JESS JUST READS

A BOOK REVIEW BLOG

Dear Child by Romy Hausmann

A windowless shack in the woods. Lena’s life and that of her two children follows the rules set by their captor, the father: Meals, bathroom visits, study time are strictly scheduled and meticulously observed. He protects his family from the dangers lurking in the outside world and makes sure that his children will always have a mother to look after them.

One day Lena manages to flee – but the nightmare continues. It seems as if her tormentor wants to get back what belongs to him. And then there is the question whether she really is the woman called ‘Lena’, who disappeared without a trace 14 years ago. The police and Lena’s family are all desperately trying to piece together a puzzle which doesn’t quite seem to fit.

Dear Child by Romy Hausmann is a psychological thriller novel about a young woman whose been missing for fourteen years, and the discovery of a remote cabin and two young children.

A woman who has been held captive manages to escape with one of her children — is she the mysterious Lena who has been missing for fourteen years?

This is psychological thriller at its best. The premise is gripping, the pacing consistent, and the tension heightens as we move through the book. It’s a chilling story I found myself desperate to finish.

“It was a Thursday in May when I vanished from the world. Alice was pushed down the rabbit hole, tumbled head over heels and was knocked out when she hit the bottom. I reckon he must have injected me with an anaesthetic before whisking me off to the cabin.”

An unsettling story, the novel feels very similar to Room; we come to understand what life has been like for Lena in the cabin, closed off from the outside world and forced to bear the children of her captor.

Stylistically, the book moves between past and present, and also switches first person POV between a couple of different characters. Lena/Jasmine are the strongest voices, whilst Matthias — Lena’s father — is the weakest.

Admittedly, Matthias feels like a stereotypical cardboard cut-out character, an unlikeable, bitter man whose anger weighs down the book and makes the reader feel anchored to his world. He’s sad and lonely, and he misses his daughter, but he’s also pretty insufferable. He’s irrational and over the top, over dramatic, and his actions annoy the reader more than anything.

“I give a start. There is a loud ringing, which for a moment goes unnoticed by the others. Then Cham, who seems lost in thought, gives a slight start too, and his notebook and pen slip from his lap to the floor.”

Some chapters are written from Hannah’s POV — the young girl found with Lena — and these sections of the book are particularly strong. She’s a thirteen year old girl with Asperger’s and her brain is filled with facts and information that she likes to recite whenever the moment feels right.

She’s insightful and interesting, but she also drops pieces of information to keep the reader guessing. Her voice feels very unique and at times chilling, like the reader isn’t quite sure whether to believe what she’s saying. Sometimes young voices can be a hindrance but she was a great asset to the story.

“That was it, the first article of many — as I so naively thought — that would keep appearing until we’d found Lena. It was the first article of precisely four: four articles over all the years she remained missing. Four serious articles, to be precise.”

Admittedly, the pacing was only consistent for a certain portion of the novel. The climax of the novel felt incredibly rushed and at times confusing — I had to reread the ending twice just to make sure I got all the information right. Perhaps the climax should’ve been brought forward a bit, or perhaps slowed down, to allow for a more natural conclusion.

There’s one point at the end where the villain just stands and explains everything that’s happened — this giant info dump — and it feels a bit like cheating to do that. It didn’t feel very realistic.

Recommended for mystery and thriller readers. 14+

Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Dear Child
Romy Hausmann
May 2020
Hachette Book Publishers

Six Tudor Queens: Katheryn Howard by Alison Weir

At just nineteen, Katheryn Howard is quick to trust and fall in love.

She comes to court. She sings, she dances. She captures the heart of the King.

Henry declares she is his rose without a thorn. But Katheryn has a past of which he knows nothing. It comes back increasingly to haunt her. For those who share her secrets are waiting in the shadows, whispering words of love… and blackmail.

My favourite series has returned for the year. Katheryn Howard: The Tainted Queen is the fifth novel in the Tudor Queens series by Alison Weir, well-known historian and author.

You can read my reviews of the other books HERE.

In each novel, Alison presents a fictional account of each of Henry VIII’s wives, from their childhood all the way through to their death. Whilst each book is considered fiction, it’s clear how much research and factual information has been used to paint these portraits — Alison always explains her basis in the Author’s Note at the end of each novel.

