Review: A Traitor in Whitehall

I’ve been happily reading Julia Kelly’s historical fiction novels since the publication of The Whispers of War in 2020 - which I LOVED (review here). I’m always excited when she has something new being published but I was especially excited when I learned her 2023 release would be a historical mystery. A Traitor in Whitehall is the first in a new series and I absolutely devoured it. It was so good!

Here’s the book’s description:

1940, England: Evelyne Redfern, known as “The Parisian Orphan” as a child, is working on the line at a munitions factory in wartime London. When Mr. Fletcher, one of her father’s old friends, spots Evelyne on a night out, Evelyne finds herself plunged into the world of Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s cabinet war rooms.
However, shortly after she settles into her new role as a secretary, one of the girls at work is murdered, and Evelyne must use all of her amateur sleuthing expertise to find the killer. But doing so puts her right in the path of David Poole, a cagey minister’s aide who seems determined to thwart her investigations. That is, until Evelyne finds out David’s real mission is to root out a mole selling government secrets to Britain’s enemies, and the pair begrudgingly team up.
With her quick wit, sharp eyes, and determination, will Evelyne be able to find out who’s been selling England’s secrets and catch a killer, all while battling her growing attraction to David?

I’ve been learning more about what kinds of mysteries I enjoy as I’ve been reading more and more of them. I don’t always love amateur sleuths but this one worked for me. I think because I could tell Evelyne was being groomed for working as a spy for the government during the war. Truthfully, that’s one of my catnip stories - show me a book about a female spy during World War II and I’ll grab it right out of your hands. The mystery itself was, I felt, well-written. I was always a step behind Evelyne and David and had no idea how it was going to all wrap up and that’s the way I like it. I was invested and intrigued the whole way through.

The description hints at a romance between Evelyne and David but don’t let that detract you if you’re not a lover of love stories. A frisson of attraction is there but it is so not the point of this story. I have a feeling they tucked that in there to appease the (mostly female) readers of the current historical fiction fad (you know, the types of books I love!). I liked the inclusion of the will-they-won’t-they because, for most people, love is a part of life and it made the story feel more authentic. Am I hoping they get together romantically in a future book? Absolutely. Will I be mad if it doesn’t happen in the next one? Definitely not. I’m here for the history and the mystery, not the romance!

Evelyne was a great character to spend time with. She had a past that was intriguing but she didn’t let it bother her or get in her way. She was smart and had a wonderful and loyal best friend. She was thrust into a wild situation and handled it well - and when she struggled, she learned from her mistakes. I cared about her so much by the end of the novel and I’m so glad this book is just the first in a series. I cannot wait to read more about Evelyne and see what she gets into next.

If you’ve read Kelly before, you know she’s a great writer of history. She never falls into the dreaded info dump trap and always manages to make you feel like you’re right there in the story with the characters. The novel starts near the beginning of WWII and I found it weirdly difficult to know that the bombing that’s begun during this story is only going to get worse for the characters. I also enjoyed the peek into Churchill’s War Rooms because I’m planning on visiting when I’m in London later this year.

As I’ve been writing this review, I’ve realized something: this book reminded me a little of Iona Whishaw’s Lane Winslow mystery series, which I absolutely ADORE. It’s well-written with a focus on history and a well-crafted mystery. The main character isn’t actually an investigator but she has a background/future in spying and other types of sleuthing. And she’s smart and someone who you love to read about. So, if you’ve enjoyed Whishaw’s novels, you might want to consider Kelly’s latest.

I loved A Traitor in Whitehall so much and am really glad Julia Kelly decided to try her (talented) hand at historical mysteries. I can’t wait for the next book in the series. Fans of mysteries will enjoy this novel just as much as historical fiction fans will. Pick it up - you won’t regret it!

