Guest Review: The Forever Cottage by Jill Steeples

🌿 It's never too late to follow your heart... 🌿

Tess Alexander lives an enviable life with her husband Charles, at Hollyhocks Cottage in the idyllic Cotswold village of Lower Leaping. Dreaming of their early retirement, Tess’s plans are dashed when Charles shares some devastating news and suddenly she’s left alone with only Barney, her adorable Beagle dog, for company.

Facing an uncertain future, Tess tries to reconnect with her old self. She begins to transform the neglected garden office into a beautiful retreat, the perfect spot for her to indulge in her long-forgotten creative passions.

However, a chance encounter with charming but down on his luck, Rob Templeton, soon puts pay to her plans, when she offers him the place to stay, sensing a kindred spirit.

With the support of old friends, Gina and Suzy, Tess must now step out of her comfort zone and embrace a different way of life, one that is filled with secrets, possibilities and second chances, if only Tess is prepared to take them.

With so many demands on her attention, will Tess find a way to follow her heart and discover her own happy ending?

Review: This book is the first in a new series from this author, set in a charming Cotswolds village. I have very much enjoyed Jill Steeples’s other series of stories, so I wasn’t surprised that I found this book an easy and entertaining read. As promised for future books in the series, this story can be read as a standalone.

The central character in this book is Tess Alexander, whose husband of thirty years has left her for a younger woman. Tess is living alone but for her dog in the family cottage in the Cotswolds village of Lower Leaping, her daughter having taken a year off to travel before resuming her studies. She loves her cottage and its garden and living in the village with its friendly community. With lots of time on her hands, Tess decides to clear out the summer house in the garden and use it a place to relax and craft. However, when she bumps into Rob Templeton while shopping and hears his unfortunate tale, she offers the spruced up space to him as a temporary home. As time passes, Tess becomes used to a different way of life, enjoying the company of her friends and next-door neighbour. She also gets to know Rob better and feels as though, with time, she may be able to open up her heart once more.

This was an enjoyable story with a collection of mainly likeable characters. I greatly admired Tess, with her determination to turn her life around after her silly husband had gone off with a younger replacement. Like her fiends, I thought she was far better off without him. It was good that she had the funds to make the desired changes to the cottage and summer house. I wasn’t at all sure about the wisdom of inviting a stranger to literally live in the garden, but what a kind gesture that was. Of course, no story is really complete without a dog, and Tessa’s companion Barney the beagle was a star. I am really looking forward to the next instalment in this series, where there will hopefully be developments in Tess and Rob’s relationship.

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Guest Review: Henry V: The Astonishing Rise of England’s Greatest Warrior King By Dan Jones

Henry V reigned over England for only nine years and four months, and died at the age of just 35, but he looms over the landscape of the late Middle Ages and beyond.

The victor of Agincourt was a model king for his successors. Shakespeare's version of Henry V saw his youthful folly redirected to sober statesmanship, and in the dark days of World War II, Henry's victories in France were recounted in British propaganda. Churchill called Henry 'a gleam of splendour in the dark, troubled story of medieval England', while for one modern medievalist, Henry was, quite simply, 'the greatest man who ever ruled England'.

For Dan Jones, Henry is one of the most intriguing characters in all medieval history, but one of the hardest to pin down. He was a hardened, sometimes brutal, warrior, yet he was also creative and artistic, with a bookish temperament. He was a leader who made many mistakes, who misjudged his friends and family members, yet always seemed to triumph when it mattered.

As king, he saved a shattered country from economic ruin, put down rebellions and secured England's borders; in foreign diplomacy, he made England a serious player once more. Yet through his conquests in northern France, he sowed the seeds for three generations of calamity at home, in the form of the Wars of the Roses.

Review: This is the biography of the English king Henry V by the historian and journalist Dan Jones. I listened to the audiobook narrated by the author. Most people will be familiar with this monarch through William Shakespeare’s play and the films based on the play. These concentrate on his martial achievements during his 9-year reign from 1413 to 1422. However, this book gives a more complete and nuanced account of his life.

