#Review of City Girls Forever by Patricia Scanlan @patriciascanl18 #BATC @BookMinxSJV #CityGirlsForever

City Girls Forever
By Patricia Scanlan

Patricia Scanlan’s City Girls Forever is unputdownable as it reels you into relationships, friendships and life’s ups and downs, including the grittiness of it.
City Girls Forever is a perfect warm, compelling read.

Find out more below in the blurb and my review.

Blurb

The City Girls are back! And as City Girl, Devlin Delaney’s iconic gym and spa, prepares to mark a big anniversary, Devlin and her best friends Caroline and Maggie are looking forward to a fabulous party where they can all put their problems behind them and celebrate. Devlin’s past has returned to haunt her, with a shocking revelation. But she’s strong and her beloved Luke has her back.  Caroline is facing up to issues she’s long suppressed, with the help of a man who’s becoming more than a friend. Will happiness finally be hers? Maggie’s family is driving her mad. Her ex, Terry, and their daughter don’t get on, and she’s made an alarming discovery about her elderly mother’s financial affairs. She wants to run far, away. Sparks are going to fly, and some people are going to get a lot more than they bargained for!  

Once a City Girl, a City Girl Forever. Nothing will stop their celebration . . . or will it?

Review

City Girls Forever has some rather good humour from the first chapter, that is until the truth of why an otherwise sad occasion is happening, it confronts you, slam, as you almost hit the breaks, but also want to go onwards, even if in a little bit of shock by what has occurred. By this time, the city girls have already hooked you in and you know you’re in for a great read!

The characters are people who you really get to know and get engrossed in their lives. Devlin’s life is complex and brings up some important issues around relationships.

There’s Maggie, a mom/mum to Shona. Shona is supposed to be getting married and you get easily engrossed in their relationship and the stresses the big occasion is bringing to it.

Caroline is someone you can’t help but cheer on. She has supressed her issues and you just want life to start working out for her for the better.

There are relevant, pertinent issues that are addressed, some which readers may empathise with or find relatable. It makes it all fascinating to follow in that its all rather well observed and well conveyed.

City Girls Forever is an immersive read, with some gripping grittiness and comfort that wraps around you like a hug, with absorbing characters and plot.

* Buy Links

Waterstones Blackwells WH Smith Amazon

*please note that I am not affiliated to any company or person. I am merely sharing some potentially useful links.

#Review By Lou of Little Women By Louisa May Alcott Adapted by Anne-Marie Casey Directed By Loveday Ingram #LittleWomen #TheatrePlay #Theatre #TouringTheatre

Little Women

By Louisa May Alcott
Adapted by Anne-Marie Casey
Directed by Loveday Ingram

Review written by Louise Cannon – Bookmarks and Stages

Little Women, an all time classic has been brought magnificently to life.
Little Women is memorable and exceeded expectations!
I read all the books as a child from my mum’s old version of them. This play brought it all back and I highly recommend it. This production is noteworthy and worth being enthused about. I saw this at the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh. I left the theatre knowing I’d just witnessed something great on stage. Find out more details, including my review and the rest of the tour below… Thank you for touring!

Cast

Belinda Lang as Aunt March
Honeysuckle Weeks as Abigail “Marmee” March
Jack Ashton as John Brooke/Professor Bhaer
Grace Molony as Jo March
Jade Kennedy as Meg March
Catherine Chalk as Beth March
Imogen Elliott as Amy
Cillian Lenaghan as Theodore “Laurie” Lawrence

Belinda Lang (2point4 Children, Sister Boniface Mysteries), Honeysuckle Weeks (Foyles War, Calendar Girls the Musical), Jack Ashton (Call the Midwife, The Archers) and Grace Molony (Country Girls, The Great). With Cillian Lenaghan (The Woman in the Wall); Jade Kennedy (Rebus: A Game Called Malice); Catherine Chalk (Hilma) and Imogen Elliott (Grantchester).