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Minotaur, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: The Raging Storm

Having recently-ish realized how much I enjoy reading mysteries, particularly of the crime variety, I jumped at the chance to start reading Ann Cleeves’ Two Rivers series when it started with The Long Call. I enjoyed the first book (review here), the second a little less so (review here), but I was still interested in reading The Raging Storm, book three and published in early September. It didn’t quite live up to my expectations and, sadly, I don’t know if I’ll continue with the series.

Here’s the book’s description:

When Jem Rosco - sailor, adventurer and legend - blows in to the local pub, The Maiden's Prayer, in the middle of an autumn gale, the residents of Greystone are delighted.
The whole place has a strange, unreal quality, the village that time forgot. Backed by a worked-out quarry, with a shingle beach and a north-facing quay, there's little to recommend it to tourists.
When Rosco disappears again, they think nothing of it; that's the sort of man he is. Until the lifeboat is launched to a hoax call-out and his body is found in a dinghy, anchored off Scully Cove, a place with legends of its own.
This is an uncomfortable case for Venn. Greystone is a stronghold of the Barum Brethren and he came here as a child. Faith and superstition mix as another body is found in Scully, and Matthew finds his judgement clouded.
The wind continues to howl, and he realizes that his own life is in danger.

The mystery - paired with the descriptions of the town where the murder took place - was what kept me reading The Raging Storm. I was intrigued and wanted to know how Rosco ended up dead and Cleeves was spinning a tale that kept me guessing. There was just enough tension to keep me on my toes without being too intense (I read mysteries, not thrillers, for a reason!).

Even though I read mysteries for the, well, mystery, I still like to feel invested in the characters. With this one, it honestly could have been any nameless, faceless cops who were solving the case. The three officers who were investigating could have been anyone and felt so incredibly two-dimensional, and that includes Matthew Venn, who’s the anchor of this series. It’s hard to criticize Venn sometimes since he seems to have some well-hidden and well-managed anxiety, past trauma, or something similar that keeps him from connecting with people. Unfortunately, in writing, he comes across as standoffish and it’s hard to care about a character like that. Not that we need to care about the characters but I think that’s a hope of Cleeves, that we’ll be so invested in Venn and the mysteries he solves that we’ll keep coming back for more.

Honestly, I don’t have much more to say about The Raging Storm. I wanted to like the latest novel from Ann Cleeves but it came up short in many ways. Maybe someday I’ll try another of her books but, for now, I’ll take a pass on any further Matthew Venn novels.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the Canadian distributor of this novel, Publishers Group Canada, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own*

Review: More Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up

I happened upon Alexandra Potter’s novels when her book Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up was published back in 2020. I thoroughly enjoyed it (review here) and was so excited when I learned there would be a follow up book. More Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up was published here in Canada in early October and I devoured my egalley in July. It was such a great read!

Here’s the book’s description:

There is no magical land you finally arrive at where everything is figured out, fixed and sorted. Life, like us, is a sum of moving parts, and if we’re lucky, we get to keep f**king up, figuring it out and laughing in the face of it all.
Nell’s back. Her life still isn’t going to plan. And she’s still asking the big questions and getting none of the answers. Like, for

1. Why is falling in love so easy, but staying in love so hard?

2. What do you do when your friendships are put to the ultimate test?

3. Can we ever really live in the moment and leave the past behind?

4. When everything goes tits up, do you fall apart or jump on a plane to LA with Cricket (an eighty-something widow and your BFF)?

5. And when all else fails, will celebrity-scented candles, smashed avocados and Instagram filters save us?*

But first, Nell has some more confessions . . .

* #onlyjoking #sortof #LOL

Being able to reunite with Nell was an absolute joy. I loved her when I first met her in the first book and reading this one was like when you get together with a friend you haven’t seen in awhile but you immediately pick up where you last left off.

It was interesting to read a book that was set during lockdowns, now that we’re getting further removed from that time. The first time I read a fictional story that referenced the pandemic I was completely put off - I wasn’t ready to have that time invade my reading time. I think I’m more accepting now, plus Potter did an exceptional job of making it real but not a scary reminder of what we all went through.

