The Clarks Factory Girls at War - May Ellis

 

Can love blossom in times of trouble?

Life-long friends Louisa, Jeannie and Kate are following in the footsteps of their families, working at the Clarks shoe factory.

But when Britain declares war on Germany, the Somerset village of Street is shaken to its core. The Clarks factory is at the heart of life in the village, but the Clark family are Quakers and pacifists. Before long, there are fierce debates amongst the workers and tensions between those who oppose the war and those who believe the village men should go to fight.

Each of the girls must decide her own position but as brothers and sweethearts leave for France, Louisa is relieved that her sweetheart Mattie, a Quaker, who won’t be signing up. But she’ll soon find that they face fierce opposition at home as well as across the Channel.

Will the girls’ friendship be enough to keep them together, as everything around them falls apart?

A heartwarming and gripping new saga series perfect for fans of Elaine Everest and Rosie Clarke.

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/clarksfactorysocial

My Review:

As a fan of a good historical saga, especially set around war times, I was intrigued by this especially as I haven’t read anything from this author before.

I have to admit, even with as much reading as I do, and being a history fan, I had limited knowledge of the Quakers (Friends) and their ideas around war (life). I love reading a story that gives me something to learn as well as entertaining.

Clarks is such a well known name, this was also something that had grabbed my attention initially. Reading about the community it created within the workplace, and the wider area was also interesting even though the characters are fictional.

At first, I struggled with the book, I found it a little slow going but it did pick up pace as it progressed. The characters are nice and likeable. Louisa, Jeannie, and Kate become firm friends through their work despite coming from different backgrounds.

There are many strands to the storyline, and as this is the first in a series, I presume we will see how each develop over the coming books.

A historical glimpse into factory and community life at this time, it references believes and ideas at the time which may surprise readers to learn, highlighting the issues with inequalities in gender, age, religious beliefs etc.

An interesting start to this series!

Author Bio:

Alison lives in Somerset, within sight of Glastonbury Tor, volunteering at her local library and for the Alfred Gillett Trust (custodians of the Clark’s archives). Her first book, a contemporary romance, was published in 2014. Since then she has had five more novels published, including another romance and a YA time travel adventure. Her current series, based on the factory workers at Clark’s Shoes was inspired by her move to the area and her love of social history (and the treasure trove in the archives!).

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alison.knight.942

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Alison_Knight59

Q&A with Juliet Greenwood

 Welcome to The Comfy Chair Blog... Juliet Greenwood

Juliet Greenwood has always been fascinated both by her Celtic heritage and the history of the women in her family. Her great-grandmother supported her family by nail making in Lye, in the Black Country, and her grandmother worked as a cook in a large country house.

After graduating in English from Lancaster University and Kings College, London, Juliet worked on a variety of jobs to support her ambition to be a full-time writer. These ranged from running a craft stall at Covent Garden to workshops in story-telling, along with spells of teaching and charity fundraising, and more recently as a freelance editor and proofreader.

Juliet now lives in a traditional quarryman’s cottage between the mountains and the sea in beautiful Snowdonia, North Wales, and is to be found dog walking in all weathers, always with a camera to hand. Her second book for Orion ‘The Girl with the Silver Clasp’ will be published in September 2021.

1.      What was your favourite childhood book/author? 

I adored Rosemary Sutcliff, and her historical novels like ‘The Eagle of the Ninth’ and ‘The Shield Ring’. I loved the way the stories took me away to another time and place and made me really feel what it was like to live there, along with an element of adventure that took me right away from school and everyday life.  

2.      What inspired you to start writing and how long has it taken you to get to this point?

I was such a bookworm as a child, I soon started to make up my own stories. I can clearly remember writing my first novel aged ten, a historical epic set in Saxon times. My ambition was always to be a writer, but I failed miserably in my first attempt when I was in my twenties.  That was when I discovered that just reading and studying literature isn’t enough to be able to write a book, you need to have lived a bit of life too! So life, earning a living and all the rest took over, and it was just over fifteen years ago that I decided it was now or never and seriously go for it. Since then, I’ve gradually built up my experience, from magazine stories to being published with a small press, and I finally managed to get an agent and a two-book deal with Orion last year. I’m really thankful for that experience. There are so many skills to be learnt for writing a novel, as well as all the practical publishing aspects like dealing with the various edits and publicity, I was so glad I was (fairly!) confident I knew what I was doing when I started working with Orion. It’s been quite a journey!

