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September 11

rated a book it was amazing A Paris Fairy Tale by Marie Laval (Goodreads Author)

For Cedric and Aurora life is not about fairy tales, it is about work, shutting out the past and discovering the truth at all costs.

Cedric Castel is no Prince Charming. He is rude and invasive; a journalist out to get information and a story before ...more

June 28

rated a book it was amazing Summer at the Little French Café by Karen Clarke (Goodreads Author)

In book two in the Little French Cafe series we are back on the beautiful Ile de Ré where another lost soul finds herself in the bosom of Dolly’s little French café. A chance discovery of a postcard from the island and a baby shawl has led Elle to th ...more

June 26

rated a book it was amazing Overture (L'Alouette trilogy Book 1) by Vanessa Couchman (Goodreads Author)

Marie-Thérèse has a talent for singing and would also have loved to continue her education, but life in a poor farming family in rural Aveyron meant neither were an option for her, as she was needed to work. Money was scarce, life was hard and sudden Marie-Thérèse has a talent for singing and would also have loved to continue her education, but life in a poor farming family in rural Aveyron meant neither were an option for her, as she was needed to work. Money was scarce, life was hard and suddenly made harder when tragic circumstances force the family from their farm.

Leaving their beloved Aveyron, Marie-Thérèse and her mother find themselves in Paris, working long hours for a bed and good meals at her Aunt’s restaurant, Bistrot Mazars, Specialities Aveyronnaises. Here we are thrown into the Paris bistrot culture, where those who had left the countryside for better opportunities flocked to enjoy a taste of home and a friendly face. Life here couldn’t have been more different for Marie-Thérèse and Augustine.

As Paris opens up to Marie-Thérèse she gets a peek into the world of music and opera and a few chance opportunities to sing, all of which rekindle her ambition to become a singer. Despite a few false starts and many obstacles in her way, she meets someone who believes in her and wants for her to succeed. With the right encouragement and lots of hard work, could her dream one day come true?

Vanessa Couchman has the ability to bring history to life and this book was no exception. I felt the hardships of Marie-Thérèse’s early life; the grief, the hunger and the despair. Paris was as exciting for me as it was Marie-Thérèse and the way she embraced her new life and work in Paris, meant I really wanted her to have the chance to grasp the opportunity to become a singer, and to succeed.

As well as the contrasts of rural France and Paris, world events including the Titanic and the unease in Europe before the start of the First World War are all woven really well into the storyline, along with the glamourous world of the Opera and European travel in the early 1900’s.

Overture is the first book in a trilogy and I’m really looking forward to reading the next instalment. If you enjoy historical novels, you should add this to your summer reading list. ...more