📖 Book Review ~ Bonnie McFlump by Vanessa Thurlow

In association with Bear With Us Productions
January 2025

Illustrations by Rob Will

Thanks to Cameron Publicity for my copy of this book

Bonnie is entitled and greedy.

She doesn’t eat fruit or veg,

And is a bit of a meanie.

But when the day of her party arrives,

She gets a terrible surprise.

Bonnie soon understands that being unkind is not great,

And goes on an Amazonic Adventure to correct this mistake.

This is an ideal book for talking to children about being kind to others in a light-hearted way. It may also encourage them to eat a few more fruits and vegetables…

📖 My review…

This is a fun look at what could happen if you eat the wrong foods and are unkind to people. It gets its message across in rhyme which makes it an easy story to read for confident young readers or it would make a nice bedtime story read by an adult. There are some funny bits that children might like especially the reference to poo and farts, they made me smile and I know that young children like something that makes them laugh out loud.

The coloured pictures are bright and cheery especially in the Amazon Rainforest where Bonnie’s interaction with an indigenous tribe of people teach her the meaning of being kind to others. It’s an ideal size for reading in one go, just 35 pages, and the large paperback ensures that the colourful illustrations are fun, bright and capture the imagination really well.

Bonnie McFlump gets its message across about healthy eating and the importance of being kind to others in a lighthearted way which I’m sure will appeal to its target audience of three to nine year olds.

About the Author

Vanessa Thurlow is a former solicitor , who once she had children, began looking for a more creative challenge. A travel enthusiast, she lives in a truly multi-cultural household- her children are of Spanish,Pakistani,Lebanese, English and iris descent. She lives in Essex and Bonnie McFlump, is her first book.

Book Review ~ A Secret in the Family by Nancy Revell

Penguin
30 January 2025

Thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

1945, Sunderland. Ida Boulter makes the heart-wrenching decision to leave her five children behind as she escapes her husband and moves to London to start afresh with the love of her life.

1953, County Durham. Ida’s children have since built a new life in the beautiful home of Cuthford Manor – looked after by their eldest sibling Angie and her husband.

But their world is about to be rocked once again when their mother turns up out of the blue for the first time in eight years.

She has come back bearing a secret she can no longer keep from her family.

Will telling the truth cause more harm than good?

Only their love for one another will carry them through the turbulent times ahead.

My review..

Last year I read The Widow's Choice which featured Angie Foxton-Clarke and her move to Cuthford Manor. In this next story we meet again with Angie and her new husband Stanislaw as they celebrate their first wedding anniversary. All is going well with the party until the untimely arrival of Angie’s mother, Ida, who had abandoned her children some eight years ago. This unexpected arrival causes a lot of unease especially when Ida reveals a secret which she has carried within her for a long time.

This is an emotional family drama which is high on both tension and heartbreak. Ida’s somewhat fractured relationship with her children forms the basis of the story and I enjoyed observing how she attempted to break down the barriers which had been placed there by her leaving them to fend for themselves. The story focuses not just on Ida’s poignant story but also that of all of her children, especially sixteen year old Marlene, who has some uncomfortable growing up to do, and Angie who has had to support her siblings after her mother had abandoned them.

Beautifully written, and with an authenticity which brings the 1950s to life in a realistic way, the story flows well, all the characters are really interesting and catching a small glimpse of some of the people from The Shipyard Girls series was an extra special bonus. I’ve really enjoyed learning about the secret in this delightful family in a story which is both heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal measure.

About the Author

Nancy Revell is the author of 12 titles in the bestselling Shipyard Girls series, which tells the story of a group of women who work in a Sunderland shipyard during WWII. Her books have sold more than half a million copies across all editions.before that, she was a journalist who worked for all the national newspapers, providing them with hard hitting features, She also wrote inspirational true-life stories for just about every woman;s magazine in the country. Nancy was born and brought up in the North East of England and now lives in Oxfordshire with her husband, Paul.

Twitter @arevellwalton #ASecretInTheFamily

@PenguinUKBooks

📖 Book Review ~ Elemental : A Short Story Anthology

Breakthrough Books
2024

Thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

 

From the ephemeral to the earth beneath our feet.

From fire in the heavens to the water of life, from atoms and molecules to modern relationships, seventeen authors explore ‘the elements’ through the form of the short story.

