Christmas Nights at the Star and Lantern by Helen Rolfe

 Christmas Nights at the Star and Lantern

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐(3/5 stars)

Review:

A small village in the UK, where Christmas is celebrated and is welcomed by the locals. After spending a few days and falling in love with a Royal Navy soldier, Celeste knew she wouldn’t see him again after their break.

Celeste is a co-owner of the village bakery with her sister Jade, a dream job of hers since she was young. The village known as Heritage Cove had dedicated shops and cafés, with a noticeable Copper Plough (the village’s cosy pub). Once the owners wanted to retire from the pub, they had to find someone to take over. It was revealed with a new name, which many civilians were afraid of the change, The Star and Lantern, that the new owners were named Eddie and Quinn. Celeste recognised Quinn as the Navy sailor she had fallen in love with a few years ago. He came back, but Celeste was feeling anxious about these shenanigans.

The descriptions in the story were lovely and brought the story alive. From the streets to the pub, it made the book feel cosy and fun to read for the Christmas Holidays, with a countdown to Christmas, including twenty-four entire chapters. The characters had depth and great development. However, the storyline felt slightly boring for me with how the plot moved along in the middle of the book. The hook fell off, but it became wonderful near the end.

Overall, it was a romantic and fun book with brilliant character development. It was only from the middle of the book where the plot and hook felt less exciting.

The East End Nurse by Sheila Newberry

 The East End Nurse

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐(3/5 stars)

Review:

We meet the main character, Hester Stainsby, working at the laundry room in Poplar Hospital (once a real hospital in London), supporting her family as the oldest child. After a tragic accident at work, leaving her father injured as an amputee, Hester begins her journey of desire to become a nurse. The book follows the life of Hester and her family in the 1890s, showcasing intriguing historical events and environments in what life was like back then.

Although finding the history intriguing, the story started confusing with major time jumps at the beginning of the majority of chapters. This creates complications for the reader, since sometimes I’m unsure what has happened during that period of time. Also, this could make character development difficult, but the author made sure it wouldn’t.

Due to the time jumps, I felt that I wanted more time with each character. This story was shorter than I thought, so it felt like we had only small moments for the characters. I wanted to know what’s happening with some of the characters that don’t get as much written about them.

In the end, the time jumps were smaller, and I loved how the plot all tied up. It was a bittersweet ending! I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the theatre and hospitality in the 19^th century. It was fascinating to read since it felt immersive. Additionally, I appreciated how the docks are tied to an important event for Queen Victoria.

Overall, it was a wonderful book to read, but since the story felt short, we didn’t spend as much time with the characters as I wished. However, all of the plots ended nicely and made the ending lovely.

Night Shift by Stephen King

 Night Shift

Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐(4/5 stars)

Review:

Short stories which could make the reader feel frightened in the dark night. Intriguing stories that can make you uncomfortable. I’ve enjoyed reading this book throughout the spooky month, interested by King’s wide and amazing imagination.

Before reading, I thought these stories were all going to be thrillers, but many of them had an interesting concept, including psychological topics, through the mind, death, and the pressure to survive through terrifying situations. Some of these moments were about hanging on a ledge, peer pressure, or about to commit to something you wouldn’t want to do.

The themes were brilliant, showing how they expand over the course of each story through characters’ adrenaline, and each setting was simple for the reader to focus on the scenario. However, the descriptions altered the impact towards intensity.

The stories that impressed me the most were:

Jerusalem’s Lot (I loved the letter format)

Graveyard Sight

The Mangler (I never thought laundry could be used for horror)

The Boogeyman

TRUCKS

Sometimes They Come Back

The Ledge

Strawberry Spring (extremely unexpected ending)

Quitter Inc.

