September Book Round Up

Here's what I've been reading in September. If a book is marked * I've very kindly received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley or directly.

*The Italian Girls by Debbie Rix - The story is loosely based on real lives. In the story two very different women who find their lives intertwined even though they don't know each other in real life. The setting is Florence and Rome during WW2. Livia is a student and resistance fighter who takes risks every single day while actress, Isabella Bellucci has little to worry about apart from her unrequited love for the man of her dreams. The story traces their everyday lives and struggles in Nazi occupied Italy and is richly drawn.

The story also flips to the present when we meet elderly Livia living a quiet life in Florence. She has her routine and every day she goes to "their" cafe. It's there she reads something in the newspaper which takes her right back.. I loved the story and the characters, especially plucky Livia. I devoured the book in a couple of days. Would recommend.

*The Girl without a Name by Suzanne Goldring - this isn't published until November so I'll share my review in my November book round up. It's such a good read with characters I grew to care about. I loved it and would recommend (one of my favourite reads this year).

*Meet me in Bombay by Jenny Ashcroft - I so love Jenny's books and this one is so, so good. Madeline Bright meets Luke Devereaux on New Year's Eve 1913 in Bombay where she lives with her parents. The spark is instant. While he's away on business he leaves Maddy a guidebook with places where she'll see the real Bombay. Her mother & father's friend, Guy Bowen, who Maddy feels like is her older brother offers to show her around. She knows he has feelings for her but she could only ever imagine being his friend.

Luke and Maddy fall head-over-heels in love but war beckons and they just have time to get married before he's called away to lead a team of men into battle. She misses him so much. While he's away she finds out something quite wonderful is going to happen. She's desperate to tell him and for him to feel her joy. Sadly, a telegram quite quickly arrives which dashes all her future hopes.. Her mother, with whom she's got a strange relationship urges her to move on..

Meanwhile, in a hospital for injured soldiers is a man who doesn't know who he is. He just can't remember anything. He has hazy dreams of a beautiful woman who he feels meant the world to him. A chance visit by someone to the hospital jolts him to remember and he wonders if he'll be too late..

I fell totally head-over-heels for character and storylines. One of my favourite reads this year. I just loved it.

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*The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex - this story is loosely based on a true story about three lighthouse keepers who disappeared mysteriously. I absolutely loved it. It's not published until next year so I'll share my review then. I highly recommend it. 

*The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline - I'm taking part in the blog tour for this book next month so I'll share my review then. I absolutely loved the storylines and characters.

Awaiting publication (read in June and July):

*The Harpy by Megan Hunter - Lucy thought she was happily married, being a homemaker and looking after their boys while her husband, Jake works to provide for them. Until that phone call, that is. The phone call which changes her world..

She finds out that he's been having an affair with an older colleague and between them they decide she can hurt him three times to get back at him and hopefully it'll even the scores and they can get their marriage back on an even keel. What follows is dark and very disturbing. Lucy's childhood fascination with harpies returns to the fore - mythical monsters which are half bird/half human which dish out punishment when needed.

She picks three ways to get back at Jake, each one more disturbing than the last. I found the story thought provoking and very dark. I thought the ending was too abrupt and slightly weird. I sort of enjoyed the book.

*Stolen Lives by Louise Hulland - Stolen Lives is a meticulously researched book on Human Trafficking and Slavery in the UK. The author has cleverly weaved facts alongside true life stories which makes for fascinating if sometimes heartbreaking reading.

Throughout the story we learn about a young Albanian girl, Elena who was duped by her then boyfriend into becoming a sex worker. She escaped and made it to London, pregnant and alone. The author has been at her side alongside the various organisations which offer their help freely to those in need during her often painful, heartbreaking and very stressful journey.

The book also makes you more aware aware of things happening everyday - are the girls in the nail bars working there because they enjoy the work? Likewise, I'll never drive past a car washing forecourt without thinking are these men victims of modern slavery. A sobering thought. A must read. 

What have you been reading this month?