Whether in the building blocks of the universe or the climatic conditions that sustain us, whether in the finer points of music and desire, or in the perfect conditions for creating wine and wonder, these are the fundamentals that shape who we are and how we live.

Playfully working with mystery and humour, poignancy and myth, futurism and the ancient past, the magic of fiction has the power to enlighten a deeper sense of truth.

📖 My Review..

This anthology has an imaginative theme with all the seventeen individual stories blended around an ‘element’. All the writers who have contributed to this set of stories have their own sense of style and whilst I won’t single out any story for particular praise, I will say that I found much to enjoy in all of them. It’s an easy book to dip into and out of which is I what enjoyed most and found that I finished it, quite easily, in a couple of sittings.

I sometimes think that short stories can occasionally miss the spot but it’s not so with this collection which showcases a talented bunch of writers who certainly bring skill to their stories. The writing is good, and each thought provoking story is imaginatively described, I’ve enjoyed reading them.

Contributors: Zena Barrie, Mark Bowsher, Stephanie Bretherton, Jamie Chipperfield, Sue Clark, Jason Cobley, Stevyn Colgan, Samuel Dodson, Elena Kaufman, A,B. Kyazze, Pete Langman, Virginia Moffatt, Ivy Ngeow, Penny Pepper, Eamon Somers, Nicole Swengley, Damon Wakes.

Website 

X @BBookCollective

 

📖 Publication Day Book Review ~ The Woman in the Wallpaper by Lora Jones

 

Little Brown Book Group
20 February 2025

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of the book

Paris, 1789. The Oberst Factory, which crafts exquisite wallpaper for the most fashionable French homes, is a place shrouded in mystery. Most enigmatic is the woman pictured in each of its prints, rumoured to be the late Mrs Oberst, who died in peculiar circumstances.

When sisters Lara and Sofi arrive there for work, they quickly form a friendship with Josef Oberst, the motherless heir to the factory. Whilst Sofi's political fervour intensifies, Lara is disturbed by the uncanny way her life appears mirrored in the wallpaper. Meanwhile Hortense, Josef's spoilt aristocratic wife, is similarly unnerved by the scenes that line the walls of her new home. With the mobs growing ever more violent, is she in danger of meeting the same untimely end as the last Mrs Oberst?

As revolution blazes across France, the lives of Sofi, Lara and Hortense are set to collide in unimaginable and irrevocable ways. Can they change what lies ahead, or are some patterns destined to be repeated?

📖 My Review..

Told in a three person narrative, we get the unfolding story of Lara and Sofi Thibault, sisters who, after a family tragedy, move from Marseille, to the Oberst wallpaper factory in Jouy, to learn the skill of wallpaper production. We also meet Hortense du Pommier, a spoiled aristocratic young woman, whose brittle personality epitomises the French aristocracy on the eve of revolution and whose marriage into the Oberst family brings the lives of these three women into sharp spotlight.

The story gets off to a slow and steady start and sets the scene of discord well with a chilling opening chapter.. This was a time of great social and political upheaval with swathes of poverty and hardship which is juxtaposed against the blatant wealth of the aristocracy who quickly become the target for violence. Both Lara and Sofi are fascinating characters, emotionally close as only sisters can be, who need to find their way in an increasingly troubled time. Hortense, adds her own sense of volatility to this story of three very different young women who were caught up in some of the most momentous years in French history. The production of the Oberst wallpaper is well explained and quickly becomes another character in the novel and adds an interesting dimension to this fascinating story.

Well researched, and rich in historical detail, The Woman in the Wallpaper is an imaginatively written historical novel and a commendable debut by a talented writer.

About the author 

After studying English Literature at Durham University, Lora Jones began her career working in the TV industry in London, writing factual programme content and comedy material for the BBC, Channel 4 and others. She now lives high amongst the rugged hills of North Wales, where she is currently rewilding an ex-sheep farm. In her spare time she paints wildlife. The Woman in the Wallpaper is her first novel.

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📖 Book Review ~ Dead in the Water by Simon McCleave

Avon
June 2024

Anglesey #5

Thanks to the publisher for the copy of the book 

When a seventeen-year-old girl vanishes from her home overnight, DI Laura Hart knows that time is of the essence.

Then, an inmate at the local prison is murdered in her cell and suddenly Beaumaris CID is juggling two major investigations.

With inmates refusing to talk to the police, Laura is forced to take drastic going undercover behind bars.

