Taking a Chance

Taking a Chance is a new novel written by Lesley M. Francis. It is, in fact, her debut novel.

It tells the story of the relationship between Imogen and her mother, Ada.

When Imogen was 50, Ada was dying.

As people do, Imogen begins to reminisce about the history of their relationship.

Imogen has a quirky way of coping with problems, which the reader will learn about.

However, whilst Imogen (who is one of those poor souls describable as being: "Too nice for their own good") is lovingly and patiently nursing Ada through this, her final ailment, Ada makes a confession to Imogen.

This revelation is an utter bombshell with the capability to not only totally destroy the once living relationship between mother and daughter it also has the power to smash the entire family to pieces.

Ada had employed charm throughout her life to get what she wanted. It must have come as a very rude awakening to realise that there are people, such as the staff at HMP Holloway Prison who... but that's getting a little ahead of ourselves.

To find out why Ada ended up in Holloway Prison and the secret that she nearly took to the grave, but, perhaps rather foolishly, didn't, you will have to read Taking a Chance!

It's an exceptionally well-written and well-realised novel, published by Matador at £9.99, available from the that;s Books and Entertainment bookshop.

The Politician's Daughter

The Politician's Daughter is another Petra Minx mystery written by Marion Leigh.

Oddly enough this is the first mystery novel about RCMP sergeant Petra Minx, but the distribution of the novel has been taken over by Matador for the publisher Rudling House.

Matador published the second Petra Minx novel Dead Man's Legacy, last year.

But to the matter in hand.

The daughter of a prominent Canadian politico took a job for the summer onboard the Titania, described as a megayacht.

Unfortunately, she went missing and so it was that Petra Minx, RCMP Marine Unit Sergeant, is ordered to cut short her holiday and to begin an investigation into the disappearance.  

Due to the fact that secrecy is of the essence, Petra Minx decides that she will handle the case as an undercover investigation.

She obtains a position on the boat as a hostess. The Titania was the last place Emily, the missing girl, was seen alive.

But onboard are several surprises for Sergeant Minx, including the fact that her dear friend Carlo is working as a barman on the Titania, on behalf of Interpol.

Nobody on the Titania denies that Emily was there. But it would have been nice if all of the different stories for the reason why Emily left the Titania could have matched!

So, what exactly happened to Emily? Is she alive or dead? And exactly why is Carlo on board?

What does he know? What can he and Petra find out?

This is another exciting novel about a character who has the potential to become as famous as Poirot.

The book is published by Rudling House at £8.99 and is available via the That's Books and Entertainment bookshop, which you will find just to the right of this review.

Even Stranger

Even Stranger is a new novel in the "Strange" series of novels by Marilyn Messik.

It was the time when the Swinging Sixties were turning into the stolid seventies.

Stella's life is not quite what she had hoped it would be.

Stella is just an ordinary girl. Well, except for the fact that she possess (or is possessed by?) some rather remarkable psychic abilities.

She wants a normal life. She craves a normal life, but unfortunately abnormal things will just keep on happening with to her or near to her.

But exactly who can she trust? What was wanted of her? Could she help? Were they endangering her life? Did the even care?

Could her life ever, really, be normal?

This book is published by Matador at £7.99 and is available from the that's Books and Entertainment book shop.

Invisible Pleasures

Invisible Pleasures is the début work of architect turned author R. Pollard.

Although he was trained to be an architect, it has always been the burning desire of R. Pollard to write a book and this is that book, written under the main literary influences upon the author, Dostoevsky, Naipaul and Proust.

The book is a mixture of a paean  to unrequited love and a travelogue to a variety of far flung locations around the world before the march of "progress" rendered them less than they once where.

The book explores the first tremors of his imagination  as a young child, it then touches on his memories of the Second world War, then it cavorts through the wild and exuberant life of London in the vibrant and exciting swinging sixties.

It then shifts focus to the other side of the world where he finds gainful employment as an architect in both Borneo and Malaya.

But as well as being an amusing and agreeable travelogue memoir and as the French might put it an "la mémoire de l'amour" it also raises some deep and, perhaps pertinent, questions such as "What are we?" and "Where are we coming from or going?" (This is looked at from the divine or the humanistic perspectives.)

