wilds of Cornwall… and uncover the mystery hidden within.

My Review

Another great holiday read, and it’s set in Cornwall where we used to holiday when I was a child. We also took our children there when they were young. Luckily our visits were a lot less dramatic – no attempted murders, tragic memories or haunted houses.

Lily left Lostmor with her mother 24 years ago to live in Bristol, following a tragic event at their family home, Penryth. The house and estate have a Gothic feel (my favourite genre), especially as it has remained empty since they left. But when her mother dies, Lily goes to Lostmor for the reading of the will. She is stunned when she discovers that she has inherited the old house and estate as she believed it to have been sold when they moved.

The house is in a state of disrepair having been empty for so long, but going inside brings back memories of that terrible, stormy night when she was nine and her sister Alice was six. And bit by bit, the events of that night reveal themselves. For Lily the outcome could be devastating, but it’s not all she discovers in the process.

Meanwhile, Marcus, the landlord of the local pub, has his own agenda. Two years ago, his daughter Rose was killed in a motorcycle accident. She was riding pillion and the motorcyclist rode off leaving her dead in the road. Marcus blames himself for spending all his time away from home with the forces, hardly ever spending time with his family. The rider was never found, but Marcus is determined to find out who it was.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s a great story with lots of intertwining threads and fascinating characters. And there’s a Jack Russell called Flynn – of course there is – and a Labrador called Horace. What more could I ask.

Many thanks to www.cranthorpemillner.com for an ARC.

About the Author

Ann Smythe is a Bristolian who, in her younger years, worked a variety of jobs, including a stint as a ‘runner’ delivering medical files to hospital wards, a trainee nurse, and a plug-and-lamp switchboard operator for a famous hotel chain. While working at the hotel, she discovered a revolving book rack in the lobby kiosk, leading to a fascination with dark, suspenseful thrillers and a lifelong interest in Stephen King’s work.

Finally honing her skills as a copy editor, she began her journey as a writer in 2020, and Secrets of Lostmor is her debut novel. Now living in North Somerset, she spends her days writing, drinking tea, and pandering to her elderly Jack Russell’s eccentric needs!  

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Dead as Gold by Bonnie Burke-Patel

Adam Conlan has made a new life for himself in Morrow-on-Sea. After a wild youth, the goldsmith had settled down, determined to be around for his young son.

But now Ophelia Richards appears at his studio door, asking if he will buy her gold. The writer entices and unsettles him; he sees she is adrift in the same cold pain and loneliness as he is.

At the same time, faces begin appearing at the studio window, an unwelcome gift arrives in the post, gold goes missing.

Then comes death, then comes Detective Inspector William Kent.

Woven through with Morrow’s fairy tales, Dead as Gold is a modern Gothic crime novel veined with love, violence, family, and desire. Humans still use fairy tales to explore their deepest truths. So who is a wolf, and who is a sparrow?

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My Review

I can’t begin to express how much I loved this book. It’s not just the characters, especially Adam, it’s the exquisite writing, the main story and the way in which it’s interspersed with fairy tales that reflect what’s happening. I loved the fairy tales though they are crueller than the real life.

Then there’s the setting – I love anything to do with the seaside, and the way in which the sea becomes a character of its own, with its power and majesty.

While I loved Bonnie’s previous novel I Died At Fallow Hall (I was on the blog tour), it didn’t speak to my heart and soul in the same way as Dead As Gold. Sorry that sounds so pretentious.

Adam Conlan and Ophelia Richards are the two main protagonists, who fate has driven together. First meeting briefly on the beach, Olivia turns up at Adam’s shop and workshop and asks him to buy three items of valuable jewellery given to her by her beautiful mother Marina. Though we don’t actually ‘see’ much of Marina, she is central to Olivia’s story. Adam’s brother Luke is also important, he was a stabilising factor in his and Adam’s troubled childhood, having lost their mother when they were young and been raised by their cold, seemingly uncaring father.

Eight years ago, Adam fathered a child, Felix, on a one-night stand. Though he and the mother never had a relationship, they share the parenting and Adam has now become a responsible father. But then Adam receives a warning in the post, a mysterious face keeps appearing at the window, his shop is broken into, thousands of pounds worth of gold is stolen, and the unthinkable happens. And so the drama begins. A wonderful read, which will no doubt become one of my favourite books of the year.

