All Things Bright and Strange



In the wake of World War I in the small, Southern town of Bellhaven, South Carolina, the town folk believe they’ve found a little slice of heaven in a mysterious chapel in the woods. But they soon realize that evil can come in the most beautiful of forms.

The people of Bellhaven have always looked to Ellsworth Newberry for guidance, but after losing his wife and his future as a professional pitcher, he is moments away from testing his mortality once and for all. Until he finally takes notice of the changes in his town . . . and the cardinals that have returned.

The cracks between the natural and supernatural begin to widen, and tensions rise. Before the town crumbles, Ellsworth must pull himself from the brink of suicide, overcome his demons, and face the truth of who he was born to be.

Author: James Markert
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: 30th January 2018
Source: NetGalley
Rating:  ★★★★☆

Oh how I loved this book! It  gripped me right from the beginning, even though typically supernatural stories aren't my jam. It did take a bit of a menacing turn about three quarters through but that didn't ruin the charm, if anything, I couldn't wait to read the resolution and what was to become of the town, which was always so accepting no matter the race or religion until suddenly, it wasn't.

The story is told from the point of view of Ellsworth and I really liked him, he had a lot of depth and even though he could be abrasive he really wanted what was best for the town. There were plenty of other endearing characters too, from those who cook to keep their minds busy to those that spend the early morning creating bird houses in their garden shed. I liked how the stories all intermingled and even if something didn't appear clear at first, it was easy to trust that it would be in the end.

If you want a read full of colourful characters, small town southern charm and a heap of mystery then this might just be the book for you.


The House at Riverton





The House at Riverton is a gorgeous debut novel set in England between the wars. Perfect for fans of "Downton Abbey," it's the story of an aristocratic family, a house, a mysterious death, and a way of life that vanished forever, told in flashback by a woman who witnessed it all.

The novel is full of secrets -- some revealed, others hidden forever, reminiscent of the romantic suspense of Daphne du Maurier. It's also a meditation on memory and the devastation of war and a beautifully rendered window into a fascinating time in history.

Title: The House at Riverton
Author: Kate Morton
Publisher: Pan
Publication Date: June 2007
Source: Library
Rating: ★★★☆☆

As I mentioned last week, Kate Morton is one of my favourite authors and I was thrilled to find two books I hadn't yet read at the library. The House at Riverton was the debut novel for Morton and whilst I did give it slightly less star rating than the others I read, it was still very enjoyable. I loved the dynamics in the house between the upstairs and the downstairs, the bonds made and how ultimately those bonds became part of the problem. I also loved how the book moved between past and present, as is typical in Morton's novels, it was easy to follow and very engaging. I didn't wish I was in either one, just happy to follow along with the story as the secret was finally uncovered.

I guessed the secret but not the motivation and for me that was the stand out part. I otherwise would have found it a little too predictable. Overall, it was an enjoyable read and one I would recommend if you have a love for early 20th century historical fiction.

A Happy List



Michelle wrote about doing more of what makes her happy on her blog last week and it really struck me how often I don't do that. It's always so easy to make excuses, tiredness the most common for me, and to sit in front of the telly catching up on Peaky Blinders. So here's a little list of my happy things, with a commitment to doing more of it!

  • Listening to this hygge Spotify playlist.
  • Yoga in the evenings. 
  • The first cup of tea on a weekend morning.
  • Woodland walks with Rupert.
  • Lunch with friends after a long work week.
  • An early night with a good book.
  • Consistently saving some money each month.
  • Minimalism and the space it gives me to breathe. 
  • Illustration, usually digital, sometimes watercolour.
  • Being adventurous in the kitchen and cooking new things.

Today is Blue Monday, not something I was aware of until I turned the radio on this morning, but let's not get caught up in how the media thinks we should be feeling. I invite you to celebrate what brings you joy instead and if you would like to start a conversation, you can share either in the comments below or on twitter. 



The Lake House



June 1933, and the Edevane family's country house, Loeanneth, is polished and gleaming, ready for the much-anticipated Midsummer Eve party. Alice Edevane, sixteen years old and a budding writer, is especially excited. Not only has she worked out the perfect twist for her novel, she's also fallen helplessly in love with someone she shouldn't have. But by the time midnight strikes and fireworks light up the night skies, the Edevane family will have suffered a loss so great that they leave Loeanneth forever.