The book is well-written. Extremely well-written. We read, well, almost live, really to horrific and confused life of Great Grandmother Dix, (who was "all of a much sweat!" of how he meets a variety of characters falls in love with some, falls out of love with some and lives life as fully as he could.

There are also little discursive trips down memory lane -what it is like for a toddler to fill its nappy- and a brief but edifying discussion on the deeper philosophical undercurrents of Robocop.

And there are a panoply of bon mots that season this delightful book.  

It is the author's first. Hopefully it will not be his last.

It is published by Matador at £12.99 and can be bought at the That's Books and Entertainment Bookshop, which you'll find to the right of this review.

Trackbed Tales

Trackbed Tales is a new collection of  short stories by author N. M. Scott.

The stories are all set in and around the very British world of preserved steam railway lines.

But it is not just the locomotives, the vintage railway carriages, the antique signal boxes and the mid-Victorian station buildings, the old, echoing engine sheds and the mile after mile of preserved railway tacks and boxes and boxes of railway paraphernalia that are preserved.

For along with the ephemera there are the spectral presences that cling to the physical.

There are places where the dead do not rest in peace, but in pieces, there are creatures that know far, far too much, there are curiously marked human skulls found in hat boxes, and a variety of links with the past. Links that would far better be forgotten.

In hardback at £9.99 this Book Guild publication (available at the That's Books and Entertainment bookshop) is ideal for lovers of ghost stories and for those who are fans of preserved railway lines.

Libby at the Botanic Gardens

Libby at the Botanic Gardens is a charming book by Basabi Banerjee.

It tells, for children and the adults in their life, the story of Libby the Labrador.

Libby was born in Australia but moved to Singapore to be with her new family.

Libby lived with her Mum, her Dad and Tipper and Ricky.

And they enjoyed living in Singapore, known as "the city within a garden" so she had lots of lovely walks.

One day a magic palm tree gives Libby a very precious, special gift. This leads to some wonderful walks and a exiting adventure in the Botanic Gardens.

In just one morning Libby learns to dance, foils a cruel bully and befriends some very special heritage trees.

Of course, Libby then wants to relate all of these wonderful tales to her new friend, the palm tree.

This book is illustrated by the skilful hand of Jeffrey Seow, an artist and illustrator with 30 years of experience.

The book is hard back and large format and costs £7.99.

It is published by The Book Guild and is available via the That's Books an d Entertainment bookshop. You'll find it to the right of this review.

A Sister's Crusade

A Sister's Crusade is a historical novel set in the times of the Crusades.

Written by novelist Ann Turner (author of Heartsease) tA Siater's Crusade tells the story of two sisters, Aubrette and Rowena. However, they grow to maturity unaware that they are related, that they are, in fact, sisters.

Rowena meets the man who is destined to become her future husband, Simon Fitzroy, who is one of the illegitimate offspring of King Henry II.

However, that day was to be a fateful day for other reasons, as it was also on that day that Aubrette discovers that they are related. That they are, actually, daughters of the local lord.

Aubrette stays with her sister, even serving as her maid after Rowena becomes married.

There is an incident that is most tragic and, Aubrette becomes the secret lover of Simon, her sister's husband.

Her sister is kept in the dark about the affair, until Aubrette becomes pregnant by her lover.

After the child is born, the baby boy is taken away from Aubrette and is given to Rowena for her to raise as her own child.

Aubrette, who thought that Simon was truly in love with her, was married, however unwillingly, to Hugh, who is a companion to Duke Richard who is a loyal and faithful friend of Simon.

However, when the King dies, Richard I succeeds him to the throne and he journeys with Simon to the Holy Land for a Crusade.

Aubrette and Rowena accompany them on the long, perilous journey as attendants to Queen Berengaria, Richard's wife, who has not been given the attention that is due to the wife of the King.

There are a whole series of calamitous and traumatic events that beset them and Simon marries Aubrette in Cyprus, before they return to England.

Now back at home, Aubrette believes she has settled into a life of comfortable domesticity. Life, it seems, is perfect.

Or is it? Can a threat from an enemy from a totally unexpected quarter spell ruin for her happiness?

This book is destined to become a classic of its genre.

It costs £9.99 and is published by Matador and is available through the That's Books and Entertainment bookshop, the portal to which is to the right side of this review.