Tag: London

Improvising her Life’s Dance.

Book Review for “An Unchoreographed Life” by Jane Davis. Summary: "At six years old, Belinda Brabbage has amassed a wealth of wisdom and secret worries. She knows all the best hiding places in her Worlds End flat, how to zap monsters with her pig-shaped torch and that strangers will tempt you into their cars with … Continue reading Improvising her Life’s Dance. →

Arias for Hope.

Book Review for “The Opera Sisters” by Marianne Monson. Summary: "British sisters Ida and Louise Cook enjoy their quiet, unassuming lives in south London. Ida writes romance novels, and Louise works as a secretary. In the evenings, the sisters indulge in their shared love for opera, saving their money to buy records and attend performances … Continue reading Arias for Hope. →

Heard of Female Thieves?

Book Review for “The Forty Elephants” by Erin Bledsoe. Summary: "Inspired by the true story of Alice Diamond and the Forty Elephants, the first all-female gang of London. London in the 1920s is no place for a woman with a mind of her own. Gang wars, violence, and an unforgiving world have left pickpocket Alice … Continue reading Heard of Female Thieves? →

Plumes and Doom!

Book Review for “Birds of a Feather” by Jacqueline Winspear. Summary: "An eventful year has passed for Maisie Dobbs. Since starting a one-woman private investigation agency in 1929 London, she now has a professional office in Fitzroy Square and an assistant, the happy-go-lucky Billy Beale. She has proven herself as a psychologist and investigator, and … Continue reading Plumes and Doom! →

On the Prowl.

Book Review for “The Ghosts of Paris” by Tara Moss. Summary: "It's 1947. The world continues to grapple with the fallout of the Second World War, and former war reporter Billie Walker is finding her feet as an investigator. When a wealthy client hires Billie and her assistant Sam to track down her missing husband, … Continue reading On the Prowl. →

Sarah’s Second Secret.

Book Review for “Her Last Betrayal” by Pam Lecky. Summary: "After losing her family to a Nazi bomb attack back home in Ireland, Sarah Gillespie joins the British Secret Services to bring them justice. Partnered with an American undercover agent, Lieutenant Tony Anderson, Sarah embarks on a dangerous mission that takes her from war-torn London … Continue reading Sarah’s Second Secret. →

The Inward Eye – Another #CCDare Love is in the Air.

Book Review for “Five Windows” by D. E. Stevenson. Summary: "“Life is like looking out of a lot of different windows.” So says Malcolm, shepherd and boyhood friend of David Kirk, and the words linger in David’s mind as he reflects on his life so far. He recalls the window of his parents’ home in … Continue reading The Inward Eye – Another #CCDare Love is in the Air. →

TCL’s #DNF Friday #8 – Not Downton Abbey!

Why I can't write a Book Review for “Belgravia” by Julian Fellowes. Summary: "It is the evening of 15 June 1815, and the Duchess of Richmond has thrown a magnificent ball in Brussels for the Duke of Wellington. The guests include James and Anne Trenchard, who have made their money in trade, along with their … Continue reading TCL’s #DNF Friday #8 – Not Downton Abbey! →

Emmy’s Winning Wisdom.

Book Review for “Dear Mrs. Bird” by AJ Pearce. Summary: "London 1940, bombs are falling. Emmy Lake is Doing Her Bit for the war effort, volunteering as a telephone operator with the Auxiliary Fire Services. When Emmy sees an advertisement for a job at the London Evening Chronicle, her dreams of becoming a Lady War … Continue reading Emmy’s Winning Wisdom. →

A Viral Vacation.

Book Review for “The Golden Girls' Getaway” by Judy Leigh. Summary: "It has been a long and lonely year for neighbours Vivienne, Mary and Gwen. All ladies of a ‘certain age’, their lockdown experience has left them feeling isolated and alone. They are in desperate need of a change. Things start to look up however, … Continue reading A Viral Vacation. →