An Unusual Boy

           An Unusual Boy by Fiona Higgins - blogtour

Today is my stop on the An Unusual Boy blogtour. I am delighted to have the opportunity to introduce you to Julia and her wonderful son, Jackson. Here is their story...

Summary

Meet Jackson - a very unusual boy in a world that prefers 'normal'...

Julia Curtis is a busy mother of three, with a husband often away for work, an ever-present mother-in-law, a career, and a house that needs doing up. Her fourteen-year-old daughter, Milla, has fallen in love for the first time, and her youngest, Ruby, is a nine-year-old fashionista who can out-negotiate anyone.

But Julia’s eleven-year-old son, Jackson, is different. Different to his sisters. Different to his classmates. In fact, Jackson is different from everyone. And bringing up a child who is different isn’t always easy.

Then, one Monday morning, Jackson follows his new friend Digby into the school toilets. What happens inside changes everything; not only for Jackson, but for every member of his family. Julia faces the fight of her life to save her unusual boy from a world set up for ‘normal’.

An extraordinary boy. The mother who loves him. The fight of their lives.

Bestselling novelist Fiona Higgins returns with a heart-stopping, devastating, but ultimately uplifting story about loyalty, love and forgiveness.

Review

I was totally drawn into this story and really identified with Julia. She is a mum who is trying her best to keep going, even when everything is falling apart around her. She makes mistakes, she gets things wrong, she doubts herself but every decision she makes is to protect her family.

I must admit that there were times that I had to put this incredible book down. I could sense where things were going and just wasn't ready to go there too. An Unusual Boy is a story of how quickly and dramatically things can go wrong when we do not see the whole picture, when we make assumptions and hear what we think we are going to rather than the words that are really being said.

Jackson is different, and sometimes that can seem difficult. He often struggles to express himself and lashes out because no-one seems to understand him. He knows that his family love him, but his relationship with his dad is fraught with misunderstandings and disappointments. Jackson has the most incredible memory but often can't find the right words. I loved Jackson, his sisters and his mum right from the beginning. The author made me care and then made me cry with sadness and rage.

I really like that the perspective changes throughout, between Julia's and Jackson's. Julia shows us just how hard but how incredibly rewarding being a parent is and Jackson gives us his unique perspective of the world.

An Unusual Boy is brilliantly written, intriguing, full of realistic characters and has a storyline that will break your heart. A must read, but be prepared to cry!

Purchase Link 

Author Bio –

Fiona Higgins is the Australian writer of several bestselling contemporary novels including The Mothers’ Group and Wife on the Run. Her work has been widely reviewed, translated internationally, and described as ‘page-turning domestic melodrama for the social media age’. She lives with her family in Sydney and her first book for Boldwood will be published in October 2020.

Instagram

Facebook

Website

Twitter

Photo courtesy of Luisa Brimble

Thank you to Rachel for inviting me to be a part of this blogtour and Boldwood Books for gifting me a digital copy of the book to read and review.

 Minnie's Orphans by Lindsey Hutchinson - Blogtour

Summary

Let bestselling author Lindsey Hutchinson transport you back in time to Marshall’s Children’s Home, for this heart-warming and unforgettable tale from the Black Country.

The Fitch children are finally safe, after they and their friends were rescued from the grim orphanage Reed House by Minnie and Billy Marshall. Their children’s home Marshall’s is full of love and laughter, and a world away from their terrible ordeal of being sold to Una Reed for five shillings.

There are many more children who still need a home, especially in a world where the workhouse is the last option for desperate families, and so Minnie makes it her mission to build Marshall’s into a refuge for all the waifs and strays. 

But kind hearts can be taken advantage of, and before long, Marshall’s in under attack. Can Minnie and Billy keep their family together and keep all the children safe, or will they be torn apart again? 

The Queen of the Black Country sagas is back with a heart-warming, unputdownable and unforgettable tale of triumph against the odds. Perfect for fans of Val Wood and Lyn Andrews.

My Review

Minnie's Orphans is a heartwarming story of family, friendship and heartache. Unfortunately, alongside the wonderful Minnie and her loving, kind family we are introduced to other characters who see the world very differently and seeing those two sides to the very same coin really makes you think! 

This book stands on it's own, so if you haven't read The Five Shilling Children ( I haven't yet ) you will definitely want to, but don't need to, to enjoy this wonderful tale. 

Minnie and her second husband Billy are happily running their children's home. All of Minnie's children are back with her and living under her roof. Marshall Home is full of laughter, love and helping hands, everyone pitches in, kindness and acceptance is of the upmost importance. On the other side of town Reed House, the orphanage is run by a cruel woman who has allowed bitterness to rule her every decision. All the children at Reed House want is someone to care for them, but for Una Reed, that is too much to ask. 

There are some very emotional moments in this story that had me reaching for a tissue. There was also one of those moments in which you know, without a shadow of a doubt what will happen on the next page and you so terribly don't want it to, you have to put the book down for a few minutes, to try and avoid the inevitable. 

Minnie's Orphans is a lovely story, one that made me smile, laugh out loud and cry a few tears too. I will most definitely be reading more by this talented author. Lindsey Hutchinson has weaved her magic and created characters you will care about and never forget. 

Thank you to the publisher Boldwood Books for sending me a free digital copy of this book via NetGalley and to Rachel for inviting me to be a part of this blogtour.

Purchase Link

Author Bio –

Lindsey Hutchinson is a bestselling saga author whose novels include The Workhouse Children. She was born and raised in Wednesbury, and was always destined to follow in the footsteps of her mother, the multi-million selling Meg Hutchinson.

Social Media Links –

Newsletter Sign Up

Twitter

Facebook 

Goodreads