Many thanks to the author for an advanced paperback proof of #DeadAsGold

About the Author

Born and raised in South Gloucestershire, Bonnie Burke-Patel studied History at Oxford. After working for half a decade in politics and policy, she changed careers and became a preschool teacher, before beginning to write full time. She lives with her husband, son, and needy cat in south east London, and is working on her next crime novel about fairy tales, desire, and the seaside.

Shatter Creek by Rod Reynolds

Hampstead County Police Department is embroiled in scandal after corruption at the top of the force was exposed.

Cleared of involvement and returned to active duty, Detective Sergeant Casey Wray nonetheless finds herself at a crossroads when it becomes clear that not everyone believes she’s innocent.

Partnered with rookie Billy Drocker, Casey works a shocking daytime double homicide in downtown Rockport with the two victims seemingly unknown to one another. And when a third victim is gunned down on her doorstep shortly after, it appears an abusive ex-boyfriend holds the key to the killings.

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With powerful figures demanding answers, Casey and Billy search for the suspect, fearing he’s on a murderous rampage.

But when a key witness goes missing, and new evidence just won’t fit, the case begins to unravel. With her career in jeopardy, Casey makes a shattering discovery that threatens to expose the true darkness at the heart of the murders … with a killer still on the loose…

My Review

This is the second book I have read in the series (the third of Rod’s books), so I’m pretty up to speed on Detective Sergeant Casey Wray and her chums. The first book took down the top people in her department and she was investigated in the process. She still feels that some of her colleagues view her with suspicion because she was close to her boss, bent copper Ray Carletti, who she thought of as a father. How could she not have guessed he was behind it all?

Still a Sergeant, Casey applied for promotion, but Lieutenant Helen Dunmore was brought in over her head from NYPD. Casey isn’t that bothered, but Dunmore is. She still thinks Casey knew what was going on all the time, which means she doesn’t trust her, or is it more that that?

I really detested Dunmore. She’s vile. She’s everyone’s worst nightmare of a boss. What happened to women supporting other women? With three homicides to investigate, the top brass seem more concerned with internal politics than actually solving the murders.

Shatter Creek is one of those unputdownable books and I read it in two days. It’s so well written, the narrative just flows beautifully. There’s no ‘padding’ or unnecessary trivia, the story just keeps moving forward. I’m looking forward to more about Casey in the next book in the series.

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

About the Author

Rod Reynolds is the author of five novels, including the Charlie Yates series. His 2015 debut, The Dark Inside, was longlisted for the CWA New Blood Dagger, and was followed by Black Night Falling (2016) and Cold Desert Sky (2018); the Guardian has called the books ‘Pitch-perfect American noir.’ A lifelong Londoner, in 2020 Orenda Books published his first novel set in his hometown, Blood Red City. The first in the Casey Wray series, Black Reed Bay, published in 2021, was shortlisted for the CWA Steel Dagger, with its long-awaited sequel, Shatter Creek, out in 2025. Rod previously worked in advertising as a media buyer, and holds an MA in novel writing from City University London. Rod lives with his wife and family and spends most of his time trying to keep up with his two daughters.

About Orenda Books

Orenda Books is a small independent publishing company specialising in literary fiction with a heavy emphasis on crime/thrillers, and approximately half the list in translation. They’ve been twice shortlisted for the Nick Robinson Best Newcomer Award at the IPG awards, and publisher and owner Karen Sullivan was a Bookseller Rising Star in 2016. In 2018, they were awarded a prestigious Creative Europe grant for their translated books programme. Three authors, including Agnes Ravatn, Matt Wesolowski and Amanda Jennings have been WHSmith Fresh Talent picks, and Ravatn’s The Bird Tribunal was shortlisted for the Dublin Literary Award, won an English PEN Translation Award, and adapted for BBC Radio Four ’s Book at Bedtime. Six titles have been short- or long-listed for the CWA Daggers. Launched in 2014 with a mission to bring more international literature to the UK market, Orenda Books publishes a host of debuts, many of which have gone on to sell millions worldwide, and looks for fresh, exciting new voices that push the genre in new directions. Bestselling authors include Ragnar Jonasson, Antti Tuomainen, Gunnar Staalesen, Michael J. Malone, Kjell Ola Dahl, Louise Beech, Johana Gustawsson, Lilja Sigurðardóttir and Sarah Stovell.

The Last Song of the Mistle Thrush by Ruth Mary Flanagan

“For parents, carers, teachers, and of course, children, who love books like The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris and The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, this stunningly poetic picture book is a timeless ode to nature, hope, and protecting our planet for future generations.”

