30 Apr 2015

WE ARE ALL COMPLETELY BESIDE OURSELVES.


WE ARE ALL COMPLETELY BESIDE OURSELVES by KAREN JOY FOWLER.

BACK COVER BLURB: What if you grew up to realise that your father has used your childhood as an experiment?

Rosemary doesn't talk very much, and about certain things she's silent. She had a sister, Fern, her whirlwind other half, who vanished from her life in circumstances she wishes she could forget. And it's been ten years since she last saw her beloved brother Lowell.

Now at college, Rosemary starts to see that she can't go forward without going back, back to the time when, aged five, she was sent away from home to her grandparents and returned to find Fern gone.

FIRST SENTENCE {Prologue}: Those who know me now will be surprised to learn that I was a great talker as a child.

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 79}: We went to exactly one party in my first five years, and I don't even remember it, but Lowell told me there'd been an unfortunate incident involving a pinata, a baseball bat and a lot of flying candy that ended with Fern biting Bertie Cubbins, the birthday girl, on the leg. Biting someone who's not in the family - apparently, a really big deal.

SOURCE: Apparently the talk of the staff room where Mr T works. My thanks to Rachel for the loan of this book.

MY THOUGHTS: A book that had I known the twist in the tale beforehand I would not have considered reading. Let me begin by saying that it is despite and not because of 'the twist' (a twist that is making this review that much harder to write for fear of spoilers) that I rated this book as I did.*

A story of sibling rivalry, of the childhood events and memories (real, imagined, and misremembered) that shape us as adults. A novel that explores love, loss and attachment.

A literary work of what I guess most would think of as an unusual if not dysfunctional family, a family in which the relationships aren't always what they at first seem - heck, a story in which the individuals aren't always as they at first seem.

Beginning not in the beginning as most stories do but in the middle as, not nearly as complicated as it sounds, the novel darts around in time chronicling the life events of our narrator, Rosemary, who in order to protect herself has buried certain things deep within the recesses of her mind.

Though very readable ultimately this was a book that I found somewhat emotionally draining, the message that the human animal can (intentionally or otherwise) cause such devastation brought home to me in no uncertain terms. 

 * As you probably know I no longer do star ratings here on Pen and Paper but for those sites requiring it I awarded this three 'It was OK' stars.

28 Apr 2015

WORLD BOOK NIGHT: DEAD MAN TALKING #2.

Following on from World Book Night and Mr T's review today I'm pleased to bring you my thoughts on ....


DEAD MAN TALKING by RODDY DOYLE

WBN BOOK BLURB: Click here for details.

FIRST SENTENCE (Chapter One): I met Joe again the night before his funeral.

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 65}: I slid into the front room. Joe was climbing back into the coffin.

MY THOUGHTS: For the better part of Dead Man Talking I admit to being mystified but then suddenly it all fell into place in a neat twist.  

A quick, quirky read. Written in the first person and with a repetitious dialogue that proved to be very much a positive in what I felt was a unique and intriguing story with wonderfully well written down to earth characters. 



27 Apr 2015

FROM THE TAJ MAHAL TO THE UNITED CHURCH OF BACON BY WAY OF THE MAN ADDICTED TO UNDERPANTS.

WARNING: Whilst I endeavour to keep Media Monday family friendly I feel it only right to point out that some of the newspapers featured do have links to articles of a more adult nature. TT

Most bizarre headline of the week?


Mystery of Taj Mahal sculpture made entirely out of toast spotted on London street corner.


Or how about this one?

Addicted to underpants: Man's compulsion to wear new boxers every day left him facing bankruptcy.

Or how about this one from the animal kingdom?

Dog causes traffic chaos after it takes control of a tractor.

And as for the most unlucky woman of the week?


Agoraphobic granny finally steps outside ... and falls down manhole


And finally, after last week's Pastafarian, today in the news from across the pond I give you ...


Claiming to have over 4,000 members with names such as 'Funkmaster General', 'Institutionalized Thought Leader' and Bacon Prophet' a statement on the United Church of Bacon's website is offering legal weddings for those who don't want God in their ceremony.




25 Apr 2015

BIG MEN'S BOOTS #1: THE WAY.


Big Men's BootsBIG MEN'S BOOTS #1: THE WAY by EMILY BARROSO.

