Review – Deadly Dancing at the Seaview Hotel

“Stepping forward, stepping back, who cares, as long as you’re dancing together in the right direction.”

Well, I’m back at the Seaview Hotel for the fourth time. Breathing in the sea air, feeling the breeze on my face and tucking into one of the hotel’s award winning breakfasts (I wish). At this point in the ‘Helen Dexter’ series, it really does feel like catching up with old friends from the moment I turn the first page. As noted by one of the (many) eccentric guests, the Seaview itself feels so calming, and its landlady Helen feels so restful. That is, until one of the guests doesn’t return.

Of course, Scarborough’s (albeit fictional) police detectives are once again barking up the wrong tree when it comes to catching the killer, so it falls to Helen and her trusty greyhound Suki to catch the killer before they strike again. As if poor Helen didn’t have enough on her plate with running the Seaview, the insufferable Miriam lands unexpectedly with suitcases in hand, her closest confidante-come-chef Jean has her head turned by a complete scallywag and Helen’s own relationship with the lovely Jimmy reaches an uncomfortable, and most untimely, ultimatum. Can Helen solve the murder, and matters of her heart, before it’s too late?

“She’d come this far, and she was determined not to leave without discovering the truth.”

We’re four instalments into the Helen Dexter series now, so as I’ve said it does feel like catching up with old friends when Helen, Jean and Sally are all chatting away in the apartment of the Seaview. However, it’s a testament to Glenda Young’s fantastic writing and gripping plotlines that this instalment really had me questioning what I thought I knew about all of the main characters, even Helen herself. I found myself practically shouting at the pages at times, particularly as Helen and Jean navigated their respective matters of their hearts; which just shows the care and attention which Glenda Young pours into creating these characters who are so multi-layered that they can still surprise familiar readers when we’re four novels in. Without spoiling anything for those who are yet to read ‘Deadly Dancing’, if there is one thing I will take away from this book, it’s to never trust a man in Cuban heels.

As always, it wouldn’t be a stay at the Seaview Hotel without a gaggle of quirky guests. Just when I think I’ve seen it all at the Seaview, Glenda Young introduces a motley crew of ballroom dancers, all with their own individual rich personal histories, many of which threaten to spill over into the present day as they all prepare for a ballroom dancing competition in Scarborough. I will admit that I’m not a ‘Strictly’ fan, and know absolutely nothing about dancing, but as always these characters and their respective plotlines are so well-written, with such attention to detail that I found myself totally engrossed in the glittering world of ballroom dance, and all the drama it entails.

“Suddenly, everything began to make sense. It was as if a fog had lifted”.

We may be four books into this series, but once again the plot had me guessing until the very end, and I’m four for four with not being able to work out who the killer was. But, I will overlook this as it’s a sign of Glenda Young’s excellent writing that she, and her characters, are always one step ahead of the reader. Again, without wanting to spoil anything for those who are yet to read this book, the ending was everything I’d hoped for and more – all ends tied up, characters making the right steps on their individual journeys but, as always, just a tiny hint of intrigue at the end which has truly piqued my interest for book five, so I will definitely be checking into the Seaview again!

Blog Tour – Love Forever Lindisfarne

“Our island is changing, ladies, and there’s not a lot we can do about it.”

Who doesn’t love an escape to Northumberland? Stunning coastal views, friendly locals, and a quiet break from life’s dramas. Or so I thought. Well, I suppose two out of three isn’t so bad.

As a North East reader, I am ashamed to admit that I hadn’t come across Kimberley Adams’ Love Lindisfarne series until now. Never one to pass up a chance to visit my favourite place in the world (albeit by turning pages rather than driving up the A1), I’d have happily read a detailed memoir on watching paint dry if it were set in Northumberland; but thankfully Kimberley’s fantastic writing, paired with a plot that had as many exciting and unexpected turns as the Northumbrian climate, meant that I was hooked from the first chapter.

“Life moved along like the tide, ebbing and flowing with regular certainty and stopping for no one.”

This may be the third instalment, but if, like me, you’re new to the ‘Love Lindisfarne’ series, then do not hesitate to dive straight in. I may have been a newbie to this island, much like young Kitti, but it was no time at all before I felt like I was catching up with old friends. The warm characters are so well-written and clearly had such rich histories and bonds with one another, that I couldn’t help laughing (and sometimes crying) along with them as I turned the pages. I knew there was something particularly special about this group when I was just getting to know them in the opening chapter, and learned that they were prepared to stop and help a complete stranger despite it being the most important day of one of their lives. From that point onwards, I was completely hooked – absolutely devouring each chapter in a desperate need to find out what happened next, and completely ignoring the ‘just one more chapter’ limit I (fruitlessly) tried to give myself.

