A heatwave can be a terrible experience as we've recently witnessed with the tragic loss of life in Japan and in Greece where wildfires have raged killing at least 80 people. Heatwaves also make people a little mad, something which provides perfect fodder for authors wishing to create a spectacular … [Read more...]
High Risk by Simona Ahrnstedt
High Risk by Simona Ahrnstedt is a story of journalist Ambra Vinter and her famous step-sister, pop singer Jill Lopez. Both women are scarred by their childhoods spent in various foster families in Sweden. Nordic Noir or Nordic Romance? To be honest, I'm in two minds about this book. While … [Read more...]
Hate the Football World Cup? Escape to the Wonderful World of Box Sets Instead!
You must have noticed there's something called Football World Cup on at the moment. In our house, it's wall-to-wall football (or soccer as it's called in the US) and already only a few days in, I'm sick of it. (Is it me, or do you think it'll be even worse now England have won their first … [Read more...]
Helena’s Best Reads: The Defenceless by Kati Hiekkapelto
The Defenceless by Kati Hiekkapelto, published in the UK by Orenda Books, is a Nordic Noir tale of immigration, drugs and unexplained deaths set in a coastal city in Finland. The Plot Anna Fekete, a young police detective hailing from Eastern Europe, is called to a case of a fatal car accident, … [Read more...]
Helena’s Best Reads: My Name Is Leon by Kit de Wall
'My Name is Leon' by Kit de Waal is a story of a lonely little boy lost in the labyrinth of the grown-up world that includes foster parents, social workers, and allotment gardeners in 1980s London. Leon's absent dad is from Antigua, and his single mother struggles to look after Leon after … [Read more...]
Helena’s Best Reads: The Other Alcott by Elise Hooper
This month's best read is a book about an author that I absolutely adored and was fascinated by when growing up. Louisa May Alcott wrote a series of books loosely based on her life, and in The Other Alcott, Elise Hooper conjures the fascinating, untold story of May Alcott—Louisa’s youngest sister … [Read more...]
Five Books for Mother’s Day
Are you stuck for ideas for Mother's Day? I personally think you cannot go wrong with books. Below are five novels which I think would make perfect presents for your mother. Love Again, Doris Lessing This novel by the late Doris Lessing is a second chance romance (of sorts!) and the perfect book … [Read more...]
Helena’s Best Reads: She Did It by Mel Sherratt
This month's best read is a psychological thriller, She Did It, by Mel Sherratt. This author, who I have a met a few times on the writers' circuit, has sold a whopping one million books (and counting) since she started her career in 2012. She describes her books as 'grit-lit' – gritty crime dramas … [Read more...]
Helena’s Best Reads: The Heart Echoes
This month's Best Read is The Heart Echoes by Helena von Zweigberk. This warm, sometimes chilling and ultimately tragic story of three sisters and long ago buried secrets by the Swedish novelist, journalist, and TV presenter, is brilliantly translated by Tiina Nunnally. An Intriguing Start The … [Read more...]
Helena’s Best Reads: After the Last Dance by Sarra Manning
This month I want to introduce you to a writer who is new to me: Sarra Manning. A journalist and an author, Sarra has written a huge number of young adult books but turned to adult fiction in 2009. I found her book, After the Last Dance, through a review in Grazia magazine, a section of this women's … [Read more...]