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Mrs B’s Good Reads
An Auctioneer’s Lot by Philip Serrell
Some thoughtfully written anecdotes from Philip Serrell’s early days as an auctioneer. Along the way treasure has been found in decaying barns and some items worth less than their owners hoped for, leading to some amusing and at other times poignant stories. The characters are as varied as their possessions and just as colourful. A very good read for anyone who likes to think they’ve an eye for a bargain and will find that Ming vase in a country showroom.
Mrs Boris liked this book, but is doubtful about how much her own collection is worth. If only Boris could be parted from his ‘Treasures’ stashed in the garden shed, but as always he says ‘ it might come in useful dear, so we’d better keep it’, sighs and puts it back in the box. Mrs Boris
One-hit wonder by Lisa Jewell
Ana Wills’ sister, Bee Bearhorn had a successful number-one hit single in 1985 and then disappeared into obscurity. Fifteen years later, Bee is found dead and no-one seems to care. Dispatched by her mother, Ana goes to London to clear Bee’s flat, wishing that she knew what had happened to Bee since the breakdown in family relations several years ago. Slowly, Ana begins to unlock the tragic secret of Bee’s past, finding along the way the truth, Bee’s hideaway cottage, her missing cat and her weekends away. A well-written social comedy with some touching, poignant episodes, this is one of Lisa Jewell’s best.
Meeting Point by Roisin McAuley
Claire Watson has planned the ideal holiday, lazing by the pool, leisurely meals with old friends and sightseeing with her son, Sam, the last thing she expects is a holiday romance. When she meets John Rock the attraction between them is instant, but Claire thinks that they have met before. Claire begins to remember a case she was involved in as a police officer in Northern Ireland. Memories of what seemed to be a tragic accident, her own troubled marriage and her old life start to emerge. Was John Rock briefly in her life at the time. When past and present collide, Claire is unprepared for all the secrets and
Mrs Boris enjoyed Roisin McAuley’s previous novel, ‘Singing Bird’. This one is a worthy successor, a roller coaster of emotions and dilemmas. Mrs Boris
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories of modern life and relationships. Mrs Boris
Callie’s Tally by Betsy Howie
A Humorous look at the true costs involved in raising one baby during the first year. Betsy Howie kept a running account of money spent on the requirements of her baby and the gifts that she received. The result is this thoughtful, irreverent real-life diary of her daughter’s first year of debt.
This book gave Mrs B pause for thought on the costs involved with Boris and Ethelred, but the maths involved(never Mrs B’s greatest talent) proved too much effort.
Mrs Boris
Mrs Boris
Just as well, I bet my tally for Mrs B what with her books, CDs and sewing requisites comes to more that her tally for my meagre needs! Boris
The Christmas Factor by Annie Sanders
It’s ages until Christmas, but already Beth is beginning to panic. She’s agreed to organise the annual Christmas Eve village festivities (the piece-de -resistance of her husbands former wife) as well as hosting Christmas for his children. Beth is beginning to wonder if she can live up to her predecessors high standards, never mind exceed them. As for her adult step-children!!!! Carol, single mum and editor of an ailing magazine is desperate for a scoop to save the magazine & her job. Keen to make it perfect for her young son, she makes a last minute booking for that apparently perfect country cottage. Best laid plans often unravel and how both women cope when their busy Christmases collide makes an enjoyable, entertaining story, which had Mrs B chuckling. Readers may find themselves reminded of their own past
Mrs B would like to remind Boris that although he prides himself on being a grumpy old curmudgeon, there is a limit to how much “bah humbug” she can cope with in the day. Mrs Boris
No comment. Boris
Ha ha ha and what’s this about leaving the lights on, think of the price of electricity Mrs B!! Boris
Sabriel by Garth Nix
Sabriel is the only daughter of the powerful Mage Abhorsen Most of her life has been spent at Wyverley College well away from the Wall of the Old Kingdom and the uncontrolled power of Free Magic and the dead who won’t stay dead. Now her father has gone missing and Sabriel must leave the safe world that she has known and cross back into the Old Kingdom to search for him. Sabriel begins a mission made perilous by supernatural dangers and enemies, aided by companions that she is unsure of, for nothing is as it seems in the Old Kingdom. There she has to confront an evil that threatens more than her life and in doing so learns her own hidden destiny.