BACK COVER BLURB: Wales 1904. In the spectacular mountainous region of Snowdonia, during a time of great political and social unrest, a supernatural event is about to take place that will rock the quarrymen's community, the nation and the world.

As the son of Welsh Revivalists, Owen Evans has been raised to expect miracles. Steeped in the Biblical language and the songs of the chapels, he has been decoding dreams since he was a young child, but when he begins to have visions and encounters with angels as a young teenager, and he starts to see into The Kingdom of Darkness as well as The Kingdom of Light, he battles his desire for a normal life with the attraction of his prophetic calling.

Following instructions from a seer prophet, Anna, Owen learns that he must discover the spiritual skills to overcome the trickery of darkness in order to embrace his gift. What follows is an adventure with the wild things of God and a mystical experience of faith that will eventually take him across the world as he begins a journey towards the truth that ultimately lies within.

FIRST SENTENCE {North Wales 1904 - March: Chapter 1]: It was the third day since Stephen's death: a day for rising again.

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 75}: Twins, Morys and Lloyd Jones both knelt on one knee with their other feet flat on the ground, splitting slate in unison; their moustaches, like the wings of ascending birds, flying on either side of their faces; their facial muscles twitched with each blow of their mallets and their bowlers perched stiff as blackbirds on their heads.

SOURCE: Received for review from the marketing department, Hillman Publishing.

MY THOUGHTS: So far the surprise read of 2015. Despite my initial trepidation this turned out to be a very good read indeed. 

Very well written and as a non-believer despite the use of quotes from the bible not nearly as 'preachy' as I had feared. The author actually does an exemplary job in painting a picture of a family (and indeed a community) bolstered by their faith, a faith that though deep is not beyond being questioned as we see through the eyes of the narrator, fourteen year old preacher's son, Owen.

Such wonderfully and sympathetically drawn characters. A landscape beautifully portrayed. A period in time and place perfectly captured. It is perhaps these just as much as the historical, social and political aspect of the story that appealed to me in a way I truly wasn't expecting.  

The first book in a trilogy, I eagerly await the next instalments.




23 Apr 2015

WORLD BOOK NIGHT 2015: SKELLIG & DEAD MAN TALKING.

Both Mr T, Leanne (a colleague of his) and I are pleased to once again be promoting World Book Night at the college where they work. The three books on offer to students this year being ...


SKELLIG by DAVID ALMOND (my choice)
DEAD MAN TALKING by RODDY DOYLE (Mr T's choice)
PRIME SUSPECT by LYNDA LA PLANTE (Leanne's choice. Click here for WBN Book Blurb).

SKELLIG (As reviewed by myself)

WBN BOOK BLURB: Please click on book title above.

FIRST SENTENCE {Chapter One}: I found him in the garage on a Sunday afternoon.

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 74}: She twisted her face as she caught the stench of his breath. I took her hand and guided it to his shoulder blades. I pressed her fingertips against the bulge beneath his jacket. She leaned across him, felt his other shoulder blade. When she looked at me her eyes in the torchlight were shining bright.

MY THOUGHTS: Of the thirty four books I've read so far this year this is way up there as one of my favourites. The odd thing being I can't quite put my finger on why.

A good story, not outstanding but good. OK characters. Apart from Skellig who remained a delightful (if somewhat gross) enigma I can't say I was particularly taken with any of the others but then I'm sure many children will relate to them, adults empathise with them.

With its wonderfully lyrical rhythm this is a modern and yet at the same time timeless story. Grounded very much in the real world and yet thoroughly magical. Unspoiled, simply written and with just enough 'naughty' words* to appeal to children and yet profound and complex enough to appeal to the more mature readers amongst us. Sweet and yet not overly saccharine. Surely Skellig's place as a folklore giant is guaranteed.

* Bollocks is about as naughty as it gets though I'm sure this will be of concern to some parents.

DEAD MAN TALKING (As Reviewed by Mr T)

WBN BOOK BLURB: Please click on book title above.

FIRST SENTENCE {Chapter One): I met Joe again the night before his funeral.

