The Glittering Hour by Iona Grey

1925. The war is over and a new generation is coming of age, keen to put the trauma of the previous one behind them.
Selina Lennox is a Bright Young Thing whose life is dedicated to the pursuit of pleasure; to parties and drinking and staying just the right side of scandal. Lawrence Weston is a struggling artist, desperate to escape the poverty of his upbringing and make something of himself.
When their worlds collide one summer night,  neither can resist the thrill of the forbidden, the lure of a love affair that they know cannot possibly last.
But there is a dark side to pleasure and a price to be paid for breaking the rules. By the end of that summer everything has changed,
A decade later, nine year old Alice is staying at Beechcroft with her distant grandparents, piecing together clues from her mother's letters to discover the secrets of the past, the truth about the present and hope for the future.

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Pages: 480

Iona Grey wowed readers with her first book Letters to the Lost. I know that I am not the only one who has been eagerly awaiting for her to write a new book. Here it is, The Glittering Hour, I can say without hesitation that it is a complete triumph.
Everything is so beautifully done, the story, the characters, the cover, the title. I could not find fault with any of it.
The story takes place between the first and second world wars. England was facing great changes and in some ways, the higher classes of society were hit harder than others. Their way of life was scrutinised and picked apart in a way it had not been before. Socialite Selina Lennox is part of a group known as The Bright Young Things. Along with best friends, Theo and Flick, Selina is often photographed clutching a bottle of vintage champagne whilst falling out of well-known London establishments. We begin to learn the reasons for Selina's behaviour and it becomes clear that she is desperate to break free from the gilded cage that she was born into.
Selina meets Lawrence Weston one fateful night and the course of their lives is altered forever. Lawrence is from a totally different world, a poor artist and aspiring photographer, he struggles to pay his rent and Selina's glamorous world is alien to him. The connection between Selina and Lawrence is instant. He adores her and very quickly uncovers the person behind the tabloids and public perception. In Lawrence, Selina finds someone who loves her as she is without question. He wants the best for her without any pretence or ulterior motive. They embark on a dangerous relationship they they know cannot last and by the end of that glorious summer they are both undone.
Selina goes on to marry Rupert Carew, a friend of her brothers. He is straight up and down, exactly the respectable type of man that Selina's mother expected her to marry. Swapping one gilded cage for another, Selina welcomes a daughter, Alice who she is completely besotted with. The story continues nine years later, Selina is travelling abroad with Rupert and Alice has been sent to Selina's childhood home, Beechcroft to stay with her grandparents. Alice, as Selina did, finds Beechcroft cold and oppressing and she misses her mother terribly. With the help of Polly who has been a faithful maid and companion to Selina; Alice begins sending and receiving letters from her mother in the Far East. Selina wants Alice to know how she came to be and sends her on a treasure hunt. Each clue provides a piece of the story and reveals Selina's past whilst securing Alice's future.
I loved the treasure hunt idea and it tied the two parts of the story together beautifully. The relationship between Alice and Selina is so well portrayed, the little girl provided love in Selina's life when everything else was lost.
I felt that Iona Grey perfectly summed up the time period within the book.

It was a time of such change with shifting attitudes and approaches to life. Country Estates such as Beechcroft begin to fall into disrepair as so many workers did not return from the war or simply chose not to once they had experienced a different way of life. Selina is desperate for change too but as a woman she is constrained by position and value. Her heart wants Lawrence and she pays the price for not being able to follow her true desires.
I can't write anymore without giving away spoilers so I shall stop. The Glittering Hour by Iona Grey had me sobbing by the last few pages. I was so invested in the characters and their lives that I felt a little lost when I reached the final page. The Glittering Hour has been more than worth the wait, I know that it is a book I will visit again and again.

Many thanks to Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read an advanced copy via Netgalley. 

