After Isabella by Rosie Fiore
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
When Esther's childhood best friend Isabella dies of cancer, she is devastated. Years later, she is brought together with Isabella's sister Sally, who cared for Isabella in her last days, and who subsequently nursed their mother through years of dementia.
English professor Esther sees shy, innocent Sally emerge from a life of isolation and loneliness. But as Esther herself suffers blow after blow, and sees her carefully ordered life collapse around her, she is forced to contemplate the notion of friendship and trust. Do the ones we hold dearest always have our best interests at heart?
This was a bit depressing for me - when Esthers' childhood friend Isabella dies of cancer she is broken. Years later she meets Isabella's sister Sally who cared for Isabella before she died and also her mother as she battled dementia.
Its' really about how these characters coped after these events that the book is all about but although well written and thought out it was just a bit depressing for me. I think it was a difficult read and you really need to persevere with it to get to the end and it wasn't helped that the character of Esther was a bit dull and boring.
Its' not easy writing a novel about death and its' even more difficult to read about it - not a novel I would choose to read and not one I particularly enjoyed therefore I can only give this one a 2 star rating.
I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.
The Beekeeper's Secret by Josephine Moon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Maria knew about guilt. It was a stubborn, pervasive and toxic emotion, and incredibly difficult to shake. Especially if really, deep down, you didn't think you deserved to let it go.
Maria spends her days tending to the bees of Honeybee Haven and creating wonderful honey products to fund children in need. A former nun, Maria's life has long been shaped by a shadowy secret and her own self-imposed penance for events in her past. The arrival of two letters, one pink, from nearby Noosa Heads, and one marked with a government crest, herald the shattering of Maria's peaceful existence.
Before they were married, Tansy made a very serious deal with her husband, Dougall. With their elegant apartment and beachside lifestyle in Noosa, they have everything they agreed they wanted in life, so Tansy is going to ignore the feelings that might suggest she has changed her mind. On top of those not-really-there feelings, Dougall wants to move to Canada!
Surprising and intriguing, The Beekeeper's Secret is an exploration of family in all its facets, and the astounding secrets we keep from those we love.
I didn't really connect with this book and I think the reason for this was that the author was constantly 'telling' rather than 'showing' which tends to assume the reader can't make an opinion of their own. It had all the usual elements, protagonist with secrets, family conflicts, hidden skeletons, etc. but it was quite predictable and not really anything 'new' to tell.
I was disappointed in this novel, maybe I have ready too many in this genre lately and for that reason it really wasn't anything different, its' an OK read but I wouldn't have rushed out to buy it. Only 3 stars from me I'm afraid.
I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.
The Tea Chest by Josephine Moon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
'A beautifully engaging novel set in the world of a boutique London tea shop. 'I loved it - a perfect blend of sweet and spice.' Jenny Colgan
Kate Fullerton, talented tea designer and now co-owner of The Tea Chest, could never have imagined that she'd be flying from Brisbane to London, risking her young family's future, to save the business she loves from the woman who wants to shut it down.
Meanwhile, Leila Morton has just lost her job; and if Elizabeth Clancy had known today was the day she would appear on the nightly news, she might at least have put on some clothes. Both need to start again.
When the three women's paths unexpectedly cross, they throw themselves into realising Kate's magical vision for London's branch of The Tea Chest. But every time success is within their grasp, increasing tensions damage their trust in each other.
With the very real possibility that The Tea Chest will fail, Kate, Leila and Elizabeth must decide what's important to each of them. Are they willing to walk away or can they learn to believe in themselves?
An enchanting, witty novel about the unexpected situations life throws at us, and how love and friendship help us through. Written with heart and infused with the seductive scents of bergamot, Indian spices, lemon, rose and caramel, it's a world you won't want to leave.'
This story centres around the future of 'The Tea Chest' one of a chain of boutique shops offering gourmet and custom blended teas; with two shops in Australia the owner Simone Taylor has secured a shop in London with the intention of launching her unique blends of tea in the UK when her untimely death leaves the future of the London shop in jeopardy. Kate Fullerton who inherits Simone's share of the business feels that she wants to continue with the London store in memory of her friend. Despite Simone's step sisters' wish to sell the business as she is also a part owner, Kate is determined to launch this store and fulfill Simone's dream. Kate has a family and it's not easy for her to leave them behind in Australia and she also has to contemplate facing financial risks to make this work for Simone but she realises very quickly that it is something that she needs to do both for her friend and for herself.
Essentially this is about having courage to take a chance, facing fears, trusting your instincts, friendships and love. Kate's passion for tea and her close bond with Simone push her to achieve the almost unachievable, it teaches her a lot about herself, her relationship and her friends. Kate has no real head for business and realises she needs help and recruits Leila Morton and sisters Elizabeth Clancy and Victoria Plimsworth to help her. Working long hours and facing many obstacles along the way including construction workers, jealous neighbouring shop owners, London riots and personal problems they finally make this happen.
I did feel that the constant jumping from character to character and time periods was annoying in that it made it hard to recall where I was in the book each time I picked it up as I could not read this over a couple of days as I would have liked to. I also didn't share the writers obvious passion for tea and found the technicalities of tea making a bit laborious but the overall appeal of the story came through despite this for me.
A nice lighthearted read, good for round the pool/holiday reading, nothing too heavy to worry about here and of course it all has a happy ever after ending. I did think it was perhaps too tightly and neatly wrapped up but satisfying nevertheless.
Dare I say it but it was not quite my cup of tea (excuse the pun) but possibly different enough to be a successfully entertaining read. I would give this a 3.5 star rating (rounding up to 4* for Goodread and Amazon) - the ending was predictable but it just was a little slow for me.
I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.
