Blog No 178 – Book Review – The Sister Returns by Joanna Rees

As I’m passionate about historical fiction, i did accept this offer to write a book review for Joanna Rees latest book, The Sister Returns from the Stitch in Time Series. Joanna is another new author to me, yet I was eager to commence this novel

The book is available in most bookstores and online retailers now. Congratulations to Joanna for a magnificent book.

Book Description

To have a future, she must confront her past….

It’s 1929 and after running away from her family in Lancashire, becoming a dancer in London and having a riotous time in Paris with her best friend Nancy, would be fashion designer Vita Casey is now living a much more sedate life in New York with her baby son Bertie, far away from her real brother, Clement and her nemesis Edith.

When the disastrous events of the Wall Street Crash change their destinies, Vita and Nancy flee to Los Angeles, where Nancy is determined to make it in the talkies. Schmoozing their way into the ranks of the Hollywood elite, Vita is starting to think that she can begin to fulfil her fashion ambitions. But when the love of her life, Archie is hired as a writer in Nancy’s new movie and Clement exacts his ultimate revenge, Vita’s past and present collide.

She has no choice but to tell the truth and try to reclaim what is rightfully hers before it’s too late.

to think that she can begin to fulfil her fashion ambitions. But when the love of her life, Archie is hired as a writer in Nancy’s new movie and Clement exacts his ultimate revenge, Vita’s past and present collide.

She has no choice but to tell the truth and try to reclaim what is rightfully hers before it’s too late.

About The Author – Joanna Rees

Joanna Rees, aka Josie Lloyd and Jo Rees, is the bestselling author of numerous novels, including rom-coms, blockbusters, and big-hearted adventures such as The Tides of Change and A Twist of Fate. Based in Brighton, Joanna is married to the author Emlyn Rees, and with whom she has three daughters. They have co-written several novels including the Sunday times number one bestseller Come Together, which was translated into over twenty languages and made into a film. They have written several bestselling parodies of their favourite children’s books, including We’re Going on a Bar Hunt, The Very Hungover Caterpillar and The Teenage Who Came To Tea. As Josie Lloyd, Joanna has written the novel The Cancer Ladies Running Club. When she’s not writing, she likes running along the seafront with her dog.

Book Review

I have not read the first and second books in the Stitch in Time series, yet I’m eager to get hold of both copies. This book had me hooked from the beginning to end and now I am wondering why there’s not a book four in the making. The book does have an unexpected ending but could be explored more in another novel.

This book commences in the early 1930’s in New York and continues to Los Angeles and then returns to the UK. The novel follows the lives of two women and a baby boy.  Vita & Nancy are best friends and Vita is the mother of baby Bertie.  The story unfolds about Vita being a single parent and how Nancy is a fiancée and yet doesn’t become a married woman.

Nancy chases her dream of becoming a movie star in the talkies and Vita returns to work to be a fashion designer. Throughout the book you learn more about Nancy & Vita’s families, which is not always a bed of roses. Love appears to be troublesome and revenge has been added to mix to provide some excitement.

This book was compulsive reading, and I thoroughly enjoyed the novel and its characters. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction will love this book and author. This book gets 5 stars from me.

Some of Joanna’s Other Books

Stitch in Times Series

1. The Runaway Daughter
2. The Hidden Wife

Joanna’s Social Media and Random Things Tour

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Blog No 176 – Book Review – The Island House by Mary Considine

As I have an enthusiasm for books, I’ve accepted a further offer to write a book review for Mary Considine’s latest book The Island House. Mary is a new author to me, nevertheless I was keen to commence this memoir.

The book is available in most bookstores and online retailers now. Congratulations to Mary for such a truly inspirational book.

Book Description

Mary and Patrick’s dream was to live in London, have 2.4 children, the nice house, the successful jobs. But life had other plans, and in one traumatic year that all came crashing down.

Bruised and battered, Mary finds herself pulled towards Cornwall and dreams of St George’s Island, where she spent halcyon childhood summers.  So, when an opportunity arises to become tenants if they renovate the old Island House, they grab it with both hands.

Life on the island is hard, especially in winter, the sea and weather, unforgiving.  But the rugged natural beauty, the friendly ghosts of previous inhabitants, and the beautiful isolation of island life bring hope and purpose, as they discover a resilience, they never knew they had.

It has been empty now for six years, and it is full of ghosts. Every wall is patterned with black mould, in lacy fronds or lumpy stripes; every window in the house is broken.

We pile bedding, blankets, coats on to the bed and the cats climb in with us, mourning their lost comforts. We listen to the wails of wind and the menace of waves through the broken glass and breathe in the spores and the damp, clinging together, our family, in the faint warmth of the bed.

We are entirely happy.

About The Author – Mary Considine

Mary Considine

Growing up in the flat landscape of Bedfordshire, Mary Considine fell in love with Cornwall and the sea on her first visit as a small child. Distracted by the badlands of London, she spent the 90s writing and directing plays on the London and Edinburgh Fringe, and scriptwriting. Work included Angels, Time Out Critics Choice; The Other Half, commissioned by the Carlton TV screenwriting initiative; and a short film The Hand Job, shortlisted for the Lloyds Bank/Channel 4 short film competition. The noughties were spent teaching drama in secondary schools in the hills of North Yorkshire and, in pursuit of her now husband, back in London, before realising her impossible dream of moving to St George’s Island in 2010. 

She now lives in North Devon with her husband, Patrick, and seven horses.

Book Review

I found this book to have both heart and soul, it was very inspiring indeed. This book provides an insight into Mary & Patrick’s life. Commencing in the city of London and moving onto St George’s Island, Cornwall.  Along the way, there’s moments of endearing friendships, compassionate family members and willing volunteers.

You’ll observe the evolution of pigs, ducks, dogs, and bees. The creating of being self-sufficient from the island. The restoration of an old property and the conservation of the island. The book elaborates on the history of the island and its inhabitants.

Mary & Patrick’s life does experience some personal challenges, both happy and sad moments, which you’ll learn more throughout the book

This is a beautiful written memoir, and I would recommend this book to any avid reader or book club reading lists.

Mary Considine Social Media and Random Things Tour