From the Book Elf

The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson  by Ellen Baker  The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson  was published on 10th April 2025 by Mariner Books/Harper 360. My thanks to the author and the publishers for sending me a review copy and to Random Things Tours for inviting me onto the Book Tour. Synopsis  “A family secret, a DNA test, a journey as rich and colorful as the early-day circus itself. Through Cecily Larson’s hidden life, Ellen Baker tenderly examines personal determination, lost love, family ties, and our innate need to discover our own truth.” — Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author In 1924, four-year-old Cecily Larson’s mother reluctantly drops her off at an orphanage in Chicago, promising to be back once she’s made enough money to support both Cecily and herself. But she never returns, and shortly after high-spirited Cecily turns seven, she is sold to a traveling circus to perform as the “little sister” to glamorous bareback rider Isabelle DuMonde....

Still Got It  by Claire Carver Still Got It by Claire Carver  was published by One More Chapter on 10th April 2025. My thanks to the author and the publisher for sending me a copy to review and to  Random Things Tours for inviting me to take part on the tour. Synopsis One beautiful Greek summer and a second chance at love. Grace Foreman never expected to find herself widowed before she turned sixty – but when she packs her bags for a summer on a gorgeous Greek island, the last thing on her mind is a holiday romance. Grace would rather take a chance on a tan … or maybe a new summer wardrobe… But then Grace meets ex Special Forces soldier Will Lancing – and although Grace isn’t looking for love, she soon finds out she’s still got it when it comes to playing the dating game… My Review Pack your suitcase with all those lovely beach clothes, either in reality or metaphorically, and place this lovely , escape from it all book on the top. Still Got It is one of those perf...

Eva Is Waiting  by Romola Farr  Eva Is Waiting by Romola Farr was published by Wildmoor Press. My thanks to the author and the publisher for sending me a copy to review and to Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me onto the tour. Synopsis Following the death of her mother, Lily is sent to a remote girls' boarding school, tearing her away from all the excitement of London in the Swingin’ Sixties. Bereft, she develops a relationship with Rainer, the husband of Sylvia, the headmistress. One day, Bella, the school Collie, goes missing whilst playing on the shore below sheer cliffs. Despite a rising tide, Lily is determined to find the beautiful dog and discovers her trapped between rocks in a cave. Deepening water swirls around them as her fingertips dig into the sand and touch the smooth surface of what she believes to be an animal skull. From that moment on, she is haunted by a young girl pleading for help. Lily speaks to her headmistress and learns that eleven years previous...

  Hunkeler's Secret  by Hansjorg Schneider Hunkeler's Secret by Hansjorg Schneider, translated by Astrid Freuler was published on 20th March 2025 by Bitter Lemon Press. My thanks to the publishers for sending me a copy to review  and to Random Things Tours for inviting me onto the tour. Synopsis Hunkeler is a legendary figure in German language crime fiction, often compared to Simenon, gruff, intuitive, endowed with a deep sense of psychology and a horror of social injustice. The city of Basel and neighbouring Alsace are evoked with great love by Schneider, who in real life lives on the same street and frequents the same bars and restaurants as Inspector Hunkeler. Hunkeler, now a retired inspector of the Basel police force, is hospitalized and sharing a room with Stephan Fankhauser, an old acquaintance terminally ill with cancer. One night, a groggy Hunkeler wakes up to see a young nurse with a ruby ring on her hand administering an injection to his friend. The fol...