I find Potter’s books exceptionally difficult to review and I think part of it is because the stories mimic real life so much that it would be like trying to write a review of the last year of my own life. There are highs and lows, just like you’ve likely had in the last year or so. You have great friends whose lives have also had ups and downs and you want to be there to support them but it can be hard sometimes, especially when your life looks a lot different, and, hello, pandemic. What I’m trying to get at is, there’s a lot of heart and soul in this book. You’ll laugh, nod in agreement, cringe in embarrassment, and maybe even tear up a time or two. None of the emotions will hit you especially hard but packaged together they create a wonderful story that’ll leave you with a warm glow.

If you haven’t yet read Alexandra Potter’s books, you’re missing out. More Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up was a great read - it’s a well-written novel that’s full of characters I adore. What’s not to love? I can’t wait to read whatever Potter writes next!

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the Canadian distributor of this novel, Publishers Group Canada, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own*

Spotlight: The Ex-Mas Holidays

Did I need another holiday book to read? No. But how could I pass up a second-chance romance that takes place in the Scottish Highlands? I could not. That is the truthful answer. The Ex-Mas Holidays by Zoe Allison is out in the world today and I'm so happy to be able to feature it for a blog tour!

Here's the book's description:

It’s hard to escape your ex when you’re working together over Christmas in the Scottish Highlands, but being stuck together might be the best possible present in this sparkling new contemporary romance.
Maya Bashir is dreading her drive home for Christmas and having to explain that she's just left her high-paying job and a long-term relationship, so a brief detour to her friend’s festive party doesn’t seem like such a bad idea. Until Maya walks in to find the last person she wants to see. Sam, the boy who broke her heart eight years ago. And he’s serving drinks. Naked.
Sam Holland is working an extra job on the sly to help his friend get by. But little did he expect Maya Bashir to come barrelling back into his life, learning about his secret side-hustle and taking back her old job alongside him at his daytime role as a ski instructor on the slopes of the Scottish Highlands.
As both Sam and Maya realize that their reason for heartbreak so many years ago wasn’t entirely as it seemed, they must learn to stand up for what they want the most…or else miss their second chance at love. 

I'm not quite sure when I'm going to get to this one but I'm so excited to read it before the holidays. Christmas, Scotland, swoons! Oh, it'll be great!

Thank you to Berkley for inviting me to be a part of this tour and providing an egalley of this novel via NetGalley.

Cover Reveal: Everytime We Say Goodbye

If you've been around for awhile (thank you!), you'll know I love Natalie Jenner's work. I was immediately interested in her debut because, hello, Jane Austen! Her third novel, Every Time We Say Goodbye, is set to be released on May 14, 2024. Today I'm THRILLED to be part of the cover reveal for this new book.

But first - here's what the novel is about!

The bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society and Bloomsbury Girls returns with a brilliant novel of love and art, of grief and memory, of confronting the past and facing the future.
In 1955, Vivien Lowry is at a crossroads in life. Her latest play, the only female-authored play on the London stage that season, has opened in the West End to rapturous applause from the audience. The reviewers, however, are not as impressed as the playgoers and their savage notices not only shut down the play but ruin Vivien's last chance for theatrical success. With her future in London not looking bright, at the suggestion of her friend, Peggy Guggenheim, Vivien takes a job as a script doctor on a major film shooting in Rome’s Cinecittà Studios. There she finds a vibrant moviemaking scene filled with rising stars, acclaimed directors, and famous actors in a country that is torn between its past and its potentially bright future, between the liberation of the post-war cinema and the restrictions of the Catholic Church that permeate the very soul of Italy.
As Vivien tries to forge a new future for herself, she also searches for the long-buried truth of the recent World War and the fate of her deceased fiancé lost in battle. Every Time We Say Goodbye is a bold and moving exploration of trauma and tragedy, hope and renewal, filled with dazzling characters both real and imaginary, from the incomparable author who charmed the world with her novels The Jane Austen Society and Bloomsbury Girls.