Written in intimate third person, Katheryn is portrayed as a naive, whimsical girl with no real thought to the consequences of her actions. She means well, but she’s quick to dismiss the possibility that her rather controversial actions will catch up with her in the years to follow.

“A maiden should be shamefast, she told herself, as she lay abed the next morning, thinking about the night before. Chastity is to be prized. But what was wrong with taking your pleasure where you found it? Why should she deny herself the delights she might know…”

The plot moves quickly, spanning close to twenty-one years in only a few hundred pages. Katheryn’s childhood is skimmed over, and most of the book focuses on her teenage years.

Katheryn’s actions are a reflection on her upbringing — her mother died when she was a little girl and whilst her gambling-addicted father remarried, he sent her away to be raised by relatives. Katheryn never really had a strong, maternal figure to guide her through her teenage years and so when she meets men she fancies, she makes foolish decisions that are difficult to keep hidden.

“After that, Tom seemed to be everywhere Katheryn went — in the gardens, at the tennis play, at the butts. Always, he was hovering. It was flattering to be the object of the attention of such a dashing gallant, and Katheryn was strongly attracted to him.”

I don’t feel like I could relate to Katheryn as much as the other wives, and I found her likability to be quite low. A couple of the other Queens were naive as well, but Katheryn felt particularly punishing at times. She was ignorant, wasn’t very educated, and had little interest in understanding what was happening around her. All of the Queens were flawed in some way, but Katheryn seemed to lack intelligence and maturity, and for that, she died. And when she died, so did those few around her that the King saw as complicit in her behaviour.

Poor Alison Weir had a difficult tasks trying to make this wife seem interesting! She was Queen at 19 and beheaded at 21, so you know it’s going to be one of the least interesting tales (Jane Seymour is probably a close second).

“It seemed that the future held nothing for her. It was not enough that she could still meet him in secret, for their trusts left her wanting and unbearably unsatisfied, and made her feel as naught in the world, as if this was all she could expect.”

As with the previous books in the series, the writing is heavy on description and internal dialogue. Towards the end of Katheryn’s life, the reader is shut out a lot because Katheryn herself didn’t know what was going on. She was locked away for months before her execution. This was an interesting stylistic technique to keep the reader guessing, and allowing the reader to understand how Katheryn must have felt.

I’m excited for 2021 to read the account of Henry’s sixth and final wife, Katherine Parr.

Recommended for fans of historical fiction. I recommended you start at the beginning of the series and make your way through each book — the books are all worth your investment. 14+

Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Katheryn Howard: The Tainted Queen
Alison Weir
May 2020
Hachette Book Publishers

Two new reads from Ethicool Books

Charlie lives in the city, surrounded by roads and skyscrapers. But when his dad turns out his night light, something amazing begins to happen… 

Charlie’s whisked off on an incredible journey, where vines overtake the tall buildings he knows so well, and a lush river flows underneath his feet. Guided by a wise old owl, Charlie gets well acquainted with the animals, forests and oceans that preceded him, and how they gently lived at one with nature. 

Charlie loves his Rainforest and Ocean Classrooms – and he soon brings his friends along for the ride! 

This wild and adventurous children’s book will help your little ones appreciate that it isn’t just dinosaurs that go extinct. If you’re a nature or animal lover, this one’s for you.

Stuart French’s My Rainforest Classroom is an adventurous children’s picture book about animal extinction — a beautiful, heartwarming story about children, animals, mother nature, and the importance of understanding the beauty of what’s around you.

Today’s review is for two picture books from Ethicool Books, an Australian publishing company that publishes children’s books about some of the world’s biggest issues, such as climate change, pollution, bullying and anxiety.

The Ethicool catalogue follows a very distinct look — bright, lively illustrations with distinct shapes and figures, and excitable young faces. My Rainforest Classroom explores animal extinction, teaching children the importance of preserving animal life and not constricting animals in cages or tanks.

Messages aside, My Rainforest Classroom is a fun, adventurous tale for kids. It feels ‘otherworldy’ because the illustrations take us on a journey that spans forests and oceans. Kids will find themselves immersed in the storyline, the characters, and the pastel artwork.

