Fractured Dreams and Second Chances

This novel, Fractured Dreams and Second Chances, by Stephen Anthony Brotherton is semi-autobiographical.

It is a story of a first love, told through the eyes of two characters, Freddie and Jo-Jo.

Their love would, of course, last for ever. 

However, incidents within their childhoods had caused fractures and, eventually, all too soon, in fact, events both old and new caused their love to founder.

But what if there could be a second chance for Freddie and Jo-Jo? A second chance to get back together in later life to rekindle their love affair after three decades apart?

It's a well-told tale that explores the impacts of childhood traumas and how these can change the person you become as an adult.

It's published by the Book Guild at £9.99

Without Let or Hindrance

Without Let or Hindrance is a novel from author Geoffrey Charin. 

It's the summer of 1938 and the metaphorical clouds are gathering over Europe.

Veronica and Billy, her fascist boyfriend, attend a pro-German event that was hosted by the 5th Duke of Wellington.

It's a glamourous, glittering event and Veronica meets Sir Oswald Mosley and Diana Mitford. Veronica is invited to take a trip to Berlin, the capital of Germany.

As Europe stumbles toward war, many otherwise good people shake their heads, bewildered, apparently unable to do anything to stop the flow of evil that threatens not only continent of Europe but the entire world.

As Jews are more and more becoming victims of Nazi pogroms such as the evil of Kristallnacht, the British government is trapped between trying to apparently appease Herr Hitler and trying to deal with the question of Jewish refugees.

For Veronica, doing nothing is not an option she can feel comfortable with, so she decides to take action.

Veronica finds herself within the very heart of Nazi Germany. But what of Billy, the member of the British Union of Fascists? And what of Mosley and the Mitford sisters?

Victoria puts her life in danger to save Jewish refugees. But who can she trust? 

This novel is a tightly composed and well-written historical thriller that is based on factual occurrences. 

It is published by The Book Guild at £9.99.

 

A Victorian Rebel Fighting for Gay Rights Edward Carpenter

A Victorian Rebel Fighting for Gay Rights Edward Carpenter In his biography Brian Anderson examines the life story of Edward Carpenter.

It's likely that you might not have heard of Edward Carpenter who was an early campaigner for gay rights in Britain.

And Brian Anderson has decided to put this situation to rights.

During his research Anderson was able to locate a considerable number of Carpenter's letters (none of which had been previously published) to his friends, his lovers and other fellow socialists.

The book covers the details of his transition from a youth who was generally a normal, conforming  member of Victorian society, to a bold and somewhat outspoken critic of what he saw as the flaws and problems within Victorian society. Especially in the treatment of homosexual males.

As a gay youth his adolescence was more troubled than for some of his contemporaries, combined with his confusion about his sexual identity.

He attended Cambridge University which helped to broaden his horizons and Anderson reflects on his first, timid love affairs.

He soon developed into a radical socialist and became known as an author of polemical pieces. He later developed into a writer on sexual politics, though publishing his works was difficult due to the fallout from the Oscar Wilde scandal.     

He was criticised for what would be considered a misogynistic attitude, but Anderson questions whether or not this was the case. 

It's a very well-researched and well-written book which will be of interest to anyone interested in the history of Victorian society and the history of gay emancipation. 

It's published by Matador at £9.95.

The Cumbria and Lake District

The Cumbria and Lake District A Guide to Places to Visit, History: A Guide to Places to Visit, History and Wildlife from Morecambe Bay to the Solway Firth

On my desk, on the shelf to the left (I'm lefthanded) I have a copy of a book by Kevin Sene titled The Mersey Estuary: A Travel Guide which is one of my favourite guidebooks.

Now I have a companion volume by Kevin Sene, called The Cumbria and Lake District A Guide to Places to Visit, History: A Guide to Places to Visit, History and Wildlife from Morecambe Bay to the Solway Firth.

It's a highly detailed travel guide which takes you from Fleetwood all the way along to the Mull of Galloway.

The coast of Cumbria reaches from Morecambe Bay to the Solway Firth. It takes in, amongst other features and places The Lake District National Park.

The book is very well illustrated with stunningly beautiful full colour photographs, some which are full page.

You will learn of ideal places to view tidal bores from, good places to visit if historical buildings is your bag, nice spots to enjoy looking at wildlife. And if ancient, mysterious sites brings a thrill to your heart, Kevin has plenty of them for you.

Looking for waterside walks? There's a wide selection. Fancy a trip to the seaside for a paddle or even a holiday break? Kevin's got that covered, too.

Museums, especially maritime museums? Lots of them to explore with Kevin's most excellent guidebook.

And if your desire is to check out lighthouses and other maritime features? They are covered, too.

Maybe your desire is some beautiful inland walks? Step right this way!

It's published by Matador at £19.99. 

  

Fire of the Dark Triad

Fire of the Dark Triad is the first part of a series by Asya Semenovich.