Other readers of Jenner's novels will recognize Vivien's name as Every Time We Say Goodbye is linked to The Jane Austen Society and Bloomsbury Girls by characters but, just in case you haven't read her previous books yet, rest assured that it is a stand-alone novel.

Before we get to the cover (it's coming!), here is a letter from Jenner to her readers.

Hello Dear Readers,

Every Time We Say Goodbye was the hardest book I will ever write, and the most rewarding.

It all started when I learned about the world-famous Cinecittà movie studio in Rome being used as a war refugee camp in the 1940s. People who had been stripped of everything—homes, possessions, even their most basic humanity—suddenly found themselves confined to life inside a “dream factory.” I decided to set my third novel during a very specific, very cool time in history—la dolce vita of mid 1950s Rome—while exploring the incredibly complex and haunting legacy of that city under German occupation during the Second World War.

I also wanted to know why Vivien Lowry, a character from my book Bloomsbury Girls, had been so angry all the time! I wondered if a woman could make the biggest mistake of her life and move past the regret in a way that benefitted her and the world around her. I never intended to write a dual timeline. I had been working on Every Time We Say Goodbye for nearly a year when the voice of a young female Italian resistance fighter codenamed la scolaretta—the schoolgirl assassin—suddenly showed up on the page one day. Having witnessed the bravery and sacrifice of so many to keep us safe during our world’s most recent challenge, I wanted to pay tribute to them. How fortunate am I, through the intimate and emotional power of historical fiction, to have the opportunity to do so.

I packed everything I could into this book: love and conflict, faith and religion, censorship and resistance, art and moviemaking, fashion and food, and cameos by favorite actresses such as Sophia Loren and Ava Gardner and characters from both The Jane Austen Society and Bloomsbury Girls (I, myself am terrible at goodbyes!).
I hope, more than anything, that Every Time We Say Goodbye gives readers the entertainment, inspiration and food for thought that nourished me throughout its writing.

Best wishes, Natalie

OK, are we ready? Here's the cover of the upcoming Every Time We Say Goodbye by Natalie Jenner.

Ah, isn't it STUNNING? I'd be immediately intrigued if I saw it at the bookstore.

About the Author
Natalie Jenner is the internationally bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society and Bloomsbury Girls, which have been translated into more than twenty languages worldwide. Born in England and raised in Canada, Natalie has been a corporate lawyer and career coach and once owned an independent bookstore in Oakville, Ontario, where she lives with her family and two rescue dogs.

Connect with the Author
Website * Twitter * Facebook * Instagram * Goodreads

Pre-order & Purchase Links

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Bookshop * St. Martin's Press * Bookbub

Now that you're sufficiently intrigued, add Every Time We Say Goodbye to your Goodreads.

Thank you to the author and Austenprose for allowing me to be a part of this cover reveal.

Review: A Queen of Thieves and Chaos

If you’re a regular blog reader you’ll know two things about me: I’ve been reading K.A. Tucker for ages (and love everything she writes) and I don’t often read fantasy novels. Because of my love of Tucker’s books, I’ve been happily devouring her Fate & Flame series even though I say I don't read many fantasy books. The third in the series is A Queen of Thieves & Chaos and is just out today. It’s a beast of a book clocking in at around 600 pages but I needed and loved every page.

Here’s the book’s description:

"You betrayed your brother to steal a broken crown."
The kingdom stands on the brink of chaos. Atticus' grip on the realm is faltering, and as threats arise ever closer to home he is driven to increasingly desperate acts to hold onto power.
With Islor's fate now in the balance, Zander stands to defend the Rift from the oncoming Ybarisan army. With the king's forces scattered, he must risk unlikely new alliances.
And behind the walls of Ulysede, secrets wait for its new queen. Romeria knows that the paths of the hidden city will lead her to answers. But will they be enough to save the realm – or is their fate already sealed?

