✿ The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant ✿ Kayte Nunn ✿

A cache of unsent love letters from the 1950s is found in a suitcase on a remote island in this mysterious love story by top ten bestselling author, Kayte Nunn

1951. Esther Durrant, a young mother, is committed to an isolated mental asylum by her husband. Run by a pioneering psychiatrist, the hospital is at first Esther's prison but soon becomes her refuge.

2017. Free-spirited marine scientist Rachel Parker embarks on a research posting in the Isles of Scilly, off the Cornish coast. When a violent storm forces her to take shelter on a far-flung island, she discovers a collection of hidden love letters. Captivated by their passion and tenderness, Rachel determines to track down the intended recipient.

Meanwhile, in London, Eve is helping her grandmother, a renowned mountaineer, write her memoirs. When she is contacted by Rachel, it sets in motion a chain of events that threatens to reveal secrets kept buried for more than sixty years.

The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant is a deeply atmospheric, resonant novel that charts the heart's wild places, choices and consequences.

ARC received from Hachette Australia for an honest review

Cold and flu season has hit us here in Australia, and since I was suffering from the worst. cold. ever (you know, a dose of man flu) this weekend, I tucked myself under my blankie on my couch and devoured The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant.

This beautiful of Esther's lost love is told in dual time periods, and through 3 POV's - although I didn't feel that the 3rd POV, Eve, added to the story, and it could have all be told in Esther and Rachel's POVs.

I love how, even though decades separated them in age, there were some similarities in their lives, their adventurous spirits.

It was also  an interesting look at the way mental illness was treated back in the 1950s, and how far head of the time the doctor here was.

It is a little bit predictable, and there are no surprises to how this story is going to end, however the journey that is taken is one that you want to go on with them.

Perfect for a weekend read with a hot cuppa, this was beautifully written, and will satisfy all romantics.

 

Kayte Nunn is a former book and magazine editor, and the author of two contemporary novels, Rose's Vintage and Angel's Share.  The Botanist's Daughter was Kayte's first novel of transporting historical fiction, followed by The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant, set largely in the atmospheric Isles of Scilly.

If you would like to see the wonderful images inspired by the book, Kayte's Pinterest page is at pinterest.com.au/kaytenunn/the-forgotten-letters-of-esther-durrant , or you can find her at kaytenunn.com

✪ Devil's Lair ✪ sarah Barrie ✪

Devil's Lair

Sarah Barrie

Published 17th June 2019

Imprint: HQ Fiction

ISBN: 9781489255297

A lonely widow, a sinister act, a remote mansion with a dark past...
 
After the violent death of her husband, Callie Jones retreats to a cottage in the grounds of an old mansion in Tasmania. The relative remoteness of the place and the wild beauty of the Tasmanian landscape are a balm to her shattered nerves and the locals seem friendly, particularly horseman Connor Atherton and his siblings at the nearby property, Calico Lodge.

But all is not well: the old mansion has a sinister past, one associated with witchcraft and murder. As Callie is threatened by odd events in the night and strange dreams overtake her sleep, she begins to doubt her own sanity. What's really going on beneath the surface of this apparently peaceful town? Are her friends and neighbours really who they seem? As events escalate, Callie starts to realise that the mansion may hold the key to unlocking the mystery, but the truth might have as much power to destroy as it does to save.

ARC received from Harper Collins Australia for an honest review

This was my first Sarah Barrie read, so I wasn't sure what to expect, however I knew that the blurb intrigued me and I needed to read it.

What a dark, psychological story with touches of the gothic.

Callie's story is not a fun one, she has really been through the wringer yet come out the other side, ready to move on with her life.

Witches, monsters, all that she never believed were real have come out in force to mess with her mind.  And all the while, these monsters are humans.

There are so many characters written into this story, it could at times leave you scratching your head wondering huh?, however the story it sold with such pace you are never left wondering for long, as you are swept up in the next intrigue of the story.

There were some twists and turns, and I really did not know whodunnit until Ms Barrie really wanted us to know.  So many red herrings had me wondering if I knew anything!

I did have a couple of WTF moments as things were revealed - and that is a good thing.  Usually I have a pretty good idea of who did it or at least where the story would go, but this time I wasn't even in the same postcode!

I enjoyed this story, and look forward to reading more of her work in the future.

Sarah Barrie is a best selling Australian author writing suspense in rural settings. Her debut bestselling print novel, Secrets of Whitewater Cree, earned her a spot as one of the Top 10 breakthrough authors of 2014, and her next three books, the Hunters Ridge series, also reached bestseller status. When she's not writing, you'll find her ferrying children to soccer or gymnastics, or trudging through paddocks chasing cattle, sheet chickens or the Houdina pig that never stays put very long. Occasionally, she'll attempt to ride her favourite hors, who's quite a bit smarter than she is, and not always cooperative.

Her favourite place in the world is the family property, where she writes her stories overlooking mountains crisscrossed with farmland, bordered by the beauty of the Australian bush, and where, at the end of the day, she can spend time with family, friends, a good Irish whiskey and a copy of her next favourite book.