Born in Monmouth in 1386, Henry was the son of the nobleman Henry Bolingbroke. When his father was sent into exile by the then king Richard II in 1398, the young Henry was taken into the court of King Richard. Henry Bolingbroke returned to England in 1399 to re-claim his inheritance, but instead forced Richard to abdicate and seized the throne as Henry IV. The young Henry subsequently became heir to the throne. During his teenage years he gained military experience during Owain Glyndwr’s Welsh rebellion and assisting his father put down a rebellion by the Percy family. It was during the latter rebellion, at the Battle of Shrewsbury in 1403, that he received a near fatal injury from an arrow to the face. He survived thanks to the expertise of a doctor sent for from London.

When his father died in 1413, Henry succeeded him as King Henry V. During his reign he achieved military successes in his campaigns in France to assert his claim to the French throne. Probably the most famous was his victory at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, but there were other campaigns. Eventually, in 1420, a treaty was signed recognising him as heir to the French King Charles VI. Unfortunately Henry died in 1422 whilst on campaign in France, possibly from dysentery, prior to the death of Charles VI so never became king of France.

I found the book to be a balanced biography, illustrating Henry V’s skills as a military commander, but also describing his ruthless and brutal side when he felt it was necessary to protect his kingdom. As a more complete biography than the one we get from Shakespeare’s play, I would recommend this book to all interested in this period of history.

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Guest Review: Hopes and Dreams at the Chocolate Pot Cafe by Jessica Redland

Welcome to Whitsborough Bay, a place where hopes and dreams really do come true... ✨

Life at the Chocolate Pot Café has never been sweeter for Tara Porter. Nestled on Castle Street in Whitsborough Bay, her café is thriving, her friendships are close, her foster parents are back where they belong—and she’s finally let herself fall in love with artist Jed Ferguson.

For Jed, returning from Australia feels like coming home in every sense. His teenage daughters have settled, his gallery opening is a success, and with Tara by his side, the future looks full of promise.

But the past can’t stay at bay forever.

When Tara’s estranged foster sister reappears, old wounds resurface. And when Jed is reunited with twelve year old Aaron - a boy he once believed was his son - secrets unravel and loyalties are tested.

Now Tara and Jed must decide whether facing the past will shatter everything they’ve built—or hope it gives them the strength and courage to dream again.

Review: I am an avid reader of Jessica Redland’s books, and was pleased to see that in this new release, I will be returning to the fictional Yorkshire seaside town of Whitsborough Bay, and Castle Street, where the independent shops sell all manner of goods. This book is a sequel to Jessica’s earlier book, Starry Skies Over the Chocolate Pot Cafe. However, there is no need to have read the earlier book, since this one begins with a detailed cast of recurring characters and past events are explained in the text where necessary. This story can be read as a standalone.

The main characters in the book are Tara Porter, who owns the chocolate pot cafe, and Jed Ferguson, a single father and artist who owns the gallery across the road from the cafe. Tara lives above the cafe with her adorable house rabbit. As well as running her successful business, she likes to help people in any way she can. She and Jed have been in a strong relationship for some time, but their busy lives sometimes get in the way. However, suddenly things become even more complicated as Jed’s ex-wife reappears from Australia with her children in tow at the same time as Tara’s foster sister, who betrayed her in the worst possible manner, resurfaces. Tara and Jed wonder what impact these arrivals will have on their lives.

It was great to return to Whitsborough Bay and catch up with its inhabitants, Tara and Jed in particular. I have to admit that I was glad of the cast of characters at the beginning of this book. This story had so many threads to it - never a dull moment. Jed’s ex-wife was an absolutely incredible woman, dragging family back and forwards to Australia. I was afraid that Jed might not be strong enough to reject her latest suggestions. The tale of what happened with Tara’s foster sister was shocking and saddening and would increase any reader’s respect for Tara herself. I think this is one of Jessica Redland’s best books so far. It has multiple aspects, being full of romance, drama and humour, and that sense of community always found in Whitsborough Bay. If you’re not familiar with this author’s books, this would be a good place to start.