Of course the breathtaking Northumbrian coastline needs no introduction, but Kimberley Adams’ beautiful writing really brought Lindisfarne to life. The descriptions were so vivid that I could practically smell the sea air wafting out of the pages, and feel the fresh coastal breeze on my face. The island is so unique and untamed that it’s almost one of the main characters in its own right, although, in my humble opinion, second only to Barry Big Lad when it comes to delivering the dramatics!

“Lindisfarne, where dreams really can come true.”

All in all, it was an absolute joy to watch Kitti spread her wings on Lindisfarne, with the support of a hilarious yet fiercely loyal motley crew of characters, and I will certainly be going back to read the earlier instalments of Kimberley Adams’ ‘Love Lindisfarne’ series because I can’t get enough of this group, or their incredible island. It remains my life’s ambition to retire to Northumberland, but I will now only be doing so with a level of sass that matches that of Ethel Fish. #Goals.

Why not check out the rest of the Love Forever Lindisfarne blog tour?

Purchase Links
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FF5DSM9R
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FF5DSM9R

Love Forever Lindisfarne

Take a summer break to stunning Northumberland via the pages of this feel-good romantic comedy by award winning writer Kimberley Adams. Full of love and laughter, it will leave you yearning to visit this iconic location in person!

When a stranger appears in the middle of a very important celebration, no one can foresee the island connections that will later come to light. Kittiwake Penaluna is drawn to the island at a sad time in her life; she’s broken, but it doesn’t take long for the islanders to rally round and take her under their wing.

Ellie and Zen are busier than they’ve ever been, jumping from task to task with little time for themselves. Will they ever find a moment together away from all the drama that constantly follows them around the island?

The forthcoming arrival of nine new mini animals puts even more pressure on the islanders, but Bert is resolute, and it’s all hands to the pump to prepare for their arrival. The Mini-Fest fundraiser gets off to a great start, until a despised face from the past appears and throws everything into chaos.

Full of heart, Love Forever Lindisfarne is a story steeped in love and community. You’ll reunite with beloved characters who feel like old friends and meet a few lively newcomers with big personalities! Each page will pull you deeper into island life and leave you with a wide smile and a warm glow!

Praise for Kimberley Adams taken from Amazon reviews:

‘Kimberley’s books often feel more like a chat between friends than reading a book, she has the knack of making the reader feel they are part of the action and at the heart of the story.’ Ginger Book Geek Reviewer.

‘The characters just jump off the page and charm you and are so well drawn you can almost see them.’ Amazon customer.

‘I want to visit Lindisfarne even more after reading Kim’s books.’ June, Australia.

‘Thank you for writing such a beautiful love letter to Northumberland.’ Kindle Customer.

‘Witty, great storytelling and a wonderful mix of characters that keep you engaged and invested.’ Orapps.

Author Bio – Kim writes heartwarming romantic comedies which are set in glorious Northumberland on the iconic Holy Island of Lindisfarne. Kim is an award-winning writer and her books are amongst the highest rated romcoms on Amazon. Kim’s beautiful book covers are bespoke artwork by a Northumbrian artist and a representation of a scene within the book!

FACEBOOK Kimberley Adams-Writer or Love Lindisfarne

X kim_adamsWriter

INSTAGRAM love_lindisfarne

Review – Secrets of the Toffee Factory Girls

“Mr Jack’s going to make an important announcement that will affect the future of the factory – and all of our lives.”

The toffee factory girls are back! The war might be raging on, but it’s no match for their courage and determination. By 1916, and Hetty, Elsie and Anne’s jobs at Mr Jack’s toffee factory in Chester-Le-Street may be more settled, but their home and romantic lives are anything but. Then, just as work seems to be the one stable element of their lives, Mr Jack makes an announcement which throws everything into question. And with sugar rationing crippling the nation, will the factory survive the uncertainty ahead?

As with all of Glenda Young’s fantastic sagas, the main thing which had me itching to know what comes next for our toffee factory girls is the (seemingly) unbreakable bond between Hetty, Elsie and Anne. If there’s one thing Glenda knows how to perfect, it’s writing powerhouse female leads, and the combination of these three heroines had me hooked on the ‘Toffee Factory Girls’ saga from the first instalment. However, as life continues to throw unexpected twists and turns their way, and secrets from their respective pasts threaten to boil over to the present, the bond between these three women is tested to the very limit. Without spoiling anything for those who haven’t yet read ‘Secrets’, I was absolutely rage-turning the pages as it seemed, at points, that the girls might drift apart irreconcilably in light of the huge plot twists which were pushing them in different directions. However, we can all relate to the idea of life getting in the way of our friendships, and I can only imagine how that would have been to experience within the wider throes of war, to say nothing of that huge, age-old and ever looming threat to female friendships – men.

