Hobbies and Crafts

Thread up a day early while I remember!!


Please review any of the following that you have read.

The Wedding Officer Anthony Capella
The Italian Girl - Lucinda Riley
Suffragette Girl by Margaret Dickinson
A Single Breath by Lucy Clarke

Review A Single Breath by Lucy Clarke.
This is the third book I have read for Greaders this month. The other two I had read books by the authors before and knew I liked them, this one I had not heard of the author so didn’t know what to expect. Wow. What a good read. Gripping from beginning to end. I loved the characters. Callie, Eva’s friend, warm and funny but sad underneath because she would love a baby. Eva, so in love with Jackson, a widow after a short marriage, a marriage after a short relationship. Did she really know Jackson? And Saul, Jackson’s brother, who sounded like somebody I would like to meet. I loved the descriptions of Tasmania and the Island and also about free diving. Not something I would like to do, but it sounded exciting and beautiful so I liked it.
As you can tell, I really enjoyed the book so a big thank you to whoever suggested it. I shall now look out for Sea Sisters, her other book.

review Suffragette girl by Margaret Dickinson

Florrie Maltby defies her Father, refuses to marry Gervase. Becomes a Suffragette, then a VAD in WW1. Works with Ernst a doctor who specialises in chest complaints.

I really enjoyed this book, there were some great characters and the life of suffragettes was really brought to life. As also was the life of nurses right near the front in WW1.

Sometimes sad and sometimes horrific a really good story.

review The Italian Girl by Lucinda Riley.

How an obsessive destructive love can destroy the lives of many people. Roberto a victim of his talent, so good that he is adored by his audience and by Rosanna since a little girl. Selfish and egoistic, his career always put first, her career sidelined by Roberto and by her own obsessive love; a love doomed by Roberto’s constant infidelities. At first a good but overprotective Mother, Rosanna then proceeds to put Roberto’s needs before those of their son. The tragedy of Rosanna’s sister Carlotta’s illness, brings Carlotta’s daughter, Ella to live with Rosanna. And here too are more secrets hidden from the family except for Luca the brother of Carlotta and Rosanna who is in training to become a priest.
A great story with many layers told partly through letters to Nico their son from Rosanna.
It is easy to dislike Roberto and feel sorry for Rosanna but maybe we should feel a certain amount of sympathy for both who, always having been feted and told how wonderful they are with their singing talent, have not learnt to think of how their actions affect others. And, as a result neither really have happy lives. Luca has an easily likeable character as have Abi and Stephen. While Donnatella Bianchi, although misused by Roberto, doesn’t have anything with which to commend her, her love is selfish and once thwarted, spiteful.
A really good read, I actually thought that it was going to be a bit light weight when I started it but soon got engrossed. I like LR’s books and will look out for those I have not read.

The Wedding Officer - Anthony Capella

I took to this book straight away, completely not what I expected when looking at the book from the front and the title of the book........

The story is of Captain James who is sent over to Italy to try and stop British soldiers from marrying their Italian girlfriends....A strange concept but looking into it more it actually did happen. He is thrown into the world of a place of beauty and love that he never invisaged when he began his commands .....

He meets Livia (favourite character) who shows him her strngth not only in love but her passion to survive....

Kind of reminded me on the lines of captain corelli's mandolin, which blew me away

Adored this book and a real page turner for me...........



A Single Breath - Lucy Clark

This story was gripping literally, not my usual sort of book, but again a fantastic read with suspense , intrigue, twists and turns and another page turner.....

Eva mourns the loss of her husband and while grieving decided to be near her dead husbands family only to find she was not married to the man she thought he was.....Loved all the characters and I related so much to Eva's friend Callie, in so many ways........A fantastic book, and have already been looking at another one of her to read ............



Suffragette Girl - Margaret Dickinson

When reading this book it reminded me of another but for the life of me could not think what it was.......A great story of a Suffragettes fight to be seen and heard also those on the front and the nursing system as to what they went through.......

I did find the writing descriptive and also so much detail at times.....Another good read and also was a learning curve for me to do with the Suffragettes ........