MR T'S THOUGHTS: Dead Man Talking is certainly the quick read that it was designed to be at 95 pages and in a generous font, it doesn't take long to get through. It is also an interesting guessing game as it draws you into a curious game of guess the narrator. Exactly who is telling who's story here and exactly where is this scene all taking place? Yes, we know it's Barrytown, it is after all by Roddy Doyle (The Commitments, The Van), but it's not quite what you may expect. Good choice for the younger or less experienced reader. Delighted to be distributing free copies for World Booknight 2015.

NB Reviews of Dead Man Talking (Me), Skellig (Mr T) and Prime Suspect (Leanne) are to follow soon. TT


21 Apr 2015

THE SOLOMON TWIST


THE SOLOMON TWIST by DAN HAMMOND JR.

BACK COVER BLURB: Twin sons of different fathers?

To Mazel McDonald, it sounds like a good idea at the time.

1965 - Mazel doesn't have many options being unwed, pregnant, and unemployed. Two men lay claim to being the father. Instead of choosing one, Mazel chooses both, Daddy One and Daddy Two.

1991 - Mazel's husband is found dead. Who shot Daddy Two? As the story winds through their twenty-five year history, questions of identity gain traction, transforming the mystery into a tale of self-discovery and redemption.

FIRST SENTENCE {Chapter 1: A Long Pull, A Strong Pull}: Mazel Albright wanted one, just one cigarette.

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 187}: Balanced in his affairs, Vic's emotional pendulum didn't sway to and fro. At best it would on occasion vibrate lightly like a tuning fork, but for the most part remained motionless.

SOURCE: Received for review from the author.

MY THOUGHTS: Naturally conceived twins born at the same time but with different fathers known as Daddy One and Daddy Two? The Solomon Twist is certainly a novel worth considering if you are looking for something that bit different.

Unrolling over a twenty five year period with a plot that saw plenty of twists and turns and a myriad of big characters, at less than three hundred pages I felt this was a relatively short read that perhaps could have either done without so many threads to the story OR could have been that bit longer.

Billed as 'with laugh out loud humor'. I think humour is such a personal thing anyway and its all too easy for it to be lost amongst different peoples and cultures. Whilst I'm not saying this was a novel without humour, I certainly found myself chuckling out loud on several occasions, I did however worry that the differences between the American sense of humour and the British was telling.

Expecting the whole 'Daddy One/Two' thing to be the thing that would make the story for me what I wasn't expecting was to be so taken by a 'romance'. Quirky, unconventional, somewhat telling of the age we live in? and yet oddly sweet, I became totally engrossed in Vic and Margo's story.


20 Apr 2015

WRONG DIRECTIONS, MAGICAL MUSHROOMS, FAIRY CIRCLES & MORE.

WARNING: Whilst I endeavour to keep Media Monday family friendly I feel it only right to point out that some of the newspapers featured do have links to articles of a more adult nature. TT

Whoops!


Delays of up to half an hour occurred when a muddled driver and his crew got onto the wrong train believing it was heading to London when in fact its destination was Swansea ..... in the opposite direction.

Believed to have been caused by a race marshal taking a toilet break 300 racers in the Bournemouth Bay Run were sent in the wrong direction adding a further two miles to their run.

Buckingham Palace soldier falls over during Changing of The Guard in front of gobsmacked tourists.

Discovered in Norfolk, with their fleshy heads, arms and legs, these magical mushrooms look like tiny humans. (Is it just me or do they look like they are getting up close and personal? TT)

And talking of things magical, in the news from abroad ...

Scientists believe they have found a connection between skin cells and so-called 'fairy circles'.

Rescued after five hours, two art lovers were freed by fire fighters after accidentally becoming trapped in a bank vault installation in Cardiff, South Wales.

And in what most be the most bizarre article of the week ......

Claiming his wearing a colander is the equivalent of a Muslim women wearing a hijab or Jewish men wearing a skullcap a Pastafarian from East Sussex is organising a protest after the DVLA rejected his driving licence picture for the third time because he is wearing a colander on his head.


18 Apr 2015

SIX TODAY.


We come from different places,
From different walks of life too.
And though we've never met,
Our friendships are just as true.
So thank you for joining me in this special place,
Somewhere as unique as every one of us.
A place where we can be ourselves,
 Somewhere called cyber-space.

- Tracy Terry
(April 2015)

16 Apr 2015

THE MAESTRO, THE MAGISTRATE & THE MATHEMATICIAN.


