Whew! Daylight is finally breaking through! My posts have been few and far between because of retiring, moving, trying to get organized, and my new Small Press Editor position with Historical Novels Review. I really hope things are back closer to normal now!
I have lots of books to catch up on. I just reviewed about ten for HNR, which will be posted on or after October 1st. I have a trip to Connecticut coming up on October 8th to watch my grandkids for a week. They are moving there this weekend. Other than that my schedule should be so much more open now that I’m retired. The best thing about retirement so far: I can nap whenever I want!
And, like many of you, I’m probably going to experience some backlash from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. I’m in the mountains of North Carolina, but lost power is a possibility, as well as fallen trees. We’ve filled up a barrel with water to flush the toilet with if the power goes out. We’ve also got extra drinking water and plenty of food. We hope everyone gets through this okay and we’re praying for NO damage or injuries.
If you are in the path of the hurricane, we are praying for you!!! Lord, please keep everyone safe from this hurricane! In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
If you haven’t had to evacuate, then hunker down and stay safe!
It’s March 1941 at the shirt factory in Ridley, Yorkshire. Ness is a typist in the office, and her friend Eileen works as a seamstress on the shop floor. Nobody could have imagined the consequences when as a result of a prank Eileen plays on her friend, Ness’s name and address ends up in the pockets of two shirts destined for Royal Navy personnel on active service. The fallout from Eileen’s action takes Ness on a challenging, life-changing journey where she must develop her talent for dressmaking and acquire the skills needed to run a business. It is not easy during wartime, when money is short, clothes rationing is widespread and negative attitudes prevail. Can she win through? Or will a painful secret she must conceal destroy her chances?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ninette Hartley is a writer, mother, grandmother, wife and teacher. She has followed many paths – from acting and dancing to magazine publishing, and even driving a pony and trap – but she has always come back to storytelling.
Ninette has an MA in creative writing and has been published in three short story collections. Her first memoir Dear Tosh, published in May 2021 was shortlisted in the Selfies Book Awards and long-listed in the Dorchester Literary Festival Writing Prize 2022. From 2008 -2016 she lived in Italy on an olive farm, returning to the UK to live in Dorset for eight years. Never one to stay in one place for long, she has recently moved to France where she plans to continue writing more works of fiction and poetry.
Loose Ends is her debut novel. You can read more about her on her website: www.ninettehartley.com and you can also follow her on social media.
This thought-provoking novel shows how an innocent prank can change lives forever. Ness’s friend Eileen is just trying to introduce some new men into her life, but when Ness’s address is slipped into the shirt pockets of two unknown men who are going off to war, Ness’s life will never be the same. Both of the men have life-changing impact on her, and it is not all positive. This puts Ness in a complicated situation, and her response helps her build a new life. I liked the plot as a whole. My only criticism concerns the villain in this story, who did not quite face the justice they deserved. The characters are well-written, especially Alf, and I liked the multiple points of view. This is contemplative historical fiction that shows how much each person’s every action, innocent or not, can drastically affect the lives of others. Recommend.
Thank you to Zooloo’s Book Tours for a free copy of this book. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
Meet Lady Amelia Smallhope, for whom there is no problem that can’t be solved by a drink and a think.
And Pennyroyal, for whom there is no problem. Ever.
Everyone’s favorite bounty hunters. Sorry – recovery agents. No bad guy they can’t handle. No expense account too flexible. No adventure too outrageous.
Join them as they settle scores, break every rule in the book and take the world by storm.
Fasten your seatbelts. The timeline doesn’t know what’s hit it.
BOOK REVIEW
THE BALLAD OF SMALLHOPE AND PENNYROYAL explores the background of the mysterious recovery agents who have played important parts in both THE CHRONICLES OF ST. MARY’S and THE TIME POLICE series’. Their stories are both heartbreaking and inspiring, and I was absolutely riveted the whole time. As usual, birds provide some comic relief. In this case, it’s peacocks! The villain in this story is an absolutely evil woman, and I hated her appropriately. The motivations behind Pennyroyal and “why he is the way he is” make sense to me now.
Without giving spoilers, parts of this novel now have me furiously investigating past books in the series, looking for clues. It is also made clear how integral these two characters are to the plots of both series.
I started this book after breakfast and finished it the same day. I could not stop reading. It is not your usual St. Mary’s story, but it ties everything together and makes some big reveals. I loved that it covers the whole time period of The Chronicles of St. Mary’s, and more, while also telling Smallhope’s life story. Fans of this series will absolutely love this one.
I received a free copy of this book from Headline via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own. As I am a huge fan of Jodi Taylor, I also purchased a signed copy and pre-ordered the audiobook.
THE BALLAD OF SMALLHOPE AND PENNYROYAL will be released on September 12, 2024.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jodi Taylor is the internationally bestselling author of the Chronicles of St Mary’s series, the story of a bunch of disaster-prone individuals who investigate major historical events in contemporary time. Do NOT call it time travel! She is also the author of the Time Police series – a St Mary’s spinoff and gateway into the world of an all-powerful, international organization who are NOTHING like St Mary’s. Except, when they are. Alongside these, Jodi is known for her gripping supernatural thrillers featuring Elizabeth Cage together with the enchanting Frogmorton Farm series – a fairy story for adults. Born in Bristol and now living in Gloucester (facts both cities vigorously deny), she spent many years with her head somewhere else, much to the dismay of family, teachers, and employers, before finally deciding to put all that daydreaming to good use and write a novel. Over twenty books later, she still has no idea what she wants to do when she grows up.
Thank you to The Book Date for hosting “It’s Monday!”
Hi everyone! I’m officially retired, but still working on our move. Doug brought down a second U-Haul truck Sunday, and we’re going back Monday to try and get the rest. Our little house is full! The second bedroom is crammed with boxes, and there is some finishing and painting left to do before we unpack a lot of them. But we are here, in the beautiful Smoky Mountains, and I am stoked!
I have been blogging less as life has just been so busy, but I miss it! My posts may be a little shorter but I’m going to try and blog more during this hectic time.
CURRENTLY READING
I’m reading several books for The Historical Novel Society, and they are due in a couple of weeks. I will post about them after the reviews are published November 1st.
WHAT I JUST FINISHED
WHAT I’M READING NEXT
I actually already started the Nora Roberts book, which is the second book in a wonderful series. I’ve usually got more than one book going at a time. The Christmas Tree Farm is one of several Christmas books that are coming out soon. Yep, it’s that time of year.
Question of the Day: What Are You Reading?
I hope you all have a wonderful week, and I will keep the blog posts coming!
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