Category Archives: Book reviews

March 27, 2025 · 12:58 pm

Diana’s March Book Review ~ The Girl from the Channel Islands by Jenny Lecoat

On Amazon

Here is my amazon review giving this book 5 stars:

“It was ‘Channel Islands’ in the title which drew me to buy this novel. I have family links with the islands. This was a gripping story, full of emotions, tragedy, fear, love, risk ~ drama. Although it was a history I am so familiar with, I still couldn’t put it down. The characters drew me in, as did the complex twists and turns.“

The story is set on Jersey at the time of the occupation during WW2; desperate times with little food, fear of being sent away (especially by Jews), relationships between the German military and local girls causing family feuds and mistrust abound.

If you enjoyed Jenny Lecoat’s novel ‘The Girl from the Channel Islands’

Then you might also enjoy my Riduna series, set on the lesser known Channel Island of Alderney. Please don’t be put off by the number of reviews for Riduna. When Eventispress took over the rights to publish the novel on 2012 all the original reviews on Amazon disappeared.

‘You can take the girl out of the island but you can’t take the island out of the girl’

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February 27, 2025 · 9:49 am

Two Book Reviews ~ ‘Eden’ in the Titles

What makes you choose a book to read? Recommendation? Newspaper review?

If I am browsing in Waterstones, I like to see what catches my eye and ‘This Other Eden’ by Paul Harding, did last month.

Why? Last year I read a brilliant book called ‘Ticket to Eden’ by Ian K Pulham, and so when I saw Paul Harding’s book, I knew nothing about it, but I thought I would give it a go.

Similarities

Characters ~ Both books have brilliant characterisation; folks who intrigue me and yet are quite unusual.

Setting ~ Both describe a ‘utopia’ at some point, which would be seen as hell on earth by others; the first set in the past and the second in the future.

Writing Style ~ both books are extremely well written.

Plot ~ both books quickly draw you in and you are gripped right up until the end, both ending with a twist, and for me an ‘oh no!’ moment. Both books have a message too.

Reviews ~ Both have great reviews: “Masterful” or “Powerful message“

Differences

‘This Other Eden’ was published by Penguin Books and has over 3,000 review on Amazon to date whereas

‘Ticket to Eden’ was published by a small Indie Press, Eventispress, and has only 16 review to date, but I can highly recommend it.

Why don’t you give it a chance?

Click for Amazon

Ticket to Eden is only £4.99 on Kindle, only £1 more than a cup of coffee. Why don’t you risk giving it a try? “ A must read with a powerful message!“

I thought I would give it a go. How about you?

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February 6, 2025 · 10:37 am

5 star Review for MISSING Past and Present

Here is a reflection on my last novel, released at the start of lock-down.

I’m still Chuffed by this 5 star review on Untold Reads for ‘MISSING Past and Present’. A few year’s later and I wonder why it hasn’t fared so well as my first in the series ‘MURDER Now and Then’.

5 star Review from UntoldReads.com!

A reader once said, having read MISSING, you have really and truly found your voice in this book Diana. The funny thing is that many people thought it was autobiographical, but that was far from the truth.

Was this because it was in the first person, my only novel to be written that way?

I didn’t consciously choose to do this. That is what my head told me to write and it gave me so much joy doing so.

Well, just to give the book a boost and find those hidden readers out there … I know you’re there!

We are having a discount on Kindle this week to £0.99, from 6th to 12th February 2025 for

MISSING Past and Present

Unfortunately then you will not experience the joy of the cover, for which I am also quite proud. I let Les, my cover designer know that on one twitter survey it was voted the best in the group.

This book is very special to me. I hope you enjoy it. Do let me know.

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Filed under Bedfordshire, Book reviews, Historical Fiction, MISSING Past and Present

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