Review

Little Women opens with Christmas as the March family gathers. There’s much fun to be had amongst harder times as the American civil war rumbles on. Despite it all, there are snow ball fights and dances, showing how life goes on. There’s so much energy on the stage that oozes out into the audience, leaving you want to have fun in the snow too.

There’s a fair amount of wit to be had as these strong-minded little women try to find their place in the world, have aspirations and retain their individuality as they come of age. All of the March girls are played by a strong, talented young cast who exceeded expectations!

The play is clever and seamless in how it portrays the passing of time as the little women grow, aided by timely music interludes.

Belinda Lang’s portrayal of Aunt March is rather special. She’s given her a posh New Orlean’s accent, which really works, showing another slant other than just beautiful clothes of her wealthy background. It truly is noteworthy and worthy to be enthused about in her lively performance. It feels like she’s brought all of Aunt March’s experiences from her past and present together, giving a great understanding of the woman and truly see a rounded, complex character. It may not be the biggest part, but what Belinda Lang has done is made it memorable for all the right reasons. Belinda Lang is incredibly talented.

Honeysuckle Weeks was perfect as Marmee, bringing wisdom and strength of character, as she brings up her 4 daughters whom all have their own personalities. She also shown the sadness of her husband being at war, which was beautifully done. The way she switches from what she wants her daughters to see to depicting her inner feelings that come pouring out in private is sublime!

Jack Ashton plays the love interests of Meg and Jo, which is fascinating to watch as John Brooke and Professor Bhaer are very different people, personality wise. He was, however convincing as both as separated the two very well, showing his broad skill.

Grace Moloney’s portrayal of Jo March is sublime with the determination and desires of being a tom boy and very definite ideas. She brings that sense of almost rebelliousness to the fore.

This is a very strong and impressive cast that I’ll be waxing lyrical about for a long time to come. Everyone seems to have grasped who their characters are and played them perfectly on stage. It’s a fantastically memorable adaptation that I urge you all to go to. It truly doesn’t disappoint!

See where it’s touring to here. I highly recommend you get your ticket whilst you still can:

Dates for Little Women (Play) tour

Tue, 8th April 2025 to Sat, 12th April 2025
The Lowry, Salford

Tue, 15th April 2025 to Sat, 19th April 2025
Malvern Theatres, Malvern»

Tue, 22nd April 2025 to Sat, 26th April 2025
Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne»

Tue, 29th April 2025 to Sat, 3rd May 2025
New Theatre, Cardiff»

Tue, 6th May 2025 to Sat, 10th May 2025
Sheffield Theatres, Sheffield»

Tue, 13th May 2025 to Sat, 17th May 2025
His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen»

Tue, 20th May 2025 to Sat, 24th May 2025
Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Birmingham»

Tue, 3rd June 2025 to Sat, 7th June 2025
Richmond Theatre, Outer London»

Tue, 10th June 2025 to Sat, 14th June 2025
Grand Theatre and Opera House, Leeds»

Tue, 17th June 2025 to Sat, 21st June 2025
Theatre Royal Plymouth, Plymouth»

Tue, 30th September 2025 to Sat, 4th October 2025
Darlington Hippodrome (formerly Civic Theatre), Darlington»

Tue, 28th October 2025 to Sat, 1st November 2025
Theatre Royal, Bath»

Synopsis

Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women was an immediate critical and commercial success. The book was inspired by Alcott’s experiences growing up and is one of the best loved novels of all time.

Experience the enduring journey of the March sisters – tomboy Jo, beautiful Meg, sensitive Beth, and spoilt Amy, as they navigate the challenges of the Civil War era, forging unbreakable bonds of love and family. Step into the world of sisterhood, courage, ambition and follow them as they progress into womanhood.

Still as relevant today Little Women is a celebration of women proving that women can be heroes of their own story, can be bold, persistent, self-assured to stand strong in who they are, and what they desire for themselves in their present and future.