3.      Describe your writing space - neat and ordered or creative chaos? 

I live in a traditional quarryman’s cottage on a hillside at the edge of a Welsh village in Snowdonia. My office is in the ‘crog’ loft, a small space in the attic where the children would have slept in Victorian times. I’m lucky that a previous owner put in a window, so I have a view over my garden and towards Anglesey, with amazing sunsets. Because it’s so tiny I try to keep it fairly organised. It starts that way when I begin a new book, but by the end it’s tending towards my natural penchant for creative chaos, when discarded notes are strewn on every surface for my cat to sit on and all the coffee cups somehow disappear. It used to be my totally private space (the stairs are as steep as the original ladder), but now I have to keep some kind of order for zoom calls, so one corner retains some semblance of neatness – I just have to remember not to adjust the computer so anything else can be seen!

4.      What is the easiest and hardest part of the writing process? 

I find the easiest is the first draft. Mine are always like rough sketches for a painting, just blocking out the story and are always utterly and embarrassingly dire, but the good thing is it doesn’t matter. I go right the way through without stopping, even if a character changes sex or a new one appears out of nowhere. The pressure is off because it’s the version no one will ever see and anything can happen and nothing about it is fixed. I find the hardest part is the editing, the bit when you bash that original brilliant idea (which by now feels like the worst in the world) into shape. It might be the hardest, but this is the part I love, especially when it gets towards the end and I start getting input from my editor. It’s such a buzz when the amorphousness of the first draft takes shape and all the niggles are banished, and finally a book appears. It’s a long, meticulous and exhausting process, but also hugely satisfying. And chocolate is obligatory, naturally.

5.      What does literary success “look” like to you?

When I see readers have enjoyed my books! And when I can feel that I am growing as a writer with the new book, as well as stretching myself in new directions, trying to be the best I can be. My ultimate aim is to become a full-time writer and make my living from what I love doing best – that looks like the best literary success to me!

6.      How do you select the names of your characters?

I make sure they fit in with the period – and the period in which they were born, of course (easy to forget). Then the most important thing is to make sure they can’t be confused with each other, which is mainly making sure they don’t have the same first letter or sound too similar. So I make lists of the letters I haven’t used and go back through my lists again. Some characters appear with a name that’s just perfect, which is wonderful – even when it means I have to change the others around again!

 

7.      What do you hope your readers take away from your book?

I love Hester, the heroine of ‘The Ferryman’s Daughter’, my first book for Orion. She is fiercely protective of her family, but also utterly determined to follow her dream, despite the constraints of her time and the arrival of WW1 that changes her world forever. Hester was largely inspired by the history of women that, until recently, has been largely forgotten, or seen as irrelevant. All those amazing women who were inventors, artists, mountain climbers, nurses under fire and spies behind the front line in WW1, as well as those who kept the world turning at home whatever life threw at them, and became business woman and career women when marriage was no longer an option, so creating the opportunities we have today. Hester was also inspired by the determination of my own grandmother and great-grandmother to escape poverty and take control of their lives. She is a hugely positive and resilient character - I hope my readers are cheering her on all the way, just as I was. I unexpectedly found her an inspiration myself, when the pandemic appeared just as the book was in its final stages. Whenever I had a wobble, I had the strongest sense of not wanting to let Hester down. Whatever life throws at her, Hester picks herself up, dusts herself down and carries on, more determined than ever. It’s a female trait that should definitely be celebrated.

 

Lastly, Jenn (The Comfy Chair) likes to enjoy a good read snuggled up with a cup of tea and piece of cake... what cake or sweet treat would you suggest to accompany your book?

 

It has to be a slice of the exquisite apple cake made by Hester, who is a passionate cook. The recipe is included at the back of the book and comes from a friend, who has a magical way with flavours. It has a touch of lemon running through and is the best apple cake I’ve ever tasted. Especially when accompanied by clotted cream, of course!