I had an easier time picking up the story than I did between books one and two, which was a bit of a relief. Since I don’t read a ton of fantasy, the whole world building thing can take a bit to get my head around. This time, I just dove in and hoped that I’d remember important information when I needed to. Tucker provides a few helpful pieces of info here and there to assist the reader who has waited so long for this book but it's not repetitive for those who have better memories (or, I imagine, those who are reading the series in order in a short period of time). It probably also helped that I’ve already spent two books with these characters, learning about the different lands, abilities, and creatures as well as following an intricate (and enjoyable) plot.

The beginning of the book included a table of contents (and a map! Swoon.) and I was a bit worried about how many characters had chapters dedicated to them (hint: it’s A LOT). Not only that, but each character tells their story in the first person. You’d think, as I did, that it would get confusing but it actually worked really well. Each character is included because they have something important to contribute to the overall narrative and while I always wanted to be with Romeria, I appreciated all the time I spent getting to know other characters.

I have no idea how many books Tucker has planned for this series so I wasn’t sure if this third book would be the last. Heads up: it’s not! Book four is due out next summer and it seems like it will wrap everything up and I am desperate to see how all the characters will fare once the prophecy is revealed in its entirety.

This is a fantasy romance (romantasy? Is that what the kids are calling them these days?) but the most prominent romance in this novel was a bit of a surprise. I don’t want to say any more about it because the description doesn’t hint at it and I think readers will enjoy watching the romance unfold as much as I did. I will say that it was a great to have this new romance paired with the romance between Romeria and Zander which, as new as it is, is really solid. There are a few steamy scenes but the characters going off to war definitely played a larger role than sexy times.

Finally, can we take a moment to appreciate the beauty that is this Hang Le cover? My god, she does amazing work.

I absolutely adored K.A. Tucker’s latest novel, which is no surprise. I’ve loved the other books in the Fate & Flame series and A Queen of Thieves & Chaos was just as good as the others (it might even be my favourite so far…). Even when I was anxious for the characters (so many chances for them to be killed!), I was so glad to be able to spend more time with them and I enjoyed being surprised right alongside them as they learned more and more about this mysterious prophecy. How am I going to be able to wait another year for the next book!?!

Download A Queen of Thieves & Chaos today on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, and Kobo: https://geni.us/queenthieveschaos

The audiobook edition of this book will be released on September 19 with narration by Elizabeth Klett.

Intrigued by my vague review (hey, it's hard to write about a third book of a series!)? Add A Queen of Thieves & Chaos to your Goodreads shelf. 

Don’t forget, this is an adult fantasy story that must be read in series order and you can start the series for only 99¢ for a limited time.
Buy A Fate of Wrath & Flame
Buy A Curse of Blood & Stone

About the Author
K.A. Tucker writes captivating stories with an edge.
She is the internationally bestselling author of the Ten Tiny Breaths and Burying Water series, He Will Be My Ruin, Until It Fades, Keep Her Safe, The Simple Wild, Be the Girl, and Say You Still Love Me. Her books have been featured in national publications including USA Today, Globe & Mail, Suspense Magazine, Publisher's Weekly, Oprah Mag, and First for Women.
K.A. Tucker currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto.

Connect with the Author
Website * Newsletter * Goodreads * Amazon * Facebook 
Facebook Group * Instagram * Tiktok * Bookbub * Pinterest * Threads

*An egalley of this novel was provided by Valentine PR for the purpose of a blog tour and release blitz. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: Learned by Heart

Emma Donoghue is a masterful writer so it’s always a treat to read her novels. Learned by Heart is her latest and features the life of a young Annie Lister as she comes of age at an English boarding school at the age of fourteen. It was well written and full of emotions but I have to say (though it pains me to do so), I’m not entirely sure if I, well, liked it? Let’s dive into trying to determine why that is, shall we?

