Books Read: The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain

1965. A young white female student becomes involved in the fight for civil rights in North Carolina, falling in love with one of her fellow activists, a Black man, in a time and place where an interracial relationship must be hidden from family, friends and especially the reemerging Ku Klux Klan. As tensions rise in the town, she realises not everyone is who they appear to be.

2010. A recently widowed architect moves into the home she and her late husband designed, heartbroken that he will never cross the threshold. But when disturbing things begin to happen, it's clear that someone is sending her a warning. Who is trying to frighten her away, and why?

Decades later, past and present are set to collide in the last house on the street...

Book Links: Kindle or Hardcover

Guest Post: Other People's Skin by Diane Chamberlain

Today on the blog I have something a little different, a challenge for you from bestselling author Diane Chamberlain.  Since I first discovered Diane's books whilst on holiday in 2005 she has become one of my favourite authors so I'm looking forward to reading her latest novel Pretending to Dance which is published today.

I have a call to action for you.

I spend a good part of every day imagining myself inside the skin of fictional people. I see what they see and hear what they hear and I feel what they feel. It’s challenging but so important if I want to create characters my readers will relate to. Once a month, however, I do something far more challenging: I imagine myself inside the skin of the real people I encounter throughout the day. It’s a tough assignment I give myself, but the rewards are great. 

It may sound trite, but I have a firm belief that we’re all connected. I think we’re on this journey together and we need to help each other along the way. Putting myself in other people’s skin is my way of reminding myself of that kinship. Oh, I still get angry at some people or harbor negative feelings about them, but for one day a month, I nurture our interrelatedness.

Books Read: Diane Chamberlain - The Broken String

Some secrets need to be told... 

As a child, Riley always suspected there was a secret her parents and brother protected her from, a secret that ruined the bond between her and her brother and threatened to tear her family apart. Now seventeen years old, Riley is flying out to visit her brother Danny who has been wounded whilst fighting in Iraq. And she's is determined to find out what this secret is. 

But will uncovering the truth bring her and her brother together again and give her the answers she craves, or will it simply lead to more questions...

Amazon link: Kindle

My top 5 books read this Summer

This week I've decided to run another feature week on the blog and the theme I decided on was to do a review of books that myself, other bloggers and authors have enjoyed reading over the Summer months.

I've been lucky to have been sent so many fantastic books to read, some that I probably would not have read otherwise, so it was extremely difficult to narrow it down to just 5 books but in the end this was the selection I came up with.

Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain

North Carolina, 1960. Newlywed Jane Forrester, fresh out of university, is seeking what most other women have shunned: a career. But life as a social worker is far from what she expected. Out amongst the rural Tobacco fields of Grace County, Jane encounters a world of extreme poverty that is far removed from the middle-class life she has grown up with. But worse is still to come. Working with the Hart family and their fifteen-year-old daughter Ivy, it’s not long before Jane uncovers a shocking secret, and is thrust into a moral dilemma that puts her career on the line, threatens to dissolve her marriage, and ultimately, determines the fate of Ivy and her family forever. Soon Jane is forced to take drastic action, and before long, there is no turning back.

My first pick was easy as Diane Chamberlain has become one of my favourite authors in recent years and Necessary Lies didn't disappoint.  I've recommended this book to many friends and family and it's certainly prompted some interesting discussions afterwards as to the ethics of the topic that this book is about!

Books Read: Diane Chamberlain - Necessary Lies

North Carolina, 1960. Newlywed Jane Forrester, fresh out of university, is seeking what most other women have shunned: a career.

But life as a social worker is far from what she expected. Out amongst the rural Tobacco fields of Grace County, Jane encounters a world of extreme poverty that is far removed from the middle-class life she has grown up with.

But worse is still to come. Working with the Hart family and their fifteen-year-old daughter Ivy, it’s not long before Jane uncovers a shocking secret, and is thrust into a moral dilemma that puts her career on the line, threatens to dissolve her marriage, and ultimately, determines the fate of Ivy and her family forever.

Soon Jane is forced to take drastic action, and before long, there is no turning back.