The Ferryman's Daughter 

1908: Hester always loved her mother best, her father had always been a hard man to like, spending more time (and money) in the local than with his family. After her mother's sudden death, followed by an injury forcing her father to give up his job as the ferryman, Hester is placed in the position of care-giver for her young brother and sister. 

As the years pass Hester must row the ferry night and day to keep them all from starvation, while her hopes of working in a kitchen and one day becoming a cook, slip further and further away. 

But just how far is Hester willing to go to make her dream a reality? And as the threat of war comes ever closer to the Cornish coast, will it bring opportunities or despair for Hester and her family?

Available HERE

Q&A with Shirley Mann

 Welcome to The Comfy Chair blog... Shirley Mann, author of recent release, 'Bobby's War.' 

I am a journalist who worked for the BBC for most of my career,  for programmes such as Woman’s Hour and Countryfile. I then started up my own media company producing films for organisation such as Natural England and the National Heritage Lottery Fund. I was thinking of retiring when I thought it would be a really good idea to ‘just’ see whether I could write a novel. I have just been signed for two further novels so bang goes retirement. I live in the glorious hills of Derbyshire and have two daughters and a ‘granddog’ ( I know, say nothing!)  

 

1.     What was your favourite childhood book/author?
I absorbed all books but The Faraway Tree and The Water Babies have a special place in my heart.

2.    What inspired you to start writing and how long has it taken you to get to this point? 
I have always needed to write from when I would write stories for my sister and I – as the heroines, obviously- and I became a journalist for that reason but novel writing?-- Well, that only took me until I was 60 until I thought I’d give it a go.

3.     Describe your writing space - neat and ordered or creative chaos?
One day I will be neat and ordered but, at the moment, I move around the house taking my piles of rubbish with me. Sometimes, it’s on the sofa with a cushion on my knees under my laptop, sometimes at the dining room table but for some reason, hardly ever in the little office we have- that’s too much like a proper writer. Strangely the best place I have ever written was in the café at Ikea. No idea why but it worked really well and I love writing on trains. I often think all I have to do to finish a novel is to set off from Land’s End and go up to John O’Groats. That would do it.

4.     What is the easiest and hardest part of the writing process? 
Easiest is writing the words ‘The End’, the hardest is the bit beforehand.

5.    Which other authors are you influenced by?
All of them, I get something out of every writer’s style. Many of them make me feel completely inadequate, others make me feel I can do better- especially with endings. I hate it when they think it’s clever to keep you hanging.  I think I am aiming to create heroines like Georgette Heyer did- all with very different but distinctive personalities. I wanted to write novels that were an easy read but an intelligent read and oh, did I ever want to make sure they were page-turners? I read so much and so many different types of books but often it’s a chore to pick them up. I want to be taken away to another world but it has to be a well-written, well-researched world.

6.     What does literary success “look” like to you?
 People. I had a comment from a reader yesterday that said she stayed up until 1.30am reading my first book and couldn’t put it down. I get a huge kick out of people’s enthusiasm and when a 26 year old says she got through Lockdown with ‘Lily’s War’ because it made her realise what young people went through in the war, it makes me feel very humbled. I also want desperately to do justice to my parents, whose wartime romance started me off on this journey, and to the wonderful former WAAFs, ATA pilots and Land Army girls I interviewed- they helped me recreate their very personal war and told me wonderful details that aren’t in the history books. If I do justice to their legacy, I will feel I really have achieved something.

7.    How do you select the names of your characters?
Sometimes, they just come to me  because they seem to suggest themselves to me but graveyards are good!

8.    Do you hide any secret ‘messages’ in your book that only a few people will understand? 
I was about to say no, but the first one was based on my parents and for the family, I think there will be memories that I have that would have been lost. Certainly, in ‘Lily’s War’ my heroine’s parents are my grandparents and their house and life has now been immortalised in that book and I hope will allow future generations to understand what their ancestors were like.

