Bamboo Heart: A Daughter’s Quest

From award-winning author Ann Bennett comes a captivating WW2 novel of love and survival - a daughter’s journey of discovery and a soldier’s strength in the bleakest of times.

When Laura Ellis, a successful city lawyer, arrives home to see her dying father Tom, a mysterious stranger is watching the house. This leads her to embark on a journey to discover their connection.

To do so, she has to retrace her father’s steps; to the Bridge on the River Kwai: where as a prisoner of war of the Japanese, Tom endured disease, torture and endless days of slavery; and to the beautiful island of Penang, to uncover his secrets from the 1930s.

For Tom made himself a promise: to return home. Not to the grey streets of London, where he once lived, but to Penang, where he found paradise and love.

As Laura searches for the truths Tom refused to tell her, in the places where he once suffered, lived and loved, she will finally find out the story behind his survival, and discover her own path to love and happiness..

This book has previously been published both as Bamboo Heart and as A Daughter's Quest. It won the won the award for fiction published in Asia, Asian Books Blog, 2015 and was shortlisted for "Best Fiction Title" in the Singapore Book Awards 2016.

Praise for A Daughter’s Quest.

'A powerful story brilliantly told. Five Stars.' Richard Kandler, author of The Prisoner List.

'This outstanding novel is a powerful reminder of what prisoners of the Japanese suffered...' Amazon reviewer.

 

Purchase Links 

https://books2read.com/u/mllPNW

 

Author Bio – Ann Bennett is a British author of historical fiction. Her first book, Bamboo Heart: A Daughter's Quest, was inspired by researching her father's experience as a prisoner of war on the Thai-Burma Railway and by her own journey to uncover his story. It won the Asian Books Blog prize for fiction published in Asia in 2015, and was shortlisted for the best fiction title in the Singapore Book Awards 2016. 

That initial inspiration led her to write more books about WWII in Southeast Asia - Bamboo Island: The Planter's Wife, A Daughter's Promise, Bamboo Road: The Homecoming, The Tea Planter's Club, The Amulet, and The Fortune Teller of Kathmandu. Along with The Lotus House, published in October 2024, they make up the Echoes of Empire Collection.

 

Ann is also the author of The Oriental Lake Collection - The Lake Pavilion and The Lake Palace, both set in British India during the 1930s and WWII, and The Lake Pagoda and The Lake Villa, set in French Indochina during the same period. A Rose in the Blitz – the first in the Sisters of War series and set in London during WWII, was published in March 2024.

The Lake Pagoda won a bronze medal for historical fiction in Asia in the Coffee Pot Book Club, Book of the Year awards 2022. The Fortune Teller of Kathmandu won a silver medal for dual-timeline historical fiction, and A Rose in the Blitz won bronze in the historical romance category in the Coffee Pot Book Club, Book of the Year awards 2024.

The Runaway Sisters, USA Today bestselling The Orphan House, The Child Without a Home and The Forgotten Children are set in Europe during the same era and are published by Bookouture. Her latest book, The Stolen Sisters, published on 29th November 2024 is the follow-up to The Orphan List (published by Bookouture in August this year) and is set in Poland and Germany during WWII.

A former lawyer, Ann is married with three grown up sons and a granddaughter and lives in Surrey, UK. For more details, please visit www.annbennettauthor.com

 

Social Media Links – 

 

Twitter: https://x.com/annbennett71

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annbennettauthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annbennettauthor/

 

Giveaway to Win a Paperback copy of The Lotus House by Ann Bennett (Open INT)

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An Adventurer’s Contract

 

A man on the hunt for a traitor. A woman in search of the truth.

Gabrielle Mercer is in trouble. Her cousin is missing, her father’s death looks like murder, and now there are rumours she is spying for the French. With no one to turn to, dare she accept help from a man she doesn’t like?

Jack Ashdown is on a mission to unmask a ruthless spy. Could it be the reclusive young Frenchwoman who has made no secret of her contempt for Englishmen like himself? Perhaps Gabrielle’s predicament will be the perfect opportunity to win her trust and do some spying of his own.