The Last Song of the Mistle Thrush by Ruth Mary Flanagan is a heartfelt and beautifully
illustrated children’s picture book that weaves poetry and nature into an unforgettable tale.

Through the eyes of a singing mistle thrush, young readers are taken on a poignant journey of loss, resilience, and environmental awareness.

Genres: Children, Picture Book, Poetry, Nature, Illustrated
Publisher: Brown Dog Books
Publication date: May 2025
Reading age: 3 – 8
Instagram: @ruthmaryflanaganauthor

When the trees are cut down and the bird’s home is destroyed, its new song becomes a call to action—one that inspires change and hope for the future of the planet.

Perfect for sparking important conversations about nature, conservation, and shared responsibility, this book will resonate with children and adults alike.

My Review

It’s not often a children’s picture book makes me cry but The Last Song of the Mistle Thrush had me in tears at the end. Because this isn’t just a fictional story. It tells us what will happen if we plunder and destroy our beautiful planet, with no thought for the future. It can still be saved hopefully – though I’m not so sure – but we need to act now.

One day we’ll listen and there will be no bird song, or buzzing of bees, or the rustle of small animals in the undergrowth. We will have cut down the forests, and polluted the air until nothing will thrive.

The book is written in beautifully constructed rhyme, with stunning illustrations by Sarah Lovell. It makes us realise that we all have a ‘shared responsibility to the natural world.’ If you read this to your children, or they read it themselves, I hope you will be able to impress on them how important this message is.

Many thanks to @LiterallyPR for inviting me to be part of #TheLastSongoftheMistleThrush #blogtour.

PS “While the mistle thrush is not currently considered a rare species in the UK, its population has declined since the 1970s, and it is now classified as a red (high concern) species. Some factors believed to contribute to the decline include decreased annual survival rates, farmland degradation, and changes in agricultural practices.”

About the Author

Ruth Mary Flanagan is an award-winning poet, who writes about the wonder and fragility of nature.

Ruth Mary Flanagan
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The Mistake by MJ Arlidge and Lisa Hall

In this family, everyone is telling lies.

Pete never wanted another child. Before baby Erin was born, they were happy. If Natalie hadn’t got pregnant, he would never have done what he did.

Natalie knows things have been difficult since the surprise arrival of Erin. Life with Pete and their two other children – Emily and Zadie – has been balancing on a knife-edge.

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Now their home is full of guests at a party Natalie didn’t want to throw – and she’s about to reach breaking point.

But so is her family.

Because everyone has a secret that they’ve been hiding and when Erin suddenly disappears everyone becomes a suspect.

Surely no one here would want to harm their baby? But after the events of the party there are plenty of people who would want to hurt Natalie.

Including her husband…

My Review

I really enjoyed this and read it over two days. But there are a few things that wound me up about Natalie. This is her third child, so I get it – the other two were easy and Erin cries all the time. Natalie even imagines her baby hates her.

It’s obvious Natalie is suffering from post-natal depression. But when she goes to the doctor, she makes light of her desperation. Lay it on thick Nat. Get some help. Forget Valium (no-one takes that nowadays and ask for a modern anti-depressant together with some form of talking therapy). Take the baby in with you and get her checked over just in case she is suffering from colic, or is lactose intolerant or something else. Your husband can afford tickets to Australia and a diamond ring – spend it on a domestic cleaner and/or even a part-time nanny. I’m fuming!!

I was so involved in their lives (not in a creepy way like Natalie’s friend Eve), that I just had to keep reading. I did actually guess who took Erin and I almost snuck a quick peep at the ending to see if I was correct, but I resisted the temptation. Because everyone’s a suspect.

Pete is a bit of a prat, though nowhere near as bad as Eve makes him out to be, but Natalie doesn’t really help herself. Not that I’m blaming her, but she’s gradually sinking into a ‘slough of despond’, but instead of seeking help, she’s in denial. Not that I’m one to talk – denial is often the easy way out of facing the truth – but when your other children are suffering, you have to seek help. Teenager Emily feels that she is being put upon too much, being asked to help with the baby, while 8-year-old Zadie is wetting the bed and being disruptive at school.

Soon the whole family is falling apart and Pete is even more in denial than Natalie. You just want to knock their heads together and shout at them. Pete has his own answer to their problems – it’s based on rank stupidity – and things go from bad to worse.