9.     If your book was to be made into a film/TV programme, which actors would play which role? 
Someone asked me this question the other day and I thought maybe Lily James could be Lily ( and yes, it would be handy she has the same name) and I did think Andy Burnham could be Danny! Maybe a younger version might be necessary but he has all the attributes and certainly the twinkling eyes!

10.  What do you hope your readers take away from your book?
An escape from Covid and maybe an appreciation that at least, we’re not being bombed from the air for six years. But I really would like people to look again at old people and, a bit like the film ‘The Notebook’, realise that they were once young.

 

Lastly, Jenn (The Comfy Chair) likes to enjoy a good read snuggled up with a cup of tea and piece of cake... what cake or sweet treat would you suggest to accompany your book? 

 

Oh, I think a chocolate brownie but actually a chocolate brownie goes well with any book. It helps you get through some of the award winners that are sheer hard work but it also feels gloriously indulgent when you’re gobbling up the pages of a real winner. I hope people think my books are like chocolate brownies- delicious, fun but full of goodness.

Bobby's War
Release date: E book 29^th Oct and paperback 19^th March, 2021.

Red-haired Roberta, Bobby for short, is an Air Transport Auxiliary pilot. She has a frantic schedule delivering planes all over the country and flies everything from a Spitfire to a Wellington bomber. She navigates the country but when it comes to the secrets of her dysfunctional family, she finds that controlling a huge, four-engined bomber might just be easier than controlling her own life.

Available to purchase - HERE

Follow Shirley on Twitter - @shirleymann07
For more information - https://shirleymannauthor.home.blog/

Recent Reads - Round Up Reviews

A very brief review round up for some recent reads...

The Berlin Girl - Mandy Robotham
Avon

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Having read the authors previous books I was anticipating another fantastic historical fiction read and I wasn't disappointed at all. I always get swept away by Mandy Robotham’s storytelling and characters. Our lead, Georgie, is gutsy and very aware of her abilities. She hasn’t and doesn’t let anything or anyone stand in her way and I admire that, even though in gets her in some precarious positions! The people she meets, the relationships she establishes during her time in Berlin will change her life and vice-versa.

A fast paced read, it will have you intrigued, appalled and championing the innocents. It has heart and emotion. I often wonder what happens after ‘The End’ so the inclusion of the epilogue here really completes the journey for us

Highly recommended.

Publication Date: 29/10/20

The Ringmasters Daughter - Carly Schabowski
Bookouture - Published 07/07/20

1940 and as the war rages, Michels home, Paris, is threatened and he reluctantly flees. Finding himself within a group of colourful and dramatic characters, he joins the circus, Le Cirque Neumann. The circus becomes his haven, finding somewhere he can belong. He builds friendships, finds love, believes this life could be the making of him.

A great historical read, highlighting more difficulties of war. It has moments of lighthearted, beauty but also heartache and suffering. As with many novels of this genre, it is a story of hope; a belief in better things to come and in a life that would not be governed by fear or the need to escape or watch over your shoulder.

War is not the overriding theme though, merely a backdrop to this romantic tale. I enjoyed that we focus on the characters, their stories, and lives. Michel is quiet, charming in his own way and happy just to go along with things. Frieda is a breath of fresh air and I’m not surprised he falls for her in such a way. She is the one that keeps things together and her care for others shines through.

I think the plot was nicely paced, characters were well written and established, although I have to say there were a lot of them to keep track of!! I found it to be a gorgeous read, I got through it very quickly.

I enjoyed this book immensely but I was a little surprised that the author went from third person to first person towards the end. I felt the last part was rushed and jumped through time too much. I had anticipated a different ending, I was pleasantly surprised but I was very satisfied with how it was resolved.

To be a great debut from this author, I will look forward to more.

The Cottage of Curiosities - Celia Anderson

HarperCollins - Publication Date: 17/09/20

Having read and adored 59 Memory Lane I could not wait for this return to Pengally. I do think if you haven’t read 59 Memory Lane you should read it first (a) because its wonderful and b) it will give some clarity to this story.

Celia Anderson is brilliant; her writing is gorgeous and the way she tells these stories, brings her characters to life is wonderful.

With ‘The Cottage of Curiosities’ we have a lovely tale of self discovery, love, hope and acceptance. Friendships and relationships play such important roles within this story.

