My Top 10 reads of 2015

It’s been an absolute nightmare trying to choose my top 10 reads of the year, but I have finally done it and without intentionally hurting any author’s feelings, here goes……

1. A Memory of Violets by Hazel Gaynor – I read this whilst I was on holiday in August and can honestly say it brought me to tears. Written beautifully with a gorgeous cover and the text inside is the best I have seen in a paperback with lovely drawings at the top of the pages and throughout. Utterly stunning read that will leave you wanting more!

2. The Island by Victoria Hislop – I had this book on my bookshelf for more years than I care to divulge, but again, when I went on holiday my good friend recommended I take this one. This book made me cry more than once, but it is so beautifully written that I can’t wait to read more of Victoria’s work and I hope to get to an event to finally meet her as I couldn’t make the ones this year!

3. River of Souls by Kate Rhodes – It’s not a secret that I am Kate’s number one fan and this book is the fourth in the Alice Quentin series (and in my humble opinion, her best!). It has nothing to do with the fact that my name is mentioned in the acknowledgements!!

4. All The Dark Secrets by Jennie Felton – I loved this book so much and am determined to read the second instalment soon as I just adore family sagas! I loved the characters and the way their lives turn around in the face of tragedy. I just loved it!

5. The Girl Who Wouldn’t Die by Marnie Riches – I hosted the first book on my blog as my very first Blog Tour but I think this second book in the George Mackenzie series is even better (I think this might be a trend, so can’t wait for the next instalment!!).

6. No Place for A Lady by Gill Paul – This is an historical wartime novel, again which I love! It came out during the year and one of the battles was in Gallipoli, which was very poignant as it was the anniversary of the battle in WWI.

7. The Day we Disappeared by Lucy Robinson – There is a twist, that’s all I’m saying!! Loved it and can’t wait for the next one!

8. The Piano Man Project by Kat French – This was a great read. Very funny and Hal is a character who just stays with you (mostly for all of the wrong reasons!!!).

9. Rings of Smoke by Diane O’Toole - this one scared the pants out of me with a very creepy main character, but a book that I couldn't put down!

10. Make a Christmas Wish by Julia Williams - This was the first Christmas book I read this year and by far my favourite! I will read this one again and again! Made me laugh one page and then cry like a baby on the next page! Loved it!

The Island by Victoria Hislop

On the brink of a life-changing decision, Alexis Fielding longs to find out about her mother's past. But Sofia has never spoken of it. All she admits to is growing up in a small Cretan village before moving to London. When Alexis decides to visit Crete, however, Sofia gives her daughter a letter to take to an old friend, and promises that through her she will learn more.

Arriving in Plaka, Alexis is astonished to see that it lies a stone's throw from the tiny, deserted island of Spinalonga - Greece's former leper colony. Then she finds Fotini, and at last hears the story that Sofia has buried all her life: the tale of her great-grandmother Eleni and her daughters and a family rent by tragedy, war and passion. She discovers how intimately she is connected with the island, and how secrecy holds them all in its powerful grip...

Review

This year is the 10th anniversary since The Island was first published and I think I have had my copy on my bookshelf for about 8 years! I always meant to pick it up and read it, but it wasn't until my good friend Julie, who has read all of Victoria's books, said that I HAD to read it! So when I went to Turkey in August I thought it was the perfect opportunity to give it a go!

The books starts with Alexis Fielding who decides to go on holiday to Crete (where her mother Sophia comes from), and even though she has never mentioned her childhood or relatives, she gives Alexis a letter to give to an old friend.

When Alexis finds Fotini she hands her the letter and she then starts telling Alexis the story of her ancestors, in particular her Great-Grandmother Eleni who was the first in her family to be sent to Spinalonga, which is an island just off of Crete, where lepers were sent as soon as they were diagnosed with Lepresy to live the rest of their lives.

This is an absolutely beautiful read, the author describes not only the Greek people in great detail, but the places, food, customs etc and I could not put this book down, hence I finished it in a couple of days! 

Although this book is sad, the author doesn't always dwell on this, but writes about how the people who live on Spinalonga just got on with their everyday lives whilst still living with leprosy. Saying that, I did cry like a baby several times!

I have already borrowed this book out, but I can honestly say, I would read it again and again. It is one of my top 10 books of all time and I cannot wait to read more from Victoria Hislop! I can only apologise to the author for having left it so long to read it in the first place!

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Guest Blogger................

I am over the moon that my very good friend and "Book Buddy" Julie Williams has finally given in to my nagging and pleading and written a guest post. I gave her a copy of The Sunrise by Victoria Hislop for Christmas as I know that she likes this author and below is her review. I am ashamed to say I haven't read any of Victoria's books but have had a copy of The Island for years on my bookshelf! I have promised Julie that I will take it on holiday this year! I will hand you over to Julie who I hope will be blogging more regularly from now on!!

The Sunrise by Victoria Hislop

I have known Julie for a few years now and always encouraged her into starting her own Blog page which I am so proud of her for doing this year. As 'payback' she has asked me to write my first guest review. I have chosen The Sunrise by Victoria Hislop as this book was a Christmas gift from Julie.

The book is centred on the island of Cyprus and The Sunrise is a luxurious hotel being built by Savvas Papacosta and his beautiful wife Aphrodite in the then tourist resort of Famagusta.

The story focuses on three families all with links to the hotels but have very different lives. In the beginning the conflict between the Turkish & Greeks is not forefront but this soon changes as the book progresses with heartbreaking consequences.

There is no 'happy ending' as such, how could there be when so many lives were effected during this awful time in Cypriot history.

It seems hard to understand what the people of Cyprus, both Greek and Turkish Cypriots endured but I feel Victoria Hislop depicts it with believable characters and stunning descriptions of the country.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Sunrise and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys history and romance. This is my third book by this author and after The Island it is my next favourite.