Plotting for Beginners by Sue Hepworth & Jane Linfoot
Sally Howe & her husband Gus have reached one of the great watersheds of life and Gus has decided to spend a year in the Rockies in a log cabin. Sally plans to devote her husband-free time to becoming a successful author. She is often side tracked by distractions, one being a queue of local lotharios all anxious to “help”.
Sally is sure she can succeed by herself and battles on despite the set backs. Written in the form of a diary interwoven with Gus’ sparse letters her email correspondence, this is a sparkling & intelligent story of sally’s endeavours to succeed as a published writer. It will appeal to anyone who likes Judy Astley & Katie Fforde.
Mrs B won’t let me go to auctions. Can’t for the life of me think why. Boris
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
In 1913 a little girl is found alone seemingly abandoned after a gruelling sea voyage from England to Australia. All the little girl can say is that a mysterious woman she calls the Authoress promised to look after her. The Authoress has vanished without trace however and so the child is taken by a childless couple who name her Nell. In 1975 Nell inherits a small suitcase which was found with her in 1913. She travels to England and her quest takes her to Blackhurst Manor in Cornwall where she hopes to find out the truth about her origins. Nell returns to Australia and following her death in 2005, her granddaughter, Cassandra, comes into a surprising inheritance, Cliff Cottage, in the grounds of Blackhurst Manor. The cottage is notorious locally for the secrets it holds about the doomed Mountrachet family. Cassandra decides to investigate her intriguing inheritance . At Cliff Cottage, long abandoned with its forgotten garden, Cassandra finally learns the truth about her family and why Nell was abandoned all those years ago.
The Frozen Lake by Elizabeth Edmondson
Alix Richardson has grown dissatisfied with her London life. She had left her home in Westmoreland 3 years before, desperate to lead her own life away from her domineering grandmother . As the end of 1936 draws near she decides to return to Wyncrag to spend Christmas with her twin brother. The hard winter has caused a great freeze and draws many family members, friends and strangers to spend Christmas amid the frozen beauty of lakes and fells. All seems calm on the surface, but old mysteries lurk beneath the the surface of the lake and family life. Stirred up by Alix’s curiosity, old secrets come to light with profound consequences.
An interesting read which will appeal to fans of period novels and mystery stories. Mrs B enjoyed this one and intends to seek out other books by this writer. Mrs Boris
Westmoreland, why couldn’t they have kept the old county names? What’s Westmoreland now? Then there was Cumberland. What’s that now? I know there’s Cumbria, but I haven’t heard of a Westmoria. Boris
In The Wee Small Hours by Gil McNeil
Mrs Boris really enjoyed this book by Gil McNeil and intends to read its predecessor, ‘Only boy for me’. ‘In the wee small hours’ Annie is finding that life can get a bit complicated, trying to juggle her job and look after her son Charlie who is officially pagan and keen on getting a pet pheasant. Her pregnant sister Lizzie wants Annie as her birthing partner and friend Kate is having an affair with her own ex-husband, whilst her other friend Leila has also got a new man in her life. Then, Mack, Annie’s ex-boy friend comes back from New York and things get really interesting.
Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner
We first met Cannie Shapiro in ‘Good in Bed’. Now Cannie is back, in her 40’s, a little older and wiser, slightly slimmer and devoting her time to her daughter Joy and happily married to diet doctor Peter Krushelevansky. Then the bombshells explode in Cannie’s contentment. As preparations begin for Joy’s bat mitzvah, Peter announces that he would like them to have a baby and Joy discovers the fictional novel that Cannie wrote years ago and becomes a secretive, rebellious teenager almost overnight. Joy wants to find out the truth behind the novel and Cannie just wants to protect her daughter. How each of them makes her own discoveries and resolves their mutual problems makes a lovely read.
A touching book that will have you reaching for the tissues. Full of the usual smart observations and true to life situations that Jennifer Weiner revels in.
Mrs Boris
Mrs Boris
And here was me thinking it was about those kind of girls! Boris
Me & Mr Darcy by Alexandra Potter
New Yorker Emily Albright has had enough of modern men. After a string of disastrous relationships, she concludes that nobody could ever compare to Mr Darcy, the romantic hero she fell in love with the first time that she read ‘Pride & Prejudice’. The problem is she doesn’t want to be alone over the New Year and her best friend wants Emily along on a Club 18-30 week in Mexico and the prospect of that fills Emily with horror. A flyer advertising a speciality tour exploring the world of Jane Austen and ‘Pride & Prejudice’ left in the old fashioned bookshop where Emily works prompts her into action and she books herself on to the week long tour. Arriving in England, Emily is greeted by the tour guide Miss Steane, who seems vaguely familiar. Her tour companions are all elderly with the exception of cynical journalist Spike Hargreaves who’s writing a piece on why most women would love to date Mr Darcy. Then on the tour Emily walks into a room and comes face-to-face with Mr Darcy himself. Could every woman’s fantasy become one woman’s reality? A series of humorous encounters later Emily realises that pursuing a fantasy is all very well, but her own Mr Darcy may already be in her life.