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Guest Review: The Best Thing That Ever Happened by Sarah Bennett

One flat. One friendship. One chance to change everything...🏠☕💗

Kat Bailey’s life is going nowhere. Working at her father’s coffee shop in the picture-perfect Cornish holiday hotspot, Halfmoon Quay, makes her dream of becoming an author feel more fantasy than reality – and playing third wheel to her flatmate’s new relationship isn’t helping. So, when her childhood friend Harry Penrose offers her his spare room, it feels like an opportunity not to be missed.

Harry has his own dreams and if he could just dare to be honest, when he pictures his future, Kat is at the heart of it. But now they’re living under the same roof, Harry knows the risk of declaring his feelings. And when his plans clash with Kat’s family ties, the time has come for her to choose between the life she’s always known — and the future she’s only just begun to imagine.

Review: This is book 3 in the Halfmoon Quay series from Sarah Bennett. In case you are new to the series or just need a reminder, there is a helpful guide to the characters as well as a map of the Cornish seaside village of Halfmoon Quay at the beginning of the book. This, like the other books in the series, can be read as a standalone story.

This story centres on Kat Bailey, who works in her dad’s coffee shop, and Harry Penrose, chef at the village’s renowned restaurant. Kat has long held dreams of becoming an author, but family problems have meant that she has no time to follow her dreams. When her flatmate gets into a serious relationship with her boyfriend, Kat feels it is time to look for a new place to stay. Harry, who Kat has known since schooldays, offers her the spare room in his flat and she moves in. They both begin to feel an attraction towards the other but are afraid to declare anything when they are living in such close quarters. However, it looks as though they may be forced apart when Harry’s ambitions for the future may be wrecked by Kat’s dad’s plans. Kat has to make a big decision which side to take.

I enjoyed returning to Halfmoon Quay and catching up with some familiar faces in this romantic story filled with family ties and friendship. Once more, I was attracted to the setting of this quaint little seaside village with its close, supportive community. I loved both Kat and Harry; strong characters with ambitions that you felt they were bound to achieve. It was interesting learning the cause of Harry’s unpredictable nature earlier in life. When it comes to Kat, I was shocked by revelations about her parents and willed her to escape from the hold they had over her. As in previous books, it was heartwarming to see how her group of close friends quickly rallied round when needed. I am already looking forward to the next book in this series and hopefully finding out more about Kat and Harry.

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Guest Review: Love Blooms at the Cornish Cottage by Kim Nash

💔 How do you mend a broken heart? 💔

Michelle finally thought she’d found love with her hot Greek doctor. But when Demetri reveals he’s returning home to care for his sick mother, Michelle’s dream future crumbles. Choosing not to follow him feels like losing more than just love - it feels like losing who she’d started to become.

Determined not to fall apart, Michelle decides to throw herself into rebuilding her life in Sandpiper Shore, but then unexpectedly, Demetri’s brother, Makkis, arrives on her doorstep. Offering him a room seems like the kind thing to do… but the constant reminder of her lost love is difficult for her heartbroken soul.

And the more time she spends with Makkis, the clearer it becomes: there are parts of Demetri she never knew… Just as Michelle starts to heal with a little help from her friends, she’s faced with a decision: fight for the love she knows she deserves, or finally learn how to let go…

Review: This is the third book in the Sandpiper Shores trilogy. The books in this series feature three women who have come to live in this adorable Cornish seaside cottage and its adjacent buildings. Each book focuses on one of the three ladies and, although recurring characters also appear, can be read as a standalone story.

This story concerns Michelle, who moved to Sandpiper Shores after visiting on holiday, making friends with Jo and Emma, and falling in love with the area. After a chance meeting with Greek doctor Demetri, the pair have fallen deeply in love. However, Michelle has a tough decision to make when Demetri is called back home where his mother is gravely ill. She decides not to go with him and is just building up her business and her life in Sandpiper Shores when Demetri’s brother, Makkis, turns up unexpectedly. A dead ringer for his brother but with a different personality, Makkis charms Michelle and, with his stories of back home, makes her wonder if she actually knew the real Demetri. Although her friends advise caution, Michelle decides to follow Makkis’s suggestions for growing her business, but at the same time his presence is a constant reminder of her lost love. She wonders if she should stay in Cornwall and throw herself into life there or journey to Greece and try to revive her relationship with Demetri.

