📖 Blog Tour ~ Dálvi : Six Years in the Arctic Tundra by Laura Galloway

 

Allen & Unwin
3 February 2022

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book
and to Midas PR for the invitation to the blog tour

An ancestry test suggesting she shared some DNA with the Sámi people, the indigenous inhabitants of the Arctic tundra, tapped into Laura Galloway's wanderlust; an affair with a Sámi reindeer herder ultimately led her to leave New York for the tiny town of Kautokeino, Norway. When her new boyfriend left her unexpectedly after six months, it would have been easy, and perhaps prudent, to return home. But she stayed for six years.

Dálvi is the story of Laura's time in a reindeer-herding village in the Arctic, forging a solitary existence as she struggled to learn the language and make her way in a remote community for which there were no guidebooks or manuals for how to fit in. Her time in the North opened her to a new world. And it brought something else as well: reconciliation and peace with the traumatic events that had previously defined her - the sudden death of her mother when she was three, a difficult childhood and her lifelong search for connection and a sense of home.

Both a heart-rending memoir and a love letter to the singular landscape of the region, Dálvi explores with great warmth and humility what it means to truly belong.

📖 My Review..

I don't often read memoirs but this story, along with the stunning book cover, really piqued my interest, especially as the author spent six years living in one the most beautiful but remote places in the world. Discovering that she shared DNA with the indigenous Sámi people, who live in the Arctic tundra, opened up a world of possibilities which came at a time in Laura's life when she needed a complete change of environment.

Told in alternate chapters I found the parts of the book about Laura's unconventional American upbringing particularly interesting but it is the chapters which take us on her Arctic adventure, which are fascinating, shining a new light on the idea of taking time out in the wilderness. Laura's relationship with a Sámi reindeer herder is short lived but rather than return to America, Laura stayed on in Kautokeino, the tiny Norwegian town, and with sheer determination she makes this her home and starts to make new friends.

The author is a good raconteur and describes her life in a candid and thought provoking detail. I admired her strength of spirit in taking up a new challenge in a place which had its own complicated language and customs and where she didn't always fit in but all credit to her for taking on the challenge and coping admirably with an adventure which had some scary moments.

Invoking the spirit of the Arctic Tundra and the remoteness of the landscape Dálvi : Six Years in the Arctic Tundra is an engaging read about life lessons and second chances.

About the Author

Laura with her dogs Rássi andNilla
Photo credit: Bjarne Joakimsen

Laura Galloway is a writer and communications strategist. She began her career at the Los Angeles Times and holds a Master of Arts in Indigenous Journalism from the Sámi University of Applied Sciences in Kautokeino, Norway, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Southern California. An ardent animal lover, she and her partner live with her two reindeer-herding dogs and two cats.

Twitter @LauraGalloway #DálviBlogTour

Instagram @authorlauragalloway

@allenanaunwinuk

@midaspr

📖 Featured Book of the Month ~ The Swift and the Harrier by Minette Walters

Allen and Unwin

Published in Hardback and Ebook on 4 November 2021

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book

Dorset, 1642. When bloody civil war breaks out between the King and Parliament, families and communities across England are riven by different allegiances.

A rare few choose neutrality.

One such is Jayne Swift, a Dorset physician from a Royalist family, who offers her services to both sides in the conflict. Through her dedication to treating the sick and wounded, regardless of belief, Jayne becomes a witness to the brutality of war and the devastation it wreaks.

Yet her recurring companion at every event is a man she should despise because he embraces civil war as the means to an end. She knows him as William Harrier, but is ignorant about every other aspect of his life. His past is a mystery and his future uncertain.

The Swift and the Harrier is a sweeping tale of adventure and loss, sacrifice and love, with a unique and unforgettable heroine at its heart.

📖 My Thoughts..

In the summer of 1642, Jane Swift is on her way to tend to a sick child when she inadvertently gets caught up in the dreadful events taking place in Dorchester as the city is swept up in a fervour of unrest and Puritan retribution. Not wanting to witness the harrowing execution of Catholic priests,  Jane waits in the doorway of the house of Lady Alice Strickland where she comes into contact, not only with the formidable Lady Alice, but also with William Harrier who is Alice's footman. This momentous meeting between two strong women will have long reaching repercussions as both Jane Swift in her role as a female physician and Lady Alice Srickland's forthright nature are a combined force which cannot be ignored. The enigmatic Harrier has his own dangerous path to tread, and is one which will have far reaching repercussions for all of them.