Getting close to one’s enemy is a dangerous option, but the stakes for Jack and Gabrielle are too high to ignore. Will their gamble to trust one another lead to disaster, or will they discover that neither of them is what they seem?

 

Review:

What a charming example of Regency romance. The author has a talent for immersive world building without dragging down the plot, which takes off with a literal bang. The book is so well-written that you can read at a rapid pace without missing a single detail. The strong writing keeps the book light, fun and entertaining from open to close. 

I loved the characters. Jack made for a delightful hero and Gabrielle is a woman laden by her social situation. There are enough details to help you feel connected to history without bogging down into complex issues that ruin the fun. I appreciated that the author made Gabrielle a believable woman of her day rather than time-traveling a modern woman back to the age of bodices. I loved the tension between the two characters and was grateful it was based on more than physical needs. So kudos to the author for throughly delighting me. I’ll be recommending this one for a long time to come. 

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/AnAdventurersContract

Author Bio – 

Penny Hampson writes mysteries, and because she has a passion for history, you’ll find her stories also reflect that. A Gentleman’s Promise, a traditional Regency romance, was Penny’s debut novel and the first of her Gentlemen Series. 

Penny lives with her family in Oxfordshire, and when she is not writing, she enjoys reading, walking, swimming, and the odd gin and tonic (not all at the same time).

Social Media Links – 

For more on Penny’s writing, visit her blog: https://pennyhampson.co.uk/category/blog/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/penny_hampson

Facebook: www.facebook.com/pennyhampsonauthor

Instagram: @pennyhampsonauthor/

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/pennyhampson.bsky.social

Penny’s books are all available on Amazon: viewauthor.at/Pennysbooks

Where the Light Is Hottest

Natasha Jones has everything - a successful acting career, an Oscar, a wonderful husband and beautiful kids. But what does she have to go through to get there? From humble beginnings in a small town, Natasha's path to stardom is paved with setbacks, heartaches and moments of doubt. 

In the glittering world of fame and fortune, where dreams are spun from starlight and ambition fuels the relentless pursuit of success, one woman's journey stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Beneath the facade of glamour lies a story of unwavering determination and unyielding courage. 

Where the Light is the Hottest is a gripping tale of ambition, perseverance and the enduring power of hope. Through Natasha's journey, we are reminded that the road to success is rarely smooth, but for those who dare to chase their dreams, the rewards are beyond measure.

 Review

This book was written by an actress and it shows  she has definite insider knowledge of the industry. I really enjoyed the character development as the main character grows from a fame-chaser to an artist, mother and business woman.  The main character is quite likable in her flaws. The story explores many of the common maladies of the industry without falling on the “Hollywood is evil” trope  

The style of the writing is very similar to a screenplay. There are sparse details as dialogue takes center stage. I enjoyed her style but it might frustrate those who enjoy deeper descriptions.  I find the sparse style to allow a flow of imagination  I’ve always been fascinated by the way actors take subtle directions and create complex performances  

Purchase Link - https://tinyurl.com/Where-The-Light-is-Hottest

Author Bio – Catherine Yardley is the author of Ember and Where The Light is Hottest. She’s also the editor-in-chief of Frost Magazine and a freelance writer who's featured in The Bookseller, Mslexia, Metro, Huffpost, Writing Magazine and Writers’ and Artists’ amongst others. She lives in London with her husband and children. 

Social Media Links – 

 

https://x.com/Balavage

@catherineby.bsky.social

https://www.instagram.com/frostmag

https://www.threads.net/@frostmag

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063463605581

https://www.tiktok.com/@balavage

Website: https://catherinebalavageyardley.com/

Murder at Merrivale Manor

 A cozy dinner party, a playful game… and a very real murder.

 

London, 1923

Kitty Goring seems to have it all—lavish nights at London’s finest clubs, elegant soirées, and a parade of charming bachelors vying for her hand. But despite the glamour, Kitty longs for something a little more… thrilling. 

In a bid for excitement (and to avoid her mother’s constant reminders that she really ought to be searching for a husband), Kitty dreams up the perfect diversion. A playful mock robbery at her family’s grand estate, Merivale Manor. It’s all meant to be fun—until one of the guests turns up very much dead.