With everyone under suspicion, Laura’s true identity must be kept a secret, meaning no one can protect her.

Locked in with a killer, it’s a race against time – can Laura find a lead… before she’s found out?

📖 My Review..

Another exciting Anglesey mystery awaits in this fifth book in the series which sees DI Laura Hart and DI Gareth Williams once again involved in complex crime investigations. Gareth, and his team, investigate the mysterious disappearance of seventeen year old Abby Wright from her home whilst Laura goes under cover in a women’s prison to discover more about the violent death of one of the inmates.

As always the tension starts pretty much from the start and doesn’t let up pace until the very end and in between there are so many twists, turns and red herrings that you really need to keep your wits about you as the story gets more and more complex. I thoroughly enjoyed both investigations especially as everything evolves in real time. The prison scenes were particularly strong, with Laura using her customary wit and skill to find out just what was going on behind the locked doors of HMP Tonsgrove.

The beautiful island of Anglesey is described in such imaginative detail that I could easily picture the small town of Menai and the isolated Pentraeth Forest, whilst at the same time keeping pace with a storyline which kept my attention from its thrilling beginning, to its satisfying conclusion. Whilst it is possible to read this as a standalone story, it does make sense to enjoy this series from the beginning as that way you get to know, and care, about the characters especially Laura and Gareth who are fast becoming two of my favourite fictional Detective Inspectors. I look forward to reading more crime adventures in future books.

About the Author

Simon McCleave is a million-selling crime novelist who lives in North Wales with his wife and two children.

Website

X @simon_mccleave 

@AvonBooksUK

📖 Blog Tour ~ The Woven Lie by Liz Harris

Heyward Press
13 February 2025

Three Sister #3

My thanks to the author and Rachel’s Random Resources for my copy of the book
and the invitation to the tour 

 

Suffolk, 1948

When Violet Hammond sees an advertisement for a manager to run a museum in a village outside Bury St Edmunds, she jumps at the chance of a job that sounds both different and a challenge.

For Dr Edward Russell, forced to resign from managing the museum owing to the increasing pressures on him as a doctor, the person to succeed him is obvious – the highly competent Gladys Wilson. After all, Gladys had worked at the museum for years and had run it on her own on many occasions.

But when Edward interviews Violet, he’s excited by her enthusiasm and ideas for modernising the museum and her vitality, and he finds himself offering her the position. With a smile on her face and the right words on her lips, Gladys assures Edward that she’ll support Violet as much as she can.

But Gladys has no intention of doing so. On the contrary, she wants Violet to be sacked as soon as possible. She has too much to lose if Violet stays.

📖 My Review..

What a lovely story this has been, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed spending time in the village of Harton, near Bury St Edmunds as Violet Hammond takes on her new role as curator at the village museum. There she meets Doctor Edward Russell who is delighted by Violet’s enthusiasm for history and the progression of the museum. Not so keen is Gladys Wilson who is disgruntled that she didn’t get the museum job instead of Violet. 

The author brings everything to life quite beautifully, explaining Violet’s enthusiasm for history and her hopes for the museum and whilst she comes across as a bit naive at times that didn’t stop me from becoming quite attached to her. What makes the story all the more interesting are those characters who are out to make life difficult for Violet, I especially enjoyed observing how that would all work out. Everything moves along at a gentle pace which is entirely in keeping with the somewhat old fashioned nature of the story and the quiet appeal of life in the aftermath of WW2. 

With a touch of cosy crime, a hint of heartwarming romance The Woven Lie is a lovely story about the value of truth, the strength of resilience and the joy of living your best life with those you love.

About the Author

Born in London, Liz Harris graduated from university with a Law degree, and then moved to California, where she led a varied life, from waitressing on Sunset Strip to working as secretary to the CEO of a large Japanese trading company.

Six years later, she returned to London and completed a degree in English, after which she taught secondary school pupils, first in Berkshire, then in Cheshire and finally in Oxfordshire.

In addition to the twenty-one novels she’s had published since her debut novel The Road Back, Liz has had several short stories in anthologies and magazines. 

Liz lives in Windsor, Berkshire. An active member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and the Historical Novel Society, her interests are travel, the theatre, reading and cryptic crosswords.

X @LizHarrisAuthor #TheWovenLie

X @rararesources

Valentine’s Day 2025

 

“For where all love is, the speaking is unnecessary. It is all. It is undying. And it is enough.”