I loved the romantic books in this series, and this one in particular. Although each book focuses on one woman in particular, the others are there in the background ready with support when needed. In this story, as well as the wonderful setting on the Cornish coast, the reader is dealt up not one but two handsome Greek men; what’s not to love! I have admired Michelle from the start. She was so brave to make a move to Cornwall and start out on a new business on her own. She might not have done it without two equally strong friends to help her. I was in total agreement with them and screaming at her to exercise some sense when dealing with the all too charming Makkis. It seemed as if disaster was looming. I don’t want to give away what happened, but not surprisingly I was also treated to a trip to a beautiful Greek island. I can confidently recommend this compelling story and am already looking forward to reading the next book from Kim Nash.

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Top 10 Tuesday: 10 Book Titles That Describe Me/My Life

 

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Guest Review: No. 17 Curiosity Lane by Christie Barlow

Music journalist Fern Talbot has just inherited a dusty antique shop from a woman she never knew. Her plan is simple: get in, sell it, and get out.

But when she discovers that her charming lodger, Daniel, is her train ride meet-cute, and a tantalising mystery wrapped up in a vintage wedding dress demands to be solved, Puffin Island quickly captures this devoted city girl’s heart…

Review: This is the fifth book in the Puffin Island series of books by Christie Barlow. Each book in this series is set on the island which is located off the northeast coast of England, and which is home to a large colony of noisy puffins as well as a community of people I have got to know through reading the previous four books. Although part of this series, each story so far has been a standalone.

This story features music journalist Fern, who is surprised to learn not only that she had a great-aunt Matilda who has died recently, but that the same person has left her an antique shop, No. 17 Curiosity Lane, on Puffin Island. She journeys there from her home in London intending to arrange a quick sale of the property and its contents before returning home. However, Fern had not bargained on meeting handsome sitting tenant Daniel, a lively musician keen to persuade her to stay and run the business. Nor had she realised that Puffin Island would work its magic on her and quickly feel like home. She still wonders how she is going to make a go of selling the odd variety of goods arranged haphazardly round the shop. When a stunning vintage wedding dress is dropped off at the shop with a puzzling note attached, Fern and Daniel find themselves in the midst of a mystery which could have major consequences for their future and reveal an astonishing secret about Matilda. As they uncover one astounding fact after another, they gradually become closer romantically.

This was one of those books that was, for me, difficult to put down, so eager was I to try to solve the mystery and to ensure that Fern and Daniel would end up together. I liked both Fern and Daniel. They could hardly have been more different, except for a common love of music. This was definitely a case of opposites attract. Going from her busy corporate world in London to sleepy Puffin Island must have been quite a culture shock for Fern, but the magic of the island that readers of the series are familiar with was almost bound to win in the end. It was nice to bump into a few familiar faces on the island, all of whom were welcoming to a newcomer as always. I think that this series gets better with each title and wonder how Christie Barlow can top this instalment with the next.

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Guest Review: Geoff Hurst: Last Boy of ‘66 By Geoff Hurst

And here comes Hurst. He's got... Some people are on the pitch. They think it's all over. It is now. It's four!

Geoff Hurst's extraordinary hat trick turned him into a global superstar overnight. There is no player in the history of the game so universally identified with a single match.

But the full story of the nation's biggest ever sporting victory is about much more than those final moments. Here Geoff remembers his teammates, the times they spent on and off the pitch, the extraordinary journey they went on together, what football meant to each of them, their work ethic, their culture of team loyalty, their continued bond over the decades.

The enormous salaries paid to today's Premier League stars means that when they finish playing, few will ever have to work again. The 1966 team never had that option. They were payed £60 per match, and received a £1,000 bonus for winning. Most tried, and failed, to become successful managers, with Jack Charlton being a notable exception. Twenty years after they scored the England goals in the final, Geoff and Martin Peters were selling motor insurance. Ray Wilson was an undertaker.

