The Tea Planter's Daughter by Janet Macleod Trotter

Being associated with tea so very much both titles by this author attracted me and I was very happy when Netgalley sent the books on to me.

Set in the hills of Assam during the waning period of the British Raj we have a family who love India as their own and very different to the majority of the English settlers who always felt it was them and us. Clarissa is having the whole burden of Belgooroo on her young shoulders. Her father cannot cope with the unending financial burden of the estates, is unwilling and does not have the know how to modernize and bring a better return to the fields and she has to find a way out not just for the estate but for herself and her younger sister Olive, very frail and totally dependant on the strong willed Clarissa.

Moving from colorful busy India to the teeming town of Tyneside is a culture shock for Clarissa and Olive. Bereft of their father, they have to turn to their cousin Jared and his wife Lily who treats the two as the lowest of the low - menials of the lowest order and extracts from them every ounce of work she could.

An emotional story of the hardship that both sisters face while Clarissa plots how to get away from the grasping Lily and make a life for both of them.

A story of survival against many odds, this was a stirring tale of enduring love as well so the romance element added a nice flavor to the story.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review courtesy of Lake Union Publishing.

The Paris Protection by Bryan Devore

A free download from Amazon this was an absolutely wonderful book and for someone who is not very familiar with American Presidents, the Secret Service and all the ramifications of American security, this was an eye opener.

There is a plot to assassinate the American President (a female - married with two children) and it is to take place in Paris. Despite all the security build up before and during the visit there are loopholes
and always something overlooked and this time it is the catacombs of Paris which are being used as an entrance and exit by the assassinates to gain access to the hotel, bypass the massive security operations in place and to carry out their task.

The masterminds behind the entire operation are absolute professionals, willing to die in the process. Very similar to the President's own security detail. Who gets the better of whom is the story told in amazing detail.

The Abbess of Whitby by Jill Dalladay

 



Hild's life was dictated by the gods. Chosen as handmaid to Eostre she was to serve a period of service and then be married. Her father's death changed all that. She found her sister married to the boy she was in love with, the King changed the religion of his kingdom from the fertility gods to Christianity and she found herself in a totally different world, having to adapt to new conditions and a new way of life.

How Hild adapted to this new Christian life so wholeheartedly, founding missions in bleak, difficult areas, converting people to a religion that was new to them, advocating Christianity as a totally different way of life to what people were used to is the story in this book.

Descriptive of the places where Hild lived and worked, equally descriptive of the people and the politics and the feuds of the region, this piece of historical fiction was a fascinating insight into a period of history which was bloody, feudal and also shows the beginning of Christianity in Britain - against outstanding odds how people like the monks and Hild founded institutions, churches, and missions which looked after and nurtured the people.

A close look at seventh century Britain this would be a good book for lovers of historical fiction of this era.

Sent to me by Netgalley, for an unbiased review courtesy of Lion Hudson PLC. 

Cavendon Hall by Barbara Taylor Bradford

The setting brings to mind Downton Abbey in all its glory - the Inghams are very similar and the Swanns have served the family for generations. Their support, confidentiality and the trust that the family has in them goes well beyond the norm. This was the only difference I found from other aristocratic families. The two families are linked very closely and through the generations a strong physical relationship has developed between the two.

The present set up is idyllic. We have a large family of beautiful youngsters and a seemingly strong marriage. Everything is about to blow up with the tragedy of Daphne - the nicest, friendliest of the teenagers who is raped and made pregnant on their own grounds itself. How the story develops from there and alongside the personal story of the two families, the onset of WWI and the carnage, destruction and death that follows is beautifully and emotionally described in this story.

Taking us away from Edwardian England and the beginning of women's emancipation and independence the story will interest all readers of not just general fiction but history as well. This author certainly does not disappoint her readers.

I was thrilled to get this book from St. Martin's Press via Netgalley but was most disappointed when the second book request in the series was turned down. I thought that was totally unfair but then luck smiled on me and I got the second and third book directly from the Marketing Division of St. Martin's Press. Thank you for the books. I am certainly looking ever so much to reading the sequels.

The Vegetarian by Han Kang

I was intrigued firstly by this book winning the Man Booker Prize for 2016 but it was mainly the title.  Coming from a country where being vegetarian was quite commonplace it was puzzling how this could be the reason for so much dissension and conflict!

Set in South Korea Yeong-hye is a very average wife and housewife. Nothing out of the ordinary at all. She suddenly starts having violent dreams and decides to stop eating meat. This brings her to an extraordinary physical state of being weak and malnourished and also creates a lot of confusion and conflict within her own family. The story begins from there and leads to a complete breakdown in not just her but the entire family unit.

The conflict is between one of personal choices and what society expects of one and how the two have to be reconciled and the result of what happens when it does not. The unravelling of Yeong- hye told in three parts is disturbing but not unrealistic. For me it was rather a slow read because I wanted to understand what was going on here and in certain sections it was rather difficult for me to do so.

Unreasonable Doubt by Vicki Delany

Walt Desmond was incarcerated for twenty five years for a crime he did not commit. His case was taken up by an organisation which pursues unlawful/unjust/incorrect decisions by the courts and he was one of those lucky ones who did get out, if you can call twenty five years being imprisoned lucky. Walt has just one idea only. To get back to Trafalgar where he lived and find out as to why the cops decided he was the killer in a horrendous crime.

Everyone else in Trafalgar however does not want Walt back. He rekindles ugly memories that people would like conveniently forgotton. They do not remember him as a quiet man who minded his own business, had no previous record of any kind. They only remember him as the person who murdered the pretty Sophia and these feelings are kept at a very high fever pitch by interested parties in the town of Trafalgar.

The police have their hands full trying to keep the peace, protect Walt (though they themselves are puzzled as to why he came back to such an antagonistic environment). The police themselves are being sued for wrongful detention to the tune of five million dollars and further harassment of Walt would ensue that this figure would go up.

Since his wrongful detention, the police have to reopen the case as it then becomes an unsolved crime and this is where the action starts. It is quite obvious that there are several interested parties not wanting the case to be pursued and it is also obvious that the police were involved in a huge cover up/incompetence years ago. Unraveling the issue and dealing with a new series of attempted rapes makes this story a very interesting one.

The detective Molly and the series is a new one for me and one I will definitely be keeping an eye out for.

Told cleverly and in a methodical manner the story unfolded in stages and you knew you were getting somewhere.

The book was sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Poisoned Pen Press.

Faithful by Alice Hoffman

Shelby is your average teenage girl, driving her mother nuts with her behaviour. One tragedy, just one bad judgement call and Shelby's life is changed. Not just hers but the entire family has to live with her changed personality.

Shelby has no self worth, does not want to live, ends up in a psychiatric hospital and there is no hope at all for the future. Her mother however believes that there is some way Shelby can be redeemed and be made alive again.

The story of survival, belief and family love overwhelm in this story. Other than your nearest and dearest no one is ever going to have faith that you will overcome the greatest obstacles and odds that life has put in your way. To come back to living needs enormous amounts of willpower, love and support. You cannot do it alone and Shelby's story is one of survival.

A very emotional read for any mother who has undergone nail biting tension as to where your teenager daughter or son is and what they are upto, this is for you.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review courtesy of Simon & Schuster.