Anne-Marie Casey’s masterful new adaptation of the classic story offers a captivating rendition of Little Women that breathes new life into a cherished classic.

The recent success of the Greta Gerwig film, the nostalgia of the classic book, combined with a beautiful adaptation provides an exciting theatrical experience guaranteed to be a night (or afternoon!) filled with laughter, tears, and a heart-warming lifting of the spirits.

#Review by Lou of The Seven O’Clock Club by Amelia Ireland #AmeliaIreland #bwpublishing #bonnierbooks_uk @KellyALacey @LoveBooksTours #LBTCrew #BookTwitter

The Seven O’Clock Club
By Amelia Ireland

Review written by Louise Cannon (Lou)

The Seven O’Clock Club, the book that can’t be neatly put into a box. It is as fast paced as a thriller, but it isn’t a thriller. It also has a bit of romance, it also deals with the human condition and society/community. The Seven O’Clock Club has something for everyone within it.

Today, I am on the Love Books Tour blog tour of this beautifully written book. Discover the blurb and my review below…

Blurb

At seven o’clock one Tuesday evening, in a perfectly ordinary tower block near Westminster, four strangers meet for the first time. They each have three things in common: all suffered a traumatic experience six months earlier; all exhibit a dogged inability to put it behind them; and all accepted an invitation to attend tonight’s counselling session with the unconventional Genevieve – a determined woman with an unusual theory to test.

But this isn’t a novel about psychotherapy or self-forgiveness. Because there is another reason these four people have been brought together. And when that perfectly ordinary tower block near Westminster turns out to be not quite so ordinary, all five are forced to make some unexpected – and, for some, impossible – decisions . . .

A novel about friendship, strength and love, The Seven O’Clock Club is a reminder that life can give you hope. Even in the darkest of spaces.

Review

The Seven O’Clock book is brilliantly compelling, if not what I was expecting from the cover. This is a good thing. It is about community, but not exactly the cosy community that you might expect, nor the type of club you may have become accustomed to. This explores the inner sanctum of a club where people have come together with their issues, especially grief and together as part of a therapy group.
In some ways, it reminds me of a series called “In Treatment”, although that was with individuals in each episode. In this book, each chapter does concentrate on the individuals, so you follow their lives, their progress, in and out of the confines of therapy and the relationships they form, but also within the group, so you see how they relate and communicate to each other.

The pacing, as mentioned before, is as sharp and fast as any thriller and with, at times, similar intensity, without it being a thriller. It gives chance to see people’s lives within the club in such a compelling manner. It’s pretty hard to let go of, once you’ve started it. There are characters who feel like society has been well-observed whilst creating them, are ones you can really get stuck into and want to know more about as well as the inner workings of this different style of club.

The Seven O’Clock Club is a book I highly recommend, especially if you’re looking for something different to be absorbed into.

#Review by Lou of No Precious Truth By Chris Nickson #ChrisNickson @severnhouseimprint @RandomTTours #CrimeBook #NewSeries #NoPreciousTruth #HistoricalCrimeSeries

No Precious Truth
By Chris Nickson

For a crime book set in Leeds, look no further than Chris Nickson. I’ve had the pleasure to review a few of his books now and they’re so captivating that you want to read more and there are plenty to choose from…
No Precious Truth is the start of a whole new series for Chris Nickson, where history and thriller weave in and out together and merge.

Blurb

Leeds, 1941. As the war rages across Europe, Police Sergeant Cathy Marsden’s life since she was seconded to the Special Investigation Branch has remained focused on deserters and home-front crimes. Until now.

Things take a chilling turn when Cathy’s civil servant brother, Dan arrives from London with a dark secret: he is working for the XX Committee – a special MI5 unit set up to turn German spies into double agents. But one of these agents has escaped and is heading for Leeds, sent to destroy targets key to the war effort. Suddenly Cathy and the squad are plunged into an unfamiliar world of espionage and subterfuge.