THE MAESTRO, THE MAGISTRATE & THE MATHEMATICIAN by TENDAI HUCHU.

BACK COVER BLURB: Three very different men struggle with thoughts of belonging, loss, identity and love as they attempt to find a place for themselves in Britain. The Magistrate tries to create new memories and roots, fusing a wandering exploration of Edinburgh with music. The Maestro, a depressed, quixotic character, sinks out of the real world into the fantastic world of literature. The Mathematician, full of youth, follows a carefree, hedonistic lifestyle, until their three universes collide.

FIRST SENTENCE {Edinburgh: The Magistrate}: There was a knock on the door of the last house on Craigmillar Castle Road. 

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 93}: Chenai walked up to him and hugged him. It was like she was trying to draw poison out of a wound. He almost cried, but men don't cry, real men never cry. He felt the weight of his age pressing down on every joint as he released her. His little girl giving him relationship advice, the wheel of life turning.

SOURCE: Received for review from the author.

MY THOUGHTS: Revolving around three different characters, all from Zimbabwe, all far from their homeland, all facing their own challenges, their individual stories entwining as the novel progresses.

Though set in Edinburgh - its landmarks ingeniously mapped out by the author courtesy of the music played through The Magistrate's Walkman - The Maestro, The Magistrate & The Mathematician also lends itself to an insight into the politics and economics of a not too distant Zimbabwe.

A very human story that isn't afraid to deal with issues both big and small. For me the most memorable (and perhaps poignant) being the case of 'The Magistrate' in which the reader gets to consider a man, a 'somebody' in the land he left behind, reduced to a life of housework and 'menial jobs' in his adopted home.

Amongst the best novels about migrants and the plights that they face that I have read. The only concern I have (small though it may be) being that the characters were each written in a very different style which though great as a means of setting them apart as individuals somehow just didn't work well for me.


15 Apr 2015

RAINDROPS ON ROSES ..........

Freshly made beds
The sun on your face
People saying thank you/a random act of kindness from a stranger
Finding money in unexpected places
Time to yourself 
Laughing so hard it hurts  
Snuggling on the sofa with a loved one
Freshly made bread
Doing something for others
Feeling clean after a shower.

According to this article the top ten of the fifty things that are sure to make us Brits feel great.

A freshly made beds, laughing so hard it hurts, snuggling up with Mr T, doing something for someone else, all of these and more would make my list but what about those things not on the list?

How about .....

Receiving a letter from a friend
The sound of someone laughing at one of my bad jokes
The first daffodils of spring
Cute cat photos/videos shared with friends on FaceBook
Looking through old photograph albums?

What about you, what are the things that make you feel great?


14 Apr 2015

KEEP THE ENDS LOOSE.


KEEP THE ENDS LOOSE by MOLLY D CAMPBELL.

BACK COVER BLURB: Miranda Heath is a quirky fifteen-year-old with cinematic dreams and a safe, predictable family. That is until she decides to pull at the loose end that is the estranged husband her aunt never divorced. What seemed like the best way to allow her aunt to get on with her life sets off a series of events that threaten to turn Mandy's world upside down. Suddenly, she's embarking on adventurous road trips, becoming the center of an increasingly unstable household, meeting surprising strangers, and seeing everyone she knows in new ways. Sometimes loose ends just want to stay loose. But what happens if they want to unravel completely?

FIRST SENTENCE {Chapter One}: Have you ever heard of a guy named Proust?

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 59}: See, here's the thing: I was smart enough to see things coming, and I knew that womanhood, love, and fornication were inevitable. But I wished I had a little more time to be a girl.

SOURCE: Received for review from the author. Whilst I know Molly through our blogs and via FaceBook this had no bearing on my review or my opinions which as always remain mine and mine alone.

MY THOUGHTS: Good story telling with well rounded characters. Whilst I fear some readers will argue Keep The Ends Loose is naively written I personally thought the author did a first class job in capturing the angst so common to teenagers, of getting into the mind-set of the the main character, the somewhat naive if wonderfully quirky fifteen year old Miranda (aka Mandy).

A tale of self discovery, a story of what happens when life has some surprises in store. Though a novel for young adults with its warmth and wit, a wit that I'm pleased to say transcends what is sometimes a subtle difference between the American and English sense of humour, I'm sure this will prove to have a much wider appeal.