Poor Erin. When she grows up, if she ever finds out what happened, or that she was initially unwanted, she’ll need therapy for many years.

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

About the Authors

MJ Arlidge has worked in television for the last twenty years, specialising in high-end drama production, including prime-time crime serials Silent Witness, Torn, The Little House and, most recently, the hit ITV show Innocent. In 2015 his audio book exclusive Six Degrees of Assassination was a number-one bestseller. His debut thriller, Eeny Meeny, was the UK’s bestselling crime debut of 2014 and has been followed by ten more DI Helen Grace thrillers – all Sunday Times bestsellers.

Lisa Hall is the bestselling author of six psychological thrillers and the Hotel Hollywood time-slip murder mystery series. Her debut novel Between You and Me was a Kindle UK number one bestseller, sitting in the top spot for over four weeks. Lisa has a First Class Honours degree in English Literature and Creative Writing. She lives in Kent with her husband and their three children.

Outside The Box by Sue Lancaster

This is the story of Fennel, the Fox who liked to think thoughts that were ‘outside the box.’ 

A heart-warming tale of determination and staying true to yourself. In the tranquil woods where whispers of adventure rustle through fragrant leaves, Fennel the Fox finds himself at a crossroads. Fennel yearns for something more fulfilling-a life rooted in love for nature and authenticity. When the weight of conformity bears down on him like a heavy cloak, Fennel bravely embraces the unknown and embarks on a journey to the bustling city, determined to discover how to harmonise his unique spirit with the world around him.

Genre: Children’s poetry / Children’s fiction ages 3 – 13
Pub: HB Publishing House 
Pages: 40

But will he find acceptance in a place where foxes are expected to be sly, or will he teach the city to appreciate the beauty of thinking outside the box? Join Fennel on this heart-warming adventure that weaves themes of determination, self-acceptance, and friendship. Through the challenges he faces and the friends he discovers along the way, readers will be inspired to celebrate their individuality and the courage it takes to follow one’s true path. 

With captivating illustrations and a touching narrative, ‘Outside the Box’ invites you to explore the transformational power of staying true to oneself and the magic that unfolds when we dare to deviate from the norm.

Let Fennel’s story remind you that sometimes the most extraordinary journeys begin when you step beyond the familiar!

My Review

Poor Fennel! He’s not like the other foxes. He wants to be friends with everyone and take things ‘at a leisurely pace.’ But the teacher tells him that he’ll ‘be destined to lose.’ He needs to be sneaky and sly.

He even loves the chickens and doesn’t want to harm them because ‘Chickens have feelings too…’

Eventually, he decides the countryside isn’t for him, so off he goes to the city. But every job he tries is a disaster. How can you cut hair when you can’t hold the scissors or drive a bus when you don’t know your right from your left.

Until…it was a revelation! He learnt how to cook vegetarian food and set up a cafe…

… called Outside the Box.

What a lovely book this is (not just because I’m also vegetarian) with Fennel as such a sweet character. The book is written in rhyme and the illustrations by Anyu Desyana are great fun. It’s perfect for children aged 3 to 9 to read by themselves, or be read to.

Meet the Author

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Author’s Website:  The Toy

Many thanks to Hygge Book Tours for inviting me to be part of #OutsideTheBox #blogtour

Sixty Is The New Assassin by Shesh

WAS AN ASSASSIN’S ROLE AKIN TO A CEO’S ROLE? BOTH NEEDED SOME SUSPENSION OF MORALITY, A WILLINGNESS TO DO THINGS THAT MOST WOULD NOT, OR COULD NOT.

After retiring from active corporate life, sixty-year-old Ishmael Dollah keeps himself busy with regular runs around the city, tennis at the club and his book club meets. Life is good—a bit staid maybe, but good. That is until, one day, he hears of his beloved daughter-in-law’s rumoured affair. Suddenly Ishmael’s perfect world is turned upside down.

Never one to give in, Ishmael decides to take matters into his own hands. He’ll apply his sharp mind and ruthless boardroom tactics to plan not a hostile takeover, but a carefully orchestrated act of vengeance.

As he treads the fine line between right and wrong, blurring it to suit his needs, Ishmael realises he rather enjoys the process. Sixty Is the New Assassin is an intriguing blend of dark humour and suspense that will keep the reader hooked up to the very end.

My Review

This was hilarious! I loved every minute. I did guess a couple of things, but I think I was supposed to.