When the story opens in 1642 the English Civil war is bubbling under the surface. There is widespread discontent against a King who refuses to listen to his advisors and who will not be moved to compassion by the plight of his people. War is inevitable and with meticulous research and fine attention to detail this troubled period in history comes to vivid, and dramatic, life.

I enjoyed walking alongside Jane Swift, she's a strong and decisive character, more than a match for any man who blocks her path and her true calling as a skilled physician is certainly put to the test as the Civil War battles get underway. Jane's complex relationship with William Harrier is fascinating, both are willful, determined and with right on their side, unstoppable however, Harrier's chameleon like nature means that we never really know what he is going to do next. And that's what makes this story such a fascinating read.

Authentically written with all the skill and passion which this talented writer brings to the literary table. I loved The Swift and the Harrier and am delighted to make it my Featured Book of the Month for November.

The Swift and the  Harrier is published by Allen and Unwin on the 4 November and is available to buy in hard back and ebook from all good book shops.

About the Author

Minette Walters is one of the world's best-selling crime writers. She is the author of twelve novels, winning the CWA John Creasey Award for The Ice House, the Edgar Allan Poe Award in America for The Sculptress and two CWA Gold Daggers for The Scold's Bridle and Fox Evil. The Last Hours and The Turn of Midnight mark an exciting new direction for Minette. She lives in Dorset with her husband.

Website

Hist Fic Saturday ~ The Turn of Midnight by Minette Walters

On Hist Fic Saturday

Let's go back to ...medieval England

The year is 1349 and time is running out..

Black Death #2
Allen&Unwin
4 October 2018

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book

What's it all about...

As the year 1349 approaches, the Black Death continues its devastating course across England. In Dorseteshire, the quarantined people of Develish question whether they are the only survivors.

Guided by their beloved young mistress, Lady Anne, they wait, knowing that when their dwindling stores are finally gone they will have no choice but to leave. But where will they find safety in the desolate wasteland outside?

One man has the courage to find out.

Thaddeus Thurkell, a free-thinking, educated serf, strikes out in search of supplies and news. A compelling leader, he and his companions quickly throw off the shackles of serfdom and set their minds to ensuring Develish's future - and freedom for its people.

But what use is freedom that cannot be gained lawfully? When Lady Anne and Thaddeus conceive an audacious plan to secure her people's independence, neither foresees the life-threatening struggle over power, money and religion that follows...

My thoughts about it...

In 1348/49 the worst pandemic in history continues to make its presence felt. For those who try to survive in the demesnes of Develish in Dorseteshire, life, despite the plague, is, thanks to their gracious benefactor, Lady Anne, safely maintained. When clandestine news arrives from their erstwhile steward, Thaddeus Thurkell, that there are little survivors throughout the area, plans are made to bring in whatever food and livestock is available in order to ensure the survival of Develish. However, danger is never far away, and Thaddeus and his young companions need to keep their wits about them as they venture into dangerous territory.

There is no doubt that the author has created a very believable and almost dystopian medieval world. Fourteenth century Dorset is a place where all hope of charity is abandoned and the old feudal way of life is forever changed. Survivors of the plague look for guidance from their lords and priests but finding nothing worthwhile challenge authority on every level. Lawlessness is one step ahead of terror and Thaddeus and his companions need wit and guile and also a plausible reason for travelling the land, and so, with the collusion of Lady Anne, an audacious plan is set in place which will either see the success of Develish or its demise.

Thanks to the undeniable skill of the author I have been immersed in a dark medieval world, traversing a countryside destroyed by the ravages of a deadly disease which ravaged communities. The old remnants of a feudal system is in disarray and the country is a lawless place were bodies lie unburied and livestock roam untended. However, if people are to survive, plans have to be made, and both serfs and freemen must work together in order to survive, and for some this is the chance of a lifetime to make something of themselves.

The Turn of Midnight brings this dark world to life in glorious detail, concentrating more on what is going on in the wider community than at Develish, the story is no less compelling. The characters we got to know so well in The Last Hours continue to have a starring role in this story but with greater emphasis placed on Thaddeus and his young companions who he has trained into a strong band of followers. 