© Diana Gabaldon, Outlander, 1991

📖 Publication Day Book Review ~ The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths

Quercus
13 February 2025

Thanks to the publisher for my copy of the book

 

Ali Dawson and her cold case team investigate crimes so old, they're frozen - or so their inside joke goes. Most people don't know that they travel back in time to complete their research.

The latest assignment sees Ali venture back farther than they have dared before: to 1850s London in order to clear the name of Cain Templeton, the eccentric great-grandfather of MP Isaac Templeton. Rumour has it that Cain was part of a sinister group called The Collectors; to become a member, you had to kill a woman...

Fearing for her safety in the middle of a freezing Victorian winter, Ali finds herself stuck in time, unable to make her way back to her life, her beloved colleagues, and her son, Finn, who suddenly finds himself in legal trouble in the present day. 

Could the two cases be connected?

📖My Review..

Ali Dawson’s work as a cold case investigator is very different from the usual police procedural as uniquely she uses time travel to discover more about certain unsolved crimes. The concept of being able to go back to a specific moment in time in order to solve a ‘cold’ case is an intriguing premise for a novel as it successfully brings both crime and history together.

In order to clear the name of a modern day MP’s great-grandfather, Ali is transported back to Victorian London where she has only a short time to gather enough evidence to prove either guilt or innocence however, the situation goes slightly awry, and Ali becomes stuck in 1850 with only her wits to keep her safe. The time travel aspect is cleverly done, totally believable and written with such fine attention to historical detail that I have successfully navigated Victorian London and shared Ali’s curiosity as she walked the teeming streets of the East End. There’s also a modern day mystery to solve which introduces us to Ali’s son, Finn, in a development of the story which sits comfortably alongside the historical aspect and as neither timeframe seeks to outshine the other, both are equally enjoyable.

Skilfully written, and with fine attention to every detail, The Frozen People really captured my imagination. I would love to think that this is just the first book in what could turn out to be another successful series which brings Ali Dawson back in another time travel mystery.

About the Author

Elly Griffiths is the bestselling author of the Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries and the Brighton Mysteries. She has won the CWA Dagger in the Library, has been shortlisted five times for the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year, and longlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger for The Lantern Men. Her series featuring Detective Harbinder Kaur began with The Stranger Diaries, which was a Richard and Judy book club pick and won the Edgar Award for Best Novel in the USA. It was followed by The Postscript Murders, shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger and Bleeding Heart Yard. Elly has two grown-up children and lives near Brighton with her archaeologist husband.

X @EllyGriffiths #TheFrozenPeople

X @QuercusBooks

📖 Blog Tour ~ The Confessions of a Lady by Darcy McGuire

Boldwood Books
9 February 2025

The Deadly Damsel #3

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book
and to Rachel's Random Resources for the invitation to the blog tour

Dare she risk her secrets?

In the world of upstairs/downstairs, Housemaid Penny Smith anticipates her employer’s needs and blends into the background making her the perfect spy for the prime minister against a suspected member of the Devil’s Sons. There’s only one problem. When she meets the guilty marquess, his actions don’t match the evidence against him. Lord William Renquist defies her every expectation and sets her traitorous heart racing.

Lord William Renquist, Marquess of Stoneway and secret spy to Queen Victoria, must infiltrate the Devil’s Sons, tearing the brotherhood apart from the inside. His mission – to bring evil men to justice while atoning for the sins of his family, proving honour is stronger than tainted blood. There’s only one problem. A canny maid who is always in the right place at the wrong time and who deliciously challenges his every order.

Liam and Penny are unknowingly playing a dangerous game from opposite sides of justice. And at a masked ball, forbidden attraction burns into something far more complex as their secrets spin into daring confessions. This battle against their enemy will only be won if Penny and Liam can work together. But can a maid from downstairs ever trust an upstairs marquess?

📖 My Review..

This third book in the Deadly Damsel series introduces us to another intrepid young woman. Penny Smith has taken on a role as housemaid in the home of Lord William Renquist, Marquess of Stoneway, in order to provide the evidence needed to infiltrate a deadly brotherhood targeting defenceless young women. However, Penny didn’t anticipate becoming attracted to the deliciously handsome Marquess, nor to have that attraction passionately reciprocated. 