Sixty-year-old Ishmael Dollah is an asshole. Not my words – he calls himself that all the time. He’s a retired CEO, the ruthless type that takes companies and breaks them apart, leaving people jobless and desperate, but he doesn’t care. His wife Nysa is a kind, creative, beautiful woman. Why they are together is anyone’s guess.

They have one son whose wife is like a daughter to them. Then one day at a company ‘do’, Ishmael hears a rumour that she is having an affair and he decides to interfere. NEVER interfere in your grown-up children’s lives. It can only end in disaster. To make things worse, he doesn’t confide in Nysa, so she even imagines Ishmael is the one having an affair. He’s up to something, she can tell when he’s lying.

Now at this point, most people would talk to their son, or his wife, or suggest marriage guidance, or divorce or whatever. But not Ishmael. When he takes things into his own hands, we know it’s going to be murder. Because the book is called Sixty Is The New Assassin. I just loved it! Ishmael has no boundaries or moral compass, which makes it even funnier. I just may never use chopsticks again.

Many thanks to the author for inviting me to submit a review.

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Buy Links:
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About the Author

Shesh, or Venkatraman Sheshashayee, is a retired CEO living in Singapore. Armed with degrees in Marine Engineering and Management, he first sailed across half the known world and then built businesses across most of the rest of it. In his career spanning thirty-eight years, he built companies from scratch, transformed them and turned them around. Currently, he mentors nine start-ups and about twenty professionals. He is a director on three boards and advises two more.

He started writing in his teens. His articles have been published in trade publications (relating to the maritime and offshore energy industry) across the world.

Shesh is married to Singapore’s best home baker, Radhika (www.sinsationsbyradhika.com). They have two children, both of whom are in Singapore building a start-up in the physical fitness space.

When not mentoring or writing, he runs, plays tennis and reads. Though never at the same time.

The Friday Friendship Club by Anne Brooke

The lives of prime-time friends Leonora, Selena and Dorothea are about to take a very interesting turn.

Leonora discovers her husband is having an affair and struggles to come to terms with this crushing blow. Selena is about to meet the love of her life but is utterly unprepared for the heartbreak it might bring. Finally, Dorothea’s beloved career is under threat, but her job is the only way she can make sense of herself and she can’t see a future without it.

Can the three friends support each other through life’s challenges, and is there the slightest chance of a happy outcome for any of them?

Perfect for fans of Clare Pooley and Cathy Hopkins!

My Review

I have four friends that I meet on a regular basis (one of which is my sister-in-law) but they don’t know each other. We do lunch, dog walks, coffee and cake. I have never been part of a group in the same way that these three are, but maybe that’s because I have two sons and three granddaughters so it’s usually family first. I know quite a few people though who even go on holiday every year with their school or uni friends.

But I digress. Leonora, Selena and Dorothea have been friends for years and meet in Covent Garden at their favourite pub for wine and chit chat on a regular basis. They are all childless by choice. Leonora is married to Bob, who happens to be Dorothea’s brother. Their lives have always chugged along quite nicely, until Leonora’s devastating discovery. Bob is having an affair with that woman. It puts a strain on her relationship with her sister-in-law. Selena, on the other hand, is about to embark on a promising relationship but will it work out in the long term?

I have to admit that I found Leonora quite irritating (I’m not sure why – maybe it’s because she is not prepared to take any blame for their marital decline), and Dorothea is rather boring – she’s a civil servant – heaven forbid, but she does have a nice cat. But I ADORED Selena. I don’t know if I want her to be my friend or if I want to be her. I love her fashion sense and what she does for a living – she designs costumes for the theatre.

This is a lovely feel-good holiday read, but don’t expect anything too dramatic, apart from Leonora’s pot throwing fits (and we are not talking pottery wheels), and Dorothea’s mid-life crisis. No murders, no kidnappings, no bodies. It’s not that kind of book (my usual genre). So grab a cup of tea, put your feet up, and enjoy.

Many thanks to Hygge Book Tours for inviting me to be part of #TheFridayFriendshipClub #blogtour

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About the Author

Anne Brooke is a multi-genre writer living in Surrey in the UK with a particular interest in gay and women’s fiction. Her fiction has been shortlisted for the Harry Bowling Prize (for novels set in London) and the Royal Literary Fund Scheme. She enjoys crosswords, gardening, swimming and the theatre, and would love to learn how to dance.

Her website can be found at: www.annebrooke.com. She can be found on social media as @annebrookebooks

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