Bookouture Book Tour: The French Wife by Ann Bennett

I love to stay close to authors I´ve loved to read. Ann Bennett is one of them, and I feel more than honoured to have been offered the chance of reading and reviewing her latest, The French Wife, set in France, is built around the emotional connection between two women that never met, and will never meet in real life: Emma, recently divorced, who after facing a child loss and a painful divorce, discovers in the cupboard of a cottage she just purchased an old photo of a couple. Amelie, portrayed in the photo, survived the Nazi occupation of France, and together with her husband, Bruno, owned the farmhouse. While Bruno used to hid Resistance fighters in the cellar, Amelie is privy to hidden truths that may stay burried.

From one century to another, the two women, both having known heartbreak and deep disappointment, do connect, with Emma carefully tracing deeply hidden histories and details of a life burried in secrets, during hard times. 

Although dealing with very sensitive topics, the author, as usual, is taking the tension through an empathic and emotionally balanced writing. The idea of deep understanding beyond time and historical circumstances requires a well chiselled way of dealing with words. 

The French Wife was a very interesting read, thoughtful and immersive. Given my reading experience with Ann Bennett, I cannot wait to see where her new book will take their readers to. 

Rating: 5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own

Rachel´s Random Resources: The River Murderers by Colette Kebell

Jack Wood has a reputation of fiercely fighting the bad guys - and eventually, girls. There is no way someone may escape his passionate dedication for rendering justice. However, he is far from being perfect and as one evening, a rebel teenager with a rented gun used several times in multiple murders, his world may get upside down. Far from being a hero, he is brought in the midst of the dark web of lies and corruption. 

The River Murders by Colette Kebell is an adventurous and fast paced story fuelled with energy of all kinds, and hard to put down. The characters, including Jack, are far from being perfect and their character matches the type of the story they are associated with. No matter their social status and profile, their bad sides are rather revealing which may take us to a dark side of life and human soul.

Despite the heavy topic the author deals with, the writing is coming along smoothly. Kebell was an author new for me, and I appreciated her fresh take on a story otherwise challenging in terms of psychological challenges and complexities.

The River Murders is a recommended read for anyone interested in discovering a new author´s interpretation of an adrenaline-fuelled story. 

Rating: 3.5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own

Random Things Tours: Fallowfield by Nicole Swengley

As Rowan, a journalist trying to cope with the death of her beloved father, is trying to research more about Fallowfield Hall, the school where her parents met, she is soon facing a lot of revelations that may contradict the idyllic story she had in mind about the school as well as about her parents. Faced with the new realities, Rowan is going through a dramatic process of reconsidering her parents narratives and ultimately her own identity.

Fallowfield by journalist and author Nicole Swengley is an accidental search for truth, thourgh a well planned and eventful search. The proceedings are impecable, as one may expect from an experienced journalist and I personally enjoyed the realistic process.

Equally relevant is the way in which the author was able to seize the unfathomable ways in which the past - our own, our parents, the projections we have about the others - may be dramatically altered through the revelations of facts affecting us and our family. 

In addition to being a very well written journalistic approach, Fallowfield asks openly questions about identity and approach to the stories we and the other tell about past. It is fascinating and unexpected, hence my curiosity of not putting this book down until I´ve reached its last page.

A recommended read if you love books with journalists´ characters created around a family story well researched and authentic in its approach.

Rating: 5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own

Rachel´s Random Resources: Audiobook tour - Debt Reckoning. Teetering on the Brink by Jack Meyer

 

There is no secret how much I enjoy listening to audiobooks; for my bookish lifestyle, it fills those moments when I am forced to walk or keep myself busy with non-bookish activities. For me, it is also an exercise of concentration, as I am trying to keep track of what is actually happening in my book while busy with other activities that may be distracting.

With great interest and pleasure, I´ve listened lately to Debt Reckoning. Teetering on the Brink by Jack Meyer, a very fast paced political thriller set in the heart of American politics. The starting point of the story is based on a cruel econnomic and political reality: the enormous burden of the US debt. When I´ve read it for the first time, I was really surprised as no one is ever associating political, military and economic strength with debt. After all, debts are for poor people, or?

In the book, US Senator Rick Taylor is trying to find a solution to solve the huge challenge threatening the Nord American life and society. As he is openly taking stance against it, he is faced with a tremendous pressure and life-threatening situations.

I loved the suspense as well as the political tension that made me always feel guilty when had to take a longer break in between listening sessions. A recommended read if you are into books inspired by political dirty secrets.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Disclaimer: Audiobook offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own

Random Things Tours: What We Were Hiding by Jonas Saul

Ben Redfield worked hard to built a life of success and stability. But as a rival is threatening to expose him and put an end to his success, he has no other choice but ask his estranged brother to clean everything as discretely as possible. However, this move didn´t help too much, as apparently the wrong people are starting to dissapear. And his troubles seem to be far from being away.

There are so many ways in which one can build around the idea of burried secrets and this book shows that there are always new creative takes on such situations. 

Ben is far from being a sympathetic character and his relationship with his estranged brother as well as with his parents shows his selfish and disconsiderate, childish even way of being. Ben´s wife, Eliza, is neither likeable. But since when good people make it into good books?

The pace is alert and fast, with short sentences and rapid dialogues. The story is told from different perspectives, allowing to share more details as the story advances, covering the different interests the characters invested into a specific course of action. 

What We Were Hiding is the kind of book you don´t know what to expect for, as the new surprising - not necessarily on the good kind - elements and details about the characters keep coming. It has the tension and the emotion as it guides us through the events and for me, it was good enough to maintain my interest.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own

Rachel´s Random Resources: Dangling by Maura Yzmore

Dangling by Maura Yzmore is a heart-breaking collection of 28 short stories focused on human experiences at the border of existence. In few pages, sometimes even few lines, unforgettable stories are told in different voices with dramatic tonalities. 

The men and women of those stories are people at the end of their dreams or escaping other people´s dreams. There is a special eye that one may need to see humanity in the midst of cruelty or to give a chance of life when life is leaving the body. Some crave alcohol or have alcoholic tendencies or other addictions, while some are looking for transcendental experiences. There are even bodies floating in the air. 

Although the stories may differ in length, the level of precision of the prose is equal. I like how the choice of topics may drive the reader out of their comfort zone, however displays resilience, courage, including by giving up comfronting one´s fears. 

It was a terrific read, in the both meanings of the word.

Rating: 4 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own

Cover Reveal: Dreaming of a Scottish Summer by Julie Shackman

I had the chance to review more than one book by Julie Shackman, and I always enjoy the Romantic touch of her stories, set in the charming Scotland. 

The covers of her books are equally appealing, transmitting the same message of feel good and hope, with a pastel choice of colours and a friendly and Romatic lettering. Her latest book, Dreaminng of a Scottish Summer, follows bookish Brooke, who returned to the Highlands for a dream job in publishing. But this new assignment come with some unexpected perks, like working  with the grumpy and handsome Levi. And it seems that her decision to return might have been life changing for more than one reason. 

Dreaming of a Scottish Summer will be released on the 31st of January 2027 and I personally cannot wait to find out all the details of this promising story.  

Many thanks to Rachel´s Random Resources for having me.