An abandoned house.

Seventy years later, after a particularly troubling case, Sadie Sparrow is sent on an enforced break from her job with the Metropolitan Police. She retreats to her beloved grandfather's cottage in Cornwall but soon finds herself at a loose end. Until one day, Sadie stumbles upon an abandoned house surrounded by overgrown gardens and dense woods, and learns the story of a baby boy who disappeared without a trace.

Author: Kate Morton
Publisher: Atria Books
Publication Date: Oct 2015
Source: Library
Rating: ★★★★☆

I am such a fan of Kate Morton after reading The Distant Hours last year and this one was no exception. I was soon drawn into the family, feeling like a fly on the wall to their relationships and stories. I really liked how we saw several points of view, two of Alice Edevane one past and one present and then Sadie as she starts to become charmed by the house and the mystery that surrounds it. I feel like the mystery itself was well written and engaging, it kept me guessing until the very end.

I loved the descriptions of the Lake House and the time that the family spent there, there is something entirely romantic about it, Kate Morton always excels at depicting her environments and families and it's something that really makes her stand out. Of course, there was also a second mystery, a missing woman which was the reason for Sadie's career break in the first place. Again, this played it's part on the periphery of the story but I still wanted to know the answer. My only complaint would be that it did feel a bit long but all in all it's a captivating read.

Have you read The Lake House or any other of Kate Morton's books? What did you think?

Spring Garden






Divorced and cut off from his family, Taro lives alone in one of the few occupied apartments in his block, a block that is to be torn down as soon as the remaining tenants leave. Since the death of his father, Taro keeps to himself, but is soon drawn into an unusual relationship with the woman upstairs, Nishi, as she passes on the strange tale of the sky-blue house next door.

First discovered by Nishi in the little-known photo-book 'Spring Garden', the sky-blue house soon becomes a focus for both Nishi and Taro: of what is lost, of what has been destroyed, and of what hope may yet lie in the future for both of them, if only they can seize it.

Title: Spring Garden
Author: Tomoka Shibasaki, translated by Polly Barton
Publisher & Date: Pushkin Press, Nov 2017
Source: Netgalley
Rating: ★★★☆☆

I developed a bit of a love for Japanese literature after reading Murakami's "Norwegian Wood" a couple of years ago. For me, Spring Garden captured the mood that I am familiar with even though there isn't much in the way of a plot. I found myself drawn into the small and simple life of Taro, happily being led along with the story as we met Nishi and learnt a little more about the blue house that she is curious about. Whilst there weren't many characters in the book, I found them to be charming.

The Novella was poetic and descriptive in a way that's different from the books I usually pick up, I wasn't in a rush or trying to anticipate a story, if I was I think I would have been disappointed. Whilst Taro is written as the main character in the book and I expected that it would follow him through a small snippet of his life, really, the book is about home. The spaces in which we live and how they change and evolve, how we fill them with beautiful things and how they shape our lives.

For me, the book did end a bit abruptly and I would have liked a bit more direction in terms of a plot but this is was a lovely short read, a breath of fresh air and one to pick up if you fancy something gentle to while away an afternoon.

Go Deeper



Towards the end of last year I read an article that really resonated with me. As someone who is forever picking up a new thing, easily defeated if I'm not instantly good at it, lacking patience and leaving behind endless half finished projects and half baked ideas, a depth year is pretty welcome in 2018. What better time to contemplate going deeper, not wider than the beginning of a fresh new year?

So here I am, restarting this blog, my little internet home where I grew alongside a small group of lovely ladies - Wonderful Wednesday-ers I'm looking at you - and I'm thinking about all those other projects that brought me joy but I either didn't try hard enough to fit them in, or I allowed myself to be so intimidated that I stopped practicing.

I don't believe in the new year, new me philosophy. I'm quite happy to plod along and get to know my little flawed self better. So here are a few things that I've picked up over the last year or two and want to practice and enjoy without judgement or fear: hula hooping, watercolours and digital illustration, making my own candles, photography, yoga, my TBR pile.

I would invite you to pick up something long since put down and left to gather dust., to grow deeper, not wider. If yoga is also on your list then say hello via Twitter where Kelly, Cat and I will be supporting each other through YWA's True practice throughout January. It's always easier to stick to something when you have people to cheer you on.

Happy New Year!