Children of the Corn

The last rung on the Ladder

The Woman in the Room (the last two were heart-wrenching)

Although these stories are fantastic, I must warn you that this book was first published in the 1970s. Due to those times, unfortunately, King did use words to describe characters and scenarios/ settings that would definitely not be allowed to be used today, as well as writing characters that say slurs to discriminate against others. I was surprised to see those kinds of words being used as descriptions, and reading a character being disturbingly racist. I didn’t think it was needed of King, but it does include another aspect or layer of depth with the character, from supporting them to now shocked that they could say that.

This book was thrilling during the Halloween month, through excellent theming and characterisation, spooky scenarios in everyday life, and thoughtful themes. Some were intense and some were saddening to read, giving a large range for the reader to enjoy! Also, this has made me realise how far we’ve come in years to stop discriminating others.  

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. Mcmanus

One of Us is Lying

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(5/5 stars)

Review:

The death of Simon kelleher, who is known to be the founder of a school app spreading and targeting students’ secrets and rumours, was traumatic for four other students (Bronwyn, Cooper, Nate and Addy) in detention on a Monday, after school. A suspicious prank by hiding phones in everyone’s bag, leading to even the strictest student being in detention

I enjoyed reading each four characters’ perspectives, learning as you go along. You don’t understand each character at the beginning, but the characterisation flowed through the book with all kinds of twists and turns. This was fun since the reader isn’t shown all the characters’ secrets in the first few chapters, but throughout the book, showing that you don’t know them at all until the end, similar to how the main characters feel themselves

Bronwyn is known to be one of the smartest students in the entire school, trying to get into Yale (a family tradition) and doesn’t break a single rule, except for one...

Cooper is the school’s star in baseball, gaining massive attention for the past few months of progress and is known to have the perfect love life.

Nate has been a troubling student and doesn’t have any secrets to hide, or does he?

Addy is the perfect, popular girl with the best boyfriend she could ever have.

The investigation is hit by local news, social media and a popular crime investigation television show, making the chances for the murderer even higher. However, this causes damage to the main suspect's reputation, as well as the school as a whole. Rumours and comments from Simon’s app make the story suspenseful. I liked how the effects of social media are portrayed, as well as the gossiping around school, which presents how severe the tensions are.

Although the police are investigating the crime, it comes to the point where the four need to come together to protect themselves and make sure the killer is caught. Who killed Simon Kelleher? The number one enemy in the school.

The Mum who got her Life Back by Fiona Gibson

 The Mum who got her Life Back

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐(4/5 stars)

Review:

The perfect book to read if you are sending your kids to university or you are going yourself. The freedom of a single mother feels once her twins (Molly and Alfie) start their freshmen year. To be able to find someone whom she can love without the pressure of her children being in the way, and to loosen up her weekends.

This is a love story where Nadia finds her way after her kids have moved out. She is a single parent, divorced, although she still talks with her ex, who is a film-maker. Nadia was too busy to find love, but now she has found someone, similar to her own age. Their first interaction was funny, reading how Nadia pretended to work at the shop due to falling in love with him. His name is Jack, a divorced father with one child, falling in love at first sight with the “staff member.” Their interactions were great, and I enjoyed reading their moments together.

After spending months together, the story skips to near the end of the academic year, showcasing how they are still seeing each other with every moment they can. Until eventually the door opens at Nadia’s flat, and Alfie walks in, earlier than he should’ve been. He couldn’t stay at uni after breaking up with his girlfriend, so he came home early. The awkward moments felt cringe and awkward between the three of them, especially with Alfie and Jack, so the author nailed the writing.

After Molly comes back, Nadia has no time for Jack, helping Alfie get over his breakup. And neither did Jack. He’s in contact with his ex, who is an alcoholic, and wants his daughter to be well kept after. Although they’ve decided to book a holiday together in Spain to return to their freedom and peace.

Until one lovely afternoon party with Jack’s family, which turned into a catastrophe for the pair. Will they still go to Spain? How will the situation be solved?