With a real killer on the loose in quaint little Hampstead Village, Kitty’s keen instincts kick in. Forget matchmaking—Kitty’s determined to unmask the culprit before anyone else falls victim. With a sharp wit and a flair for mischief, she dives headfirst into the investigation. But getting to the truth won’t be easy, especially with the brooding Detective Inspector Henry Burton underestimating her at every turn.

Murder, mystery, and a dash of romance—Kitty’s got her hands full in this charming whodunit!

 

Murder at Merivale Manor is the delightful first book in the Kitty Goring Investigates historical cozy mystery series. 

Review:

This delightful mystery honors the enduring love of Agatha Christie with a story and cast of characters reminiscent of so many iconic works. The story may not be as dark as some of her more memorable works, but it has enough depth and character to delight lovers of cozy mysteries everywhere. The book is in first person, which is a modern update from the usual cozy mystery style. I enjoyed the change. I found it deepened the mystery to have such limited perspective. Kitty Goring is a strong protagonist. She has a good sense of humor, quick wit and depth enough to be a believable sleuth. I give this one a strong recommendation for anyone who loves Jessica Fletcher or Miss Marple mysteries. 

Author's note:

London in the 1920s is a glamorous and exciting city, but danger and death are never too far behind. Join Kitty Goring and her group of Bright Young Things in the adventure of a lifetime, as they race to catch a killer who lurks amongst them.
Each book in this series is a cozy period mystery that features our plucky heroine, aided in her investigations by a gang of eccentric and lovable characters.

Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/ZRrM

Author Bio – 

Ella Strike, cat lover and author of historical cozy mysteries, lives in London with her husband and twins. When she’s not penning murder mysteries or drinking copious amounts of Earl Grey, you can find her with her nose buried in a book or listening to true crime podcasts as she cooks.

Her stories are a mix of history, a dash of intrigue, and a whole lot of cozy, old-world charm.

 

Social Media Links – 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellastrikeauthor/

The Secretary

 Moscow, 1958. At the height of the Cold War, MI6 secretary Lois Vale is on a deep cover mission to identify a diplomatic traitor. She can trust only one man: Johann, a German journalist also working covertly for the British secret service. As the trail leads to Vienna and the Black Sea, Lois and Johann begin an affair but as love grows, so does the danger to Lois.

A tense Cold War spy story told from the perspective of a bright young working class woman recruited to MI6 at a time when men were in charge of making history and women were expendable.

Authentic and historical details are provided by the 1958 diary kept in Moscow by the author’s own mother, who worked for British intelligence. 

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secretary-Deborah-Lawrenson/dp/1835741436

https://www.amazon.com/Secretary-Deborah-Lawrenson/dp/1835741436

https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-secretary/deborah-lawrenson/9781835741436

https://www.bookguild.co.uk/bookshop/historical/the-secretary/

Author Bio – 

Deborah Lawrenson spent her childhood moving around the world with diplomatic service parents, from Kuwait to China, Belgium, Luxembourg and Singapore. She read English at Cambridge University and worked as a journalist in London. She has written eight novels and her writing is praised for its vivid sense of place. The Art of Falling was a WHSmith Fresh Talent pick in 2005. The Lantern was published to critical acclaim in the USA, chosen for the Channel4 TV Book Club in the UK and shortlisted for Romantic Novel of the Year 2012. Her novel 300 Days of Sun, set in Portugal, was selected as a Great Group Read for the WNBA National Reading Group Month in October 2016 in the USA. Her novels have been translated into twelve languages.

Social Media Links – 

Facebook:    https://www.facebook.com/DeborahLawrensonAuthor

Twitter:   https://x.com/deb_lawrenson

Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/deborah.lawrenson/

Website: https://www.deborah-lawrenson.co.uk/

A Fresh Start on the Bridle Path

A missed path. A lost love. And a second chance to get it right.

James Charlton may be second-in-command at his father’s lucrative business, but, according to his parents, he’s just not ‘posh’ enough for the kind of woman they expect him to marry. When they decide he would be perfect for the horse-mad daughter of a local earl, James needs to up his game. First step, learn to ride… But James has never even sat on a horse before.