Here’s the book’s description:

In 1805 fourteen-year-old Eliza Raine is a school girl at the Manor School for Young Ladies in York. The daughter of an Indian mother and a British father, Eliza was banished to this unfamiliar country as a little girl. When she first stepped off the King George in Kent, Eliza was accompanied by her older sister, Jane, but now she boards alone at the Manor, with no one left to claim her. She spends her days avoiding the attention of her fellow pupils until, one day, a fearless and charismatic new student arrives at the school. The two girls are immediately thrown together and soon Eliza’s life is turned inside out by this strange and curious young woman.

The first thing I struggled with was wondering if I was the book’s intended audience and whether or not that actually mattered (spoiler: no, I don't think it really does). You see, I didn’t really know who Annie Lister was. All I knew was that she was, somehow, a known and important figure in queer history. Because of my lack of knowledge, I wasn’t really sure of the reason behind the novel but I knew enough to know she was someone of importance. I try to go into books without much knowledge sometimes because I want the author’s point of view to educate me and then I’ll read more afterwards. In this case, I wish I had read Donoghue’s notes at the beginning of the novel instead of at the end, where they’re printed. It seems that Lister and her history are a bit of a pet project of Donoghue’s, someone she’s been interested in for many years and finally had the opportunity to write about. I respect that so much - that she was so interested that she wanted to write something for all of us to enjoy and learn from. I want to learn more about the histories that have been hidden from us - which is why I wonder if it matters that I’m a straight woman reading about queer characters. It honestly doesn’t - I know this - and I want to learn more but I just can’t help feeling that I lacked something going into this book. It’s the strangest feeling and one that I'm uncomfortable having because I think it's coming from a place of...well, we know that most books and histories have been told from a heterosexual perspective, which is the perspective I live my life from as a straight person. It's not that I can't read books from different perspectives, it's more that I think this book is especially for the folks that haven't seen enough of these stories from their perspective and my feelings, quite frankly, don't matter. Which, you know, I'm good with. But the overactive brain just can't shut off when pondering this story!

I can tell (after reading the notes at the end of the book) why Donoghue chose to set the book when she did. It’s partially because of new research about Eliza Raines, which is interesting to consider. If Donoghue had written a novel about Lister years ago when she first had a seed of an idea, it would have looked very different than it does in 2023. First, the world has now been able to watch Gentleman Jack which is about Lister (I haven’t yet but it’s on my very long to be watched list) and that’s shown there's an appetite for these stories that have never been told before and absolutely should be. Second, more information has come to light about Eliza and the role she may have played in Lister’s early life. The novel alternates between chapters taking place in 1805 and 1806 when the girls are in school and letters from Eliza to Lister in 1815. The letter chapters are shorter but are quite unsettling. You see, Eliza is in a mental institution at this time and it’s clear she’s struggling. They’re not easy chapters to read but they’re so well done. (And if you’ve read Room you know how well Donoghue can take unsettling topics and write the hell out of them.)

The last thing I want to touch on that has had my brain running in circles is the age of the girls. You’ll notice I’ve called them girls numerous times (and I’ll add a caveat here that it could be possible, again I don’t have all the information, that Lister may not have identified as a female but I’m going to keep using the female pronouns here). That’s because they were. They were fourteen and fifteen while they were at school, and they and their fellow students were just starting to grow into the adults they’d (hopefully) become. But, to me, they’re still kids. And I know kids of fourteen and fifteen are having sex and this was the 1800s when I’m sure there were teen girls being married off far too young. But my modern sensibilities couldn’t shake the fact that I was reading about underage girls having their sexual awakening. Is that prudish of me? Am I the weird one for finding that odd to read? And this has, of course, nothing to do with the fact that they were two girls. I would have been equally weirded out if it were two boys or a boy and a girl at the same age. It’s been a huge struggle to wrap my head around and work through.

Even though it may seem like I didn’t like Emma Donoghue’s latest book, that’s not strictly accurate. I did like Learned by Heart and it is such a well-written and well-told story that it still lives in my head, weeks after reading it. Donoghue is so unbelievably talented. This is a book that I’m desperate to talk to others about so if you’ve read it, find me on Instagram @kaleys23 and let’s talk!

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, HarperCollins Canada, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*