Author Interview: Diane Chamberlain

It is my great pleasure to welcome bestselling author Diane Chamberlain back to my blog to talk about her latest book Necessary Lies which is out today here in the UK. 

It's no secret that I have become a huge fan of her books since I first discovered them whilst on holiday in the US for Christmas & New Year 2008/09.  Since then I've bought all of her books, both her back catalogue and each new book that's been published, although all three books in the Keeper of the Light trilogy are currently sat in the midst of my towering TBR pile.

Can you tell us a little bit about your latest book?
Necessary Lies is the story of a young inexperienced social worker who has to figure out how to buck the system to save her fifteen-year-old client from a terrible fate.

Where did the inspiration come from to set this in the 1960s and write about forced sterilisations?
Ten years ago, a news article in a North Carolina newspaper shined a light on the sterilization program that ran from the '20s to the '70s in the state. North Carolina was the only state that allowed social workers to refer clients for sterilization. As a former social worker—and a human being—I was appalled by this news and knew that that I would someday create a story inspired by this ugly time in my state's history.

Books Read: Diane Chamberlain - The Good Father

Source - Bought (Amazon)

A little girl, all alone, with a note that reads 'please look after me'. 

What would you do? Four years ago, nineteen-year-old Travis Brown made a choice: to raise his newborn daughter on his own. While most of his friends were out partying and meeting girls, Travis was at home, worrying about keeping food on the table. But so far he's kept her safe. And never regretted his decision for a second. 

But now he's lost his job, his home and the money in his wallet is all he has. As things spiral out of control Travis is offered a lifeline. A onetime offer to commit a crime for his daughter's sake. Even if it means leaving her behind. Even if it means losing her. 

What would a good father do?

Author Interview: Diane Chamberlain

I'm delighted to welcome Diane Chamberlain who is the latest author to agree to answer my random book-related questionnaire.

Her new book, The Good Father, isn't officially due to be published until 1st June but Amazon have been releasing copies early.  My copy arrived last week and I finished reading it yesterday so my review will be going up later today. 

How long did it take you to get your first book published?
It took me about three years to write my first novel, six months to find an agent, and one year of rejections that let me know I needed to completely rewrite the book.  After that, it sold right away...but wasn't published for three more years.  Painful!

Do you have a set daily writing routine?
It depends on where I am in the writing process.  When I'm thinking up the story and outlining, I take a lot of naps, listen to music, and carry my notepad with me.  When I'm deep into the writing, I start out at a coffee shop each morning, then work out, then bring my work home and continue writing at the computer.  When I'm close to deadline, I get up much earlier and go to bed much later and not much else gets done.  It's like cramming for an exam.  Not fun, but exciting.     

Books Read: Diane Chamberlain - Brass Ring

Source - Received from publisher to review 

The images were vivid, the sensations powerful, and the more she tried to fight them, the more they drew her in.

Claire leads a busy, fulfilled and happy life, a life she wouldn't trade for anything...and one that is about to change.

When Claire fails to prevent a disturbed young woman's suicide, the incident seems to trigger something in her - forgotten images of a long-lost sister and a childhood she had always remembered as being close to perfection.  Realising that this was not the case, Claire runs the risk of uncovering the dark secrets that are locked away in her memories.

Caught in a complex struggle between the present and the past, between the man who wants to help her and the husband who cannot, Claire must discover the terrible truth for herself.

Books Read: Diane Chamberlain - The Shadow Wife

Source - Christmas present from a friend

'He can barely look me in the eye, much less be a father to my child.'

Your best friend has suffered a devastating brain injury - she's a shadow of her former self.  Alone and grieving, you turn to the only other person who understands your pain.  Her husband.

What started out as comfort between friends has become something more...  One illicit night of desperate, engulfing passion.

When Joelle discovers she's carrying Liam's child she's torn between grief and unexpected joy.  But how can she share her secret?  The perfect memory of Mara stands on a pedestal between them, casting a shadow over the new life in their grasp...

Tell him and face a lifetime of guilt.  Lie and deny your unborn baby a father.  Joelle has a choice - but can she live with it?