What then follows is Cinderella type, rags-to-riches steamy romp, which sizzles with sexual chemistry whilst at the same time highlights the differences between the social classes of those with money who live above stairs and the drudgery of the servants working below stairs. This third book continues the Deadly Damsel theme of strong and capable women fighting to protect the innocent. I enjoyed seeing the return of those characters we have come to know from previous books and I found that Penny Smith was definitely a worthy addition to this band of intrepid women recruited by Queen Victoria to defend the innocent against adversity.

Lord William Renquist’s attraction to Penny definitely sizzles on the page with their encounters adding a nice amount of spice to the story, and of course, there’s a mystery to solve which comes together nicely and leaves the way open for a further continuation of this delightful series.

  

About the Author

Darcy McGuire is an award-winning New Zealand-born writer now living in the Pacific Northwest. She will write a five-part Victorian romance series for Boldwood, focused on a group of ‘Deadly Damsels’.

Social Media

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📖 Blog Tour ~ The Secrets of the Rose by Nicola Cornick

Boldwood Books
7 February 2025

Thanks to the publisher for my copy of the book
and to Rachel's Random Resources for the invitation to the blog tour

1715: With the country on the brink of rebellion, Dorothy Forster’s life at Bamburgh Hall is ruled by the men in her life – her feckless brothers stirring up trouble at court, her elderly father with his dangerous secrets and the man she loves who the world seems determined to keep her apart from. As tensions grow, Dorothy finds herself caught between the warring factions, danger everywhere. Then Dorothy discovers her family are the keepers of the legendary Rose, the talisman both sides believe will guarantee them victory in this deadly conflict. Now Dorothy will have to risk everything to keep the Rose safe; the fate of the country and the men she loves rests in her hands.

Present Day: Hannah Armstrong has returned home to Bamburgh Hall for work but when she discovers that her stepmother Diana has been keeping worrying secrets, her focus shifts to getting to the truth. Their family home once belonged to heroic Dorothy Forster, whose portrait graces the walls and whose spirit lingers in her home, but soon Hannah learns that there was much more to this formidable woman. Because Dorothy left behind a mysterious legacy and it’s not long before Hannah realises it’s one people are willing to kill for. Now Hannah is in a race against time to unravel the secrets of the past before danger arrives at their door.

Two women divided by time but bound by a centuries’ old mystery. Bestseller Nicola Cornick is back with a brand-new thrilling adventure, a heartbreaking love story and the unforgettable story of how the courage of one woman can save a family and even save a nation.

📖 My Review…

Hannah Armstrong returns to Bamburgh Hall, in the North East, once her childhood home, in order to do some research for a work assignment and in doing so finds that she is strangely drawn to a mysterious portrait of a beautiful young woman. Dorothy Forster, is the indomitable young woman, who lived at Bamburgh Hall in the early eighteenth century, and it is her portrait, and her combined story that we follow in this cleverly controlled time slip novel. 

With careful attention to detail and in beautifully written alternate chapters we move seamlessly between the modern day and Hannah’s complicated family dynamics, her concern for her stepmother, who is struggling, and the uneasiness which surrounds her brother, Brandon. Back in 1715 we follow Dorothy as she worries about her two brothers who are caught up in the events leading to the first of the Jacobite rebellions and as these events spiral out of control so we follow Dorothy on a treacherous path to keep her family safe.

Bringing the past to life is what this author does best. Her fine attention to detail brings not just the eighteenth century to life in all of its periodic detail, but we also get to spend time in modern day Bamburgh, with its looming castle, and windswept beaches, which helps to create a lasting impression. Slipping back through time, Dorothy’s story, once the stuff of legend comes alive, and I found the Jacobite connection absolutely fascinating, especially the importance of the rose talisman which Dorothy discovers has such a powerful meaning to both her family, and the Jacobite cause.

Beautifully written, and researched, The Secrets of the Rose,with its hint of magical realism and a touch of tender romance, gives a fascinating glimpse into the dangerous events of the past, bringing alive a story which is rich in historical detail and alive with intrigue.

About the Author

Nicola Cornick is the international bestselling and award-winning historian and author of over 40 novels featuring women from the footnotes of history. Translated into 25 languages and previously published by HQ, her first book for Boldwood, The Other Gwyn Girl, set in the time of Charles II, was released in March 2024.