Yet all remained aware they achieved something on 30th July 1966 which may never be repeated, and did so staying close to their roots. The day after the final Alan Ball stopped at a motorway cafe on the M6. One or two people asked to see his winner's medal, then left him to his egg and chips. Geoff mowed the lawn. 'That's what you did on a Sunday'.

In Last Boy of 66 our 1966 hat-trick hero takes us back to those very different days. A definitive and important eye-witness account, to be treasured by fans and historians for generations to come.

Review: In 1966, England won the football World Cup with Geoff Hurst famously scoring a hattrick in the final. This book, published in 2024, is his account, written with the assistance of the journalist Jasper Rees, of that World Cup competition and his teammates. The title of the book arises from the fact that, since 2023, he is the last surviving member of the 11 England players who played in the final (there were no substitutes at that time).

The book, illustrated with numerous photographs, gives details of the author’s life, his family and career. In the main, it describes the 1966 competition and his teammates. It is not just the 11 who played in the final that are featured but also the other members of the squad, the manager Alf Ramsey and the coaching staff. There are also chapters covering other, sadder aspects, such as tragic incidents in the author’s life and the high rate of dementia amongst retired professional footballers. Clearly, a book detailing the fates of his teammates will strike a sombre note, but this is more than balanced by the the respect and affection he felt for his teammates as Alf Ramsey built a team that won the ultimate prize in football.

As a schoolboy, I was part of the World Cup fever that swept the country in 1966 and this highly readable book brought the excitement flooding back, as well as providing fresh insights into the buildup and the matches. I would recommend it to all football fans.

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2026 Q1 Reading Wrap Up

Q1 of 2026 has been a good reading period for me and I'm going into Q2 in the middle of a couple of books as well so hopefully I have started the year as I mean to go on. If I continue to read at least 17 books in a quarter like this then I should have np issues hitting my reading goal for 2026!

As always, I am very happy with the range of books I read, I have definitely read more thrillers than usual but that's cool with me! 

Guest Review: Sword: D-Day Trial by Battle By Max Hastings

On 6 June 1944 when the Allied armies landed on D-Day, the Second World War had already lasted almost five years. Yet many of the British and American troops who invaded Normandy were virgin soldiers, never before committed to battle. They quit England in summertime to face within hours a storm of machine-gun and mortar fire. They witnessed scenes, above all of sudden death, such as no exercise had prepared them for.

In Sword, veteran chronicler of war Max Hastings explores with extraordinary vividness the actions of the Commando brigade and Montgomery’s 3rd Infantry and 6th Airborne divisions on and around a single beach. He describes their frustrations, hopes, loves and fears through the apparently interminable years training and preparing in England, then their triumphs and tragedies on the beach and beyond. Here are the airborne assaults on the Caen Canal bridge and Merville Battery, the battles on the shoreline and against the German strongpoints inland, narrated and explained with all the insights that Hastings’ decades of study, veterans’ interviews and new archive research enable him to deploy.

The book offers a searching analysis of why British troops did not reach Caen on 6 June, as Montgomery had promised Churchill that they would – and the story of the brigadier who was sacked for that failure. There is also a host of personal portraits of key figures from Commando leader Lord Lovat, famously brave but supremely arrogant, to Colonel Jim Eadie, whose tanks of the Staffordshire Yeomanry repulsed a panzer division in the last hours of 6 June, and some of the humbler participants to whom extraordinary things happened.

Review: On D-Day 6th June 1944, Allied troops invaded the coast of Normandy in German-occupied France in the biggest amphibious operation the world had seen. Max Hastings had written previously about the D-Day operation as a whole, but this book focuses on the easternmost of the five invasion beaches, code-named “Sword”, at which mainly British troops came ashore. In addition, airborne troops landed to the east of this area. The mission of these airborne troops was: to capture two bridges, over the Caen Canal and the River Orne respectively; to silence an artillery battery that overlooked the beach; and to establish defensive positions to secure the eastern flank of the invasion area against counterattacks.