“It felt as if the ground had shifted beneath her feet, but instead of being shaken, she felt very happy indeed.”

To match three such headstrong women, of course readers would never settle for some boring old doormats who fall in step behind them; our girls need male leads who can match their complexity, without overshadowing them. It’s a difficult balance to strike, but once again, Glenda smashed it. I was so pleased to see the return of Dirk and Mr Jack; of course less so to meet Frankie again, but then all great heroes (or in this case heroines) need an equally matched villain, and I continue to thoroughly enjoy the slow burn of sweet, dependable Stan in the background. Although, I’m not sure if I was getting caught up in the suspicion and paranoia of wartime, or if it was just Glenda Young’s great plot development (probably the latter), but I definitely had my guard up around Dirk and Mr Jack this time – something which I never would have expected from the first ‘Toffee Factory Girls’ book. It’s a testament to the great storytelling and plot twists however, that this instalment had me really questioning two such seemingly great and dependable characters which I was already familiar with.

“There’s only one woman I love. With you by my side, we’ll get through this damn war.”

However, as the old saying goes, it all comes out in the wash, and most of our toffee factory girls’ secrets (and those of their respective men) come out in the end, but as always, Glenda Young leaves her readers wanting more. Again, without spoiling anything for those who are yet to read this book, the end was a perfect blend of celebration, resolve and the reunion of our girls, but left me absolutely itching to know what happens next – particularly around whether Anne’s secret will remain out of sight and out of mind. Personally, I’ll be keeping one eye on that sneaky mother in law. But whatever happens next, I know Glenda Young will continue serve intrigue, heartbreak and heroism by the gallon, and if our toffee factory girls face it together, then nothing is unachievable.

“I’ll always stand by you. No matter what happens from now on, we’re a team, all three of us.”

Cover Reveal – Love Forever Lindisfarne

Now that Summer is finally here, what better place to enjoy it than beautiful Northumberland? I would never miss an opportunity to enthuse about my favourite place in the world, so I’m beyond excited to share the cover reveal for Kimberley Adams’ upcoming romantic comedy ‘Love Forever Lindisfarne’.

Out on 26th June, I absolutely can’t wait to get into ‘Love Forever Lindisfarne’; the cover is so warm and inviting that I can almost feel the sea breeze wafting out of it. Any eagle-eyed Northerners like myself will also appreciate the subtle placement of the Northumberland flag on the cover as well! To get your hands on a copy of this perfect Summer read, pre order links are here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F8MQM8VP
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F8MQM8VP

Love Forever Lindisfarne

Full of heart, ‘Love Forever Lindisfarne’ is a story steeped in love and community. You’ll reunite with beloved characters who feel like old friends and meet a few lively newcomers with big personalities! Each page will pull you deeper into island life and leave you with a wide smile and a warm glow!

Who is Kimberley Adams?

Kim writes heartwarming romantic comedies which are set in glorious Northumberland on the iconic Holy Island of Lindisfarne. Kim is an award-winning writer and her books are amongst the highest rated romcoms on Amazon. Kim’s beautiful book covers are bespoke artwork by a Northumbrian artist and a representation of a scene within the book!

FACEBOOK Kimberley Adams-Writer or Love Lindisfarne

X kim_adamsWriter

INSTAGRAM love_lindisfarne

‘The characters just jump off the page and charm you and are so well drawn you can almost see them.’ Amazon customer.

‘I want to visit Lindisfarne even more after reading Kim’s books.’ June, Australia.

‘Thank you for writing such a beautiful love letter to Northumberland.’ Kindle Customer.

‘Witty, great storytelling and a wonderful mix of characters that keep you engaged and invested.’ Orapps.

Many thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to join this exciting cover reveal! @rararesources

Review – The Toffee Factory Girls

“Some may say I’m ruthless, reckless, a rebel. But all those ingredients, along with the best cream and top-quality sugar, go to make Jack’s toffees the best in the land.”