✪ TELL ME GOODNIGHT ✪ Kelsey Kingsley ✪

© ✰ Bianca ✰ 
    

• 24 May 2019
• A Widower-Single-Dad-Rock-Star-Romance☺
• Daisies & Devin Spin-Off #2
(about Devin's Keyboardist Jon!)
• standalone

★★★★★

 4.9 Stars

 

Tessa Lang has dreams of becoming the world's next great author of horror novels. So, when she's given the opportunity to write full-time, she sets out to do just that.

There's just one little problem.

She's not scary. At all.

It seems that her plans are ruined, until she meets heartbroken pianist, Jon O'Dell and his three little girls. Suddenly, she finds herself full of inspiration, and with the advice from her grandmother and best-selling novelist, M.L. Lang, Tessa decides to write what her heart wants - romance.

But as her novel moves steadily along, relationships start to develop, and Jon's heart begins to mend, Tessa finds herself facing another unexpected dilemma.

What happens when you fall in love with your muse?

Jon has always been struggling in his life as a piano player and song writer. He plays in his brother's bar every night to at least make a bit of money. He wanted to make it big in the music business, but it hasn't happened. Yet. His wife always believed in him though. She wanted him to keep on chasing his dream.
And now he's even more lost. His beloved wife died two years ago and he has to raise his three little daughters all by himself. His mom and his brother help, but it's still really hard. He's so lost in his grief that he doesn't know how he survives each day. But he has to - his girls need him.

Enter Tess.
She's a writer - who has kind of never written a book. But she really wants to. Has to. And now her grandmother has given her the chance to pursue that dream. She moved in with the old lady - to take care of her. Having to pay no rent and with a lot of time to write, Tessa should be over the moon happy. But she's not. She just can't find her muse.
But then she finds a little side job ... babysitting for Jon's girls.

Tess is fascinated by that beautiful but so very sad man!
He's the inspiration she needed to write her book. But he's so much more too.
And with every day Jon feels more for Tess too, but he just can't! At least he thinks he can't fall for her - it would be cheating. Right?
Plus Tess is afraid that once he finds out he's the muse behind her book - he will hate her!

What will happen to Tess & Jon & the girls?
Will we get our happily ever after?
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT! ☺

I just adore #RockstarRomances!

This was not really a rock star romance though. It's more of a ... hm. A second chance at life and love novel. How to start living again after you've lost half of your soul.
But of course it's not all über-sad and heartbreaking. We have beautiful music moments. Adorable little girl moments. And romantic and sweet Tess and Jon moments.
But the whole book is still this really emotional getting-over-your-grief book. And I loved it so much.
Which sounds stupid really. But it was so sweet and heartbreaking and ugh. I loved Jon and his girls and Tess!
And we got to see Devin & Sebastian again too!
I felt so like Tess in some scenes - the 90's fangirl. Only I'm not a fangirl - I'm old - I really witnessed that decade - and I loved it. The music. Jordan Catalano. All of it!☺

I just adored this book.
It's so beautifully written - so full of love and hope and family and ... yes, I'm saying it:
ALL THE FEELS! ☺

And the cover is soo pretty!!!!

TELL ME GOODNIGHT was such an adorable & heartbreaking love story. Just Beautiful.
Run to your nearest amazon for your own Jon - he'll be sold out in no time!

Tiny little thing I hated - which slightly connects to my mega hate of religion, because it's also so typical American. Home-schooling. No idea why I hate it so much, but it's so cult-ish and religious and weird to me. I just hate it. Even if it's not true, I kind of feel like all kids that have been homeschooled are either going to end up in a church/cult or in an episode of Criminal Minds! ☺ I would be ok with it for rock star purposes - when the star wants to take his family with him on tour - if they're gone all year - ok. But that's the only excuse.
Oh - while I was writing this another thing came to mind. One Direction.

How can a guy in his thirties even for one second think that One Direction is the best boyband ever??? That's just ridiculous. No guy in his thirties has ever heard of that band. Jon might know them because he has to play some songs by request at the bar, but still. There's so much more quality to choose from. Like 98° - guys who really have a voice for example. ☺

Jeez - while writing THIS, I thought of another thing. Jon is a little too old for my liking. He was married for over 10 years and I just can't imagine what his life with his wife was like before kids. I just can't see it. He should've been a few years younger - that would've made more sense.
BUT - I still really loved the book - even if it doesn't sound like it! LOL ☺

↓ LiNKS TO THE BOOK & AUTHOR ↓

Daisies & Devin

  

The Life we wanted

  

Holly Freakin' Hughes

  

When I was a wee lassie, I was told by my preschool teachers that I was a natural at storytelling. When I was just a little older than that, an old friend's mother said to me, "Kelsey, one day your books are going to be on the shelves at the library." 

Well, Diane, I don't know if my books are ever going to be on the shelves of libraries, but I'm sure as hell going to try. 

When I'm not writing stories destined to be bestsellers, I enjoy devouring TV shows, listening to every type of music there is and going to concerts, reading pretty much anything (with a soft spot for romance and certain books located in 18th century Scotland), obsessing over makeup, and pretending to workout. 

I also have a fondness for cats, my family, tattoos, and a really good French fry.