The book covers: the preparations for the landings; the aerial and seaborne landings, including the specialised equipment used; and the subsequent battles of that first day. The objective of the invaders landed at Sword Beach was to capture the city of Caen some 10 miles inland by the end of the day. This was not achieved, for various reasons outlined in the book. As in his previous books, Max Hastings focuses on personal stories based on letters, regimental records and interviews. This results in the narrative appearing, at times, somewhat haphazard with the focus switching between different aspects of the action.

Illustrated with many photographs and a few maps, there are extensive reference and bibliography sections at the end. As an interesting account of one specific zone of the D-Day invasion, conveying the drama and chaos inherent in the planning and execution of a military operation, I would recommend this book to all enthusiasts of military history.

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Guest Review: The House of Hidden Letters by Izzy Broom

For sale: Greek cottage. Price: One Euro.

Skye doesn’t make impulsive decisions. But when she sees a derelict Greek cottage for sale by lottery, she enters with dreams of a fresh start.

However, her heart sinks as she pushes open the tattered blue door weeks later. Can this wreck ever be her home?

Then Skye finds a bundle of letters hidden in the fireplace, their faded pages drawing her in with a story of long-forgotten love, tragedy, and unbelievable bravery.

But all the while, Skye’s own past is circling. No matter how far she goes, fate is never far behind…

Review: I have enjoyed many books from Izzy Broom (more familiar to me as Isabelle), all with amazing settings and captivating storylines. This book has the most fabulous cover, that leaves the reader in no doubt that they are going to be transported to Greece but gives no clue of the mystery about to unfold in this dual-time story.

When Skye, desperate for a new start away from her stressful life, sees an announcement stating that a derelict house on a small Greek island could be hers if she wins a lottery, she doesn’t hesitate to pay the €1 entrance fee. She can’t believe her luck when she wins and quickly makes arrangements to make the journey to her new home. One of the conditions of the competition is that she must restore the cottage to its original state within a time period, but that shouldn’t be difficult, should it? However, she’s not so sure once she actually sees the state her house is in. With help of local builder Andreas, Skye knuckles down to the restoration task. As she explores the house, she finds a bundle of old letters which gradually tell of what happened to its owners and the island during the Second World War. She becomes immersed in what emerges as a tragic love story, all the while unaware that her own past she left behind more recently is catching up on her.

I really loved this amazing story set in the past and the present. The mystery attached to what was found in the old house had me enthralled. The way in which the author gradually revealed the building’s secrets was very clever. The story was so skilfully told that I could imagine myself walking amongst the dusty ruins enjoying Skye’s view of the mountains and the Mediterranean, and also tasting some gorgeous Greek dishes. Skye is an incredible character, in her own way just as brave as the islanders were during the wartime occupation. She was lucky to find help in the shape of ruggedly handsome Andreas, who patiently found nothing too much bother in helping her. I was also, however, aware that Skye had to keep her whereabouts a secret, which added an air of danger to the story. Altogether, I thought this was a wonderful book which gets my recommendation.

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Review: The Lottery Winner Widows Club

Meet The Lottery Winner Widows Club - a fabulous, filthy-rich sisterhood whose husbands all hit the jackpot . . . and then mysteriously dropped dead.

Paula is having a surreal week. Having just lost her husband, John, in a freak car accident, she's utterly gobsmacked when, two days later, she wins the lottery - with the ticket he bought.

Just as she thinks things can't get crazier, Paula is approached by a tight-knit trio of glamorous women - also jackpot winners - with dead husbands, suspiciously large bank accounts . . . and a very specific interest in Paula.

They tell her that they've been where she is now. That grief looks good on her. That freedom does, too. There's just one problem: Paula didn't kill her husband. She loved him, of course.

But something about their world - lavish, secretive, thrilling - is hard to resist. And when word of Paula's jackpot win spreads and others come sniffing around for a share, she's faced with the ultimate choice: hold onto her old life, or accept help from her new friends, whose methods are a little more . . . unconventional.

Review: I went into The Lottery Winner Widows Club already a fan of Elly Vine’s books written under her other name, Lucy Vine, so I was really curious to see what she’d do differently here. And it definitely is different-darker, sharper, and with a delicious edge that makes it clear why she chose to publish under another name. This isn’t your typical rom-com territory; it leans much more into suspense and secrets, and I was hooked by the premise alone.