A Single Breath – by Lucy Clarke
An unusual story but very understandable. The young widow – still with no ‘closure’ when her husband’s body is not found, goes to his home country and learns that he has told her stories of what happened in his past – but they had actually happened to his brother. Her husband had lied to her and was also still married to someone else when he married her.
What an emotional turmoil she must have been in – but a happy ending after being able to face her husband after she learned the truth. Very good reading.

Suffragette Girl – by Margaret Dickinson
Another good read set in the times when girls were disowned by their families when they had an illegitimate child. The child too, was disinherited. Florrie sacrificed her reputation to claim her brother’s child as her own and eventually get her father to accept the boy. A good insight into how women have gained the equality they have to-day. A happy ending, too, to see her finally realise who the right man for her was.

The Wedding Officer

I loved this book and the characters in it. It covered an area of war I was unfamiliar with and although parts of it were heart wrenching, it also contained a lot of humour. Once again it was a book involving the senses, I think I probably have never tasted true mozzarella, as Livia made, it sounds delicious! Although it may not be good for the diet I shall have to look out for Anthony Capella's other book 'The Food of Love'.

A Single Breath

Still half way through this but really enjoying it so far.
I've read 'Sea Sisters' Ann and it was just as good.

I have now read Sea sisters and really enjoyed that too.

At last - I have (brief) access to a laptop. Before I start my reviews, just wanted to mention that while waiting for A Single Breath I read Sea Sisters (by the same author) which I enjoyed. I am still waiting for Single Breathe from the Library (about 11 weeks after I requested it).

It is ages since I read the following books and made notes for the review - but here goes.

Suffragette Girl Margaret Dickinson
I love (realistic) historical fiction and was not disappointed by this book. I throughly enjoyed the book, which followed Florrie Maltby from her life in the country (in Lincolnshire) to London - where she was a sufferagette -(suffering for 'the cause') Then onto the horrors of the first world war, her part in it and how it effected lives forever.

The opening chapter was intreging, however I soon worked out @the secret of the birth' - this did NOT spoil the rest of the story for e.
Not many surprises - neverthe less it was well written and kept my interest.

Well worth reading.

+++++++++++++++++

The Italian Girl by Lucinda Riley

Having already read "The Midnight Rose" by the same author, I was looking forward to reading "The Italian Girl" - it did not disappoint.
The setting in the world of opera almost made me want to see one (I enjoy theatre) especially if the "young" parts are taken by young people.
The story was interesting - I felt that the people in the story fell in one of two camps - i.e. the goodies and the baddies (just like old fashioned Westerns or Cops+ Robbers films). with very few people straddling both camps exc ept for the narrowness of the main charecters I enjoyrd reading the story. "Visiting" all the places Rosanna to, the people she meet anfd the roles she played..
I see from "the blurb" on the cover of the book that it has been rewritten - it was previously written under the name Lucinda Edmunds. It seems that there have been some changes made to the story - has anyone read the "Lucinda Edmunds" version?

In summary, I enjoyed The Italian Girl probably not quite as much as Midnight Rose and will be on the look out for other Riley books.


++++++++++++++++++++

The Wedding Officer.


A light touch to such a sreious subject. Many funny scenes - set at a time of despair and deprevation. The contrast between the two brought to me just how terrible things were for civilians in other countries in WW11.

A relly good book peopled by interesting charecters.
The descriptions of food preperation was amusing and informative!!!

The descriptions of Naples and the surrounding counrrtryside made me want to visit. A really good read. I highhy recommend it.

At last - I have (brief) access to a laptop. Before I start my reviews, just wanted to mention that while waiting for A Single Breath I read Sea Sisters (by the same author) which I enjoyed. I am still waiting for Single Breathe from the Library (about 11 weeks after I requested it).

It is ages since I read the following books and made notes for the review - but here goes.