My Rainforest Classroom
Stuart French
Ethicool Books

***

Join Ella and her sister, Ava, as they discover the joy of caring for a marine creature. Yet it isn’t all joy, as the sisters soon learn. Their beloved fish appear to thrive in only one type of environment … but why are both fish getting bigger? 

This light-hearted and genuinely surprising book will keep you and your little ones on their toes until the very end! Designed to be both humorous and moving, it also teaches an important lesson about personal responsibility.

Whilst it feels like there’s a lot of text on the pages of both these books, the storylines span big topics that need text to convey.

Ella and the Exploding Fish explores the importance of keeping oceans clean from rubbish. There are many things that marine life are not meant to eat, and yet they make their way into our waterways.

I’ll admit, the ending to this picture book took me a little by surprise and I wonder how a child would respond, but it does its job of shocking the reader. It opens up a discussion with children about why shouldn’t litter or toss anything in waterways that isn’t meant to be there.

These two books allow for a seamless, accessible way to discuss these issues with children — sceptics will think that children don’t need these books, but in a world where children are becoming more socially aware and conscious of what’s going on in the world, we can’t afford not to have books like these available to young minds.

Check out the rest of their books at https://ethicoolbooks.com.

Thank you to the publisher for mailing me review copies in exchange for an honest review.

Ella and the Exploding Fish
Teigan Margetts
Ethicool Books

The Viennese Girl by Jenny Lecoat

In June 1940, the horror-struck inhabitants of Jersey watch as the German army unopposed takes possession of their island. Now only a short way from the English coast, the Germans plan their invasion.

Hedy Bercu, a young Jewish girl from Vienna who fled to the isolation and safety of Jersey two years earlier to escape the Nazis, finds herself once more trapped, but this time with no way of escape.

Hiding her racial status, Hedy is employed by the German authorities and secretly embarks on small acts of resistance. But most dangerously of all, she falls in love with German lieutenant Kurt Neumann — a relationship on which her life will soon depend.

The Viennese Girl by Jenny Lecoat is WWII literary fiction, inspired by the true story of a young Jewish girl who evaded capture on the island of Jersey.

The novel paints a clear picture of life under German rule — fear, control, lack of food and amenities, and dwindling populations. Hedy is an anxious and impulsive protagonist. She’s quick on her feet and she’s resourceful, but she also keeps herself at a distance. She’s scared and frightened — she’s a Jew living in German-occupied Jersey.

When she gets a job as a translator for the Germans, she must hide her status but she’s also determined to defy the reign and do what she can to rebel.

“Anton smiled, but Hedy saw there was nothing behind it. He looked distant, remote. Now that she thought about it, Anton had been in a strange mood since they’d met earlier that afternoon. The volume of her singing dropped a little, and she began slipping her friend sly looks.”

The Viennese Girl is heartbreaking at times, but it’s also filled with hope and courage. Hedy must hide who she is from her German employers, but she must also keep her wits as the war progresses and danger approaches. The threat of being exposed bubbles under the surface of each chapter, keeping the reader engrossed until the final page.

The novel is heavy on prose, most conversations told through description instead dialogue. Whilst this technique doesn’t always work, it’s quite effective in this novel. It allows for quick pace and heightened tension — this may be a short book but it packs a punch.

“No reason, no explanation. Hedy had rushed down to the bureau in the faint hope that they might offer some kind of strategy or information. But the registrar had merely scratched his head, shrugged and said that if the Germans wished to see her, she’d be advised to comply.”

The Viennese Girl is incredibly emotion, tugging on readers’ heartstrings and pulling them along for a really engaging story. Whilst the romance felt a little weak and underdeveloped, there are many other elements to this story that readers will love.

Friendship is dominant in the story. After a rocky start, Hedy and her best friend’s girlfriend Dorothea form a close bond over the course of the novel. Whilst Hedy can be brash and judgemental, Dorothea is full of optimism and encouragement. She is always quick to help Hedy, even when punishment could be brutal.

“Another brilliant smile and he was gone. Hedy turned and continued down the path out of the compound. Her legs seemed to swing weightlessly beneath her, and the lane swam unseen in front of her eyes.”