The story centres primarily around Paula, with the other three women forming the rest of the lottery-winning widows’ group around her-and what a group they are. All four are lottery winners and all are widows, which immediately gives the book that slightly sinister, “what really happened?” energy. If you loved The Housemaid (or its film adaptation), this one will absolutely be for you. I really enjoyed getting to know Paula first and then gradually peeling back the layers of the other women in the club. Watching their friendships unfold was such a highlight-they know how to have a fabulous time, but they’re also fiercely protective of one another. There’s real loyalty there, even if everything isn’t quite as glossy as it first appears.

What really makes this book shine is the underlying message: you truly never know what’s going on behind closed doors. Everyone has secrets, and this novel peels them back layer by layer in such a satisfying way. And let’s just say… revenge is most definitely a dish best served cold here. It’s sharp, entertaining, and packed with twists-a bold and intriguing departure from the author’s previous work that I thoroughly enjoyed.

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Guest Review: Eject! Eject! By John Nichol

Since the invention of the ejection seat in the 1940s, tens of thousands of lives have been saved - including John Nichol's. Now, Nichol tells the incredible story of the ejection seat in war and in peace - and of the men and women who were given a second chance at life after facing disaster. 

Escaping is just the first step to making it home alive, so we hear of thrilling rescues from enemy territory, of capture in North Vietnam, of surviving high-speed mid-air collisions, how ejection can lead to extraordinary tales of discovery and redemption.

Packed with gripping action and cutting-edge science, Eject! Eject! is fuelled by dramatic, deeply moving and previously unheard first-hand accounts.

Because pulling the yellow-and-black ejection handle is just the start of the story.

 

Review: This is a book about aeroplane ejector seats. As aeroplane development during the 1930s and 1940s meant that they flew faster, particularly with the introduction of the jet engine, it became increasingly difficult for aircrew to bail out in an emergency. Hence the development of the ejector seat. One of the pioneers in this field in the United Kingdom was the Martin-Baker Aircraft Company. Its chief engineer James Martin was inspired following the death of his business partner Valentine Baker in an aeroplane accident. Based on interviews, official accident reports and his own personal experience, the author John Nichol presents a history of the development of ejector systems together with numerous accounts of their use. He is well qualified for this subject, having used a Martin-Baker ejector seat in 1991 when his aircraft was shot down during the First Gulf War.

The book follows the ejector seat’s development and testing, followed by the first ejection from a stricken aircraft in 1949, through peacetime incidents and various conflicts up to the time of publication in 2023. Although it tends to concentrate on British developments, there is coverage of other ejection systems, such as the American Stanley and ACES ejector seats, and also incidents involving other countries’ air forces. The fate of aircrew following their ejection over enemy territory during conflicts is also covered. The book is illustrated with numerous photographs. Although most ejections are straightforward, problems can arise and I should add a warning that some of the descriptions of injuries suffered when being thrust out of an aircraft flying at high speed are quite graphic. As an interesting and informative account of a little-known aspect of flying fast jets by someone with first hand experience, I would recommend this book.

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Guest Review: Coming Home to Maple Tree Lodge by Alison Sherlock

A family and hotel in desperate need of help…

Maple Tree Lodge Hotel has been home to the Jackson family for over a century. Following the sudden loss of his father, architect Ben Jackson discovers the hotel is close to financial ruin and if the hotel is to survive and his family are to keep a roof over their heads, tough decisions need to be made.

With the hotel in urgent need of a renovation, Ben’s sister enlists the talents of cash strapped, best friend and interior designer Lily Watson. Lily jumps at the chance to showcase her talents and to prove to herself and her high-achieving parents that she can carve herself a successful career doing what she loves.

However, Lily’s vision for a cosy, country Cotswolds hotel is the complete opposite to what Ben has in mind for a minimalistic, modern makeover and fireworks ensue!

Can they work together to save Maple Tree Lodge?

Can Lily help Ben and his family find a future together?