Dagmar Ingenfeld’s life revolves around horses. She barely has room to breathe, running the stables on a country estate while desperately trying to help her mother save her café from foreclosure. When a rich and handsome man from her past arrives back in her life, she wants him straight back out again. James Charlton is nothing but bad news. Until he offers her a chance to save the café.

Only one catch. Dagmar must teach him how to ride – and fast.

As the lessons begin, Dagmar sees a different side to James, and an old flame is rekindled. But how can their budding romance go anywhere when she’s a stable girl, and he’s expected to ride into the sunset with the earl’s daughter?

James must decide whether to follow the money or take a chance on Dagmar, and perhaps, against all odds, discover the true path to happiness. 

Review

A very well-written enemies-to-lovers romance. The story weaved together so well. Dagmar is a heroine you can root for and James makes a believable journey of redemption. I want to believe in these two thanks to strong storytelling by a very capable writer.

 

 

 Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/freshstartbridlepath

Author Bio – 

Margaret is a bestselling Scottish author and chocolate lover who has been writing stories for over twenty years (possibly more if you count her primary school efforts). Her early works will never see the light of day and are locked in dusty vaults on some old floppy disks. But after all those years of practise, Margaret released her first novel in 2021. It was the first of a ten-book series set on the gorgeous Scottish Isle of Mull.

Margaret is also the author of the acclaimed Glenbriar Series, based in the fictional Scottish town of Glenbriar. This is an ongoing series with more books coming in 2025.

The stories are unashamedly romantic, but with lots of drama and an eclectic mix of characters. Each

book can be read as a standalone, but followers of the series will enjoy catching up with the characters.

Social Media Links – 

https://www.margaretamatt.com/subscribe

https://www.facebook.com/MargaretAmattAuthor

https://www.instagram.com/margaret_amatt_author

https://twitter.com/AmattAuthor

When Stars Collide in the City

From the outside, Olivia Macomb looks like she leads a charmed life. She’s an up-and-coming influencer who is an heir to the Macomb family fortune, and about to start a lifestyle brand with her childhood sweetheart, Jeff. Then her world gets blown apart by her longtime boyfriend leaving her the morning of their website launch. Not only has he left, but the business she created is all in his name and she’s been left with nothing to show for all her hard work. Now she has to pick up the pieces and find out who she is on her own.

Enter Walker Vinton, the indie pop star who used to date Olivia’s close friend, Paige. When their school throws a big event, Paige asks Walker to be Olivia’s date to give to the gossip bloggers something else to talk about other than Olivia’s broken dreams.

Walker ends up coming to Olivia’s rescue in more ways than one at the party, and a twist of events leads to the two embarking on a fake relationship. Walker and Olivia wind up becoming best friends and she realizes he’s the boyfriend of her dreams. 

He helps her build both her brand and her self-esteem back up. Walker even helps her start a new business. However, the lines begin to blur as Olivia’s feelings for Walker are very real. The two share intimate conversations and dreams, but what’s real and what’s fake in this starry world? 

Review

What a fun fake relationship story! I admit I’m usually a little bored by romance tropes but this one grabbed my attention. I felt so sad for Olivia who is trying to figure out adulthood in front of the whole world. She’s had her first heartbreak and made some bad business decisions. She can’t escape either easily so she and Walker decide to create a new story to let them hide from a world saturated in foolish opinions. I loved theat they were friends who cared about each other - it made the relationship sweeter. I was quite invested in their HAPPILY EVER AFTER. 

This is a very fun  young adult novel full of feels and chills. It’s appropriate for anyone who wants to relax into the promise of young love. 

 

Purchase Links 

https://www.amazon.com/When-Stars-Collide-City-Book-ebook/dp/B0D8BR4H2L/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/When-Stars-Collide-City-Book-ebook/dp/B0D8BR4H2L/

 

Author Bio – Krysten Lindsay Hager is a bestselling author of YA and contemporary romance. She writes romance because she loves bringing people swoony moments and hope-filled happily ever afters. She writes about falling in love, fame, fitting in, frenemies, first loves, and finding your way in the world. She loves reading, watching movies, and lipstick.

Social Media Links – Website: https://www.krystenlindsay.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krystenlindsay/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/krystenlindsay/