Maddy's Book Blog

  Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney This is one of those books that you think you know and keeps flipping it on it’s head. Perfect for those who love a bit of mystery and intrigue in their life. Grady Green is an author. A moderately successful author with a book that became a New York Times Bestseller, but shortly after getting the best news of his life, he has the worst news – he is on his phone to his wife, ready to give her the news, when she gets out of the car to check someone lying in the road and disappears. A year later, unable to write     with his wife still missing, Grady is offered a house on a remote Island off Scotland to live and write a new book. The house used to be a writers’ retread for a best selling author and Grady hopes he will be able to write again there. I won’t say any more as I don’t want to ruin any surprises, but just read it! https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7247405257    

  The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King by Harry Trevaldwyn   This was a fun, light read, something like Heartstoppers. It is written with the ‘voice’ of a 16 year old boy with all the angst that entails. This is the year that 16 year old Patrick   decides that he will have a boyfriend and share his first kiss. To this end he gives himself the nickname Patch, and he is very excited when two new boys join his drama group – one of whom is American. Unfortunately they aren’t the only people to join the drama club – his arch nemesis decides to rejoin too. A sweet romcom with some teenage angst, and a good insight into teenage friendships and falling out. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7230774588  

  We Will Dance Again by Aviva Gat We will dance again is the most important book to be written this year – and one which everyone should read to have a better idea of what is really going on in Israel and Gaza – and even on University Campuses around the world! It is well written, insightful, and actually unbiased – based as it is largely on real life events many of which have been well documented by Hamas themselves. The novel follows Dana, who with her boyfriend were celebrating at the festival. Tehila who was getting ready for a picnic, with her baby and toddler. Shai, who is a father of a young son, and a reservist who immediately joined up with his brigade. Alon, a former chief of staff who wants to help a coalition Government through the war and whose son is fighting in Gaza. Aisha, a religious Muslim women living in Gaza, with her husband and son, with 2 sons in Israeli prisons, who is forced to look after a hostage – Naama, by her husband. Finally, there is Ethan, an A...

  The Paris Chapter by Victoria Walters I wanted to love everything about this book, and I loved the premise, but I felt that the ‘sex scenes’ were written quite badly and made me cringe. If these cliché scenes had been removed it would have been a solid 4 stars.   After Tessa catches her boyfriend cheating, her morale is at an all time low and as she is supposed to be writing a romance novel, writers block is affecting her starting a book that is supposed to be nearly finished. As Tessa and her cheating ex Joe were supposed to be going to Paris together, and Tessa had already booked it and paid for them both, her best friend suggests she goes to try and find her writing mojo in the city of love. When Tessa arrives in Paris at her Airbnb, she finds a near naked man in the shower. He turns out to be Ethan, Joe’s best friend. Ethan has a cookery course in Paris, and Joe was so sure that Tessa wouldn’t go, he suggests that Ethan goes to the apartment. As it is Paris Fashion w...

This One Life by Amanda Prowse   What a fabulous way to spend New Year’s Day! I spent the day with Ms Amanda Prowse, or at least her new book, having had the great fortune to have a pre-release copy to read. All I can say is Wow! Be warned – you will find an entire day gone before you know it!!! Madeleine was born poor, but to an extremely loving home. Whilst she didn’t want for the basic necessities, she wasn’t like the rest of her community, even her best friend Trina – more like a sister than a friend. Madeleine wanted more and as she walked the streets, and saw the lovely houses that were around, Madeleine knew that that was what she aspired to – to own a gorgeous apartment and to decorate it in her taste, to feel comfortable in the best restaurants, to be respected at work, and to leave the smelly, downmarket flat of her youth far behind. Madeleine works hard, and due to a massive break, and a sympathetic mentor, her career is on a good trajectory. Unfortunately, then co...

  The Storyteller’s Daughter by Victoria Scott   This was a lovely story, told in 2 timelines. Beth’s story in 2008 and her Great Aunt Nita at the age of 21 in 1940. It’s a tale of family relationships – both good and bad, history, mystery, and personal values. It’s 2008, and Beth works for the family business – which she is not enjoying, and having said the wrong thing to the press she is now on gardening leave. When she hears that her beloved Great Aunt Nita is dying, she goes to see her and is there when she passes away. This brings back very happy memories of her childhood with her Great Aunt and she wonders why she hadn’t been there for a while. Before Nita passes, in a lucid moment she tells Beth about a secret in the attic. As Beth and her husband’s marriage comes to an end, Beth finds herself spending more and more time at her Great Aunt’s home with and without her children, and spends time trying to work out the secret that Nita was trying to tell her.   A ...