Review: The Butlins Girls

The Butlins Girls by Elaine Everest
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The book tells the story of Molly whose parents have recently been killed in a car accident just after the end of WW2.

With an ironmongers business to sort out, Molly is busy sorting out her parents affairs, until Harriet and Simon turn up out of the blue, claiming to be family, and insisting that her Mum and Dad stated in their Will that the house was left to them! With Simon getting more and more threatening every day, Molly decides to move away until their solicitor comes back from Europe to sort out their affairs, and she gets a job at Butlins as a Redcoat where she meets up with Plum and Bunty on her first day and the three of them forge a friendship.

I really, really wanted to love this story and in fairness, it was nicely written, however if I am truly honest, I found the plot a bit flaky...Molly moved out of London, in fear of her "cousin" and "aunt" but took managed to find the strength of character to take on a murderer and reporter in Butlins! It felt like the author wanted to write a story about Butlins, but wasn't sure how to get her character there in the first place.

The one thing that annoyed me more than anything else, was the American spelling - realisation became realization and organisation became organization...why?!

View all my reviews

Comments

REVIEW: Moonlight Over Studland Bay by Della Galton

Moonlight Over Studland Bay – Della Galton published by Boldwood Books Samantha Jones works as an audio typist for a local company in Dorset. However, it’s not her dreams job. She wanted to devote, and expand, Purbeck Pooches, her pet sitting service. When best friend (and housemate) Abby has a baby boy Sam’s priorities change and she realises she wants more from her life. Does she want life to continue as it is or does she want to look for the perfect sperm donor – on a drunken evening Abby and Sam draw up the perfect "daddy" list. Sam’s world is soon rocked when her boss Rex accuses her of moonlighting and her parents who have run a B&B locally for years make a shock revelation. I’m going to say it from the start…I loved this book! Sam is a relatable character who knows what she wants from life, but she doesn’t want to upset, hurt or trample on people to get it. She’s just an all-round good egg!! There were times in the book when Abby made me laugh but a...

Review: One Enchanted Evening

One Enchanted Evening by Anton du Beke My rating: 4 of 5 stars Anton Du Beke has his finger in many pies, professional dancer, singer, entertainer and now he can add novelist to the list. One Enchanted Evening is set in the ballroom of a London hotel in the 1930s and tells the story of Raymond De Guise, the principle dancer, chambermaid Nancy, and porter Billy who all work downstairs, behind the scenes of the hotel. As you would expect dancing is a big feature in this book, but also surprisingly was the politics of the time, which I found added another dimension to the story. If you like Downton Abbey or The Halcyon (the ITV drama set in a hotel) or Upstairs Downstairs, you will love this book. An enjoyable debut novel from Mr Du Beke. View all my reviews

Diva written by Daisy Goodwin and published by Aria and Aries

Opera singer Maria Callas known as “ la divina” with her fabulous voice was born with note only a gift of singing, but also the drama and beauty needed to succeed on the worldwide operatic stages. Sadly, liked a bird in a gilded cage, Maria’s life is lonely, and although surrounded by people and her husband she feels isolated. When she meets the fabulously rich shipping magnate, Aristotle Onassis, her isolation melts away. For the first time in her life, she believes she's found a man who sees the woman rather than the legendary soprano. Desperately in love, Onassis introduces her to a life of unbelievable luxury, mixing with celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. And then, suddenly, it's over. The international press announce that Onassis will marry the most famous woman in the world, former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, leaving Maria to pick up the pieces. This is a fictional account based on true events, think of The...

Book-Mad-Mum

Search This Blog