Books I was Reading in 2019

In January we spent some more time at our son's place helping with some painting. It was hot. My son had a sore back. My grand kids were sick and I had sore eyes. Went back to work 2nd January.

Did a lot of reading in January and February.

Truths and Triumphs of Grace Atherton by Anstey Harris

Grace Atherton has a violin shop and a workshop where she makes and repairs violins and cellos. When Grace is alone, she plays beautiful music on her cello, but is afraid of playing for an audience.

 Nadia also loves music and playing her violin. Nadia helps Grace in the violin shop and in her spare time she is writing symphony.

Grace is restoring a precious violin for Mr Williams. Mr Williams is elderly and lonely and likes to spend time with Grace talking about music and his life.

Three lonely people brought together by their love of music. This was a feel good story about families and relationships.

The Shadow Hour by Kate Riordan

loved this book. It was set in Cheltenham in Fenix House in 1878 and 1922.

Grace goes to Fenix House to work as a governess for Lucas Pembridge. In 1878 her grandmother Harriet also worked as a governess in the same house for the Pembridge family.

This book was full of secrets and tension. It was about families and relationships.

We spent a lot of time with family in January and February. Did work around the house and had a few days away in February. 

The Woman in the Green Dress by Tea Cooper

An Australian historical fiction set mostly 1853 in Sydney and the Hawkesbury River area. Della lives at Mogo Creek, Hawkesbury, NSW and works as a taxidermist with the help of Charity who is a servant. When the specimens are ready, Della sends them to her Aunt Cordelia to sell in the family taxidermy shop called Curio Shop of Wonders in Hunter Street, Sydney.

The novel starts in London in 1918 at the end of the First World War. Fleur’s life is in turmoil as she embarks on a ship bound for Australia to sort out an inheritance.

Fleur arrives in Sydney early in 1919 and discovers she is the owner an old building that was once the Curio Shop of Wonders. In the old building Fleur uncovers ledgers, documents, maps, manuscripts and other items. As she sorts through the contents in the cellar, she gradually discovers connections to her husband’s family who lived in Australia in the 1850’s.

I liked the way the novel switches between the 1850’s and 1919 and gradually unravels and reveals the history of the Curio Shop of Wonders in Hunter Street, Sydney and the secrets hidden in its walls.

I loved it.

Watching You by Lisa Jewel

Castle On the Rise Kristy Cambron

This was a romance set in Ireland over three time periods. In the present day, Laine Forrester and her daughter attend the wedding of Ellie and Quinn. When Quinn’s brother Cormac turns up Laine is attracted to him.

In 1915 and 1916 in Dublin, Issy gets caught up in a revolution and uses her camera to take snapshots of key people and events of the Irish revolution, all the while trying to help and protect her friends and family while her life is in danger.

Back in 1797 Maeve Ashford falls in love and is also involved with the Irish rebellion.

Throughout the novel is the backdrop of an old ruined castle and Ashford Manor and the mystery of a missing piano.

I loved the way the novel was woven around the three different time periods – 1790’s and mostly 1916 and the present time. Two different Irish rebellions and two strong women putting their life in danger to protect their families, friends and neighbors.

The backdrop of the ruined castle Chryn and the story of the people who once lived there kept me reading.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Forgotten Secret by Kathleen McGurt

Set mostly in Ireland in 2016 and in 1919. Clare inherits a house that was once Clonamurty Farm in County Meath in Ireland from her Uncle.

Clare falls in love with the old house but her husband, Paul wants to sell it. Clare wins and moves in. Clare finds an old comfy arm chair that she remembers her grandmother always sitting in. When Clare decides to reupholster the armchair, she finds a small mysterious bundle hidden in the lining of the chair that was dated back to a time before her grandmother lived in the house.

The book keeps flashing back to Ellen in 1919 who starts working at Carlton House. Ellen’s friend Jimmy lives at Clonamurty Farm, but Jimmy joins up as a volunteer to fight for Irish Independence.

This story switches back and forward between 2016 and 1919 and is about the fight for Irish Independence and about strong women and their struggle to overcome adversary. I loved the history and the way Clare discovers the story about the mysterious bundle she finds.

In March we had four weeks holiday, we drove to Mt Kosciuszko and did lots of walking, looked at some caves and lots of old towns. Later in March we went to South Queensland and looked at a lot of old houses.

So Much history. So many old houses and buildings. I love looking at old houses and I love reading books about old houses and the people who lived in them.

The Scholar by Dervla McTiernan

This is a crime thriller. Set in Ireland mostly in 2014. Detective Cormac Reilly is called to the scene of a hit and run late one evening near Galway University by his partner Emma Sweeney.

The young woman who was killed had a security card with Carline Darcy’s name, but Carline was alive and well.

Carline was working on a research paper and had access to research facilities where Emma worked.

Carline’s grandfather sponsored the University Research facilities.

As Cormac starts to investigate, he soon discovers conflict between the detectives where he works and doubt over Emma’s involvement. 

The investigation centres around finding out who the young woman is and why she had Carline’s security card.

What She Saw by Sheila Low

A woman wakes up on a train and has no memory. She does not know her name or where she lives but she knows she is afraid, especially of the police. She gets off the train and walks in a daze trying to remember a landmark or something familiar. A man speaks to her and knows her name. He lets her into her apartment building. Flashes of memory and confusion with what she finds in her apartment make her afraid. Very afraid.

I loved the twists and turns in this story. It was fast paced full of action and about identity, memory loss and family relationships.

Proof of Life by Sheila Low

Jessica Mack survives a car accident where her son is killed. For years she suffers from memory loss, blackouts and the constant background whispers from the spirit world.

Jessica works as an artist creating miniature works of art – garden scenes, tea parties, animals and shadow boxes losing herself in the creations.

After five years the spirits become more insistent and demanding to be heard. From information in her graphic dreams Jessica gives information to her detective friend Zach that helps solve a murder.

I loved the way the characters interact and how Jessica is helped to understand her psychic abilities by friends. This story is about friends, family relationships, grief and communicating with spirits.

The Labyrinth of the Spirits by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Set in Barcelona and Madrid 1959 - 1990's. 800 pages. Lots of torture and kidnapping.

The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan

This was a love story about new beginnings, friendships and lost love. Anthony Peardow is an author who has spent many years collecting lost items hoping to return them to their owner. His housekeeper Laura inherits his house and is given the task of finding the owners of the lost items.

Meanwhile Eunice who works for a publisher finds a lost item and uses it as a lucky charm.

I loved the way the stories of the charactere evolved and how the stories of the lost items were woven around the characters.

Petra's Ghost by C.S. O'Cinneide

Daniel is in Spain walking the Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage of 500 miles. Daniel is Irish and has been living in New jersey for many years. He intends to go back to Ireland and help his father on the family farm after walking the Camino and spreading Petra’s ashes along the trail.

Daniel and his wife Petra had always wanted to walk the Camino together but as he walks alone on the Camino, he finds it hard to find the perfect spot to spread Petra’s ashes. As he procrastinates his decision a young woman called Ginny befriends him and they walk together sharing their life stories.

As the days go by Daniel discovers they are being stalked by ghostly spirits.

Throughout this story there are descriptions of scenery, churches, towns, their accommodation and the different characters they meet along the trail. But all the while Daniel and Ginny struggle with their past and the ghostly spirits that follow them.

This was a good ghost story and I loved the way the Camino trail was described with snippets of historical and religious information.