Suffragette Girl Margaret Dickinson
I love (realistic) historical fiction and was not disappointed by this book. I throughly enjoyed the book, which followed Florrie Maltby from her life in the country (in Lincolnshire) to London - where she was a sufferagette -(suffering for 'the cause') Then onto the horrors of the first world war, her part in it and how it effected lives forever.

The opening chapter was intreging, however I soon worked out @the secret of the birth' - this did NOT spoil the rest of the story for e.
Not many surprises - neverthe less it was well written and kept my interest.

Well worth reading.

+++++++++++++++++

The Italian Girl by Lucinda Riley

Having already read "The Midnight Rose" by the same author, I was looking forward to reading "The Italian Girl" - it did not disappoint.
The setting in the world of opera almost made me want to see one (I enjoy theatre) especially if the "young" parts are taken by young people.
The story was interesting - I felt that the people in the story fell in one of two camps - i.e. the goodies and the baddies (just like old fashioned Westerns or Cops+ Robbers films). with very few people straddling both camps exc ept for the narrowness of the main charecters I enjoyrd reading the story. "Visiting" all the places Rosanna to, the people she meet anfd the roles she played..
I see from "the blurb" on the cover of the book that it has been rewritten - it was previously written under the name Lucinda Edmunds. It seems that there have been some changes made to the story - has anyone read the "Lucinda Edmunds" version?

In summary, I enjoyed The Italian Girl probably not quite as much as Midnight Rose and will be on the look out for other Riley books.


++++++++++++++++++++

The Wedding Officer.


A light touch to such a sreious subject. Many funny scenes - set at a time of despair and deprevation. The contrast between the two brought to me just how terrible things were for civilians in other countries in WW11.

A relly good book peopled by interesting charecters.
The descriptions of food preperation was amusing and informative!!!

The descriptions of Naples and the surrounding counrrtryside made me want to visit. A really good read. I highhy recommend it.

At last - I have (brief) access to a laptop. Before I start my reviews, just wanted to mention that while waiting for A Single Breath I read Sea Sisters (by the same author) which I enjoyed. I am still waiting for Single Breathe from the Library (about 11 weeks after I requested it).

It is ages since I read the following books and made notes for the review - but here goes.

Suffragette Girl Margaret Dickinson
I love (realistic) historical fiction and was not disappointed by this book. I throughly enjoyed the book, which followed Florrie Maltby from her life in the country (in Lincolnshire) to London - where she was a sufferagette -(suffering for 'the cause') Then onto the horrors of the first world war, her part in it and how it effected lives forever.

The opening chapter was intreging, however I soon worked out @the secret of the birth' - this did NOT spoil the rest of the story for e.
Not many surprises - neverthe less it was well written and kept my interest.

Well worth reading.

+++++++++++++++++

The Italian Girl by Lucinda Riley

Having already read "The Midnight Rose" by the same author, I was looking forward to reading "The Italian Girl" - it did not disappoint.
The setting in the world of opera almost made me want to see one (I enjoy theatre) especially if the "young" parts are taken by young people.
The story was interesting - I felt that the people in the story fell in one of two camps - i.e. the goodies and the baddies (just like old fashioned Westerns or Cops+ Robbers films). with very few people straddling both camps exc ept for the narrowness of the main charecters I enjoyrd reading the story. "Visiting" all the places Rosanna to, the people she meet anfd the roles she played..
I see from "the blurb" on the cover of the book that it has been rewritten - it was previously written under the name Lucinda Edmunds. It seems that there have been some changes made to the story - has anyone read the "Lucinda Edmunds" version?

In summary, I enjoyed The Italian Girl probably not quite as much as Midnight Rose and will be on the look out for other Riley books.


++++++++++++++++++++

The Wedding Officer.


A light touch to such a sreious subject. Many funny scenes - set at a time of despair and deprevation. The contrast between the two brought to me just how terrible things were for civilians in other countries in WW11.

A relly good book peopled by interesting charecters.
The descriptions of food preperation was amusing and informative!!!

The descriptions of Naples and the surrounding counrrtryside made me want to visit. A really good read. I highhy recommend it.

Thank you Tess. I hope you soon have constant access to a computer.