Chester Le Street, 1915. A war raging on longer than people had predicted, men enlisting in their masses and a huge factory in need of some order, hard work and a rebrand? Get some women in to sort it all out! Hetty, Anne and Elsie make the perfect trio in the first of Glenda Young’s latest trilogy ‘The Toffee Factory Girls’, which has all the ingredients of a gripping and un-putdownable saga; and is wrapped up with intrigue that has left me itching to know what happens next.

No-nonsense, organised Anne was my favourite from the start, but as with all of Glenda’s novels, I found myself constantly re-evaluating me opinions of each character as the story progressed. As a type-A person myself, I instantly related to Anne, but together with ditzy Elsie and dependable Hetty the three girls form a perfect blend of personalities which compliment each other, and are a force to be reckoned with when they work together. Without spoiling anything for those who are yet to read this, it became clear from early in the plot that Anne has a rich back story which I am intrigued to learn more about as the trilogy progresses. Glenda has once again mastered that fine balance of giving enough to really pique the reader’s curiosity, sending the cogs in my imagination whirring as I turned each page, but maintaining the mystery right until the end, which has left the door firmly open for us to (hopefully) delve deeper into her history next time, which I can’t wait for.

“If you want my advice, take happiness where you find it. You never know when your life will be turned upside down.”

One of the main things that I love about Glenda’s novels is the complexity of her characters. Although Anne was initially my favourite, I don’t mind admitting that I was frustrated at some of her treatment towards Hetty and Elsie at times. But, as with autonomous humans in real life, well-written characters seldom do what we want them to, or at least not consistently. Anne is exactly the type of complex female heroine that I have no doubt told Glenda exactly how her story pans out, and not the other way around! Similarly, I took an instant dislike to the somewhat immature Elsie, particularly after her early betrayal of Hetty, but through her complex personal journey throughout the story, I found myself really rooting for her by the time I closed the cover, and can’t wait to see her continue onwards and upwards (hopefully) when we see her again next time. Hetty felt, to me, like the glue which holds the group together, and could easily have become the typical passive ‘best friend’ character, who probably would have been given a back seat in favour of the more vibrant Anne and Elsie by many other authors. However, I presume Glenda is a dab hand at juggling from the way she perfectly balances all three girls’ stories with equal parts of drama, suspense and love. As a feminist it pains me to admit it, but something I really love about Hetty’s story is the bubbling romance, which is even sweeter than the toffees she wraps. But having said that, Hetty strikes me as the kind of girl who has always been overlooked. Expected to put her own wishes and feelings aside in order to support everyone around her, which is what makes her such a loyal friend, so if anyone deserves to have someone notice her and shower her with a bit of love, it’s our Hetty.

Again, as with all of Glenda’s other saga novels, the setting is so vibrant that it’s almost like another protagonist in itself. Despite being relatively local to Chester-Le-Street, I had no idea about the real factory which inspired Jack’s Toffee, but now I almost feel like I’ve been there because it’s described in such vivid detail as the plot progresses. I could practically smell the toffee wafting out of each page turn.

All in all, although ‘The Toffee Factory Girls’ has all the key elements of a typical saga – romance, mystery, feisty heroines and a rich array of background characters who swirl the plot around and keep the reader guessing until the end (and beyond), it certainly stands out from the others on the shelves. Once again, Glenda Young has taken a relatively forgotten and mundane chunk of local history, and given it a rich and exciting new life. I can’t wait to see what’s coming next for The Toffee Factory Girls, because if this first instalment is anything to go by, I know it won’t disappoint.

Review – The Widow’s Choice

“One thing I’ve learnt this past year, is that you don’t ever know what’s around the corner.”

She’s BACK! No, not just the fantastic Nancy Revell, but one of our beloved, fierce and fabulous women welders from Thompson’s.

Of course if you’ve even so much as skimmed over my earlier blog posts, it’s obvious that I (like many, many others) was/am a huge fan of ‘The Shipyard Girls series’, and was therefore waiting with baited breath to see what Nancy had for us next. No pressure there, right? ‘The Shipyard Girls’ was such a huge hit with saga readers, and beyond, so it must have been pretty daunting for Nancy to follow on from. Think The Spice Girls – yes, we eventually got ‘Spice Up Your Life’ which was an absolute bop, but when the first creative success you have is ‘Wannabe’, it’s basically impossible to immediately follow that with something equally brilliant (sorry ‘Say You’ll Be There, you just didn’t cut it for me). So I’ll be honest, I did no background research on ‘The Widow’s Choice’. I decided to approach it completely fresh, tried to put all things ‘Shipyard Girls’ out of my head, opened the pages and prepared to just appreciate it for whatever it was, whether that be another smash or something akin to that slightly less catchy second pop single. However, as always, Nancy knocked it out of the park.