Each chapter switches character from Jack and Nadia (with one surprise perspective), which I liked, so we could see how each character is feeling with particular moments and how it has affected them in everyday life. Nadia is a freelance artist, and Jack is a store manager for a charity shop.

The characters were well designed, each having flaws of their own, which affected the story and made each character interesting. I loved seeing how they developed through each scenario, making the uncertainty of the ending brilliant and full. 

As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson

 As Good As Dead

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐(4/5 stars)

Review:

A brilliant ending for a trilogy! The plot was fascinating for the reader, keeping them on the edge of their seat as they followed Pip through the dangerous plan, ensuring Pip wasn’t a dead girl walking.

This story begins a couple of months after Stanley Forbes was shot six times in front of Pip. The book is much darker than the last two, showcasing the mental health effects a distressing scene can cause someone to spiral, in this case, Pip, who is dealing with PTSD. The way this topic is told in the story is fantastic. You can feel how much Pip is struggling by the description of these scenes, flowing through until the end, which was great. It can get easier, but it doesn’t completely go away, and I’m glad Jackson kept mentioning that Pip sees these effects and how she deals with them in her day-to-day life.

After noticing strange occurrences happening outside her house, she finds out from a solved, old murder case that maybe the wrong person is in prison. A terrifying serial killer may still be lurking through the streets, and Pip may be the next victim. Their kill count topping towards number six.

Pip finds this troubling, linking all of the evidence to the old case by investigating and contacting the victims' families, and the wrongfully convicted killer’s mum. After speaking with Ravi, her number one supporter, she goes to see D.I Hawkins at the police station (known as the bad, bad place). I was shocked and confused why Hawkins refused to act and didn’t believe her frustration. After all, Pip solved two major mysteries: the murder of Andie Bell and the missing person case of Jamie Reynolds. I don’t understand why this officer wouldn’t act upon her words when she is known as a major figure and a big target in the town; her suspicions and evidence should be a reason to show concern. So, Pip must stop this stalker and mustn’t be two steps behind at all times, otherwise she will be wondering who will find her when she disappears.

The first half of the book was amazing, and I felt anxious every time I turned the next page. However, the second half was annoying. I didn’t understand why, after the major plot line, Pip didn’t ask for help from the police, given the scenario. It made the story unnecessary, although I did enjoy following Pip’s suspenseful plan.

The characters were great, finding it interesting to see how distinct the shift in Pip’s behaviour came after the main part of the story. Ravi was supportive of Pip and made sure she was safe and helped out whenever he could.

Overall, this book was fantastic. I liked the darker shift from the last two books, making the reader feel worried about Pip. The investigation was amazing, and I liked that this case was about saving Pip this time instead of others, since it gives the reader anxiety that she has to fight; otherwise, her life would be on the line. Although I thought that the first half was great, I’m still unsure about the second. I felt annoyed at the main character multiple times. However, the ending was sweet, and I’m glad this was how the trilogy closed, so the reader can imagine the possibilities.

Tilly and the Time Machine by Adrian Edmondson

Tilly and the Time Machine

Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐(4/5 stars)

Review:

A wonderful and exciting book, presenting touching topics whilst travelling through time. A fun children's book about Tilly, who is seven and a half, saving her father. As her dad completes the finishing touches on his time machine, he requests that Tilly should choose a destination in time with where she would like to go. She asks to go to her sixth birthday party. To eat the delicious cupcakes and to see her mum again, before she died of cancer.

This story has a touching topic which may help another child, who has lost a parent or family member. The author makes sure that you think about where you would like to go if you could travel through time, including some fun and brilliant quizzes.

However, the next morning, Tilly notices her dad wasn’t in the house, nor the shed. After school, he never came back. After finding photographs changing by her dad asking for help, it comes to the conclusion for Tilly to rescue him. An amazing adventure begins…

I simply adore the illustrations; they add love to the story. Each picture is interesting to look at and follows the story along. I find the character designs to be great and fun for the reader.

