FOR THE LOVE OF A CHILD by Jenny Twist @JennyTwist1

3.5 out of 5 stars

On Amazon UK
On Amazon.com
On Goodreads

How I discovered this book: I've read quite a few of Jenny Twist's short stories and novellas before, and liked them.

Genre: Short stories, miscellaneous drama.

These five stories are grouped together under the loose theme of mother love, and they are all very different.  Two are flash fiction, one page long each, and I liked both of those.  The others are long-short stories.  The middle one is an amusing fantasy about the possible existence of fairyland (note for author: I liked the last paragraph very much).  The last is the best one, I think, a piece of romantic suspense with the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War; I particularly liked the authenticity of the setting.  The first is about a 1960s mother and baby home, which I was slightly less keen on, as I kept expecting a dark twist that never came.  I am not, of course, criticising the author because she didn't write the story I wanted to read; this is just personal taste, and I am sure many would prefer the more promising outcome.

It's a nice collection for a couple of undemanding hours' reading.

NO TIME LIKE NOW by Jennifer Young

3 out of 5 stars

On Amazon UK HERE
On Amazon.com HERE
On Goodreads HERE

Reviewed by me as part of Rosie Amber's Review Team

Megan McLeod works at a university field centre on Puerto Pollensa, Marjorca—quite happily, until the arrival of geology researcher Tim Stone, with Holly, his PHD student.  Straight away we know that Megan and Tim have a history, but what does this history entail?  Is Holly and Tim's relationship just professional?  Tim's appearance also stirs up Megan's problems with her father, which she tries to resolve in her own head and by writing to him. 

Walking on the beach one day, Megan comes across a dead body, who appears to have fallen from the cliffs; the question is, did she fall or was she pushed?  Enter impossibly handsome undercover detective Álvaro... 

Throughout the mystery that the story centres around is the backdrop of the past relationship between Megan and Tim.  Sadly, I couldn't see the chemistry; Megan was rather dour and humourless, and Tim was all cold cynicism, although more is revealed about him later to explain this, and I didn't feel any passion between them.  The secondary characters had more appeal and realism—the upbeat and sociable Holly, and Domenica, who runs the centre. 

As far as the technical side of the writing is concerned, I couldn't fault this book; it's grammatically sound, no proofreading or copy-editing errors, it flows well and I didn't find any plot inconsistencies; it's very well put together.   My only problem with it was that I found it rather flat, with not enough spark to make it memorable.  I don't mean this to be a bad review, as the book is extremely competent, contains much to be commended and I am sure others will enjoy it more than I did but, for me, it was a little bland.

 

A DIVIDED INHERITANCE by Deborah Swift

5 GOLD STARS

Epic 17th century historical drama

On Amazon UK HERE
On Amazon.com HERE 

What a story!  A masterpiece indeed.

A Divided Inheritance starts off in London, where Elspet Leviston finds herself usurped in her father's eyes by the appearance, out of nowhere, of her cousin, Zachary Deane.  The story travels to Spain in the time when Muslims were being persecuted and driven out of their country, not a period of history with which I am familar, though this didn't matter as I soon picked up exactly what was going on; however, there's a brief history at the back of the book that you might like to read first.

There were so many elements about this story that I loved, not least of all Deborah Swift's clearly intricate research and wonderful storytelling capability.  It's got the lot: the bleakness of life for a young woman in the slightly impoverished middle classes, the marriage forced on her for business expansion, followed by Elspet's personal growth when she is thrown outside her secure, limited existence, tested in ways that make her alter her entire outlook on life.  The story takes the reader from the dark alleys of London to the bright colour of 17th century Seville, and I loved the multi-faceted Zachary, in many ways the villain of the tale but so beautifully painted that I rooted for him throughout. 

With lost love, double dealing, desperate flight in terrible circumstances and the horror of religious persecution, this is terrific, unusual novel that I think puts Deborah Swift right up there with the best and well known historical fiction writers.  Highly, highly recommended.


SHADOW ON THE HIGHWAY by Deborah Swift reviewed HERE 

THE GILDED LILY by Deborah Swift reviewed HERE

TALES OF THE MANTEQUERO by Jenny Twist

5 out of 5 stars

Short stories, Spanish folklore

Originally posted on Amazon UK HERE on 10 October 2014
On Amazon.com HERE

I've read the original three stories, and I loved them, because of these things: a) Jenny Twist is a terrific storyteller, one of those true naturals, b) they're not predictable, which to me is the absolute deal breaker with short stories. The second has a particularly 'What the??!!' ending...! c) It's not some made-up thing - the Mantequero is a piece of genuine rural Spanish folklore and d) They convey the atmosphere of a Spanish mountain village so well.

There are also two additional stories in it, which I haven't read yet but will do so shortly - if they are up to Jenny's usual standard I shall want to come back and give this review another star - except we can't give six stars, can we?

Very highly recommended - and the collection is now in paperback, which I shall be getting for some friends for Christmas presents!


AN OPEN LETTER TO STEPHEN KING by Jenny Twist reviewed HERE