With the fate of the country and the war in the balance, failure is not an option, and Cathy must risk everything, including her own life, to stop a spy.

Review

Immersion into wartime Leeds is easily done with this book. Chris Nickson captures the mood and the social and political landscape well. Readers, through this book, walk side by side with the main protagonist, Cathy Marsden. There’s understandably fear in the air and around every corner, especially on the clearest nights, in case the Luftwaffe fly over and take perfect aim. There’s fear of the male family members being the next casualty or worse, death!
The sense of fear that must have been felt in such uncertain times is captured enough that it can be felt.

Cathy Marsden, in the midst of the war, has been seconded to Special Investigation Branch. Her brother in the meantime is trying to capture a German spy, believed to do untold damage to essential factories.

History and Thriller are merged rather well to make an exellent start to a new compelling series.

#Review by Lou of Bibi Saves the Ocean @judithewa_author @LoveBooksTours #LBTTour #LBTKids #ChildrensBook #PictureBook #Ocean #BibiSavesTheOcean

Bibi Saves the Ocean
By Judith Ewa

Review by Louise Cannon

Saving the ocean is a hot topic and here it is packaged into an entertaining picture book story, just in time for the sunnier, better weather is on the horizon.
Find out more in the blurb and then my review below.

Blurb

Clever, resourceful, and bighearted! When this little girl discovers nature has taken a beating, can she use her head to rescue the day?

Bibi loves the beautiful world. Hitting the beach with her two best friends, the joyful nine-year-old can’t wait to have fun in the sun, surf, and sand. But she’s shocked when the pristine playground she was expecting is covered in garbage.

Determined to solve the mystery, the conscientious child discovers the recycling area is hidden, the no-littering signs are faded, and the trash bins are neglected. But with a job so big, she fears rolling up her sleeves and getting her hands dirty won’t be enough to set things right.

Can Bibi recruit her community to jump in and turn the dump into a paradise?

Bibi Saves the Ocean is the heartwarming second book in the Preserve the Planet Series of children’s picture books. If you or your young reader like protecting the environment, working together for the good of all, and discussing the power of caring for the Earth, then you’ll love Judith A. Ewa’s illustrated tale of hope.

Buy Bibi Saves the Ocean to be part of the solution today!

Review

Bibi is just a normal child. She loves hanging out with her friends. On this occasion their chosen destination is the beach and they have a fun-filled day planned. What she hadn’t banked on is that their day will be ruined by other people’s rubbish scattered across what should have been a pristine beach of golden sands and blue sea. Bibi and her friends go on an adventure around to see what needs improvement and discover how to get the community involved in cleaning it up, so it can be a beach people can use responsibly again.

Bibi Saves the Ocean is poignant and relevant. It’s as emotional as it is fun with a good plot line. The author manages to get the point across about the ocean and beaches needing to be clean and recycling your litter without it being overly preachy, which is clever. The illustrations are punchy and fun as well, that get across the story, well. The book also shows team work and what can be achieved when we work together for a cause and how much fun can be had on a beach when it’s clean.

It sits well with similar books that are about the environment and taking manageable action, being aware of the environment and aware of our own actions.

About the Author

Judith A. Ewa is the award-winning author of the new children’s book Bibi Saves the Ocean. Her international career as a finance professional, currently working in the area of climate change, has spanned the areas of humanitarian assistance, sustainable development and peacekeeping. The focus of her career has been on improving the lives of children around the world, especially in developing countries. Her latest work is the second book in the Preserve the Planet Series. Through her books she aims to bring awareness to children about the importance of preserving the environment. Each book also offers a simple solution that children can actively carry out to bring about small changes today, to make a big difference tomorrow. Judith holds an MBA from the University of Leicester. She enjoys listening to jazz, is an avid football and tennis fan who currently resides in Switzerland. Find out more about Judith at www.judithaewa.com