We meet Grace who is searching for information on her biological parents, and finds herself heading to the coastal village of Pengelly. Here she effortlessly fits into the community, making friends as she uncovers the truth about where she came from. All of that on top of managing and utilising an extremely special, maybe magical, skill to help those she gets close to.

An absolutely heart-warming and uplifting book, a real curl up, get cosy kind of read. I cannot recommend this enough.

Do not Disturb - Claire Douglas
Paperback published August 9th 2018 by Penguin

Having read this author latest release and loving it and so did what every book lover does when discovering a new author they like…Set about going through every book they have written.

This thriller had me hooked from the start, I couldn’t read it fast enough if I’m honest. What a page turner.

I think the structure of the book is good, first part is leading up to the “main event” and then the second part being the aftermath and consequences of what happened. This story covers many topics murder, violence, marital problems, mental health issues and the woes of being a parent.

There are some red herrings thrown in along the way to keep you guessing, I really felt quite sorry for Kirsty. She is a woman with a lot on her plate, she doesn’t want to add any burden or stress on to her husband Adrian so keeps a lot from him; she worries about making her business a success as well as having a whole host of family drama turn up at her door. She is overprotective of her children but could this be for very good reason?

This secluded village location, the vivid descriptions added to the atmosphere of the book which is incredibly well written.

A tense thriller that I would definitely recommend. 

BLOGTOUR: Mulberry Lane Babies - Rosie Clarke

About the book

1941, Mulberry Lane, London. War rages but new arrivals bring new hope. Perfect for fans of Katie Flynn and Cathy Sharp.

Life is hard for all on Mulberry Lane as the war rages into yet another year. Desperate times push people into dangerous situations.

Menacing shadows lurk on dark street corners, threatening the safety of those who are alone and vulnerable.

When Peggy's twins are born early, Maureen and Nellie are there to lend a helping hand. The mothers of Mulberry Lane stick together despite the grim conditions of war-torn London and a shadowy fear that stalks their lives. Neighbours and friends look out for each other and new life brings hope and joy to the Lane.

My Review: 

Mulberry Lane Babies is the third in the Mulberry Lane series from Rosie Clarke, but it is personally my first visit. I don’t think it’s essential to have read the others – it read well as a standalone book, in my opinion. You probably would benefit from reading the others, as it is always nice to read any book series from the start – you may find out things about the characters that I have missed out on.

We are given the stories of several women who go about their lives with loved ones away at war or having already been lost, they are either having, expecting or hoping for babies. The lives of these very endearing ladies are taking very different paths and each girl is having to cope with cruel or surprising twists and turns. It’s a good thing they have each other for support and they try to keep on.

There's a fair dose of drama within the book, a mixture of happy and sad times. I really enjoyed Rosie Clarkes style of writing, everything flowed nicely and was lovely to delve into their world. A fantastic book that fans of historical romance will love. I recommend. 

About the author 

Rosie is happily married and lives in a quiet village in East Anglia. Writing books is a passion for Rosie, she also likes to read, watch good films and enjoys holidays in the sunshine. She loves shoes and adores animals, especially squirrels and dogs.

Follow Rosie:

Twitter: @AnneHerries

Buy links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2El4Djg

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2ElTyhR

Google Play: https://bit.ly/2LSRROX

iBooks: https://apple.co/2WPWKcK

Follow Aria:

Website: www.ariafiction.com

Twitter: @aria_fiction

Facebook: @ariafiction

Instagram: @ariafiction

REVIEW: Girls on the Home Front (Factory Girls #1)

Available here

August 1941: As war sweeps across Britain and millions of men enlist to serve their country, it’s up to the women to fight the battle on the home front.

Fran always thought she would marry her childhood sweetheart and lead a simple life in Massingham, the beloved pit village she has always called home.

But with war taking so many men to the front line, the opening of a new factory in the north-east of England presents an opportunity for Fran to forge a new path.