Excited is an understatement to describe the moment I realised ‘The Widow’s Choice’ was a follow-on from ‘The Shipyard Girls’. Although the ‘Shipyard Girls’ saga ended with a wholly satisfying and heartwarming finale, they are all such fantastic characters that I will always have room for more of their stories. Like Downton Abbey – the series finale was completely *chef’s kiss* and tied up all the ends, but the subsequent films were like a wonderful dessert after an already fabulous meal, just like ‘The Widow’s Choice’. Having said that, however, Nancy has managed to perfectly strike that difficult balance between nods to the individual characters’ histories which thrill the familiar fans (hello Dr Eris – I spotted you towards the end!) and a rich plot which takes the reader on such an exciting and unpredictable journey that it works entirely as a standalone novel. So, if you’ve been living under a rock and haven’t read ‘The Shipyard Girls’, do not let this be a barrier to picking up ‘The Widow’s Choice’; although I would also urge you to start on ‘The Shipyard Girls’ after, because that’s equally gripping and un-put-downable.

“Angie owed it to all of them to put on a brave face and to start getting on with life again.”

So, we find our beloved Angie and Quentin four years on from VE day, and my goodness haven’t things changed! Angie has navigated the transition from coalminer’s daughter come woman welder to mistress of the manor, although I can imagine that the process of this was far from seamless, particularly once we’re introduced to Quentin’s mother Evelyn – monster in law if ever I saw one! Nancy Revell really does know how to write a baddie that we love to hate. I did wonder if Evelyn had ever come across our old favourite villain Miriam in their mutual social circles, although I dread to think of the chaos which that combination of personalities would ensue. The phrase ‘folie a deux’ springs to mind.

Although she is lady of the manor now, I was quickly relieved to find that our Angie hasn’t changed too much. She may be far from the impulsive, fun-loving and carefree girl we met several years back, but she certainly hasn’t forgotten her roots. When tragedy strikes in the opening chapter, Angie is understandably distraught and has the wind well and truly knocked out of her sails. But, with her motley crew of younger siblings in tow, as well as a spirited toddler of her own in the mix by now, the support of the eclectic mix of household staff and a fabulous new friend Clemmie (who even gives our Dor a run for her money), she rises to the challenge and, of course, comes out on top. And, in classic Nancy Revell saga style, does so with a new romance so fiery leaves even the draughtiest corners of mid-Winter Cuthford Manor, toasty warm.

I’m already counting down to the next installment, and can’t wait to see what Nancy has planned next for Angie and her tribe!

*Nancy Revell’s books are enjoyed by all ages in this family!*

Review – Mistletoe and Mulled Wine at the Christmas Campervan

“Whatever was to come, she was determined to make this festive season a special one.”

Few things in life bring me as much comfort and joy as the Northumberland Coastline and Christmas. So, when I stumbled across ‘Mistletoe and Mulled Wine at the Christmas Campervan’ on a snowy Saturday afternoon in my local library, I couldn’t believe my luck. And not just because I was slowly losing my mind after six consecutive readings of ‘Peppa Pig’s Christmas Wish’ to my toddler. Although there are many, many things I could say about my feelings on Peppa Pig, I would far rather discuss my excitement at having discovered Caroline Roberts’ ‘Cosy Campervan’ series.

As a type-A person who craves order and logical routine, it’s totally not my style to have started a series part way through, however I didn’t initially realise that this was not the first in the series, or a standalone novel. In the chaos of managing a toddler in the library and my excitement at having found the rare gem that is a book set in the North East, I didn’t look too far into this. However, the author manifested such intricate character depth that made this work entirely as a standalone festive read, but sprinkled in enough gentle nods to characters’ personal histories that my curiosity has definitely been piqued and I fully intend to read the previous instalment next. What was it that made Jack settle down? Was Lucy enough, or were there other factors at play? I need to know!

As an objective reader who has no knowledge of this book’s predecessor, I felt that Jack and Lucy have such a natural, instantly recognisable chemistry that I didn’t have any reason to initially question how their relationship had blossomed, although I have to say I wasn’t entirely trusting of him at first. Whether this was intentional, or perhaps a nod to the previous book in this series, I don’t yet know, but I wanted to write up the review and share my thoughts before confirming or denying my theories as to what happened to make Jack into such a flight risk, particularly around what happened with Lucy’s best friend Becky, whose opinion of Jack is as ice-cold as the North Sea on a windy December night. Watch this space, because I am certainly intrigued.