No! I Don’t Want to join a Book club by Virginia Ironside
Marie Sharp has at last decided to keep a diary at the grand old age of nearly 60. She is thrilled to be getting older and eagerly awaits her free bus pass and concessionary prices for museums and cinemas. Along the way she muses on the problems of not enjoying dinner parties, should she want a new relationship and falling in love with her new grandson. A witty perceptive and poignant look at the joys of growing a little
Boris is looking forward to getting his free bus pass too. Of course he’s much, much older than me. Mrs Boris
Aye, when Mrs B nags me about not tidying the garden up, I’ll be able to disappear on the bus somewhere. Boris
Petite Anglaise by Catherine Sanderson
Catherine Sanderson had always been in love with France, so much so that she moved to Paris to live and work. She found love with a Frenchman, Mr Frog and they had a beautiful daughter Tadpole. Catherine had become a little disenchanted of late, her relationship with Mr Frog was crumbling and juggling work and childcare was very demanding. Then in an idle moment Catherine wondered how easy it was to set up her own blog and with a few clicks of the mouse her alter ego Petite Anglaise was born. Soon petite was leading Catherine into illicit thrills of snatching moments with her secret online lover James before racing home to Tadpole. Was Catherine becoming too much like Petite Anglaise, she might be bilingual, but could she keep up a double life?
Petite Anglaise is the true story of one woman’s search for the life she had always wanted and how she became the person she wanted to be. Mrs Boris
As Boris’ often told Mrs B, kissing a frog doesn’t always turn it into a prince. Boris
Alexandra Potter is a new writer to Mrs B. This one is a feel-good modern fairytale about life, love and literatures favourite hero. Mrs Boris
The Stepmother by Carrie Adams
Tessa King has finally met the man for her, hopefully the potential father of the children she has dreamed of. James already has three daughters so Tessa knows that she will have to share him, but now James’ ex-wife Bea wants him back in her life, unable to face up to her inner demons alone. Tessa is becoming increasingly fond of James’ younger daughters, but faces hostility from teenager Amber who loyally tries to hide her mothers’ problems with alcohol. Her mothers’ illness also places demands on Tessa and it seems hard to find time for everything. Eventually Tessa and Bea have to confront the realities of life and both have to risk letting go of the man they love to do the beat for the children. When Tessa discovers Bea’s secrets they form an uneasy alliance to help Bea come to terms with the past and forge a new future for them both.
A worthy successor to ‘The Godmother’ this is a real emotional roller-coaster confronting real-life problems head on. Mrs B thinks a box of tissues and a glass of wine the perfect companions for this engrossing read. Definitely her book of the month. Mrs Boris
The Glass Painter’s Daughter by Rachel Hore
Fran Morrison was brought up from babyhood by her father following her mother’s death, an event never mentioned by the secretive Edward. Fran was happy enough helping in his stained-
A beautifully written, moving novel which may need the tissues handy. Mrs B has enjoyed all Rachel Hore’s books and can’t wait for the next. Very highly recommended. Mrs Boris
It’s the Little Things by Erica James
Dan and Sally were on holiday when the Boxing Day tsunami struck and were lucky to survive and three years on their lives are very different. Dan enjoys caring for their young son and Sally is the high-flying, high-achieving breadwinner. Both seemingly content with this arrangement, their lives seem back on track. Sally ,however, envies Dan’s easy relationship with Marcus and Dan questions her commitment to them both. Soon cracks start to appear in their marriage. Their friend Chloe, a local GP, would like the seemingly perfect life Dan and Sally lead. Her boyfriend dumped her soon after the tsunami and since then Chloe has tried to find a father for the baby she desperately craves. Then she meets Seth Hawthorne. Could he be the ideal candidate for Chloe to bond with or not? How these problems are resolved makes a touching, readable story which will resonate with many readers. Told with all Erica James’s usual warmth and sympathy leavened with a dash of humour.
Mrs B is an ardent reader of Erica’s novels and recommends this one for book of the month award. It will appeal to anyone who likes a solid, believable plot.
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