Here are two books I recently received from NetGalley. Eventually I will figure out what day to do book posts but for now, it's a Friday event.
Secrets Between Friends by Tracy Buchanan
What attracted me to this book was the old house, a murderous secret between friends and the setting in Cornwall. Sounded a bit like a Kate Morton vibe.
Liz and Tasmin are from very different worlds socially and economically but became very good friends in their early teens. There is a murder, that's the opening scene, and eventually Tasmin moves away. Fast forward 20 years and Tasmin is now back. Liz works as a postie delivering mail They reconnect, both knowing the secret which can ruin them both.
I think I am probably in the minority on this but I didn't love the book. I grew bored with the plot and felt the character development could have been better.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced readers copy of this novel. This was published October 25, 2022 by Amazon Publishing U.K. Genre: General Fiction, Woman's Fiction and Mystery/Thrillers.
The Lost English Girl by Julia Kelly
Julia Kelly never lets me down with a good historical fiction. The year is 1935 in Liverpool England. Vivien Byrne is an 18 year old pregnant Catholic girl and about to marry a 19 year old Jewish musician. If you want to really hate on a character please read this book as Viv's mother is deplorable. She casts judgement and looks down on everything that isn't Catholic and "proper," is manipulative and ...just awful!
I had much empathy for Viv's situation and very much liked the character development of her Jewish in-laws. This is the second book I have read recently which mentions the evacuation of children during WW II. Vivian's daughter was relocated and there are some twists about that situation which come near the end.
That's unfortunate about the first one- the Cornwall setting had me intrigued there for a minute! :)
ReplyDeleteI've seen some good things about The Lost English Girl.
ReplyDeleteThat's too bad about the first one but I've had a few Kate Morton vibe books steer me wrong! The Lost English Girl looks so good and I loved The Last Garden in England from her.
ReplyDeleteI'm not familiar with author Julia Kelly but this story sounds good - something a little different.
ReplyDeleteTerrie @ Bookshelf Journeys
I have been meaning to read Julia Kelly for the longest time. Thanks for sharing these reviews with the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge
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