The Nanny Diaries by Nicola Kraus and Emma McLaughlin

The Nanny Diaries

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 stars)

Review:

The reader is thrown straight into a prologue where a nanny is being shown around a very particular and expensive apartment, which looks like it came out of a designer magazine, by a flourishing and privileged woman, who lives there with her husband and young son. Welcome to the X family; the stresses of not staining the clean look of the counters are only the beginning, when Grayer’s mother lists everything her child can and can’t do, tightening his freedom. A rocky road for Nanny, but starting her final year of college, she must take this job and show her worth to gain the best grade possible.

Grayer (nicknamed Grover) is a neglected child, once the reader understands who his parents are. A father who is never seen, managing a successful business, but has a secret his wife hasn't got a clue about. Mrs. X helps out here and there but usually leaves Grayer to his own.

We follow the main character of the story, who goes by Nan, and supposedly has been called by her first name once. I found it strange that her family called her Nan whilst Grayer wasn’t with them, since it felt odd calling their daughter her job title instead of her actual name. Unless Nan told them outside of the main book to be referred to as Nan, then that’s the only way. She lives in New York with her roommate, studying a major in child development at NYU.

Mrs X has an extraordinary and strict schedule for Grayer, which Nan must pursue. This story follows the adventures of Nanny and Grayer, similarly to Mary Poppins, which I loved. Even before each chapter starts, the authors include famous quotes from a couple by Mary Poppins and a range of other iconic characters. However, although Nan is given a tight schedule, she still strives to give Grayer a normal childhood, including him in fun games and letting his imagination run wild.

Grayer’s relationship with Nan grew from distaste after Catlin, his most loved nanny, was forced out of the job. Although it starts to expand to each having fun and enjoying their time on each adventure. I thought the characterisation of each main character worked out great. I grew a hatred of the parents and felt worried for Nan, wanting to make sure that Grayer isn't interwined with the family drama.

With working extra hours, not being paid enough, and Mr X’s secret tripling through the family, the drama was overflowing for Nan. Each complication was well written and felt important for the story. Can Nan help Grayer and the family needs? Would she become successful with her college degree?

A Sister’s Hope by Mollie Walton

 A Sister’s Hope 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 stars)

Review:

It’s 1941 England, a couple of years after World War II started. The third book of a trilogy, which felt like a stand-alone story from how the characters and setting were reintroduced to the reader, and for me, I never read the other books. Our main characters of the novel are Connie (Constance) and her mother, Rosina. A woman known to be a single mother with five daughters, who lives at Raven Hall.

After Connie leaves school in the middle of her last academic year, she travels to Scarborough to live through her determination to become a carpenter. Her older siblings are already involved with the war effort, and she is eager to do her part. Once Connie stays with her friend and new flatmate, Valentine, she applies to the workshop.

Although Constance is known to be the mischievous one in her family, her personality shines at the factory. Her bosses are known to be sexist towards women, even though they are the only option left with the men at the frontline. However, one night, Valentine goes missing, and her dead body is found.

After months of the police finding nothing for the investigation to go forward, she knew she had to rest her mind and figure this investigation out on her own. The 1940s were no safer for women during the war, so going through this danger seemed worrying and courageous.

Flowing between chapters, we meet Connie’s mother, Rosina. After the military moved out of her house, she decided to transform the hall into a maternity hospital, so no messes would be created on the grounds. After falling in love with a young soldier in her mid-forties, she wanted her relationship to be kept secret, but after tragedy upon tragedy, her love was becoming exposed.

I appreciate the author taking their dedication to another level, showing how much research they completed to improve upon this story. Visiting old war workshops, learning about carpentry, and taking her time to read information on important topics that are crucial for the past, present and future. Walton’s writing was brilliant to read, although it did take a second to understand for me. Their characterisation on character’s and storytelling were simply brilliant. A defiantly recommended book if you are interested in women in 1940s Britain!

Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer

Letters to the Lost

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 stars)

Review:

A beautiful teenage story filled with emotion, discussing loss and figuring oneself out through friendship.

Following the story, each chapter introduces a letter or message. A boy named Declan Murphy was supposed to be tidying up the cemetery until he stumbled upon a sealed envelope across a newly made gravestone for Zoe Rebecca Thorne, a mother and wife. After looking at the name, he stares towards the date of her death, recognising that a significant moment in his life may have caused loss to a family. Declan has been completing his duty of community service for a few months after his arrest for drink driving.

We follow two perspectives towards loss, with the other being the daughter of Zoe Thorne, Juliet Young. Her mother was a war photographer and was killed a few hours before coming home. Juliet notices the envelope present on the grave. Normally, the staff would have cleaned and tidied up discarded personal items, but it seems that the envelope was left open. Someone has replied to her letter.

Under the names The Dark and Cemetery Girl, you may not realise that these strangers go to the same school as each other. In fact, they are from the same grade but have no clue who they are talking to. They reply with their darkest secrets and thoughts, but are unsure who is writing on the other end.

Understanding that both go to the same school, I thought the story would lead to a common ending, just like similar books, but one plot makes its presence unique from the rest. The pupils at the high school view Declan as dangerous. A senior-class reject. All students, including Juliet, understand that he has a criminal record, but not for what, and is always getting into trouble, making her feel frightened around him.

Will they discover who each other are and how will they react?

Kemmerer has written a wonderful book, focusing on struggling topics with grief, anxiety and loneliness. Each character design has intriguing importance to help each other, even towards the end of the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this piece of writing and believe it can help others with similar feelings as the characters have towards losing loved ones.

Black Rabbit Hall by Eve Chase

 Black Rabbit Hall

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 stars)

Review:

A tragic story with a hopeful ending.

We follow the lives of Lorna in the present and Amber, the eldest of four Alton children, in the 1960s. Following a tragic incident with the Altons, we find the family in distress. They live in a manor during school breaks, in Cornwall, named Black Rabbit Hall following the many black rabbits that adventure around the grounds. After the incident, everything became quiet and still. Sadness overhauled the home.

Three decades later, Lorna finds her way to Pencraw Hall with her fiancé, Jon. They wanted to find the best place to get married, one of which was a beautiful but run-down old manor. A feeling that there used to be life filling around the corridors, yet abandoned. They find a servant serving the old lonely woman who currently lives in the soulless building. Lorna felt familiar with the place, spiralling her to become obsessed with Pencraw Hall, wanting to find answers about herself after seeing photos of her young self with her late mother outside the Hall.

I enjoyed the flow of the book, travelling back and forth to different perspectives while finding answers about the manor, following the story. At times, the reader may discover more before Amber and vice versa, making how the question. 

I struggled to get into the story at first, but once the plot reached the main event and the reason why everything goes tragic for the Altons, the book became interesting. Finding the plot holes and how Lorna finds her way to the Hall made me want to reach the end to reveal the answers to each mystery.

Meet Me in Cockleberry Bay by Nicola May

 Meet Me in Cockleberry Bay

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 stars)

Review:

A somewhat simple storyline representing everything you need to create a good book, by also delivering an effective message.

I didn’t realise this book was a sequel, until looking at the final page where it mentions the Cockleberry series. The story jumped straight into the plot, making the viewer interested from the very start. I didn’t have to read the first book to understand each characters’ intentions and past, due to them being told in the sequel.

After opening a pet shop, getting married, and helping with her friend’s birth, Rosa is living a life she never had before. Love was on her side, but she struggled to trust the people she befriended and fell in love with. After finding out her partner, Josh, was talking with another woman, Rosa felt jealous and thought about the worst possibilities leading her into a rabbit hole of misfortunes. Would she be able to trust her husband, or is their marriage turning into a divorce?