As there is a seamless continuation from the first book to this second story, I feel that readers coming  new to The Turn of Midnight will have missed far too much and whilst I'd like to say this story works as a standalone, I don't think it does, as this really is one of those series which you should read in book order.

Alive with menace from the start, The Turn of Midnight is a vivid recreation of medieval life and one of the best historical fiction series I have read in a long time. I do hope that there's going to be at least one more book as the ending in this one certainly lends itself to a continuation...

About the Author

©Vicky Fry

Minette Walters is one of the world's best-selling crime writers. She is the author of twelve novels, winning the CWA John Creasey Award for The Ice House, the Edgar Allan Poe Award in America for The Sculptress and two CWA Gold Daggers for The Scold's Bridle and Fox Evil. The Last Hours and The Turn of Midnight mark an exciting new direction for Minette. She lives in Dorset with her husband.

Amazon UK

Twitter #TheTurnOfMidnight

His Fic Saturday...The Illumination of Ursula Flight by Anna-Marie Crowhurst

On Hist Fic Saturday

Let's go back to ...Restoration, England

Allen and Unwin
3 May 2018

My thanks to the publishers and LoveReading.co.uk for my copy of this book

Ursula Flight’s journey into the world began on the night of the great comet of 1664. With this auspicious beginning, Ursula was never going to be an ordinary girl. Taught reading, writing and astronomy by her father, Ursula had a thirst for knowledge and desire for adventure which eventually sees her taking to the London stage. However, Restoration England was a brash and vulgar place and to achieve success in this world, Ursula had to use her considerable wits to survive and thrive. 

Ursula isn’t your usual delicate romantic heroine, she is bold and brave and so beautifully depicted that her character literally leaps of the page and grabs you by the hand as she explores the thespian world she so craves. A passionate writer and playwright from an early age, Ursula uses her considerable skill to tell her story with great gusto. Part narrative, part play, part diary, this unusual way of telling the story captured my imagination, and I had great fun in following Ursula’s adventures, both at her home in the village of Bynfield, and later when she makes her mark on the great city of London. 

The author has captured all the essence of Restoration England and brings this rather bawdy world to life in a very readable way. Time and place is captured beautifully and I especially enjoyed the way the story wrapped itself so perfectly around Ursula’s forceful personality. 

Really well done from the very beginning, The Illumination of Ursula Flight is a lively and, at times, mischievous journey through the whims and fancies of Restoration England. 

About the Author

Anna-Marie Crowhurst read English at King's College London and has worked as a freelance fashion and culture journalist for more than 15 years, contributing to publications including The Times, The Guardian, Time Out, Stylist and Emerald Street, for whom she currently covers books, entertainment and lifestyle, as well as writing a weekly column going out to 150,000 like-minded women every Sunday:

Her debut novel The Illumination of Ursula Flight was written during her recent MA in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University, and was supervised by the award-winning novelist Tessa Hadley. Anna-Marie graduated with distinction in 2017. She lives in London.

Twitter @Writercrow #UrsulaTakesFlight

@AllenAndUnwinUK

Amazon UK

  I read this book as part of the Love Reading Review Panel. You can read more reviews here

  

Blog Tour ~ The Dark Lake by Sarah Bailey

Jaffareadstoo is delighted to host today's stop on The Dark Lake Blog Tour

Atlantic Books
1 March 2018

My thanks to the publishers and Random Things Tours for my copy of the book and the invitation to be part of this blog tour

What's it all about...

A hot summer. A shocking murder. A town of secrets, waiting to explode...A beautiful young teacher has been murdered, her body found in the lake, strewn with red roses. Local policewoman Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock pushes to be assigned to the case, concealing the fact that she knew the murdered woman in high school years before. But that's not all Gemma's trying to hide. As the investigation digs deeper into the victim's past, other secrets threaten to come to light, secrets that were supposed to remain buried. The lake holds the key to solving the murder, but it also has the power to drag Gemma down into its dark depths...

My Thoughts about it...

The small Australian town of Smithson is rocked to its core when one of the local high school teachers is found dead in mysterious circumstances. Rosalind Ryan is a popular teacher, her pupils love her and her recent school theatre production of a reworking of Romeo and Juliet has been the high spot of her career. When local detective, Sergeant Gemma Woodstock arrives to investigate the murder she finds rather more than she bargained for, as the victim is well known to her, as Rosalind and Gemma were once pupils at the very same high school.