Against her father’s wishes and with best friends Sarah and Beth by her side, Fran signs up to join the ranks of women at the factory. It’s dangerous work but as the three friends risk life and limb for their country, they will discover that their lives are only just beginning…

My Review:

This is the first in a ‘Factory Girls’ set of books by Annie Clarke and what a wonderful start. This book is a brilliant look at a time that women were inspirational and supported men in the fight for victory. Full of spirited characters that I think other readers will really like and want the best for.

Girls at the Home Front is about some women from the pit village of Massingham, who work hard to support their families often by risking their lives as well as dealing with their personal problems. I particularly like how the characters in this book are normal, realistic people – making mistakes and having problems that aren’t easily rectified. I always enjoy this genre as women as often portrayed as determined, little forces to be reckoned with.

I really liked learning about Fran, Sarah, Beth and their families, as the book progressed, I found myself unable to put it down as I was invested in their lives.  Other characters all play their role and are wonderful additions to the book, although I think anyone that reads this can agree that Ralph is the villain of the piece.

I enjoyed this book, a heart-warming, nostalgic saga with community at its heart. I must admit it took me a while to get into it, and I struggled understanding all the local dialect, but I persevered and found it easier the more I read. It definitely opened my eyes in what communities and families had to go through during the war. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

Recent Read Round Up

It's been a wonderful few weeks of reading for me. I've had some great reads from the depths of my TBR mountain to discovering an author and promptly ordering everything she'd written. Here's a little round up of just a few:

Order here

The Olive Branch - Jo Thomas

As a new,found fan of Jo Thomas I am having a ball working my way through all her books. If you haven't read a book by Jo Thomas before, please take a look at her wonderful back catalogue as they are brilliant.

The Olive Branch is a warm, romantic book  with a wonderful story of adventure, risk taking and the rewards of hard work and determination. I love stories that give us a true sense of its setting and Jo does that wonderfully. I've never been to Italy but through such great description I could  imagine the rural, close community that Ruthie finds herself part of. 

The book is full of great characters – and very amusing guard goat! Ruthie faces opposition from the Bellanouvo family who want what they believe to belong to them and want nothing more than seeing the back of this latest outsider.  I found Marco to be charismatic and charming, I could imagine the stereotypical sexy, Italian, dark, broody man next door. 


I loved The Olive Branch, it was an interesting and enjoyable story, with a fabulous cast of characters, and delicious descriptions that'll have you whisked away to Italy. I recommend for a pleasurable and relaxing read. 

Available here

Dear Mrs Bird - AJ Pearce

Ohh how I enjoyed Dear Mrs Bird by AJ Pearce. It's an amusing, charming read and for an historical fiction book is refreshingly light hearted - for the most part. There are some absolute heartbreaking, emotive scenes which really bring home the atrocities of the time. I was absorbed as soon as I started reading, I loved how easily the story flowed and how it progressed at a steady pace.

I loved the well written characters, the lovely Emmy Lake was quite a plucky young lady. She's a positive girl who remains optimistic even in dire circumstances; she is kind, caring and I'd say inspirational. Doing as much as she did for others in difficult times. I really enjoyed reading about a strong female from this time.

I really enjoyed the parts with the advice column – it added some funny moments, especially if deemed inappropriate for Mrs Bird. Her character seemed fierce and quite easy to dislike. No wonder Emmy wanted to do something nice for those that wrote in. I'd read that inspiration for Dear Mrs Bird came from real letters from wartime publications. I found this fact really thought provoking and quite sentimental.

Available here

Still Me - Jojo Moyes 

I'm a Louisa Clarke fan; she's a character that has given us happiness, love, fun and frolics but also heartbreak, agony and despair. I know there has been much discussion about the need for a second, and now a third book but honestly, this third book – took me right back and sucked me right in to her world again. I read and enjoyed After You, I can't say I loved it but always willing to give it a try so I admit I was apprehensive going into Still Me.

I knew the second I started reading I was back with Louisa Clark and I was happy these characters were back. I was reminded of Louisa's quirky character and matching that with being in New York – perfect.

It was quite an emotional read and as expected took you on quite a journey with Miss Clark – you don't think anything is ever straight forward or easy for her do you?! Jojo Moyes is a beautiful story teller and the story she gives us throughout Still Me is nothing less than brilliant. With introductions of some colourful characters, I felt Louisa had found the place she truly should be. I love how all characters have progression throughout and the ones you can't abide sometimes turn out to be the ones that make the book worthwhile.

