Page 27 - IFV May Issue 2025

Book Reviews

The Hidden Girl
BY LUCINDA RILEY

orn and raised in a small
village on the Yorkshire moors,
BLeah Thompson grows more
beautiful with each passing day.
When she catches the attention of the
influential, troubled Delancey family,
she knows her life will never be the
same again.
Years later, Leah takes the modelling
world by storm, travelling from Milan
to London and New York and living life
in the lap of luxury. But her past follows
her like a dark shadow, mysteriously
intertwined with the tragic tale of two
young siblings in Poland during the
The Tea Merchant
Second World War. must fight to challenge the destiny that
BY JACKIE PHAMOTSE
As two generations of secrets threaten has been mapped out for her in the stars.
to explode, Leah is haunted by a fatal,
t is 2005, a time of silent forgotten prophecy from her past, and Price: R395.00
anticipation and hidden
Ipossibilities in the rugged
Cederberg mountains.
CLICK Cameron Coal is embroiled
in a desperate fight to save Great Big Beautiful Life
HERE TO his family’s rooibos farm, BY EMILY HENRY

VIEW which is a hair’s breadth from
bankruptcy, while wrestling hen Margaret Ives, the
overwhelming grief after his famously reclusive heiress,
wife’s death and trying to build Winvites eternal optimist
a relationship with his blind Alice Scott to the balmy Little Crescent
daughter. His father, John, Island, Alice knows this is it: her big
might be the family’s last hope break. And even more rare: a chance
to save their farm from an to impress her family with a Serious
enemy lurking in plain sight. Publication.
But in the shadows, Cameron’s The catch? Pulitzer-prize winning
brother, Sole, harbours a secret human thundercloud, Hayden
that could shatter their world. Anderson, is sure of the same thing.
Amid the chaos of a veld fire, The proposal? A one-month trial
Cameron’s gaze falls upon an period to unearth the truth behind one
enigmatic nurse, Luna Parks, of the most scandalous families of the
who is new to their town. As 20th Century, after which she’ll choose
Luna and Cameron grow closer, who’ll tell her story. And it’s becoming abundantly
her mysterious past and closely The problem? Margaret only gives clear that their story, just like the tale
guarded secrets could shatter each of them tantalising pieces. Pieces Margaret’s spinning, could be a mystery,
the very foundation of their they can’t put together because of tragedy, or love ballad - depending on
relationship. an ironclad NDA and an inconvenient who’s telling it.
yearning pulsing between them every
Price: R310.00 time they’re in the same room. Price: R370.00

The Villager • May 2025 • 25