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Blog Tour/Book Review: The Promise by Michelle Vernal

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I’m delighted to be hosting today’s stop on the blog tour for The Promise by Michelle Vernal, alongside my tour buddies, Laura’s Interests and Donna’s Book Blog.  If you’re looking for a heart-warming summer read this may just be the book for you – find my review below.

The PromiseAbout the Book

Two women from different generations brought together by another’s wrongdoing.

When British backpacker, Isabel Stark happens across a car accident on a lonely stretch of road in the South Island of New Zealand her life changes forever. The sole passenger, Ginny Havelock asks her to make a promise before she passes away – to find Constance and to say she’s sorry.  Isabel’s a lost soul who’s been drifting through life unsure of where she fits, and the promise she made in New Zealand haunts her upon her return to the United Kingdom. Her only clue as to finding Constance lies within a conversation held at Ginny’s funeral. It takes her to the Isle of Wight.

In the 1940’s sixteen-year-old Constance’s life on her island is sheltered until the death of her brother; Ted brings the reality of war crashing down around her. He leaves behind his pregnant young widow Ginny. When Constance meets a handsome Canadian airforce man, she’s eager to escape her grief and be swept up by first love. It’s a love which has ramifications she could never envisage.

When Isabel and Constance’s paths finally cross will Ginny’s last words be enough for Constance to make peace with her past? And in fulfilling her promise will Isabel find a place she can call home?

Format: ebook (pp.)    Publisher:
Published: 15th July 2018   Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Romance

Purchase Links*
Amazon.co.uk  ǀ  Amazon.com 
*links provided for convenience, not as part of any affiliate programme

Find The Promise on Goodreads

My Review

Isabel’s promise to a dying woman to pass on her message of regret to a woman identified only as Constance, preys on Isabel’s mind but also provides her with a much needed sense of purpose.  Returning to the UK following some time travelling and working in Australia and New Zealand, Isabel finds the trail leads quite close to home, namely to the Isle of Wight, just across the Solent from her parents’ home.

I really enjoyed the Isle of Wight setting with its slightly bohemian atmosphere and streets lined with small shops, tea rooms and pubs.   Luckily for Isabel, fate takes a hand and throws several helpful clues in her path and a number of useful allies.  In one case, an ally who could perhaps become something more significant…  The reader will probably work this out before Isabel!

The object of Isabel’s search, Constance, is a fantastic character – she’s independent-minded, won’t stand for any nonsense, fond of bright colours and not afraid to remind people of her great age.    Her story when it is finally revealed is immensely sad and demonstrates the great upheaval in people’s lives brought about by war.

The Promise is a heart-warming dual-time story of love, loss, broken promises and second chances with a generous helping of fate and serendipity thrown in for good measure.   Being a historical fiction girl at heart, I often find the contemporary fiction strand of dual-time stories disappointing but I’m pleased to say that both strands of the story drew me in equally.  Of course, I loved the sections set during wartime – the details of daily life were convincingly portrayed – but I also found the relationship that develops between Isabel and Constance in the present day both endearing and believable.

I received a review copy courtesy of the author and Rachel’s Random Resources, in return for an honest and unbiased review.

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In three words: Heart-warming, tender, uplifting

Try something similar…Under an Amber Sky by Rose Alexander (read my review here)

btyAbout the Author

Michelle Vernal is a Harper Collins author who loves a happy ending. She lives with her husband, their two boys and a needy three-legged black cat in Christchurch, New Zealand. She’s partial to a glass of wine, loves a cheese scone and has recently taken up yoga – a sight to behold indeed. She is a freelance writer for a Canterbury lifestyle magazine who is currently working on her seventh novel. Michelle’s a firm believer in happy endings, and all of her stories are written with humour and warmth.

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Book Review: Happiness is a Collage by Gita V. Reddy

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Happiness is a CollageAbout the Book

This collection of fifteen stories leads the reader into a world that is at once Indian and universal. The stories explore love, life, loss, and relationships.

A painter derives inspiration from a long lost love. Every night after going to bed, a woman scours a vast desert for her missing husband. A young woman strides through two worlds. A son experiences the miracle of his father’s immense love. An actor’s wife struggles to keep her husband from slipping into his reel life. And a busy professional tries to factor in pregnancy and motherhood into her hectic life.  Among those traversing this space are a henpecked billionaire, a homeless boy, a middle-aged wife dealing with infidelity, and a seeker finding solace with a lion and a deer.

Format: ebook (153 pp.)    Publisher:
Published: 4th August 2018            Genre: Short Stories

Purchase Links*
Amazon.co.uk  ǀ
*links provided for convenience, not as part of any affiliate programme

Find Happiness is a Collage on Goodreads

My Review

Having read and enjoyed the author’s previous collection of short stories, A Tapestry of Tears, and her book about Catherine Dickens, wife of Charles Dickens, Outside the Magic Circle, I was thrilled when Gita contacted me about reading her new collection of short stories, published today.

As in the author’s previous collection, in these stories modern day India meets traditional India, sometimes coming into conflict, sometimes depicting an intriguing evolution.   A few common themes emerge in the stories, such as: the ties and obligations of family (often encompassing the extended family of cousins and in-laws); the strains of married life; the tension between career and domestic life; the honour and respect due to elders and others.

It’s invariably the case in a short story collection that some of the stories connect more powerfully with the reader than others, and so it was with this collection.  To quote from the story that gives the collection its title, as the narrator’s grandmother observes, when constructing a collage ‘Contrast the dull with the bright’.

Bright points for me included ‘The Search’, in which a daughter has a persistent dream of being reunited with her father, ‘The Gift’, about the possibility for a second chance of happiness, ‘The Vigil’ in which an expectant mother comes to realise there are some things you can’t manage like a business project and ‘Reflection’, in which a chance meeting gives a woman cause to take stock of her life.

There is much to be enjoyed in this collection.  The stories are varied in subject matter, well-written, imaginative and will appeal to those of Indian heritage as well as readers with an interest in Indian culture.   Finally, in case you needed any more encouragement, there are some mouthwatering descriptions of food in many of the stories!

I received an advance review copy courtesy of the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.  Happiness is a Collage is my first book for ARC August (hashtag #arcaugust), hosted by the ladies at ReadSleepRepeat.

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In three words: Thoughtful, introspective, observational

Try something similar…A Tapestry of Tears by Gita V. Reddy (read my review here)

GitaVReddyAbout the Author

Gita V. Reddy is a writer of fiction for middle graders and adults. She enjoys thinking up tales of different genres. She has written mysteries, adventure, fantasy, science fiction, and even an animal tale for children.  She wrote and illustrated her first picture book for kids in August 2015. She plans to write a few more because the experience was very satisfying.

Ms Reddy was born in India, is a post graduate in Mathematics, worked in a bank for twenty-six years, is married to a physics professor, has a son doing research in neuro-electronics, and loves literature. Yes, her life is as mixed up as the multiple genres she writes.

She enjoys painting and spending time with her family, and LOVES walking in the rain.  She also writes under the name Heera Datta.

Connect with Gita

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