What then follows is a tense crime thriller which looks at the murder investigation in some detail and which also explores the emotional aspect of the connection between Rosalind and Gemma. Their combined secrets are buried deep and it takes a while before their connection starts to surface but when it does, the direction the story takes becomes darker and darker.

The Dark Lake is one of those suspenseful crime stories which makes you really think about what's happening and the twists and turns in the plot are well designed to keep you guessing. However, quite a lot of the story is taken up with the details of Gemma's life, and her complicated relationships sometimes take centre stage rather more than the murder investigation.This is no criticism, as the details of Gemma's rather complex life are finely intertwined with that of the town and its people.

The author writes well and certainly knows how to crank up the tension and whilst there are little clues dropped into the narrative, they're very subtle and interesting to observe. I enjoyed the flipping back and forth of the time frame which gives insight into the real background of the story which I can't say too much about but it all blends in very well.

There is no doubt that The Dark Lake is a remarkably accomplished debut novel and, as it's the first book in a proposed crime series, it certainly gets everything off to a very good start. 

An author to watch, I think.

About the Author

Sarah’s first novel, The Dark Lake, was published in Australia by Allen & Unwin in May 2017 and in the USA and Canada in October. Sarah lives in Melbourne, Australia and has two young sons. She has fifteen years experience in the advertising industry and is currently a director at creative projects company Mr Smith.

Sarah’s second book, Into The Night, featuring Detective Gemma Woodstock, will be published in 2018.

Twitter @sarahbailey1982 #TheDarkLake

@AllenandUnwin

Amazon UK

Do visit the other stops on the Blog Tour

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Hist Fic Saturday...The Last Hours by Minette Walters

On Hist Fic Saturday

Let's go back to ....Dorset, 1348

Allen & Unwin
2 November 2017

My thanks to the publishers for my review copy of this book

Sometimes, even before opening a book, I get the impression that it's going to be rather special. In the case of The Last Hours, I was excited long before I ever saw a finished copy, because the book is written by one of my favourite authors who, in this latest book, her first for ten years, has taken a completely different direction from the crime genre which is usually associated with her fine writing.

The Last Hours takes us back to the dark world of fourteenth century England. It’s the year of our Lord 1348, and for those souls who live and work on the estate of Develish in Dorset, life is about to change forever. When news of a deadly pestilence reaches the estate, the lady of the manor, Anne Develish, needs to take control of those whose lives are in her care. Lady Anne makes the momentous decision to quarantine the estate in the hope of quelling the speed of the infection. However, her choice to raise one of the serfs to the lofty position of her steward is met with mutterings of discontent amongst the rest of the community. The courageous decision to isolate the estate has far reaching consequences, not just for the two hundred bonded serfs who call Develish their home, but also on the wider community whose fate becomes intermingled with that of Develish.

What then follows is an atmospheric and skilfully told story, which brings to vibrant life the medieval world. The petty jealousies and suspicion shown by the serfs of Develish towards their new steward manifests itself in rumours of doubt and mistrust towards the Lady Anne who only wants to ensure their survival.

The book is quite stark in places and perhaps, at times feels a little bit slow, but I think this only adds to the overall feeling of impending doom. A sensation which is evoked with such realism that I felt like I was a privileged time traveller who was being allowed to sit quietly in the shadows, watching in fascinated horror as the drama unfolded. So convincing is the narrative that you really can see, feel, and hear everything that goes on and never for one moment do you doubt that you are witnessing at first hand the horror of a plague ridden land.

Beautifully recreating the medieval world with all its dark and dangerous corners, The Last Hours, is a story which, if the ending is anything to go by, is by no means finished, and I look forward, with great excitement, to the next instalment.

You can find out more about the author on her website

Amazon UK


Twitter #TheLastHours

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Review ~ See you in September by Charity Norman

Allen & Unwin
 2017

What's it all about about ...

It was supposed to be a short trip - a break in New Zealand before her best friend's wedding. But when Cassy waved goodbye to her parents, they never dreamed that it would be years before they'd see her again.

Having broken up with her boyfriend, Cassy accepts an invitation to stay in an idyllic farming collective. Overcome by the peace and beauty of the valley and swept up in the charisma of Justin, the community's leader, Cassy becomes convinced that she has to stay.