After a plot with as many peaks and troughs as the Cheviot Hills however, I had most definitely warmed to Jack by the end. Without spoiling any plot elements for anyone who hasn’t read this book yet (although you really must), his grand romantic gesture against the backdrop of the breath-taking coastline had me smiling into the pages. And, when you consider the fact that he’s hobbling through it due to being, not quite in his usual peak physical form, shall we say, the love which fills this climactic scene would melt even the coldest cynic’s heart.

I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to discover Caroline Roberts’ charming series; as a North East reader it’s almost embarrassing! Although after mentions of Bamburgh Bangers and The Muppets Christmas Carol, I did feel slightly paranoid that this author had somehow generated a book which is able to listen to your conversations and tailor the text accordingly like a smart phone, because at times it was like she had been inside my head.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed spending part of the festive period at Cove Cottage. Northumberland is my favourite place in the world, and between the mania of Christmas preparation and parenthood, it’s rare I get the chance to spend time there in the festive period, so it was an absolute treat to be able to go there in mind, if not yet in body, this year. My favourite part was being able to spend the night in a lavish castle, with roaring fires in the midst of a snowstorm and feeling like an extra in Downton Abbey; but the Christmas glow was practically shining from the pages throughout the book as a whole. Between the smells of the freshly baked festive treats in the village cafe, sights of the twinkling lights in the picturesque villages (‘The Holiday’, eat your heart out!) and snuggling up by the tree with gorgeous Daisy the Daschund, ‘Mistletoe and Mulled Wine at the Christmas Campervan’ has certainly got my festive spirit….all fired up!

Review – The Sixpenny Orphan

“The future was full of possibilities, making her mind race and her heart soar.”

We all know that Glenda Young has asserted herself as one of the main faces in the saga genre. When I pick up one of her books I don’t even need to read the blurb as I know I’ll be hooked from the start; frantically flipping the pages with baited breath, desperately needing to know what happens next. Of course, ‘The Sixpenny Orphan’ was no exception.

One of the reasons I love Glenda’s saga novels is her consistent ability to write amazing heroines who overcome huge adversity, have incredible strength and both inspire and humble the reader; although this time, she truly outdid herself by giving us not one, but two! My initial prediction when I realised this story was one of two sisters, was that there would be a typical ‘good’ and ‘bad’ one, the latter of which I would love to hate. However, as Glenda does so often, she took what could have been a typical saga plot and broke away from that mould, putting her own unique spin on these characters. Although we quickly learn that Poppy is the slightly more outspoken of the two, I was surprised and pleased as the story progressed and the complexity of both characters began to unfold as the chapters (and years) went by, with both Poppy and Rose having strengths and flaws which were unique to each of their multi-faceted personalities.

I wouldn’t say I had a favourite between Poppy and Rose, since both had their own, equally rich and intriguing personal histories, but one aspect of the overall story which really stood out to me was Poppy’s struggle to balance meeting the needs of her children, husband and sister; to say nothing of her job and responsibility of running the house. Some feelings simply transcend eras, and the overwhelm which comes from meeting the emotional needs of everyone around you whilst carrying the mental load for the household as a collective, is a feeling shared by mothers, or ‘default parents’ everywhere. A great deal of Poppy and Rose’s struggles were, although very emotional, quite unrelatable for a typical 2023 reader, most of whom simply cannot comprehend that level of poverty and inequality, but the emotionally drained mother trying her best to do it all is a feeling which struck a cord with me, and probably many others, instantly.

Glenda has an amazing ability to write inspiring heroines who we are all rooting for, but what ‘The Sixpenny Orphan’ really highlighted for me is Glenda’s aptitude for writing truly incredible leading men. I have touched on this before, but the character of Sid really emphasized this for me. The world of fiction is absolutely littered with dreamy, idealistic men, but being able to create one which has appeal within the context of a mining village in 1919 is no easy task. In a time and social context where women and men had very clear roles, defined both legally and culturally; decades away from women having the most basic of rights such as their own bank account (which is ridiculous when we consider the fact that most, if not all, of our Ryhope heroines work in some capacity, but the patriarchy never did make sense to me), it must have been incredibly hard to write a man who is appealing to a 2023 audience and yet still believable in the context of the plot. Of course Glenda nailed this though, and our lovely Sid embodies all the qualities we want in a modern man; he’s supportive of Poppy’s dreams, values her family and is a relatively hands-on dad (a term I despise), but is still very much of his time in that we still wouldn’t trust him to make a batch of soup or to tackle the mammoth task of laundry day. But, when it really matters, he is wholeheartedly there for Poppy and her sister. Not that she needs him of course, because like the rest of Glenda’s heroines, she is more than strong enough to face the world on her own, even more so with her sister.