As I finished this book I definitely felt that that's our time with Louisa at an end, and I honestly say I was a little bit emotional. It took me a few days to stop thinking about Still Me – it took me through so many emotions but I feel it was the correct journey for her final chapter.

Available to order 

The Second Husband - Louise Candlish 

I'm a fan of Louise Candlish's books. I've been trying to work my work through them all. I knew this was written earlier than the books I'd already managed to read so I wondered if the style would be any different.

I found that this was well written, familiar style and it flowed well. I was waiting for something though, I can't put my finger on what. I love a good twist or turn that you don't see coming but as I read I found myself wanting something more to happen. As I always expect to be surprised, I think my brain was coming up with extra twists on top of any the book threw at me. I'd guessed what would happen quit early on but I did wonder how it would be resolved (which ended up being done in a fairly “normal” way).

I did enjoy the book– I liked the story telling but would've liked some more unexpected turns. 

The Little Vintage Carousel by the Sea - Jaimie Admans 
The cover attracted me to this book, it’s bright, colourful and cute. I found this read to be utterly charming - especially our leading man Nathan(iel), who sounds wonderful. I’d love to find a Train Man like him! Ness is a great character, quirky, funny and with Nathan it’s clear to see a perfect match. 

I laughed a lot throughout the book and was definitely smiling as I read their romantic tale. 

A sweet story that has such likable characters; it is a well written, feel good tale. I also loved the sound of Pearlholme; would love to return. 

Thank you to HQ Digital for the copy via Netgalley for an honest review
                                                  
 

The Survivors - Kate Furnivall

Available here

Goodreads Blurb:

'Directly I saw him, I knew he had to die.’ Germany, 1945. Klara Janowska and her daughter Alicja have walked for weeks to get to Graufeld Displaced Persons camp. In the cramped, dirty, dangerous conditions they, along with 3,200 others, are the lucky ones. They have survived and will do anything to find a way back home.

But when Klara recognises a man in the camp from her past, a deadly game of cat and mouse begins. He knows exactly what she did during the war to save her daughter. She knows his real identity. What will be the price of silence? And will either make it out of the camp alive?

My Review:

This is the first time I've read a book by Kate Furnivall and what a wonderful experience it has been. Kate has written a beautiful, fiercely captivating tale of unwavering love and the bond between mother and child as well as the steely determination to do whatever is needed to survive.  A story of the survivors of war, it is spellbinding and I found it difficult to put down.

I always know a book has had a long lasting effect on me, as I think about it for days afterwards and replay different parts in my mind.  I like to think of it as a 'book hangover' and that's what I feel here. I am fairly ashamed to say I didn't know too much about the DPs Camps but this book has vividly painted a picture, Kate's writing draws you in and makes you feel like you are really there, watching all that takes place.

I felt each characters spirit, they were well written to evoke various emotions - love, despair, fear and even hate. Klara - the lionness protecting her cub. A mother willing to do anything in order to find, protect and free her child, wanting to make the life ahead better -she may have to do and experience truly awful things, but she is such a fantastic character. I loved her attitude, her approach  and intelligence in any situation and I was completely on her side from the moment I started reading. I think the flashbacks to Klara's emphasised what she was capable of, what she was willing to endure and served as a reminder of how far she had come.
 

If I thought Klara was feisty then her daughter, Alicja, is something else! What a testament to Klara; the lengths her daughter would go so to protect her Mum too. True fighting spirit from both women, who feel the need to right a wrong, seek revenge and get what they deserve. 

The delicate relationship between Klara and Davide, a symbol of the fragility of all survivors - their friendship and blossoming romance throughout was a beautiful addition to the story.

An emotional journey of love and survival, showing humanity at it's worst but also at its most special. 

First but definitely not the last book by Kate Furnivall, I highly recommend for all historical fiction fans but if you're looking for something different - this is worth the step out of your comfort zone. 

Comfy Rating: 👍👍👍👍👍