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Title: The Last List of Mabel Beaumont

Author: Laura Pearson

Pages: 310 Pages

Publisher: Boldwood Books

The Blurb

The list he left had just one item on it. Or, at least, it did at first…

Mabel Beaumont’s husband Arthur loved lists. He’d leave them for her everywhere. ‘Remember: eggs, butter, sugar’. ‘I love you: today, tomorrow, always’.

But now Arthur is gone. He died: softly, gently, not making a fuss. But he’s still left her a list. This one has just one item on it though: ‘Find D’.

Mabel feels sure she knows what it means. She must track down her best friend Dot, who she hasn’t seen since the fateful day she left more than sixty years ago.

It seems impossible. She doesn’t even know if Dot’s still alive. Also, every person Mabel talks to seems to need help first, with missing husbands, daughters, parents. Mabel finds her list is just getting longer, and she’s still no closer to finding Dot.

What she doesn’t know is that her list isn’t just about finding her old friend. And that if she can admit the secrets of the past, maybe she could even find happiness again…

A completely heartbreaking, beautiful, uplifting story, guaranteed to make you smile but also make you cry. Perfect for fans of My Name is Ove, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, and The Keeper of Stories.

The Review

Some books are just special. The Last List of Mabel Beaumont is one such book. It is a book about love, about loss, about identity and most importantly of all it is a book about the power of friendship.

Mabel Beaumont has to readjust her life when her husband Arthur dies however it is through this difficult transition period that Mabel comes into her own as a person – not bad for an octogenarian. However, with that comes the responsibility of confronting her past. Something that Mabel might not be quite ready for.

One of my favourite book tropes is the friendship between young and older people. I love how so much mutual reverence and respect can be harnessed in a story and when it is done well you feel like you are getting a warm hug. Laura Pearson has done this masterfully in The Last List of Mabel Beaumont. Wisdom meets fearlessness. It was lovely.

This is definitely a read that will warm your heart.

The Last List of Mabel Beaumont by Laura Pearson is available now.

For more information regarding Laura Pearson (@LauraPAuthor) please visit www.laurapearsonauthor.com.

For more information regarding Boldwood Books (@BoldwoodBooks) please visit www.boldwoodbooks.com.

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Title: Gold Digger

Author: Gillian Godden

Pages: 258 Pages

Publisher: Boldwood Books

The Blurb

Money talks…

And blonde bombshell Julie isn’t afraid to ask for what she wants. With her mother locked up for murder, all Julie cares about is protecting her younger sister, Frankie. But penniless and alone on the streets of Liverpool, Julie realises that there’s only one sure fire way to make cash fast – the oldest trade. 

The men mean nothing to Julie, until she meets Ralph Goldstein, an ex-con who’ll do whatever it takes to make his way to top. And the only man Julie can trust. 

Separately, Ralph and Julie’s lives are filled with risk and danger. But when they meet, their blend of personality and ambition could be the best thing that ever happened … or the worst.

Will their pasts be their downfall, or will they make it big…together?

The Review

Okay. Where to begin. Okay. Gold Digger is your classic tart-with-a-heart crime caper. It focuses on Julie and how she tries her hardest to protect her family. However, her attempts to look after her family lead to murder, human trafficking, and prostitution. All pretty standard, really.

Okay, it wasn’t the best book I have read and it did have some glaring holes in the plot/threads but it was an enjoyable read. However, one massive down point for me was a throwaway line towards the end about keeping hold of your wallet in Liverpool which personally, as a born and bred scouser was massively insulting. I would have probably been able to have forgiven some of the writing until that point. Going for a tired and quite frankly false stereotype was just lazy writing for a cheap laugh. Not cool.

Gold Digger by Gillian Godden is available now.

For more information regarding Gillian Godden (@GGodden) please visit her Twitter page.

For more information regarding Boldwood Books (@BoldwoodBooks) please visit www.boldwoodbooks.com.