Facebook: @Nicola.Cornick

Twitter: @NicolaCornick

Instagram: @NicolaCornick

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Bookbub profile: @NicolaCornick

 

📖 Book Review ~ Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister

Penguin
30 January 2025

Thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

It’s Camilla’s first day back at work, her daughter’s first day at nursery.

But husband Luke is nowhere to be seen. The only trace of him is an unfinished note. Camilla tries to put it out of her mind; there must be a rational explanation.

At work, there are welcomes back, and too many distractions.

Then it starts.

Breaking news: there's a hostage situation developing in London. The police arrive: Luke is caught up in it.

But he isn't a hostage. Luke - doting father, successful writer, enthusiastic runner and eternal optimist - is the gunman.

What Camilla does next is crucial. Because only she knows what the note he left behind says, and the clues it might hold…

📖My Review..

Literary agent, Camilla’s first day back to work after her maternity leave is not the peaceful transition she wanted as she is horrified to discover that her husband has been caught up in a hostage situation. When Camilla discovers that her normally peaceable husband is not the victim but the perpetrator her whole world falls apart.

What then follows is a tense and cleverly plotted thriller in which we follow this complex story as it unfolds. We get to know Camilla, her life after the event and her overwhelming need to discover just what made her loving husband act in the way he did and what drove him to such a desperate situation. With a strong cast of supporting characters including, Niall, the police negotiator, who played such a pivotal role in the hostage crisis, a picture of a complex crime starts to emerge. 

This is one of those intriguing stories in which it would be all too easy to give away something important so I won’t reveal any spoilers only to say that this kept me engrossed trying to understand why a seemingly mild mannered family man would act so out of character. There are enough twists and turns to keep the momentum going and some dark moments which fit in well with the plot.  I enjoyed the reveal, parts of which I didn’t see coming, and felt a great deal of satisfaction at the conclusion of the story and the hidden meaning in the book’s title. 

Famous Last Words is a well written mystery/thriller by a talented writer who brings such a sense of reality to her stories. 

About the Author

Gillian McAllister is the Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of eight stand-alone novels. Her books have been selected for the Radio 2 Book Club, Reese's Book Club, the Richard & Judy Book Club, and is published in thirty-six languages.

Twitter @gillianmauthor #FamousLastWords

@MichaelJBooks

📖 Book Review ~ Six Poppies by Lisa Carter

 

Penguin
Michael Joseph
30 January 2025

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

Afghanistan, 2007. Carl meets Sarah, a nurse, at Camp Bastion and they feel an instant connection. But she’s the girlfriend of his fellow soldier, Danny, so he pledges to keep his distance.

Finally back in England, Carl vows to never forget those who didn't make it home, honouring each of them with a tattoo of a poppy. While many miles away, Sarah tries to forget the man she swore to leave behind.

But when Carl and Sarah are thrown back together, it’s clear that both of them are broken. But do the scars of what they went through run to deep, or is there a chance they can find happiness again, together…

📖 My Review..

There is no doubt that the war in Afghanistan left its mark on those service personnel who fought and died there. Six Poppies is an emotional story which, although fiction, is based on factual experiences and highlights the difficulties of adapting to life when you feel you have lost everything and of the horrors of PTSD, which so often goes untreated.

Carl and Sarah meet at Camp Bastion and although there’s an instant connection between them Sarah is the girl friend of Danny, Carl’s fellow soldier, and is therefore off limits. With emotions running high and danger never far away this group of soldiers bond together like brothers , they feel loss sharply and grieve keenly for those who never make it home. Back in England, Carl picks up the pieces of his life, honouring his lost comrades with a poppy design inked onto his back by a talented tattooist. However, even though his life is returning to some semblance of a new normal, Carl can never forget Sarah and the dream of what might have been…

This beautiful story is told from both Carl and Sarah’s perspective, we find out more about them, their lives going forward and the hurt they each carry within them. And as each beautiful poppy is etched painfully into skin we learn the significance of each one, the memories evoked, and the raw pain of not being able to do more for those who lost their lives. Carl and Sarah’s story broke my heart into a million pieces and as their connection becomes ever more irresistible so we learn more about the harsh reality of living life broken in mind and spirit.

Poignant, beautiful, emotionally charged, this is one love story which will stay with me for a long time.

About the Author

Lisa Carter is a journalist who has worked for The Sun, The Mirror and the Daily Mail where she edited the Femail pages for over ten years. She lives in London with her husband and three sons.

X @MichaellJBooks #SixPoppies