It tells the story of a distant and dark dystopian future, where evil humans of the Dark Triads (who were born with a DNA strain that made them incredibly dangerous) have caused untold misery and destruction for hundreds of years. In fact, so wicked were they that they very nearly destroyed the planet Earth.

The rulers of Earth had attempted to bring purity to the human race by dissolving those genes from future generations.

But something is wrong. Because without the creative spark of the DNA of the Dark Triads, civilisation has begun to falter and to stagnate.

An elite group, called the Headhunters, was employed to locate and recruit Dark Trads from its many colonies and bring them back to planet Earth.

But Nick, the most adept and skilled of the Headhunters, who was under the impression that he was only involved in a routine mission soon discovers that things are not always what they appear to be. He becomes enmeshed in a hidden conspiracy which, if it is allowed to continue unchecked, could change the human race forever.

He finds himself fighting powerful groups on two planets in an attempt to head off the catastrophe that is threatened. Whilst also trying to save the life of the woman he loves.

It's a well constructed novel which is both pacey and punchy.

As an interesting aside the novel is featured in a documentary film called Married to Math which you can learn more about here https://marriedtomath.com/reviews/. 

It's published by Dark Triad Books at £15.00 and is available from all good bookshops including Waterstones and Amazon, etc. It's also available in eBook format at £3.53.

I'd like to thank Cameron Publicity & Marketing for working with me to create this review.  

Kittyhawk Down

Kittyhawk Down by Jonathan Nicholas.

It was a Sunday in June, 1942. Sunday 28th of June, to be exact. And RAF Flight Sergeant Dennis Copping was taking off in a Kittyhawk fighter 'plane for a very short flight across Egypt. But unfortunately he never arrived at his destination.

No more was known about the fate of Flight Sergeant Copping, at 24 an experienced fighter pilot or his aircraft for 70 years when oil exploration worker Jakub Perka found the virtually intact plane a hundred miles west of Farafra Oasis in central Egypt, three hundred miles south-west of Alexandria.

Evidence was found that established that Flight Sergeant Copping had been able to make a controlled emergency landing and that not only did he survive the landing, he stayed with the downed aircraft for a considerable period of time afterward. But his remains have, at least to date, never been found.

Why was the plane on the ground in the location it was found in? And what had happened to Dennis Copping?

Aviation enthusiast and licensed pilot Jonathan Nicholas has extensively researched the discovery of the downed plane, interviewing those who discovered it and talked with surviving relatives of Flight Sergeant Dennis Copping.

He has taken historical facts and information and used them to weave an interesting and moving account of what might have happened on Sunday 28th June, 1942.

It is published by the Book Guild at £9.99 and will make a very good gift for people who are interested in the history of military actions and real life mysteries. 

The Myths and Legends of Britain's Pubs: East of England

Rodney Simmonds' The Myths and Legends of Britain's Pubs: East of England ticks all my personal boxes, so to speak.

The sub-title of the book is "A Thousand Years of History and Trivia/"

Pubs, architecture, ales, history and myths. What more could a person want?

Let's begin this review with a few questions. What do you know about your local? Or the other pubs in your town or district?

Who decided on the name? What is the history of the name? Has the name of that particular pub ever changed? How old is the pub?

What's the pub's history? Is it haunted? And if it is haunted, what kind of ghosts inhabit it? Friendly ghosts or ghosts who are angry and unable to move on?

This  book is, literally, an A to Y of pubs throughout the East of England in 206 pages.

There's the Jolly Woodman in Burnham Beeches, in Buckinghamshire. First opened in 1832, it's starred in several films and TV series over the years.

In Luton, Bedfordshire, you'll find the English Rose public house. Opened in 1845 it was originally called the Rabbit. If you read the book you'll learn why. A piece of trivia regarding this pub is that the son of the then landlord married actress Diana Dors.

In the 1700s in Brigg, North Lincolnshire you'll learn about the Yarborough Hunt public house. It was originally constructed for the Earls of Yarborough who own an estate not too far away.

Previously a brewery tap for Sergeant's Brewery, which, sadly, was closed in 1967, the pub continued trading for a number of years under the ownership of several breweries.

For those interested in ghostly residents you will be interested in the Nutshell, otherwise known as the Traverse in Bury St Edmunds. Not only is it one of the smallest pubs in England, it is also reputedly haunted by a young boy. It's said he was murdered in one of the bedrooms of the premises. But for some reason he appears mainly in the area of the bar.

There's also another ghost, that of a monk who wears a long black habit. He also wears a large wooden cross. Sometimes, even when there is nobody wearing perfume in the pub, the scent of a woman's perfume can be detected.

It's a wonderful book and is very well researched and extremely well-written. And I would recommend buying this book either for yourself or as a gift for a friend or family member. However, the book does have a curious omission: There is not one illustration or photograph in the entire book.

It's published by The Book Guild at £9.99.