BOOK REVIEW: The Effortless Mind by Will Williams

Forget everything you thought you knew about meditation...
The Effortless Mind is renowned meditation teacher Will Williams' must-have guide for modern-day meditators. In his quest to overcome chronic stress and insomnia, Will undertook years of research and training  with the world's leading experts, which led him to find the cure he was looking for in Beeja meditation.
Will explains how this ancient technique has transformed the lives of his students- busy people of all ages and backgrounds. This isn't a restrictive, esoteric technique reserved only for those renouncing society and running away to the Himalayas; this is about enabling people to live their full potential- right here, right now- so they can feel happier, calmer and more engaged with life.

Publisher: Simon & Schuster 

Pages: 336

The Effortless Mind by Will Williams presents Vedic meditation which can be practiced by anyone, anywhere for twenty minutes, twice a day. I have tried some forms of meditation during my yoga practice but this is the first book that I have read about the subject. Will Williams turned to meditation to cure his chronic insomnia so part of this book is very much a personal story. Will now teaches his technique to people all over the world with startling and highly successful results. I enjoyed reading about Will's own journey but one of my favourite parts of the book was the many real-life stories that it detailed. I often shy away from any kind of self-help book as I find that they very much apply to the author's situation and point-of-view only. The Effortless Mind is different in that is shows a myriad of different people using Will's methods successfully. They all had different reasons and I was quite surprised by some of the people who so
ught out this alternative method. The end result is the same though, they all find a way to cope with their problems and this is a very hopeful message. We live in an increasingly stressful world and there are so many options out there for combating stress but Will's way is so simple and that is the beauty of it; you don't need any fancy equipment or to attend any classes or courses. It is something you can do in the course of your day wherever you feel comfortable.
I know that The Effortless Mind is a book that I will be recommending to many people. Williams has made meditation both accessible and appealing. If it is a subject that you would like to know more about but didn't know where to start then I urge you to start right here!

Many thanks to Midas PR and Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy of the book to review. 

BOOK REVIEW: The Vanishing by Sophia Tobin

A story of intrigue and revenge…
On top of the Yorkshire Moors, in an isolated spot carved out of the barren landscape lies White Windows, a house of shadows and secrets. Here lives Marcus Twentyman, a hard-drinking but sensitive man and his sister Hester.
When Annaleigh, a young girl who has fled her home in London, finds herself at the remote house, engaged as housekeeper to the Twentymans, she discovers all is not as it seems behind closed doors.
Isolated and lonely, Annaleigh is increasingly drawn to her master. And as their relationship intensifies, she soon realises that her movements are being controlled and her life is no longer her own. Slowly she is drawn into a web of intrigue and darkness, and soon she must face  her fears if she is to save herself.

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Pages: 388

The Vanishing is an intriguing read. It is very much in the gothic style and put me in mind of both Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights.

Set in 1814, Annaleigh has been sent to White Windows on the Yorkshire Moors to take up the position of housekeeper. The setting is desolate and the house suitably spooky and foreboding. She is to work for brother and sister Marcus and Hester Twentyman. Hester is a little nervous and protective and Marcus mysterious and unpredictable. Yet Annaleigh settles into the house well and they are pleased with her work. Just as Annaleigh begins to settle, questions are raised about Kate, the previous housekeeper who seemingly disappeared into the night. Hester is administering medication to Annaleigh more and more under the guise of helping her headaches and Marcus is growing closer and closer. All of a sudden Annaleigh feels out of her depth and completely at the mercy of the Twentymans and the problem is that she has no idea what they have planned for her.

The Vanishing is so well written and I loved the foreboding, moody atmosphere that Sophia Tobin creates. There is tension from the very first page and it continues to increase as the story develops.

Annaleigh is extremely naïve but feisty, she really has to fight in this book and she is a good example of just how hard it was for women at the time to get just basic rights.

I don’t want to say much more but I would highly recommend this book. It is dark and shocking in places, perfect for fans of gothic fiction. I read this as it was my book club’s choice and I think it will give us plenty to talk about.

