Bookfest at Tiffany's

  The Lost Girl of Paris By Pam Jenoff Published 29 January 2019 HQ I've read Pam Jenoff's books before but some time ago so when I came across this one and read the blurb I bought it. This one is set in the middle of World War Two and is about the SOE (Special Operations Executive). As you may know, I love to read hist fic so dove right in to this easy, pacy read of spies and resistance. The story begins in 1946 New York City where Gracie questionably discovers some photographs of women. On the back are their first names and some of the women are wearing uniform. The same day, an English woman is hit by a car and killed - the owner of the photographs. Something about those women, their faces, makes Gracie hold on to them and try and find out more about who they were and why this woman had them. The dual narrative takes the reader from 1946 to England 1943 where Eleanor Trigg has been put in charge of creating a very special unit for the SOE. Very hush hush. Over in France, the...

  Home For Christmas by Heidi Swain Published 10 October 2024 Simon & Schuster We are back in the village of Wynbridge and it's coming up for Christmas. Bella LOVES Christmas and while super busy with her craft business, is looking forward to the season and all of it's events. When friends ask if she can take in a historian doing some research for a book on Wynthorpe Hall, she can't say no.  She has the room, and the money would certainly come in handy. Enter Jude - a serious, focused, rather attractive man who happens to dislike Christmas in a way that would make Ebeneezer Scrooge proud. It's not hate at first sight, but there is definitely a coolness about their interactions. Still, he's not there for long and as long as he keeps to his part of the house, Bella is still fully intending to celebrate the festive season as she normally does - outdoor lights, real tree, movie nights, even a hot chocolate station set up in the kitchen. As the ice begins to thaw bet...

  The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows Published 29 July 2008 Bloomsbury Now, I remember this book being published and it was popular - so much so in fact there was a reservation queue at the library, so I waited. Better late than never eh?! But first, a confession... I have seen the film before reading the book. I know, I know... but I LOVED the film so it didn't in the slightest put me off reading a copy eventually. The film, directed by Mike Newell came out in 2018 and stars Lily James as Juliet (a very good casting I might add). Now, back to the book. It is a collection of letters between author Juliet Ashton, her publisher Sidney Stark and members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie society. The purchase of a second hand book and a letter to the previous owner sparks one of the most wholesome, wonderful, heartwarming meet-cutes I've read. Pig Farmer Dawsey writes to Juliet, she writes back, Dawsey tells the soci...

 The Happiest Ever After By Milly Johnson Published 15 February 2024 Simon & Schuster Thank you Simon & Schuster for the proof copy, here is my honest review. Polly Potter escapes her humdrum life with her writing. Gone is the unappreciative, unsupporting boyfriend who constantly takes her for granted. Gone are the work woes where her ideas and hard work are claimed by others and her boss is incapable of making himelf a cup of coffee. When she picks up her pen, Polly becomes no-nonsense Sabrina who lives life on her own terms, knows her own value and is forging fearlessly head onto a new life path. The day finally comes when Polly realises Sabrina is who she wants to be. Who's life she should be living and so she sets her own life changes into motion including speaking up for herself at work and leaving dreary Chris - which will happen as sooon as she can escape from the beige monstrosity she's wearing as bridesmaid to his bloody sister Camay's wedding vow renewal. ...

 Nobody Told Me: poetry and parenthood By Hollie McNish Published 4 February 2016 Blackfriars I have no idea why I borrowed this book from the library. I am neither a parent or a poetry afficionado but I have been dipping in and out of this for a couple of months. It made me laugh, and cry, and get angry. Partway through I bought a copy and gifted it to a friend who is a new mother, and today, I finished it. From festival tent to the first day at pre-school I have been a fly on the wall with Hollie, Dee and Litte One. Among the poems are diary entries and stories. Those, I think I enjoyed the most over the poetry however, one compliments the other and either alone would not have been so enjoyable.  It now has to go back to the library and I will miss having it by my bed. I feel graetful to have been invited to share those family moments full of love and laughter and honesty. I have found more of Hollie's books to read and I'm interested to see if I am moved as much when she wr...

 Floored By Sara Barnard, Holly Bourne, Tanya Byrne, Non Pratt, Melinda Salisbury, Lisa Williamson and Eleanor Wood Published 12 July 2018 MyKindaBook (Macmillan) I'm sure if you read YA, you will have heard of (if not already read) Floored. Seven successful authors collaborate on a novel - each writing a 'voice'. Sounds super complicated, I don't know how they did it... but they smashed it! The premis? Seven poeple get into a lift at a television studios, only six come out alive. No, this is not a horror story with zombies and mild to moderate peril, or a murder mystery thriller. It's about being human, being flawed and although life can floor you, you keep living. The teen voices are very real. Shit happens, they move on, move forward.  I loved the characters - all of them - which is rare. What I mean is, I loved and disliked them in equal measure but that makes the story whole.  Laura Callaghan illustrated the cover and chapter pages and I love the way she added ...