And can Ben show Lily that there's more to life than work?

As autumn begins to weave its magic spell, perhaps Lily will discover somewhere to finally call home and find a reason to stay ...

Review: This is the first book in a new series (The Maple Tree Lodge Hotel) from this author. Having read and thoroughly enjoyed some of Alison’s other series of books, I am looking forward to meeting some new characters in these new stories, set in the picturesque Cotswolds.

This story centres on jobless and homeless interior designer Lily Wilson, who has arrived at Maple Tree Lodge, home to her friend, Hannah Jackson, with a view to helping with renovation of the family-run Cotswolds hotel which is in financial difficulty. Lily has been struggling to establish herself in the career she is passionate about and hopes that she can show off her talents by designing a cosy and comfy interior for this building in keeping with its attractive surroundings. However, she instantly meets with resistance in the form of Hannah’s brother, Ben, who has a very different vision of a sleek and modern makeover for the hotel. Lily is convinced she has the right idea, but how can she persuade Ben that she knows what she is doing? Not only is the future of the hotel at stake, but also that of the Jackson family who are being pulled apart by the hotel’s troubles. As she becomes closer to the family, and Ben in particular, Lily feels that she may have found a home in Maple Tree Lodge.

This was a great start to the new book series. It was full of drama, from Lily’s incredible arrival at the lodge to the family disagreements, humour and romance. I loved the characters, in particular Lily and Ben. Lily had such passion for what she was trying to achieve, while Ben was stubborn but had his family’s wellbeing at heart. Lily’s friend Hannah was always baking wonderful sweet delights which I hope will resurface in further stories in the series. I was pleased to find a few characters from Alison’s earlier books popping up as well in minor roles. After reading this book, I am really looking forward to my next visit to Maple Tree Lodge.

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Guest Review: A Cottage in the Country by Katie Fforde

She's found her dream home but can she make her dreams a reality?

Hattie finds other people their dream homes for a living.

Surely she, of all people, has the connections and the knowledge to find her own forever home? Instead, she baffles those closest to her by choosing to pack up and move every few months from one housesitting job to the next.

Of course, that's because she knows where she wants to live. It's a beautiful house owned by a lovely old woman who'd simply love for Hattie to have it.

But nothing is ever that simple.

There's Clive who refuses to listen to his great-aunt's wishes about her house. There's Luke, Hattie's oldest friend, who just wants to see her happy. And there's Hattie herself. It might take a difficult client, an awkward teenager and a couple of dogs to help her see what really makes a house a home.

As soon as I saw the cover of Katie Fforde’s latest book, I knew I was in for a trip to the countryside with some interesting characters, and their dogs. This was one of those stories that had me hooked from the very start and was finished all too soon, leaving me missing the now familiar people I had met.

The story concerns Hattie, whose job, when she is not match-making, is to find the perfect home for other people. However, she has no home of her own, preferring to house-sit for others, moving every few months. Hattie has found the home of her dreams, but it is owned by an elderly lady who is her friend but who can’t sell her the cottage even though she would dearly love to do just that. What’s more, her great-nephew is suspicious of Hattie’s friendship with his aunt. Her family can’t understand Hattie’s nomadic life, but she is lucky to have some supportive friends, including Luke, who would do anything for her. When Hattie’s sister asks her to look after her teenage son, she is worried that he may not fit into her lifestyle, but finds him surprisingly good company. As it begins to look as though Hattie will have to find a permanent home once and for all, can she find the perfect match?

I enjoyed reading this charming, romantic story set in the picturesque Cotswolds. For me, Hattie was quite an unusual, if likeable, character. Having spotted the home she would dearly love to own, she could not imagine living anywhere else. Likewise, despite matching other people who were meant for each other, she could not seem to see the perfect partner for herself in a friend who was always ready with help when she needed it. I loved the relationship that Hattie built up with her teenage nephew; more than anyone in the family, he seemed to understand her. There was a touch of the supernatural in the story that I found a little out of place, but it did not spoil my enjoyment. All in all, this is a perfect book to settle down with and escape into the country for a few hours.

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