BOOK REVIEW: The Crucifix Killer by Chris Carter

Cross your heart and hope to die. Quickly.
In a derelict house in LA , a young woman is found savagely murdered. Naked, strung from two wooden posts, the skin has been ripped from her face- while she was still alive. On the nape of her neck is carved a strange double-cross: the signature of a psychopath known as the Crucifix Killer.
But that's  not possible. Because two years ago, the Crucifix Killer was caught and executed. Could this be the work of a copycat? Or is Homicide Detective Robert Hunter forced to face the unthinkable? Is the real Crucifix Killer still out there, taunting Hunter with his inability to catch him?
Robert Hunter and his rookie partner are about to enter a nightmare beyond imagining...

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Pages: 423

This book was so, so good! It only took me just over a day to read and now I just want to read all of Chris Carter's other books. I have seen the fabulous Victoria Loves Books talking about this author so I decided to give him a go and I'm so glad I did.

The Crucifix Killer is one of the best thrillers I have read. Chris Carter does not mess about, he takes you right into the thick of it on the very first page. I would say that this book would not be good for any squeamish readers as the author goes into quite graphic detail about the awful acts that the victim's experience.
Detective Robert Hunter was my favourite part of the book. I think we only scratch the surface in the first book but I already want to know more. He has some of the classic detective cliché's; insomnia, drink problems, bad shoes but he is very likeable and interesting. His battle with the Crucifix Killer is intense, he wants nothing more than to stop this monster but at what cost to himself?
The other character's in this book were well crafted and I enjoyed the way Carter depicted the L.A. underworld where the law certainly isn't upheld as they have their own rules and forms of punishment.
I really enjoy thrillers but I have always struggled to to find writers that I particularly enjoy within this genre. Tess Gerritsen is my go-to author for this type of book but I think if I enjoy Chris Carter's other books as much as this one then Gerritsen may be knocked off the top spot.

BOOK REVIEW: The Sun in Her Eyes by Paige Toon

Blinding sunshine...A bend in the road...
What became of the little girl with the sun in her eyes?
Amber was three when a car crash stole her mother's life. She doesn't remember the accident, but a stranger at the scene has been unable to forget. Now, almost thirty years later, she's trying to track Amber down.
Amber, meanwhile, is married to Ned and living on the other side of the world in London. When her father has a stroke, she flies straight home to Australia to be with him. Away from her husband, Amber finds comfort in her oldest friends, but her feelings for Ethan, the gorgeous, green-eyed man she once fell for, have never been platonic.
As Ethan and Amber grow closer, married life in London feels very far away. Then Amber receives a letter that changes everything:
'Before your mother died, she asked me to tell you something...' 

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Pages: 385

I knew I was in for a treat when a review copy of Paige Toon's new book popped through my letterbox. The Sun in Her Eyes (fab title) is a perfect summer read. Obviously I'm glad that I've read it but I would say that this book would be the perfect holiday read as it has a little bit of everything.
Amber's mother was killed in a car crash when Amber was just three. She was in the car at the time but has no memory of it and no real memories of her mother. Nearly thirty years after the accident, a lady who was first on the scene is trying to locate Amber  as she promised her dying mother that she would pass on her message.
Amber has moved continent since then though, she left Australia for London where she is happily married to Ned. However, Amber's father has a stroke so she flies across to the other side of the world to be with him. Whilst back home she catches up with her childhood friends, including Ethan who she once loved. Amber and Ethan spend a lot of time together and she begins to question her marriage to Ned. If Ethan had returned her feelings years ago then would she even have met her loving husband? As Amber battles with her emotions and cares for her father; the lady from the accident is trying to find her, maybe their paths will cross now she is back at her family home.
Paige Toon has written such a good story, she carefully entwines the different elements together to make a book that you won't want to put down. I had so many questions throughout; what would happen with Amber and Ethan; does Amber still love Ned; what were her mother's final words?
I liked Amber, she is no way perfect but I did feel for her when she was torn between Ned and Ethan. It was interesting to think about the people you may have had feelings for as a teenager, how do those feelings translate when you are older? Is the memory actually better than the reality?
The Sun in Her Eyes is a marvellous book, perfect for those summer days we are having.