The characters were diverse, and all felt important to the main character's story, no matter if it’s negative. I enjoy reading about Rosa as a whole from her loss and determination to assist her in a battle of trust and love, something she just recently found after being brought up in foster care. Also, Rosa’s partner, Josh was brilliantly written, not letting go of his love for Rosa, and caring for her to become her best self. Everyone is part of a team in the small town and wants Rosa to be her best self.

The plot had a simple drama plan, although, it was effective. If it works, then it works. A story that the reader can understand without anything too complicated, which a lot of books may fall under. I could recognise every intention, making me want to keep reading.

Meet Me in Cockleberry Bay made me research the author and all the other books in the series, wanting me to keep reading the story.

Devil Darling Spy by Matt Killeen

 DEVIL DARLING SPY

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 stars)

Review:

The sequel to Orphan Monster Spy, an incredible first book, following the introduction of the main character, Sarah Goldstein. The opening of Devil Darling Spy was intriguing, wondering where Sarah was, until a little girl, named Ursula Haller, was caught. She was known as Sarah’s disguise to fight Nazi Germany from her first mission at the girl’s boarding school.

Now working for Captain Haller, Sarah travels to Africa with him after persuading him that she will be good for the team, concerned for Haller, disguising herself as his niece. Her child-like features make her appear as a twelve-year-old rather than sixteen, giving her an advantage in solving the mission. A mission they must complete after gaining information on a new weapon being created, wiping out entire villages and towns due to being a horrifying disease. They knew that they must stop their enemies from taking it first and destroy every last part of it, so Britain wouldn’t take advantage of it either.

After saving a maid from being murdered, because of listening to their secrets, Sarah suggested that Clementine could become a spy too and help with the mission in Africa due to her race, so she wouldn't be killed. This book involves many dark and historically accurate themes from Nazi Germany, in the second world war, including racism, sexism, fascism, antisemitism, and many more. These topics are significant, and I thank Killeen for not straying away from the countless issues during that time.

The characterisation was amazing, presenting the trauma and upsetting nature of being a kid in the war. Witnessing tragic and horrifying events was distressing and unsettling to read making you feel sorry for Sarah being in this situation. However, not being here, she most likely will be in a concentration camp due to her religion, Judaism.

The use of a variety of languages portrayed in this book was fantastic. I like how sometimes we don’t know what the characters are saying, being in the same boots as Sarah when she couldn’t understand a language. Involving the reader like we were there in the story.

The suspenseful story had many instances of Sarah in danger, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. Due to her talents and her disguise as a little girl, she must find all the secrets and complete the mission, destroying the weapon. Will she stay alive and stop this weapon from falling into the wrong hands?

The Little Village Christmas by Sue Moorcroft

 The Little Village Christmas by Sue Moorcroft

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5 stars)

Review:

I was expecting a Christmas story set during the winter holidays, but more than half of the book was set up for the lead-up to December. However, the main Characters’ goal was to open a community café on the weekends before the big event, making this the main plot line.

A story about love, determination, and of course, interior design, which gives an intriguing insight into the career. The book leads with two characters, Alexia and Ben, going back to each other’s points of view. They both met at a wrecking party, organised by Alexia to demolish some parts of the old Angel Pub, which had been abandoned for decades, until Ben’s uncle, Gabe, bought the plot. After employing Alexia to transform the building, Gabe decided to turn the old pub into a café where villagers organise events and socialise. Something that was missing in the village since the town hall closed. Until all of the historic pieces in the building, suddenly vanished. After hearing that someone they knew had stolen all of the furnishings, they had to restart the project, almost failing to do so. All of the funds, the village raised, were stolen and no one knew what to do until Gabe let the mastermind of Alexia take over the whole project.

Although I was expecting a story during December, the story progresses from September to reaching the deadline just before Christmas. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book, from the unique aspects and themes following an interior designer, which was a new plot and character design for me.

 

I apologise for not publishing this review sooner, December was a busy month for me.