“I daresay you can cope with anything life chucks at you.”

Similarly, I really enjoyed the glimpses we had into Ambrose and Ella’s relationship. Although secondary characters, it was moving to see how Ambrose truly sees Ella as his equal and values their business as a joint venture; another modern man like our Sid. I like to think that seeing this relationship at an early age (even when she was being told off) is what taught Poppy that she shouldn’t settle when it comes to her own choice of husband. A lesson which, thankfully, Rose eventually seems to learn too. Some of our Ryhope heroines weren’t quite able to get the measure of the right man, but Poppy especially seems to know what she wants and isn’t prepared to settle. It’s not often I celebrate the male characters over the females, but the world could definitely use more Sids and Ambroses!

Another thing which I particularly enjoyed about ‘The Sixpenny Orphan’ was Lil Mahone’s redemption arc. For those of us who have followed Glenda’s Ryhope sagas up to now, Lil has become the one we all love to hate; her gossip might help to move a plot along nicely from time to time, but I would really hate to know her. Although, having said that, I think every street has a Lil Mahone in some form; and she would absolutely be the diligent, Karen-esque admin of her local village Facebook group if she were around today.

All in all, even though I’ve had many, many visits to Glenda’s world of 1919 Ryhope, she continues to churn out fresh characters and plots which make the stories of this familiar village feel like we’re visiting for the first time. The only thing I was left wanting more of from ‘The Sixpenny Orphan’, is Rose’s story. I would be so interested to read this same novel written from Rose’s perspective, to really get into how things felt from where she stood.

Blog Tour – A Mother’s Christmas Wish

“It was true she had fire in her belly, a lust for adventure and a craving for excitement that she knew she’d never find living in a small village.”

I’ve read all of Glenda Young’s books so far, and I maintain that it’s impossible to pick a favourite, but if I had to; then this one would certainly be a strong contender. Cakes, Christmas and a whole lot of smashing the patriarchy – what more could you possibly want in a saga? Although it would be hard to choose a favourite book of Glenda’s so far, Emma is without a doubt my favourite character she’s written. Don’t get me wrong, I love all of our hardy Ryhope lasses who conquer their fears and overcome huge obstacles to find their inner fire, but what particularly charmed me about Emma is how she arrives in Ryhope with her fire already blazing; perhaps a little too brightly! At first, as much as she made me chuckle, I didn’t really feel sorry for her in the way I usually do for the heroines Glenda writes. Even though it gets her into some sticky situations, I love how Emma seems to just let whatever ideas or observations pop into her head fly out of her mouth or transpire into action with absolutely no regard for the consequences. I suppose the polite way of saying it is that she has no filter, and I can’t imagine why I would relate to someone with that particular ailment (although I’m sure my husband would have a theory).

So, after bursting into Ryhope with a somewhat colourful entrance, Emma has the reverse journey of the heroines who have come before her; gradually learns to see things from other people’s perspectives and, thankfully, fine tunes her ability to judge other people’s characters, realising that there is often more to people than what is apparent on the surface. Similarly, I quite enjoyed seeing Emma’s leading man’s journey from a brooding, rude and somewhat of a Marmite character to a dependable, thoroughly wholesome and definitely fanciable type. He’s also somewhat of a modern man, almost feminist in his support for Emma and her leading ladies which I really loved. Of course I won’t name names for anyone who hasn’t read it yet, but it was an interesting twist between Emma’s character development around becoming more balanced and less led by her emotions, and him learning to push through his instinct to be cautious and fear of feeling anything too deeply. By the end, they were balancing each other out perfectly.

“Being with him made her feel free in the same way as she felt roaming the hills above Loughshinny.”

I’ve made no secret of my desire to have a spin-off novel where all of Glenda’s feisty heroines unite and take on the world together. So, I was absolutely thrilled to see all of them getting together in the final chapters for Women’s Christmas (a tradition which I will certainly try and implement in my family; as the one who usually gets lumbered with cooking the dinner it seems only fair!). Emma’s story is also set a few years later than our other heroines’, so it was very nice to see that they are all still settled and thriving in Ryhope by 1923. As if we would expect anything less from these fearless females, though?

“Ryhope becomes a part of your very being. It embraces every part of you.”

