Bookreview: Lamlash Street

Lamlash Street: A Portrait of 1960's Post-War
London through One Family's story

written by J.M. Phillips

"A very nice trip to memory lane" 

Summary

Explore a world that can't be visited anymore-South East London, 1963.
On Lamlash Street, Cockney families have more life and character than money,
living among the bombed out and condemned buildings. Post WWII London
will evolve swiftly into the era of The Beatles, Twiggy, and modern, swinging London.

Experience the lively true story of a girl on her way to being a young woman,
coming-of-age at a moment in London's history unlike any other.
Jill Phillips tries to capture her first kiss while navigating a world turning
upside down and the trauma that her parents and uncle experienced during the war.

It's a time when a local factory shutting down could mean more than just job loss.
As families are torn apart, they rely on questionable yet quirky neighbors and find
inventive ways to survive-like pay cigarette machines in the house and Christmas
presents "special ordered" for a fraction of the cost.

Seen-but-not-heard by the adults in her life, Jill looks for young love and
how to define herself. Stories of Nazi aircraft on the walk home from school,
watching Doodle bugs (flying bombs) drop on London from rooftop perches,
and her uncle's many unsettling stories of war as young merchant mariner give
her a unique lens of the world and what a better future could look like for her family.

Lamlash Street: A Portrait of 1960's Post-War London Through One Family's Story
is a heartfelt and funny historical memoir. If you like non-stereotypical women
characters, working-class endurance, and a biography about rallying from abundant
loss, then you'll adore Jill Phillips' moving recollection.

Buy Lamlash Street to take an emotional and touching trip down memory lane today!

My Review

Readers of my blog(s) already know that I do like (royal) history. However London
also attracks me very much. 

It was a nice trip to the author's memory lane and the book was written very clearly.

However I missed some structure in the story. 

Nevertheless, it is a wonderful story. That's why I want to give a 4 star on 5 rating. 

The Author

J.M. Phillips is an author and retired Occupational Therapist. Motivated
by the retelling of family stories, she wrote Lamlash Street, which is about
navigating family life in London after World War II. She is a storyteller with
a passion to inspire families to connect through the telling of their past.

Growing up in the UK, J.M. emigrated to Canada after working in a London
solicitor’s office for a few years. She spent 30 years working as an
Occupational Therapist and Hospital manager before retiring.

Rather than slowing down the pace of life as she neared retirement,
J.M. refocused her efforts enjoying each day with a zest for life.
 A technology and sci-fi fan with a thrill-seeking streak, she’s been
cave swimming in Mexico and hopes to swim with dolphins.

During one of her many trips to visit her family in Bexleyheath,
she was inspired to capture their memories of a way of life that is
cherished by many. Pulling from her uncle’s World War II stories and
her memories of her young life in the 1960’s, she aims to carry on his
legacy with her books.

She spent many years working in health care. She is currently splitting
her time between the UK and Canada, maintaining close contacts with
family, and at the same time discovering more fascinating family stories.
Learn more at her website on this link. 

BookSirens

I received an advance copy for free via BookSirens. I'm leaving this review
voluntarily. Thank you very much for giving me the chance for reading this
memoir. 

Lamlash Street is published by 'Red Damask Publishing' in 2020. It is 
available on Amazon.com in Kindle version and in paperback. 

Source picture: Book cover

The Wraith's Memory - Between Gods and Mortals Book 2

The Wraith's Memory 

Between Gods and Mortals Book 2

written by Whitney Rines 

Summary

    The massacre of a village by a mysterious group of conspirators spreads
division and war across Liansea and chases survivors to the last
strongholds standing, Terimah and Nismyth.

When Terimah’s strict entry rules cost more refugee lives-Mortal and
Amaranthine alike, refugees turn to Nismyth and their open-gate policy.
Unaware of the corruption being cultivated in the ruling family, infecting
everyone from the upper echelon down to the lowest villagers.

When a mysterious illness brings tragedy to the village of Aritehn, wounding
both the population and trust in their rulers, many villagers including a
 young man named Chiron, seek ways to save Aritehn themselves.
An interview with Nismyth’s military recruiter sets his course when he
is sponsored for education instead, and exposed to more of the corruption
than before. Choosing to defy his sponsor costs him more than he could
ever fathom and sets a dark path ahead of him.

The Wraith’s Memory follows Chiron’s beginnings and walks the path
leading him to his future, and the one who might hold the path to his redemption. 

My Review

When I started reading, I first was a bit sceptic about the fantasy world
however I soon wanted to know the end of the story. So, it's really a
page turner!

I look forward to read the next book! I would like to give this wonderful
book a 5 star rating! 

The Author

Whitney Rines lives in Minnesota, is married to a wonderful man, and has one son.
Their family has broad interests from computer science and biking, to cooking,
crafts movies, video, board, and card games, travel, and the arts.
They have two pets: a ball python named Archie, and a cat named Nami.
Whitney enjoys telling a good story and bringing enjoyment and adventure
to readers of all genres, preferring a mixed style in her writing.

She has a wide range of interests in Fantasy, Horror, Mythology, Occult,
and folklore from around the world, and it inspires her stories, character building,
and setting. She enjoys reading a multitude of genres including classical literature, 
horror, fantasy, and a non-fiction genres.

Whitney also enjoys other forms of the arts, and traveling to different places
 around the world. She believes that every place has something to offer in
tapping inspiration, even if it's just beauty or how plain a place can be.

Theres's always something interesting to learn and explore, whever you go,
whether in a book or in travel.

BookTasters

I received an advance copy for free by BookTasters and I'm leaving this
review voluntarily. I'm happy I could read this wonderful dark fantasy
book. 

Source picture: Book Cover