With vivid imagery, three-dimensional characters, and engrossing prose, The Viennese Girl is recommended for fans of literary fiction and historical fiction. The readership skews female.

Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Viennese Girl
Jenny Lecoat
May 2020
Allen & Unwin Book Publishers

Fool Me Once by Karly Lane

Farmer Georgie Henderson manages a cattle property in the New England region of New South Wales, but her dream has always been to buy back her family farm, Tamban.

When an unlikely meeting with Michael Delacourt at a rowdy B&S Ball sends them on a whirlwind romance, Georgie can’t believe it’s possible for life to be this good. For the first time ever, her dream of buying back Tamban takes a backseat to her happiness.

But her world shatters when she discovers the shocking secret Michael has been trying to keep from her.

Can Michael convince her they still have a future? And after having her heart so thoroughly broken, can Georgie ever trust anyone again?

Karly Lane’s Fool Me Once is rural romance fiction, set in remote New South Wales and exploring one woman’s journey to buy back her family farm.

At its core, Fool Me Once explores the concept of family and how that can be different for every person. Family is the father Georgie has lost, and who she desperately misses. Family is also her best friend Shannon, and her close bond with Harry and Matt, who she trusts and respects greatly.

Fool Me Once also showcases the importance of women in management roles (particularly within farming). Georgie is strong-willed and determined, and working to carve a career for herself in a male-dominated industry.

Rural romance has the ability to immerse you in another world, where communities rally together, loyalty within friendship and family are key, and the prospect of building a life on the land with someone else is exciting and enthralling.

“Georgie let out a long breath. How did he shake her carefully erected defences and common sense with just a look? She’d had her share of romances, but nothing serious and few that ever went anywhere other than the occasional movie or dinner.”

The setting will transport readers to the dusty, hot outback where lives are vastly different to our own. This is one of the biggest strengths in the novel, capturing the isolated and secluded Australian bush, but also illustrating that close bond that farmers share with their land and their select family & friends.

Georgie is relatable and readers will find sympathy in Georgie’s plight, and her determination to run a farm by herself and one day buy back her family farm.

Because its fiction, many romance fans will adore the methods that Michael goes to in order to win Georgie back, although personally I found him arrogant. He’s forceful at times, a little over-the-top with his emotions, and in real life I’m not sure how his actions would actually be received by a woman.

“He’d pondered what to do with the information for the past two days. The right thing would be to tell Georgie and get it out in the open. That’s what he’d decided to do, face to face, which was why he hadn’t waited until the weekend to come out.”

Stylistically, the book is written in third person but switches perspective between Georgie and Michael.

The intimate third person perspective allows us to see all sides of the story, and gain a deeper understanding for each character. We come to understand Georgie’s driven nature, her passion for the land, her vulnerability, and her gentle soul. We also witness Michael’s inner turmoil, his intense love for Georgie, and his determination to fix his past mistakes.

Fool Me Once demonstrates an appropriate balance between prose and dialogue, not bogging us down too much with exposition or description. Karly moves through some scenes at lightning speed, and it always felt appropriate for the story. The novel itself spans quite a long time period, and Karly manages the transition through time effortlessly.

“She smiled a sad smile and Georgie thought about the photos of the woman Harry used to have on the fireplace mantle. She hadn’t known Vera — she’d died more than thirty years ago — but she felt as though she had.”

Admittedly, as a first-time reader of Karly’s work, I found the story a little slow to start — the tension and pacing picked up as soon as Michael’s secret was out in the open, and since his secret is mentioned in the blurb I thought it could’ve been revealed a little earlier in the book to really propel us into the story sooner.

Additionally, the secret wedding in Hawaii felt a little unrealistic and unnecessary. Did it need to happen? If you take it out, the story could still function as the same. Michael still could’ve desperately tried to reunite with Georgie.

Seductive and satisfying, Fool Me Once is recommended for romance readers. There’s a lot of sex mentioned in the book — and deliberately corny pick-up lines — but I think young readers will also enjoy this. 16+

Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Fool Me Once
Karly Lane
May 2020
Allen & Unwin Book Publishers