As always, my only criticism of Glenda’s saga novels is that I want more. I’m a glutton for the triumphs and tribulations of her feisty Ryhope heroines and my need to know what they get up to next will never be satiated. But, ‘A Mother’s Christmas Wish’ has left me feeling more than sufficiently festive, itching to hear my boots crunching in the snow and peckish for some apple cake (even though I’ve never actually had it) – so any recipes would be greatly received!

Glenda Young credits her local library in the village of Ryhope, where she grew up, for giving her a love of books. She still lives close by in Sunderland and often gets her ideas for her stories on long bike rides along the coast. A life-long fan of Coronation Street, she runs two hugely popular fan websites.

For updates on what Glenda is working on, visit her website glendayoungbooks.com and to find out more find her on Facebook/GlendaYoungAuthor and Twitter @flaming_nora.

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mothers-Christmas-Wish-heartwarming-sacrifice-ebook/dp/B09GFHCKBP

US – https://www.amazon.com/Mothers-Christmas-Wish-heartwarming-sacrifice-ebook/dp/B09GFHCKBP

Blog Tour – The Miner’s Lass

“Polly’s words about her never accounting to anything made her blood boil. She didn’t know how, not yet, but she vowed to herself that one day she would prove the woman wrong.”

Having my annual trip to Glenda Young’s dramatic yet enchanting world of Ryhope Village in 1919, I wondered what most saga fans do when they come across another story from the same context…how much further can she really go with this? What can she give us that we haven’t already seen? Well, once again, my ponderings became immediately redundant.

As with its predecessors, of course there were many aspects of ‘The Miner’s Lass’ which continue to set Glenda Young’s stories apart from others of this genre, but the element which really jumped out for me, more so than anything else, was the sensitive, poignant and yet contextually appropriate depiction of mental health issues. Coal mining is such a fundamental part of the North East heritage that it is often romanticised in novels of this kind, but Glenda wasn’t afraid to shy away from this by depicting the harsh reality which accompanied this profession for probably the majority of those who experienced it. The account of Michael’s first day down the pit, and the subsequent impact which it continued to have on him, was so moving that I wanted to jump right into the pages to give him a huge hug and tell him that everything would be alright. Similarly, Mary’s experience of depression was framed through the context of 1919 Ryhope, wherein the collective understanding of such issues was of course very narrow and the prospect of appropriate treatment for a working class woman was essentially non-existent, but it was written so sensitively that it could easily have been lifted from a contemporary story, or even real life in 2021. Balancing the ignorance and misconceptions of this time period with a need to portray these issues in an empathetic way cannot have been an easy task, but Glenda Young managed it seamlessly with her unique and heartfelt ability to make a reader really ‘feel’ the characters’ journeys.

“Maybe a little bit of madness runs in us all. The trick is not to let it overwhelm us.”

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Glenda Young saga novel without our headstrong heroine having hurdles metaphorically thrown at her every few chapters, but, (without spoiling any twists for anyone who hasn’t read this book yet), I was really struck by the potential conflict and betrayal between Ruby and one of her closest friends. The feminist overtones of Glenda’s previous saga novels (and indeed this one) have always been so fierce that it was an intriguing change to come across conflict between some of our hardy, independent Ryhope lasses. Again, one of the things I love so much about Glenda Young’s sagas is that, although the attention to historical detail is so meticulous that you can almost smell the coal dust emanating from the pages, the plot elements are always so universally human that the reader feels as though the characters are people from our own lives.

“Whatever happens, we’ll get through it. We’re Dinsdale women, we’re strong.”

It was also an interesting change of pace to have a romantic lead who, quite frankly, made my skin crawl; and also that of the majority of the other characters except our protagonist. Again, I never like to spoil plot twists for anyone who hasn’t read the book yet, but fear not, our latest heroine isn’t fooled for long – Glenda’s team of fearless females never are ones to be fooled twice, they’re far too intuitive and headstrong for that. Although that scene with the bath tub will live rent-free in my mind for a while; I heard inklings about that particular moment a while ago from Glenda’s twitter and all I will say is that it did not disappoint! Fear not, confused reader, you will know when you get to it!

So, we’re six stories deep into Glenda Young’s Ryhope saga novels, but rest assured, things are far from getting boring. In fact, it seems as though every time she graces us with another exciting installment, I find myself feeling less satisfied and only hungrier for more drama and heartache; so once again I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next. And I’m still waiting for her to announce a spin-off wherein all of her strong Ryhope heroines unite like ‘The Avengers’ in some epic finale to this enthralling collection of novels.