The Blackbirds of St Giles

by

Lila Cain

BLOG TOUR

It’s 1782, Daniel and his sister Pearl arrive in London with the world at their feet and their future assured. Having escaped a Jamaican sugar plantation, Daniel fought for the British in the American War of Independence and was rewarded with freedom and an inheritance.  

But the city is not a place for men like Daniel and he is callously tricked and finds himself, along with his sister Pearl, in the rookeries of St Giles – a warren of dark and menacing alleyways, filled with violence and poverty.  

The underworld labyrinth is run by Elias, a man whose cruelty knows no bounds. But under his dangerous rule is a brotherhood of Black men, the Blackbirds of St Giles, whose intention is to set their people free.  

Can Daniel use his strength, wit and the fellowship of the other Blackbirds to overthrow Elias and truly find the freedom he fought for…? 

REVIEW

After Daniel fought in the War of Independence for the British Army he is promised a better life in England and along with his sister Pearl, they board a ship to bring them to London as he has been promised an inheritance, but as soon as he meets his beneficiaries brother, he is tricked out of his inheritance and he and Pearl are sent to a place in called St Giles, where it is full of other people from Caribbean countries and outcasts who have also fallen on hard times. 

St Giles is run by an evil man by the name of Elias who sees Daniel as a way of making him money by being a fighter and sets out to train him up to fight whoever he can to earn him a fortune. 

Daniel and Pearl are taken under the wing of Jen, who Pearl instantly takes to, but Daniel is wary and feels she is using them to her advantage. 

Daniel does as he is told by Elias and trains hard, but Daniel is a strong character and even though he is way down on his luck, he is biding his time until he and the others in St Giles can find a way to bring Elias down. 

I knew I was going to love this book as soon as I saw the cover! I love stories about Victorian London and even though this one started in the plantations of Jamaica, the attention to detail in the writing was fabulous and I was totally absorbed.

I would thoroughly recommend this book. It is a hefty read, but worth it!

 Life Begins

by

Kate Eberlen

BLOG TOUR

Jessica and Robin have been best friends since university. For his fortieth birthday, she plans an elaborate surprise trip to Italy with his closest friends and family. Sometimes it feels like everyone knows how much she loves Robin... everyone except Robin himself.

Laura has two beautiful children, a stylish London home and a thriving career as a deputy headteacher. But she also has a secret. One she's been keeping for many years. And now it's time for the truth to come out.

Actor Robin is looking forward to being the centre of attention once more, as those he loves most come together for a week-long getaway. But as long-simmering desires rise to the surface and tensions reach breaking point, he begins to wonder...

Could life really begin again at forty?

Review

When Jessica's best friend Robin's 40th birthday looms, she decides to book a surprise trip to Italy in a gorgeous farmhouse surrounded by his closest family and friends and the most beautiful scenery you could imagine. What could possibly go wrong!

Robin's wife Laura is a Deputy Head Teacher and has a secret of her own, but surely his 40th birthday celebrations are not the right time to reveal all?

Jessica has a secret that she has been keeping for too many years in the fact that she is in love with Robin, but how can she possibly tell him that now after all this time?

Robin, can't wait for the celebrations to begin and is loving having his nearest and dearest around him, but even he has secrets that could turn everyone's lives upside down should the situation arise...

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story for all the secrets that were revealed!

 A good bunch of characters (some I liked more than others!). Would definitely recommend.

Ten year blogaversary

TEN YEAR BLOGAVERSARY!

10 years ago today my son helped me set up a blog so that I had a platform for people to read my book reviews and so, Boon’s Bookcase was born. 

I may not have a huge following or be known by many publishers, but I have made some great bookish friends both in person and virtually since 2015 and been to lots of book events and taken part in many blog tours/cover reveals and personal reviews. 

I have to say thank you to my friend Julie Williams, who reviews sometimes on the blog and has saved my bacon on more than one occasion when I haven’t had time to read and review for a blog tour! (She is a much faster reader than me!)

If you have visited my blog and read any of my reviews, thank you, I appreciate every single one of you. I  extremely proud of my little blog and long may it continue! 

Happy 10 year blogaversary to Boon’s Bookcase, here’s to many more!! 🥳🍾