Many thanks to Simon & Schuster for sending me a review copy.

BLOG TOUR: Why did I decide to set this part of the narrative here?’ by Rachel Hore

I am pleased to host Rachel Hore on the latest stop of her blog tour today. Her latest book A Week In Paris is out now, here's the blurb and my review will be coming soon! 

The streets of Paris hide a dark past…
September, 1937. Kitty Travers enrols at the Conservatoire on the banks of the Seine to pursue her dream of becoming a concert pianist. But then war breaks out and the city of light falls into shadow.Nearly twenty-five years later, Fay Knox, a talented young violinist, visits Paris on tour with her orchestra. She barely knows the city, so why does it feel so familiar? Soon touches of memory become something stronger, and she realises her connection with these streets runs deeper than she ever expected.As Fay traces the past, with only an address in an old rucksack to help her, she discovers dark secrets hidden years ago, secrets that cause her to question who she is and where she belongs…
A compelling story of war, secrets, family and enduring love.

Sounds good doesn't it? Below is a piece written by Rachel Hore discussing her choice of setting:

 After Kitty and Gene returned from their honeymoon in the south of France early in 1938, they moved into an apartment on the sixth floor of a residential block in St Germain in the 6^th Arrondisement, on the left bank of the Seine.  Their street, Rue des Palmes des Martyrs, you will not find on any real map, but I imagined it as a typical quiet sidestreet of the neighbourhood, a mixture of apartments and local shops, a street that gets the sun at certain times of day, where people greet neighbours and market stall-holders, but otherwise tend to keep themselves to themselves.  I liked the thought of the Knox family living high up, so that they could hear the whistling of the swallows diving for insects in the summer air, and look down behind the building to a tranquil courtyard with an old chestnut tree.  Around the corner was the little atelier where Eugene bought a beautiful walnut piano for his bride.

St Germain, like many parts of Paris, is full of peaceful little courtyards and squares that many visitors to the city never see. Being on the edge of the student quarter it has its Bohemian side, but mostly it’s very respectable.  Kitty and Gene decided to live there because they already knew the area and felt comfortable in it.  Their apartment was also conveniently near where M. Deschamps, Kitty’s teacher, lived and not far from Kitty’s friends at the Convent.  It was a bit more of a journey for her to attend the Conservatoire on the Right Bank, and Gene had to take the Métro out west to the American Hospital, but these things were manageable.

One of the main landmarks of the area remains the Romanesque tower of the church of St Germain-des-Prés, once part of a rural abbey.  It is the oldest church in Paris, founded in 558 AD and named after a bishop who was buried there.  Across the street is the café Les Deux Magots, famous as the favourite watering hole of the Existentialist philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre, feminist writer Simone de Beauvoir and their circle, but that was after Kitty and Gene’s time. It is now an over-priced tourist spot.

In the 19^th century, St Germain was an artists’ quarter.  Corot and Fantin-Latour both had studios in the Rue des Beaux Arts.  Around the corner from St Germain-des-Prés in the lovely leafy Place de Furstenberg, Delacroix lived and worked.  The Musée d’Orsay by the river that today houses some of their paintings was a mainline train station in Kitty and Gene’s day.

There are several small pretty parks in this area. In any of them I can imagine Kitty and little Fay meeting Lili and her charge Joséphine.  They might have also visited the spacious Luxembourg Gardens down the road, of which Victor Hugo once said, ‘Whoever is there breathes happiness.’

Many thanks to Rachel Hore for writing this piece and to Hayley at Simon & Schuster for organising the tour. Check out the tour information on the side to see where to go next.