Review: The Tuscan Child

The Tuscan Child by Rhys Bowen
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

In 1944, British bomber pilot Hugo Langley parachuted from his stricken plane into the verdant fields of German-occupied Tuscany. Badly wounded, he found refuge in a ruined monastery and in the arms of Sofia Bartoli. But the love that kindled between them was shaken by an irreversible betrayal.

Nearly thirty years later, Hugo’s estranged daughter, Joanna, has returned home to the English countryside to arrange her father’s funeral. Among his personal effects is an unopened letter addressed to Sofia. In it is a startling revelation.

Still dealing with the emotional wounds of her own personal trauma, Joanna embarks on a healing journey to Tuscany to understand her father’s history—and maybe come to understand herself as well. Joanna soon discovers that some would prefer the past be left undisturbed, but she has come too far to let go of her father’s secrets now…

This was a book club read and it was ok but nothing special.

War time romance, hidden child, bereaved daughter trying to find out the truth of what happened to her Father by visiting where he was shot down. And lots of information about Italian cooking! I get that it might be appropriate to mention what food was being eaten but if I want to know how to cook it I'd find a recipe book.

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Review: The Promise

The Promise by Katerina Diamond
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When troubled teen Connor moves to Exeter from the US to escape his past, he finds himself embroiled in a world of popular kids and easy girls. Everyone wants to be his friend, but they don’t know about what he did…and they don’t know about his father.

As Connor’s life in England begins to unravel, DS Adrian Miles and his partner Imogen Grey are working up against the clock to catch a serial killer who dates his victims before he kills them. Determined to uncover the truth, Imogen is forced to act as bait – but will she take it too far and risk her own life?

This was a quick pick from the library and annoyingly I realised this is #4 in a series of which I've read #1 & #2 but not #3. However, although the main characters remain consistent and we can follow their development the book could be read on its own.

I felt the author was trying to be too clever in this book. Essentially it's a crime thriller about a serial killer on the loose in Exeter but parts of the book are told in the present, parts are in flashback for one of the characters and then there is also a storyline from the past told by an unknown character. It did all come together in the end though and it was still a page turner for me.

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Review: Now You See Her

Now You See Her by Heidi Perks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Charlotte is looking after her best friend’s daughter the day she disappears. She thought the little girl was playing with her own children. She swears she only took her eyes off them for a second.

Now, Charlotte must do the unthinkable: tell her best friend Harriet that her only child is missing. The child she was meant to be watching.

Devastated, Harriet can no longer bear to see Charlotte. No one could expect her to trust her friend again.
Only now she needs to. Because two weeks later Harriet and Charlotte are both being questioned separately by the police. And secrets are about to surface.
Someone is hiding the truth about what really happened to Alice.
 
Losing your own child is a dreadful thing to contemplate. Losing someone else's child seems worse. That's what happens to Charlotte. Entrusted with her friend's only child Alice at the school fete, Charlotte is devastated when Alice disappears. Especially as she is made to feel as if she allowed it to happen by not keeping a close enough eye on Alice.

However, as this book unfolds, with twists and turns it's gradually revealed that this is not a straightforward abduction case. But just who is behind Alice's disappearance? No spoilers here but it wasn't who I first suspected and I was so gripped I finished the book in just two sessions.

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When did I find time to work?

I have had another busy spell with my Grandsons.  

The weekend of the 25th Noah was here with his parents and on the Sunday we all got together for a photo shoot. It was organised by Nathan's Mummies but they invited the rest of us to tag along. Can't wait to see the pics.  This was one my DIL took.

Monday was a bank holiday so in theory it was a free day but we spent the afternoon at Nathan's helping to tidy the garden. They are buying their own house now so need to leave the rental in good shape to get their deposit  back.   Just hoping the purchase goes through smoothly and quickly before they have to vacate the rental.  If not they will be on my doorstep with their suitcases!

Tuesday & Thursday were with Nathan as usual but my free Wednesday ended up being spent with Rory and his Mummy including a trip to the hospital. Poor thing has a chest infection. 

Friday I had lunch with my friends and then it was another busy weekend celebrating Rory's 1st birthday. Fortunately he was well enough for his party to go ahead.

Unfortunately the busy week meant I didn't quite get Rory's blanket finished. I tried really hard to get it done when I got home on Friday it but at midnight I admitted defeat.  His mummy of course understood and Rory won't know.  Or care.  I was just disappointed as I'd got Noah's finished in time for his birthday and wanted to do the same for Rory.

The day of his birthday was glorious.  Hottest day of the year so far and plenty of sunshine.  We had a fun afternoon at our local social club and of course it was lovely to have all the family together again.  Having said that it was nice when everyone had gone home on Sunday and we were able to sit down and relax.

This week will hopefully be a normal week with Wednesday and Friday free which is just as well as we go away at the weekend for a few days to Cannes with Nathan and his Mummies and I haven't even made a packing list yet, let alone got the suitcase out.  Not doing anything else tonight though after having Rory for the day.  It's going to be an early night for me ready for Nathan tomorrow!