#Review by Lou of By Your Side By Ruth Jones #RuthJones @TransworldBooks #RosieAinsworth @PenguinRandom

By Your Side
By Ruth Jones

Review by Louise Cannon (Lou)

I am absolutely delighted to be able to review By Your Side by Ruth Jones, having enjoyed her previous books and tv work, thanks to Rosie at Transworld, Penguin Random House. The writing and creativity of Ruth Jones is divine! Readers are in for a treat of a rich, heart-warming, witty, emotional page-turning read with a rather unusual reason attached to travel to a remote Scottish island…
Check out the blurb and review below…

Blurb

DON’T MISS THE NEW NOVEL FROM THE BAFTA-WINNING CO-WRITER OF GAVIN & STACEY.

‘Ruth Jones writes with such warmth you can’t help but fall in love with the characters she creates.’ JAMES CORDEN

The joyful and life-affirming new novel from the co-creator of Gavin and Stacey and the Richard and Judy Book Club author of Love Untold.

Linda and Levi will never meet. But they’re going to change each other’s lives.

In her role at the council’s Unclaimed Heirs Unit, Linda Standish investigates the lives of those who’ve died alone and tracks down any living relatives. She’s been a friend to the friendless for the past thirty-three years. And now she’s looking forward to an early retirement.

But before she hangs up her lanyard, Linda takes on one last case – that of Levi Norman – a Welshman who made his home on a remote Scottish island for the past five years.

What brought Levi here? And who did he leave behind? Obliged to travel (by hearse) with her arch nemesis Fergus Murray, and helped (and hindered) by local residents, Linda searches for clues to a life now lost. And in the process unexpectedly makes new friends, and discovers things about herself she never knew.

Bursting with all the heart and humour that has made Ruth’s name as a screenwriter and author, By Your Side is about finding joy in the most unlikely connections, and the importance of holding onto friendship, love and community – especially when life gets messy.

Review

The Unclaimed Heirs Unit is a fascinating place. Imagine working there trying to piece together people’s belongings and unite them with their new owners. Linda Standish did that, and now, on the cusp of retirement, she takes on one final case. One which takes her to a Scottish island.

By Your Side draws you in with a little humour and a fantastic beginning and that’s it, the hook that doesn’t let go until the end, and even then, not completely, is there, compelling you to read on until the end.

Living in Scotland, myself and travelled around the country a bit, I can say she’s certainly done her research or used experiences well. I am impressed she has chosen, to mention Crainlarich, Perth and more… It’ll feel like a real adventure and road-trip for readers, especially those who have perhaps not heard of these places before. It’s also nice to see them get a mention with that feeling of familiarity for those who have heard of them or, like me, travelled to or through them.

By Your Side is exceedingly heart-warmingly emotional and highlights what is quite an unusual job, showing much care and attention so the deceased are not alone.

Ruth Jones brings together community, travel and discovery together that’s so absorbing that you forget the time as you’re drawn deeply into the plot and characters.

Linda is a fabulous written character who you really get to know, from her love pf chocolate, her kindness and pet hates.

Ruth Jones writes in quite an evocative way that makes you care about why Levi was on such a remote island and makes you want to know more about whether an heir will be found. The people you meet along the way are either enlightening, enriching or intriguing, humorous or a whole mixture.

Cleverly written, By Your Side has the contrast of the actual journey taken to the island with that of the life journey Linda Standish finds herself on. In turn it sends readers on quite the journey themselves throughout what quickly becomes a page-turner of a read.

By Your Side by Ruth Jones is a book I highly recommend isn’t just by your side, but in your hand as you settle down with a cuppa and allow the warmth and humour to ooze out of the pages into your very being.
By Your Side is a book you could pick up and read time and time again.

Buy Links

Waterstones Blackwells WH Smith

Bookshop.org Foyles Amazon

*Please note I am not affiliated to any of the companies or any person mentioned.