As Cassy becomes more and more entrenched in the group's rituals and beliefs, her frantic parents fight to bring her home - before Justin's prophesied Last Day can come to pass.

What did I think about it...

Whilst on holiday in New Zealand, Cassy has a row with her boyfriend, Hamish. After abandoning him, she hitches a ride with a group of people who persuade her to join them in Gethsemane, a rural community which lies within the volcanic shadow of Mount Tarawera. 

Living a sustainable existence in such an idyllic location is an attractive proposition to Cassy and even though she knows should return to her family in London, she is entranced by the group's ideology and decides to make her home with them. When Cassy fails to return, as planned in September, precious family memories are all that Cassy’s parents, Diana, Mark and younger sister, Tara have to sustain them through the missing years.

I think what is so powerful about this story is the utter believability of how Cassy was taken in and how, almost without conscious thought, she was brainwashed into believing that the life she was now part of at Gethsemane was the absolute truth. The indoctrination at the heart of the story is subtle and so cleverly contrived that I almost wanted to join the community, and follow the teaching and philosophy of Justin Calvin, for myself.

I read See You in September over the space of a couple of days and even when I wasn’t reading it I still had Cassy on my mind. As a parent, I felt every inch of Diana and Mark’s anguish at not being able to communicate with their precious daughter, and yet, due to the author’s vivid description of life at Gethsemane I also understood why Cassy felt compelled to remain there with her new family and friends.

Powerful, upsetting and more than a little disturbing, See You in September is an unputdownable novel by an author at her absolute best.

Best Read With...a rich and succulent venison casserole..

About the Author

Charity Norman was born in Uganda and brought up in successive draughty vicarages in Yorkshire and Birmingham. After several years' travel she became a barrister, specialising in crime and family law. In 2002 realising that her three children had barely met her, she took a break from the law and moved with her family to New Zealand. See You in September is Charity's fifth novel.

Find on Facebook

Follow on Twitter @charitynorman1 #SeeYouInSeptember

Follow the publisher @AllenAndUnwinUK

My thanks to Kate at Allen &Unwin for the opportunity to read and review 

See You in September 

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Review ~ Hester and Harriet by Hilary Spiers

Allen & Unwin

3 March 2016

One good deed. Two gutsy widowed sisters. Seven days of mystery, mayhem and mortal danger…

There is something delightfully quirky about Hester and Harriet which makes you instantly fall for their charms, and almost before the first chapter is finished, this delightful duo of eccentric ladies make you smile at their wit and wry sense of humour. 

They seem to attract an odd assortment of waifs and strays that without Hester and Harriet's intervention would flounder. There's Finbar, the vagrant, who troubles them only for the occasional foodie treat, Ben, their rapscallion nephew, who underneath his teenage bravado has a heart of gold and rather a soft spot for his eccentric great-aunts. However, it is Daria and baby Milo, who they rescue from a freezing bus stop on Christmas Day who form the real focus of the story and Daria’s complex and convoluted reason for wishing to remain hidden makes for interesting reading.

I felt comfortable with the idea of the story from the beginning. I enjoyed Hester and Harriet’s interference in the lives of those around them, and the author has done a really fine job of making these two highly individual sisters appear 'eccentrically' normal. I liked their disregard for convention, their utter belief in everything they did, and the warmth and beauty of their genuine care for others. There is so much to enjoy, there are genuinely funny moments which make you laugh out loud and some really poignant episodes which tug away at the heartstrings. But throughout this adventure, Hester and Harriet's utter belief in the righteousness of their actions brings both humour and pathos to a delightful story.

I would hope that we haven’t seen the last of Hester and Harriet as I think that their unlikely adventures could form the basis of a very enjoyable series. If you like cosy crime,  this delightful duo will greatly appeal.

Best Read with….A bowl of fat olives, a platter of assorted cheeses and a large glass of rich, red Burgundy …

About the Author

Hilary Spiers has had a varied career – including law, speech therapy, teaching, youth work and the NHS. She has also been involved with the theatre as an actor, director and playwright, and her dramatic work has been performed in a number of theatres including Hampstead Theatre and Riverside Studios. Hilary has won several national short story competitions and had work broadcast on the radio. She lives in Stamford, Lincolnshire.

My thanks to Diana at Ruth Killick Publicity for my review copy of Hester and Harriet 

Hester and Harriet is available to buy online and from all good bookshops.

Amazon UK

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