13 Apr 2015

STAR STYLE.


STAR STYLE* (MY SISTER THE VAMPIRE #8) by SIENNA MERCER.

* Also published as The Bat Pack.

BACK COVER BLURB: 'This could be their big chance!'

A top Hollywood producer thinks the twins are The Next Big Thing. But a wooden stake would be better at acting than Ivy. And Olivia has to keep quiet about her real-life role, as superstar Jackson's girlfriend.

But a jealous vampire actress might blow the coffin lid off the secret ...

FIRST SENTENCE {Chapter One}: I'm not dreaming, Olivia Abbott thought.

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 11}: Underneath the regular FoodMart was the Bloodmart, where any vamp who was anyone in Franklin Grove went to stock up on all their midnight snacks. Biting people was so last century.

SOURCE: Ex-library stock.

MY THOUGHTS: Billed on amazon.co.uk as a 'vampire book for girls who want to read about young love and innocent paranormal romance' I must admit to being intrigued by these books.

Definitely more of a read for those wanting a story of friendship, love, fashion and red carpets than those looking for an action fuelled novel. 

I dare say a novel enjoyed by its target audience of those aged eight to twelve. For myself whilst I found this an engaging enough read (and perhaps I should just celebrate it as such) I couldn't help but feel somewhat dismayed that here was a novel that though slightly tempered by Ivy's reluctance to join her twin sister as the 'next big thing' celebrated 'celebrity culture' when what I'd really like to see are more books lauding young girls for their intelligence.


10 Apr 2015

CHATTY CAT: SPRING INTO SUMMER.


CHATTY CAT: SPRING INTO SUMMER by SUZAN COLLINS.

BACK COVER BLURB: One woman. One cat. Two very different ways of thinking.

The second in the Chatty Cat series follows Chatty Cat through spring and summer in her new home as she gradually learns to relax and enjoy her surroundings.

"The sun has warmed up the ground and now the sun is shining on my tummy and making it nice and warm. It's all quiet in the garden and I fall asleep. I am dreaming ..."

Life still holds a few surprises for Chatty, with new friends and new experiences. Chatty Cat is a real rescue cat in a real home and her adventures provide a useful guide to caring for your pet.

It's not just a manual - but it will help you look after your cat. It's not just a story - but you can read it like one. It's not just a children's book - but children of all ages will love it, and so will adults.

Suzan Collins has a real knack for getting into Chatty Cat's head and explaining her behaviour in ways that everyone can recognise.

SOURCE: A complimentary copy acknowledging my reading the manuscript pre-publication. Whilst I know the author through our blogs and via FaceBook this had no bearing on my review or opinions which as always remain mine and mine alone.


FIRST SENTENCE {Getting Comfortable}:
When I first moved in Jade used to use up most of the bed and there wasn't room for me.

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 74}: My paws slide on the laminate flooring. I meow. 'Wheeeeeeee' as I slide along the floor. What great fun! Then I go upstairs and snooze on the bed.

MY THOUGHTS: The perfect read for those considering allowing a cat into their lives. With its mix of anecdotes chronicling the daily activities of the talkative rescue cat and her 'hooman' Jade (aka Suzan), useful information on the caring of a cat, illustrations, actual photographs and video footage Chatty Cat: Spring Into Summer along with its predecessor Chatty Cat: The First Six Months is as entertaining as it is educational.

Wonderfully insightful with regards to all things feline. This second instalment deals especially well with communication. Communication, 'verbal' and non-verbal. Communication between Chatty Cat and Jade and Chatty Cat and the critters she encounters (other cats, a butterfly and a wasp included) as she 'trains her hooman', discovers 'the collar tree' and finds herself in a fix in the 'herring cupboard'.

8 Apr 2015

WIDE SARGASSO SEA.


Wide Sargasso SeaWIDE SARGASSO SEA by JEAN RHYS.

BACK COVER BLURB: Jean Rhys's late literary masterpiece, Wide Sargasso Sea, was inspired by Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, and is set in the lush, beguiling landscape of Jamaica in the 1830s.

Born into an oppressive colonialist society, Creole heiress Antoinette Cosway meets a young Englishman who is drawn to her innocent sensuality and beauty. After their marriage disturbing rumours begin to circulate, poisoning her husband against her. Caught between his demands and her own precarious sense of belonging, Antoinette is driven towards madness.

SOURCE: A Reader's Group read.

FIRST SENTENCE {Part One}: They say when trouble comes close ranks, and so the white people did.

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 42}: Everything is too much, I felt as I wearily after her. Too much blue, too much purple, too much green. The flowers too red, the mountains too high, the hills too near.

MY THOUGHTS: First published in 1966. A prequel to Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre (published some 119 previously), apparently Rhys's Antoinette Cosway and Bronte's 'mad woman in the attic' Bertha Rochester (nee Mason) are one and the same.  

Divided into three sections, the first and third sections narrated by Antoinette (the former as a girl, the latter as an adult), the second section by Mr Rochester. I'm afraid I found this unsettling, the metamorphose of Antoinette from young girl to married woman too abrupt to really work, the flow of the story disturbed.

Whilst the language was not nearly as flowery or out-dated as I had expected I'm afraid it was however written in such a way as to be so matter of fact that the true horror of some of the events was not conveyed.

Overall left oddly cold and confused by this short novella of 119 pages (plus extras amounting to a further 46). Having discussed it with friends afterwards the general consensus seemed to be that as I hadn't read Jane Eyre there was little chance of Wide Sargasso Sea making much sense.


6 Apr 2015

MY LIFE IN BOOKS #2.


Looking for something else in the Pen and Paper archives I came across this fun meme from 2012.

The original idea of the 'game' being you finish the following statements by adding the title of a book you have read that year I decided to change it a little and use the books on my TBR pile.

  • In high school I was ... A Mother's Gift {Maggie Hope}
  • I will never be ... Proven Guilty {Jim Butcher}
  • My fantasy job is ... Heaven Scent {Sasha Wagstaff)
  • At the end of a long day I need ... Mercy {Jodi Picoult}
  • I hate it when ... The Stars Look Down {AJ Cronin}
  • I wish I had ... Star Style {Sienna Mercer} 
  • My family reunions are ... A Discovery Of Witches {Deborah Harkness}

4 Apr 2015

6 DEGREES OF SEPARATION #11: THE ROSIE PROJECT.


The Rosie Project Packshot

Meet Don Tillman.
Don is a genetics professor who just might be somewhere on the autistic spectrum. He looks a little like Gregory Peck and is getting married. He just doesn't know who to yet.
But he has designed a very special questionnaire  to help him find the perfect woman.
And its definitely not Rosie. Absolutely, completely, definitely not.
Rosie meanwhile, isn't looking for love; she's looking for her biological father.
Sometimes, though, you don't find love: love finds you.

A monthly meme hosted by Annabel and Emma, the idea being they say every person on the planet can be linked to any other in six steps are less but what about books?

For myself The Rosie Project  (not a book I've read) leads to ...

#1 THE HISTORY OF LUCY'S LOVE LIFE IN 10 1/2 CHAPTERS. In search of love, on the look out for her perfect partner Lucy steals the prototype for a time machine and heads back in time to meet some of the world's most famous lovers including Byron and Casanova.

#2 CARNEVALE. The thirteen year old daughter of a Venetian merchant is lured naked from her bath by a stray cat and finds herself in the arms of Casanova. 

#3 THE AMAZING STORY OF ADOLPHUS TIPS. The wartime adventures of Lily, a young girl, who frantic to find Tips (her missing cat) befriends two American soldiers. The story concentrates on the wartime experiences of Lily who growing up in a small community during the second world war see herself, her family and over 300 villagers evacuated.

#4 THE GIRL IN THE PAINTED CARAVAN: MEMORIES OF A ROMANY CHILDHOOD. The real life story of a people on the move as Eva Petulengro's travels the country with her family in their painted caravan. The men tending horses to make a living, the women reading palms and gathering wild herbs to make traditional potions.

#5 THE POISON MASTER. Her hopes of saving every penny for her sister's un-bonding fee dashed when one of her intricate potions goes wrong Alivet finds herself on the run for murder whilst ever striving to rescue her sister.

#6 FOR THE LOVE OF A SISTER. Simply trying to protect her beloved sister from the predatory eye of the cruel mistress of Moorcroft House little does Myra understand the dire consequences as Eden sets off, penniless, to make her way in the world ... alone.